kzhwaif

[kzhwaif]

welcome to the show.

₊˚ ᗢ synopsis; after the disbandment of your k-pop group OZEAN, you establish STR alongside your friends with the help of former musician ACER. with him as your producer, your curiosity about him leads to a change in your work-relationship.

⤷genres/warnings; smau, band/idol au, slow burn, secret identities, pining, fluff, angst, somewhat dirty humor (from childe), social media drama, scandals, harrassment, sfw, fem!reader.

⤷masterlist; previous + next.

⤷taglist (19/25); @https-furina @soleillunne @whipped-for-fictionals @maehemthemisfit @blue-b3rries @rook-kisser @k1an4a @yuminako @mommymilkers-main @ixromzi @meigalaxy @lovely028 @deannaistired @kazeniya @mechanicalbeat1 @luvik4zuhaxx @dazaisboner @scarletttcroww @d4y-dr3am3r

[kzhwaif]

new year's day

synopsis: hold on to the memories, and they will hold on to you.

genre: fluff, maybe slight angst at the end

characters: aether x gn! reader, adventurer! reader

warnings: reader referred to in 2nd person, awkward/accidental confession, kissing

a/n: happy new year!! may the new year bring us all much joy<3 likes, reblogs and comments highly appreciated!!

©2023 ryuryuryuyurboat. do not repost, translate, plagiarise, or modify in any way, shape or form.

masterlist

a blink of an eye, and yet another year of traversing the vast world of teyvat had come and gone. wasn’t it just yesterday that you met the blond traveler from some foreign land and his flying non-wish-granting fairy? almost seems like yesterday that he invited you to join him on his voyage– something about ‘similar goals’ and the shared desire to be paid more for your contributions to the adventurer’s guild made the partnership all the more desirable. (him being exactly your type was a sweet bonus.)

now, after yet another year filled with unexpected twists, action-packed fights, and exhausting tasks, with aether still nowhere close to finding anything more about his sister’s whereabouts, it was time to sit down, unwind, and reflect on the past year. 

you sat on a hilltop, with the unmistakable silhouette of the opera on the opposite shore, looking up at the stars shining through the depths of the night sky, laughing about the events that happened in the past year and him explaining famous traditions from his homeland that were similar to those of teyvat’s. 

“hey, wait, what’s the deal with a new year’s kiss?” you suddenly had a thought. 

aether froze, then leaned in, an uncharacteristically sly grin on his face. “why, thinking ‘bout getting yourself a new year’s kiss?”

“uh, well, maybe?”

his grin dropped. “...i see.” he turned to look up at the glittering canopy above, a soft sigh leaving his lips. “it’s believed that a couple that exchanges a kiss at the stroke of midnight will last long.”

“aaaaaand if the pair isn’t a couple yet?”

“jeez, get a confession out first, will you?”

“but would you even accept it?” you blurt.

“what?”

“what?”

silence. 

then, hesitantly, gaze never daring to leave your face, he asks, “...you… you wanna say that again?” “no.”

“oh.”

your eyes timidly meet his unwavering stare. you’re scared. you’re scared you’ll make a mistake, and you’re scared he’ll turn away. you don’t want him to become a stranger whose laugh you’d recognise anywhere— not with all the memories you’ve made together.

but then he smiles a warm smile, all the brightness of the stars dimming in comparison to the shine in his eyes.

“y’know… i’ve got a hundred thrown out speeches i almost said to you,” he reaches for your hand, squeezes it three times. “i wouldn’t have known you’d beat me to a confession this way–” he cuts himself off with a laugh.

silence again, punctuated only by the sound of fireworks as they shot into the night sky to mark the arrival of a new year.

he let out a soft sigh. “i… you know i’m terrible with words, so… will you let me show you?”

thus, under the twinkling gaze of the stars and the flying sparks of the fireworks, aether pressed his lips to yours– sealing a silent promise that you both knew in your hearts could be broken sooner or later.

taglist: @yinyinggie @lynyluvr @kazemiya @meidnightrain @https-furina (send ask to be added to taglist!)

if you liked this, do consider dropping me a follow for more :>

[kzhwaif]

A jealuc fanart infused with that one scene in tangled

[kzhwaif]

It's heartbreaking, being a fictional character in a fictional world. They're either loved and cared for until they're abandoned by their player, or they're mistreated and misplaced by that player. There's no control, no option for them.

They could fall in love. They could do everything to please their player, but in the end, their player will always leave them behind. They'll end up as some toy to tinker with, a little plaything until their player gets bored and slowly but surely begins to leave them behind.

You did that to them— you did it to him. Maybe you used him so much that you got too bored, or perhaps you just found someone else to play with; you did reach friendship level 10 with him. During your friendship level journey, you've played and listened to all of the voice lines he provided, even repeating your favorites. He sought after the joy of hearing your praise, comment, and remarks in response to his voice lines. He's seen so much of you over the course of the journey, and, in return, he showed himself to you.

But then you left him.

It started off with you visiting strange domains and obtaining its artifacts. Judging by the collection, you definitely weren't trying to rebuild him. Those artifacts and materials were clearly meant for somebody else.

He'd often watch you switch teams to build that mystery person, maybe to test them out; to use them; to play with them. Yet, you'd always come back to him afterward, and because of that, he was fine, satisfied. As long as you'd keep coming back.

But, at some point, you simply didn't return.

He was fighting the monsters of a smoky blue leyline, and he, having won the battles, gave you those same purple and maroon papers that you needed for this mystery person. You were happy. You looked really relieved to finally get these, and through the mask of an idle animation, he smiled, proud of himself for making you smile. You thanked him, and then you switched the character and team, and you were out of view once more.

He sighed, tired from fighting all these battles and random enemies, but he was glad that you'd probably be able to finish leveling this mystery character up. Now you can keep playing with and using him, right? This way, you'll be done with this other person, and you'll come back to him, right?

Wrong.

One whole day passed. You were online, but he couldn't see you.

Another day passed. Where'd you go? Are you still testing out that new person?

Five days drag by. Some of those days you didn't go on for, but for the most part, you were there, just not for him. What happened? Why weren't you coming back?

One full week had finally passed.

You were nowhere to be seen.

Waiting in the team lineup screen began to get lonely. You took two of the supports with you, and so he couldn't talk to him. One other person remained. Another support, but more off-field. Often, he would glance at them to see how they were doing. Even they looked as miserable as he did, but eventually, they found their way back to you through another team composition.

You took everyone with you except for him.

Where did you go?

He tumbled, falling down on the ground. It's been nearly a full month. You haven't even looked at him once. He could see through the slightly translucent walls and backgrounds, and he saw other team lineups waiting. He saw one team in use, as it had an open fourth wall and it was emptied, meaning that the characters left that team screen to join back into the world of teyvat.

He began to reminisce about his first awakening when you got him, you were smiling really hard. You were so excited when he woke up in that wishing star, striking a pose. He doesn't know how long he'd been unconscious around that time, but you woke him up, and you gave him more purpose, more life. He could see you and everything behind you. He could see that there was more than just teyvat through this strange wall you lived past. He was curious, yet he was happier just being yours to have in your little party with different people, some of which he had never seen before.

But now they're gone, and so were you. He doubts that they're ever coming back, and he doubts that you'll ever come back to him.

Wait.

The fourth wall in front of him shatters.

Is that you?

He immediately stood up, ready to greet you with that same pose he would always strike in the team lineup. And the moment you opened that wall, all of the other supports came back instantly, like they never left in the first place. He wasn't alone anymore.

His eyes lit up. You selected his character and were going through his character details. You're finally paying more attention to him! Are you finally gonna use him again? He puts his hands together as you check his artifacts.

There's a moment of hesitation in you. He barely opens his eyes to look at your apologetic face. You whisper an apology, and— to his horror— strip him of his artifacts one by one.

His flower is gone. His feather was taken. His sands timer, his goblet, and his circlet were stripped of his very being. Then you switched to his weapon. It was his very own weapon that you spent so much time on, and you took even that from him. He looked up to the upper-left corner of the room. Even if the text was backward, he could see that this new weapon was nothing but some random 1-star weapon from some measly chest you opened. You looked at him one more time, and you left his character details.

He felt betrayed. You weren't going to use him anymore. You re-entered the team lineup screen and selected him. He watched you scroll through your list of characters, and within a zap, he was transported to a black screen, a void, a room full of nothing but himself.

You had just completely replaced him.

You left the team lineup, and his eyes were forced shut. Your once beloved main was now back into his deep, endless, meaningless slumber.

.

“Creator! Creator!!”

A large group of people were yelling, waking him and a few others up. It was every single character that you owned and obtained throughout your journey. Some he recognized from the get-go, and others he'd never seen before in all of his life. Everyone you had obtained were shouting for you.

“Wh— wha? What's the matter?”

A short girl with brown hair and amber eyes came up to him in a panic.

“Thank Barbatos, you're up! The player is about to delete the game! We might be erased!”

He froze. You were deleting the game? He put his hand over his mouth. You were really leaving him now, weren't you?

Would you ever come back?

“Please!” The amber-eyed girl cried, “Help us!”

He wobbled backward. He couldn't take this.

“The player loves you! Maybe you can reverse this!”

“They don't.” He mumbled.

“Wh— what?”

“They don't— don't love me anymore.”

He stumbled, falling over at the realization. At that moment, everyone was panicking. The calmest people he knew were crumbling and stressing over this. He looked up at the transparent digital fourth wall. Your mouse hovered over the digital recycling bin.

Suddenly, you spoke.

“It was really nice playing the game, but I think...”

A moment of silence evoked in the crowd.

“...I think I need to start a new chapter of my lif—”

And you let go of that mouse. You let go of them. Everyone felt a strong gust of wind blow them out of the black screen, and they were transported to their designated places in the character list. Nobody—except for the traveler—remained in any team lineup. You removed everything.

He looked around. Black and grey smoke began to overtake the elemental colors of each designated character screen. Everyone banged on the walls until the void took them, and they became forever motionless. They were mannequins now, thoughtless ragdolls standing still. He banged on the glass, using his 1-star weapon to try and break out, but it was useless.

Eventually, he became just like everyone else. A thoughtless, motionless, abandoned toy that you had played with until you left.

—

(any) genshin men x reader ｜ comment for p.2 comfort

[kzhwaif]

The Kiss

[kzhwaif]

WARM SMILES & HOT COCOA FT. KAZUHA contents // meet-cute, reminiscing on memories, blooming est. relationship, strangers to friends to lovers, feminine reader masterlist

if there was any season, you'll ask kazuha which he'd liked the most, he would pick winter in an instant. although, if you asked him before dating him, he would say autumn. he would clarify first that he loves every season, but autumn is his favorite because of the weather being not too hot or too cold and how the leaves are crunchy.

you've asked since the season your boyfriend would always reply with was autumn. it was his go-to season. so when it was a sudden change you wanted to ask why and why did he say "you have changed my brain chemistry!"

who taught him this???

finding it strange, you thought otherwise but he insisted that you did. you snorted quietly as kazuha persistently asked you why you reacted that way. "it's because you've liked autumn for so long, i don't understand why you would change it all the sudden." kazuha wrinkled his nose a little out of confusion, sitting down on the brown couch as you draped a blanket over him.

he kept you closer to him, eventually, you were pulled into his lap as he replied, "not because of how much it snowed so you could build a snowman and catch the snowflakes on your tongue. nor the reason to ice skate or drink hot cocoa without looking crazy. it was the season when i met you."

you hid your small smile into kazuha's neck, he could feel the smile against his skin. "why are you hiding your face from me? my beautiful girlfriend?"

