julii-wings

[julii-wings]

An Eternity With You

! Yandere ! Ei x Reader

I’m back! Thanks so much for waiting, it was worth it, I promise. I wanted to try a little something different this time! It’s my first time writing a yandere character, so if my interpretation is different than yours, then you are not obligated to read the full post! Remember that I’m no expert on such conditions, regardless mentally or physically, but if it makes you uncomfortable, please scroll past! With that out of the way, please enjoy :)

❏ : Previous Works : ₊˚𓂃⠀

⌕ Art of Seduction ໒꒱ ˚⁎⁺˳ .

⌕ No Strings Attached ໒꒱ ˚⁎⁺˳ .

⌕ Art of Deception ໒꒱ ˚⁎⁺˳ .

⌕ Happy Holidays ໒꒱ ˚⁎⁺˳ .

“ Capable of using elemental energy without a Vision… You are an exception, it appears. ”

Word Count ── · · · ✦ 1.0k

Warnings ── · · · ✦ yandere theme

Synopsis ── · · · ✦ you were an exception. And as an exception, the goddess of eternity had taken an interest in you. but you never knew that her interest was more of an obsession, and that the eternity the goddess pursued was far different than you had originally thought.

Eternity. . .

The very idea sounded to be directly from a child’s story. You always thought that eternity was always a moment suspended in time, capturing the delicate intricacies of that precious memory. And then that memory was immortalized in ink for ages to come, sharing the bliss that was portrayed. But what you soon came to realize was that eternity didn’t always have that fairytale ending. No one knew what truly happened at the end of a Happily Ever After, and you had no clue if you would be allowed to live to find out.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Ei as a yandere would mean that the precious moments of privacy you took for granted would be ripped away—her ever keen eyes would search for you amidst the crowds in the city, if only it meant that the empty space at your side would be filled with her presence only. For only her divinity and grace was worthy enough to stand alone at your side.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ And as a yandere, Ei would pass off her obsession as an inherent curiosity to learn about what made you an exception—why you alone were able to command the elements without a physical medium like others before you. It was the perfect excuse to keep you in her sights all the time, and to ensure that no one got the idea of stealing you away.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ She would be more open to sharing her pastimes, other than meditating and preserving her mind in the Plane of Euthymia. Funnily enough, if someone made so much as a suggestion to you, she was adamant on leaving promptly—whether it be because something else caught her eye, or that there was much to do with little time for recreation despite having casually wandered up and down the streets of the city.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Yes. Ei was a very subtle yandere in the beginning. Her advances were slow and methodical, calculated with precision as was everything she did, much like her careful endeavor toward the fleeting promise of a nation of eternity. But as she fostered her supposedly innocent interest in you, it progressed rapidly into a driving need to study you, to memorize you, to ingrain every minute detail that may otherwise go unnoticed.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Ei would put down her elegance in favor of her domineering will, pushing her endeavor to new heights that soon alarmed you. For the goddess would begin to blatantly proclaim that none other than her could grace your presence. You were far too concerned with your own personal affairs to engage in little moments spent with acquaintances, be it with the Guild or friends you’ve come to make while on your journey. Ei would push them away with a steely glare and the ever ready excuse that you had other matters to see to.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Try bringing it up with her, and you’ll be on the receiving end of a curt lecture saying that you couldn’t possibly hope to find clues on your next destination by romping around having hotpots and taking on trivial commissions.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Her concern for you escalated tenfold, until you found that you couldn’t even meet with anyone without Ei accompanying you. Or, if she couldn’t be with you at a moment’s notice, then you couldn’t go at all. If you insisted still on going, her eyes became pinpricks of crazed anger, thunder booming in the backdrop as lightning lashed the thick cover of clouds that filled the sky.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Ei’s voice would drop into a low whisper, forcing you to strain your hearing over the storm’s rumbling fury. A searing flash of light that split the sky would grant you another look at the absolutely disheveled appearance of the supposedly Almighty Raiden Shogun.

“You will not be meeting them, Traveler. They will only hold you back. Someone like you needs not the fleeting company of the mortals here upon the world, but the steadfast, unwavering commitment of eternity.”

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Ei would keep you all to herself after that little “talk.” And in order to ensure that you couldn’t wriggle away, she’d trap you in her Plane of Euthymia. Her power overwhelmed whatever prior abilities you had possessed, leaving you stranded in the realm where only the goddess and her fox envoy could enter.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ She became forceful with keeping you, her serene face overtaken by a sick grin that made your stomach churn as a dead weight plunged to the bottom of your gut.

“You look unwell, Traveler. Are you unhappy? Is eternity not what you initially thought it to be? Hm? My dear, Traveler, I thought you had known. I have granted you the sole privilege of ushering in eternity at my side… Meaning you will only be with me.”

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Ei would then admire you like her own personal trophy, giggling at each futile attempt you made to escape. But if you so much as tried to personally attack her, she’d fly into a fury, the still realm around you distorted with a storm as the earth quaked beneath your feet.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Though she had chosen you as her partner to bring about the ideal she pursued for her nation, Ei made it clear that if you would not cooperate, then you needed discipline, like some pet. Any minuscule word or action that she didn’t like would land you at the receiving end of her wrath, and you were quickly acquainted with thousands of volts surging through your body. Or if Ei was being merciful, you’d only get a cut from her sword.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ Truly she wanted to keep you, craving your company, but also wanting to claim you as a mere servant. For as her obsession over you grew, her fragmented mind created the delusion of you loving her. And as such, she thrived off of the lie, even if it meant she needed to force you in order to make it real.

‎⊹ع˖⁺ You were hers now. No one was allowed to take you away. No one could possibly manipulate you any more as they led you on in believing that they could help. No, only Ei could help you. Only she was pure enough, worthy enough, to even stand in your unique presence. For what she had thought was an exception truly was.

No longer an enemy to eternity, you had become her eternity, whether you liked it or not.

[julii-wings]

Happy Holidays

Teyvat Edition ! !

≡ Featuring ‧ ˎˊ-

Mondstadt ˖*°࿐

The land of freedom and song.

