#thread. celestia

[victoriams]

ᴡʜᴏ: CELESTIA DOLITTLE & OPEN ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ: TRIBUTE TOWER, LOBBY ᴡʜᴇɴ: DAY OF THE (FAILED) LAUNCH

Celestia was not having a good day. Her first thought upon noticing that the elevators weren't working this morning was that she had somehow messed up, which would have been very embarrassing. Once it became clear that the faulty technology actually had nothing to do with her ( yay! ) her second thought was that this delay would be kind of annoying for her. For one thing, she'd already picked out her outfit for the launch party she was attending tonight ( a very flattering hot pink slip dress and matching kitten heels, of course ). For another, this meant that she wouldn't be off the hook from the responsibilities that came with her job for another couple of days at least.

Usually the launch was the end of things for Celestia ( unless her tributes won... which had never actually happened, but maybe soon! ). She would take her tributes down to the basement, bid them farewell, and wait for them to die. She never really watched the games ( they were a tad too boring for her taste – ninety-five percent of the time nothing happened, and the other five percent was a little too gory ), so she would generally be informed that they'd died while she was out at some sort of games-adjacent party. She mourned, of course – sometimes even for a week – and always thought of something nice to say when she wrote home to the tributes' families, but the launch generally marked the end of her active involvement.

Truthfully, Celestia was a little confused as to what she was supposed to be doing now. She'd already done all of her little tasks before the games were supposed to start, and the parties she was supposed to be at right now had been postponed. Instead, she finds herself in the lobby of the tribute centre in her party outfit, sipping on a matching pink cocktail and waiting for somebody to tell her what she was supposed to be doing next. Thankfully, she spots a vaguely familiar face walking by and shuffles over to grab them by the arm. "So... like, do you know what we're supposed to be doing right now? Because usually someone, like, tells me what I'm supposed to be doing. And are we going to get new outfits for when they re-do the launch, because I feel like my one has been spoiled and I really hate repeating outfits, you know?"

[eulaties]

so ive seen a lot of people interpret skirk's statement "Traverse the wreckage of the stars one day and you will know the world as I see it," to mean that childe is going to leave tevyat and journey to other planets (a la HSR) but like... i kinda disagree with this and just want to throw my own interpretation out there.

it seems to me that this is actually supposed to parallel the abyss twin's statement "I have already traveled through this world once. Once you reach the end of your journey as I did, you will see for yourself the true nature of this world." perhaps skirk wants childe to figure out the truth of the world as well by breaking through the firmament and seeing tevyat's planet with his own eyes. this then parallels the MC's journey which is so interesting considering how this cements childe as the anti-hero in genshin's overarching narrative. it also makes me think about that one rumor where beta childe was supposed to accompany the mc on all their journeys... hmm

all in all i think this thread (not mine) encapsulates everything i think about how hyv will handle childe's narrative. with him still not having a vision story, his vision malfunctioning in the fontaine quests, and the confirmation that he had no vision during his time in the abyss, they are clearly setting him up for something very big

[victoriams]

Celestia had three rules in life: one, never repeat an outfit; two, never decline an invitation; and three, always be fashionably late. The third rule was more a matter of convenience than anything else – Celestia wasn't sure she could be on time for anything even if she tried. So, this is probably why she rolls up to the launch party she'd been invited to long after the countdown had finished. The tributes are already in the arena by the time she steps through the doors – just in time to catch a glimpse of somebody being impaled ( ew ).

"Yucky," She mutters, pushing through the crowd in search of a place to sit. Actually, scratch that – she's going to find the bathroom first. Her outfit is big and intricate, and she knows once she sits down, she is unlikely to want to get up again.

She's searching around the room for something that resembles a bathroom when she spots a single door on the other side of the room – already having barged her way through it by the time she realises that she's accidentally stepped out onto the balcony, rather than into the bathroom. Boo. "Oh, hi," She says, noticing SAVANNAH BENTLEY already occupying the space. "Hey bestie, do you know where the bathroom is?" She's not sure if she's ever spoken to Savannah before – but she recognises the girl as a stylist, so she's probably nice enough. She pauses, looking Savannah up and down, "Are you okay?"

a viewing party for opening day , someone else's place / savannah + open !

saying  goodbye  to  her  tributes  was  no  easy  feat  ,  district  six  seemingly  chained  to  her  like  a  lock  without  keys  .  each  step  they  took  further  away  that  morning  was  a  tug  on  her  heart  ,  a  subtle  beat  of  pain  to  replace  the  blood  pumping  through  her  veins  .  the  start  of  the  games  was  always  the  hardest  because  it  was  the  most  real  it’d  ever  get  for  savannah  .  once  they  were  in  the  arena  ,  the  scissors  were  always  nearby  to  cut  any  tether  connecting  her  to  them  ,  but  that  tether  was  more  complicated  now  .  she  had  to  worry  about  artemis  ,  watch  them  fight  for  their  lives  for  god  only  knew  how  long  .  and  she  preferred  solitude  at  this  time  ,  but  she’d  been  invited  to  a  viewing  party  .  who  was  she  to  decline  and  act  shady  on  the  day  that  mattered  the  most  ?

the  party  sickens  her  before  the  countdown  even  starts  ,  drink  in  hand  while  other  began  cheering  and  laughing  in  anticipation  around  her  .  the  dissociation  hits  momentarily  ,  briefly  ,  until  the  countdown  is  over  .  that’s  when  everything  became  muffled  around  her  ,  eyes  taking  note  of  the  fact  that  there  were  a  handful  of  tributes  missing  .  was  she  going  crazy  ?  shock  freezes  her  until  a  flash  of  artemis  comes  over  the  screen  and  the  drink  in  savannah’s  hand  is  set  aside  instantly  .  she  sneaks  away  ,  feeling  like  she  can’t  breathe  ,  and  pushes  the  doors  to  the  balcony  open  for  some  fresh  air  .  palms  meet  the  balustrade  ,  knuckles  shading  white  as  her  body  sways  ever  so  slightly  in  the  wind  .  savannah  found  herself  taking  a  seat  just  then  ,  legs  becoming  tucked  as  the  strange  silence  of  the  streets  clashed  with  the  deafened  chatter  from  the  party  inside  .

[mylittleponyauprompts]

An AU where Cadence can see the red threads that connect soul mates. However red threads are always subject to change due to how someones life has changed for them and around them. Sometimes someone can just not have a red thread. She always saw her Aunt Celestia without one, but recently a red thread has been spawning into existence for her. Cadence couldn't be happier, and has been trying to follow the red thread to it's end to find Celestia's soul mate.