"stop being corny, kazuha."

"sweetheart, im not being 'corny', im being honest."

˚₊ ❄︎ (flashback)

today was a disaster not only it started to snow, your blind date, which hu tao went out of her way to set up, stood you up. now you're freezing your butt off in the snow that's at least two or more inches tall, thankfully, there was a bookstore next door. trudging in the snow, the windows displayed books littered around all over two white shelves on both sides. if you could, you would just admire and stare at the display choosing which book you'd read but it's not the time nor place for it.

the bell rang when a blonde guy opened the engraved oak door for you, you thanked him as he walked behind you. a gust of warm air hits your ruddy cheeks, you felt as if heaven came to you just to kiss you with warmth. you stood on the outskirts of the bookstore, shaking off the snow off of you. leaving the small cluster of snow in a corner, you walked through the bookshelves filled room. as the overhead lights set a warm setting, you went to the cafe that was placed in a corner of the bookstore. it was basically like a barnes & nobles.

although your spirits about your blind date shattered into pieces, this barista at the cafe somehow revived not only your pride but also your heart. "hello, miss, welcome to the cozy corner cafe, as you can see, we are placed in the corner of the store." he nervously laughed at his own joke. even though, it wasn't really funny, you laughed along too.

he visibly relaxed as he continued to speak, "what would you have today?"

"um, this is such a hard choice," you looked briefly at the menu, which was, written on the chalkboard. maybe a tad too tiny. should you go basic and say a hot chocolate? or something else to energize you like a coffee?

"miss, if you're having a bad time trying to choose then tell me what you like and i'll try to concoct a drink for you."

"i don't know about that." you replied, tapping your foot lightly out of sheer anxiety. "sure, you're cute but how would i know if you wouldn't throw a 'potion' in there." you have no idea what the hell you're saying, this guy is so cute and you feel like you're fumbling.

thankfully, he didn't make a comment on the potion joke, his ears turned a slight shade of red, "you can trust me. if you don't like it, you can order something else and i'd throw a cookie on the house."

letting out an exhale, you questioned, "on the house? really..." you squinted at the namecard plaque. "... kazuha?"

"yes, really."

"if you say so... i like my drinks a tad bit sweet but not kid in a candy store sweet, you know? just something warm."

"okay, one mystery drink for a cute girl coming right up."

˚₊ ❄︎ (end of flashback; present time)

even though some of the parts of your point of view of the story was true. that wasn't how kazuha had seen it.

you pulled away from his neck, "what do you mean it didn't happen that way?"

"because it didn't!" kazuha insisted.

˚₊ ❄︎ (flashback)

when kazuha was restocking the romance section of the bookstore, his friend, heizou, pulled him into the cafe's region. "kazuha, it's your shift."

kazuha wrinkled his nose in confusion as heizou grabbed kazuha's apron from the back. tossing the fabric to kazuha, in which, he caught.

"what? i didn't have a shift at the cafe today?" suddenly a light bulb was lit above him as heizou sheepishly hid his face. "...wow okay, pushing me to do your job, aren't you."

˚₊ ❄︎ (end of flashback; present time)

"okaay," you said, interrupting kazuha's storytime. "obviously, i wouldn't know this part of the story."

"i know but this is backstory and for context!"

"okay, okay, continue."

˚₊ ❄︎ (flashback cont)

heizou cried, kazuha thinks that he could even see tears starting to form, "im late to my blind date, dude!" the brunet nervously laughed. "it started at 2. it's freaking 3 right now."

kazuha snorted quietly, "so your date thinks you stood her up."

heizou placed his hands on his head, stressing out a little, "...yes and our mutual friend even planned it out. think of that one romance book but me and a pretty girl next to me."

kazuha rolled his eyes as he tied the apron's strings behind him, "why would a pretty girl be with you?"

the green eyed guy rolled his eyes, "ok, kazuha, but seriously, i gotta go. i didn't know restocking books would be so long." that was because he never memorized how to do it more efficiently.

"ok but like who would fill in my spot at the register?" the cafe is owned by their friend named kokomi and since it was winter season, she strategized to have her conventionally attractive employees not only to attract more customers being eye candy but also, she had a soft spot for meet cutes. "did you even tell kokomi you had a date today."

"umm thoma and no..."

"this is completely on you. but yes, ill fill in your spot as long as you can get thoma here." kazuha replied as heizou frantically gets his phone from his pocket, texting the assumingly blonde.

"done, he says hes on the way." kazuha nodded as heizou quickly grabbed his coat from the back, dashing out of the door. by the time the door's bell rang, thoma arrived and so did a new customer.

---

as kazuha was prepping for another customer's drink, they asked for helpful yet oddly detailed drink. it was something with peppermint, vanilla pumps and something... something sweet flower extract? ok, maybe he forgot the order but if they like it regardless, it's a win. "the sweetest drink ever for..." he read out the name. "sucrose?"

a green haired girl walked up to him; a messenger bag filled to the brim with various books. one of the pockets of the bag had different bookmarks and little knickknackeries. she adjusted her glasses, taking the drink from kazuha's hand, "thank you, um, kazuha?"

"no problem, sucrose. please come again!"

then the most beautiful girl he ever laid his eyes on walked into the cafe, a little soaked from the snow from outside. just one look from her and his heart would be out of his chest. oh, wait, she did... oh GOD, kazuha's heart is gone, leaping out of his chest, simply dissipating as you bore into his eyes. oh god, he thought, i think her beauty gave me an instant lobotomy.

as his heart jumped back into his button up covered chest, as it tried to cause a resurrection to his brain, he opted for automatic mode, "pret-" he cleared his throat. oh my god, i almost blurted out "pretty girl". he winced at himself a little. "hello, miss, welcome to the cozy corner cafe, as you can see, we are placed in the corner of the store." maybe, reviving back his brain wasn't a good choice.

he nervously laughed at his own joke, oh my god, this is the worst. i am fumbling! he thought as he frantically needed to put his hands to work. grabbing a cup from the stack and waiting for you to say your order but thankfully, you laughed at his joke too.

"um, this is kind of hard?"

kazuha was trying his best to "ball" out his embarrassment but also wanting to talk to you more, "miss, if you're having a bad time trying to choose then tell me what you like and i'll try to concoct a drink for you."

noticing you fidget a little, he instantly knew he just fumbled right there. please don't leave, please don't leave

"i don't know about that." you replied, tapping your foot lightly out of sheer anxiety. "sure, you're cute but how would i know if you wouldn't throw a 'potion' in there."

oh my god, she called me cute. he hoped you couldn't tell that he's now raditating with pure joy, his ears flushed a little. as for your joke, he was assuming a "potion" would be like poison, kazuha tried to reassure you, "you can trust me. if you don't like it, you can order something else and i'd throw a cookie on the house."

letting out an exhale, you questioned, "on the house? really..." you squinted at the namecard plaque. "... kazuha?"

she knows my name!!

"yes, really."

"if you say so... i like my drinks a tad bit sweet but not kid in a candy store sweet, you know? just something warm."

"okay, one mystery drink for a cute girl coming right up." he turned around after saying that, praying you didn't cringe like he did when he realized he just said that. peeking to the other side, you didn't!!! you were just as flustered as he was.

he quietly whispered to himself, "A WIN!!"

˚₊ ❄︎ (end of flashback; present time)

after hearing kazuha's side of the story, you get why he change his favorite season from autumn to winter. you had heard that before you even want to change your favorite season from (fav season) to winter. just kidding, luckily, your initial fav season has been winter so beat that kazuha!

"wait, heizou had a blind date and supposedly stood them up?" you asked as kazuha squinted to the side, trying to remember.

"yes, he did."

"oh my god, remember when i said that my blind date stood me up?"

"well, sorry to admit it, but im glad." you chuckled as he tried to explain himself. "'cause if he didn't, i wouldn't have had the most wonderful, out of this world, running out of words to say to describe you because your beauty if indescribable girlfriend and don't you dare call me corny for speaking my truth!"

[kzhwaif]

past life.

₊˚ ᗢ kazuha x gn! reader.

⤷ i met you once before, in my previous life.

He was a peasant, and you were a noble. 

Working in the fields, he brushes the back of his hand against his sweating forehead. A few dribbled down his neck and past his short ponytail. His crops were beginning to struggle this year due to the harsh conditions. Winds and thunder were ever the more prominent as the Shogun continued her long reign. He was starting to find his life rather difficult to live through. If he wasn’t fighting against the overbearing heat, he would be fighting his growling stomach.

His younger brother was too small to help in the fields, his mother had fallen ill, and his father was in town, trying to find him a suitor. He was at the age at which he needed to get married to secure a financially stable future. However, it wasn’t easy. It was rather difficult for the past couple of days for his father, who has yet to come to terms with the fact that no one would want to marry a poor farmer. 

He sighs under his breath, continuing to plow the soaked fields. He doesn’t want to get married to just anyone. He dreamt that they would be like a free bird, someone who would like to explore the rest of Inazuma with him. Enter the courtyards, clap their hands, wish for a good harvest during New Year, and eat freshly prepared salted fish at a restaurant. 

He hardly had any time to himself. Very little time to go into town and leisure around. Nevertheless, he found at least a small minute to admire the way the sun would set behind mountain tops. Had he been given a blessing by his Archon, he might have been able to settle in a new house with a perfect view of its orange rays. It would have been a nice thought to have come to life. 

Bells and chimes rang as a carriage was pulled across the open roads. Kazuha squints his eyes as he raises his hand, shielding himself from the burning heat. It wasn’t common for small nobles to stop by his farm. It had always been slightly secluded enough for them to unravel and admire the open plains. 

He presses his lips together as he begins to worry. Just as it wasn’t unordinary for nobles to stop by, they oftentimes stared at him like an animal on display, for the wealthy never bat an eye to those lesser. He tilts his head downwards in shame, trying to draw his eyes away from the door opening. 

You step down with your servant, pulling out a parasol as you stared off into the distant skies. Men surrounded your carriage to take care of the horses, feeding them and patting them down. You couldn’t help but feel a little exhausted despite riding in a cart. Noise surrounded you like buzzing flies. People crowded around you with proposals. You only wish to swat them away. 

Ignoring your servant's calls, you walk along the fields, feeling the tall grass brush against the fabric of your clothes. You want to get away from all this unnecessary noise. The noise kept following you as if you were a rotten piece of meat. One that seemed oh-so desirable to the wealthy. You curse yourself for the misfortune you had. Being born into a wealthy family only meant that the voices would never leave and that you will always feel a warm breath against the back of your neck.

Clutching your parasol tightly you hold back small beads of tears at the corners of your eyes. Wiping them away with the back of your finger, you gaze at the lone farmer at the center of the field. His blond hair was tied back, his eyes too focused on weeding out the small, uneven patches which had infected his farm. You felt strange watching him. Was it wrong of you to say you felt at ease? Envious even? 

That a man such as he had the luxury of enjoying the fruits of life. To use his blessed arms for something other than decoration? He was nothing like you. He was hardworking. You deemed yourself lazy. One person worked for the good of Inazuma, the other was mere property to the gaze of nobles. One had an impact on the grasslands, while the other collected dust. 

You stifled a laugh when he struggled against a vegetable that refused to be pulled out of the ground. He was tugging with all his might and just when he was about to give up, it came out with an easy ‘pop.’ He fell to the ground, albeit with a little frustration lacing his tongue. When you let out an awfully loud laugh, his head snapped up to you. 

