renshukaku

[renshukaku]

I haven't logged in Tumblr and Wattpad for a week now. I've hit writer's block right now, but my requests are always open!

I'm really bored not doing anything since I finished my homeworks (╥﹏╥)

Feel free to spam me in my asks with anything! I can talk about things happening in Genshin, as well as requests for stuff you wanna read from me!

[renshukaku]

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE YOUR WRITING ITS SO CUTE（≧∇≦）PLEASE CONTINUE TO WRITE I LOVE IT

if u could.. perchance.. perhaps… write for scaramouche / wanderer >_< (I DONT HAVE ANY GOOD IDEAS SADLY SO ANYTHING WORKS) i just want to see more fluff for him :3

Hello! This is my very first ask on Tumblr, so I made sure to make it as fluffy as possible. Imagine having the Aranara as your wingmen? I just posted it earlier, so please give it some love!

Here's the link for anyone who wants to read it!

[renshukaku]

Trade of Truths

CHARACTERS ✦ Wanderer x Reader

SYNOPSIS ✦ You’re top of your class, and he’s the infuriating rival who always sits too close. But when a dream from Lesser Lord Kusanali and a shared project lead you to Vanarana, quiet moments begin to say what words never could. In a world of logic and lectures, you’re both about to learn that some of the strongest connections are the ones never spoken aloud.

AUTHOR'S NOTES ✦ Requested by Anonymous! Thank you for being my first request. I tried my best to make this as fluffy as possible. I had so much fun writing the scene in Vanarana as well as what happened after!

CONTENT ✦ Akademiya!AU, Rivals-to-More, Wingmen!Aranara

You are one of Sumeru Akademiya's top students. Pumping out essays left and right, acing your classes, and impressing your seniors, you were every one of your juniors' role model.

"I wanna be like them one day, Armin!" you once heard a child say as you were taking a walk around the Akademiya's grounds.

"Tch, brats these days," you heard a voice before dismissing it. The guy wearing that ridiculously large hat probably said it, judging by the tone of his voice. You always recognized that voice everywhere, even if you didn't want to.

After a hearty meal from Lambad's Tavern, you decide to head to the Akademiya's library to finish your recent essay. While sleeping soundly amidst the quietness of the House of Daena, you received a peculiar message in the form of a dream from Lesser Lord Kusanali herself.

Wait, Lesser Lord Kusanali?

You scrunch your eyes as you take in the surreal dreamscape. You found yourself in a field of glowing Padisarahs under a twilight sky. Your eyes saw Nahida's small figure sat on a swing adorned with flowers, gently cuddling a chubby leaf-like creature in her arms.

"You can see them too," she said with a smile. You nodded immediately as you slowly took a step forward.

"Why did you... bring me here?" you asked as you took a seat on the fluffy grass. On cue, more leaf-like creatures appeared behind rocks and trees, staring at you with their beady eyes.

"Dreams are curious things, aren't they?" Nahida smiled at you as she let the leaf-like creature she was holding plop itself on your lap.

"They show us what we overlook while awake... like how someone's gaze lingers just a bit too long, or how their footsteps always seem to follow yours."

You tilt your head at your god's confusing words. You berate yourself for being such a smart student, yet dumb enough to understand her words. The leaf-life creature on your lap perks up and shakes, almost like it was giggling at what your god said.

"Blue Nara!" it hopped as your eyes widened at its words.

"What do you mean?" you ask with a small frown.

“You've noticed him too, haven't you? That boy who finds every excuse to sit beside you, even when there are empty seats all around.”

You feel your face heat up as your mind overthinks, "T-That guy with the large hat?"

No, that can't be. We're rivals!

“He’s been waiting for a reason. And maybe… you’ve been waiting for one too," she giggled as she tilts her head, Padisarahs gently glowing around her like stars.

"I heard there's a project in Vahumana. I'm sure it's a simple task, but even simple things bloom when shared with the right person. Why not ask him to join you? For the sake of 'academics,' of course," she smiled knowingly as she gazed at the green crystalflies surrounding the area.

"Time spent together, even under the guise of work… has a way of revealing the truth hidden between pages and glances," she whispered. Yet, you heard her. You clutch the leaf-like creature in your arms, and it let out a yelp.

"Go on. Walk beside him. Let the story write itself."

That wore the words you last heard as your dream faded with a gust of warm wind, carrying the faint scent of Sumeru Roses and the soft echo of your god's laughter.

"Okay, I got this," you whisper to yourself as a form of motivation. You clutch your books tighter as you caught the sight two Aranaras in your field of vision.

They were jumping fiercely in support of you, their leaf headdresses swaying gently with the wind. Althought they were incredibly scared of humans, they took their time to leave Vanarana and support you in your mission.

"Hey, Hat Guy!" you flinch as the guy you were planning to talk to suddenly got pulled into another conversation with Chandra.

"Did you return the books to their rightful places last night in the library? Sorry, you had to do it for me. Katayoun would berate me again. You were kinda loitering around and staring at—" he was cut off with Hat Guy harshly shushing him with a scowl.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Do whatever you want," he rolled his plum eyes as he dismissed his classmate. My brother in Buer, did he really have to out him like that? He wasn't totally staring at your sleeping figure while he was loitering around the House of Daena.

"Thanks again, Hat Guy!"

Do they never stop with that nickname? The Wanderer scowls at Chandra's retreating figure before peeking a glance at your direction.

Wait, are you looking at him?

Your eyes widened as you let out a small gasp, turning your head to the opposite direction to see people walking past you. Steeling yourself of your nerves, you turned your head to his direction once more. You saw him still staring at you with wide eyes.