[blerdyotome]

Steam Next Fest 2024 Games to Keep on Your Radar

This summer has been packed full of game releases, announcements, and game fests! Between Summer Games Fest and Steam Next Fest, there are plenty of demos to keep you busy well into next year. With all the goodies, I made sure to care out some time to check out a few demos from Steam Next Fest and I found quite a few gems! So, here are my thoughts on some of the demos I played from this year’s��

[valerian-riverheart]

My disdain with the british dogs grows exponentially for each world they're in

[victoriams]

"Oh my god, you're right! I didn't even notice!" Celestia chuckles, clapping her hands together. What a twist! She hadn't even seen it coming – and usually she found the games dreadfully boring, so the the addition of a hint of mystery was welcome. "I definitely counted four when I dropped them off this morning." She pauses to count them out on her fingers again – yep, definitely four. "Where do you think they went? Maybe they're like... hiding them somewhere." Celestia hums, "Yeah, that makes sense. One time when I was little, me and Diggory played hide and seek and I hid on the very top shelf of our pantry – I could get up there because I'm, like, really flexible – and it took him like, five hours to find me. It was okay though, I had snacks." She pauses, trying to regain her train of thought – oh yeah, the tributes. "So they could hide in that arena for ages."

WHO: Effie Trinket & OPEN

WHERE: A viewing area in the tribute tower ?

"Where are - where are-" Effie repeated, the usually bubbly self, the effervescent and delightful queen of every interaction like most people were glued to the monitors in the viewing areas. There had been invites to viewing parties but they had been declined to stay here, where sponsors and other escorts and mentors would mostly be. Yes, Effie was positively radiant but distracted with motherly worry. None of the little ones were there, on screen. When the tubes rose, there was the standard amount. When the countdown was announced, a heart pounded, and when the cannon sounded, Effie nearly jumped, clutching her chest and making a fuss as attention was pulled from the screen. "That frightens me all the time. My goodness - did anyone see the younger tributes? Am I missing something?"

[gvldntrbl]

Jackson + Celestia (ft. Evren's body) @theartofruling

Gerard Estate, Northland Falls

-🧸-

The removal of the veil brought forth new changes for many in Lume. Even Evren. A part of the guardian nymph quietly hoped to hear from her twin again. To have some way to reconnect, however brief, with the other soul that arrived with her into the world. And while Evren had yet to hear from Ruslan, she did reconnect with an old close friend. Celestia D'Amati. And although Celestia returned wearing a completely different face and form, Evren knew that it was her. She'd missed the fellow nymph. It was why the Acting Monarch whole-heartedly agreed to help Celestia reunite with her loved ones. First had been her husband and mate, Lorenzo.

And now, Celestia stood, awaiting to meet Jackson as she wore Evren's form. She arrived to the estate unexpected and Evren Can certainly wasn't listed in the Count's appointment book for today. Quiet nerves thrummed through her and she felt Evren's chest lower and rise more noticeably with each breath she took. It had been far too long since she'd laid eyes on Jackson Gerard. He'd been her second mate and a complete surprise. Albeit, a truly beautiful one. Without him, their sweet baby girl Geneva would not exist. Her face flushed with unspoken emotion when Jackson finally appeared. Like the first intake of crisp air after reaching the summit of a mountain. "Anima gemella," She greeted him around an exhale, the corners of her lips upturned into a smile. It was a nickname for Jackson that Celestia always called him. One of the several she had for him. Especially after he stopped fighting their mate bond. Her soulmate. "Hi." She whispered, voice rich with emotion. A visual vulnerability was noticeable in Evren's form, something that the former Valkyrie turned Monarch wouldn't have done. Unless she was either completely comfortable with Jackson or was someone else entirely. Dark brown eyes scanned Jackson's face for any hint of familiarity. "Please tell me that you know who I am." She said in a rushed murmur, as if praying to Mother Nature to grant her this one favor.

[ethcl]

CENÁRIO: Zoológico de Ilusões

COM QUEM: @celestiaesseax

A changeling observava o espetáculo de luzes maravilhada, a maioria das criaturas representadas pelo show de cores e contrastes familiares a Ethel apenas por ilustrações em livros; eram poucos os tipos de vida animal que sobreviviam em um território dominado por dragões como sua terra natal, que além disso ainda apresentava clima peculiar e outras características singulares de terreno. Alguns dos hologramas eram tão imponentes e majestosos que Ethel tinha dificuldade em assimilar que representavam seres que de fato habitavam o mundo lá fora. Era quase uma ironia que possuísse literais meios de voar e desbravar os céus, mas nunca a liberdade para tal. “Já teve a chance de ver algum desses de perto, Princesa?” Deu voz à curiosidade, que de certa forma veio como uma extensão de seus devaneios. Referia-se, especificamente, aos animais maiores como elefantes. “Imagino que não lhe faltaram oportunidades de viajar e conhecer o império que lhe pertence.”

[victoriams]

ᴡʜᴏ: CELESTIA DOLITTLE & AUGGIE CRANE ( @cfcannons ) ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ: TRIBUTE TOWER, SECOND FLOOR ᴡʜᴇɴ: SECOND DAY OF THE GAMES, MORNING

Celestia had gone to sleep and woken back up again and, much to her elation, had found that none of her tributes were dead yet – yay! Of course, two of them were still missing, but she had made the conscious decision to focus on the positives. She figured that some sort of announcement would have been made if they were already dead – plus, everybody seemed to have missing tributes, which meant that their absence was not Celestia's fault ( she had been concerned for a moment that it was her doing – she'd once led her tributes to the wrong place before the launch a few years ago, but she maintained that, if they wanted her to get it right, they should have made the basement of this place less maze-like ).

The second floor is remarkably quiet without the victors roaming around anymore, but, this morning, Celestia doesn't mind so much. She'd had quite a bit to drink at the launch party yesterday, and her body seemed to be wearing the consequences of it this morning ( totally worth it, though ). And while the second floor is quiet, it is also exceedingly bright, and so we find Celestia squinting against the flouresects, even though she wears an obnoxiously large pair of sunglasses to protect her fragile retinas.

“Auggles,” Celestia greets the sole remaining inhabitant of the second floor as she emerges from her room just shy of 1:00pm, “Have the missing tributes shown up yet? I, like, definitely dropped them off, but nobody’s told me where they went after that, which is, like, really weird, right?”

[zipndlovu]

barraca da vidente with @celwstia

               talvez uma das atrações que menos chamava sua atenção era a barraca da vidente e não porque tinha medo da morte, longe disto, sabia que ela era algo eminente e até mesmo acreditava saber que um dia morreria em algum confronto afinal poderia ser um bom guerreiro mas não era invencível. quando chegou perto da barraca seus motivos não eram entrar na mesma, havia notado que os monstros pareciam não perturbar tanto as pessoas que esperavam por uma consulta e queria alguns segundos de paz então por isso entrou na mesma até que a pessoa a sua frente entrou e ele deveria ser um próximo, sendo por isso que virou-se para a pessoa atrás de si com um sorriso.         ❛ você pode ir na frente ❜         disse a pessoa, saindo da frente dela e apontando para a mesma ocupar o seu lugar sendo naquele momento que notou que a outra era a última da fila e se perguntando se todos haviam já passado pela barraca ou apenas não queriam saber.         ❛ será que ela só sabe mesmo prever a morte das pessoas ou outras coisas também? inclusive, perdão a pergunta, mas está aqui para também saber sobre isso? ❜

[princealessio]

com @celwstia e dançarinos no teto.