Liyue .*ೃ✧₊˚

The land of contracts and prosperity.

Word Count ── ·  ·  · ✦ 1.8k

Synopsis ── ·  ·  · ✦ you always wondered what christmas would look like in teyvat—and you take it upon yourself to share the tradition.

A.N. ── ·  ·  · ✦ honestly I feel like the more i write the more my writing ability decreases. i wanted to do something for christmas but i think i only wrote something half-baked and not even half as good as what i originally had in mind. i probably have burnt myself out, but i really love sharing my writing with you guys! so imma take a few days’ break from posting. i have lots in mind though, so once i feel better i will most definitely finish the drafts i have. have a very merry christmas, and please enjoy this more or less crappy post :)

Mondstadt

Christmas in the nation of freedom would warrant an all out feast, courtesy of the town’s finest tavern to cater to everyone’s tastes. Much like the windblume festival, delicate stands swathed in bunches of flowers and tinkling lights would line the streets and alleys. The dull lanterns that stood as keepers of the flame within their glass chambers were laden with strings of crafted ornaments. And fluttering on a gentle sigh of the wind, snowflakes ferried from the distant mountains would bless the quaint city with a true “white christmas.”

Angel’s Share cozy atmosphere was made even more-so as tables and benches bursted with cheers, both drunken bliss and hazy minds relishing in steaming mugs of cider. Not even the displeased grumblings of the tavern owner would deter a filled stomach of warm food from regaling aloud praises to the services. You would be at the mercy of a tide of many enthusiastic conversations that pulled you into a neverending chorus of cheers for the grand new festival you had imparted with the townsfolk.

The feasting would drag out long into the night as Barbatos scattered the last dwindling shower of snow upon the decorated streets. A merry tune plucked on the strings of a lyre wove into the passing wind, for no celebration was to proceed without a proper commemoration in its honor, each precious moment of joy too fragile to simply let go. You could find Venti in the center of the throng of dazed eyes that blinked wearily, a multitude of eyelashes fluttering as they softly kissed the cheeks of drooping faces.

The bard’s own rounded features would be adorned with a delicate spread of scarlet, but he was of a clear mind as he orchestrated a tale of old upon the instrument in his hands. Evidence of his multitudinous drinking lay at his feet in the form of emptied mugs that lay askew, each one polished clean of its contents. And once the tavern had winded down into a quiet hall, disrupted only by the heavy breaths of slumbering souls, Venti would escort you into the abandoned lanes of Mondstadt and lead your fleeing steps into a waltz.

No words were needed as Mondstadt lay before you, the fallen snow a regal carpet blanketing the ground with the glow of dancing flames on wicks and flickering lights painting your world in a mural of past seasons. The bard would pass you off to a restless friend as your paths converged, hands warmed by the close touch of tight-fitting gloves coming to rest upon the curve of your sides. Kaeya’s eye shimmered with satisfaction as you molded your movements with his, letting his lead carry you further into the heart of the city of freedom, the last farewell of Venti being a polite bow and a quiet word of thanks before he slipped away out of sight.

Kaeya’s confident steps swept you along, the rhythm of your dance built upon each sway and twirl and dip, a display of refined elegance entrancing the night. The once busy avenues where folk wandered became just another floor for the two of you to glide over, your audience being the darkened eaves and windows of sleeping houses.

Passing by the office of the Knights of Favonius granted you a charming view of neatly arranged wreaths draped upon the front doors, a touch of each captain of the knights reflected in the way a section of the decorations were put together. Dandelions from Jean carefully we’re bound in a bouquet, complimented by a crown of berries that you guessed were a little gift from Lisa. A scattering of mushrooms fitted to resemble snowmen were an amusing sight, and you could picture Klee gleefully pointing out her findings to Albedo who could all but smile fondly.

Even during the late hour of the night, a few windows of the Knights’ headquarters were illuminated. You could only imagine the acting grandmaster worrying away over a pile of work, and maybe even the librarian was whiling away the night, the pleasant lull of her laugh filling the quiet. Kaeya captured your attention with a sudden dip in the witness of the immortalized form of the Anemo Archon.

With the buzz of earlier consumed drinks swirling in your mind, you let a giggle slip unbidden from your mouth as the Calvary Captain pulled you close to him once more, the calloused pad of his thumb grazing lightly over your swollen lips that pouted at him. But he knew better than to take advantage of you, giving you away with an easy smile, the barest hint of displeasure darkening the turbulent sapphire of his eye. For large gentle hands cushioned by the softest of fabrics came to tentatively lay along the small of your back, Diluc’s stoic face softened by a rare smile as he spun you away from Kaeya, the backdrop of the cathedral as it glowed beneath the moonlight giving your dance a new sense of purpose. For now you no longer were just sharing your merriment with friends, but offering your own form of praise to the archon of wind and freedom for a great land where you found a home in the people you were proud to call your friends.

Liyue

Festivals in the harbor were always perfectly executed with a balance of rich displays that captured the essence of centuries of preserved traditions and the modern additions of new interpretations of the nation’s future. You shouldn’t have been surprised to learn of past celebrations that had held a similar manner to the new tradition you proposed. And with the talent of merging the past with the present, Liyue soon was adorned with lanterns of festive colors strung across the rooftops, specially crafted vases and parasols coordinated around the paths in patterns of evergreen to deep stains of ruby red.

And though Liyue lacked trees to hang ornaments and trinkets, the folk were more than willing to put their ingenuity and talent into finely made cuisine that fit the cheery atmosphere. The fierce spice regularly blended into dishes was tamed by the mellow influence of sweeter substitutes, your stomach warmed by the pleasant familiarity of a comforting meal rather than the churning burn of several Jueyun chilis.

Walking along the ornamental paths of Liyue harbor granted you a peek at the careful coordination and care with which the people had put into the decorations. For each ornament represented a different essence of the nation, interpreted by the personal touches of the ones who partook in the celebration. And for you, the concept of tradition being preserved coupled well with the purpose of your home world’s holiday—a moment in time where happiness was spread through the sharing of togetherness.