"No way," he whispered to himself as he saw your figure walking towards his direction, clutching a book tightly to your chest.

"Hi," you smiled softly as a form of greeting. You've read in romance books from Fontaine that this is not how you greet your rivals! However, you're trying to be nice and forming a friendship with him doesn't sound so bad, minus that snarky attitude of his.

He stared at you, confusion swirling in his eyes. He felt heat surging through his body. If he thought even further, maybe he can hear the rattling of his heart.

You coughed into your fist as you felt heat rush to your cheeks, "Do you want to work together for Sage Prema's project? I heard from the others that you didn't have a partner yet, so I figured I'd ask you to be mine."

"Be mine?" he raised an eyebrow as a small smirk surfaced.

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" you spat out a flurry of reasons to which he laughed at.

"Suit yourself," he smirked as he crossed his hands over his chest. Maybe life at the Akademiya wouldn't be so bad. Well, he did say that when he sat beside you on the first day of classes, but whatever.

"Since we both have equal rankings in class, I'm sure Sage Prema would approve of our work the moment it hits her table," you giggled as you already planned out the topic of your research.

The Unspoken Language of Bonds: A Historical and Linguistic Study on Nonverbal Communication in Ancient Sumeru.

"It's perfect, right?" you smiled as you felt the lingering heat of the the setting sun caress your face.

He clicked his tongue, "If perfection includes squinting into the sun while scribbling notes, then sure. Truly idyllic."

But even as he said it, his eyes didn’t leave your face. "Still, I don’t mind this. With you," he whispered as he saw you write into a small notebook.

He swiped the notepad from your hands before you could say anything, pretending he hadn’t said it at all.

The light filtering through the canopy of leaves above was white and bright, dancing softly on the forest floor as you tugged at his sleeve.

"We've been writing for hours. Come on, let's take a little break. Vanarana’s not going to run away. I know you see them too," you giggled as you closed your notebook shut.

He looked at you with that usual stare of his, the one that always felt like it was two seconds away from a sigh.

"You call this a break?" he asked, glancing around the foliage. "We've just changed locations. You're still working."

You adjusted the strap of your satchel and gave him a sideways look, "Of course I am. The Aranara's communication methods are invaluable to our project."

He clicked his tongue, "You’re insufferable."

"No, I'm thorough. You're just annoyed I'm three pages ahead of you."

That shut him up. For now at least. But you caught the way he followed you anyway. He was one step behind, his hat tilted just enough to hide the small smile he tried to suppress.

The soft hum of Vanarana surrounded you. Its glowing leaves, the chittering Aranara, and the scent of dew-drenched moss clouded your surroundings. You both stood in the middle of a clearing, notebooks half-filled, when a small Aranara situated on a rock tugged at your sleeve.

"Nara curious, yes? Nara wants to learn about saying things without saying?" the Aranara tilted its head, leafy ears swaying as it held a permanent smile.

You nodded, "Mhm, for our research."

It clapped its tiny hands, "Then come! Join Trade of Truths! Very old game. You trade heart things. Not with words. With something real."

Your companion raised an eyebrow, "You dragged me all the way here for charades?"

"Not charades," the Aranara corrected seriously, its small arms crossed.

"Feelings are truths. Memory are thoughts. You give one. You get one. But no words, no lies," another one spoke up.

Despite himself, he followed. He thought to himself that he was intrigued, or maybe just bored enough to humor you.

You both sat close at opposite sides of a small clearing surrounded by water while the Aranara gathered around like tiny judges. One of them placed a flat stone slab between you.

"One thing from inside," it whispered. "Show it. Share it. Trade it."

You went first. You plucked a fallen flower near your side of the log—a beautiful Padisarah—and gently placed it on the stone. You smiled at him, then touched your chest lightly, then tapped the flower again. A simple gesture.

This reminds me of someone important.

His expression didn’t change much. He let out a scoff, but his gaze lingered.

Then it was his turn.

He hesitated. Then, without looking at you, he pulled a piece of chalk from his bag and drew something on the stone slab with short, swift strokes. When he finished, he pushed it toward the center and leaned back like it meant nothing.

You leaned in.

It was a sketch, crude but clear, of two stick figures sitting under a tree. One had hair like yours. The other wore a hat, slightly too big.

Your heart paused.

"It's just something I saw in a dream,” he said suddenly, unknowingly breaking the rules of the game. “Don't overthink it.”

One Aranara tutted, "Words are cheating, Hat Nara. But... we forgive. Because it's sweet. And because Pretty Nara likes it."

Another Aranara giggled, circling around him, "First time Hat Nara gives a truth. Lucky Nara, you are."

He swatted gently at them, grumbling. "This is stupid."

But when he glanced back at you, the usual edge in his gaze had dulled for just a moment. He didn't say anything, but his fingers lingered on the edge of the slab, where your flower had rested.

That evening, you sat back under the boughs of a tree in Vanarana, scribbling notes by starlight while he rested nearby. He had his eyes closed, pretending not to watch you from behind his large hat.

In your journal, you wrote:

The Aranara's "Trade of Truths" presents a fascinating example of symbolic emotional exchange. By removing verbal language, they foster honesty through actions, objects, and gestures. It is truly an ancient tradition that still reveals modern hearts.

And below that, in the margin—barely visible:

Earlier in the game... I think he meant me.

Your pen hovered over the paper, then froze as his voice broke the silence, "What’re you writing now?"

You flinched. The notebook snapped shut in your hands before you could stop yourself. He raised an eyebrow lazily, but his tone held no heat, "Must be something important if you’re guarding it like classified research."

