genshin-scenarios

[genshin-scenarios]

welcome to new teyvat!

Summary: Genshin characters in a Zenless Zone Zero AU! This post doesn’t follow ZZZ’s plotline exactly, so there aren’t significant spoilers — but the contents do reference a lot of the worldbuilding so it’s easier to understand if you’ve played it before.

Note: The reader is in the role of the player-proxy!

Characters: Venti, Wanderer, Xiao, Albedo, Kazuha, Lyney

Venti

The mysterious idol ‘Barbatos’ is an internet sensation who releases songs throughout the year, with an annual live concert that takes over the entire city of New Teyvat! It’s always on the anniversary of the city’s founding (new year), spreading wonder and hope across a night of twinkling stars.

Barbatos’ career started when Old Teyvat had just collapsed, as a small musician name that soothed many during a period of great change. What no one knows however, is that Barbatos is not one person… but two!

That’s right; it’s a role shared by Venti and Himmel (Nameless Bard, who is alive in this AU!) Due to their similar appearances, they often swap between songs in concerts and share the role of songwriting & mixing. Fans are aware that there are ‘two people’ to Barbatos, but have been pretty good about respecting their privacy (it helps that their agency, who liaise with the Knights of Favonius and Church, are vigilant about their safety, too.)

Despite having grown into a big brand, they’ve always stuck to composing their own songs and the personal values that fueled them in Old Teyvat’s fall. While Himmel prefers a quieter life of visiting videogame stores, trying the newest cafes, and managing their social media accounts — Venti’s more keen on socialising and is more of an ‘actor’ in early-New Teyvat development. He has the ability to go into Hollows, and sometimes does his own mysterious investigations as part of his cooperation with the other ‘Archons.’ 

Basically… Himmel’s a civilian, whose dream was actually to see the world (before said world collapsed during an apocalyptic incident), while Venti has a hidden side to him (growing combative abilities that can rival other high-ranking agents, though he hides it beneath a lighthearted, ‘helpless,’ tone). Venti’s goal is mostly to make Himmel’s wish come true; getting rid of the corrosion that’s eating away their world so that it can once again heal. And perhaps, if they’re lucky — the fields of cecilias and asters can bloom once again. 

Venti’s chirpy and charismatic as always; you met when he commissioned you to help with a hollow visit ‘for artistic inspiration,’ and never learnt about its ‘true’ purpose despite feeling like there’s more than meets the eye. There is also the possibility that Venti just wanted to get his mind off something and blow off some steam, of course. Despite acting like a helpless civilian 80% of the way.

You only realize he’s Barbatos at the end of the quest (when you finally meet face-to-face), and Venti runs off seconds after, leaving you to process the cliffhanger alone. Eventually he does return to visit your videostore though, borrowing movies for ‘inspiration’ (it was actually for Himmel and his bodyguards). 

He likes to butter you up with endearments like ‘my favourite proxy’ and ‘beloved fan,’ often hanging off your arm while he drags you around the city to explore the shops and such. He’s often undercover, and you get the feeling that he’s less interested in the places you go to, and more about running away from Himmel or Jean (their manager) whenever his mood isn’t the best.

You do meet Himmel at some point when he’s in the arcade causing a stir! (Beating all the highest records to claim a grand prize). You thought he was Venti at first before noticing their differences in demeanor, which immediately made Himmel adopt you as his companion for the day (their one similarity is their penchant for dragging you around. Albeit you can tell that Himmel actually is interested in the items he’s browsing in the stores, rather than having his mind wander elsewhere like Venti does. …It does make you wonder just how much is on his mind.)

However, you’ve always wondered about the logistics of them being Barbatos (does one write the songs and the other sing?), which was answered when Venti took part in a high-stakes mission with Jean and Diluc (the Mondstadt prologue team!), responding to your concern about his concert that night with ‘oh, no need to worry about that. I will still be performing, even if we’re in the hollow all night!’

It’s kind of impressive how Himmel and Venti can seamlessly copy each other, though. If you didn’t know either of them well enough, you could have certainly been fooled by watching back on the tapes of Himmel mimicking Venti’s upbeat, bubbly crowdwork (and tricked into situations where Himmel was trying to push you and Venti’s crushes on each other along, by leaving you voicemails asking you on a date from Venti’s phone. He is your number one shipper).

Wanderer

A hacker and ‘childhood friend’ of yours from the now-fallen Old Teyvat, Wanderer disappeared off the grid for a bit before reappearing as Nahida’s aide many years later when you were caught in a Bad Situation (your secret identity as the proxy ‘Viator’ was almost leaked to the press!)

After the fiasco (chasing down the people responsible, who turned out to be tied to the fall of Old Teyvat,) Wanderer moved in on the street where you lived to help ‘keep an eye on things’ (he was worried about you being in danger and wants to personally make sure you’re safe).

Despite how you’ve been separated for a while, your friendship resumed in a seamless manner as the both of you catch up on each other’s lives: Wanderer is working as a double agent right now who’s infiltrating the Fatui as ‘the Balladeer,’ while you’ve become a proxy to find out more about the fall of Old Teyvat (your previous home) and missing companion (Aether, Lumine, or both!) 

While the both of you have high-stakes secret lives, Wanderer’s civilian cover-up is pretty simple. He runs a bangboo workshop for select customers (whoever doesn’t get on his nerves) and usually shuts himself into his apartment, but has established a new routine of visiting your store once a week; usually in inconspicuous clothing like a hoodie or such. If you don’t invite him to get lunch or dinner he will get huffy.

He likes to quip that ‘trying to appear normal’ is pointless due to the nature of your double lives. But you begin to help him (to Nahida’s joy) open up his world to more friends over time. They're usually his co-workers, who he avoids talking to more than necessary (because of his double agent work), but now that you're acquainted with them too he can't just let you wander off to meet them alone, right? He's affiliated with Nahida but you can never be too careful. (He'll never admit that he's a worrywart).

Wanderer does get a bit jealous whenever you hang out with agents, saying he doesn't know what the big deal is. ‘Being able to fight in hollows doesn't make them special.’ Because of this, you didn’t even know that he can work as an agent too — Wanderer just doesn’t do it often because after the Old Teyvat incident, half of his body had to be replaced with new metal parts (made of Nahida's new tech, rather than Raiden's), which he's still getting used to!

The first time you see him in the hollows is when someone dug up and tried to blackmail him with his past (ties to Raiden Ei). Naturally, you’re the only one he trusts to back him up (you knew vaguely about his family ties from your time in Old Teyvat, and the loss of his close friends during the city’s fall — the mechanics and metalsmiths (of Tatarasuna).

His story quest concludes with you calling for backup from Childe (one of the few Fatui who Wanderer’s begrudgingly okay with you being acquainted with). After they successfully escape, Childe drops Wanderer off at your video-store, saying that he’d probably want to see you the moment he wakes up.

‘Even when he wasn't able to move anymore… the only thing on his mind was making sure they wouldn’t target you, too.’ 

‘...He cares about you more than you think. But I guess you don't need me to tell you that.’

Xiao

The Adepti are a special operations unit that served under Zhongli after the fall of Old Teyvat, and are now begrudgingly affiliated under the Liyue Qixing (if Zhongli wasn’t still behind-the-scenes with them, they would've probably retired by now). 

Now that things are peacefuller, most of the Adepti live as civilians and only go on field missions once in a while — save for Xiao, who’s one of the most active units and a workaholic to boot. 

He has a fanbase (think like Section 6). While they've only seen him with his yaksha mask on, they’re convinced just from the way he walks and talks, that Xiao must be an incredibly attractive man. They aren’t wrong, but his co-workers tease him a lot for it, which he ignores as he disappears midway through news conferences and interviews, leaving it to his them instead. 

You met during one of his missions, of course — and in true Miyabi fashion — Xiao was actually trying to arrest you and treated you as a potential enemy at first, due to your Proxy work. 

But after you saved him in a hollow (purifying him of ether corrosion) and he saved you from Ethereals, you formed a reluctant alliance that turned into slow friendship after it was clarified that you were no longer on the Liyue Qixing's wanted list. On the contrary, you're now an ally!

You learn that during the fall of Old Teyvat, Xiao and the other yakshas were hit heavily by ether corrosion after spending an extended period of days in the hollows; most of them are fine now, but as Xiao took the brunt of it, he’s somewhat ill like Harumasa and has to be checked on by Baizhu regularly. 

