#I do like the idea that his name was Venti. I find it both amusing and sad

[boilingrain]

I love this style of cutscene, it's very pretty

[luvyanfei]

how they comfort you when you’re sad

ft. diluc, kaeya, venti, childe, zhongli, albedo, & xiao non-requested piece 

diluc ragnvindr. 

as stoic as diluc may be, he’s the most emotionally affected by your misery out of the others listed here, but he’s clueless in how to help. he’s not adept in everything despite being known for being a perfectionist and unfortunately, comforting you is one of them. he would reach out a hand to you, and then pull it back to his side before you notice. it annoys him greatly how he can insult the knights without hesitation and combat against his enemies confidently, and yet...

it’s easy to get diluc flustered over the simpler things in life. you’re usually so happy and lively, the light to his dark that he finds it almost eerie to see you looking depressed as you enter the tavern. you don’t even spare him a glance, and slumps down at an empty seat, your head splayed down on the table. out of concern for your wellbeing, the winery owner whips up your favourite drink free of charge and delivers it himself to your spot. instead of leaving you as one would expect, he pulls up a chair and taps the wooden surface of the table with his gloved fingers, stirring you to look up at him. he greets you in a monotone voice unintentionally, and shyly asks if there are any problems going on in your life. he may not look like it, with how distant he is, but diluc would be very pleased to help you. 

with hesitation, you take the drink and start taking small sips from the cup. the savory taste melts on your tongue and your lips quiver slightly. before you know it, you’re reduced into a sobbing mess, your tears staining the floor. “what’s wrong?” dismayed, diluc rises up and pats your back, handing you a handkerchief from his jacket pocket for you to wipe your tears away with. 

he ushers you into a private room where nobody can see you and rubs your hands together. he doesn’t talk, instead fixating on calming you down. dabbing at your swollen eyes and cheeks gently with a drenched towel, diluc cradles your face and leans in close to you, your foreheads touching. “i’m here, [name],” his voice is soft and delicate, a sharp contrast to his formal and uninterested tone, “i will always be here for you, so you don’t need to worry about suffering alone. we’ll get through this together, alright?” 

kaeya alberich. 

he’ll take you to the tavern with him for a nice drink. it won’t do you any good to be by yourself and moping, right? as hypocritical as it may seem, kaeya is fully accepting of you coming to him for emotional support despite being rather closed-off when it comes to his personal emotions. if you’re underage, he’ll purchase you a soft drink or juice, and if not, a glass of wine will surely boost your spirits up. his attempt to cheer you up is to temporarily distract you from it. quite clever of him, no? of course, his objective isn’t for you to ignore your problems altogether, but to take your mind off of it until you can think a bit clearly. 

kaeya will act like a gentleman the whole time, letting a few teasing remarks slip out every now and then, but his attitude is toned down for the most part. after you consumed a plentiful amount of beverages, he takes a stroll with you in the night, passing by a bard stringing music on their lyre. this gives the cavalry captain an idea and he takes you into a secluded area, fireflies glowing to add a touch of whimsy to the scenario. still gripping your hand, he raises it up to kiss the surface and proposes you to join him in for a dance under the moonlight and stars. 

kaeya looks at you with a brimming grin. “are you feeling better now?” you nod, placing a hand on his open palm.

“now that you’re here, yes, i am.” his smile broadens and cups your cheek with his free hand. the tip of his thumb lightly grazes your bottom lip before he replaces it with his lips. the kiss is passionate and savory, a description that fits your relationship perfectly. 

“i’m glad you do,” he pulls back and breathes out a sigh of relief. “it’s the same with me. i admit, i also enjoy your company very much.” 

venti.

it’s best to let your emotions run loose. don’t bottle it up, okay? if you need to cry, then cry. sure, venti may act all carefree and exuberant, but even he has his serious sides from time to time. he takes the situation rather calmly, pulling you into a comforting embrace and rubbing your back as you tearfully sob. when he feels that you’re muscles have slowly relaxed and your cries have been reduced to tiny sniffles, he transitions out of the hug and places his hands on your shoulder, all with an angelic smile on his face. see, that wasn’t so bad, now was it?

if you’re up for it, venti will be happy to play you a quiet melody carried in the night breeze. he’ll position your head to lean on his shoulder as both of you sit down on the ground and he clears his throat before he begins singing. the stringing of the lyre, the gentle rustle of the leaves in the background, and the soothing sound of his voice automatically brings a smile to your lips. snuggling closer to him, you drift in a state of contentment and serenity. once the bard catches wind of your heavy breathing, your eyes fluttered closed, he stops his singing and presses a dainty kiss to your forehead. 

carefully, so he doesn’t disturb your slumber, venti carries you back to your resident and tucks you into bed. as he’s about to head off, you snag him by the wrist, and tug him back to your side. “please don’t go yet, venti.” he pats the hand imprisoning his wrist and chuckles in amusement. 

“don’t worry. i don’t plan on ever doing something like that.” he crawls into bed with you, tangling your legs together and hooking his arms around your waist. the tip of his nose grazes your hair faintly as your back is pressed against his chest. “not now, and not ever.” 

childe.

he’s the eleventh harbinger, yes, but beneath his fearsome title and mischievous demeanor, childe is a regular human with an affable heart. it hurts him seeing you look dejected, as if you’re on the brink of suffocating from insufferable pain. it’s like your emotions are a type of infection, contagious to say the least. if you’re happy, then he’s happy. if you’re sad, then you’ll bet he’s also going to drop his jovial gleam. luckily, growing up with siblings gives him an advantage here. he’s used to taking care of others and turning their frowns upside down. 

if he finds out someone has been upsetting you, he’ll personally deal with them himself, ordering them to apologize lest they want to face his wrath. if you’re having financial difficulties, he’ll lend you a generous amount of mora so you can clear your debts or help you find a well-paying job. either way, he’ll cradle you in his arms and compliment you for being strong, no matter what life throws at you. life’s hard, but that’s all the more reason why you should keep marching forward - hand in hand with childe.   

“shh, [name], it’s okay. don’t cry.” childe kneels before you and wipes away a salty tear. grabbing a teddy bear abandoned on the ground, he shoves it in front of your face. to your sudden bewilderment, he grabs the bear’s arm to pat you on the head and grins. “there, there. mr. teddy is here to make you happy once more.” 

you sputter out a giggle despite tears still leaking from your eyes. “childe, i’m not a little kid anymore. cut it out!” he resists the urge to pinch your cheeks when you pout cutely at him. 

“fine, fine. i’ll stop, but hey! at least you’re smiling again, right?” you roll your eyes and sniff. 