Alessio estava encantado com a decoração do local, Halloween era uma das datas comemorativas que ele mais gostava, principalmente porque ali fantasiado no meio de tanta gente, ele podia simplesmente esquecer seus deveres como realeza e ser uma pessoa normal, algo que ele raramente conseguia fazer. Com as máscaras tampando boa parte do rosto dos presentes, tornava difícil reconhecer as pessoas, pelo menos até escutar a voz delas, no caso de conhecidos. Apesar de conhecer Celestia por ser dama de companhia de Alba, não fazia ideia de que era ela ali ao seu lado quando um dos dançarinos que estava pendurado no teto se aproximou silenciosamente tocando o cabelo da loira. O grito que escutou fez com que ele soltasse uma risada divertida, claramente a outra havia sido pega de surpresa. "Respira, tenho certeza que não é intencional que algum dos convidados sofram um ataque cardíaco." Brincou, por mais que não reconhecesse a moça ao seu lado.

[twilightichor]

Something is amiss. To the logic-driven individuals such as Dáinsleif, relying on gut feeling is opposite to their rationale-bound modus operandi. It goes against justifying in a analytical manner what is happening around them, and thus finding a solution to fix the problem. But letting oneself be driven by their instinct is akin to drifting in the sea on a raft with no destination in mind, it bears no ounce of explanation to why feels such way or why they're moved to do what they are.

But something is amiss, he can feel it. The excruciating pain he felt was no laughing matter, ever consuming to the point of being nigh incapacitating. He didn't outperform in his duty of protection in any fight to warrant this, nor there was any abyssal wave that might've brought a new kind of disease that wasn't discovered yet —even so, long ago had he found out about himself that he possesses cleansing properties that negate the abyss—. So, what was happening?

Dáinsleif doesn't use to take at heart his brother's arguments of why he mustn't rely solely on logic, but allow himself to be betwixt both roads if he wants to transcend beyond the limits he's shackling himself in. Perhaps it is seeing how Vedrfolnir performs as an oracle that pushed him to this decision, or perhaps his want for finding an explanation of his sickness that ultimately made him embark on a journey outside of Khaenri'ah that led him to the outskirts of an incipient nation.

Thus his instinct drew him towards a willow amidst a lake that surrounds it, its colors so dull and lifeless that would make anyone wonder if it's standing on its last legs. His logical mind calls nonsense, that it is unlikely that a single tree would be calling to him through a pain that only now he discovers that it must be just an extension of its own— it is crying. And so his investigation began on the vicinities of the tree first, on the depths of the lake thereafter for as long as his lung could get, unbeknownst that a majestic entity is observing him from afar.

It took him three days: one of which he could use to unveil the mysteries behind a mechanism somewhere on the other end of the lake and the next two to realize that the pain is growing deeper the closer he gets somewhere, as if it were telling him that he's on the right track. Alas, no matter how much he pushed the amount of time he can spend without breathing, it is insufficient for investigating farther— he isn't as rash as to risk being unable to return to the surface and pass away for lack of oxygen.

Twilight Sword is surprised when he's approached by a man whose presence sends all the alarms haywire that there is something about him that he must not neglige, that for now, he chooses to push back until the other shows hostility towards him. ◜I am not seeking any treasure.◞ What does he mean by inciting the waters' wrath? Are his actions worsening this place's condition? Unless... the willow is connected to these waters beyond extending its roots in order to get enough of it for its self-preservation.

Glacial sapphire irises move to the willow, then to its crown of leaves glowing with faint gold. ◜This tree isn't presenting itself as it would usually do, right?◞ His gloved hand rises to grasp the wet clothes over his chest, right over the spot of his heart. ◜Its life is declining, and so is the vitality that surrounds it in this lake. I''m looking for a way to stop that.◞

The Weeping Willow is in pain, its lament loud and clear submerged within the waters that surround it, unlike the luster it had lost and the blue it was stripped away from to crown it with muted gold. Léviathan could feel it all the way from the distant waters of northern Fontaine he came from in order to trace the source of sorrow. Its Ley Lines are losing their power gradually as a consequence of the sudden filth that has been building within, ever devouring their vitality. And ever since, rain fell over the area— a manifestation of the crownless sovereign's sadness for his inability to do anything about it. What little he can count with are a set of vague memories that inform him of the importance of these spirit veins, but no solution as to alleviate their pain whatsoever.

To make matters worse, it's been three days since the coming of a human from unknown lands. From his observations from afar he could tell that he does not belong to the barbarians living in nearby areas nor those that live well underwater in that golden kingdom of music. Every day at dawn, he would waken from the base of the willow and dive underwater for a limited amount of time before he resurfaced, visibly spent from the lack of oxygen (humans can spend as much time without breathing in the depths of the waters, he knows). This process would repeat over and over until night falls and he rests by the tree. Léviathan, meanwhile, would scan the waters to see if there is any disturbances to no avail: nothing changed.

He allowed it to happen for three days, until he could sense freight in the deep waters that pushed him to confront the stranger. The marine beings are agitated for reasons unknown that he could only attribute to this man's activity. But unbeknownst of him, this man's only fault was the discovery of an opening through which the void filters in. "Abandon these waters, lest you desire to incite their wrath." And by extension, his own. He's had enough of this man's fancies to come and go as he pleased, the concern that he would only aggravate the tree's situation alongside the water lines prevalent over anything else as his arms cross over his chest. "If it is treasure you seek, you will find none here." From his very limited and sparse observations of the humans, he had learned that they have a fascination for collecting treasures hidden in inauspicious places. But to this man's misfortune, this is no place to play.

[deepspacenova]

Covetous

She stepped out into the moonlight, allowing the glow to illuminate her silhouette. His massive form shifted, but he didn’t move to hide. No, he continued to lay upon his perch insolently, as if daring her to try something. A few moments of silent stalemate, then, a long-suffering sigh. “Again, little one?”

read on ao3

➻➻ ABOUT | 4500 words. sylus x fem!reader.

➻➻ TAGS | dragon!sylus. banter. sexual tension. porn with some plot. shameless smut. explicit.

NOTE: Basically written based on headcanons and vibes (before Beyond Cloudfall was released, so no spoilers). Because no, I am not okay about this myth card. Let’s all be not okay together xx

The icy air prickled on her skin as she scrambled her way through the rocky terrain that led down to the cavern system. 

She couldn’t help but feel a thrum of adrenaline-infused excitement as she crept into the darkness, the fissures in the rock overhead illuminating the tunnel with speckled moonlight as she slipped through the silent shadows. 

She paused for a moment, her breath curling into silver mist in front of her. The stars were high, and the cave ahead was quiet and blissfully unaware of her presence; she had time for a moment of indulgence. She took a deep breath, the intense chill of the night air revitalizing her. 

She had certainly seen worse.

Once upon a time she’d loathed heights, but she’d experienced far worse things over the years than being a few extra metres from the ground. After the war she’d thought it would be easy to fall back into her life, thought it would feel like being back on solid ground, but she’d been wrong, so caught up in changing the world that she didn’t even realise that she had changed too. Now…

Now she had to get back to work.

She hugged the jagged rock walls, her boots crunching softly against the gritty floor of the cave as she crept deeper into the shadows. Overhead, the roof of the cavern became higher and darker, glittering with faint streaks of quartz that caught the dim light filtering through unseen cracks above. 