"Just reflections," you said quickly, tucking the journal into your bag. "You're not the only one working on this project, dummy."

He smirked before sticking his tongue out, "I’m not the one looking suspicious, dummy"

You made a face and leaned forward to poke the fire with a stick, letting the sparks crackle upward. When you settled back, he was suddenly beside you. No comment, no warning. He was just there, close enough that his presence changed the air.

You blinked at him, surprised. Yet, he didn’t look at you. He just stared into the fire for a while before speaking.

"You’ve been nodding off for the past ten minutes," he said quietly, almost offhand. Then, without asking, he reached out and gently guided your head toward him. You stiffened as your cheek rested against his shoulder, your breath catching in your chest.

His hat sat abandoned nearby, for once out of the way. You could feel the quiet hum of energy beneath his skin. It wasn't warmth, not the body heat of a human's. However, his presence was steady and still.

You didn’t dare move. And he didn't either. And just beyond the reach of the firelight, hidden among the flowering bushes, tiny eyes gleamed in the dark.

Three Aranara peeked out, round and happy. One clutched a flower in both hands, holding it like a plush toy as they watched.

"They are... touching," one whispered with awe.

"Like in old stories. The soft kind. Not battle kind."

"Hat Nara never lets anyone near him. Not even the Lord of Verdure!" another added, eyes sparkling. "He lets them!"

"Shhh!" the third hissed. "Fire scary, but this... is better than fruit dream!"

They didn't dare come close, trembling slightly at the fire's edge. Yet, they didn't look away. You heard none of it—but he did.

His gaze flicked to the shadows where he knew they were hiding. He gave the faintest sigh. And though he didn't speak, you felt the barest shift of his head, just enough to rest it lightly against yours.

[renshukaku]

MASTERLIST !

Friendly Adjustments┊aether x reader

One sunny day, Aether finally realizes his teapot furnitures are missing or either turning up on places he doesn't remember putting them at. Alert yet intrigued, he decides to investigate the mysterious entity messing with his humble abode. Unbeknownst to him, this enigmatic person that drives him insane may or may not be from beyond a screen.

Love Letters & Chocolates┊diluc x reader

You've always had a crush on your brooding yet undeniably handsome seatmate. With a little encouragement from your best friend, you finally mustered up the courage to write him anonymous love letters paired with his favorite dark chocolates. Unfortunately for you, his curiosity has been piqued and he's determined to find out his secret admirer's identity.

Saurians & Sweethearts┊ororon x reader

When Ororon's alpaca goes missing, he finds it terrorizing a girl and her adorable saurian companions. Instantly drawn to her beauty and the way her companions adore her, he decides to form a friendship. What starts as a peculiar meeting between strangers might lead to something more.

Trade of Truths┊wanderer x reader

You’re top of your class, and he’s the infuriating rival who always sits too close. But when a dream from Lesser Lord Kusanali and a shared project lead you to Vanarana, quiet moments begin to say what words never could. In a world of logic and lectures, you’re both about to learn that some of the strongest connections are the ones never spoken aloud.

[renshukaku]

Saurians & Sweethearts

CHARACTERS ✦ Ororon x Reader

SYNOPSIS ✦ When Ororon's alpaca goes missing, he finds it terrorizing a girl and her adorable saurian companions. Instantly drawn to her beauty and the way her companions adore her, he decides to form a friendship. What starts as a peculiar meeting between strangers might lead to something more.

AUTHOR'S NOTES ✦ I just finished the Natlan Archon Quest where this guy was talking about his veggies and aphids, so I wrote a little fluff post about him.

CONTENT ✦ Strangers-to-More, Simp!Ororon

One sunny day in Natlan, Ororon was tending to his little vegetable farm. The quiet roar of saurians and long-legged dinosaurs could be heard throughout the peaceful atmosphere. In the outskirts of a tribe, a young man accompanied by his companion is tending to his vegetables.

An alpaca he named Little Pinecone nuzzled itself gently against Ororon's kneeling form. Its beady eyes watched him water his carrots and radishes, a glimmer of hunger swirling in them. Little Pinecone suddenly perked up and ran off, leaving Ororon confused.

"That little guy's always hungry. Where'd he go?" he muttered to himself as his eyes glanced at the direction where Little Pineconr ran off to. He noticed it ran towards Big Pinecone, the giant tree he also named. He decided to ignore where the alpaca went off to for now, for he knew it will probably come back to steal his leftover vegetables.

On the other side of tree named Big Pinecone, you giggled against its trunk as your little Yumkasaur Whelp named Tumbletwig fetched the orange ball you threw at a distance. Its ears flop everytime it took a step, causing you to let out a small coo at its cute ess.

When it plopped down the ball by your sitting form, you gently opened a bag of Saurian Crackers and fed it to the happy Yumkasaur. Unbeknownst to you, light blue eyes ogled the bag of treats on your hand.

You let out a smile as you pet Tumbletwig's soft green fur, "Wow, that little merchant from Sumeru really had great cleaning products for saurians."

The little Iktomisaurus Chick laying by your side, which you named Bibble, suddenly perked up in jealousy. It started pecking you with its beak and begging for pets too. You laughed at it and pet its sky blue fur after.

Suddenly, your Yumkasaur Whelp let out a loud cry. You whipped your head immediately and saw an... alpaca?

"What the heck?!"

It was chewing on the small cauliflower attached to your saurian's neck! You gave that to your Yumkasaur as a present for succeeding on picking up its first Flamegranate.

The little Yumkasaur was crying because of the loss of its treasured cauliflower and you didn't know what to do. The Tatankasaurus Whelp near you immediately charged at the strange alpaca, head-butting it weakly.