Though he often soldiers on and pretends he’s fine, his coworkers ask you to invite him out for lunch and errands so that he’d rest instead of training all the time. —It’s what everyone admires him for, but they’re just as concerned about how hard he is on himself. 

You are one of the few people who he’d stop training for and take breaks with, if you ask. You think it’s because Xiao has the impression that you’re a workaholic too, and that by complying he’s helping you rest. 

Xiao doesn’t see the point in engaging in civilian relationships because he considers his ether corrosion to be a deadline of sorts; before he’s unable to fight any longer, he wants to do his best to protect New Teyvat and eradicate the source of ‘evils’ — so that no one else is lost to the endless void. 

Despite that, many people gravitate towards Xiao. You learn he actually has more friends than he lets on (Venti, Yelan, Keqing, Ganyu, Cloud Retainer and the other adepti, to name a few), and every time you run into them on your hangouts, Xiao almost seems… embarrassed?

You soon learn that this is because everyone knows that he has a soft spot for you and really wants to see Xiao acting all domestic (waiting outside your video-store because he arrived early, carrying your bags, walking to you immediately if he sees you…)

Xiao would rather eat cement than put on a show for them so he often ushers you away (as you can tell, the main angst in this AU is his corrosion since the other yakshas are alive. It's otherwise quite casual and fun!)

He is so obvious about his favouritism, though. The yakshas (basically his family) have been trying to invite you for dinner for the longest time, but Xiao is too wary of what kind of things they might ask you once you’re there. 

When the dinner finally happens, though, you all hit it off! Bosacius teases Xiao, asking if what he was really worried about was sharing your attention, seeing as you’re now distracted on the side.

Of course, all Xiao gives in response is a little huff. "...What a ridiculous thought.” 

Albedo 

A clinic owner by day and scientist by night! Albedo specializes in treating non-regular people, like Thierens, those with machine parts, ether corrosion, and… your eye implants! (A unique ‘gadget’ you got from your old teacher.)

Albedo seems to be especially interested in you. He likes to test the limits of your ability to connect to your bangboo and notes that people often seem to be drawn to you. …As a proxy, of course. What’s putting that blush on your face? 

Awful, awful. He’s way too flirty for a doctor, but you guess it's also your fault for befriending him outside of work. You had no idea what you were in for when you agreed to be his research partner; and after a few days of radio silence, you were suddenly called upon to ‘fetch’ Albedo from the hollows like it was just another Tuesday afternoon.

This becomes a normal occurrence quickly, due to Albedo’s inability to sit still when a theory comes to mind. He is also very unafraid of Ethereals and is immune to corrosion (as a homunculus,) which means that his reaction to you finding him is always a little smile (playing innocent), as if you’d just found him on an evening walk (how did he carry so many vials into the hollow? And are those bones???)

Only a handful of people would believe you if you told them about his hobbies, though. For the most part Albedo is an elusive, pretty face in the neighborhood who’s known for being a top-notch scientist. He often exchanges research with Baizhu and Tighnari, and Cyno and Xingqiu too?

The latter is more towards his art account online (Albedo went viral for his genius, ‘surely those who post art without captions are a different beast!’) As such, he’s able to bid his paintings off to fund his scientific endeavors. You tried becoming his ‘art agent’ for a function once and swore you’d never attempt it again, though. Art aficionados are terrifying…

Funny thing, by the way: when you first met Albedo, he was a villain to be reckoned with in your eyes, as the Knights of Favonius reached out to you with an urgent commission to catch a rogue scientist.

You were entirely convinced that Albedo was some kind of evil criminal until you finally caught him in the hollows — only for the knights to go ‘if you do this one more time we really won’t be able to cover for you!’

…Turns out, Albedo is affiliated with the knights, though he doesn’t work in their HQ and such. He is indeed a genius but has the tendency to use abnormal approaches, sometimes to the point of suspicion from other governmental bodies (meaning the Knights of Favonius have to sometimes cover his neck.)

Emotionally betrayed (from being led on) about the ‘dangerous, unpredictable individual’, you tried to leave right after you got your commission payment from the knights (this is Kaeya’s fault. Kaeya never clarified things because he thought it’d be funny. And then as you were chasing down Albedo, he also caught onto your misconception and played along. They’re both horrible!)

Albedo still likes to tease you about it these days, and in your early friendship he’d ‘act’ the part of a villain and stress you out with lines like ‘I don’t know, Proxy, will you be able to keep me in check?’ Or ‘You would know how unpredictable I can be.’ 

Or: ‘Don’t worry, you know my will is malleable to yours.’ ‘…And what about the law?’ ‘Well,, there is no emotional compulsion tying me to that.’

You know he’s a good person, but sometimes the way he looks at you from beneath his lashes does make your heart skip a beat. Out of stress, surely. Not… anything else.

Kazuha

Representing the Alcor in the Outer Ring as their duelist, Kazuha isn’t seen in the city very often due to his sensitivity to crowds and loud sounds. 

The first time you met, however, was in the city's outskirts: he was escorting an important shipment and was taking a late-night break — and archons, Kazuha was so ethereal with his hair down and gazing up at the moon, that you thought he might’ve been a figment of your imagination. 

You’re proven wrong a few days later when Heizou (renowned detective) asks if you can travel out to help the Alcor with a shipment task. They’re being targeted by rival groups as a large tournament is coming up; but Heizou feels like there’s more to this ‘competitiveness’ than meets the eye. Also… it’s the first year since Kazuha’s close friend, Tomo, was lost in an accident last year. So Heizou thinks your arrival would be a good distraction.

While your sense of direction mainly comes in navigating mazes, Kazuha shows you a different way of moving through the world. He’s able to find his way throughout the Outer Ring no matter where he’s dropped; ‘reading the wind’ with his senses, he says, while keeping you close to his side with fingers entwined. 

Yeah. Kazuha’s a bit of a romantic, claiming that your second meeting must’ve been a work of fate; but you soon realize there might be something more meaningful in your interactions after learning about the burn marks on his hands. 

While they're still recovering, the fact he tries to hold you close is a show of trust — and, a way for him to memorize your presence in case something urgent happens during the tournament. That way, he’d be able to rescue you even if smoke and thunder raged, muddling his other senses.

When said drama does occur during the night of the tournament (rogue groups attacking, xyz), you weren’t in the vicinity when Kazuha was fighting off foes. You do however rescue him from being surrounded by enemies, via grabbing and pulling him through a hollow rift by the hand. There, you helped the Alcor regroup and sort out their counter-attack, and Kazuha still hasn’t gotten over the moment your fingers wrapped around his skin; somehow, he did recognize your touch. 

It’s ironic how his intentions to protect you concluded in the opposite; after the drama in the Outer Ring passes, you do encounter Kazuha quite often in the quieter parts of the city. Beidou has been sending him on errands more often ever since she noticed your friendship, and doesn’t want Kazuha to get all mopey from not seeing you for too long (he likes to send you pictures from his strolls around the Outer Ring though, of desert landscapes and orange sunsets that seem to consume the clouds.)

Kazuha also quite enjoys movie nights with you! He prefers this in the comfort of your living room rather than the cinema, since there’s less people (and it’s easier for him to double as a bodyguard for your store). 

He reminds you that you’re more high-profile than you think, and to be careful because of the risks of your double life. Most importantly… he’ll always come to your rescue if you need it, be it through wind or storm. So don’t hesitate to contact him (he really can’t stomach the thought of losing another friend.)

People know of Kazuha as the cutie from the Outer Ring who hangs out with you often!! He also has friends in the city like Heizou, Kokomi, Gorou and etc, but they claim that he’s hard to get a hold of and disappears quite quickly. Which is strange considering how Kazuha often spends the night at your store’s guest room or couch after long movie marathons, or only departs reluctantly way later into the night.

Lyney

The Fatui’s House of Hearth deploys stealth agents of all kinds; Lyney and Lynette in particular are their best, able to disguise themselves in a myriad of ways and changing identities at the drop of a hat. It’s almost like magic, some might say. 

To be honest, Lyney’s a little bit in love with the job since it also deals with surprising people with tricks — and while he and Lynette do street magic and small shows every now and then as civilians — it’s not their ‘job’ like it is in the canonical game. They're more active in the House of Hearth’s missions, especially as they’re one of the few with the ability to go into hollows and withstand their corrosion.