His eyes widen as you smile at him. A gleeful expression was written across your face, a stark contrast to the gloomy, almost bored look that you came here with. At first, he thought you were laughing at him for being unfortunate and dare he say, a sad waste in the land of eternity. However, with your rather genuine smile and sweet laugh, he couldn’t help but feel enamored by your presence. 

And it was the same for you. Your eyes were met with the beautiful sight of a man’s grin, one that seemed so true that it made your heart flutter for a moment. Years spent with people whose smiles stretched too far sent shivers down your spine and made you uneasy. Yet his was warm like the sun. It felt kind. 

The whistling of your servant broke your attention. They ran down the hill and pulled on your arm, tugging you away from the fields. You looked over your shoulder, staring at the mysterious man one last time before waving. He seemed shocked at the small gesture, but he waved goodbye to you.

You wondered if the two of you will ever meet again. 

[kzhwaif]

Focalor my beloved

[kzhwaif]

Focalor my beloved

[kzhwaif]

LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO | LYNEY

notes wc 3.9k lyney pov back again babyyy (and he’s acting a little crazy) 🫶 enjoy the chapter!

previous chapter | masterlist | next chapter

Lyney hasn't uttered a single word on the way back to their house. Not a single word, but he doesn’t need to. It shows, anyway—the skip on his steps, the ever-present smile seemingly stuck on his face, and a glow in his eyes that no one has seen before.

Lynette must have caught it, too. She keeps glancing at him, suspicious.

Damage control wasn’t all that difficult when you’re well-loved by the people of Fontaine. They were out searching for Lyney, demanding refunds if they were going to discontinue, but they were appeased eventually. Lyney and Lynette resumed the show, apologized for the emergency, and the audience was won back by their enthusiasm and charm (and lies).

Still, Lynette pushes on with her stern words.

“That was careless, Lyney.” She locks the door. “Everyone was watching.”

Lyney prepares two cups of tea, dancing around the kitchen to boil water. “You know exactly why I did it.”

Lynette sits on a chair and watches him. Her gaze expresses more than her face sometimes. “I know. But I won’t let you escape from dealing with the backlash.”

Lyney smiles. “If anything, I should be saying that to you.”

His dear sister huffs, turning away. “So it was them I saw by the alley… I recognized the Traveler right away, but I found it strange that there was a familiar figure pressed up close against him.”

Lyney makes a face. He doesn’t want to imagine that—he might break something, and Freminet is an expert, but not when it comes to teacups.

Lyney breathed in deeply, letting the muffled cheers from the other side of the curtain fill his ears. His sister settled beside him, her expression troubled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Do you not feel like performing today?”

“No,” Lynette said. “I thought I saw something strange on the way here.”

That was alright. That meant Lynette wasn’t too nervous if she was letting her mind wander.

“Oh?” he said. Lyney looked for his hat, finding it underneath the stool he was on. Ah, Rosseland must have crawled in and put it there.

“I thought I saw the Traveler,” Lynette said, “in an alley doing something…” 

Oh my, Lyney mused in his head.

“With Y/N,” Lynette continued.

All at once, the noise became like streaming water. He didn’t hear Lynette calling for him. He didn’t hear her say she was most likely mistaken. His mind was blank the moment he heard your name.

It was a touchy subject.

She tapped his shoulder. “Lyney.”

“Haha,” Lyney said, choking on his own lies. “Have your eyes finally deceived you, dear sister?”

Lynette looked at him worriedly.

“And with the Traveler, really?” Lyney scoffed, moving his hat to his head. “I’m afraid it might’ve just been lookalikes getting handsy and couldn’t wait to get home.”

But the thought of it… Lyney scowled and looked at himself in the mirror, finding his own expression terrifying. He really needed to work on that.

Lynette has a ghost of a smile on her lips as Lyney spaced out, the devil.

“Y/N told us not to tell ‘Father’,” she recalls, casually, as if that isn’t the biggest source of Lyney’s headache at the moment. “What will you do?”

Lyney pauses, his hands hovering over a jar of sugar cubes, his back turned to his sister. “We’ve yet to hear news from ‘Father’, right?”

Lynette won’t be able to tell the expression he’s making, but she knows him well enough to figure out what he’s thinking. “Yes.”

Lyney hums, grinning. “I’ll be taking this opportunity.”

His sister has that same look backstage. Her eyes flicker to him, then return back to the table as if unsure of voicing her thoughts. Instead, she says, “What if Y/N doesn’t want to stay?”

“I’ll just clear up misunderstandings, at least! Maybe then, she’ll want to stay.” Lyney presses his palms against the table, looking at Lynette with a gleam in his eye. “I’ll tell her that I never wanted to be the next king. I’ll tell her the truth.”

Lynette’s brows furrow. “It wouldn’t be that simple.”

The water simmers. Lyney’s face is terrifyingly blank, not like the spitfire of his words as he says, “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Lynette leans back, still frowning. She looks mildly startled. Lyney must have been making a scary face again. He clears his expression and forces a smile.

A tuneful beat on the door cuts through the tension rising in the room. It swings open and reveals a frazzled blond.

“Freminet!” Lyney greets, his shoulders loosening. “Let me also prepare tea for you.”

“How was it?” Lynette asks as their brother nearly sinks to the seat as if prepared to melt against it.

Freminet sighs heavily, world-weary. “I didn’t really hear anyone talking about anything else about your show. They were all chattering about your last trick. The one outside the Epiclese—with the fireworks?”

“Good,” Lyney resists the urge to pat himself on the back. “It seems the diversion has worked. Though, we still have to be perfectly sure.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Lynette mutters.

“Why the sudden notice, anyway?” Freminet mumbles, pressing his face against the glass table. “Did something happen?”

“Y/N was at the show.”

The only sound that fills the room is the whistling kettle. Lyney wordlessly pours it into the three cups and hands them to his siblings, one already preparing her tea and the other looking like he hasn’t quite taken in what Lyney said. 

“What!” Freminet stands up from his chair, utterly gobsmacked. “Where? I thought—”

Lyney stares at the cup of boiling water that nearly spilled over from Freminet’s outburst. “Careful, now. That will burn you,” he chides, yet his expression is serene.

Lyney doesn’t even need tea. It looks like the tea would do nothing when he’s already acting like the Sevens have blessed him personally.

Lynette prepares Freminet’s tea for him as Freminet continues, “At—at the show? Is that why you were asking if anyone was talking about it?”

Lynette slides Freminet’s tea over to him. “Mhm. We were making sure no one would harm Y/N while she was in Fontaine. Lyney already made up an excuse, but some people might not believe it.”

“While in Fontaine?” Freminet falters, sipping on his tea. “Y/N’s not staying?”

“Afraid not,” Lyney says bitterly. “She’s working under Master Childe now, and he never stays in one place too long. It’s a miracle he took a pit stop here.”

“It’s strange,” Lynette wonders thoughtfully. “I thought I heard Master Childe is here for something personal.”

“Maybe Y/N became Master Childe’s personal recruit,” Freminet supplies. “Y/N’s really strong.”

Lyney’s face scrunches up. He changes the subject swiftly. “Freminet, do you want to meet up with Y/N? You were her first friend, right?”

“With whom?” Freminet asks suspiciously.

“With me!” Lyney beams, a flourish with his gesture. “I invited Y/N over to spar with me outside the city. Just like old times, no?”

“No thanks.” Freminet’s expression turns haunted. “I don’t want to be alone with you and Y/N. I always feel like I’m intruding.”

“He just gets too handsy and can’t wait to get home, doesn’t he?” Lynette chimes in. “That's why I don't watch, either.”

Freminet doesn’t understand it, but Lyney’s face explodes in a blush.

“Hey!” Lyney huffs. “Suit yourself. I’ll tell Y/N you skipped out on a reunion.”

Freminet smiles. “Tell Y/N I missed her a lot, and she should come visit us.”

Lyney sighs, because he can never even pretend to be furious when Freminet is simply too sweet. He ruffles Freminet’s hair, toppling over his beret. “Alright,” he says fondly, “I’ll pass the message.”

Lynette waves. “Don’t have too much fun, now.”

THEN

Things became a lot more tense when you left.

Freminet and Lynette were devastated when Lyney told them that you stormed off. His arm felt as numb as what he was feeling at the time, and to think that it was all you left for him. He didn’t tell anyone else anything, but the rest of them got the gist of it when you didn’t appear the next day or the day after that.

Most of the orphans didn’t care; in fact, some had the gall to look relieved when rumors of your transfer began floating around. When Lyney heard one about how you must’ve died sneaking off to another mission, he snapped. He yelled and told them that they didn’t know anything—they never bothered to know who you were. They didn’t have the right to talk if they were only there to stain your name.

Lyney bore the brunt of it. Anyone could tell he was hurt by it the most.

Once, after Lyney was told off for mouthing off, Lynette found him in the far corner of the training room, his knees tucked to his chest and his eyes stormy.

Lynette sat down beside him and stared ahead. She nudged his shoulder with hers. “Don’t be too harsh on yourself, Lyney.”

Lyney glared at the floor. “I’m not mad at myself. I’m not the one who left.”

Lynette turned to him, surprised. “You’re mad at Y/N?”

He sat up straight and exhaled sharply. “She got a Vision. That’s what she always wanted, to become ‘Father’s successor. Now that she can have it, she runs.”

“Maybe that's not what she really wanted.”

“That's what she hated me for,” Lyney clarified.

“You don’t really hate her, do you? Did you think it was only right for you to hate her because she did to you? I can tell when you’re lying straight through your teeth, Lyney.”

Lyney didn’t say anything in reply because he knew everything that would come out would just be a lie. But when it came to Lynette, his silence was louder than words.

“Y/N will be back. This is her home, too.” Lynette said softly. “Come on, wipe that look off your face.”

Lyney blinked, desperately wiping away whatever expression he didn’t even know he was making.

“I didn’t think it was true,” Lynette said offhandedly. What a turn of events, to have Lynette talk more than Lyney. At his impatient frown, she clarified, “I noticed that you can never control your expressions well when it comes to Y/N.”

Lyney wasn’t sure if Lynette pointed it out to rub on Lyney’s face that what he felt was real, or to remind him that fragile things like emotions in their line of work are a weakness. Maybe it was both. It was his first mistake to be curious and end up falling face-forward for you—and now he ended up like this, furious for reasons he couldn’t understand.

It didn’t take long before ‘Father’ stopped mentioning you, before the orphans acted like you never existed, and before your existence felt like just a secret shared between the three.

It took a year for them to realize that this was no longer your home. You never returned.

Lyney speeds past fields of grass. He had taken the long route, circling around; he didn’t want to deal with anyone recognizing him—he was already running a little late. When he sees your figure, standing still underneath the bridge for Aquabuses overhead, he feels his chest glow.

You’ve shed off the large skirt and now wore a simple dress, smeared with dirt on the edges. Lyney wants to reach out and dust it off, to fix it for you. But Lyney is also getting a feeling that he shouldn’t ruin the picture you’ve made for yourself.

“Hey,” Lyney says, and he was fully expecting it when your arm lashed out and aimed right at his face. He grins at your stunned expression. “I still just want to talk first.”

“Sorry,” you say, flinching away. “I was in deep thought.”

Lyney settles beside you, hoping to ease you into his presence. There is nothing special about the view. It was just water for miles, architecture that stretched over to the next island, and the sunset. He much prefers it when he looks at you.

“What were you thinking about?”