The Iktomisaurus Chick glanced at the unattended bag of Saurian Crackers. Its sky blue eyes sparkled before it immediately dived in to feast. It let out sounds of happiness as it continued eating.

Still staring at the smug-looking alpaca, your ears picked up the sounds of footsteps approaching.

"Little Pinecone, what are you doing?" a deep voice echoed. The alpaca—which had a particular odd name—perked up as it continued chewing.

You glanced up and saw a man your age standing near you. He was holding a basket of carrots and radishes on his hand. And wow...

'He has really pretty eyes.'

This strange man had such captivating pink and cyan eyes. You flinched at the thoughts invading your mind, causing you to shaking your head in exasperation.

"Excuse me, your Little Pinecone ate Tumbletwig's necklace!" you frowned at the man. To think this handsome man was the companion of the alpaca that caused your little saurian's suffering.

Ororon's mouth slightly parts. Necklace? That cauliflower the alpaca's chewing was a necklace? You gotta be kidding. Seeing the frown on such a beautiful girl's face caused him to look at the small whelps surrounding you. He noticed you had many saurian companions. At least by his standards, it's quite a lot. Not that he'd say it out loud, though.

You blushed when you saw an eyebrow raise. He must be thinking you're kinda dumb for making a cauliflower necklace.

"I'm not joking!" you stood up and placed your hands on your hips. Your action caused the Tatankasaurus Whelp to eagerly imitate you, its head and snout perked up high for such a small saurian.

"Puffalo, don't copy me!" you blushed in embarrassment. Your eyes looked at the man. You noticed a smirk surfacing on his handsome face.

"What a cute name," the stranger smirked at you.

He thinks you're quite pretty for a stranger, and he didn't want to let go of you just yet. He's eager to know more about you now. And maybe about your saurian companions too. If you'd allow him, at least.

He coughed on an empty fist, "Well, why don't we exchange names. You're kinda... trespassing on my property."

Your eyes widened before looking around. Well, you did see a small hut and farm behind the large tree before you decided to rest against it. But you didn't think the owner would confront you so easily. After some light conversation on both parts, you exchanged your names.

The man introduced himself as Ororon and told you he lived at the outskirts of the Masters of the Night-Wind. He eagerly wanted to replace the cauliflower necklace that Little Pinecone devoured and told you his farm was literally right behind the tree you were resting at.

"Oh, Little Pinecone is a cute name too," you laughed gently at the man.

Ororon smiled at your comment.

"Little Pinecone always bumped into Big Pinecone whenever it steals my vegetables," he laughed. You smiled at the information.

'That tree is called Big Pinecone? Wait, but that tree wasn't even a pine tree—!'

"I knew it'd be near here. I wasn't expecting to see such a pretty— I mean, a stranger though," he caught himself before he uttered that word, jaw slightly clenching as a blush arose from his face.

Ugh, he's embarrassed by what he almost said. And judging by the shy expression on your face, you must have guessed what he wanted to say. He can only rub the back of his neck in bashfulness.

*Crack! Crack...! Crack!*

Your little silence was interrupted by the sound of biscuits cracking and a beak pecking on something. You and Ororon, as well as Tumbletwig and Puffaloo, turned to the source and found your Iktomisaurus Bibble and Little Pinecone eating your precious Saurian Crackers!

"Oh, no!" you cried out before sighing, pinching the bridge of your nose to not let out your annoyance.

"Gluttons," you and Ororon muttered together. You both whipped your heads toward each other, smiling like little lovesick teenagers saying the same words for the first time. Jinx!

Stepping forward on the soft grass, you went forward and gently grabbed Bibble before cradling it against your chest. You scolded both of them for devouring your Saurian Crackers, "Those are your treats, Bibble! They're not your meal!"

Puffalo and Tumbletwig tilted their heads and let out confused sounds. Ororon looked at them and chuckled. With his unoccupied hand, he picked up Tumbletwig, and kept watching you act like a mother to the saurians and Little Pinecone.

"Hey, let's go," he called out to you gently, hoping the pretty lady he met would give him some company on such a beautiful day. "Timbletwig's cauliflower is waiting for it at home," he teased with a smirk.

"It's Tumbletwig, Ororon," you corrected the man with a pout and followed after him, still carrying Bibble who already fell asleep on you. Wow, this little guy surely can fall asleep in seconds!

He laughed as you both walked towards his small hut, "I have some extra Saurian Crackers that my granny made for me. You can have some of them."

You smiled at him, "Thank you, Ororon."

Little Pinecone and Puffalo followed after you both as they let out soft sounds of appreciation for their new favorite humans.

AUTHOR'S NOTES ✦ Thank you for reading til the end! To clear up some confusion, the Yumkasaurus Whelp is named Tumbletwig, the Iktomisaurus Chick is named Bibble, and the Tatankasaurus Whelp is named Puffalo.

Yeah, Ororon might have noticed they have the same tendencies when it comes to naming things based on appearances alone. Well, it's fine! It's just one step closer to falling for her more.

[renshukaku]

Love Letters & Chocolates

CHARACTERS ✦ Diluc x Reader

SYNOPSIS ✦ You've always had a crush on your brooding yet undeniably handsome seatmate. With a little encouragement from your best friend, you finally mustered up the courage to write him anonymous love letters paired with his favorite dark chocolates. Unfortunately for you, his curiosity has been piqued and he's determined to find out his secret admirer's identity.

AUTHOR'S NOTES ✦ I tried making this romantic. Hope you guys like it!