Therefore, Lyney’s love for magic is a little bit suppressed! They have to keep a low profile after all, since it’d be pretty easy to trace an amazing magician’s acts to his flamboyant mission escapes if he isn’t careful. So when you come along, well… You’re one of the few outsiders who know about both his lives. And that makes things special, because he can now excitedly show you the newest tricks he’s been practicing!! Both for missions and civilian shows.

You met when the House of Hearth needed a Proxy for a rather difficult mission; leading them through an undiscovered hollow and getting very stressed out because you thought they’d been cornered by Ethereals, only for the twins to… disappear?

Well, just for a second, so that they’d swap places with the Ethereals and were now the ones cornering them. The entire mission starts and ends with you only hearing Lyney and Lynette’s voice, and that was supposed to be it; until they decided you’d be worth befriending after hearing the concern and panic in your voice. 

Lyney visits first, to make sure things are safe before giving Lynette the okay to drop by in the future (can’t be too careful!) He comes disguised as a regular customer before he then admits that you’re even cuter in real life — and that’s when you realize why he sounds so familiar! 

Before you can blurt out his mission name however, Lyney puts a finger to his lips and reaches behind your ear… revealing a flower and envelope. You’ll later find that it’s a ticket to his and Lynette’s next big show! 

Lyney departs with a little smile and thanks, and you never could’ve expected that his civilian appearance would look so… unassuming. (He doesn’t wear a hat when he doesn’t want to get noticed, and even has glasses!)

A few civilian hangouts later, you learn that he does need the glasses; it’s just that during missions and shows he wears contacts because of all the moving around. Lyney even jokes about buying a new pair that’s the same shade as your eyes, so that he can be reminded of you (they’re such an enchanting colour, I could gaze into the mirror all day!)

Lyney’s always appearing in different disguises and styles, but the look in his eyes and soft, familiar smile always helps you identify that it’s him. (In a later scenario, Lynette stoically says it’s the look of love, causing both you and her brother to turn tomato red.)

Your favourite hangouts have to be when Lyney is his ‘most genuine,’ or relaxed — when he drops by the video store around sunset or the evening — and the world is too busy in their own homes to worry about the phantom thief roosting at your door (a little bit like a cat wandering home. Though Lyney’s a lot chattier and willing to charm than any feline you’ve met.)

[genshin-scenarios]

I know you said requests aren't really a thing you write as much anymore, I am here to drop the lyney brainworm that has been squirming in my head for the past few months:

Street artist reader who creates beautiful portraits of whoevers willing to pay and takes quickly drawn commissions. kids get whatever they wish for, for free ofc.

and street performer magician lyney who just can't help but notice how kind reader is to everyone who passes by. Maybe he will get a portrait himself :] or just start chatting and fall in love with their smile and laugh.

either way this has been tormenting me and unfortunately as a strictly visual artist, I lack the words to display this vision further </3 hope you at least enjoy this even if you never wish to take it into your own hands to bring it to life <33

I have thoroughly enjoyed your work <33

a splash of color (lyney x reader thoughts)

I do think there's something about a street artist reader who's kind and sweet to kids that would definitely grip lyneys heart 🥺 it probably starts with you being a splash of vibrancy on the streets whenever he's passing by, and eventually, he joins in; telling himself that this is just a small thing. The crowd is way bigger than usual and you're overwhelmed, so he puts on a little show of his own on the side in 'collaboration,' entertaining the audience with a few tricks and flying doves so that you can catch your breath. You look at him from the side with a little smile of thanks.

After the afternoon wanes, Lyney was planning to take his leave after giving you a bluebell - but before he can even try, a piece of paper comes into view. Not of him, but Rosseland. You bashfully say that the cat-creature had been sitting by your side during the show, and Lyney kept moving so it was hard to draw him - so here it is. A small token of thanks.

Lyney forgoes the bluebell and instead thanks you with a fleeting kiss on your knuckles. He smiles, promising to cherish it. And once you're home and unpacking your items - a playing card falls out from your sketchbook. Its signed with Lyney's name and a short message.

After that? Well... let's just say that you have a pretty good memory and have been doodling Lyney on occasion. ...Just to repay him for that day with his own portrait! Nothing else!

A news tabloid catches your eye from the cafe you're sitting at. Lyney and his sister are on the headlines, debuting a new show.

...Well, you've been wanting to paint performances at the theatre, with its golden and dramatic lights. What's one show to truly capture the essence of your new muse?

-

I'm unfortunately on the grind writing some other brainrots (so these are just some thoughts!!) but please know that I've seen your reblog comments which genuinely made my day 😭🫶🫶 I'm glad to feed the fans of the anemo boys (and co)!!

(Also, if you know the meaning of bluebells in genshin, and particularly with lyney... yes.)

[genshin-scenarios]

The 4th option would basically be a collection of my favourite works from the blog (polished and potentially with more writing added) -> and would include new content to the spiderverse + zzz au I'm cooking up!

As it's a collection, it'd be seperated into main sections like

Blog contents: Canon setting, Modern, Misc

Spiderverse (mix of blog and new fics, more cohesively themed but each chara is a diff route)

Zenless (mix of blog and new content, fits into a wider story where all charas/roles fit into the same world! Almost like a series fic)

...Of course, each of these could also be their own books (which is option 3 -> 1 book = 1 theme). But do vote your preferences above as it'll help me narrow down my next plans!!

[genshin-scenarios]

SPOILERS ABOUT DAHLIA ‼️

Dahlia not being able to shut up about Barbatos is so funny to me (I get it) but also 😭😭 HES LITERALLY INVOLVED IM EVERYTHING JUST FOR THE PLOT

Pov local deacon breaks into your house (sorry diluc) to watch treasure hoarders attempt to rob you. Then baptises them (beats them up)

I wonder if he can turn wine into water, or make water taste like wine ??? it seems fitting if so

[genshin-scenarios]

Was not expecting the Dahlia mention but loving it! Mind if I ask about your thoughts on the guy?

Dahlia!! I don't know much about him aside from the newest archon quest, but currently the vibes I'm getting are:

Chaos enabler (I think he once tried to settle someone's problems by telling them to have a drinking contest or smtg??)

Probably nice to people who are genuinely looking for advice, but would also give horrible advice with a straight face for those who deserve to be taught a lesson 🤔 unexpectedly wise in terms of settling people's worries

I really like the idea that he's hard to read, a bit like a cat? And can be nice to you but also distant, treating conversations like 'work' in his capacity as a deacon, until you voice that you were hoping to talk to 'Dahlia,' not Deacon Dahlia, and that's how you begin to properly form a friendship!

Age wise he feels like a young adult? But that may be me projecting (as a young adult who doesn't feel like a 'proper functioning adult' and still plays videogames 😭 /lh) but also I think it's mentioned that he spends time in the tavern so hopefully he isn't underage...? Unless he just goes there for gossip

Speaking of: I like to imagine that he doesn't drink a lot even if he could! Seems like someone who prefers to be in a lively tavern as a way to be more connected to the people he's supposed to help, rather than the actual drinks. Or maybe to catch/tell off certain locals that he knows

I really like his vampire-esque qualities! Even if it might just be visual aesthetics (he reminds me of Venti but in a different font... kind and playful, but more in an elegant professional (and pink themed) way, instead of Venti's azure-green, more comforting and gentle charisma?)

[genshin-scenarios]

across the spiderverse!

Summary: We’re back with more guys in the Spiderverse AU! For more like this but different characters, check out my previous Spiderverse parts one and two! My pinned post also has more about Lyney’s route if that’s your thing.

Characters: Childe, Albedo, Scaramouche, Dahlia

Warnings: Reference to details of Scaramouche and Albedo’s lore, but otherwise no large spoilers! Very brief mentions of injuries, kidnapping, human experimentation, blood drinking (vampires) and surgeries. (It sounds bad but this post is safe for general/teen audiences I promise.)

Childe

Your life as Spiderman is pretty uneventful until the masked villain Tartaglia shows up in town — around the same time a new cutie is enrolled in your highschool (completely coincidental, you’re sure)

Childe’s villain persona, Tartaglia, is basically his Foul Legacy form (and a version of the ‘Green Goblin’ in your world, flying around and causing explosions). ‘Tartaglia’ kind of takes over Childe’s mind and he isn’t completely in control of it — leading to wreckage in the city and general chaos that the regular him probably wouldn’t like. 