“yeah, i’m feeling a little better. thank you.”  

your comment forms a blush to dust his cheeks and he sheepishly scratches the back of his head. “there’s no need for gratitude. to me, your smile is the one thing i’d hate to lose.” 

zhongli.

feeling sad? his arms are already wide open and a box of tissues is conveniently laid on the table. zhongli is the wave that laps up your sorrows and tears, the lulling sound of his voice uttering words of reassurance like a tranquil melody to set your heart at ease. he’s the type who will lend a shoulder for you to cry on. while he brews up a nice cup of tea to soothe your mind, he encourages you gently to tell him whatever it is that’s bothering you. he soaks up every syllable that falls from your lips like a sponge and in a pensive state, he gives you advice in turn. 

you take his words to heart, since everything he’s said before have always been genuine and your trust in him runs deeper than the bottom of the sea. sure, maybe not everything he says is the answer that will cause your problems disappear, but he does guide you to choose rationally how you want to approach it. as much as zhongli would like to solve everything for you, he’s aware that there are times where only you have the potential to fix the issue. 

the golden ginkgo leaves twirl in the autumn breeze, as zhongli clasps his hands with yours. you adjust the scarf around your neck, shivering from the mild chill settling in liyue. 

you stare grimly at the seagulls soaring in the cloudy sky, and peers down at your feet planted firmly on the ground. a frown tugs on your lips and you sigh. a warm hand caresses your cheek and you look towards zhongli smiling gently in your direction. wiping away the tears that are beginning to moist your eyes, he encages you in a comforting hug. 

“don’t hold it in,” zhongli whispers soothingly in your ear, “you’re allowed to cry if you want. i promise you, there’s no judgement.” 

albedo.

it’s like he has a sixth sense. you could have been crying in your sleep last night and the first thing you wake up to is all your favourite meals placed rigorously on a sliver tray and a positive message with cursive, neat handwriting scribbled on a notepad for you to read. albedo is rather considerate, like that. before you started to live together and entered a more domestic relationship, he visited your home and asked if anything was wrong in a neutral tone that belied his concern. you were shocked how he could have possibly known since you were sure you concealed the visible evidences skillfully with makeup, and you looked quite normal for the most part, as if you hadn’t been crying mere seconds before he knocked on your door. 

he shrugs indifferently and responds that he just has a feeling something’s bothering you. albedo will take a day off from his confinement in his lab so he can stay with you. he takes you by the hand and gestures for you to sit down on a nearby chair beside him, offering you delectable appetites to eat while you rant to him. once you’re finished spilling out your problems, he kisses you on the forehead and tells you that you did a good job. it isn’t easy to admit you’re not mentally well, in which he praises you for. 

hugging your legs to your chest, you quietly ask him if it’s not a bother. firmly, albedo shakes his head and squeezes your hand reassuringly. “no, you’re never a bother.” he scoops up a spoonful of ice cream and feeds you the cool dessert. once you swallow, his lips curve into a little smirk as he wipes away the excess on the side of your mouth with a finger and licks the cream off with his tongue. 

“whether you’re happy, sad, or disappointed, my love for you will never change.” 

xiao.

he’s not very good at handling these types of situations. xiao can never know what he’s supposed to say or do to make you feel better, so he just stands there awkwardly. please don’t blame him! he’s already terrible at consoling himself that having to cheer someone else up seems more like an impossible challenge than a simple task. however, like albedo, he can also sense if you’re depressed or in need of saving. what do you mortals call it, an instinct? 

he asks verr for advice on what to do to help, and she suggests for him to stick by your side and show that he cares deeply about you. it takes xiao a while to come up with a suitable plan. he wanders up to the highest floor of wangshu inn and reminisces over the past. your first meeting with him, the time when you gave him almond tofu, and when you both fought together to protect liyue - he’s memorized it all down to the last detail. suddenly, an idea clicks into place and he teleports immediately to where you are. sitting on a bench alone, while you absentmindedly watch the birds peck at the crumbs scattered on the cement floor, it takes you by surprise when you find xiao hovering above you. he reaches out his hand and composedly asks if you would be willing to accompany him for the night. 

when you encounter him at the location where you agreed to meet, you curiously question xiao what he wants to do, but he doesn’t reply. instead, he scoops you up in his arms, a surprised expression on your face as you wrap your arms around his neck so you don’t end up falling. before you know it, both of you are... soaring in the air? your eyes subconsciously drift to his vision glowing brightly in the murky night. so he’s using his anemo abilities to create wind currents and literally sweep you off your feet. 

“do you see this place?” he gestures with his head for you to look at liyue harbor. the city lights glow in the darkness and most people are walking back home, idly chatting with each other and giggling. “it wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is now if it weren’t for you. so if you ever feel sad again, know that it’s you who puts a smile on everyone’s faces - including mine.” 

and with that, xiao smiles serenely at you, to which you finally offer a grin of your own. 

[chamomileteahouse]

Old Friends — Dendro Archon! reader and Venti

Pairing: Venti (Barbatos) x gn!reader

Summary: It has been years since you've seen the other archons, and you find yourself wondering about a specific one.

Warnings: mentions of alcohol, so far mainly fluff

Notes: Reader is refered to Kusanali since they are the dendro archon, don't worry though, you'll still be called as your name.

It has been years, and the era of the gods is coming to a close. You could feel it in nature, and the wind that sings a melancholic song for the archons. Time has changed. The people of Tevyat no longer need the guidance of any mortal no more, and neither did the citizens of your country of knowledge and wisdom. You knew they would finally be fine on their own. So you step out of your country after hundreds of years in service of your land—Sumeru—you decided to venture to the rest of Tevyat.

You had no destination in mind, convincing yourself that wherever your feet take you is where you shall go. So you start walking and traveling with the wind, planting small flowers in your walk when a breeze of wind blows past you, a familiar feeling of mirth creeping on your skin—the nostalgic sensation that reminds you of a certain bard who played the lyre. And just then, you found a set destination.

You could see a huge tree in the distance. You have arrived. Your eyes recognize a bard playing the lyre in the distance, you don’t take a step closer though.

The moonlight shines on Monstadt, the sparkling heavens giving the land of Tevyat a small taste of the wonders of Celestia. The bard’s back leaned against a statue of himself, his fingers dancing on his lyre, playing music to the midnight winds. His black hair flies in the breeze, the curls dancing around his head. He is not alone tonight. He may be the weakest of the archons but his senses still do not fail him.

“Kusanali, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He smiles as he still continues playing his lyre. The bard’s eyes turned towards the darkness of the night. “I would offer you a seat, but I am afraid you would have to sit on the ground with me.”  He laughed and continues to strum the sweet melody.

“Barbatos,” His name leaving a sweet aftertaste, like honey. “How have you been, old friend?”

An old friend indeed. It has been far too long since the both of you had a proper chat or well, a proper drink.