“Lyney, listen.” You fidget nervously. “About Lord Tartaglia… I didn’t actually know where he was. I was just—I didn’t—”

“That makes sense.” Lyney nods thoughtfully. He thinks back to all the rumors he’s heard before about the man. “I've heard that Master Childe likes doing things on his own. And I'm glad you were just taken to another faction.”

“Oh.” A beat. “Yeah, right.”

“Wait, don’t tell me,” Lyney gasps. Your shoulders stiffen, and Lyney just knew he hit the jackpot. “Master Childe doesn’t even know you’re following him! Why are you following him?”

Were you actually his personal subordinate? Was Freminet right?

“Why am I—” Your jaw goes slack, perhaps in awe of his deduction skills. “You know what, never mind. Let’s stop talking about Lord Tartaglia.” And that title, too. Did Master Childe make his subordinates call his Lordship that? “What did you call me here for, Lyney?”

“I just wanted to catch up, like what we’re doing now.”

“Great.” You clap your hands. “We’ve caught up. I’ve got other things to do, you know.”

Lyney smiles instead. “Would you like to spar?”

Your gaze is intense, yet far away. “If you want,” you cede, which isn’t a blatant yes, but Lyney knows it’s one.

“It is an honor,” he says.

You frown. “Are you trying to do something?”

“Can’t the reason just be that I missed this? That I missed doing this with you?”

“...Fine.”

Your gaze sharpens, and you charge straightaway. Lyney moves his arm just in time; it still stings, just as he remembers. but it doesn’t hurt as bad now. In the same breath, you swipe again, your polearm spinning in that same hypnotizing circle as you strike at him. Lyney swerves aside or blocks it off each time, unaware of the crazed grin on his face.

He shoots off three different arrows, waiting for the perfect moment while you’re deflecting them. As always, you move with ease, flowing through your movements like Lyney would be wrong to disrupt it.

As a kid, he could watch in awe as you get to do cool moves, but now, Lyney just appreciates the way your piercing gaze cuts through him and how you nearly beckon him with your body. Try, if you dare.

Lyney doesn’t want to show off; he wants to catch you off guard. He performs the same trick as last time—he disappears and materializes from thin air to your back. It doesn’t work, as he expected, but you’re now wary of his weapon.

Lyney blows a little air to your ear; you yelp and flutter away from him. Lyney uses this opportunity to hold your polearm down with his free arm. He flicks his hand and traps your back onto his chest with an arrow to your neck.

“What the hell?” You breathe sharply, your throat brushing against the shaft of his arrow, “I don’t think this is how you use an arrow.”

“How am I supposed to win without a little bend to the rules?”

You frown at him, your face upside down in his view. “That was unfair.”

“I have to be if I want to beat you.”

You laugh. Lyney feels the shake of your body pressed against him, and he’s entranced. He wants this, over and over again—you could numb him until he can’t breathe, and still, he wouldn’t let this go.

You’re glowing. This is exactly what Lyney wanted to see. If you were still keeping a wall up, then he would have to keep talking your language.

You tap his arm twice. Lyney loosens his grip and tries to calm himself. If you turn to look at him, you’d laugh for an entirely different reason—his face is too red. He decides to pick your weapon up instead but pauses at the sight of it. It looks old. It’s to the point where it shouldn’t even be used.

Lyney realizes it looks strangely familiar. “Is this the same one from the House?”

You stretch your arms. “Oh, that? Yeah, I still use it.”

“That’s dangerous.” Lyney grabs your hand and studies the red scratches on your palm. It’s littered with scars.

You tug your hand away. “That’s just because I was handling flowers—some of them have nasty thorns, you know.“

Lyney lifts an eyebrow. “Really, now? I’m getting you a new one.”

“What— It was actually from flowers! And I don’t want to owe you anything.”

“That’s sweet,” Lyney says breezily, mentally filing through connections he might have to gift you the perfect weapon—so perfect that you couldn’t resist. “I’ll get you a new one. Does Master Childe not provide equipment for his recruits?”

“Fine, suit yourself. It’s your money.”

Lyney grins. “That’s what I like to hear.”

“But let me keep it,” you say, reaching for it. “That polearm still means a lot to me.”

“Of course.” Lyney smiles and tosses it back to you. “So you work for Master Childe? Is that why you and the Traveler are close?”

Your face scrunches in confusion. “You ask too many questions. Mind your own Harbinger, will you?”

“That was your ‘Father’, too.”

The atmosphere goes a little cold. “Did she send you to this? To talk to me?”

“No, of course not,” Lyney says. “And if ‘Father’ sent me, I wouldn’t have gone. This is all out of my own will.”

It seems you’re strangely keen on avoiding the topic of ‘Father’. And Aether, too, unfortunately. At least Lyney could tell that there was truth to your confession about pride. If he were in your shoes, he would’ve felt the same.

“You know, I never wanted to be her successor,” Lyney says. Your shoulder stiffens. You turn to him, watching his expression closely. Lyney continues, allowing for his expression to be open. “Our fight was just a misunderstanding—I never intended to take anything from you.”

“Right,” you say quietly. You sound wounded.

“I’m sorry,” Lyney says.

“Don’t be sorry. None of it was you,” you sigh. “I told you, didn’t I?” Your eyes then narrow on his lips. “Are you hiding something? I don’t like the look on your face.”

“What?” Lyney chuckles, unsure. “I’m just smiling?”

“Yeah. It looks fake. You look weird smiling like that.”

Lyney feels his heart drop. He feels as if he was charged over by a strike of lightning. And then he laughs, because of course, if he knew you better than anyone, you’d also do to him.

“You make me swoon,” he says dreamily, tugging on your gown as if pawing for it like a cat.

“You haven’t changed much,” you tell him, glancing down at his arms as they curve around you, like before. Like they’ve made a home for themselves there.

“You’ve changed in some ways,” Lyney hums appreciatively, eyeing you.

“Gross!” You slap his arm in hopes of freeing you, but he doesn’t budge. “What are you doing? Let go.”

He grins brightly, and his cheeks ache faintly. He has missed this so, so much. “Still both bark and bite, though.”

“Is this why most of your audience were women? Is this how your shows are always sold out?” you ask, gesturing to how there are no inches between your clothes.

Lyney smiles, less softer, more suggestive. “What? You think I sweet-talk them into buying tickets like this? You think that’d work?”

He curls his arms tighter and draws nearer, your breath on his face. He knows he won when he hears and feels it audibly hitching. Your eyes narrow, hands moving to his arms as if prepared to push him off if he moves any closer.

Lyney bursts out laughing. “Well, I won’t lie and tell you that some of our loyal fans are those who fell for my charm, but, chérie, did you already forget my whole speech about loyalty? I’m hurt.”

“You can’t expect me to believe that,” you huff. Lyney doesn’t mind how he feels it gust against his skin. It makes this all the more real: you, in his arms, living and breathing, and thankfully not pulling away. “You magicians and your fabricated lies.”

“No faith in me whatsoever,” Lyney sighs, but deep down, he’s thoroughly enjoying how you’re acting like his jealous girlfriend. You’re so cute.

“You would know if I was lying to your face, trust me,” he says.

He doesn’t know why, but it took your soft expression, your palms on his chest, your skin brushing against his, to understand that Lynette was right: he could never hate you. He hated how you disappeared without a trace and came back without warning. He hated how you were still as closed off and wary of him as you were on the first day he met you. But this all led you back to him—how could he ever not be grateful for it?

Lyney pulls back, and as much as it pains him to do so, that sad look on your face hurts him even more. He scans his surroundings and brightens.

“Lyney?” you ask, watching as he scrambles over to a bush growing by a pillar.

He plucks a beautiful flower from it and hands them to you. It’s a Marcotte, bright and beautiful. No theatrical tricks. You watched it happen.

“You’re trying too hard to win me back,” you murmur. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“Did you have to do anything? I just want to do it,” Lyney says, his voice equally quiet.

It’s just the two of you outside of the city, with the wind whipping through the grass, the world falling hushed enough for Lyney to pick up the faint beat of your heart. You’re silent, thinking deeply, Lyney can tell. He doesn’t want to interrupt, content with figuring out the complicated expressions on your face as you stare at the flower.

“Idiot,” you say, pushing a finger to the space between his brows. “You’re too soft for your line of work. Hey, tell me, what has the House been up to anyway?”

Lyney pauses. “You’re not aware of it already?”

“Well, no, not really,” you say nervously. “I haven’t been paying too close attention. And I haven’t heard anything about the House in years.”

He smiles. “Don’t worry. We’re not up to anything right now.”

It wasn’t a total lie, at least.

By the time Lyney returns home, the lights inside are switched off. The curtains haven’t been drawn, allowing for the moonlight to pour in and illuminate Lynette sitting on the couch, her eyes snapping to him instantly.

“She’s hiding something,” Lyney says, locking the door with a troubled expression. “I just don’t know what. I can’t start looking into it if I don’t know what I’m looking for.”

“I suppose there would’ve been something up,” Lynette sighs, crossing her legs. “Have you asked why she’s close with the Traveler?”

“I didn’t get a good answer.” Lyney flings his hat aside. “Have you found anything good?”

“Garrick knew something.” Garrick is one of their magic crew, helping Lyney perform seamlessly. “He told me that he recognized Y/N milling about—but it wasn’t just recently. He told me that he swore he’d seen her before, just in Fontaine City, months before the show.”

“Interesting,” Lyney murmurs, his brows drawn together. He’ll have to think about that later.

Lynette looks at her brother, her eyes carefully blank. “Are you sure doing this won’t drive her away again?”

Behind Lyney, the moonlight scatters all over. It is a little hard to tell what face he’s making. “I’m doing this exactly because I’m trying not to drive her away.”

YAAAAAYYY NEW CHAPTER!!!!!!! more lyney and reader interactions!!!!!!!!!1 more of the siblings ! !! <333 TYSM FOR READING, and, as always, lmk what u think <3

TAGLIST.