On the bright side, even Tartaglia draws the line at harming children! One time, you see a mix of headlines on the news: ‘Tartaglia attacks’ to ‘Supervillain protects kids?’ 

Childe fell into the abyss during his childhood (yes, it exists even in this modern AU) and gained an unknown power that turns him into Tartaglia! After some time he gets a hold on his persona, though, so your villain x hero fights slowly grow into something he’s more conscious for.

Anyways! Childe is also your new classmate who’s taken a liking to you from day one (call it instinct or whatever, but he could feel that you were something special.) 

Later on, your bond is less determined by your superhero and supervillain statuses, but more on how you’re both not quite human. Childe feels less alone and dangerous around you — and what can be better than having the love of his life beat his other self into submission keep his alter ego in check? The main thing he worries about is doing irreversible damage, so technically speaking this is a very romantic and ideal life you’ve got!

Ah, but backtracking to how you reveal your identities: …Well, Tartaglia kidnapped you once, for the purposes of a date. (Do not try this at home.) During which you found out that it was Childe behind that mask and was so surprised that you called him by his legal name (“Wait, don’t scream! It’s just me!” “Ajax?!”) 

At this point, he has a handle over ‘Tartaglia’ enough that he’s just acting like his usual self (save for his freakish strength and agility). Childe explains that he wasn’t planning on kidnapping you (just daydreaming about it) but sensed something dangerous was around → turns out he wasn’t being delusional and it was a Doc-Oc spying on you situation (Dottore), which will become more relevant in Season 2 (stay tuned!) 

During this impromptu kidnapping-date you have an entire crisis because sure you had a crush on Childe but this is crazy! Are you supposed to just pretend this never happened the next time you’re Spiderman?

A few weeks later Childe gets injured really badly from a fight (abyss creatures came out of some rifts and Tartaglia unexpectedly cleared them out before you) — so you end up taking him in for medical treatment because, well, the police would otherwise unmask him, and even though Tartaglia was annoying he never did anything unforgivable. And you’d still like the chance of potentially dating him if this works out.

There’s a whole arc of you bonding throughout his recovery, resting in your room and hiding him from your family and friends (his injuries are too severe to make excuses for.) But now that both your identities are revealed Childe feels like a fool because damn, he really did just reveal his identity to his ‘rival’ all because of a crush (to be fair, he didn’t care for the secret identity thing too much in the first place.) 

You learn that Tartaglia was a type of self-defense mechanism that developed from when he fell into the Abyss. When placed in a regular modern world however, his instincts to fight for survival still linger.

—Yet all things considered, this could’ve ended really differently if you just decided to turn him in: ‘You must’ve found me really cute, huh? Was it my boyish charm?’ ‘No, it was your cyclops mask’ ‘...Now I see that spider-snark.’

Tartaglia would still cause trouble on occasion and you’d be the one to reel him in (just a little less violently than usual, though Childe does request for you to ‘treat him rougher’ at times. And you don’t know how to respond because whacking him on the head is just giving him what he wants.)

Sometimes you have encounters that are more akin to playfights, and whenever Childe does get the upper hand and cages you in, leaning close… you realise that maybe sparring is one of your love languages too — not that you’d ever admit it. You’re still in disbelief over the last time you arrested him as a joke:

’Oh? What’ll you do with me now that my hands are tied?’ 

…Next time, you’ll throw him off the building. There’s no way this ginger has that much of a grip on you!

Albedo

You were bitten by a radioactive spider that escaped from Rhinedottir’s lab! Rhinedottir is a super-genius scientist who specializes in creating synthetic life, who only realized the connection after Albedo did a sweep of their lab and found a test-subject missing.

So of course, Rhinedottir assigns him to investigate who you are. This is a great opportunity to study how the spider’s changed your biology, after all! 

It takes about a month for Albedo to figure out that Spiderman is none other than his own classmate in high school — he may be a synthetic human, but has been living more or less like a regular person since his body functions the same (needing to eat, breathe, and age). 

With his heightened intelligence and senses, Albedo does act a little inhuman sometimes — but that’s mostly because Rhinedottir was his main parent figure and less to do with his genetic makeup.

You guys never interacted before because of how big the school cohort is, but this year you were sorted into the same class! Shortly after Albedo sussed you out, you started to sense that eyes were on you via your spidey-sense, but couldn’t figure out who it was. Eventually, Rhinedottir formally invites you to her lab and an agreement is struck: you’d visit biweekly for check-ups and tests, while Albedo will assist you if anything unusual happens due to your spider traits.

Said tests range from sitting in a scanner to doing crazy stunts, but at least Albedo is there as a cute lab assistant! 

He’s generally kind and understanding to you (which you later realize is only directed to those he’s interested in, due to his aloofness at school despite his delicate looks,) and you both build a rapport through mutual secret-knowing (you find out about his synthetic makeup, too, after Rhinedottir explains that this lab is top secret and that no one should know it exists.)

Albedo didn’t immediately try to hang out with you outside of the lab, but eventually you grow close enough to admit that being a superhero makes it hard for you to maintain friendships. You have to bail if a villain appears, and can’t really explain where you disappear to — which makes Albedo suggest:

’In that case, I could keep you company.’ ‘Wait— Really?’ ‘Of course. But I must warn that my hobbies aren’t as exciting as your usual work.’

Despite this, you learn that genius scientists aren’t also dubbed as crazy for nothing. During missions or lazy afternoons where you declare your boredom, Albedo suggestions on what you could do always manages to surprise you. ‘...Hm, too much?’ ‘I’m starting to wonder if I’ll have to arrest you one day.’ ‘If that day comes, I’d look forward to our fight.’

You went from thinking Albedo would be just a cool, calculated friend into wondering if you’re the only thing keeping him from running morally-questionable experiments. On the other hand, this makes him very objective when you’re struggling on what to do during a fight — and your values of saving the most people possible pushes Albedo to consider other ways to resolve situations. Sometimes he’d handle the rescuing, so that you can pursue the villain who’s getting away.

However— his quiet, ethereal charm is very much still there. And there’s just something disarming about spending golden afternoons with someone that knows the biggest secret in your life; sketching flowers and working on assignments as if you’re just human. 

Albedo also does a bit of research based on his own curiosities; such as… to what extent do your senses try to protect you from harm? Does it register flusteredness as a state of vulnerability, like when he gains a sudden boldness and traces his fingers over your skin?

Sometimes, you can’t process how he plays both sides of himself so well; an effortless student with a thoughtful smile and clever glint in his eyes, then a lab assistant who coyly asks about your day, knowing full-well that he spent the entirety of it testing your reflexes. But the biggest debuff you have is how you feel some part of you melt, or shrink, or burn whenever Albedo fixes his gaze on you like that. As if he’s drinking in every little detail and cares for nothing else but you.

You tell yourself it’s for science, but even Rhinedottir knows Albedo’s invested much further than that. He’s never had this much pursuing a line of enquiry, before. Maybe it helps that he has a cute partner?

On a regular day where you’re testing out a new gadget Albedo’s designed (he appreciates how tools of potential destruction become acceptably used in your hands), your world is thrown off-kilter when a lookalike appears on the street. An earlier product of Rhinedottir’s research, who now goes by the name Rubedo, or Ruby for short.

Scaramouche

The spider-hero Scaramouche is otherwise known as Kuni in his civilian form, known for his sharp tongue but otherwise perfect track record as Inazuma’s local hero. He has a somewhat strained relationship with Ei (his mother who owns a giant tech company, that everyone expects him to inherit) and tries to keep people behind a ten feet pole. But of course, being a hero makes him soften up a little bit, swallowing his pride to help a lost tourist or explain an assignment to a peer.

His canon event was losing Niwa, which he blames himself for (if only he’d decided to be a superhero earlier, he may have been able to save his friend.) However, he does find the strength to persevere after he saves a young boy from an accident, who then requested to be swung around the city a little more so that he can experience what it’s like to fly (Scaramouche tells the kid that he can’t fly. But the kid is not picky about specifics.)