CONTENT ✦ High School!AU, Kabedon

"Ugh, Mr. Zhongli's assignments are so difficult!" a whisper could be heard as a female student passed by, clutching her friend's arm who equally returned the same sentiment.

"I know right! At this point, we're gonna fail his class," her friend gasped out loud.

They continued chattering as their voices faded in the hallway.

"Geez, Mr. Zhongli's been giving us a tough time," Amber pouted as you walked alongside her in the crowded hallway.

"Mhm," you hummed in agreement as you both slipped past people to go eat lunch at the rooftop.

Seeing as how empty the rooftop was, your best friend Amber squealed in excitement as she sat on the floor immediately.

"Come here!" she patted the spot next to her, urging you to sit as you both unpacked your delicious lunches.

You both rambled off to different topics, from Mr. Venti's fun music lessons, to your history teacher Zhongli's ridiculously difficult assignments, and finally to your crush, Diluc Ragnvindr.

"Ugh, Amber! I told you already, he's too... brooding to even like me!" you whined out as you covered your face with your hands.

"C'mon! As the gliding champion of Teyvat Academy, I urge you to write him a love letter!" your best friend Amber smirked, radiating smugness with her nose held high.

"What does your title of gliding champion have to do with writing a letter for him?" you sweat dropped as you glanced at her.

Her face bloomed in red after being called out, "A-Ahem! Still, did it never occur to you to send him a love letter?"

Her voice was laced with curiosity, and you couldn't help but admit the truth.

"I mean, I have," your words faded as you absentmindedly stirred your food, nudging bits of food around your lunch box.

"But, he makes me so nervous! And I think he's received enough love letters from other girls to fill up a whole classroom."

Throughout your school years, your eyes always seemed to drift towards Diluc. He kept to himself and rarely spoke, yet there was something quietly captivating about him. That stillness and distance only made you more curious. And of course, he was exceptionally smart, ranking just below your classmate Albedo.

At the beginning of the semester, your homeroom teacher had coincidentally assigned you as seatmates. You got the window seat, and he sat right beside you at a separate desk. You still remembered the heat rising to your cheeks the moment your names were read out one after the other.

You also remembered elbowing Amber in the waist after she teased you with such a smug expression on her face.

Each morning, you found yourself wondering if he’d show up to school. As the heir to a wine company, he was sometimes absent at school for a few days due to taking care of some family matters. You told yourself it wasn’t a big deal, but the quiet space beside you felt emptier without him.

"Why don't you add his favorite chocolates then?" Amber suggested with a thoughtful hum, a finger to her chin as she thought of possible ways to help you.

You glanced at her curiously, your brows furrowing in thought as you silently urged her to continue.

"I think I remember him eating one during our meetings back when he was still in the Favonius Club," she trailed off as you stared at her in awe.

"It might help you stand out among the other girls who'd confessed to him! But I hope he doesn't find it creepy or something."

"I forgot you were both in the same club back in middle school," you chuckled. "I'll take your advice then, Amber."

Amber encouraged you with a smile on her face, "I hope it works out for you! The gliding champion of Teyvat Academy will always be here as your support!"

By the end of the week, you had finished writing a short letter, which was just enough to say what you needed. You also slipped the dark chocolate you'd bought from the nearby convenience store into the fridge.

By the time lunch rolled around on a Monday, the air buzzed with voices and movement. Students spilled out of their respective classrooms, their conversations loud and overlapping. The scrapes of chairs and laughter created a steady, energetic hum that pulsed through the school's cafeteria.

"Oh, my! Is that a love letter, Diluc?" Lisa asked with a small smile, her green eyes shining in mischief as she twirled her pasta on a fork.

She received a grunt in reply.

Diluc hadn’t planned on joining the Favonius Club for lunch, not since middle school. But his classmate Amber had insisted, dragging him along with the usual energy she never seemed to run out of. He didn’t really mind.

"Who's it from?" Jean asked as she stuffed her mouth gracefully with her favorite Mushroom Pizza.

"That's nothing new," Kaeya sat beside Diluc with a smirk, his gloved hand holding a skewer waiting to be devoured.

"It's probably from Donna," Albedo mused as nodded.

"But it had his favorite chocolates with it! There's no way she knew that unless she's stalking you," Amber, who was uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up.

Diluc’s red eyes lingered on the box of dark chocolates, then shifted to the letter. It was plain yet pretty, sealed with a teddy bear sticker. He knew it was clearly handmade with care.

However, it felt different. Not unfamiliar, but it was comforting. It was like the presence of someone who had always lingered just beside him, unnoticed until now.

His lips threatened to curve upward, but he caught the smile before it could fully form.

Amber only widened her eyes at his reaction, immediately whipping out her phone to secretly update you.

You let out a muffled scream into your pillow, legs kicking the air as your heart practically burst with flustered excitement.

A couple of hours ago, Amber had texted you your crush’s reaction to the anonymous love letter and the small box of dark chocolates you’d nervously slipped into his locker that morning.

You still haven't replied to her, only returning back to her message to re-read what she sent you. How could you? You were too busy spiraling.

Her messages had practically seared themselves into your brain.

teyvat gliding champion: HES SKILIGNGFJDHFHSHFHHWD teyvat gliding champion: SMILING* OMG

You groaned again and rolled onto your back, staring blankly at your ceiling full of glow-in-the-dark stickers as if it might offer you some form of emotional support.

"Why did I even do that? What was I thinking?"

You pressed both hands over your face. It was your first time ever writing a love letter. Your hands had shaken the entire time. You were glad you steeled yourself of your nerves and at least made your penmanship neat.

And the way you signed it off with a "Yours quietly"? What did that even mean? Were you trying to be poetic? Mysterious? Stupid?