@thenyxsky @aeferkssr @1mewo1 @lacrimae-lotos @meigalaxy @hyacinth-daze @miwafei @popochakku @svasilios @heyhazelnut101 @kruinka @waveto-earth @superstar-ethereal @mxplesyrvp @achilleas-dream @episodecete @jellifizz @auranny @motherscrustytoenailclippings @lovelyevil @iawaaaaaaa @rionah @esmetrees @cherryig @kzhwaif @mystiquemare @unknownlololol @sanluvssu @blvdmrcnry @kascar-chronicle @idontevenknow129 @tarathecogsci @lunavixia @beaniedoodz @wendolrea @avalordream @egoistars @rains-mae @magnificentfireball @poemzcheng

[kzhwaif]

— i love you endlessly ! ★ | edition: siblings, version 1.0

ft. lyney + lynette, kaeya + diluc, aether + lumine & albedo + klee. content. heavy angst, all family/platonic love, character death, mentions of blood, injury, light cursing. references to lyney’s vision story + lyney and lynette's story, hints at kaeya + lyney with ptsd & lyney with separation anxiety. aether + lumine is purely headcanon and is not representative of the future of genshin.

notes. my first time writing anything ever with klee and this is how it’s going… i’m so sorry klee omfg. this actually used to have ayato+ayaka and jean+barbara in it !! but i cut them out so i could post it since it’s been in my drafts for a LONG time and they weren’t finished yet. i’ll do a part two with them. taglist — open. @ryuryuryuyurboat @soleillunne @rainswept

✉️ mail received! sender: lyney & lynette

lyney lacks to admit the pure fear that sends shocks and shivers down his body when lynette is not within immediate sight of him. she likes to chime that he says some weird things; perhaps he does on late nights when lynette is accompanying freminet without him - father had assigned him to a different mission and he'd finished much earlier than her. thoughts rush through his mind quicker than he can process them, his aching legs pacing the floor of his bedroom.

are they okay? did something go wrong? lyney's mind is restless at all times, he needs to know lynette is safe. in a few moments of silence, he'll see a younger lynette in the dark, her ears flattened to her head and tail tucked in antagonising fear - the night that father had saved her life, mere moments from the potential loss of her life. lyney's throat will always tighten, breathing rapidly until his lungs burn.

he knows exactly how he got his vision, in the twilight of a cold night, surrounded by danger. he knows that he had begged father so recklessly for a delusion simply to fill the gap that the lack of a vision had given him but he didn't care, he wanted to accompany his sister. he couldn't let her out of his sight again.

one attachment added!

there's a painful silence that's filling the orphanage. on most days, it would be bustling - after all, father had acquired many orphans in light of their dire situations being unable to refuse such kind help as she offers. lyney catches himself frowning, feet pacing the worn floorboards of his bedroom floor. if lynette was here, she'd have already quipped about how the floor will 'disappear beneath him if he keeps pacing.'

the reminder of his twin sister should make him smile. it should draw a crack of a smile to his face and curl the corners of his lips upwards but it doesn't. she still hasn't returned from her mission and while lyney refuses to admit that he's been counting the hours since he was separated from lynette, he most definitely has.

an oil lamp burns by his bedside, painting the room in an orange hue as it glows and yet casting shadows across the walls. lyney can't help but catch sight of the shadows that night, painted on the walls in the glow of roaring flames that crackled from where they burned. he's painfully reminded of the fragile young girl lynette was, vulnerable and almost caught in a life threatening situation. he contemplates what would have happened to her if father hadn't interrupted in time but he's quick to shake his head. he's seen many what if scenarios in his nightmares, waking him as his body trembles and his lungs burn for oxygen.

the pained reminders stain his mind, torturing him when there's a burst of noise from the orphanage's entry hall; multiple voices screaming his name repeatedly, he can hear them calling for him and begging to know where he is. lyney whips his head towards his bedroom door, storming forth as he hurriedly opens it. he catches eyes with one of the orphans who'd been calling his name so painfully. they're wide, fearful and their face is void of colour.

"lyney! it's lynette-" need they say more? the boy rushes forward, skipping steps as he runs down the spiral staircases dressed in lavish red carpets that father had installed for a sense of aesthetic - she had claimed she couldn't work nor focus in a place so bland. - there's a sense of dread that fuels every inch of lyney's body, tearing him apart when he bursts into the entry hall.

beneath a dazzling chandelier with a warm amber glow, arlecchino herself has nestled beside the form of someone on the checker tiled floor, surrounded by orphans that she's trying desperately to shoo away, demanding for space in all of her authority. she's seem awry, not her typical self and lyney's lilac eyes fall to the familiar shoes of his twin sister, poking from the crowd.

his heart sinks, colour leaving his face as he hesitantly approaches; she's just injured, he convinces himself when he sees the stain of red on her usually pristine white shirt, something she was devoted to keeping that way for their shows. the orphans part at the sight of him, the dark eyes of arlecchino raising to him before she trails back down to lynette.

the girl is propped onto her lap, head rested against arlecchino's thighs. lynette has always been a pale girl, lyney knows this well enough whenever he glimpses his own shade of skin colour but she's even paler than usual, her eyelashes fluttered shut. the silence between himself and father is almost deafening.

"she's alright, isn't she?" he barely manages to croak out, seeing how arlecchino has pressed a lanky hand to where lynette's blood has seeped from. she almost grimaces, it's the most emotion lyney has seen from her for a while.

"she's already gone, lyney," was that a crack in her voice? lyney doesn't have the time to ponder it when his vision goes dark, he's dizzy and there's static in the corners of his eyes when he struggles to get air into his lungs, "freminet is in the infirmary."

the infirmary, yes - that means he's getting medical help but the same can't be said for his twin, who he had lacked to part with since they were born. the twin he would tell everything to, who he trusted with every fibre of his being as much as she did with him too.

there's a stinging in his eyes when tears prick at them, threatening to spill the longer he stares at lynette's body. he falls to his knees, not caring for the pain it causes when the floor is less than comfortable, pressing his face into lynette's clothing. she smells the same as she always does, the faint smell of the sugary desserts he'd reprimand her for, lumidouce bells and the ocean.

he lets out a cry into the fabric of her clothing, his hands gripping at it until his knuckles turn white. his cheek presses to her neck, she's cold to the touch already and arlecchino can't help but turn her head away at the sight of her most useful child reduced to a sobbing, shaking mess on the entry hall floor, gripping his dead sister for dear life.

✉️ mail received! sender: kaeya & diluc

despite going down two very different paths of life and perhaps saying things they shouldn’t have, they cannot deny the invisible ties of brotherly love. no matter how much diluc may throw sharp words at the cryo vision, they see their younger selves sometimes like reflections of the past in a shattered mirror’s shards.

on dreary nights where the rain storms against glass windows, when one brother remains consumed by a sweet yet bitter liquid on his tongue and the other brandishes a claymore in the night, they recognise their indifferences. they recognise the unshakeable bond that their pasts have tested to its limit. those around them too acknowledge that the past cannot truly deter emotions.

kaeya frequents the dawn winery much at the expense of his brother, who grumbles and snatches bottles of (almost stolen) wine from his tanned hands. it could be a misfortune he carries to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and this scene… feels so familiar to him.

one attachment added!

a crack of lightning decorates the dark sky looming over mondstadt. it’s been like this for a few hours now, trapping the two brothers in an awkward silence as they linger around the manor. diluc has made the effort to avoid his brother and yet tresses of blue hair keep getting in his peripheral vision.

“there’s been fatui sightings not far north from the winery,” kaeya’s icy gaze flickers towards the office door that isn’t completely shut, “perhaps we should tell master kaeya—”

“he doesn’t need to know, i’ll deal with it personally.” the deep voice of diluc booms, full of authority and the slightest attitude at the mention of his brother that makes kaeya click his tongue, pocketing the small, circular mora he’d been tossing with his thumb as diluc emerges from the office, the winery worker not far behind.

the brothers exchange a look, perhaps this scenario is all too familiar for them both to let it play out. diluc bites his tongue when he prepares for those words he knows kaeya will say.

“he doesn’t need to know?” kaeya mocks lowkey, a coy smile on his face as he dusts his hands together and approaches the redhead, “i’ll be accompanying you.”

and somehow the fiery red male cannot argue back, his eyes narrowing at his brother in distaste when he accepts his fate - it is raining after all, maybe kaeya’s vision could come in more useful than the cavalry captain typically tends to be, his breath laced with wine.

the brothers set off immediately, heads hanging low as they follow the muddy paths out of the winery; ones they’d followed many times before. something about this reminds them of how accustomed to each other’s presence they are. the reports from various workers at the winery are indeed correct and whilst diluc storms into the fight, vision ablaze with an anger that cannot be sated at the cost of a few mere fatui deaths, kaeya cannot help but ponder if there’s too many of them to take on by themselves.

rain impairs his vision, trickling down his face and soaking his hair to his skin. brandishing a blade in his hand, the young man can't help but think he's seen this before. another crack of lightning brightens the sky as a weapon is plunged into diluc's abdomen, his face pales as ruby eyes meet kaeya's panicked gaze.

the realisation hits when suddenly kaeya sees crepus' face over his brother's. he sees that evening when he arrived a little too late, the air struggling to get to his lungs no matter how he gasps for breath, clouds of breath quick to disperse in front of cold lips. kaeya is quick to finish the remaining enemies off before he's forced to look at diluc's slumped body in the mud.

"diluc?" he whispers, kneeling beside the bleeding man. diluc's gloved hands are pressed to his wound, a grimace on his face, "brother?"

"i heard you the first time," he grumbles, not wanting to admit the warmth that consumes his adrenaline filled heart at the sentiment behind hearing kaeya say brother once again, "..say it again."

kaeya takes a moment, his shaking hands dropping his faithful sword as he presses them over diluc's. he no longer feels the warmth emitting from his brother's pyro vision, his eyes stinging painfully - he blames the rain, of course, it's getting in his eyes.

"brother," it falls from his mouth hurriedly, followed by a quiet curse under his breath, "now isn't the time for this! w-we'll get you to adelinde..."

for the first time in years, a glimpse of a grin crosses the redhead's stoic face. in between shallow breaths and blurry sight, he gazes over the familiarity of his brother's face; blood or not. a final breath escapes his chapped lips in the cold of the night, his last thought going over how he wishes he had fixed things with kaeya sooner.

the cryo vision yells out into the night, quick to pull diluc against his chest as the rain continues to ruthlessly batter down on them. it happened again, he curses, squeezing his eyes shut as the tears blend with the raindrops on his cheeks. it won't happen again.

✉️ mail received! sender: aether & lumine

bound by blood, they have always been as thick as thieves together. no ends of time could stop them, no ends of trials and challenges that cross their paths on the journey to find each other. their determination is honourable across teyvat, seeking each other out as if there is no other person in the universe.

without each other they do not know what to do. after all, what do you do when the person you've travelled long and far with disappears without a trace and you're left with nothing but your wit to find them again?

one attachment added!

"brother!" her voice calls out, excitement coursing through her veins as she hurriedly drops the dull blade she'd sported her whole journey these past few years, traversing nations and fighting gods and others alike in search for her brother. aether does not budge, slumped against a rock overlooking the devastation left of khaerni'ah.

lumine's eyes trail to it, the smoke that rises in shades of grey and black, revealing that the flames still burnt at buildings and civilisation. the ashes still smoulder, hot to the touch as the embers glow and flicker through the air. this is not the khaenri'ah she remembers nor is it most likely the khaenri'ah that dainsleif remembers too - dainsleif.. where is he?

the blonde whips her head around in confusion at the sudden disappearance of the male who'd assisted her journey against the abyss order, solemnly appearing out of nowhere with new information to support her journey. a frown decorates her face before she turns her attention back to aether, her smile replacing her former expression.

"aether?" lumine calls out when her brother is unresponsive - was he mad at her for taking so long? why wasn't he sharing the same excitement as her? she stumbles over, breaking into a sprint towards the boulder her twin brother sat beside her. finally, after all this time, she could hold her brother again. her arms envelope the shoulders of her brother, breathing in that familiar scent mixed with the cursed remnants of smoke and ash that fill the air.

but aether doesn't respond to the hug nor the death tight grip lumine is succumbing him to in all of her excitement. slowly, she raises her head. aether's golden eyes are glazed over, his pupils gone and replaced with white. lumine's smile begins to fade, pulling away from the hug when she realises her brother's warm skin that she craved to touch is instead cold and pale.

the blood that has trickled from the corner of his mouth and seeps from his neck has darkened as it oxidises, speckled with the black ash from the flames that have torched khaenri'ah. the breath hitches in lumine's throat and it's suddenly harder to breathe than it was a few moments ago.

a wail escapes her, screaming into the eerie silence left in the aftermath of death and destruction. there's no one to comfort her, to answer her cries. was it all for nothing? had she journeyed this whole time, endlessly fulfilling everyone else's requests just for a snippet of information attaining to her brother, just to be too late?