Liyue was the perfect mold of such a festival to take root, each fragment of the past reflected in traditionally crafted wares or patiently made dishes that had enough leniency to accommodate the breath of a new generation. It would serve as a step forward into an age where the olden days could be but an example that change was allowed, and other times needed, for proper growth. For the prosperity of the nation was owed to following long ago traditions, but was rarely presented the opportunity to go beyond the known boundaries of what defined their land. Much like a contract binding two separate parties upon mutual agreements to an end, so too were the ways of the people bound tightly to the expectations of the ruling body. But ever since the passing of its archon, Liyue was making a stand to better its operations, and that included making adjustments for the better of the harbor and its people—including your own contributions.

For now you’d put that behind you, choosing to admire in the patterned stalls, each one hanging a laurel beside their storefront. The air held a tang of salt blown in from the sea, mingling with the spicy aroma of crushed pinecones and the smoky trace of burning wood. It painted a nostalgic scene in your mind as the avenues were filled with busy people—carts being ferried down to the docks, traveling merchants and adventurers alike trying to join in on the upcoming festivities, and locals settling in to enjoy the transformation around them.

And when the time of the festival had come, Liyue would be set ablaze with each avenue strung with lights and lanterns coming to life in a grand unraveling of colors. Reds bled out into the paved walkways, golds twinkled along the walls, and greens shone in a rich spread over the garments of passersby. It truly reminded you of the moments back home when you watched the night be dispelled by the first flicker of light birthed from a timid flame.

You thought you wouldn’t get to witness those displays after coming into this world—forced to tread a path alone in order to find that which you had lost. But that journey held no sight of the end anytime soon, and the fear of losing your way or losing sight of what you pursued constantly lurked in the depths of your mind. However, the bout of loneliness you shouldered was quieted when you shared moments with the people you’ve come to love as your friends.

And along the way you soon realized that you had never been alone—your journey did not lead you into perpetual darkness, but rather into the light of new opportunities. For you had the strength that your kin did not possess. You could shun the darkness. And like the lanterns that floated freely into the star-studded sky, you could dispel the foreboding evil intent on claiming you.

Much like Mondstadt’s festivities, the celebration would draw long into the night, very well after the last wick bearing a tired flame snuffed out. Vendors would retire their emptied stalls soon after they’d sell out of their wares, eager to peruse the streets that were lavishly decorated in knickknacks and wreaths bunched with glaze lilies and silk flowers. Amidst the clamor of voices the gentle clatter of wooden chimes provided a gentle backdrop of noise to which you would sway with.

What had the festivals of old been like? Had they been as joyous as the one you shared with the harbor, or had they been more grand and sophisticated? Had the people partaken in such tradition where offerings weren’t made to their deities but rather to the ones you loved as a gesture of gratitude? The god of contracts may have respected the value of a mutual agreement fulfilled on both ends of separate parties, but you cherished the value of mutual fulfillment through the upholding of time spent together. And you knew all too well that that time was short. It never should be taken for granted.

[julii-wings]

Art of Deception

Albedo x Reader

Continuation of ' Art of Seduction '

First Part ── ·  ·  · ✦ Art of Seduction

Previous Work ── ·  ·  · ✦ No Strings Attached

I really like writing for Albedo hehe~ Also! This was never supposed to be a continuation of the first part I made, but with Christmas right around the corner I really just wanted to write something that shared some aspects of the holidays (and by that I mean SNOW!) Is the ending messy and rushed? Perhaps, but I hope it’s alright! Perhaps if I make a part III, I’ll make sure to write a little nicer ^^ As always, please enjoy and pardon any errors or mistakes :)

“Shall I leave my own mark upon you… Traveler?”

Word Count ── ·  ·  · ✦ 2.2k

Warnings ── ·  ·  · ✦ suggestive theme, lil’ bit angsty

Synopsis ── ·  ·  · ✦ you had returned to dragonspine to confirm whether albedo truly was not the imposter. you reminisce your first time meeting him, then discuss the object of his interests—you.

The coarse texture of his worn glove traveled over the swell of your lips, the gentle pressure plumping them together as they cushioned the pad of his thumb. Even through the material that wrapped his hand and kept the delicate feel of Albedo’s fingers from engraving their touch on your skin, your close proximity with the alchemist would have to serve as a temporary relief to ease your greed.

“Your breathing has picked up,” Albedo sighed, his breath fanning out in a snowy plume, rippling out to tickle the end of your nose before it melted away. “Are you cold?”

Your fingers curled into the back of his coat, gathering handfuls of white cloth that spread to fit his slim figure, to which it all seemed to perfectly center around around the diamond left so delicately on his neck. He was the example of imperfection turned perfection, blurring the line of unachievable and the achieved. For all Albedo was, however, you wished he wouldn’t take the present moment lightly. And you were keen on the fact of his attempt to jest with you—his cues at doing so subtle, as was his nature.

A curious graze along the contour of your jaw pulled you from your quiet moment of annoyance. Albedo was peering at you with those ever inquisitive eyes, and Archons, you questioned if the hazy blue depths had always been so deep. His hand drifted away from your jaw, following an invisible line to the curve of your neck where you could feel a pressing weight settle carefully in the middle.

Did Albedo ever wonder the faults of a supposedly ‘perfect’ specimen? The mortality of the humans around him was so fragile compared to him, a rightful imposter in their midst who had come to see centuries of time slip away. Or did he wonder of the little flaws that gave humanity its own sense of perfection?

“Traveler…” Albedo’s hands slid down to the small of your back as you leaned away from him, the intoxicating haze that seemed to fog your mind lifting slightly.

“Is this part of your research?” you couldn’t help but question, overriding his tentative words that were easily retracted, a short snort of amusement coming in answer to you.

“Would you like it to be?” he replied.

“You tell me, sir,” you couldn’t help but breathe out in a whisper, your voice nearly lost in the ruckus of wind that swept beyond the safety of his camp. “If it means it’ll help you know more about me.”

“That is what my first intention was upon meeting you.”