The young boy has an unknown illness, and isn’t expected to live past adulthood — but is somewhat doing fine while Kuni visits him on occasion (normally as Scaramouche, to cheer him up.)

Kuni’s also put some of his savings into being an anonymous sponsor for the illness’ research, which did catch Ei’s eye but she knows better than to pry. There’s a little moment of connection where she pats his head and tells him the funding will go to good use, and he huffs before leaving to sketch out new gadget designs in his room.

Being flawless for most of his life (skills come easy to him), Kuni does fear deep down that when there’s something he finally cares for — something big — he may fail in a manner that is unsalvageable to him. 

That’s why being a hero has helped a little, as even saving a person from a road accident helps him realize that that’s a life saved, regardless of the scope. His suit and powers are electro themed, with the ability to collect static and store it in his body, enough to prompt lightning-fast dashes mid air or shock an unconscious person back to life. 

You attend the same school as Kuni and caught his eye because of your big aspirations! The thing is, you’ve never been vocal about that and always chased them quietly (what aspiration/hobby is up to you) — working on your projects during your spare time, sometimes in the less frequented spots on campus or the library. Both of which Kuni is familiar with

There’s just something about the focused pinch in your brow and little smiles — it’s cute, and endearing, and maybe he’s projecting a little but whatever — you’ve just charmed him without even realising he’s been crushing on you. And eventually, Kuni takes some chances to interact with you more, both as a student and Scaramouche.

He’s often reading, listening to music, or sketching tech ideas in his notebook (it has a lock on it courtesy of his paranoia) — borrowing you his pen whenever yours runs out of ink or offering to show you a quieter corner when the noisy kids have taken over the main hall. Then as a hero, he’s saved you a couple of times from normal-human nuisances and swinging you to campus when you’re late and frazzled!

Scaramouche is more mellowed out around you because the mask helps him be less self conscious, while Kuni is reluctantly nice (still prickly). But once you find out about his identity, you'll be one of the only people that know of just how much good he's done for the world. He’ll start to openly shift between ‘both sides’ of his personality, which is kinda hilarious whenever his civilian sassiness comes through during his patrols (he’s very much a smart-mouthed spiderman). 

Your romance does develop, but there's sort of an odd love triangle before you found out his secret (his fault for approaching you in both forms). The breaking point is when you’re gazing out of your bedroom window (can’t sleep) and Scaramouche knocks on the glass. A short late-night rendezvous occurs, where you vent (without too much detail) to the stars.) And that’s when Kuni realizes that he really can’t screw this up.

Once you’re official, you’ll start to see parts of Scaramouche in Kuni and vice versa. LIke when he rescued Childe once and you could tell he really didn’t like the idea of bridal carrying the guy to the infirmary, so you volunteered to make sure Childe survives, instead. Or when a stray baseball almost hits you and Kuni effortlessly pulls you out of the way without a flinch. 

People say you've changed him but really you just made him comfortable enough to reveal the other sides of himself. The upside-down kiss trope also happened during one of your night-time escapes (yes it’s an ongoing theme) and it still lives rent free in his head!! He's a romantic deep down and now spends part of his time thinking of other date activities (he finds a match in you)

You’ve helped him on missions a few times (desperate moments where he can’t do everything alone), but the fact that you’re the first person he goes to for help — not Ei, not the police, not even Aether — is very telling of how much trust he places in you. All that echoes in his mind is the thought of you: resulting in ‘I need your help’ and your prompt ‘Just tell me what you need.’ (Yes you’re a little reverse of that Anna/Kristoff moment!) 

In the past, this may have been a moment where he feels his vulnerability threatened… but the idea of that isn’t even on his mind. He knows you — that just shows how far you’ve both grown!

Dahlia

Note: very brief biblical and church themes used, mentions of you as a type of monster/demon as perceived by the public. Feel free to skip Dahlia’s entire part if you aren't comfortable with these!

In a gothic medieval city without much tech and a strong Cathedral vibe… You're a vigilante hero who solves crimes in morally questionable ways (by the public's strict standards, at least). 

You're a vampire-spider with the ability to paralyse people with your venom! No other side effects exist, for now, but you do have an increased appetite for foods high in iron, and the change in your physical features (fangs and unnatural color of your eyes) are becoming harder to hide. 

At first, they’d only appear whenever you were using your powers. But as you get used to swinging around and climbing on walls, they’ve been appearing whenever your spidey-senses kicked in. And you have a bad feeling that if nothing is done, they may be on display forever.

You haven't committed any actual crimes, but the nature of your vigilantism and blatant disregard for the local police puts you on a general ‘wanted’ list. Open-minded folk thank you for your help while others call you a monster that needs to be caught by the Church. Deacon Dahlia is an important person in said Church but he doesn't really think there's a need to start a hunt; true to Barbatos’ ideals, he’s one of the more carefree and understanding figures amongst his peers, well-liked for his graceful demeanor and ability to keep calm under any and all pressures.

…That is, until you break into the Cathedral’s gardens and kidnap him one day, out of desperation when your spidey-traits don’t seem to be turning back like they should. Your fangs and eyes won’t be possible to hide from your friends and family — which will either land them in a tight spot as they try to keep your secret or land you immediately behind bars! 

Your intent was to ask for his help in a way that hopefully keeps your identity secret. Dahlia and the other deacons and deaconess’ have the ability to heal people from illnesses (small miracles enabled by Barbatos through their prayer), so surely he can do something! Fix your features, or take away your ‘curse’ altogether — anything works! (At this point you’ve been trying to do good as a hero, but it was mostly prompted by just horrible things happening in front of you that you couldn’t ignore. You’re still very early into your career.)

But, of course, Dahlia accesses your strange demeanor, request, and mode of approach (next time don’t commit borderline blasphemy by kidnapping Barbatos’ Herald) and finally tells you that he doesn’t have the answers you’re looking for. Blessings are for regular, small sicknesses — not exorcisms or curses like you described.

It’s not anger or frustration that fills you, but instead a hollow sense of helplessness. ‘...What am I going to do?’

Dahlia was just going to leave, now that you don’t seem intent on keeping him on the Cathedral’s rooftop — but pauses. He looks at the way you’ve lowered yourself onto the ground and buried your face against your knees, and asks:

‘What did you need my healing for?’

The dam breaks. You tell him everything — the day you got turned, poisoned by some animal in the woods, to the first time you used your powers to this morning, when your features transitioned fully. It all spills out without mentions of your personal background, but Dahlia gets the idea and decides to help you.

You look at him warily, your surprise strong enough for him to sense even with your disguise. ‘Really?’

‘Yes. So long as you help me with a matter of my own…’

Thus begins an odd dynamic of you using a spare room in Dahlia’s private quarters (being Barbatos’ Herald does have its perks of extra living space), in an almost beauty and the beast type of way (except the only thing making you the beast is your spider-powers, and Dahlia is only a little surprised — mostly intrigued — by how your eyes have turned into an unnatural variant of its original color, while your fangs seem to be made for delivering venom, but not exactly for eating meat like carnivores do.) 

He’s a lot more laid back about this than you expected, helping you get basic necessities and food without letting any of the others in the Church know. It helps that you can hide and crawl outside pretty easily if needed, to hide — and you start to grow curious about Dahlia yourself when he finally gives you your mission brief — to investigate some small crimes around the city that he suspects are connected, based on Rosaria’s reports. 

The mystery quickly proves to be bigger than either of you imagined, and it becomes a battle to keep the peace in Mondstadt while nefarious forces linger in the shadows. Meanwhile: What will the public think when they find out Deacon Dahlia has enlisted the help of a monster, of all things? A person whose powers (in a world with only blessings from gods or curses from demons) is most likely from a dangerous, nefarious source? 

Because of how close you’re working together, you discover sides of Dahlia that even the longest term Sisters haven't seen before (mostly because he works with them in a professional setting).

“You're less pious than I thought you'd be.” “Well, no point doing that in front of the person who decimated Barbatos’ statue.” “...Touché.” “You’re helping with the repairs, by the way.” “How many jobs are you having one person do?!”

And the first time you hear a genuine, happy laugh fall off his lips? You know that deep down, even if Dahlia was to turn against you someday… You may never be able to truly cut yourself off from the friendship you’ve built. Even if it was only you visiting the remnants of it, chasing after phantoms in the courtyard where bloody flowers bloomed — you’d stand there and wait, eyes angled away from the shadows swarming beneath your steps. 