✉️ mail received! sender: albedo & klee

klee is too young to remember where albedo comes from or even possibly his master, at least this is what he tells himself. klee merely does not care for the trivial matters revolving around where people come from or where they go - despite missing her mother alice dearly sometimes. no, instead the small girl cares for every face surrounding her in light of her mother’s absence; this is particularly albedo.

the people of mondstadt recognise that potentially the small girl is attached to him, referring to him as her big brother as if rhinedottir had made him specifically for her. and on cold nights atop dragonspine’s summit, dressed from head to toe for warmth, the chalk prince considers it.

with a bubbly personality and bright smile that sends everyone into gasps of awe, klee tends to get what she wants and albedo, as her designated big brother, is also victim to these schemes.

one attachment added!

“klee, don’t stray too far,” albedo chimes, concerned for her safety when sky blue eyes follow the brightly coloured girl’s attire through the bleak backdrop of snow, “it’s not safe.”

stars twinkle endlessly above the pair, shining like gold now that the snowstorm had cleared up and dark grey clouds had rolled away to reveal the night sky. klee stares in awe, the stars seem much clearer out here.

“big brother! look at that star!” klee points a gloved finger up at a particular star and whilst albedo gazes upon it, he’s reminded of the very diamond engraved to his throat. his breath hitches and he pulls his gaze away from the stars, approaching the small girl as to stop her leaving his side for too long.

he’d fell so hopelessly for that innocent grin and sparkling eyes when she begged him to let her stay the night with him on dragonspine - he knows he shouldn’t fear for her life entirely, there was a reason acting grand master jean kept klee tucked away in solitary confinement so much but he still couldn’t help the tense of his muscles when he watches her tread through thick layers of snow.

the silence on dragonspine after snowfall was usually albedo’s favourite thing about being stationed up here alone with his experiments but he found himself holding his breath, gloved hands ready to reach for the small girl every time she steps an inch too far. something seemed off but he denoted it down to him being anxious about klee’s presence on dragonspine.

amidst silence there’s a whistle, almost resembling that of an arrow soaring through air. in confusion, the blond whips his head around - nobody dares to step foot on dragonspine so recklessly, not without confiding in himself and the adventurer’s guild first, so where was that whistling coming from? that’s when klee lets out a piercing squeal into the night.

albedo is quick to turn his head back in klee’s direction, had he been so careless to take his attention from her for mere seconds only for her to end up injured? yet as his lips part to call her name, he catches sight of the young girl pierced in the neck but none other than an arrow.

the chilling air of dragonspine hitches in his throat, burning his lungs when he can’t seem to get oxygen into his body, his eyes burning holes into the sight before him when he falls to his knees beside her. she’s terrified, rasping for breath so heavily that the small clouds of warm breath dispersing at her lips are consistently appearing with sharp intakes.

the usual sparkle of ruby red eyes has been demoted to a glitter of wet liquid spilling from the corners of her eyes, her eyes set on the face of her faithful big brother she adored so heavily. she wants to speak, to call his name despite him being right in front of her but it hurts so much, why isn’t he doing something about it?

albedo only has himself to blame, he thinks when he notices the hillichurls disappearing from the cliffside when they think the threat has dissipated - the exact reason his attire was the colour scheme it was, to blend him in so effortlessly. a scowl crosses his face, tears threatening to spill but he remains strong; he has to for klee’s sake.

“i-i’m sorry,” he croaks out, filled to the brim with a guilt he wishes klee could understand when she lets out a strangled whimper, “i’m so sorry klee.”

he pleads that celestia is kind enough to give him the time to take her to the base of dragonspine, across the river to mondstadt so he can get her help. her blood stains the whites and greys of his clothes, blonde hair spilled over his shoulder as he carries her like she’s shattered porcelain.

by the time he makes it to the adventurer’s guild’s camp, out of the sheer cold that turns his limbs numb in an oddly comforting manner now, klee’s breath has ceased to exist despite all the panicked screams around her lifeless body.

he refuses to leave her body’s side, buried neck deep in a suffocating guilt that none of these people will understand. he blames himself for the death of his own little sister, one of the only people he had after his master left.

© https-furina 2023.

[kzhwaif]

🎬THE STORY OF US

OO: name’s disaster interview

warnings: mentions on anxiety, slight ooc, misunderstandings

“deep breaths, in and out. in and out.”

upon stepping into the vast building of fatui corporation, you couldn’t help but feel a teensy bit small and out of place amongst the sparkling chandeliers and preppy reporters.

ah, yes, fatui corporation. a snezhnayan fashion brand that was all the rage now with their frocks and designs that blew even famed designers all over teyvat away with their intricacies. headed by their mysterious boss the tsaritsa, the board was comprised of eleven members who were all models for the brand itself. to score such a lead with them was virtually impossible.

to be honest, everything was impossible except for charlotte. even saying that word to her would spark newfound determination in the reporter, pushing her to break barriers in her way. she had managed to score this interview for the steambird through some of her connections, and you had unluckily been chosen.

when it came to writing, words flowed like a stream, but when it came to interviews, your brain frozen. there was a reason why you weren’t a correspondent: you hated being interviewed and the interviewer. your co-workers knew this about you and would find every single fault or way to sabotage you. being a journalist is a competitive profession where only the best will succeed, and you weren’t going to back down.

“miss arlecchino! miss arlecchino! who are you wearing today?”

“miss arlecchino, is it true that you’re planning a collaboration with kamisato ayaka?”

“miss arlecchino, what is your response to the rumours of childe being arrested by the duke of the fortress of meropide?”

reporters are like a flock of seagulls, flocking to their next victim and hounding them relentlessly for a single crumb of news. that was something yelan had said to you whenever she was chased by nosy journalists at product line releases. standing awkwardly in the lobby of the fatui building, you didn’t feel like chasing after the fashion executive. it was bad enough that you felt out of place; you’d stick out like a sore thumb among these reporters who were leagues ahead of you. heck, fashion wasn’t even your forte! most of the outfits you wore were picked out with the help of yelan and yunjin, and the opera singer had nearly passed out at the way you mismatched your clothing.

besides, you’d probably ask a stupid question like, “miss arlecchino? did you get inspiration for your name from the drink cappuccino?”

frowning, you looked around the empty information desk and deserted the entrance to find anything that would be of use to you. an excuse, perhaps, for why you turned up empty-handed. until your eyes landed on a teenager who was clutching his clockwork penguin tightly, eyes closed shut, and breathing heavily.

“deep breaths. in and out. in and out,” he murmured under his breath, trying to drown out the world around him.

feeling a pang of sympathy and concern, you scurried to his side, alarm on your face. “hey, are you okay?”

the boy jumped up in surprise, his ocean-blue eyes meeting yours as he scooted back slightly from you. “m-my helmet. i-i can’t find it."

helmet? you couldn’t help but be confused by his words, but the anxious expression on his face was enough to snap you out of your momentary puzzlement, and you nodded quickly with a smile. “i’ll help you look for it. where did you see it last?”

“i was holding it before those swarms of reporters flocked to father," he murmured between deep breaths, his finger shakily pointing to the information desk, which had been abandoned. you spotted something under the desk, warily walking towards the area he gestured to.

one of the few skills needed to be a journalist is a keen eye. whether it be for news, analysing the emotions of your interviewee, or scanning the area for potential clues. peering over the calendars and half-steaming mugs of coffee, was a gold diving helmet used by divers. was this kid a diver? picking it up gingerly, you rushed back to the boy’s side, handing it over to him with a reassuring smile.

the boy smiled at you gratefully, taking the helmet from your outstretched hands and examining it closely. his hands brushed against a scratch on its side, probably the work of those nosy journalists.

“there’s a dent."

you were about to reply about how you could get it out with the help of some hot water. that was until the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor caused the both of you to look up, announcing the arrival of arlecchino herself.

freminet shot you a shocked glance, one you weren’t sure about as the knave stopped right in front of you, her sharp eyes looking you up and down.

“ah, freminet, here you are. i seem to have lost you earlier, just now. who do we have here?” she cooed, an unnerving smile curling on her lips.

you kept a cool face, bowing slightly as you stuck out a hand for her to shake. “hello, i’m name. a reporter for the steambird.”

you breathed an inward sigh of relief at the sight of her; you did hit the jackpot after all! no nosy reporters, and you could finally get an interview or a few words with her! that was until she squinted at you with an emotion you couldn’t discern, eyeing you like you were a rat skittering in front of her.

the boy, freminet you assumed, quickly spoke up, though he did not dare meet the harbinger in the eye. “f-father, they were just..."

“you don’t need to stick up for them. you are, after all, too kind and forgiving.” she replied coolly to him, the boy inwardly gulping as his fingers gripped tighter around the metal of the diving helmet.

the tall executive towered over you, causing you to back up against the information desk. her red and black eyes were narrowed into thin slits, creating a menacing expression on her face. “you’re quite bold, i must say, to think that you can score an interview with me by using my familial ties. what’s worse, you dare to hurt my poor child.”

she must have misunderstood the whole situation, you realised. opening your mouth to explain your point, you grew aware of dozens of eyes piercing into your skin. great, those nosy journalists were there to see this humiliating display. looking frantically for help, you spotted freminet shooting you a guilty and apologetic glance from where he stood, eyes downcast.

“ma’am, i-“

“tut tut tut, no buts. best believe i’ll inform your superiors about your behaviour. it’s unfitting for a journalist to be so rude and apathetic by preying on others' weaknesses just for a story.” arlecchino cut you off, clicking her tongue as if she were scolding a child.

the crowd around you had grown, from journalists to even employees of the fatui fashion brand. if you squinted hard enough, you’d be able to make out the figure of a boy in a top hat held back by freminet and a girl with cat ears. you were more than embarrassed at this point; you were so mortified by this whole situation that you could just crawl into a hole and die. maybe if thoma took pity on you, you could run away to inazuma and live with him. how ironic, you came here looking for a story only for it to be about you.

the knave took a step away from you, her black fingernails sharp as she examined your journalist landyard with disinterest. “the steambird, what a shame. i thought they would at least educate their fellow comrades about the basics of media etiquette. security will escort you out.”

you could barely register anything, your head pounding and your ears ringing as you walked out of the fatui building. when the sunlight and the cool wind hit your face like a wake-up call, that was when you began to run. where to was unclear, but anywhere would be better than here with people circling you like vultures about to eat their prey, their whispers rising to screams. 

if only you could run away from all your problems like people do by reading stories.

<- prev masterlist next ->

SUMMARY: in an attempt to redeem yourself to the rest of your members at steambird, you decide to follow the dead-end story about fontaine’s resident magician. in exchange of getting the details for his story, you have to go out on dates with him only to discover a hidden story that might be the breakthrough of your blooming career or its downfall.

NOTES : and the prologue is up! let me know what you think about all this! who do you think was held back by freminet just now? also, if you’re wondering how the fatui works, read this post here for better insight on its eleven harbingers/executives! i’ll see you guys sooner than you think 😉

TAGLIST ( open ): @ryuryuryuyurboat , @kzhwaif , @1-800-peggy , @saoiirsee , @mccnstruck , @cclyyz , @cupid-spams , @luciledreamz , @starryshinyskies , @lethwal , @rynnlvrs , @fischlfy

© MEIDNIGHTRAIN 2023. DO NOT COPY, REPOST, SHARE, TRANSLATE OR REUPLOAD MY WORKS ONTO ANY OTHER SITE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION

[kzhwaif]

🎬THE STORY OF US

lyney’s friendgroup: went right cause our dads left

PRESENTING…

🎬LYNEY, teyvat’s greatest magician. despite being under the spotlight on stage, his private life is hard to track down and he’s barely seen in public. for some reason, he can’t help but be curious and attracted to a certain journalist.