You remember that meeting—a blizzard upon this same cursed mountain that had made you stumble wearily along the path, once more taking for granted the warnings of Dragonspine being a place of an unforgiving nature. And by a bout of misfortune, you had caught the attention of a group of hilichurls, their cries of alarms rising with the wind that lashed your face. Your own ignorance would have been your undoing had not a stranger intervened, chasing off the monsters in a show of power that left the air shimmering with a veil of gold.

The sudden commotion of being attacked then promptly saved had left your exhausted body succumbing to the bitter ministrations of the cold, barely enough reserved strength left to meekly lift your head to look upon your savior. And that's when you beheld your own piece of wonder that was in the form of the stranger's eyes. Curiosity lay beneath a sheen of soft blue that was framed carefully by the few strands of hair that fell over a porcelain-like face. The wind tussled freely with the pale blonde locks left unchecked by the binds of a thick braid.

“Huh?” you could only say dumbly as you openly stared, your lashes heavy with the gathering of falling snowflakes.

“Who are you? Why did you alarm them?” The stranger asked.

Archons. You had never expected a voice to be able to retain a true softness in its tone, the elusive cadence so pleasing to one’s ears when granted the chance. The wind had become a backdrop of needless noise as the stranger spoke, and it took you a moment to process the questions at hand.

“I… I didn’t mean to,” you replied ashamedly, finding yourself running the questions through your head once the haze of exhaustion lifted from your mind for the moment, lured by the mystery of this soft-spoken man who brushed off the mountain’s cold breath with no indication of being worn from it such as you.

“Thank the gods I’d already completed my sketch, would’ve been a shame to leave these particular hilichurls unfinished,” he sighed.

Sketching… in a place like this? Though you would admit that the view of Mondstadt granted from the cliffs of Dragonspine had always made you lose your breath, so too did the demand of the higher altitude. And the brutality of the everlasting frost was enough to make you steer clear during your tromps around Teyvat. The only reasons for your rare visits were the occasional commission or a new event issued by the Adventurer’s Guild, most of which were led by Cyrus.

This time around was no different—you had pushed aside your initial dislike to wander in a place so uninviting and foreboding, the steep inclines soaring above your head as if encircling you in an icy prison while the twists and turns aroused your paranoia at danger lurking just beyond your range of sight. If not for the precious gaps of scenery offered in scattered places—most of which required a risk to even reach—you couldn’t fathom any other reason for anyone coming here.

Except for him. Albedo. Captain of the Reconnaissance team in the Knights of Favonius and genius alchemist, you were quite sheepish in not recognizing him sooner. Then again, the elusive man before you had never spent much time roaming the cozy little pathways in Mondstadt. From what you had gathered from bits of conversation around the city, you guessed that Albedo devoted every bit of himself into his work, even at the cost of his well-being while on Dragonspine.

“You were drawing the hilichurls?” you asked, closing the front of your coat to keep out the mischievous wind that tugged insistently at its fringes. “W-why?”

It was then that you noticed an easel propped up behind the alchemist, the stark white canvas leaning upon the wooden frame melting into the perfectly white backdrop of the snow-capped surroundings.

Albedo paused, a sigh clouding in front of his face as he seemed to ponder the depth of your question. You were left to wait as you wondered another question—how was Albedo not freezing his arse off like you? And had your question really been that thought-invoking?

The moment had only been for a few seconds, perhaps just a few heartbeats, but for you—distracted by the gentle hues of teal and sapphire that danced in his eyes—it may as well have been years as you stood there in the onslaught of snow and frost. So, when Albedo finally spoke up again, you startled and nearly slipped. Much to your relief, Albedo hadn’t seemed to notice given he seemed to scrutinize the last place where the hilichurls had stood.

“Hmm, I’m afraid the answer isn’t easy to explain. If you’d like to have a look at my sketch, it may give you a clue.”

He gestured over to the easel where he’d been hidden away as he observed the monsters, neatly tucked away in a small group of trees, the rise of the mountain making the both of you appear significantly smaller. Out of curiosity you heeded his words, and ambled over to get a look at his sketch.

You weren’t sure why you felt a twinge of disappointment surface in you as you glimpsed Albedo’s art. Maybe a part of you had expected a breathtaking work given how the alchemist was praised for his revolutionary accomplishments. But perhaps art wasn’t for everyone. On the canvas was a rather simplistic representation of what the hilichurls looked like, the cartoonish style distinguished enough so that you at least recognized what you were looking at.

“You can find these hilichurls anywhere, quite boring in fact, not worth closer inspection.”

You startle once more as Albedo’s voice drifted over your shoulders, his footsteps so light that the moaning of the wind had covered their sound. The alchemist was gazing at you, his handsome features resting in a blank look, but you had a feeling there was more than he let on that was stirring in his mind. And your suspicions were confirmed as Albedo continued.

“But take a look at this inspection. The build, the coat… And there’s a distinct force at work here.”

Albedo gestured to his sketch which consisted merely of black lines that made the bare minimum of what a hilichurl was. Your eyes, however, were drawn to the blossom of color that bled across the center, bringing a form of life to the singular hilichurl that Albedo had chosen to paint. Your mind was already forming the next question that rested on the tip of your tongue, only to wither away to nothing as Albedo went on a tangent.

“In the cyclical lives of such primitive communities, such unique attributes are an indication of evolution at work. Evolution, the transition from nothing into existence, from the known to the un-”

“You always found something unique in every mundane thing,” you murmured, appreciating how Albedo’s eyes seemed to shine just a little brighter whenever he talked about a subject of interest. They were the same as when you had met, and continued to be the same as of now, pulling you into the deep end that threatened to swallow you whole. Not that you minded.

“There is always more than meets the eye, Traveler. Though I suppose human nature inherits the impatience to not bide time on the trivial things that appear meaningless.”

A soft laugh bubbled from your mouth. “That is one way of putting it,” you said, vaguely aware that you still had a handful of his coat clenched in your fingers. You smoothed down the bunched fabric before reluctantly pulling away. You needed a breath of fresh air. Whenever you were close to Albedo you felt stifled by his being, the way it lured you to him, molding perfectly with your own as you expressed your curiosity more and more through unbidden moments of selfish desire.