You screamed into your pillow again. "Yours quietly" made you sound like some lovesick ghost haunting the back row of the classroom.

"Oh, my Archons! ( ᗒᗣᗕ )" you whimpered, kicking your legs harder.

"He's going to think I'm weird. Or a coward. Or both."

And yet the part Amber texted, the part where he smiled when he saw the letter, kept replaying in your mind like a scene from a dream you didn’t want to wake up from.

He smiled. Because of you.

Even if he didn’t know it yet.

"Big sis, stop screaming!" your little brother shouted from across the hall, voice muffled but clearly irritated.

You grabbed your pillow and screamed into it again anyway.

Dear Diluc, It’s strange how two years can pass by so quickly, and yet some feelings only grow stronger with time. I don’t know when I first started noticing you. Maybe it was the quiet way you carry yourself, or the way the sunlight always seems to catch in your hair when you’re walking down the hallway (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶ ) We’ve shared the same classroom, the same air, and for the most part, silence. But even in that silence, you’ve always made your presence known. I never had the courage to speak up, so I’m writing instead! This letter probably won’t change anything. But even if it ends here, I wanted you to know; you’ve been in my thoughts far more than you’ll ever realize. Yours quietly, ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

Red eyes lingered on the letter held delicately between his fingers. The paper was light, almost flimsy, and the cute sticker decorating the envelope stood out starkly against the otherwise rigid world he lived in.

It was a strange contrast. Out of place, yet not unwelcome.

The letter had arrived early in the morning, tucked neatly inside his locker along with a box of his favorite dark chocolates. It had no name. Just a simple envelope previously sealed with a sticker of a chubby bear holding a heart.

He didn’t open it right away. Not even when his former clubmates insisted he read it out loud to them.

It wasn't out of fear or anything, but something about it made him pause. Maybe it was the sincerity in the neat penmanship, the way it was carefully folded, or the fact that for once… it wasn’t loud or demanding. It asked nothing of him.

And that was rare.

Now long past midnight, his room was dim and quiet. His phoenix lamp flickered, casting dancing shadows on the high walls. His textbooks lay open, ink smudging beneath his palm as he tried, yet failed, to finish his notes.

His gaze kept drifting back to the opened letter. He kept wondering who had sent it.

It couldn’t be Donna. That was impossible. She was far too forward to do something like this. Besides, she’d made her feelings obvious through the countless letters she had given him in person.

This felt different. The other girls he’d received letters from had always been upfront, brazen even. They wanted him to notice. To see them.

But this? This felt like someone who didn’t need to be seen, just heard.

His thumb ran along the edge of the paper. There was something comforting about not knowing. About letting his mind wander, even just for a moment. He felt his lips twitch upward in a faint, almost unnoticeable smile.

It felt near, which was the strangest part. It was like someone who had always quietly lingered at the edges of his school days, waiting patiently and saying nothing.

A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. This caused him to straighten immediately, slipping the letter beneath a stack of books with ease.

"Come in," he called, his voice returning to its usual calm cadence.

The door creaked open as the head maid Adelinde entered with her usual precision, carrying a silver tray with a single glass of chilled grape juice.

"Your evening drink, Master Diluc," she said, placing it gently by his side.

He nodded in thanks, "Appreciated."

After she left, he exhaled. The room returned to silence. With the letter now hidden once more, he reached for his glass, but his thoughts didn’t return to his notes.

Especially not tonight.

They stayed with the letter and its mystery, as well as the person who sent it, whoever they were.

Week after week, Diluc found a box of dark chocolates and letters tucked into the corner of his locker. Most were easy to sort through. They contained grand declarations from bold admirers, dripping with perfume or sealed with glittery hearts. He easily skimmed past those.

But there was always one he lingered on.

It was always sealed with a cute teddy bear sticker. He found it odd yet endearing, for it was different from the others. It didn’t scream for attention, but it drew his eyes all the same.

Over time, he began to look forward to it. And it was the only one he ever read.

In secret, at the quiet corner of the library, he would unfold the letter with a strange tenderness, his heart already softening before he’d read a single word.

The contents were simple yet sincere. It was different from the flashy confessions he usually received. Some days, the mystery writer would ramble about how her lunch had turned out.

I tried to grill some ribs this morning but burnt the first batch. Still brought it to school though. I’ll get it right eventually! (｡•́︿•̀｡).

Other times, she'd recount the smallest moments in her day.

There was a black cat that followed me to school yesterday. It was so adorable! It had a white pom-pom on its red collar. I think it wanted my rice bun. I named it Lord Meowth!

There were tiny musings about music she liked, complaints about the difficult history test, observations about the weather, and confessions so subtly worded that he had to read them twice. Sometimes three times.

I think I like Mondays now. Weird, right? It’s probably because I see you more (,,>﹏<,,)

Despite the anonymity, each letter spilled a little more of her world. Of her. They weren’t love letters in the usual sense, but there was love in them; especially in the way she shared her thoughts, her musings, as though she trusted him with her unfiltered self.

Diluc found himself smiling more often after reading them.

They wormed their way into his heart before he even realized it. It wasn’t just curiosity anymore. No, it was something warmer, something that tugged at his thoughts throughout the day.

And now, he had to know who this person was.

Standing from his seat in the library, Diluc made his way back to the classroom, the love letter held delicately in his hand. His tall figure naturally stood out in the crowd, drawing shy glances from girls who whispered behind their notebooks or nudged their friends.

Sliding the classroom door open, he stepped inside. There were still three minutes before Ms. Furina would arrive, just enough time to settle back in.