What would her younger self think of this? Sneaking into a monster’s lair to pilfer his treasure? She imagined that naive girl, horrified beyond belief, clinging to ideals about honor and fairness. But those ideals didn’t pay for food, for shelter. The truth was simple: wealth changed the world. And if she had to steal it from the claws of a monster, then so be it. 

The path curved sharply, and just ahead, the faintest glint of gold sparkled in the dim light. Her heart skipped, her pulse quickening. 

Something was wrong. 

The chamber’s massive iron door, usually sealed tight, was cracked open, its hinges groaning faintly as a draft stirred the cavern air.

Damn it. She’d been so close. So close she could taste it. But now—

The faintest sound reached her ears—a low scrape, like claws dragging across stone. It was so subtle she almost missed it over the hammering of her heart as she gripped the dagger at her side.

Carefully, she tilted her head to peek around the corner.

The chamber opened into a vast expanse of shimmering treasure. Gold coins, goblets, gems, and gilded weapons spilled across the cavern floor in glittering piles. But her attention wasn’t on the wealth — it was on the hulking figure sprawled atop the stone mound.

The dragon. 

His massive form was sprawled on the pedestal, onyx scales glinting in the faint light like shards of obsidian. Smoke curled lazily around him as he rested its head on a palm, like a domesticated creature in repose.

Her stomach twisted. She’d expected him to be there, of course, but seeing him in the flesh was another thing entirely. The beast was impossibly large, his spiked wings resting behind him like folds of a midnight curtain. His tail swished idly, the tip flicking lazily as it held his prize, her prize. The Thread of Celestia, the sparkling necklace she’d set out to retrieve.

The very sight of him irked her. The sheer arrogance of him. No disguise, no armor, no clothing, he wasn’t even sticking to the shadows, the cocky, brutish– 

“Your stealth skills could use some work.” He called, his voice low and resonant, cutting through the quiet night like a blade through silk.

She rolled her shoulders, cracked her neck and gripped her dagger. 

She stepped out into the moonlight, allowing the glow to illuminate her silhouette. His massive form shifted, but he didn’t move to hide. No, he continued to lay upon his perch insolently, as if daring her to try something. His gaze narrowed as he took in her figure fully. 

A few moments of silent stalemate, then, a long-suffering sigh.

“Again, little one?”

“Apparently.”

“How have we ended up here again?”

“I don’t know.”

“Who sent you this time? I doubt we move in the same circles,” he said with a pretentious little sniff.

“No one hired me, Sylus.”

“Oh?” he inquired, eyes glittering like rubies. “Just for the fun of it then?”

“This isn’t for fun.” She lied. It wasn’t just for fun anyway… “Just because you don’t care about anything but yourself–”

“You know that’s not true,” he said, sitting up. The Thread of Celestia disappeared somewhere on his person with a smoothness that made her wonder just how many secrets his body held. 

Sylus continued, “I don’t believe for a second that you don’t have a little giggle to yourself thinking of the look on your master’s face when he realises his favorite… toy is being played with.” His gaze sluiced like warm water over her body and she knew he didn’t mean the necklace. She took another step toward him, palm tensing around the dagger behind her back. “And before you start waxing poetic about causes, I’ll remind you that last time we were in this position, you told me that cretins like him get what they deserve.”

“They do,” she said lightly, taking a few more steps forward.

“If you’re waiting for me to fall prey to the dagger behind your back, little one, you’re going to be disappointed.”

She shrugged, using the action to subtly shift her stance.

“I’m always disappointed in you.”

“Careful, sweetie, you’ll make me cry,” he drawled, his lip curling. “Shall we get on with it, then?”

She stopped less than a foot away from him. “I think we should.”

“Then, we don’t have all night.”

“No we don’t.”

There was a moment of perfect stillness, perfect silence. Then the tension snapped.

She sprung forward like an arrow from a bow, lunging towards him through the thin gap between them, and at the very same instant he leapt off the ledge, conjuring a cloud of thick smoke that swamped her vision. She expelled it with a slash of her arm and as the fog cleared she tried to glimpse him to no avail. He’d disappeared.

She may well have changed a great deal over the years, but she still hated losing.

She prowled around the cavern, her lungs burning as she fought to catch her breath each time she felt a claw poke her back, a tail stagger her step, or his melodic chuckle reverberate through her chest. She was fast but so was he, and in terms of size, strength, and supernatural ability he had her beat tenfold. 

He was almost close enough to grab now, but still an elusive flash of body parts her blasted human eyes could barely make out. It was now or never, though. With a grimace and a grunt of exertion, whipped around, hands outstretched–

And caught nothing but air.

She heard the soft thump of his tail behind the gold pile next to her and, not one to be easily deterred, she followed. 

This wasn’t over until she said it was over.

But she felt his heartbeat too late, alarmingly close, and she didn’t even have time to turn around before the tip of his claw was denting into the delicate flesh at the side of her neck.

“Found me,” he whispered into her ear as his arm came around her. He chuckled under his breath as she shuddered involuntarily against his front. “I forgot we’d added ear-whispering to the list of dirty tricks. I know how much it… affects you.”

“Fuck you,” she spat, cursing her treacherous body.

“Really? Here?” he said, and she could practically hear the arrogance in his grin.

Well. One dirty trick begets another.

Angling her hips just so, she pushed her arse backward until she heard the sharp intake of breath she knew so well. Then she snapped her head back, and heard a satisfying grunt as it connected with his face.

She spun around as his tail replaced his arm when the tip of his middle finger brush a small drop of blood from the corner of his lip — ideally, she’d have aimed for his nose, but he was at least a head taller than her so she’d take what she could reach — and drew her fist back.

“Oh no you don’t,” Sylus growled, grabbing her fist in his hand and twisting her arm toward the small of her back. “Don’t you dare give me another black eye, little one.”

“Don’t tempt me,” she muttered, drawing her dagger with her unrestrained hand and aiming it at his face.

Sylus released her fist from his grip, then used her moment of unbalance to tighten his tail around the back of her knees, but she was still fast and trained. She dropped her entire weight onto his tail and tackled him to the ground while he was still regaining his balance.

“If you don’t want a black eye, then you should be faster,” she panted, wriggling on top of him as she attempted to pin his arms to his sides with her knees. “Now where is it?”

“You don’t already know?” he asked silkily, with an utterly shameless grin and a roll of his hips. And yes, of course she could feel the effect the friction was having on him, of course, she knew she was squeezing him with her thighs so it was hardly an unexpected outcome, of course, his ridiculous leather ensemble really did leave very little to the imagination, but–

“I’m not interested in that,” she said coolly. “Where’s the necklace? And don’t you dare tell me to search for it.”

“Why should I tell you anything, sweetie? I’m rather enjoying myself if I’m honest.” She felt his erection twitch beneath her as if it was agreeing with him.

“So help me, Sylus, I will search for it, and depending on which crevice you’ve stashed it in, that could be quite uncomfortable for you.”

“Why are you so damn insistent anyway?” he asked blandly. “This thing is a novelty at best.”