🎬LYNETTE, magic assistant and twin to lyney. she’s the silent and more reserved twin, leaving theatrics to her brother. this tea lover always finds herself roped into her lyney’s problems and is the levelheaded one in such situations.

🎬 CHILDE, a model and one of the eleven executives for the brand fatui corporation. met lyney as as he is arlecchino’s adopted son. despite his goofy personality, he’s a very generous and loyal person to be friends with.

🎬 FURINA, an actress known for playing the lead focalors in one of the opera epiclese’s most acclaimed shows. met lyney at one of aether’s concert after parties and hit it off. a vivid supporter of lyney’s delusions and excels at being overdramatic.

🎬 AETHER, a historian and member of the boy band 6reeze. met lyney when 6reeze had their first concert in fontaine and crossed paths at the opera epiclese. don’t be fooled by his sweet and innocent nature, there’s a reason why they say to never anger him.

← prev masterlist next →

SUMMARY: in an attempt to redeem yourself to the rest of your members at steambird, you decide to follow the dead-end story about fontaine’s resident magician. in exchange of getting the details for his story, you have to go out on dates with him only to discover a hidden story that might be the breakthrough of your blooming career or its downfall.

NOTES : i just like the gc name HAHAHAHA. in this au arlecchino adopted lyney, lynette and freminet, they’re basically unofficial models of the fatui, the fatui is a fashion company

TAGLIST ( open ): @ryuryuryuyurboat , @kzhwaif , @saoiirsee , @mccnstruck , @cclyyz , @cupid-spams , @luciledreamz , @starryshinyskies , @lethwal , @rynnlvrs

© MEIDNIGHTRAIN 2023. DO NOT COPY, REPOST, SHARE, TRANSLATE OR REUPLOAD MY WORKS ONTO ANY OTHER SITE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION

[kzhwaif]

Neuvilette bday art!!! Okay but i seriously need to see all fontainian having a ball where everyone dress gorgeously and dance 💃 🕺

[kzhwaif]

🎬 THE STORY OF US

name’s friendgroup: 🛑 LIVE: COMING FROM THE STREETS

PRESENTING…

🎬 NAME, a journalist for the steambird! they have big ambitions to publish a story that will capture everyone's attention. known to be headstrong and relentless when chasing down stories. 

🎬 CHARLOTTE, a reporter for the steambird! first met (name) as interns and clicked ever since. if you’ve got news, she’ll be coming at you at light speed from a mile away. don’t try to run from charlotte, for the word impossible is non-existent to this determined reporter.

🎬 THOMA, a baking vlogger and housekeeper for the yashiro commission. first met (name) at a cooking class he hosted and eventually became fast friends. as the mom friend of the group, thoma makes sure everyone is adequately hydrated and lends a listening ear to the troubles they face.

🎬 YELAN, owner of a cosmetics brand and yanshang teahouse. first met (name) at her brand’s opening party where they became friends due to her side hustle as an informant. yelan can get information on everyone and everything, which proves useful when you’re chasing the next big story.

🎬 CYNO, head of sumeru akademiya’s security team and a streamer on windglider. first met (name) when they were dragged to a tcg tournament and lost the bet, stating that if they won, he’d give them an exclusive interview. despite his high position, he’s known for making horrible jokes that leave the room in silence, either because of intimidation or their lack of humor. 

← prev masterlist next →

SUMMARY: in an attempt to redeem yourself to the rest of your members at steambird, you decide to follow the dead-end story about fontaine’s resident magician. in exchange of getting the details for his story, you have to go out on dates with him only to discover a hidden story that might be the breakthrough of your blooming career or its downfall.

NOTES : windglider is the equivalent to twitch, because twitch was named after twitch gaming that was acquainted with speed. name’s twt profile was inspired by the speak now aesthetic, their bio is a lyric from sparks fly as this smau is named after a speak now track. feel free to imagine how ever you want their profile to be as they are merely placeholders.

TAGLIST ( open ): @ryuryuryuyurboat , @kzhwaif , @saoiirsee , @mccnstruck , @cclyyz , @cupid-spams , @luciledreamz

© MEIDNIGHTRAIN 2023. DO NOT COPY, REPOST, SHARE, TRANSLATE OR REUPLOAD MY WORKS ONTO ANY OTHER SITE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION

[kzhwaif]

YOU MUST LIKE ME FOR ME | LYNEY

notes wc 3.5k, for readers keeping up with the updates as they come, it’s been a while since the last update! so for the sake of understanding this chapter, please reread the previous one !!

previous chapter | masterlist | next chapter

You were starting to regret ever opening your mouth and letting Aether blackmail you into helping him. Maybe if you had insisted on cooking dinner and Rosalie took over the counter, none of this would’ve happened. But what’s happened has happened—and you have a feeling that you would’ve ended up here regardless because fate hated you.

Lyney emerges from the shadows, sliding into the spotlight as if he was born for it. Meant to be there in the middle of the stage with all eyes on him and nowhere else. He has his arms spread wide open, fully welcoming the elated whispers of the audience.

“Welcome, one and all, to Lyney and Lynette’s magic show!”

His voice echoes throughout the opera house, nearly drowned out by the roaring cheers that follow after. Lyney then grins, bowing with half of his body.

The way he moves across the stage—it’s hard to imagine it’s the same guy who stumbled over his steps to make you notice him. It seems like the roles have reversed. Now, the audience is watching each move with bated breath, on the edge of their seats, watching him.

“Please, let me also welcome my sister and my assistant, Lynette!”

Lynette steps onto the stage, her tail flicking at the noises. You swear you heard a kid whisper wildly to his mother that it was a part-cat human, maman! Why is Mr. Lyney not also one if they are siblings, maman?

Lyney may not have the ears and tail, but you remember the way his eyes followed you around like a cat tracking its prey, seconds away from pouncing. He resembled a cat more than Lynette at times.

“Hello,” Lynette says to the crowd and leaves it at that. The crowd loves it anyway.

Lyney grins. Something about it feels so different. He was cute as a kid, but now, with all teeth and sparkling eyes, he’s like a dream far out of reach.

“Are you okay?” Aether whispers. You almost jump out of your seat, breaking from the trance. “If you keep digging your nails in like that, you might rip the dress.”

“Ah.” You haven’t even realized. “Don’t worry about it. First-show jitters or something.”

“You’re not the one performing?”

“Or something.” you insist. Aether laughs under his breath and, thankfully, leaves it.

Back when you were at the House, Lyney could only do simple tricks. Plucking cards from his sleeves or hiding them in between his fingers. He was clumsy with making cards float, revealing doves from his hat, and producing flowers in a snap.

It seems to come from second nature for him this time. He flicks his hand, and a beautiful Lumidouce Bell materializes on his palm. Lyney throws it to the crowd; it lands by your feet.

“Wow, that was so cool!” Paimon gasps as you move to pick it up.

You remember now. This was the only flower Lyney used for his tricks, as they come in bundles when found. Often after dinner, Lyney would perform to practice for the other orphans, and it ended with a mess of these flowers scattered across the ground or left unattended by their beds after presenting it to them.

“Hold on,” Paimon says, “Is he looking at us? Did we miss something?”

Lyney is definitely looking in your direction. He has fallen silent, frowning. You start wishing that he is staring, not because he recognizes you but because you’re drop-dead gorgeous or something.

“Y/N?” Lyney says, his soft voice loud in the pin-drop silent auditorium.

Well.

“Mr. Lyney?” One of his assistants on stage asks. “What’s wrong?”

The crowd starts to murmur; then their fervent whispers grow in volume until everyone is talking loudly. Another accident? Mr. Lyney looks terrified! Aghast! Meanwhile, Lyney stays frozen in his spot; he doesn’t look like he’s breathing. It was the same look he gave you that night. Maybe his face hasn’t changed that much, after all.

“Lyney?” Lynette asks from the side of the stage, her face poking out. Then she follows his gaze, and her eyes widen as well. That’s when you knew—

“Shit,” you mutter, clutching the flower and springing up from your seat. You can’t have this happen while an audience is watching. That would totally ruin the whole point of laying low.

It was definitely not because you’re drop-dead gorgeous, but the fact that he still recognizes you has to mean something, right? Something that you don’t want to think about at the moment. You hurry to the exit, ignoring the dirty looks you get as you brush past.

“Did that girl do something?”

“Where are the gardes?! She must have done something to make Mr. Lyney chase after her’”

Seriously? You cast a glance, and Lyney’s scrambling down the stage, his assistants yelling after him and demanding for an explanation.

“Wait, no!” Lyney exclaims in response to the audience reluctantly getting up from their seats and reaching out to you. “Ah— Not to worry, everyone! I just have personal matters to attend to. Please, just stay—”

Idiot, you want to scream, it’s not so personal if you’re chasing after me in front of all of them!

The Melusine guarding the entrance seems oblivious to the ruckus inside. She blinks up at your haste and asks, “Is the show over?”

You say, “I have an emergency. Uhm—I, uh.”

Her face turns serious. She nods. “I see.”

“What— what are you thinking? it’s—” Your ears pick up on Lyney’s steps, and you wisely decide that it is not the time to save face. You give the Melusine a wave. “Thank you!”

You take a swift, sharp turn once you’ve reached the end of the stairs, stumbling into a dead end, and you don’t get very far.

You wonder if Aether and Paimon chased after you or if they’d pretend not to know you for the sake of the mission. If you die, you hope they would at least still pay you for compensation, and the money would go to Rosalie. Or maybe she would be enraged when she finds out you’re a Fatuus and doesn’t take it. Maybe your story of deceiving Rosalie would make her customers flourish, buying flowers to disguise the intent of asking about the liar residing in her home for years.

“Caught you,” Lyney whispers, his firm grip around your waist. The rushing water is noisy, but his voice is clear to your ears.

Hearing his voice up close is a problem. “Whoever you think I am, you’re mistaken!”

“Then why did you run?”

“You—” You had that look on your face I didn’t want to see again “—I forgot to lock my door. I don’t want my house to be robbed. Which might be occurring at this moment the longer you have me like this.”

Lyney laughs. It sounds like music that has haunted you for years—and with a new one playing, it’ll torment you for years more. He loosens his grip but keeps you caged in, still. You’re twirled around to face him, and something about his expression has you swallowing thickly.

“You’re even more stunning than I remember, ma chérie.”

Your face burns. “Thanks, but I don’t even know who you… ugh, stop looking at me like that…” Lyney’s smile, looking so fond, doesn’t falter in the slightest as if he expects that you would say that word for word.

“You think I’d mistake someone else for you? You’re the only one who runs from me like this,” he murmurs. His gaze feels heavy. 

“Mr. Lyney,” you sigh and turn away. You can’t bring yourself to look him in the eye when he says shit like that.  “Please. I didn’t show my face around anymore for a reason. A good reason.”

“I don’t trust your judgment to believe that.”

“Don’t talk as if you know me. We’ve been apart longer than we’ve been together.”

“Still, your words are as hurtful as ever,” Lyney says with a sad smile. You stiffen when he cups your cheek and touches you, his gloves rough on your skin. “You’re alive.”

You scowl. “Have you such little faith in me? How many times have I beaten you again?”

Lyney laughs again. Somehow, this is much worse than him killing you on sight. 

Lynette appears in your line of sight from behind Lyney, with Aether and Paimon trailing after her. Her steps are slow. Aether has that expression on his face that says, don’t react!