His mind lingered on the thought that the mystery person who sent him those heartfelt letters are in the same classroom as his.

He placed the letter carefully on his desk, almost like it deserved its own space. As he pulled out his chair and sat down, his eyes flicked to his seatmate.

She looked... flustered.

As his red eyes darted to her desk, he noticed her fiddling nervously with the cap of her pen. Her cheeks were also tinged with a warmth that didn’t quite match the room temperature.

Diluc blinked, curiosity quietly blooming beneath his composed expression. Had she always looked this jumpy? Or was it just today?

His gaze lingered for a second longer than necessary.

Diluc's patience had been running thin.

Even at breakfast, Kaeya noticed it. The way Diluc pushed his food around more than he ate and how he glanced at the clock one too many times. Something was definitely off. He thought to himself if it had something to do with the love letter sealed with that teddy bear sticker that he's caught his brother reading too many times.

"You’re going to school early?" Kaeya asked, smirking behind his mug. His brother narrowed his eyes at him, almost as if he knew what he was already planning.

Diluc didn’t answer right away. He simply stood up, adjusting his uniform jacket with unusual precision.

He nodded with a hum, "Just felt like it."

But truthfully, he had a mission.

He opted out of being chauffeured, deciding instead to walk to school for once. He needed the quiet atmosphere and the clarity it brought to calm his nerves. And he had to be early. Early enough to finally catch whoever was leaving those letters. The ones sealed with that familiar teddy bear sticker that had carved a permanent place in his thoughts.

Once at school, he headed straight to the hallway where his locker was. He saw it was empty and silent at this hour. He found a corner near the end of the corridor, tucked just out of view, and waited.

He felt like a stalker, and he grimaced at the thought of that.

Not even five minutes later, someone appeared. A jittery figure rounded the corner, looking around with obvious nerves.

It was her.

His seatmate.

She clutched a folded letter and a small box. It was faintly wrapped and unmistakably familiar. There, his eyes saw it again: that same teddy bear sticker on the envelope. A slow smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Got you."

He watched as she bit her bottom lip, fidgeting as she carefully opened his locker. With trembling hands, she placed the letter and the chocolates inside. She placed it so gently as if she was setting down something fragile.

He realized Amber must’ve told her his favorite chocolates. They are close friends, after all.

She lingered for a second too long, pressing delicate fingers to his locker's door. "Oh, my Archons," she whispered to herself, barely audible. "I’m still nervous even after sending him so many letters—"

"You can just give that to me."

Her body jolted in shock as she squeaked, eyes snapping wide as she turned around, only to stumble right into him. He caught her before she could retreat, palm planting beside her head, pinning her lightly against his locker and preventing her from running away.

Her face was blazing red. And when he looked down, he felt the heat bloom on his own cheeks too.

"So it was you," he murmured, his voice low and warm.

The pieces finally clicked. The small, shy glances she threw at him the past few months, the way she froze that day when he placed one of the letters on his desk. It all made sense now.

You clutched your hands together tightly, eyes squeezed shut like you were praying to vanish.

"I-I’m sorry!" you stammered. "I know this is super weird and everything but I just really wanted to tell you how I’ve felt—!"

You opened your eyes and gasped.

He was closer now. Much closer.

His hand was still beside your head, and his eyes weren’t just calm. They were gentle, curious, and unreadable.

"Are we gonna kiss?" you whispered in a daze, the question escaping before you could stop it. You clapped a hand to your mouth in surprise, chastising yourself for even uttering that question.

He chuckled softly, eyes flickering down to your lips.

"Maybe."

One hand reached up, fingers brushing a strand of hair from your cheek, twirling it slowly between his fingers. You stared up at him with your face on fire, heart pounding in your ears.

And just as you both leaned forward and the world seemed to freeze between the two of you...

"Hey! What are you two doing!?" came a shrill voice echoing through the hallway.

You both flinched.

Ms. Furina stood at the end of the corridor with her gloved hands on her hips, expression somewhere between scandalized and theatrical horror.

Diluc stepped back quickly, clearing his throat into his fist. You glanced up at his flushed face before looking down at your feet, clutching your hands behind your back and wishing the ground would swallow you whole.

"Detention for the both of you!" she declared as if she'd just witnessed a full-blown soap opera.

[renshukaku]

Waaaa !!!! I luv it writing ♡⁠(⁠>⁠ ⁠ਊ⁠ ⁠<⁠)⁠♡ hope I continue doing aether stuff !!!!!1!1!

Thank you so much for liking it! I plan on writing more for Aether since he got me hooked on the game in the first place! (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ )

[renshukaku]

Friendly Adjustments

CHARACTERS ✦ Aether x Reader

SUMMARY ✦ One sunny day, Aether finally realizes his teapot furnitures are missing or either turning up on places he doesn't remember putting them at. Alert yet intrigued, he decides to investigate the mysterious entity messing with his humble abode. Unbeknownst to him, this enigmatic person that drives him insane may or may not be from beyond a screen.

AUTHOR'S NOTES ✦ The reader (you) is not controlling the character Aether in this story, since the Traveler moves around their teapot while you arrange shit around his home. Some things here just basically don't make sense.

CONTENT ✦ Semi–Self-Aware!AU

As the morning sun's bright rays shone upon the grassy lands of his humble abode, golden eyes peered open to take a look at his room's ceiling. Turning to his side, Aether was greeted with the sun harshly landing on his face. He squints from the contact, before backing himself to the wall to let his eyes rest.

A few seconds later, his tired eyes landed on his feather earring on top of the nightstand, reminding him yet again of another busy day to come. He sighed and got off the bed. He stretched his arms in the process, causing a flower vase to crash down the floor.