“What about you, though?” you said suddenly, letting the cold air rush into your lungs to help clear your head. “Why do you spend such time on trivial things?”

Albedo listed his head off to the side, the familiar spark of wonder leaping into his eyes.

“Me? Well…” He started slow, pausing as he searched for his next words, then drew close so that a whisper breathed out gently was all you heard. “I choose to study these things because they are the ones that hold the most meaning to me.”

You almost couldn’t hear him over your heart, the thunderous rhythm pulsing in your throat. He couldn’t mean the words he’d just said—Albedo never had qualms with dropping a topic on the spot if it didn’t tickle his fancy. But the longer you wondered as you looked at him, the more you realized that the alchemist had meant every word. He wasn’t talking about the previous research he had done—he was talking about you.

“Why me?” you couldn’t help but ask, interested to hear his answer, but also finding yourself dreading the truth. Were you to be just another experiment to him, to be toyed and used until eventually you no longer were of any use?

Albedo squinted his eyes at you like he was contemplating his next response, but you knew he also did it when a particularly puzzling situation cropped up. Now, you weren’t all too keen on his ability to pick up social cues as he was to pick up talk that exceeded your ability to comprehend, but you hoped that just for this moment he’d set aside his initial curt manner and assuage your mounting anxiety. But like you said earlier, luck was not on your side.

The alchemist merely stared at you, regarding you as nothing more than just another with whom he had to experience a taxing exchange with, or so you thought. Your heart continued to throb in your throat, making it difficult to swallow down the squeak of surprise at his next words.

“You hold the aura of the stars. I would like to study you.”

“I know,” you whispered, feeling your reality threatening to cave at any moment. “But aren’t I anything more than just a guinea pig?”

“You are a dear friend to me.”

His words sounded uncertain to you, making you flash back to the terror-driven moments of when you didn’t know any better as to whether Albedo could be trusted. For Albedo had always held you as a dear friend, had always spoken so patiently to you as opposed to the disinterest he showed with other people. Why did it feel like now even that precious relationship with him couldn’t be believed as being real?

“Just a friend?”

There was another long pause. Then,

“Yes. Just a friend. If anything, I don’t think I could bring myself to love you as you have come to love me. I’m sorry, Traveler.”

[julii-wings]

No strings attached was so good! I can already tell you’re going to be an amazing part of the tumblr writing community :)

Aw, thank you so much! You don’t know how much it means to me to hear that! TT - Azzy

[julii-wings]

No Strings Attached

·˚ [ Scaramouche x Reader ] ! ˊˎ

Ahh, I didn’t expect my first post to go so well, thank you so much guys! I was really happy to see it do a lot better than I imagined, so I wanted to write up another post as soon as I could! Like the last post, I apologize in advance for any errors or confusion. This isn’t fully proofread, but still! I hope you guys enjoy :)

“I’m the Balladeer, No. 6 of the Fatui Harbingers. Delighted to meet you, O Mighty Traveler. So many visitors today. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Trope ── ·  ·  · ✦ red string of fate

Word Count ── ·  ·  · ✦ 2.5k

Warnings ── ·  ·  · ✦ spoilers for omnipresence over mortals, mentions of blood

Synopsis ── ·  ·  · ✦ the nation of inazuma is thrown into war, justice and order vying for control over the land of eternity. you've seen couples ripped apart, their crimson thread that had served as a testimony to their destined love littering the ground to join the stains of those who had died for their land. you were lucky your thread hadn't been cut yet, but it made you wonder who your soulmate would turn out to be.

Delusions…

They’ve already brought more suffering into the world than you can imagine, but it was just enough to rival the utter bitterness you felt toward the aftermath of one’s vision being forcefully confiscated—all for the sake of the mighty Shogun’s stern will upon the ideal of ‘eternity.’

It was rather fitting that such a greedy device would be pegged with the name that also fell to the moment when one’s mind ensnared them in the poisonous desires of their heart. For that is what a delusion was—the culmination of one’s own ambition that exceeded the limits of comprehension, only understood by the muddled fantasies of the one that birthed them. It was these delusions that demanded a price that didn’t settle right with you, or with anyone else for that matter that had found their beloved home become a battlefield.

For Inazuma had been thrown into war ever since the Vision Hunt Decree, justice and order vying for control of the land of eternity. And you were just another pawn in the midst of the fighting—your reputation as a dragon slayer and god conqueror having spread far and wide from the mainland of Teyvat. You’ve seen your fair share of innocent blood spilt, more so for the needless ambitions of the self-proclaimed ruling bodies of each nation, but it never got easy as each time served as a reminder that the gift of mortality was damned to be a short window.

Mortality…

How could a god achieve eternity when the very earth would soon fade away, returning to what it once had been before the fruition of its existence? And what of the god’s own divinity? A life bound to the whims of the heavens, it would seal one’s fate to tread a lonely path—your path. You never really dwelled on the lonely part, having traversed stranger lands than Teyvat with the company of your sibling. Embarking now on your own journey, you realized that loneliness was perhaps a feeling you were familiar with, much to the point that you had grown aware of your plight and were exhausted of having to endure it.

Is that why you found yourself pitted into the hearts of mighty battles, the number of which had become lost as you stained your hands in the crimson blood of the fallen, both enemy and monster alike. You had become conditioned to fight, expecting to brandish your weapon at every turn as the deeds you accomplished were overshadowed by your might in battle. And had you become so used to the weight of the hilt of your sword in hand, the roughened skin of your palm molding to the subtle imperfections of the handle, that you no longer thought it possible to see the coming of a day where the clash of iron would not be needed anymore?

Delusions and eternity, they went hand in hand to craft the grandest desire of all, and with the poison of greed to pursue such an ill-begotten ideal would mean to usher you quickly to the depths of your demise. Perhaps that’s why you were fighting endlessly—to see to it that you would not fall prey to the darkness lurking at the back of your mind, the same darkness to which your sibling had fallen into.