“An expensive novelty,”

“Well obviously, but surely a rock that supposedly prevents hangovers is beneath your exalted notice?”

“It just means I’m selling something harmless,” she said with a shrug, “Now where-”

A loud crack of thunder above them split the quiet of the night, startling her.

Sylus immediately bucked his hips up, destabilizing her just enough that he could pull his hands up from where she’d been pinning them. He grabbed the back of her thighs and flipped them over, managing to catch one hand but she was too quick for him to catch the one that mattered, and then they were still again.

Her dagger under his chin, his claw digging into the space above her heart, tail pinning her in place, their chests heaving.

“Now why do we always have to solve our problems with violence, little one?” he purred, his voice barely more than a wisp of air. “Can’t we act civilized for once?”

“Maybe.”

“Fancy moving your little blade then?” he murmured, leaning forward a touch so she could feel the soft vibration of his voice humming through the length of her weapon into her hand.

“No,” she said stubbornly, “Why don’t you move your- your talon?”

“Because if I move mine you’ll cut my cheek, take the jewelry, and leave me,” he bit out, scowling, “Like last time.”

“Last time was different.”

“I wouldn’t have cared, you know,” he whispered, moving a fraction closer. She kept her blade against his throat, and he pressed his a little harder into her ribs. “I would have let you take that amethyst too, but waking empty handed and alone? That did sting a bit, sweetie.”

“So sorry,” she muttered sarcastically.

“No you’re not,” Sylus growled.

“No,” she said, almost breathless now, “I’m not.”

He let out a huff of exasperation, and they surged together. The kiss was hot and hard and vicious, and it stole the air from her lungs. She could taste the blood on his lips, and resisted the urge to bite it harder, oddly proud she was the one who’d put the mark there, who made the great beast bleed in the first place. He had no such qualms, and he nipped sharply at her lower lip, grunting in satisfaction when he felt her shudder beneath him.

“We can’t,” she gasped as he turned his attention to her neck. 

“If you want to leave then move your damn knife out of my face,” he rumbled into her jaw, and she realised that she had instinctually kept her weapon stuck firmly under his chin. His claws had moved to wrap around her throat. 

“Fine.” The sound of metal hitting metal echoed around them as the blade landed into a small pile of gold. 

They lay there, their faces a hair’s breadth apart for several seconds before she yanked the silvery-white hair at his nape and kissed him as if she wasn’t expected to be back in the city soon. 

Sylus didn’t complain. On the contrary, he growled into her mouth and his tail constricted harder around her hips, keeping her flush against him. Gods, she really did wish he wasn’t quite so attractive. She could feel every muscle through her clothes, smell the comforting scent of smoke on his warm breath, see every piece of white and black that covered this man who lived in the grey. 

“Every time,” she murmured as he kissed and nipped his way down her chest. “Every time I say it's the last time.”

“You did last time.” He hummed. 

She flicked her tongue against the pulse point she’d wanted to press her dagger into a few moments ago, “That’s why I left.”

He roughly shoved his thigh between hers and smirking at the way she gasped and tightened her grip on his shoulders, she could feel every wrinkle of fabric brush against her sensitive skin. “I’m sure that’s why,” he whispered in her ear sardonically.

“Dirty tricks,” she managed to pant out.

“Have I missed something, little one?” Sylus asked, pushing his thigh harder into her so she was practically rocking on his leg, “I thought we were well into the list? My lip’s still healing by the way.” 

“I need to get out of here, you beast,” she said, uncomfortably aware of how thin and unconvincing her voice sounded. “You can have all the dirty tricks you want once I–”

“That a promise?” he asked with a wolfish grin. 

She couldn’t help but smile back, even as she felt her cheeks heat. “Just a few hundred metres to the exit of the cave”

“Hm, winner keeps the necklace?”

“Wait, that’s not–”

He silenced her with a searing kiss, all tongue and teeth, then pulled away with an unbearably arrogant smirk, getting up and vanishing from her sight.

“Sylus!” She shouted in frustration before sprinting after him.

That confusing, adrenaline-fueled joy was back as they chased each other around the cave. 

She had no clue if she was really gaining on him, or if he was letting her for the fun of it, but in that moment she didn’t care a bit. When she spotted his tail from the corner of her eye she leapt forward and this time she caught more than air. She barreled into his chest like a warrior. Her light build was mitigated by the sheer momentum and together they tumbled onto the stone-cold floor.

They tussled clumsily for a few moments, rolling over and over without either one getting the upper hand. 

She saw a tantalising glint in her peripheral vision.

He was dangling the Thread of Celestia over her head from his tail — she didn’t even want to know which unholy nook or cranny he’d produced it from — and even in a gilded room it glittered, almost as if it was producing its own light. 

Then she realised that while she had been staring at the jewel, Sylus was staring at her, eyelids lowered, gaze soft. He cocked his head, questioning, and she couldn’t help but smile.

She reached out and gently closed her hand over the necklace, removed it from his tail, and flung it away from them.

“The usual rules?” Sylus murmured.

“Yes.”

“You didn’t wake me last time.”

“Last time we’d already agreed on the course of action.”

“You mean you’d agreed on the course of action,”

“Don’t pout, dragon. It’s not my fault all your attention had rushed south.”

“You were half-naked, sweetie.”

“So were you. That’s how I know where all your attention was.”

“Just… promise you won’t do it again,” he said, more serious than she’d heard him tonight.

“Fine,” she sighed. “I promise.”

“I’ll make you pay if you break this one,” Sylus rumbled, his voice low and dangerous.

She opened her mouth to retort, but he surged forwards with a low moan, their lips met, and her brain went blank for several wonderful seconds.

They were panting when they broke apart, but there was only a split second of stillness before they were back at each other, fingers and claws tearing at their garments between kisses. Eventually the clothing battle was won, and Sylus pressed his naked torso to hers as he brushed her hair over her shoulder with one sharp finger.

She ran her hands indulgently down the length of his back and he shuddered under her fingertips, sinking his teeth into the soft skin between her shoulder and neck.

She gasped and he chuckled. “Tit for tat,” he murmured into the crook of her neck, running his hands down the outside of her arms all the way down to her hips, where he hooked his thumbs inside her underwear. 

She tore them down her legs, the tease of real touch not nearly enough.

“So impatient,” he tutted, his lips brushing her jaw with every syllable.

In answer she slid her hand back up to palm him and grinning smugly to herself when she felt him shudder.

“You are always so-” he pulled one bra-strap down off her shoulder, “-demanding-” he slipped the other strap down, dragging his tongue over her collarbone, “-and greedy.”

“Tease,” she managed, trying and failing to disguise the growing desperation in her voice.

He pulled back and smiled slowly, the dusting of pink on his cheekbones and the soft grinding into her palm the only signs he might be as overwrought as she was. 

He dragged a fingertip across her lips, just barely grazing her tongue for the smallest second, and then it was too late to stop herself. She sucked it into her mouth, and for that moment every shred of composure vanished from his expression.

Apparently all his patience vanished too, because he let out a hoarse groan and grabbed her, flipping her around so her front was pressed against the gold-splattered floor. She longed to feel his heated skin against hers, so when he flicked open her bra she scrambled to shrug it off, gasping when her nipples brushed the cold metal of his treasures.