It was a small secret, a guilty pleasure at most, but yes, you—the dendro archon—could handle your liquor pretty well. So you found yourself and your companion drunk in a tavern in Monstadt. Bottles of Dandelion wine decorate the table like trophies.

You have learned about the archon’s new identity, naming himself “Venti” and so you shared your own name with him too.

“And Dvalin went woosh! Pushing us away from him just by the flapping of his wings. It was a glorious sight I could even make a song about it—” Venti pauses in his storytelling, realizing his companion was staring in awe at him, they were clearly drunk. He giggled a little, surprised that the dendro archon was drunk out of their mind before he was, “[Name]?”

You hum, your half-lidded eyes closing when you drunkenly smiled at him. “I have a secret to tell you,” You slurred, “But you must pinky promise not to tell anyone, okay? Especially not my friend Barbatos.”

“Are you drunk? I am your friend—” His words fade away as a playful mile replaces his confusion, Venti nods, agreeing to your secret and intertwining his pinky with yours.

You take a deep breath, your hand on your chin and a small smile on your lips, “You know how I left Sumeru? In truth, I have no idea where I was going, and then suddenly I was like—wait. Barbatos.” You snapped your fingers like you just thought of the most genius idea in the whole of Tevyat.

You chuckle again, “And, and… You know, my friend Barbatos? I’ve known him for years, I saw him playing the lyre and I swear my heart skipped a beat! Isn’t it strange?”

Venti watched you slap your hand on your chest when you emphasized your heart skipping a beat. He was amused watching you succumb to the liquid truth of the Dandelion wine, you were truly out of your mind. “And? What else about this friend of yours?” He asks you.

You paused, quiet. Finding the right words to say. Your mouth opens and closes, your companion notices this.  Your head was not looking at the bard who was staring at you, instead, it focused on your half-full glass of dandelion wine, “I guess… I wished he wasn’t just a friend.”

Small lilacs grow on your skin, the purple flowers adorning themselves on your cheeks. Your eyes widen when you realize the blooms on your skin and began picking them off as quickly as possible, mumbling curses in languages Venti had no understanding of. 

When you'd finished removing the last lilac, your gaze was drawn to Venti's. Flowers began to litter your body once more, pink Alstroemerias paired with the tinted pink of your cheeks, the flowers grew, and you began to sober up.

“You wish your friend was more than just a friend?” He asks, eyes wandering around your face, he smiles in a teasing way. “What if he felt the same way?”

Your cheeks blush just like roses, you take a deep breath, “I think he does.” You say, your eyes looking at him.

“He does.”

[helen-high-water]

So.... Tumblr decided to delete that Xiaoven fanfic I wrote,so I'm gonna repost it, hopefully it won't be eaten by the abyss now I'd like to know what you guys think.

Title: a delightful breeze.

The night was quiet, the sky dotted with stars twinkling in a beautiful dance against a black canvas.The silver light of the moon reflected off the waters of Dihua march,and the residents of the wangshu inn all were asleep, except for one particularly peculiar yaksha.

Xiao sat at his usual spot, looking deep in thought, his golden eyes on the night sky,searching for answers.He let out an exasperated sigh,head down from frustration.

A small breeze passed by him,as if brushing his hair comfortingly,and with it came a dark haired bard,white feathery wings on his back,like an angel.Floating right infront of him,the bard smiled cheekily,Xiao returned the smile but his was less cheeky,and more tired.

"Venti,What brings you here?" Asked Xiao.

"Oh just passing by, thought I'd drop by the most beautiful person I know" Replied Venti, grinning in mid-air.

"Still ever the charmer,huh?" Chuckled Xiao.

"Of course!I'd be a terrible bard if I lacked charm!"

Xiao fell into silence,while Venti raised an eyebrow and asked "Is something bothering you?"

"W-what?no ,no I'm fine" Xiao said , unfortunately for him he wasn't the best at hiding his emotions, especially around Venti.

"Darling, it's very clear that something's bothering you, it's written all over your face" Venti frowned slightly, getting closer and closer to him.

Xiao backed away,"it's nothing worth mentioning" he didn't face Venti to try and hide his expression.

"Xiao..." Venti scolded, frowning even more and putting his hands on his hips like a disappointed mother.

He dropped down to the balcony, folding his wings, and approached Xiao,who was still looking away,Venti grabbed his hands,and whispered softly"I know talking about how you feel is hard for you,but it's better than keeping it bottled up,you know?"

They stood there for a bit,he sighed,and thinking to himself he came up with an idea.

"Aha!I know what to do!" He exclaimed, prompting Xiao to look at him with a questioning stare.

He snapped his fingers and a gust of wind carried both of them off the balcony,now in the sky ,Venti's cheeky smile returned,his white wings opened again,with stray feathers here and there, his hand still held Xiao's.

"What are you doing?"Xiao asked , trying to balance himself somehow.

"A change of scenery might help you feel better!" Venti answered ,but Xiao was not as amused as he was.

"Is this truly necessary?" He complained, although he didn't entirely mind the experience,"Yes!" Venti shouted back.

And so Xiao was reluctantly dragged into wherever Venti was taking him,after a while he was starting to get antsy,and by the time they crossed the borders of Liyue his patience was starting to run out.

"How long are we going to be flying?" Xiao nagged ,"a bit longer my dear,but this is fun, don't you think?" Smiled Venti.

"Barbatos" He grumbled,the only time he called Venti by that name was when he was angry.

"Okay okay , I'm going down,we've reached our destination anyway" Venti gave an apologetic smile and slowly lowered them,once his feet touched the ground,Xiao looked around him to find himself in windrise,by the enormous tree of monstadt.

The tree looked as beautiful under the moonlight as it did under the rays of the sun,the shadows of the trees,shrubs and bushes danced as they were moved by the refreshing wind circling the area.

Venti ran to the tree and flew up one of it's huge branches, looking back at Xiao "catch me if you can!" smirking,he jumped from one branch to another going up.

Xiao sighed and started following him,it wasn't hard at all,he could easily catch up to Venti,and he did, grabbing Venti mid-air bridal style.

"Oh my,who might this handsome fellow be?" Venti teased,Xiao's eyes were about to fall out of his eye sockets from how hard he rolled them.

"I'm going to drop you"He threatened jokingly, trying to cover the smile that was forming around his mouth,but failing miserably, honestly if someone had seen the face that he was making,they would've thought he was having a bowl movement, Luckily Venti has gotten used to the wierd faces.

"How cruel!" Said Venti, dramatically putting a hand over his chest,"the betrayal!how can I live with this!"

Xiao promptly dropped the bard,he fell into the top of the tree on a bed of leaves,which does sound very uncomfortable,but it was much more cozy than expected.

"Hey! that was uncalled for!"he protested, wiping off the leaves that covered his face.