And that’s why you were now stood in front of the weathered doors that lay guard to the Delusion factory that the Resistance speculated was supplying the cursed devices to their ranks. The very fact that such artifacts were in their midst made you bristle. The Resistance already had enough trouble trying to push back tireless waves of Shogunate, they didn’t need the added problem of their soldiers perishing at the whims of their want to stoop to any solution to bring the tide of the war into their favor.

That was another thing the war had brought. Many lives were lost, and along with them the precious scarlet thread binding their life to another that awaited their return, or perhaps their chance meeting that would now never come to be. You yourself have yet to meet your soulmate, the intricately tied thread hung around your pinkie having all but been forgotten as you went on to lead soldiers into battle for the sake of the Resistance and Watatsumi Island.

The anticipation of finding your soulmate, someone you were fated to love until your last breath rattled in your chest, it was a precious moment of wonder in everyone’s life when they were old enough to have that delicate string bound to their pinkie. And you had been like everyone else, eagerly searching for your destined other half, so impatient to meet them because you wanted to paint your life just like the fairytales and happily ever afters. But the happy luster of your dreams, your own delusion, faded to a dull spark that glossed over the once tantalizing lure of a childish story come true. Your red string was now nothing except a taunt of fate’s empty promise. After all, you had traveled to worlds unimaginable, witnessed the fall of mighty beings, and oversaw the deaths of stars. Your soulmate was nowhere to be found, the only assurance of their existence hinging upon the certainty of a colored thread.

What made Teyvat any different?

A heavy sigh spilled from your lips, the distant hiss of the ocean washing upon the shore gently coaxing you from your thoughts. Time had slipped away from your mind, and you wondered how long you had lamented your bottled up frustrations. The toll of the war was settling heavily upon you, but you had no other choice except to see the fight until the end. It was to not just fulfill the promise of the ones who depended upon you but to also bring yourself ease that you could stop more lives from being lost, if only for a little bit of time.

The doors of the factory gave way with rumbling groans of their age. Dust floated around your head as you slowly stepped into the dim workings of the Fatui hideout. Your eyes adjusted to the gloomy atmosphere, the air heavy with an immense buildup of energy that crackled along your skin. Whether it was from the dormant power of delusions that were waiting to be shipped or from another source… You couldn’t quite pin it down but assumed the answer would come in due time.

As expected of a Fatui-ridden lair, your path wasn’t without the threat of traps as you warily navigated the rows of propped screens littered here and there. You could’ve dismissed them as the Fatui being disorganized about their shady operation, but then again, when were any of their motives without a backup to ensure their plans could be delivered to their furthest potential? And soon enough, much to your satisfaction at being proved right, you had come across a false tile in the floor. Experience from countless commissions had conditioned you for the unexpected in any situation, and compared to the risks you encountered before, this safety measure was a mere amateur’s move.

You breezed down the corridor with your steps hastening as you plunged deeper into the factory. In the low lighting you could make out a number of crates piled out of the way, the dull sheen of ore reflecting the soft light that pulsed from the wooden boards beneath your feet. The recognizable marbling of white as it striped the pale violet surface of crystal marrow made you stutter in your steps. What use of crystal marrow would the Fatui need? Was that how they made the Delusions?

Heavy footfalls snapped your attention to the Fatui that were marching from an adjoining corridor. They were quick to charge forward as their eyes landed upon you—an intruder and enemy known all too well by your fierce reputation for felling many at your blade. Apparently, even knowing that was not enough to deter them from confronting you. The hilt of your weapon flashed into view as you snatched it from the air as it was summoned, as if it sensed the need of its presence once more as you rushed ahead to meet the grunts in a locked stance of your weapons.

The battle only lasted for a few moments, your victory won with the seasons’ worth of experience you had achieved through countless demanding trials. You had danced around the Fatui and took your time assessing the flaws in their tactics, skewering their attempts at overwhelming you with a show of just a fraction of your true capability that had granted you the feats of no one else.

And as the grunts hurried away, you tailing hot on their heels to find the heart of the factory, your determination at ceasing this damned operation mounted to a fervent anger boiling within your veins. It felt like liquid fire as you remembered friends, family, and loved ones alike that had died because of the intervention of the Fatui. How much more were they willing to bring to ruin? How many more were going to be needlessly sacrificed?

You barged past an intricately guarded set of doors, the mechanisms only allowing your passage beyond them after enduring a search for three symbols that had been blatantly misplaced as an attempt to stall any entry into the room. The doors ground shut behind you as you walked forward carefully. There were no traps, no triggers, no mechanic puzzles, just a simple platform under which purple smoke rolled and spilled out, a ghost of its touch billowing around your feet as your skin was electrified. A shiver shot down your spine, the menacing atmosphere alone being enough to draw a breakout of goosebumps on your skin.

“You actually managed to find this place. Congratulations.”

The silence of your arrival broke as a voice reached past the incomprehensible sighs and hisses of the restrained smoke, an illuminated silhouette coming to light from the shadows upon the railed platform before you. A gentle chorus of rattling tinkled in your ears, far more pleasing than the undertone of smugness you could detect in the Fatui’s voice as he revealed himself.

Thinly veiled by the shadow of the broad lip of his hat, you were subjected to the judgement of dark eyes that beheld you with a look of mockery, his lips curling freely into a smirk.

“So you’re another Fatui Harbinger, like Signora and Childe?” you spat out, clutching the hilt of your weapon. Your knuckles paled at the force in which you gripped the worn handle, the roughness of your palm that had been built over the course of your journey giving away to tender flesh that split open as the dulled metal dug into your hand. You could feel your fingers begin to ache. The Harbinger was watching you, satisfying himself with the beaten look of exhausted anger scrawled on your face.

“Signora and Childe? Huh… I didn’t know you and my two least reliable colleagues were acquainted.”

His eyes searched your own, the proud glint that lay in a pool of turbulent violet irises drawing out your already present fury. You could end the manufacturing of Delusions in Inazuma right here, starting with lodging the Harbinger’s head on the end of your blade.