Aether winced at the sharp sound, his tired self now fully awake after hearing such a loud noise. He put a palm to his face to calm down, thinking of cleaning up the mess he made on such a bright day. Although he doesn't remember putting that teal vase on his nightstand, Aether decided that he'll deal with it later after eating breakfast. He had to get ready and fix himself first.

Putting a distance between him and the shattered vase, he leaves his room to get ready for an upcoming busy day. Before even leaving his own enclosed space, he can already hear the strings of Venti's lyre being tuned downstairs along with his constant sneezing. As he shut the door and walked along the mansion's carpeted hallways, he failed to notice a clinking sound that resounded throughout his now-empty room.

"You've gotta be kidding me," you muttered to yourself as you set your sights on a nightstand with no furnishing on top.

"Don't tell me it's another bug again," you grunted to yourself as you skimmed throughout your mansion for the umpteenth time this week. You remember putting a teal vase beside your Traveler's bedside table last night. When you logged in the next day, it was gone.

That's just one example of some furnishings going missing in your teapot. You remember placing a white cat beside Venti which suddenly disappeared, only to find the small ball of fluff outside the following day, cuddling a lonely Razor.

You've e-mailed HoYoverse on the matter, yet they replied with a vague statement and something about Ayaka's breakfast. These missing furnishings were not a big deal to you back then, but having to craft them every time they get missing is starting to annoy you now.

You've convinced yourself that this is just a bug, ignoring your deluded self that thought "Oh, maybe this is one of those self-aware AUs I've read on the Internet! Maybe the characters themselves are moving these small furnishings–!"

Ridiculous, you thought to yourself.

As you went back on your Traveler's bedroom, you angled the camera to get a bird's eye view, your eyes narrowing once again at the empty nightstand. "Well, someone didn't like that vase," you whispered out to your quiet room.

Putting another copy of the recently-lost vase on it's previous spot on the nightstand, you heard the familiar clinking sound when you clicked the save button. You sighed to yourself as you looked at your small achievement. One furnishing can make or break a single room in your teapot, yet your happy with placing such a seemingly-insignificant, small vase. You spent the rest of your time decorating your teapot, silently rejoicing that the load in your living room area was now cleared due to Sapphire disappearing from the mansion's main interior.

Teleporting outside your mansion, you now went ahead to decorating your mansion's exterior. Your eyes landed once again on Razor and the white cat you placed beside Venti last time. As you were examining Sapphire cuddled against Razor's leg, your eyes darted once again toward an adventurer camp you built using those pre-made furnishing sets the game gives to its players.

'Should I put Bennett there? Maybe I should.'

You put Bennett beside the green tent before clicking save and heading to bed after logging out.

Bennett just scratches his head after magically being teleported in a strange place with an oddly familiar tent, with his buddy Razor standing in the distance.

Another day commenced, and you were once again decorating your teapot. Unbeknownst to you, a certain Traveler is deadpanning at the sight before him.

This time, Aether just kept looking at the poor rock, praying to the Archons above to let the damn thing rest. If Paimon wasn't sleeping, they would've screamed on the top of their lungs to get this... thing to stop.

Ever since Madame Ping gave him the Serenitea Pot for their usage, Aether had been very excited to decorate his own humble abode. The thought of inviting his friends over and making his dream home come to life gave Aether the energy to adorn and refurbish his home with different kinds of furnishings.

Him, along with Paimon, decorated the teapot to their hearts' content. Satisfied with their hard work, they went to bed with smiles on their faces.

As he entered his room after conversing with Venti from the living room, the Traveler came face-to-face with a vase floating. Said vase found its spot on top of the bedside table right beside them. The sound of a click resonated in the air as a guarded expression came upon his face.

'Not this again–!'

"Aether, it's the ghost again–!" Paimon shrieks as trails of constellations and glitter fell before her, disappearing into the air.

'Oh, she woke up!' Aether voices in his mind.

In frustration, he storms off to the living room, another heavy click announcing itself to the mansion. He realized that he didn't even have a pen in his teapot. He grabs his head and shakes it. He stiffens up, scaring Venti in the process with a shriek. He robotically exits his teapot—only now realizing that the sky has turned to nighttime—to hastily steal a calligraphy set from the Kamisato Clan's fixer.

You later logged in your teapot to find the words "PLEASE STOP IT!" on a piece of paper, hastily written with blank ink. A small crying face doodle was also put on the corner of the paper, courtesy of a scared Paimon.

'What?! I never knew there was a new furnishing automatically added to my teapot! And did they seriously just put it here instead of giving it to my mailbox?'

HoYoverse's customer service is about to get it.

Actually, never mind. You don't mind free stuff. Maybe you should decorate the library this time.

"I can't do this anymore, Paimon," he blankly stares at a picture of him hanging out with his friends.

"A-Aether, hang on!" she sobs as she looks at a floating bookshelf quickly darting towards them. She shrieks, before it stopped right by the wall.

A click resounds in the air, and the Traveler's head slams into the table.

"Oho, what happened to Aether~?" Venti barges in like a little shit, before he too shrieks seeing a white ball of fluff suddenly appearing in the library.

[renshukaku]

WELCOME !

About this blog and my writing:

I only write for Genshin Impact! This includes the characters in the game's roster as well as NPCs. I have a Wattpad account where I plan to cross-post my stuff, so feel free to check it out. As of right now, I mostly write female reader inserts. I don't write NSFW. However, my ask box is always open and I'll be very happy to bring your ideas to life through my writing.

The link attached will take you to my masterlist!

MASTERLIST