"Was it?" Xiao laughed, picking the rest of the leaves that were stuck in Venti's hair,one two three four and much more,how did he even manage to gather that many in his hair?

"Well,Maybe not but still!"

The two of them finally settled down,Venti draped his wings, flapping them to get rid of whatever leaves stuck to them,he crossed his legs and leaned back,while Xiao hugged his and rested his chin on his knees.

The green hills,the rustling of leaves ,the shimmering light of the moon,the crystal flies slowly moving from one place to another, leaving a trail of shiny particles were all very inviting.

Xiao took a deep breath,the air was clear and soothing,like a pleasant song,it seemed as though every problem and every bit of worry simply vanished,even for a moment,but they still came back, haunting, stinging needles,Xiao buried his face between his arms.

"Why did you bring me here?" He wondered, breaking the silence.

"This is my favorite place,I come here whenever I feel down,so I thought I'd bring you here!"Venti answered enthusiastically.

" it's certainly very calming"

"I know, right?"

Xiao went silent yet again,but this time Venti felt that he was about to add more,he stared at Xiao expectantly.

Xiao took a deep breath,and finally said"I guess you're right, avoiding the problem does no good"

"Do you want to talk about it then?"

"I suppose so,yes" added Xiao"It's.....about lord Rex lapis"

"Ugh,what did that block head do?"

"He....didn't do anything"

"Huh?" Venti replied ,brow twisted in confusion.

"Do you know about what happened at the rite of decension?"he inquired .

"Yeah" Venti answered,the traveler had told him some of what transpired in their time in Liyue ,so he had an idea of the events that occurred,even if they didn't,he had asked Zhongli at that point.

"It has to do with that" Xiao added ,voice slightly brittle,"After what happened ,I....I started to think"

"About what?"

"About why lord rex lapis would feel the need to test us like that"

"I understand why he would do it,but part of me feels as Though I wasn't good enough,I wasn't worthy of his trust"he blurted out.

"And I know that thinking this way is a stupid thing to do,I know that" he was frustrated.

‌

"this doesn't stop the voice in my head telling me that if I was better at my duties,then maybe lord rex lapis wouldn't have felt the need to test us,to test me-" he stopped, burying his face in his arms"maybe he wouldn't have left....."

"And that makes me feel worthless,like all I did was for nothing" he added.

Silence seemed to sneak it's way into their little dates every now and then, usually it was a comforting silence,neither felt the need to be constantly talking,but this silence was suffocating for Xiao,face still covered by his arms ,he didn't move, simply waited for whatever Venti was about to say.Xiao heard the sound of a few leaves shuffling,when he looked up Venti had moved near him.

"what you do is important"Venti finally spoke"everyday you make sure the people of Liyue are safe, you're not worthless."He held Xiao's hand.

Xiao seemed somewhat relieved, although there was still something bothering him,Venti caught on to this.

"Do you miss him?" Venti probed.

"Yeah....." He whispered,face turning slightly red from embarrassment.

"Awww darling , don't be embarrassed, it's okay to miss your dad!"whether he was serious or just teasing Xiao remained to be seen.

"He's not my father!" Xiao exclaimed,now red as a tomato,he hid his face in his arms again.

"You know,you could always just visit him"suggested Venti,it seemed he wasn't jesting this time"you know where he is, don't you?"

"I.... don't want to disrespect his wish,he wanted to live as a human"

"Yeah,but that doesn't mean you have to stop talking to him"

"Doesn't it?" Xiao lifted his face, looking into the distance"he's a "human" now,and I'm an Adeptus"

"Think of it this way,You don't have to go as the vigilante yaksha, protector of Liyue ,slayer of demons yada yada" Venti flailed his arms around"you could go as just Xiao"

"Just Xiao....?" He didn't understand what Venti meant,what else was there to him? isn't that what he is?that was his duty,what else is there?

" there is much more to you than that" Venti smiled,this smile wasn't cheeky or sassy or sarcastic,it was a genuine smile,it made Xiao blush ,and he was just getting over being embarrassed.

"Xiao likes almond tofu,he thinks crystal flies are pretty,he likes snow" Venti listed,Xiao on the other hand was getting more and more confused,"he doesn't like meat rolls,he doesn't like crowds of people"

"Xiao is diligent,Xiao is caring,Xiao isn't alone,Xiao is loved,Xiao is-" Venti stopped mid-sentence ,he clasped Xiao's face in his hands and added"Xiao is amazing,and if he doesn't realize that, I'm gonna write a hundred songs to show how wonderful he is!"

The adeptus laughed"please don't do that,I can only handle so much of your singing" he didn't mind Venti singing,in fact he very much enjoyed it,but considering the bard's tendencies,he had to stop him otherwise Venti might have gone through with that.

"W-what if he doesn't want to see me-"

"What if he does?"Venti interjected"You shouldn't make that choice for him"

"If he doesn't,which is very unlikely by the way, it's not going to be the end of the world"the so called tone deaf bard added.

"You'll still have the traveler,the other adepti,and you'll still have me"

Xiao had an epiphany at that moment,it seemed as though his thoughts became clearer,like the fog was lifted.

"So?" Venti asked"what are you going to do now?"

"I guess a visit wouldn't hurt..." Xiao whispered.

The corners of his mouth slowly twisted, revealing an award winning smile,at least according to Venti,the adeptus rarely ever smiled ,but when he genuinely did,it was one of the most beautiful sight the bard had ever seen.

Xiao leaned closer to Venti , planting a kiss on his forehead,the bard was caught so off guard that his wings shot open,his cheeks were painted with a pink hue ,and he had the goofiest smile on his face,the adeptus leaned back and said "Thank you".

"That was a direct attack!" Venti replied"you know what that means!" He promptly tackled Xiao, sending both of them into the leaves, giggling like the idiots they are.

After the laughing died down,Venti set his eyes to Xiao's,and they were locked in a staring contest, although thier eyes were full of nothing but love,"You're welcome" Venti whispered, caressing Xiao's cheek,Xiao returned the gesture by holding his hand.

In that moment, nothing mattered,they were together,they were happy.

Epilogue:

The sun was slowly starting to set,the sky was painted a beautifully golden hue,and thus the end of another day for the wangsheng funeral parlor's consultant was marked.

Zhongli was organizing some random books, putting them on the shelf,when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Greetings,how may I help you?" He said, not looking back,he didn't need to,he already knew who it was.

Xiao looked so out of place,he was nervous,he rubbed his neck"I-Im just passing by,I can come another time if you're busy-"

"That won't be necessary, I'm already done with my duties ,so I'm currently free" Zhongli finally turned to face him"would you like some tea then?it won't take long to brew"

"S-sure-" Xiao stuttered, Zhongli slowly approached Xiao,the latter averted his gaze out of embarrassment,once Zhongli was close enough,he extended his hand and patted Xiao's head, smiling"I'm glad you decided to visit" he beamed.