[genshin-scenarios]

Rereading the spiderverse AUs is giving me brainrot... let's see if more charas can be roped into this

[genshin-scenarios]

truths hidden in the snow - rubedo × reader

Wordcount: 1900+

Content Warnings: spoilers for the old dragonspine event and brief references to an attempted (but failed) murder! In case you aren't sure who this is, Rubedo is also known as Susbedo, Primordial Albedo, and etc.

Thinking about Rubedo who lures you to Dragonspine one day with a letter impersonating Albedo; something about how 'the primordial subject' is back. You show up, Rubedo tries to kill you... and it almost works, but you manage to knock him out with a pretty harsh blow to the head, and the snowy mountain falls silent.

...He isn't dead, obviously, but you can't just leave him there to wake up and continue his potentially nefarious plans. So you lug him into your teapot abode and lock down your guestroom. When he awakens after a few days, the first thing out of his mouth is:

"Where am I...? And- Who are you?"

The hand prepped on the hilt of your weapon falls, and all the intimidation you've been hyping yourself up to exude suddenly melts away into hesitance.

"You're in my home." You reply carefully. "Do you remember anything about how you got here?"

Rubedo's brow furrows; more expressive than anything you've seen on him, and shakes his head.

The following days are strange, to say the least. After you left Rubedo in the guestroom to 'get him some water,' you teleport to Mondstadt in a rush and burst into Albedo's office for help.

"So from your understanding, Subject Two has lost his memories...?" Albedo surmised. "He may begin to recall things after some time. But in the odd chance that he doesn't..."

This could be a new start for him. A life separate from the burdens of his past.

'There should not be anything that other humans or I can do, that he cannot.' You recall Albedo's words. Perhaps you may find him as a helpful companion for your adventures.

Or, you may be able to help him settle into a 'normal' life.

Putting aside the moral dilemma of making up a new identity for him, you've been living a little awkwardly with Rubedo in your teapot abode, ever since. He really doesn't seem to remember his vice against Albedo or intent to silence you - and you've been mostly treating him like a patient up until now.

"Good morning," you greet, nudging open the door of the guestroom with your hip while you balanced a tray of food in your hands. "Did you sleep well?"

Rubedo looks up from the Teyvat Travel Guide that you've brought him for light reading (he hadn't requested any specific material; just content that would jog his memory about Teyvat), and nods. "It is still hard for me to recall the contents of my dreams, but I believe I was on the mountain you described you rescued me from." Dragonspine.

You've noticed that he does differ from Albedo in a couple of ways (not that you managed to observe him at all before this debacle, since he mysteriously went into hiding after your first meeting long ago). Rubedo is a little sharp and blunt in the way he speaks - regarding the trinkets you've brought him with curiousity, but not quite wonder. He is curious about the outside world but regards them as new content to pick apart. You've seen the gears turning in his head as you handed him a kamera for the first time, and he spent the day disassembling it and putting it back together again.

You have no doubt that Rubedo is also a genius, judging from the way he copied Albedo's alchemy back during your first confrontation on Dragonspine and effortless dissection of trinkets you've brought him. But you're also starting to feel bad for keeping him trapped in this room; you're cautious for a reason, yes, but he is still a person. You can't keep him under room arrest for much longer.

"Rubedo," you start, causing his eyes to flick up from his book to meet yours. "Would you like a tour of the abode?"

"Are you sure?" He stays put in his bed, regarding you with a stare that is not quite blaming, but not deceived by your demeanor by any means. Rubedo can tell that you're keeping him here for a reason, but he's never attempted to pry beyond taking note of how nervous you seem around him. His lips curl into a small smile. "I was beginning to wonder if we weren't on amicable terms, since you've always been a little wary around me."

You try not to react. "Of course not! It's just, your whole memory loss thing made me cautious; I didn't want to be too forward when you don't remember who I am."

"Forward...?" He tilts his head, a little cat-like. "In what way?"

Shit. "In- In a friendly way!" You ramble, making stuff up. Of course he'd be the type to pay attention to wording. "We used to spar for fun, and get into fights that weren't too serious..." You start to get flashbacks of Whopper-bedo attacking you and your friends. "You... were quite the alchemist." You finish weakly. "We were acquainted, but weren't too close. I just happened to be the one who found you on the mountain that night, like I told you before."

"...And I lived quite a secluded life, so not many people knew me." Rubedo repeats the half-truths you've told him. His smile turns a little crooked. "I must've liked you quite a lot, to have interacted that much with you."

"I guess so!" You agree, ushering him out of the room in hopes that his first view of the rest of your house will distract him.

Rubedo scans over the furnishings, stopping by the picture frames around the living room. It doesn't take long for him to decide that he doesn't know any of these people. "You must have been quite the popular adventurer."

It's a good thing you had the foresight (read: paranoia) to remove all images of Albedo, just in case Rubedo did manage to sneak out of his room when you weren't there. "Well... I've been to a lot of places, so I guess it's natural to collect my memories like this, somehow."

Rubedo hums. "And it seems like there is none with me."

Unsure of how to respond to that, you blab the first reason you can think of. "Well! We never had a reason to take pictures together, and weren't that close, so..." You quiet down. "I wasn't sure about our boundaries."

It's quite clear that you are holding something back, or lying. And despite Rubedo's unfamiliarity with human customs, he's not an idiot. "Traveler..."

"Right! You haven't been outside in a week!" You grab his wrist and promptly drag him out to the outdoor area of your abode; filled with flowers and critters that you've adopted during your travels. "Some fresh air would do you some good!"

Disagreement flickers in Rubedo's eyes until you push the main doors open, leading the both of you into a lush, peaceful scene. Crystalflies and birds flutter about your large garden, which is being tended to by the wonderful means of Tubby, your teapot supervisor.

The 'sunlight' and night in here is also somewhat manually decided upon, thus it's comfortingly warm as you both stroll through the flowers and gaze out at the great expanse of floating clouds. You mention that on one of the far-off islands, you've been meaning to create a little sanctuary walk with waterfalls and the like, but haven't had the time to.

Rubedo's been a little quiet. And finally, he asks:

"...Why are you showing me all of this?" This time, confusion tinges in his voice, as he finally forces you to meet his eyes by turning to you. "No matter how you may have felt responsible for my care, we didn't seem to be very close. I don't understand why you'd keep me here instead of sending me back to where I used to live."

Your bravado wavers. Everything he's said is reasonable, but you don't have the heart to say that you don't know where to send him, nor want him to find out that there's 'another him' walking around in the form of Albedo, and question his origins from there. It's clear from your time with Rubedo that he's sharp and will figure it out in no time.

"The truth is..." You force out, grasping for straws. "You never told me where you lived - we only met on Dragonspine as our little getaway. So I don't know who else you're acquainted with either, or who to contact. But, um... You've also lived here before, so I figured it wouldn't be too bad if I just housed you until you got your memories back, and..."

You would later learn that Rubedo has an excellent memory. And that, mortifyingly, one of the books you've haphazardly brought him based on the title, thinking it was a regular novel, was a romance book.

'When one stays over at another's home, that may imply that a type of close relationship exists between them...'

'...Was there something of that nature between us?'

Perhaps it was the way he was looking at you; intent, thoughtful, and somehow intense, but it felt like something bad may happen if you said no. Something in your gut told you that while saying yes would land you into a whole different boat of trouble, saying no means that Rubedo may discover the truth somehow with that brilliant mind of his - much sooner than you're prepared for.

"...Maybe." You look down at your hands, delaying the inevitable. Twisting this into something that may become much worse, once his past was brought to light. "It was never anything official, but there were things about each other that only we knew."

True, yet horribly false. "Despite that, we still had a bit of distance between us. But we did continue to meet on Dragonspine... and I guess I just didn't want to take advantage of your memory loss, so I've been keeping my distance."

A budding romance that never really caught on or bloomed. That seemed to be enough for Rubedo, who seemed to regard your past behavior as fairly in-line with what you just said; it explains why you were willing to house him but seemed uncomfortable at the same time. Maybe you'll twist this into a 'I think my feelings have settled, and that we should just be friends' situation in a few days, and that'll be that.

...That should've been that, but after a short period of retrospection, Rubedo seems to have decided on something. And you cant be sure if this is how he'd genuinely respond to the situation or if it was just a test.