“You know how I know you like me here?” he growled into her ear, running his sharp finger down her spine. 

“How?” she panted, and he laughed quietly, a soft vibration against her neck.

“Because, little one,” he purred, “You’ve already headbutted me once this evening. I don’t believe for a second you wouldn’t do it again if you wanted to,” he nuzzled the nape of her neck, an oddly tender action given the way he was gripping her hips hard enough to bruise, “So logically I have to conclude that you’re letting me do this… but why is that, sweetie?”

He trailed off and his tail lowered around her thighs, leaving her exposed but still constrained. He swept his hand down her arse and the inside of her thigh, and then back up again to dip one finger into her. She tried to arch into his touch, but he’d already pulled away, and she huffed in frustration.

“Tell me why you’re letting me do this,” he commanded softly.

She bit her lip to stop herself from moaning. How was he so good at this?

The first time it happened it had been a fight from start to finish, brutal and frantic and without the smallest trace of softness, and she’d screamed so loud they’d had very nearly brought the cave down. The second time was more of a negotiation. He’d trapped her here for a few days, and after the first time had been so successful, it seemed like there were certainly worse ways to pass the time.

Every time they both agreed it was the last. Sometimes she told him to shut up, wrestled him to the floor, and made him shut up. Sometimes it was the other way around. But every time it became just a little harder to convince herself that this time really was the last.

“Tell me, little one,” he breathed, grinding each ridge of his cock slowly against her backside.

And every time, they would get to this point, the point where her resistance would evaporate, she’d say fuck it.

“Because I love it,” she gasped.

“Hmm,” he hummed, leaning forward again to reach between her legs, cupping her but not pushing inside. She groaned and arched into him again, and the arrogant bastard laughed. The worst thing was that his brazenness only riled her even more. “Now, are you going to be good for me, sweetie?”

“Don’t push it,” she snapped, and he laughed again.

“As you wish,” he said smoothly, and as much as she was enjoying this, his hand between her legs and his warm weight pressing her bare front against the floor, it didn’t do to let his ego run amok.

She moved to turn around, and surprisingly he didn’t try to stop her, just pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. For once there was no fight for dominance, no semblance of a struggle, just a frenzy of movement as they both scrambled to devour each other.

She traced his scales with her tongue. He stamped hot, open mouthed kisses on the bruises that were beginning to bloom from their escapades. Skin to skin, it was like a moment out of time, a bubble where nothing outside this underground cavern existed.

A sigh of satisfaction vibrated from his chest, when he slid a finger inside her and choked on a gasp of pleasure. His tongue swirled around her nipple and his thumb found her clitoris, and suddenly what she’d thought would be a marathon became a sprint.

“Sylus, I- I’m-”

He withdrew his hand and she groaned in disappointment, but her thighs were already cradling him and his cock was already teasing at her entrance. She ground down, desperate for friction, but he tightened his tail around her and before she could even blink he had flipped her over again. She had wanted to watch him unravel above her but now he was pushing her knees apart, and pushing further and further into her and- well, actually, this was fine too.

The moment the tip of his cock bottomed out she arched up into him as if she’d been electrocuted. Even so, it wasn’t enough. She squirmed for more.

“So demanding,” he purred, his hot breath torturous against the curve of her cheek.

“Stop stopping!” she growled, grabbing his hair to push his face into her neck and pushing back into him.

He chuckled against her and flexed his hips once, just once, and she was so close she felt like a live wire, her skin buzzing with the anticipation of it. Without warning he punched her clit and she screamed into the top of her own hand.

Sylus caught her wrist and pinned it to the ground.

“Don’t you dare,” he grunted, pushing in further, “I want- fuck- I want to hear every single sound.”

She moaned loudly. Much as she hated to admit it, she really did love his voice like this.

“Just like that,” he groaned, and she clenched around him involuntarily as he began to move. “Oh fuck- I fucking love-”

“Gods, I’m going to-”

“Yes, come on my cock,” he snarled, thrusting harder and tightening his grip on her wrist.

Her other hand fisted around his nape, her whole body clenched, and her awareness narrowed past this room, even past him, and all she could do was hold on for dear life as her orgasm claimed her.

In the fuzzy edges of her perception she heard her name, his voice low and rough, almost reverential, and finally he came with a wordless moan, his body shuddering against her. As the waves of pleasure began to recede, she thought distantly how strange it was that this was so good. It didn’t make any sense at all. They didn’t make any sense. This couldn’t ever work.

But there was something profoundly, sinfully delightful about taking something you were never meant to have. And in that moment, she thought she understood this dragon more than she ever had.

There weren’t any more words. This part was always oddly quiet for how much they both loved to talk. They just silently curled their exhausted bodies around each other. There wasn’t anything left to say, they both knew that, all too quickly, dawn would arrive, and reality would catch up with them once again.

As the tendrils of sleep coiled around her mind, the last thought in her head was that maybe she would quite like to do this one day without any of the usual shit. Maybe they could fall asleep together and wake up together. Maybe they would… maybe……

When she awoke, she felt unusually comfortable. She hummed in contentment and stretched, and let out a little sigh of disappointment when she realised that she was alone. Then the context caught up with her, and all the sleepy indulgence evaporated.

She bolted upright, ignoring the twinges of protest from her limbs and the rush of lightheadedness at getting up so quickly. She’d half expected him to be lounging there next to her, waiting for her with the necklace dangling from his tail like an insolent bastard, but no. The cave was as empty as the silks she’d been lain on, and her heart sank.

She should have known this would happen, especially since she’d done it to him last time. She shook her head in exasperation at herself. This couldn’t keep happening, it was-

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a small package on the bedside table, a leather pouch with a folded note propped up in front. She reached for the pouch, undoing the drawstring and peering inside.

And there it was. The necklace. The very thing that had brought her to him in the first place.

She pulled the drawstring tight, as if looking at it too long might make it disappear, and reached blindly for the note. It was just a few scrawled words.

Just this once, sweetie. I have a monstrous reputation to maintain. -S

[miyaz6ki]

(dom) stoner!kinich high sex pretty pls.... ‼️😣

i dont know what being high is like so pls forgive me if this doesn't make sense :3 fair warning this is kind of over 1k words (I think) +mostly smut

dacryphilia if you kind of squint, gn!afab!reader (no specified prns)

kinich often got high, and always offered you some. but obviously you never obliged, wanting to stay clean for the rest of your life.

you were there every time he did something, anything related to it—and you've always said to stop, yet he simply nods and continues doing it anyway.

he says it's for relief, and other times he says it's for fun.

but one night you get a little curious.

"kin'." you poke at him as he hangs his head back, manspreading into the chair, brushing excess dust away from his nose.

"mmm?" oh he was definitely into it. clear in his voice—a much more different tone was laced, yet he was still coherent, and able to reply. he wasn't the type to take too much of it anyway.

he took a drag from the white powder-like substance on the table- it was cocaine, as well as a quick puff from his cigarette, watching as he let out the huff of smoke away from you. he knows you don't really like it, which is why he was stunned at your sudden question.