"M-me too" although his eyes were on the ground,Xiao was quite relieved.

Once the tea was made ,the two sat down and talked for hours.

The end.

[shivada-jade]

how to be romantic

characters: zhongli, childe (the wingman) ➡ mentions: xiao, venti, hu tao warning(s): n/a unless you havent gone to liyue. why havent you gone to liyue? FINISH THE MONDSTADT QUEST AND GO TO LIYUE.

Zhongli's everyone's ideal man.

Intelligent, amusing, respectful, and extremely good looking.

Zhongli knows many things including Liyue's history and, well... Teyvat's history.

Though, romance is not something he touched base with over the time he spent in Teyvat. He was, after all, a war leader. He was a fighter, not a lover, but over time when he settles down at the harbour, he found you.

Being romantic is for losers, as a certain bard would tell him long ago, chugging two gallons of wine. Pretty ironic how his city turned to be a city of romance as much as it is freedom.

You were someone who did not make him feel like someone to be worshipped as he was once worshipped. You did not make him feel belittled or someone of unimportance. You made him feel whole, and for that he is forever thankful.

He tends to ramble about ancient history, but you assure him you find it as interesting as he does. You would usually tease him saying you might know more than him until you thought you saw a certain Yaksha near by. The certain Yaksha threatened you with the tip of his polearm when he fits you as any threat to Zhongli, whether physically or mentally. Ahah, but it's okay you're both buddy-buddy now. You make the best almond tofu.

Zhongli will forever be yours, he promises you. Through thick or thin or through any rainy day, he promises he will be forever yours. You bro-zone him.

As he sits on the chair drinking his tea, his eyes wander from person to person, noting how many of them were in pairs: pair of siblings, a pair of friends, a pair of lovers, a pair of enemies. Everything is in a pair.

A pair of blue eyes interrupt his thought. Zhongli sets his teacup down and nods to Childe in acknowledgement.

"How do you do, Childe?"

Childe grins and puts his hands behind his head, taking a seat in front of Zhongli. "Oh nothing much. Juuust checking in to see how my favourite grandpa is. How are you? How's the spouse and three kids, living near the beach with their pet hamster? Ayo shawty bae, make sure you-"

Zhongli indeed knows a lot of things, but Childe's way of talking might just be something he may never understand.

"Childe, let us get to the point."

"Right, so! As your awesome wingman who got you the love of your life and even matchmade with countless of other people, I, Childe, the lovable Fatui Harbinger, the hottest person here, the best ginger there is-"

"The point, please," Zhongli says, offering to pour tea for his friend.

Childe refuses with a polite smile, "I have come with thee with a way to spice up your love life!"

Zhongli pauses and then lifts the cup up, sipping the tea, humming to show he heard.

Blue eyes dull and Childe whines, "Come on! I went through so much trouble in making a step-by-step guide on how to be romantic." His arms droop to his side.

The former Archon lifts a brow and places his tea down again, "Amuse me."

"Great!" Childe high-fives himself under the table. His right hand fishes for something hidden in his left sleeve and pulls it out. It was a long scroll of messy writing.

"Ahahah!" He slaps the scroll on the paper. The title read, 60 Impressive Ways to Be Romantic. "Mr Zhongli, you will not regret following these simple steps! You're already the man, but now you'll be... the better man! It works 100%"

"Preposterous," Zhongli chuckles. "I don't think I need this to win over [Name's] heart."

"Dude, [Name] bro-zoned you yesterday."

The wind brings the sound of laughter to Zhongli's ears, as if mocking him. Sometimes, he really wanted to punch the wind.

...

Tartaglia's way of showing romance seems to cost a fortune. Zhongli knows at this point this is one of Tartaglia's entertainment, because halfway through the scroll it scribbled, "AFFORDABLE ways to be romantic :)"

...

You come home to rose petals littering your doorstep and silk flowers perching on your window. A little neat note is clipped in between the door and the door frame.

After working, all you wanted to do is sleep, so that is what you did. You were too tired to notice the change and left the letter falling on the floor.

Mission failed!

Childe pats Zhongli's pat like he was a rejected kid on the playground.

"So what? Maybe step number 38 just wasn't it. Let's skip to step 69."

"There's only 60 steps, though," Zhongli quickly points out.

"Oh.. just change the number 60 to 69. It'll be like 57, 58, 59, 69 and done!"

...

Step 45: Take them out on a nerd date.

Zhongli has already told you so much about his knowledge, he doesn't think there's much to do.

Step 48: Explore the unknown!

You almost fell in a ravine when you and Zhongli went out for a simple walk. No way was he going to let that happen again.

Step 52: How are you all the way here? Make their favourite dish!"

Hu Tao sabotaged a dish once and Zhongli proceeded to think he's a horrible chef.

Step 54: I'm out of ideas. Just don't be a wimp and place an arm over their shoulder while you're against a wall or something. What's the word.. kabedon?"

Zhongli notes the Inazuman term and sweat drops. Maybe Zhongli is a wimp. No he isn't, but he wouldn't know if you would be comfortable with that. He would like to make sure you feel safe around him before doing such things.

Step 60: You made it here, so I'm assuming nothing from the other steps worked. Just ask them out and be direct. If you're rejected then I'm here!

"Well? Why do you like them to begin with?" Childe questions Zhongli one day with a palm resting under his chin.

Golden eyes soften when describing details that make you one of a kind as Childe takes out a quill, ink and a paper.

The next day, Childe ushers Zhongli to meet you. He shoves Zhongli to your house and quietly waits in a bush, listening to what's going to happen.

Zhongli waits outside your doorstep, knocking. He does not have much with him, just a single glazed lily in one hand.

He waits a few moments and you open the door.

"Hi there, Zhongli!"

Zhongli lights up when he sees your bright aura.

"Hello-"

"You're late."

That went downhill really fast, but Zhongli is a man of patience. "I beg your pardon?..." he trails off, wondering what he was late for.

"The letter, the flowers, the little lunches you packed for me these days?" You explain, heaving a basket from inside and showing Zhongli the little collection of gifts he gave you. He thought random people got his gifts instead of you because it would always be gone by the next day without ever seeing you take it.

Zhongli clears his throat, honestly flustered that you took care of his gifts with great care, even placing it in a delicate basket. By delicate, the fanciest looking basket out there.

He reaches for your hand, gently placing a Glazed Lily. "What am I late for?"

You walk back inside, carefully placing the Glazed Lily in a vase and come outside with a blue letter. You curiously ask, "Did you not send this letter?"

Zhongli looks at the letter with a smile gracing his face. In your hand is a blue letter with a small whale stamp in the corner.