The Harbinger seemed keen on the flurry of thoughts in your head, treating you to a sidelong glance as his grin rested easily on his lips. The motion of his head made the hanging charms embellished on the extensions of his hat clatter in a muted dance as they swayed and knocked into each other.

“I’m the Balladeer, No. 6 of the Fatui Harbingers. Delighted to meet you, O Mighty Traveler. So many visitors today. To what do I owe the honor?”

You felt your head start to throb the longer you glared at this… Balladeer. Just one well-placed strike could shut his mouth, or maybe you could put the tassels on his hat to good use. Your weapon’s hilt felt warm, the thick heat of blood pooling into your palm.

“You’re manufacturing Delusions!” You raised the point of your blade accusingly at him, ignoring how the thread bound on your pinkie seemed to be tighter, the scarlet of its string hidden away by your own blood.

“Oh, so that’s what this is about,” the Balladeer scoffed. “I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I know how this looks, but I’m just here to follow orders. I’m obviously not the mastermind behind this. Aren’t you supposed to be pretty tough? What are you waiting for, go get them.”

Your feet scuffed the ground as you struggled to stay their want to leap forward and cut the Harbinger down in one blow. He was taunting you, prying apart the little composure and patience you had remaining. He knew you wouldn’t blindly throw yourself in to fight, not while he held the lure of having the answer behind the creating of Delusions. He knew what you were after.

“You’re getting all worked up over nothing. Huh… didn’t have you down as being so weak,” he baited, the potent lull of his voice and the sting of his words aiming to break the weakening dam of your emotions.

“How can you say this is nothing?” you bit back. You could hear your voice shake, the first crack of your composure already exposing your vulnerability. The bottled up grief you had held onto for the sake of the remembrance of the ones you lost… it was going to be your downfall.

“How can you call it anything more?” the Balladeer replied, his voice dropping quieter until it was a hiss whispered out into the space between you and him. “It’s the way of the world. Human life is worthless. They were always going to die, with or without a Delusion. At least having one gives them a chance to fulfill their ambitions.”

You don’t remember when you had lunged, or when you had gotten close enough to shove off your trembling legs into the air to swing your blade. Veins of blood wrapped your arm in a crimson tapestry. It loosened your hold on the handle of your weapon, but you pressed it harder into your palm, gritting your teeth through the burst of pain that blossomed in your hand.

Just one strike…

It would shut him up…

The steel blade clouded with the reflection of violet eyes as you angled the swing of your arm, your eyes the only shine dancing in the Harbinger’s own. He raised his hands to block your blade, offering a canvas of clean ivory to paint his demise with. You could the red of his string taint his otherwise pale skin, your own thread binding painfully around your finger until you spotted the connection of the two threads too late. Your breath caught in your throat, your weapon too far gone to stop, and the Harbinger’s surprise mirroring yours as the blade severed your tie of fate.

Perhaps you should have never taken fate for granted.

[julii-wings]

Art of Seduction

-; [ Albedo x Reader ] ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

This is my first post on Tumblr, so I hope you guys enjoy! I apologize in advance for any spelling mistakes or errors - this is not fully proofread! With that in mind, I hope to be writing more genshin scenarios like this :)

"I am Albedo, Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius. You carry the aura of the stars, interesting... I would like to study you, if you do not mind. I'm certain we will have many opportunities to be alone in the future."

Word Count ── ·  ·  · ✦ 1.8k

Warnings ── ·  ·  · ✦ spoilers for shadows amidst storms

Synopsis ── ·  ·  · ✦ following after act 3 of shadows amidst snowstorms, you were quite troubled by the recent events that took place, and decide to check on albedo to confirm if he's the real subject 1 or the imposter. turns out he had other plans as well.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

Monstadt's cathedral bell swayed against the backdrop of a cloudless sky, the spires of the old church piercing the veil of sunlight that fell upon the land of freedom. The bell's tolling eventually became but muted noise in your ears as you let your feet dangle over the plaza's wall. Barbatos' shadow covered you in his immortalized glory from the center of the plaza, outstretched arms in offering to the brisk wind that swept by to caress the sun-kissed skin of any disciple that it met in its path.

You could feel the breath of the breeze scurry down your neck, having no qualms with mussing up your hair that billowed in front of your face. Your cheek was warmed by the press of your palm against your skin, a perfect imprint left behind as you let your hand flop into your lap. A sigh left your lips and was left to the whims of the wind as your gaze searched the peak of Dragonspine, the picturesque view of its frosted cliffs such a tantalizing beckon for the unaware.

For you knew now what rested amidst the dangerous snow drifts and hidden corners—the thorns upon a rose that would prick the fool who carelessly plucked it from its stem. And you had been one of its many victims. Lured in by the frozen wonders and forgotten mysteries, you had thought the towering mountain that lay in solitude on the border of Mondstadt and Liyue was just another obstacle in your quest on this foreign world. How wrong you had been.

Dragonspine had always been pegged as a dangerous place, filled with monsters and hoarders who braved the cold just for the chance of finding treasure. And those weren't even the greatest threat! Puzzle mechanisms lay scattered in the snow, remnants of the past civilization that had called the merciless cold their home. Behemoths of advanced technology buried in pockets of caves that wound through the bowels of the mountain lay in wait, having endured the centuries of constant blizzards. You never knew that such a place could be the fancy of anyone's eyes.

And yet here you were, slumped upon the wall of the plaza outside of the cathedral, your mind sifting through what secrets Dragonspine still withheld and a certain alchemist's words that had been parted to you just a few hours prior to your coming to the plaza.

"When someone's pockets are full and their spirit is fulfilled, they don't easily fall prey to this kind of yearning."

What had he meant by that? The alchemist always veiled his true thoughts behind complicated analogies, and you weren't on his level of understanding to comprehend their meanings right away such as he. In all honesty, you still felt a feeling of dread coil around your heart, Albedo suddenly feeling like a stranger. While it wasn't the first time you had seen someone's true colors, and had to cast them off as an enemy in the end, you had thought that perhaps the people of Mondstadt would be the ones you could call family. Now even that was out of the question.