"can.. can i try?" your voice was light, with a sense of curiosity. "oh, pretty, you know that curiosity killed the kitty right?" he let out a deep chuckle, you could hear the smokiness in the rasp of his voice. he had offered you a few times before, but seeing your clear distaste for such matters, he didn't try to push it any further.

"please? just once." he let out a laugh at your silly little pleading. "you sure, kitty? this seems to be a bit strong for people who are new to it." "just lemme try some!"

he reluctantly lets you near him, letting you sit near him so he can briefly put it into your mouth. at first, you sneeze at the sudden smell of tobacco. kinich can't help but let out a raspy chuckle at your cute reaction. "too strong?" "no, I'll... I'll take it!"

as you take in your first puff, it definitely felt a lot different than what you imagined. your emotions felt so... enhanced. emphasizing specifically lust, is it possible to lace a cigarette with an aphrodisiac?

well, whatever was inside it got his head buried between your thighs, while your fingers threaded, and grasped at his hair. your drunken little moans definitely only got him more pussy drunk, and drowsy. he couldn't tell if it was the tobacco smell in the air that influenced his taste, or if your essence just tasted that good.

whatever that cigarette was, it definitely enhanced whatever he felt, as well as yours. you could feel his determination to suck you dry with the way his tongue glided over every sport, fuck he hit everything alright...

he held your hips close, not letting you go just yet, no he had to get every little crevice, every little drop he could. he didn't know what the hell was he tasting but archons was it close to celestia. whatever that was.

you couldn't help but spew out pathetic mewls, it was your own fault you took the silly little dust into your system. even as you came right onto his face, you still wanted more.

fuck, squirting into your best friend's mouth like this, it was unethical! so dirty, and naughty, why were you still entertaining these stupid fantasies you had, finally letting these dreams come true.

before you knew it, he was already flipping you onto your back to fuck your tight entrance into oblivion!! he circled his finger around the very rim of your entrance, aching- almost asking for more.

it throbbed harder as you felt him enter with one digit. clenching harshly onto kinich's fingers, he let out a groan. "s'tight... and it's just my fingers..." your back instinctively arched against them, how he was obviously curving the tips of his fingers into that one spot you loved so much.

before you knew it- you were already creaming onto his very palm. the overstimulating feeling from just reaching your peak about five-ish minutes ago by his talented tongue, and now by just as talented fingers.

gosh it's always him and his heightened senses that mixed well with his excitement. his hurriedness almost shocked you frozen—yet your eyes continuously rolled to the very back of your pretty little head, his digits only fastened the pace.

his tongue licked a long stripe all over your nape as a way to tease you, as you slowly calmed down from the exhilarating feeling you had just experienced—but he didn't want you to rest just yet.

his hand leaves the ripe, soft hole. looking back up at him as if to ask for more, and oh would you be getting more.

as if dragging your hips to attach to his, he believed your legs weren't spread far enough; lifting up one of your soft legs onto his shoulder for support.

you were almost already accustomed to his wildness and let your arms go numb beside your head, as his slowly started to enter inside.

you didn't know what to do- but it felt like you had to hold onto something—now wildly grasping onto the sheets below you as your head buried further into the mattress. fuck you felt like you were being split apart right then and there!

"ahhh- kin'- fffuck it hurts..." with you eyebrows knit and a loud wail comes from your throat, he leans down to whisper how he knows that you can take it.

"c'mon I promise it'll feel good once I'm in, pretty..." each word he said, an inch entered inside you—fffuck he loved how you stretched over him so well.

"damn, you're so tight baby- ahh sssshitt..." he stops midway just to admire the little tears that trickled in the edges of your eyelids, and how your hands flailed everywhere, you yourself didn't even know where to place your fingertips on, his neck or the bed itself.

his loud groan didn't help as he pushed the last few inches into, making you shudder- your back ached as it arched once more. almost screaming his name, and lands one of his hands onto your mouth—a finger over your mouth.

"you remember we have guests over, yeah? not too loud now, baby." cold fingertips wipe your tears away, a smirk grows on his expression.

working himself in and out of your hole with a calm pace, knowing that you weren't too used to him—not to mention his size. your little mewls, shit are you begging him to rearrange your insides right now?

he admits that he had fantasized this before, and for as much as he wasn't a virgin while doing this with you right now—he can admit all the girls he fucked he only thought about you the whole time.

and not to mention how turned on he was right now- the mix of getting to fuck you and the drug he took, actually no aside the actual drug, fucking you was the drug.

he'd overdose on it if he could. if he always got to see how you would furrow your brows, your cute little eyes roll to the very rear of your head, and getting to feel your soft skin on his.

the sound of skin slapping against each other was loud, and vulgar, and probably enough to get the attention of your guests outside. even so, you still attempted to hide your wails of pleasure.

before you realize it- you've came onto him for the third time this night, as he finishes inside you as well. squirting everywhere— some of it getting onto his chest, and a bit on his face. his own head throwing back in pleasure, barely holding in his own noises, attaching your hips to his for a bit.

"f- fffuck... never seen anyone squirt like that before. y'wanna do it again?"

[dr1diot]

here are those who share the memories

pairing: zhongli x goddess!reader

synopsis: you disappear from morax’s life shortly after the archon war, after he gains the title of geo archon—the title you’d fought tooth and nail to help him obtain. centuries pass, and he hasn’t heard word of you since you left—he assumes you’re dead, faded from existence like so many other gods. until one day, one of his ever-loyal yaksha report a strange sighting near wangshu inn…a human who looks just like you.

aka the real reason behind zhongli’s retirement

morax didn’t think he’d ever shot to his feet as fast as when xiao had reported sightings of a human who looked eerily similar to you near wangshu inn.

he’d been spending his afternoon the same way he always did—keeping a watchful eye over his city from the clouds, hidden from the sight of the mortals who bustled down below.

as the sun had dipped ever closer towards the horizon, he’d landed on the highest peak of the stone forest sprouting from the ground northwest of liyue harbor, shifting back into the form of a man. it was as he sat down at the familiar table hewn of stone that xiao had appeared before him, brows furrowed as he reported his sightings.

morax had believed for a long time that his heart had turned to stone the day you left him. but now, at the sound of your name on his yaksha’s tongue, he felt it thud painfully in his chest for the first time in centuries.

he wasted no time in snapping his fingers and shifting into his human vessel—the one he’d named zhongli some decades ago, when he’d first ventured into the city cloaked under the guise of mortality—before commanding xiao to take him to where he’d seen you last.

so there he was, leaning against the railing on the highest floor of wangshu inn. furiously scanning the milling crowd enjoying the restaurant, power rippling out in waves gone unnoticed by the oblivious humans below as tendrils of his power threaded through them—weaving up, down, side to side as he explored each human, searching for even a drop of the power that had belonged to you. that had felt almost as familiar as his own, that had mingled with his each night spent together, each time you’d held each other after a long, bloody, soul-battering battle.

he searched. he searched and searched and searched and searched—

and he couldn’t find you.

he stayed there until the sun went down, until the lamps were lit, bright against the darkness—until the humans began retiring to their rooms, drunk and laughing and happy—

morax thought he’d never be happy again. not after his heart had risen so high, after he’d been filled to the brim with hope that he’d be able to hear your voice again—

ah, as grief weighed his eyelids down, dropped mountains on his shoulders, even his own mind turned against him.

he could have sworn he heard you. the silky, almost musical cadence of your voice—oh, how he missed your voice.