To my dearest,

I do not wish to keep my feelings for you caged in. I'm not one to forget many things, but when I am with you, I seem to forget all the pain this world has caused me.

At times I feel unreachable or unapproachable to many people. At times I feel I may never fit in this new life in Liyue I chose, but when you show me the thousands of reasons why I need to stay, I stay for you. I realize when I am not with you, Liyue is dull. When I am not with you, I am cold, but when I am with you, I am full of warmth and happiness.

Your eyes that tell me more stories than I can imagine are stunning. The smile that comes with it tops it all off. Your awful jokes and horrible sense of humour make me at peace, showing me there is a little humour in everything.

I wish I can go on and list more, but my ink is running short.

I simply adore you, my dear.

I can only hope you feel the same for me. My gifts for you are material, but my love for you will be eternal.

Would you be able to free yourself to spend the day with me tomorrow by noon?

Yours,

Zhongli

note: JHDSJNDSDNALNDAHJHDNMDSNMAMNDNMF,,C,MVMNXCVNVCNMCVXNMCVXNMCNMM,JDFSLDFNMSKDAFJJFDKREY3RKNLFDFSNMDDAJLNLAALKADPODMKLCXBEGHRGHGNML

you read it this far EHHDAHDHJ HOW

(childe's pov)

[yostresswritinggirl]

I like Venti so much. Best boy.

How would Venti feel about an S/O with synesthasia. The ability to hear color. One day she goes to him performing on the street with a sketchpap and shows him what he sounds like.

My, my, look who it is. The person who started it all, and ending it. It's amusing how this came full circle and of course you bring me such an interesting yet difficult prompt *balls fist, shakes at sky*

I had a lot of time to think about this and I feel it was still so hard to make. And there's so many variants and uniqueness to each case so this will be a wild ride. But this marks the end of this special event and on to a new one, and I thank you especially for being with me through it!

This fic made me realize I need a better Venti banner lololol

Ethereal Hues

Venti with a Reader with Synesthesia (Specifically, the ability to see sounds)

The wind-borne bard fancies audiences that sings along, that joins him in his merry tunes. He knows faces, distinguishes them, reads their responses. If it was unorthodox tales he sang, he would laugh at the predicted angry churns. If it were awesome tales of adventures, Venti would bask in the glory of awe and cheers.

And so he finds you to be the most peculiar individual he has ever audienced. You stand in the back far away from the crowd as you carry with you a notebook. Based on the way you steal glances to him whenever he performs out in public and the way your hands moved, you were definitely sketching him, yet you paid no such expression for his songs the same way the others did. And he was sure you were no deaf individual.

He had been intrigued since day one, and he had been so even at the third. When he wishes to come to you, he would always find you packing up immediately after his performances, and he would be swept aside by the task at hand: getting his share of Mora for a fantastic performance.

You were only there for his music, and your interest seem to disappear the moment the music is lost.

So slowly he would adjust his schedule, making it so his songs linger longer, his notes stretching out more just to keep you there in his vision for longer. And yet whenever he privies himself to have caught your attention, it seems as tho you were not really interested at him: even if the distance between you were great, he knows you were looking through him.

This game of cat and mouse had stretched out to seven days.

You managed to attend every tale the bard tells within the walls of Mondstadt but never have you stepped foot inside the tavern of Angel’s Share when he would perform late at night. With this discovery, he doesn’t bother to try lure you out from there, opting to skip performing in the tavern.

Much to Diluc’s surprise. It had gone so that the bartender himself asked if things were not looking great for the bard, but he was met by a smug and conniving smile, that he was quick to smack the shit out of and never bother about again.

Every time the bard wishes to approach you after the last string of his lyre is plucked, he was blocked by the crowd or pulled by a child, enough to render him unmoving, enough of a timeframe for you to disappear. You would think it was you purposely evading the bard’s advances but the way you move and act doesn’t seem like you were running away or in a hurry, more so, you look more disappointed that the festivities had to end every time.

A week of disappointments had led Venti to play his sorrows to his lyre under the tree at Windrise. It was a tune that no one in the public eye has seen him play and he was content in indulging on his own misery.

“Eyes from the fountain bench, of a longing stare had whence.

Slip between thy grasp, even as I call out through a rasp.”

“Ah, a different one this time,” he’d almost fallen out of the branch he was hanging by when a voice suddenly spoke out from beneath the tree’s shade. And there you are in all your glory, an amused expression in your face as you watch the Anemo wielder catch himself before gracefully flying down in front of you in disbelief. “Hello.”

“Hi!” He squeaked out before clearing his throat, adjusting his posture to reflect his usual composed facade with that wide grin.

“The colors brought me here, but I didn’t expect you to be the one producing them.” He watched you fumble with the familiar sketchbook in your hand, his muse in his curiousities right in front of him nonchalantly, as if fate had not been trying its best to separate them for the past week. "With the collection complete, I can finally show you the whole thing!" You practically shoved the pad to his face, forcing him to step back.

And there he saw the most ethereal painting he had seen of himself. His lone form in front of the statue where he usually plays, there in his company were streaks of light blue, reminiscent of Barbara's elemental skill. He clutches the pad for a better look as he notices more blots of complementary colors littered in ecstatic manners. Below, the words 'glee' was written in dark cursive.

Next page had warmer colors, that wrapped around him like silk and satin which would then plunge to the floor like cold white mist. This one was labelled 'Comfort.'

There were four more illustrations that depict numerous vibes of his tunes whenever he had performed, and paired with it comes different colors and patterns. Each one was more detailed than the last and with new vigor he was more than eager to see the next ones—

And then the last one was the latest, where he was once singing his odes and woes from the tree's branches. Yet this one holds a different gesture to it and he sucks in the details with a faraway gaze. Black, gray and navy blue hang like curtain as it seemingly seeps from his flesh, tangling into a weightless form before diverging into a single string of black that casts itself past the borders of the paper. It was like shadows that desperately cling to its owner, ones sadness and desperation taking form into a monster that seeks a vessel.

He looks up to you with eyes once again shining at the brilliance of the illustrations- before he clutched the pad to his chest, a toothy grin and a dangerous glint in his teal eyes, "I'm keeping this~"

To hell with that.

First he takes your sketchpad and rifts through it like there's no tomorrow, and then he lays claim on it?! The audacity of this bard!

With the only arsenal that you had, you started throwing brushes and acrylics at the floating bard until he had to crash land from getting caught by his extravagant cape. What an oversight.

That day, you'd finally sit down with the famous bard and properly got to introduce each other. While you're ecstatic to chat with the person you'd long admired from afar, Venti was more ecstatic at the idea of you and your marvelous power. It's similar to elemental sight, he imagines, and he pried with more inquiries than you had anticipated.

You thought he'd be weirded out by both your colorful sense or the fact that you had stalked him for a week to immortalize his ethereal glow in the shadows.