"What... What are you doing?" You squeak, not having expected a pair of hands to cover yours, taking the knife and ingredients gently out of your grasp as Rubedo replies, standing behind you.

He's way too close!

"I just thought I'd help you cook, from now on." He answers, voice soft due to your proximity. Despite not having any body heat, you could feel his hair tickling your shoulder as he looked over it to chop up the vegetables on the cutting board for you. "I'm afraid you'll have to guide me through the steps, but I've watched you prepare dinner enough times to know how cutting these work." He pauses. "Is it not what couples do?"

Spending time together. Cooking together. And maybe...

Rubedo is not a person who picks his words without thinking, and the word couple hits you like a truck. Suddenly, your ears are burning. And it takes all the willpower in your body to hold still and not expose how flustered you've become.

Knowing Rubedo, even if this was a test - he wouldn't be the kind of boyfriend that's shy by any means.

What kind of a mess have you roped yourself into?

[genshin-scenarios]

WE'RE SO BACK

[genshin-scenarios]

BABY HI OMGKSKEJSJWKDJS (i hope the pet name is okay;; if not js lmk!!) IT'S BEEN SO LONG 😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏 I LITERALLY GOT SO EXCITED SEEING YOUR USERNAME ON MY POST I WAS LIKE HELLO?!?"*+(£&+*£*@*#, I HOPE YOU'VE BEEN DOING WELL 🥹 I LOWK DROPPED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH FOR AGES BUT IM BACK NOW!! IVE MISSED YOU OMG WE LITERALLY NEED TO CATCH UP AHHHH 💗💗💗💗💗💗

HI QUILL!!! (and yes the name is fine HAHA) SAME FOR ME TBH I DROP A FIC EVERY NOW AND THEN THINKING MY WRITERS BLOCK IS OVER THEN BOOM... gone for months 😭😭 (I am so sorry to my followers but after I'm done with my fanbook I'll post again I promise 😭)

MY DMS ARE ALWAYS OPEN IF YOU WANNA CATCH UP!! 👀 I wanna hear about your yume actually, you've got me curious!! And here is a xiao (this art is going to be in the aforementioned fanbook I'm working on! 🤧 our favourite adeptus the one and only)

[genshin-scenarios]

Thank you so much for the support!! 🥺🥺 and happy new year!

The form will still remain open until 15th January for anyone who still wants to order, but because initial POs are over, freebies will now only be available by a first-come first-serve basis (until I run out) 💫 so get them while they last!

Reembarking Starlight Preorders

Order Form Here: closes on 25th December!

The story features an AU where the reader is isekaied into Genshin as the 'Traveler,' and has to complete the entire game in order to return home. It plays on themes of nostalgia and comfort from when you first played the game!

It'll cover the archon quests from Mondstadt to Inazuma, some old events, and new interactions with you and the charas! Full info in the form!

60-70k words

Reader insert (gender neutral)

Full color cover, b/w internal pages

Spot arts by @/dumplings0ups

Preorder-only photocards of each archon on the cover by @lolitsleia

Traveler logs; diary entries from you + shorter stories about: Dragonspine, Unreconciled Stars, Traveler’s Prelude, Windblume, Midsummer Island Adventure, and a Teapot Abode special event!

[genshin-scenarios]

Preorders for this are now open until 25th December, here!

Reembarking Starlight: Masterlist

Reembarking Starlight is a fanbook I'm working on, which is open for preorders here!

The story features an AU where the reader is isekaied into Genshin as the 'Traveler,' and has to complete the entire game in order to return home. Main themes are the nostalgia and comfort from when you first played the game!

It'll cover the archon quests from Mondstadt to Inazuma, feature some old events (Dragonspine, Lantern Rite, etc), and new interactions with you and the charas!

So what is this Masterlist for?

I'll be posting the first chapters to the fanbook on the blog as a teaser! For the rest of the story, you can purchase the digital or physical book (which will include spot arts, preorder freebies and 60-70k words worth of content)

What characters will be included?

Anyone that appears in the Archon Quests! But in terms of Mondstadt, it'll mainly feature Venti > Diluc, Jean, Paimon > Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, Klee

The fanbook will be general-platonic, with a gender-neutral reader! However, requests for this AU will be open on the blog for romantic takes!

Chapter 1: the city of wind and song

Chapter 2: the dark side of dawn

Chapter 3: unfurling flight

Chapter 4: frozen daydreams

Chapter 5: heaven's song

[genshin-scenarios]

Reembarking Starlight Preorders

Order Form Here: closes on 25th December!

The story features an AU where the reader is isekaied into Genshin as the 'Traveler,' and has to complete the entire game in order to return home. It plays on themes of nostalgia and comfort from when you first played the game!

It'll cover the archon quests from Mondstadt to Inazuma, some old events, and new interactions with you and the charas! Full info in the form!

60-70k words

Reader insert (gender neutral)

Full color cover, b/w internal pages

Spot arts by @/dumplings0ups

Preorder-only photocards of each archon on the cover by @lolitsleia

Traveler logs; diary entries from you + shorter stories about: Dragonspine, Unreconciled Stars, Traveler’s Prelude, Windblume, Midsummer Island Adventure, and a Teapot Abode special event!

Stretch Goal: at 10 orders, physical copies will include black-and-white prints of certain spot arts!

[genshin-scenarios]

You guys would NOT believe the dream I just woke up from 😭😭😭 ballet dancer!lyney was real?? He was just accompanying Lynette to a trial class and gave me dream-me a crazy case of inferiority complex 🧍‍♀️ (context is that this trial class was MY class and lyney has such a good memory for learning new choreography that I couldn't take it anymore)

[genshin-scenarios]

do u have a fave in alnst?

for me personally, i like luka🫶 (pls put the tomatoes down😔)

NO ITS OKAY I... would say he's my favourite too 🤡🙏 there's just something about a manipulative blonde ... who's very good at singing... oh but I really like Mizi too!! Her short hair vers is very cute 🧎🏻‍♀️ if only it weren't for the stuff that led up to it

I am not deep enough into alnst lore to write much about them but: just consider being a manager of sorts within their competition (not exactly by choice?? Maybe the alien who owns the competition is also your owner) so you've spent a LONG time observing Luka and Hyuna's batch... prob the same age as them. And by the time Hyuna comes back you're personally inclined to turn a blind eye so that she doesn't get caught despite you spotting her - but this also puts you at risk ofc

Imagine being in the strangest situationship with Luka because he's become so numb to everything that his most genuine interaction with you was asking if you ever just wanted everything to end ☠️ this is on the night before his final round in the past. After he's won the competition you prob have more interactions with him but the both of you are constantly only half-there because of your positions restraining you... many thoughts

Last thought is replying to Luka's question above with: "Maybe, but I guess if I can continue to hear you sing, it wouldn't be too bad."

Such a double edged relationship... you aren't sure what you feel towards Luka specifically, but it's perhaps comparable to a twist of jealousy and awe - you've never gotten the chance to sing yourself, after all. And there's something about his stage persona that somehow makes the whole ordeal seem fun.

[genshin-scenarios]

Should I write an alien stage au I just think it'd be fun 😇

[genshin-scenarios]

Chapter 5: Heaven's Song

Reembarking Starlight Masterlist

Characters: Paimon, Venti, Diluc

Chapter 4 <-

“It's a good thing that Jean trusted your judgement… But how do you plan to find him?” Paimon asks as the both of you step outside. 

“Well, he had an anemo vision…” You start towards the statue of Barbatos. “So we could probably—” You stop. “Hey, wait!”

You spot the bard in question disappearing down the stairs, and grab onto Paimon’s cape to chase after him without a second to waste.

“What are you–?!” Paimon yelps, but he’s already gone. You use your elemental sight to track a trail of teal footsteps that lead out of the city to Windrise, where a grand oak tree stands tall. 

Before you nor Venti can get close, however, an Eye of the Storm appears in the bard’s way, while a layered cackle bubbles behind you.

“Wuwa selata!”

What?

Paimon pulls you out of the way just as the pyro abyss mage launches a column of fire, incinerating the grass next to your feet. Venti seems to have noticed your presence and lets an arrow charged with anemo fly. It strikes the burning grass between you and the mage, causing the flames to whoosh into a temporary wall. 