Still, however, Albedo had seemed quite insistent on your return to Dragonspine, brought on by the request of your flying companion, Paimon, who had wanted a machine to preserve her... fruit juice. Had you not known Paimon as well as you do now, you would've found her motive odd. Unfortunately, strange interactions of all sizes were to be expected to be had whenever Paimon was around. This time, you were glad she seemed to get the hint that you wanted some time alone to organize your thoughts.

Should you heed the alchemist's words for the sake of your faithful companion, or as a show that he still held your trust despite the odd event that had happened on Dragonspine over the course of the week? Closing your eyes you could imagine the biting sting of the untamed wind as it trailed slivers of ice on your worn clothing, cutting the thin fabric to assault your paled skin. And when you had fought through the worst of it, you were only met with blank azure eyes that held none of the familiar fascination whenever they beheld you.

Learning the truth of Albedo, of his creation rather than birth, of his story rather than his journey, it had all been so much to process. And on top of that, Albedo wasn't the only... Albedo out there. There was more than one. You had had your suspicious from the start, of course, when everyone else's attention was drawn to the winter camp hosted by Cyrus of the Adventurer's Guild. But you knew Albedo, or at least you thought you knew.

However, your last encounter with him in front of the small alchemy shop had your mind reeling back to the fight with the imposter posing as him. Could you truly trust him after that? What if the Albedo you knew was the one felled by your own blade? You shook your head, ridding the thought at once. The Albedo you had fought had been a mutated whopperflower. For archons' sake you even saw the cursed creature reveal itself with your own eyes!

So why was it so hard for you to convince yourself that Albedo--the real one--was alright? Had it been the calm pools of blue you had grown fond of losing yourself in had no trace of that quiet thoughtfulness when you last saw him? Or perhaps it had been the slight smug tone he spoke with when inquiring about Paimon's sunsettias. Either way, you felt a need to check on the alchemist.

Against your initial wariness on going back to Dragonspine, your worry outweighed your instinct to let Albedo be. You had to see for yourself that the imposter was truly gone, and that the Albedo you knew was... well, you weren't too sure yet of what exactly you wanted to confirm. Your feet were already carrying you toward the nearest waypoint, your hands reaching up to hoist you up the wall as you found familiar footing in the little imperfections of the column you were climbing.

The waypoint gently hummed as you approached, a hand outstretched to lay your palm on the device. Your eyes slid shut as soon as you felt the tips of your fingers make contact, picturing Dragonspine and feeling a shiver run through your body as a sudden force of cold enveloped you. You were immediately slapped in the face as Dragonspine's blizzard barreled past, pushing you along like a feather. The waypoint you had just teleported to was soon lost in the thickening screen of white.

Luckily for you, however, though you dreaded this mountain you knew it well enough to have a general grasp of where Albedo's camp lay, blizzard and snow be damned. It took you a little longer than you'd like carefully finding your way to the tucked away camp the alchemist had made so he could study away from the comforts of his laboratory in Mondstadt. And like you had suspected, Albedo was there poring over his notes and paintings, the dull sheen of teal preserving the light of wonder in his eyes serving to dispel the chill that had claimed you.

He was alright and everything seemed to be as it should be—your unease put to rest with how quickly things returned to normal.

"Traveler, you came."

Your eyes blinked snowflakes from your lashes, focusing on the gentle cadence of the alchemist's voice as you notice him walking toward you.

"I didn't expect you to come so soon. Please, come in and get warmed up."

Albedo gestured to the small firepit that lay in the center of his camp, the many instruments of his profession angled specifically so as to shelter the bed of ash from the majority of the wind. Even down to the small details Albedo was keen on ensuring that the best possible results would be achieved. You took his advice and sat down on one of the chairs placed around the firepit. Since neither of you were pyro wielders, you make do with transferring an ember from one of the torches nearby. Soon you were coaxing a fire to life, its hissing flames chasing away the last bit of chill in your body.

Albedo soon joined you, the shifting hues of orange and yellow a nice contrast to the tame shade of his blue eyes. You found yourself lowering your gaze to the curve of his neck, a soft slope that served as a perfect canvas for the diamond resting just below his throat. You remembered his story about that mark, that defining fault that had made the imposter believe him to be imperfect.

"Have you come to ask about the juice machine that Paimon wanted?"

Albedo had asked it so suddenly that you were pulled from your thoughts, snapping your eyes up to meet his inquisitive gaze. You had forgotten that you had only come here to check up on him, Paimon's juice obsession having occupied the back of your mind. You shook your head, and were rewarded with a small smile. But Albedo's smiles always made you feel that he knew more than he let on--which was true most of the time--but this smile held something more... It was nothing sinister, unlike the manic grin the imposter wore that made you shiver in unease. No, this was more mischievous, more sly, like you had walked into something you shouldn't have.

"Good. I haven't started on researching that yet. Your coming here allows me to further my research on a different subject entirely."

You were tempted to ask. He had piqued your interest, after all. But when he turned to look at you, his smile never wavering as his eyes dragged you into their welcoming depths, you found your voice dying in your throat.

"I still would like to study you, Traveler, if you do not mind. You carry the aura of the stars, after all."

He had drawn close to you, enough so that each breath fanned across your face in a pleasant wave of brief warmth, giving your cheeks another reason other than being cold to flush noticeably. Albedo's eyes momentarily flickered to the response elicited from his actions, his hands coming up to ever so gently cradle your chin in gloved palms.

"How interesting. Shall we take it further?"

You hadn't expected his voice to drop to a whisper, making his chest rumble with how low he had spoken. It made you tremble with anticipation, your head nodding eagerly as you couldn't trust your voice with how dry your throat had gotten. The coarse material of his gloved thumb followed the shape of your bottom lip, before dropping to the curve of your jaw that led to your ear. You could feel his own lips, cold and chapped, move against the pliant skin of the outer shell of your ear, the contact alone making you wrap your arms around his neck to pull him closer as you bit your lip to stifle a moan.

"Shall I leave my own mark upon you... Traveler?"