Yet he was so open-minded about it, wanting to accompany you more on your endeavors and jokingly using you as his marketing manager for more Mora opportunities. You find the idea not so bad.

At one point in time without your knowledge nor acknowledgement, Venti (ever so curious boy) changed his form from his bard friend to copy yours, trying to see if he were able to replicate your vision. Alas it was not as easy as that. Whatever Venti did after that, not even Celestia knows.

Your ability to see the streams of music instead of just projecting associated shapes and colors had made it easy to find Venti, and vice versa.

When he wants to find you specifically, Venti sings your name in a lilting melody as he walks through the stone streets of Mondstadt, the blazing color pouring through your window as you crane your head out and look him down from the second floor.

Venti's invisible aura brightens at the sight of you and he presents the fresh Cecilias in his hand, singing for you to accompany him to another day and you're forced to do so with his cheesiness.

He continues to sing even as you resign to your home to prepare. Unbeknownst to you the people of Mond watched with wonder and awe at the sweetness of the serenading bard that comes by every 9 AM daily to your doorstep.

Nature rarer uses yellow

Than another hue;

Saves she all of that for sunsets, —

Prodigal of blue,

Spending scarlet like a woman,

Yellow she affords

Only scantly and selectly,

Like a lover's words.

You tilt your head at Venti at his lyrics, its lines influencing the color that coats him before his lyre finally calms its strings. He does not expand on his words as the silent conversation ended with a smile. Venti had been making songs with colors incorporated in them and despite the Muse of hues, you have yet to understand what they truly mean. If they mean anything at all.

You wish you could bring about the same flowery words to describe how beautiful Venti is, your current muse, adorned with the colors of a world only you can see. But for now, as you watch him smile past the crowd and lock eyes with yours, the most you can do is immortalize his ethereal hues. Until you finally work up the courage to admit it was not the colors that had drawn you to him.

This is a blessed day as it marks the end of the 50 followers event, and start the 100 followers one! Thank you for joining us in this journey, we still have a long way to go!

[eirikaanemo]

My Celebrity Childhood Friend

Warnings: minor character death, sad feels

Venti x GN!Reader

2k Words

Many years ago, when you were eight years old, you had two very close friends. Their names were Venti and Himmel. The three of you did everything together. You were very close. All of you thought your friendship would be forever and that you would always be close. But, unfortunately, that's not what happened.

One day you and Venti received the news that Himmel had passed away. It was really difficult for both of you to accept the reality of his death, grieve, and move on with your lives. In the end, you couldn’t even help each other. Spending time together only reminded you of how Himmel wasn’t there anymore.

Eventually Venti just couldn’t take it anymore. So his family moved out. Losing Himmel had hurt, but losing Venti too reopened the almost healing wound in your heart. He didn’t even say goodbye because he thought he’d chicken out if he did. And so there you were, friendless, hurt, and feeling very, very alone.

Your only solace was in practicing the piano. The three of you had all been learning instruments and playing together before. The idea was to become a band of sorts together and play music professionally. Himmel played violin, Venti played guitar, and you played piano. Playing the piano was all you had left of them, so you continued playing and practicing it.

Years pass and you move on as much as you can. You make new friends and try new things. Piano is still important to you but you do new things now too. But even with all of this, there’s a part of you that left with Venti and Himmel. The hurt in your heart is no longer a gaping wound. Yet the pain has never truly gone away.

Then one day you hear a familiar voice on the radio. That voice and guitar combo sounded very familiar. It was a good song and you enjoyed listening to it, but you just couldn’t get the feeling of familiarity out of your mind. However, once the radio host introduced the song, you immediately understood. “And that was Soaring Bird by The Bard. Venti really did himself proud on this one…,” they continued, but you were no longer listening.

Venti was on the radio! What could this mean? You hurriedly took out your phone and ran a search. There he was, Venti, also known as The Bard, is a singer/songwriter who rose to fame after a stint on a television talent show a couple months ago. Well, what do you know? Your childhood friend has followed your childhood dream.

Part of you feels left behind, but you accepted that had happened years ago. So instead you decided to be supportive! Suddenly you have a new favorite singer and you just have to have all his albums. Physical copies, so you can display them. Your bedroom walls are covered with posters.

You now have more The Bard themed t-shirts than you have regular shirts. There’s a concert of his you can go to? You’re there. You promote him with everyone you know. If you hadn’t converted your friends to the truth of Venti supremacy they probably would have gotten sick of your antics by now. Instead they’re almost as invested as you are.

When he finally releases a new album you are thrilled. It’s been almost a year since he released his last one and you’ve been starving for new content. You are first in line to the store to buy the album and listen to it as soon as possible. Track one through four are fantastic and you enjoy them a lot! But then track five starts to play.

It’s more melancholy and nostalgic than other songs he has written. And then you hear the words. The words touch your heart, soothing and healing some of the pain that has remained. At the end he takes a moment to dedicate it to his childhood friend, to you. Not by name, but you know what he means by “my old childhood friend”. You’re tearing up.

I’m sorry I was too blind to see

That you were suffering as much as me

You were left behind, I was moving on

And you were left to carry on

It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair

That I chose to just leave you there

We’re not really close now, are we

But I just want to say I’m sorry

You listened to it over and over again, crying in your room. Maybe it was stupid but that was something you didn’t even know you’ve been wanting to hear for years. Knowing that he felt bad about leaving you behind and hearing an apology from him meant the world to you.

And it just so happens that the song he dedicated to you is your friends’ new favorite song. If they didn’t know about your history with him before, then they sure know now. You’re still struggling to not cry every time it plays. Sure, maybe some of your dirty laundry was now being aired all around the world. But that wasn’t important.

What was important was that your heart was finally able to heal. You were truly able to feel happy again, for the first time since you were eight years old. Life had color again. There was more of a bounce to your step. Your friends noticed that your smiles even seemed more real now.

So when you learned that Venti would be doing an album signing event, you just knew you had to go. And you knew just which album you wanted to have signed. Now all you could think about was getting the album signed. How would he react to seeing you again? Would he recognize you? You really hope he does. It would really hurt if he doesn’t.

All of a sudden you’re now worrying if this is a good idea at all. Your friends managed to convince you to go, but you were really close to not going at all. And even now that you’re here at the signing you’re half considering running away. But instead you steel your courage and get in line.

You try not to think about it as the line slowly creeps forward. Making small talk with those around you in line might help, but you’re too nervous to even try social interaction. You’re twentieth in line, then tenth, then fifth, then second. Now it’s your turn and you approach the table he’s sitting at to sign the albums.

He’s wearing a white button up shirt, green slacks, and a green beanie with a flower on it. He’s dyed the tips of his braids teal and wears some light makeup to bring out the color of his eyes. You suddenly feel very underdressed as you anxiously walk up and hand him the album.