Your eyes narrow as you summon your sword to attack, leaping around to swing at the monster. It shrieks and teleports closer to Vanessa’s tree.

“We can’t let it join forces with that Eye of the Storm.” You turn to Paimon. “Buy me a few seconds?”

“I’ll try my best!”

Learning from your previous fight with the ruin guard, Paimon summons her personal backpack and charges towards the abyss mage with sunsettias flying and indiscernible shouts. Her pursuit confuses it just long enough for you to gather your power, charging an arrow of anemo down the length of your arm, and shoot.

The mage emits a curdling noise as your arrow pierces true. Without missing a beat, you rush towards the Eye of the Storm and cleave your weapon through its middle once it reaches the ground. Both monsters dissipate. Paimon lets out a victorious cheer.

“That was amazing!” Paimon twirls in the air. “Your shot went bam, and the monsters went wham!”

“All thanks to our teamwork.” You laugh, turning to Venti who’s dissipating his bow. “Thank you for the help. You made a great shot, too.”

“Oh, you flatter me.” Venti scratches his cheek with a smile. “I’m only really good at singing—and speaking of, my name is Venti. Third-time winner of the ‘Most Popular Bard in Mondstadt’!”

“There’s an award for these types of things?” Paimon says in surprise. “Wait, hold on! We’re here to ask about Dvalin!”

“Ah, so it’s about our encounter earlier…” His aqua-green eyes glimmer. For a second, you feel like you’re being analysed under his watch. “Well, after you scared Dvalin away, I contracted a bit of his illness as a result. Which is why I’ve come here for a bit of fresh air!”

“You seemed to be quite close to him,” you say, summoning one of the teardrops. “We found this after the both of you left the Whispering Woods, and was wondering if you knew anything that could help.”

But the moment you take it out of your backpack, both you and Paimon do a double-take at its blue sheen.

“Did all of them change color?” Paimon gasps. You plop all of the five crystals into her palm, which gleam with a healthy azure.

“I can’t believe it…” You mutter incredulously. “Did something happen when we weren’t looking?”

Even when you’d tried many times to purify them, it never worked! Did it have something to do with the quest’s timing?

“The anguish Dvalin feels has brought him to so many tears…” Venti finally speaks, brow furrowed as he cups his hands to summon another scarlet crystal. “I too found a teardrop in the outskirts. Can you try to purify it?”

The moment it transfers into your palm, a refreshing rush of power flows through you, transforming the gem into a smooth, brilliant blue.

A flicker of surprise crosses Venti’s eyes, before a smile pulls at his lips. “I suppose there is a chance to rescue Dvalin, after all. And while that Eye of the Storm was unhappy with my arrival… it was quite clear that the abyss mage was targeting you.” Venti regards you thoughtfully. “Could it be that you’ve clashed with them before?”

You think back to the abyss runes you dissolved while with Amber, and subsequently kept erasing in your mission with Kaeya, too. 

“...I might have disturbed quite a few of their camps.” You scratch your cheek. “But I didn’t think it’d be enough to earn their ire.”

“That simply means they think of you as a threat.” Venti looks like a poet who’s just been tipped a mighty sum. “This is a most opportune meeting indeed—but perhaps I’ll keep the songwriting for after we’ve cleansed the corruption from Dvalin’s body.”

Venti explains that after his battle with Durin hundreds of years ago, the black blood that tainted Dvalin’s veins has been torturing him ever since, making him susceptible to outside influences like the Abyss Order. 

“Before arriving here, I too, was cursed and left to waste.” Venti sighs. “Regardless, the spell that dissipated from the mage earlier seemed to hold the same enchantment they’re using on Dvalin. If we can find another, I might be able to decipher it and untangle its effects myself.”

“Would you like to officially join our party, then?” You offer, seeing a trail of golden dust flicker to life. “Seeing as our goals align, it’d be great to have you on our team!”

“Oh?” Venti laughs; it’s a clear and subtle sound. “Normally I’m the one inviting heroes onto quests. But seeing as the opportunity doesn’t come often, I accept!” He bows gracefully. “Please take good care of me then, dear knight. I’ll be sure to record your exploits in the most memorable of songs~”

-

By the time you guys find the entrance to the Abyss Order hideout, an unexpected fourth person appears; Diluc Ragnvindr. This time as himself.

“You’re that bard who’s been performing at my tavern.” Diluc’s brow furrows, as if he’s trying to piece together a puzzle that doesn’t make sense. “While I’m not sure about your purposes, I must warn that there is a strong abyssal energy coming from inside the domain.”

“That means we’re exactly where we need to be!” Venti chirps, giving Diluc a smile. “You’re welcome to join us too, Master Diluc. There is nothing in here that should be a secret to Mondstadt’s locale.”

“Is that so?” The redhead looks over your group. You can see a flicker of concern enter his eyes. “I suppose I’ll take you up on that offer, then. I’ve handled quite a few abyssal enemies before.”

It’s a little strange to be adventuring with Diluc and Venti so early, but you have to admit there’s a sense of comfort in bonding over your little quest. Just as Diluc disposes of another monster, you spot an unusually large stack of artifacts in the corner of the room. 

“Are these vials…?” You sift through the items, only to realise they’re all the same. Further on the ground are faded labels that read ‘Barbatos’ Breath.’

“Why would the Abyss Order be collecting these?” Paimon wonders.

“I don’t think it was them.” Diluc’s expression turns somewhat smug as he gestures at a cloth underneath the pile; holding the Fatui’s logo. “I believe they simply raided a Fatui camp at some point, and took this crate in hopes it would contain useful supplies.”

“You’re being unusually quiet, Venti.” Paimon tilts her head. “Is something wrong?”

Venti hums. “I’m merely wondering how much one of these vials would cost.”

“It depends on where you buy them.” Diluc replies without missing a beat. “When the Fatui were searching for items related to Barbatos in the past, I began buying up every artifact they set their sights upon, counterfeit or not.”

“All of that mora!” Paimon gasps in horror. “Where did all of the items go?”

“…Some warehouse or another. My main purpose was just to put a wrench in their plans.” He shrugs. “Any threat to Mondstadt is an enemy of mine. The same goes for the Abyss Order’s hatred for humanity; but I never thought they’d go as far as to corrupt the associate of a god.”

Diluc’s filled in on pretty much all the details at this point. And after weighing the risks, he asks if you’ll need more assistance beyond today.

“Are you offering to help?” Your expression lights up. But before you can say anything else, a group of hilichurls cry from a corridor to your left. 

You and Diluc summon your blades. But faster than either of you could strike—Venti plays a chord on his lyre, and you hear a thump as something slumps to the ground.

“A…Are they?” Paimon pales.

“What?! No!” Venti shakes his head, asking Diluc to light up the corridor so you all can see. “I’ve just lulled them to sleep since they’re unarmed. It looks like they’ve been living here for a long time.”

Your eyes adjust, melting the darkness away to spot three of the creatures now snoring. And behind them, two silently laying on their backs…

“In places like these, it’s hard for the wind to bring souls to rest.” Venti continues, playing a few notes as a gentle breeze drifts through. “While the abyss mages are indeed conspiring against Dvalin, there are cases where hilichurls have been shown to be non-aggressive. As taught to me by a certain Ella Musk.”

The rest of you fall silent as you watch something transparent float off the two hilichurls, following the wind to somewhere beyond the domain’s roof. It’s clear that this is ‘Barbatos’ standing before you, and one look at Diluc tells you that his impression of the bard has changed. 

But without letting the somber mood linger, Venti makes an announcement:

“Now that I have the abyss mages’ spell, our next step is to go to the Cathedral!” Venti switches back to his energetic self. “We’ll need to procure the Holy Lyre, somehow.”

“Does it have some sort of magic?” You ask.

“It does have some effects. But only a bard of the right calibre can use it effectively.” Venti gestures to himself with a confident smile. 

“You might want to specify if this will be done in a legal or illegal way.” Diluc crosses his arms, but doesn’t oppose otherwise. “Your answer will determine how our evening goes next.”

“Illegal?!” Paimon shakes her head in protest. “We can’t do that! The Traveler just got the title of Honorary Knight!” “Maybe we could get official permission to borrow it, or…” An idea crosses your mind. “Diluc, could you help us send a message to the Acting Grandmaster?”