“morax.”

he laughed hoarsely, silently cursing celestia. the mind was truly an amazing thing—how familiar the trickery his grief-stricken psyche had conjured sounded to the way you’d called his name so many centuries ago—

oh, it was painful. his heart cracked.

but then he felt xiao bristling at his side. and then, heard footsteps from behind.

his body moved on its own, whipping around as a painfully familiar power washed over his senses—

and oh.

he fell to his knees.

because the one in front of him—the human—

it was you.

and damn if he didn’t feel those cracks in his heart mending.

you were smiling softly as you stood several paces from his trembling, crumpled form. “it’s been a long time, old friend.”

how did you sound so unfazed when he felt close to breaking out in sobs?

he hadn’t realized just how much he missed you all those centuries ruling liyue by himself.

“it’s…it’s you. you’re alive.” his voice was hoarse, disbelieving.

he vaguely noted his yaksha disappearing into the night to give them space.

“i am.” you nodded, taking a step forward—and your scent washed over him.

his eyes widened. it was so distinctly human—it was similar to how you’d smelled before—and yet, it had an edge of raw mortality to it—

“how…? why do you smell human?”

“ah, right. i never showed you my human vessel, did i? though it seems you’ve taken one too. i named it ‘huangxi.’ pretty name, no?” you toyed with a strand of your h/c hair, eyes flickering down to the form of the man before you.

he only stared up, eyes still wide. “why?”

you flicked the strand of hair behind you. “i didn’t want people to constantly be falling at my feet and begging for blessings—it’s easier to move around this way.”

“no. why did you leave me?”

ah.

your smile turned into something sad, eyes filling with understand at the hoarseness of his voice. “i’m sorry, morax. i simply…got tired. of being a god. i wanted to experience something new. something human. and you…you could never leave your post. your duties.” you laughed ruefully. “i wanted to travel the world. but you—you were tied down to liyue. you could not have travelled with me. you loved the city guizhong left you too much.”

morax shook his head as he stood on trembling legs. “i—i thought you were dead.” he takes a wobbly step forward. “i would have gone with you, had you asked. breaking my contract with liyue would have been better than thinking you were gone this whole time.” his voice broke, and he took another step.

“i’m sorry. i knew you would have tried to stop me had i told you of my plans. but that was wrong of me. i should’ve sent word to you that i was ok. forgive me. i didn’t know you cared so much.”

didn’t know that he cared? the words made him shake. how could you have not known? after everything the two of you had gone through? after those nights together? he could feel slivers of his godhood slipping through his mortal vessel, his eyes, arms, the tips of his hair beginning to glow.

“are you mad at me, morax?” you questioned softly, cocking your head to the side as he took another step—you were now close enough for him to touch if he simply raised his arms.

oh, how he wanted to be mad. how could you leave him? let him believe you were dead for so long?

and yet, as he tried to muster his anger, all he could feel was pure, heart-wrenching relief at having you standing before him.

“…no.” he raised both hands, brushing your face softly before cupping your cheek, your jaw. almost in disbelief at the warmth beneath his fingers, at the heat that leaked through his gloves.

you were here. in front of him. alive.

before you could react, his arms were wrapped tightly around your waist, dragging you to his chest as he buried his face in the crook of your neck.

and then he was crying.

his shoulders trembled as he took deep, choked breaths trying to wrest his sobs back to silence.

you tried to lift your arms to wrap around his broad back, yet the slight movement had him squeezing tighter.

“i’ll go with you. i’ll go with you, so don’t leave me again.” he kept his face buried, but this time didn’t react as you lifted your arms to pat his back gently. “i’ll be human for you. then we can travel together.”

you laugh. “oh, morax, morax, morax. you should not give up your godhood so lightly. what would guizhong say?”

“guizhong,” morax breathed as he finally lifted his face, eyes red and puffy, cheeks wet, “would tell me to follow my heart, for she was a kind god.”

his heart.

you stared into his amber eyes for a long time, smile fading as you beheld what was there.

“morax. we are only friends. what we shared after battles—that was for comfort. to forget the horrors of that day.” you began shaking your head. “do not be so quick to give up the archonhood that you fought so hard for.”

“that we fought so hard for.” he corrected, something sparking in his eyes. “and i’m tired too, y/n. it’s been six thousand years.” he smiled ruefully. “i think im ready to stop.”

you both stared at each other for a long time.

“if that is what you truly desire,” you said slowly, “then i will not stop you. but please, do not regret your decision later.”

he smiled, partly in relief, partly in assurance. “i will not. after all, how can i regret a decision made in love?”

in love.

the word threatened to bring you to your knees.

“you do not mean it, morax.” you warned softly.

“i do. i have had centuries to think about it. to realize what my feelings for you were before you left. now i am taking this chance, this miraculous chance, to tell you.” his voice was soft, and yet you heard the conviction there. and your heart squeezed.

“then i must confess something,” you whispered. “when i left you, yes, i was tired of being a god. but i was also afraid—i loved you too. but i was scared. scared of what that meant. so i ran like a coward. even knowing this, can you still say you love me?”

“i do not see why that is a problem.” he took one of your hands, pressing his lips to your palm. “y/n. i would love, more than anything, to spend the rest of my existence with you. as a god, as a human, i do not care—if you’ll have me. what say you?”

your eyes shutter shut, and you begin crying. “i do not deserve your love.”

“you deserve the world and more, dear y/n. in fact, it is i who does not deserve your love.”

you open your silver-lined eyes, beholding the love in his eyes. the gleaming affection. and begin crying harder. “yes,” you sobbed, bowing your head as tears roll down your cheeks. “i will have you, if you truly want that.”

morax looked ready to collapse in sheer relief as he closed his eyes, leaning in to press his brow to yours. “thank you.”

you only smiled tearfully, patting his back as he wrapped his arms around you once again. “i should be the one thanking you.”

“zhongli!”

“ah—there you are, huangxi.” zhongli patted the empty spot next to him, smiling at the sight of his lover waving in his direction as she approached the table. “please meet director hu. she’s my boss at the wangsheng funeral parlor.”

huangxi smiled brightly as she sat next to the immaculately-dressed man, extending a hand to the girl with pigtails. “it’s great to finally meet you, director hu. zhongli has told me much about you.”

“aiya, really? all good things, i hope!” the young funeral director exclaimed, raising an eyebrow at her newest employee.

“of course, he reassured, bowing his head.

“good, good. though i must apologize, ms huangxi—i frankly have no idea who you are, or your relation to my employee here. mr. zhongli is loathe to talk about his personal life at work.” she sighed in exasperation, massaging her temples with mock frustration.

“ah.” huangxi lifted an eyebrow at the man sitting besides her, who cleared his throat.

“do forgive me for not filling you in earlier, director. this is my wife, huangxi.”

“…what?!”

part two: huangxi