Luckily, Lyney takes your hitch of breath as embarrassment at having witnesses. He tears away but promptly reaches for your wrist as if a leash for a dog. You tug, but nothing happens. For someone who looks so delicate, he has quite the strength.

“Hello, Traveler, Paimon,” he says pleasantly. “Sorry to interrupt your show.”

Aether shakes his head. “I just wondered if something went wrong.”

Does this not look wrong enough for him? You hurl him a blank stare.

Lyney follows Aether’s gaze and glowers. He jerks you to his side and stares at Aether pointedly. Aether looks at you, confused. You don’t know what the fuck is going on either.

“I didn’t know you were familiar with Y/N,” Lyney observes coldly.

“I don’t,” Aether says easily. “I came out here to see if you were okay.”

Still, Lyney doesn’t loosen his grip.

“Y/N,” Lynette says. She interrupts whatever dick-measuring contest is brewing with a small smile on her face. “You’re here.”

“I am,” you wheeze out, still trapped in Lyney’s arms. It’s a little difficult to be anywhere else with your current predicament.

Lynette clears her throat, giving her brother a look. You recognize that one—it’s the one she uses when Lyney is embarrassing her and would give him a stern word about it later. Lyney grumbles and sets you free.

“Traveler, I have something to say to you,” Lyney says, his chin high and his stare cool.

“Alright,” Aether says, brows furrowed. He casts you a glance that Lyney watches carefully. “Come on, Paimon.”

Lynette fixes your sleeves as the boys leave for somewhere more secluded. You follow them until their silhouettes disappear. “How have you been?” she asks.

“I’ve just been in the low, but I’m doing fine,” you say, feeling a little shy. Lynette has grown up as nicely as her brother. Her hair is tied up now; you remember that Lyney used to beg for Lynette to use the hairclips he’s bought, but Lynette insists she doesn’t like them. You offered her a hair tie that day. “It’s been really stressful and all that. Sorry to ruin your show.”

“Don’t worry about that. Or them. You’re here—that’s the most important thing on Lyney’s mind at the moment,” she says, and at the face you’re making, she adds: “And you can’t tell me I’m wrong. You know I’m not.”

“Haha.” You don’t know what to say to that.

Lynette hums. “Are you carrying out missions?”

You start thinking about the danger of confessing to present-fatuis that you are no longer one. As much as you trust them, you don’t trust they hold you to the same level. They have complete faith and loyalty towards The Knave, which you abandoned long ago. The orphans’ trust ran deep, and no one—not even you—could fuck with it.

You nod. “Yes, which is why I’ve been too busy. I’m— you see, I work for Lord Tartaglia now.”

Lynette looks stunned, speechless. Lyney has words to say, though, coming back at the perfect time. You take a peek at Aether, but it seems that he hasn’t followed Lyney back.

Lyney hurries to your side. “Master Childe? Is that why you’re here? We saw him around yesterday… Was it yesterday?” He turns to his sister, who nods.

Just your luck. Of all the Harbingers you thought of, it’s the one currently in Fontaine.

You’re losing confidence, and you hope it doesn’t show on your face. You used to look at the orphans in the House of the Hearth and think that you can beat them easily, without a sweat—right now, it feels as if they’re miles from your reach.

“Is this where Mr. Lyney went?” you hear from afar. “Perhaps they went back to the city!”

Lyney and Lynette’s faces turn exasperated. Lyney drags you further to the corner of the wall, and Lynette has her eyes peeled, scanning the path that leads here.

“Listen, I have to go. I can’t stay here for long.” They report everything to her; you know that well enough. “The— ‘Father’ already knows I’m here, so there’s no need to talk about me.”

Lyney stares at you for a moment too long. “Why?”

You wrack your head for something the twins wouldn’t be able to push. “I’m ashamed to see Father while I’m like this. After our fight, she had to transfer me. My pride and all that, you know?” You put on a timid expression. “Please don’t push.”

It works seamlessly. Lyney’s face falls. “Are you going to run from us again?”

“She might make me leave if she finds out I was talking to you.”

Lyney looks angry. “I’ll make sure she won't.”

“Don’t push,” you remind him softly. You’re a little stunned that he’s going this far. “I thought you hated me.”

“I could never hate you to the point of letting you slip from my grasp again.”

Hmm. That’s a strange way of phrasing it.

Before you can look into it anymore, Lyney takes your hand. “You said to me my loyalty is my worth. Well, by that logic, I’m nothing but valuable to you.”

“…Right,” you murmur, facing away from him and turning to Lynette for help, but she’s looking off to the side as well, still watching out for any gardes, yet her ears are pointed here. “I know that.”

“Y/N?” Lyney’s smiling when he forces your attention on him once more.

“Hm? What?” You need to look for Aether fast. Maybe tell him of the events that transpired and convince him that this was a terrible idea and Aether can arrest Lyney for all you care.

You do care. That’s the whole reason you’re doing this in the first place.

“I’m happy to see you,” he says.

“...I’ll see you around, Miss Lynette and Mr. Lyney.”

It wasn’t difficult to look for Aether and Paimon. You found them easily because you wanted to go there yourself: Hotel Debord.

Paimon’s wolfing down a plate of cake while Aether idly sips on his drink. Aether notices you first, waving you over. You find it strange that as soon as you pad over, Aether gestures to the stairs. You three climb up and find a place at the furthest table in the far corner.

“Lyney performs here sometimes, I heard,” Aether says as you settle in on a seat.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t strike this place with a surprise one while we’re on the most conspicuous seat,” you grumble. Paimon hands you her drink as comfort.

“I’d say that was a success,” Aether says, grinning. “Heartfelt reunion and rekindled feelings— I’ve never seen Lyney like that.”

“Like what?” Remembering Aether’s fixation on insisting on a blossoming relationship between you and the man you can’t even look in the eye, you immediately say, “Never mind. I don’t care. I ruined the plan.”

Aether laughs. “You didn’t, trust me. I learned something valuable today.”

You sip on the teacup. It’s Fonta, and it’s as unbearably sweet as the look in Lyney’s eyes as he talked to you. You’ve had enough of that for today.

“You can never hide it in your face when you care for someone,” Aether continues.

“You have that look on your face,” you say suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you’re also going to blackmail Lyney?”

“What? Of course not. That’s what I blackmailed you for.”

You snort. “And the Outlander reveals his true colors. You seriously still don’t believe me?”

“I still don’t have the information I want to have,” Aether reminds, stealing a piece of Paimon’s cake. She grumbles but doesn’t say anything else. She’s surprisingly compliant when there’s a plate before her. “That’s what you’re also here for, remember?”

“I don’t know, Aether,” you lament, sinking into your seat. “It feels like I made everything harder for me. “Do you still not trust them?”

“I think I blew it, too,” Aether laughs sheepishly. “I don’t think Lyney trusts me anymore.”

Paimon snorts, then quiets down when Aether shoots her a look.

“What did you and Lyney talk about?”

“It was a bit weird,” Aether confesses, then blushes at his drink. “I think Lyney was threatening me. He told me he saw me with someone by an alley.” At your confused look, Aether clarifies, “Doing something scandalous, I mean.”

You never thought Aether was the type, but that’s none of your business.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Aether sighs. “Of course I wasn’t up to anything of that sort. I’m still figuring out what he meant by that.”

“Maybe it’s a metaphor,” you say.

But Lyney doesn’t go lying about things like that. He may have a roundabout way of talking when he’s feeling playful, but ruining someone’s reputation is far too serious for that. And Aether never told you that Lyney was hostile around him—none of this just makes sense.

“All I remember was…” Aether’s gaze cuts down to your waist, and then he falls silent.

You frown. “Aether?”

Aether sighs. “I blew it. It’s up to you now.”

“Do you still see them as a threat?” you ask.

“It’s not that I see them as a threat. It’s just that… if they’re an obstacle I have to overcome between me and my sister, then I will do what it takes.”

Of course, you’re still stuck handling a pair of identical siblings. You could never understand the bond between them, but you have to admit, it’s interesting to see two sides of twins. One still together and one apart.

“Oh, right. Hold on,” Aether mutters, swiping a hand in the air. You watch in fascination as a bag materializes on his lap. He draws out a letter. “Lyney wanted me to give this to you, too.”

You read the contents. Aether asks, “What is it? A love letter? Does it have hearts drawn on it?”

“Stop that,” you say. “It has an address, no hearts.”

Aether gasps. Even Paimon pauses from her feast. “An address,” they chorus.

“It says meet me tomorrow.”

Aether hums. “Maybe this isn’t turning out so bad.”

Lyney’s soft expression flashes in your mind—the flower, the arm around your waist, ma chérie— Seriously, who told him it was alright to go around seducing women like that? You groan, your face falling into your palms. You both blew it. Maybe Paimon has a better chance of retrieving information than either of you.

“You must’ve really liked the Fonta,” Aether says, gesturing to your empty cup. “Want another one?”

You don’t hesitate before saying yes.

The flower Lyney threw you has already wilted by the time you return to the flower shop. It’s past midnight, yet there is still a dim light washing over from outside. You spot Rosalie seated by the chair behind the counter, her posture straightening as the bell chimes.

“You’re back!” She grins, though her eyes look heavy and a little red. She must’ve been sleeping deeply.

“Rosalie,” you greet, a little fond, a little exasperated, “did you wait for me?”

“I told that Outlander boy to bring you home before ten,” she huffs, ambling over to you. She pats your dress and sighs dreamily. “Did you enjoy Mr. Lyney’s show?”

There was no show to begin with. “Yes. I did. It was splendid. Cut a bit too short, though.”

“Were you chosen as a participant?” she asks, hopeful.

“No,” you say, laughing a little. Although Mr. Lyney did chase after me. You wonder what kind of face Rosalie would make if you told her that. She wouldn’t be able to sleep if you did; you’re sparing her quite nicely.

Rosalie smiles. You like her smile; it’s all soft and fond, and she’s always smiling, leaving smile lines on her face. If you got caught earlier and she found out about your true past, would she still smile at you like that? “You should get some sleep. You look tired.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re so cute, mon ange. You look like you’re glowing!” Rosalie squeals, pulling you in for a hug that smothered your face on her neck. “You should go out more often!”

“Glowing?” Rosalie’s hug has your words come out all fucked up. “If anything, I’m drained— maman, your hair is getting on my mouth, please. And I still want to work here, okay? Don’t kick me out so suddenly.”

Rosalie’s frozen, her smile wiped off her face. You look up and blink at her curiously. “Rosalie?” you ask.

She stammers, “Oh—ah, it’s nothing. I just thought— Oh, you’re right. I’m tired, too. Don’t stay out so late next time if you don’t want my face having eyebags!”

As much as you hate to admit it, seeing Lyney and Lynette did feel a bit nice.

notes !!! new chapter yay :D lmk what u think !!

TAGLIST.

@thenyxsky @aeferkssr @1mewo1 @lacrimae-lotos @meigalaxy @hyacinth-daze @miwafei @popochakku @svasilios @heyhazelnut101 @kruinka @waveto-earth @superstar-ethereal @mxplesyrvp @achilleas-dream @episodecete @jellifizz @auranny @motherscrustytoenailclippings @iawaaaaaaa @rionah @cherryig @kzhwaif @mystiquemare @unknownlololol @sanluvssu @blvdmrcnry @kascar-chronicle @idontevenknow129 @tarathecogsci

[kzhwaif]

- contemplating-

Idk 3rd of december reminds me of lyney, and then it became an excuse for me to draw blushing, hopeless romantic lyney