“Hi Venti,” you say softly. “It’s good to see you again.” He looks up sharply and freezes for a second, wide eyed. “Oh my gosh!” He exclaims, jumping up out of his seat. “It’s so good to see you again! It’s been so long!” You smile, feeling more comfortable and sure of yourself now that you know he recognizes you.

Someone behind him clears their throat and sits back down. “I can’t really talk right now,” he admits, sheepishly. “We don’t want to hold up the line, but hold on a sec.” He opens the album and scribbles something on the inside of the opaque cover. “That’s my number,” he whispers quietly to you. “Text me later, okay? I’ll get back to you when I can.”

You nod and move on, only realizing he didn’t actually sign the case until you were down the hall from where he was signing. Laughing a little, you sit down on a bench and pull out your phone. That was such a Venti-like thing for him to do. Sometimes he would get so excited that he’d forget what he was supposed to be doing.

Opening your texting app, you typed in his number and sent him a message.

You: Hi! Is this the right number? I’m the one you wrote song number five about.

It took a couple hours for him to reply. Which is very understandable considering how he was probably signing albums for a while.

Venti: Yes! This is the right number! It’s so good to hear from you again :)

Venti: And I’m so glad you heard that song

Venti: I really am sorry about leaving like that

You: I won’t lie and say that it’s fine, because it really hurt that you left like that

You: But I really appreciate your song that you wrote for me. I cry every time I hear it

Venti: Oh no! I didn’t mean to make you sad :(

You: Happy tears, Venti. They’re all happy tears

Venti: Oh, okay, that’s good :)

Venti: Want to come eat lunch with the staff and me?

Venti: They’re all really curious about you

Venti: The mysterious childhood friend I wrote a whole song about

You: Sure! How do I find you?

Venti: You don’t! Where are you? I’ll send someone to pick you up ;)

You send him your location and wait around for someone to come pick you up. After a while a nicely dressed woman approaches you and gestures for you to follow her. She leads you to a car and drives you to a restaurant. A waiter takes you to one of the closed off rooms for group events.

Approximately two seconds after the door is closed, you are hug tackled to the floor. Venti cheerfully cheers your name right into your ear. You grumble good naturedly and swat at him until he laughs and gets off you. He offers his hand, you take it, and he helps you stand up. Some chuckles from the staff tell me they’re just as amused as he is by the situation.

This sets the tone for your lunch. It’s lighthearted and you have a great time getting to know each other again. He introduces the staff and they admit they’ve been curious about his childhood friend he wrote a song about. You enjoy eating lunch with them a lot, and all of you are disappointed when you have to go.

You continue to chat as long as you can while preparing to leave. As you’re gathering your stuff to go, you come across the album that he never actually signed. “Oh yeah,” you laugh. “Venti, you never actually signed my album!”

“Whoops! I’ll sign that right now.” He declares. “Though I must admit that I feel a little awkward signing stuff for you.” Finishing writing with a flourish, he hands the album back to you. “But I guess I better get used to it,” he continues. “You better bring the rest of the albums next time!”

Your smile is so bright that he has to squint for a moment.. “I’m looking forward to it already.” You say. “See you later?” He beams right back. “Yep! I’ll let you know the next time we can meet up!”

The grin stays on your face all the way home.

You meet up whenever you can after that, though your schedules don’t always match up enough to allow it. Video calls are common when he goes on tour. It’s like the two of you never split. And eventually your friendship becomes something more.

“Hey, could I ask you a question?” Venti asks you over a video call one night. He’s acting a little funny, nervous with a dash of hope and excitement. “Would you like to go out with me sometimes? Like a date?” You chuckle, amused. “Venti, you’re on tour right now. It’s not like we could go out to dinner or something.”

“You’re right that we can’t go out to dinner together, but we could eat at the same time over a video call! I’ll even call and order food for you or something!” Venti plans. “Sure,” you agree. “I think I’d like that.” He pumps his fist in the air. “Yes!” He shouts. “I’m gonna make this the best long-distance date ever!”

And so he does.

[ajaxwrites]

Genshin Impact Fanfic Rec List

(because this is my most current obsession~~)

The Narwhal of Dihua Marsh by GreyLiliy

Childe hears of a strong Adeptus living at the Wangshu Inn. Despite warnings from Zhongli that fighting Xiao would be a deathly mistake, Childe seeks out the Adeptus living in the Dihua Marsh eager for a proper fight.

However, Childe severely underestimates his opponent, and the consequences of his actions may keep him from returning home to Snezhnaya.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: This fic is interesting primarily because it's not necessarily what you would call an easy story to read. The content can surprisingly get quite heavy as the relationship between Childe and Zhongli isn't healthy and it becomes increasingly obvious as the story progresses. You swing between wanting to separate the two and also desperately wishing that they'll work out because there is something there. The story snowballs from what seems like an innocuous, if stupid and rash, decision on Childe's part to a complicated mess that you can’t help but be enthralled in. I went in expecting your typical romance and ended up in something that was more complex than I expected but also beautifully thought provoking.

Entirely Out of Spite by Bgtea

"Welcome to a new user experience! You have triggered this interface with the keywords, ‘Stupid game! Stupid devs! I want my f*****g money back!’ You are now bound to the character Tartaglia, the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui, codename: Childe! We hope you have an enjoyable user experience and we welcome you once again to Genshin Impact 2.0!”

Those are some of the first words Ajax, starving college student extraordinaire, has the misfortune of hearing upon waking up in a brave new world from what he's fairly sure is a very, very fatal accident involving water and a shit ton of electricity.

Okay, so he's not dead. That's good. But what's this about him being stuck playing the character Tartaglia? Tartaglia, as in the shitty, one-dimensional, cartoonish villain who met his untimely, gruesome death in the first act of the original game?

Fuck that noise. Like hell Ajax is going to share that fate.

And so begins one man's journey to unfuck himself.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: Whenever this updates, I squeal. If you’re a fan of The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System or just transmigration/reincarnation plots in general, you’re going to love it. Bgtea does a beautiful job in balancing humor with the trauma that comes with the whole reincarnation plotline. The whole of it is beautiful written and watching Childe/Ajax interact with the other characters (and the perspective of those characters) is a delight! 

the sister by glassdrachma

The tragic and unexpected death of Zhongli-xiansheng of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor occurred to the sorrow of many and the deep skepticism of a few.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: glassdrachma has a gift for humor and romance. In short, Zhongli fakes his death for plot reasons and comes back as Jianlao, the bereaved twin sister. Shenanigans ensue, featuring overprotective Liyue-ians (?), chaotic gremlin Venti, and Kexing. Very light hearted, good for the soul.

The White Cicada Society by clementinesgulag

After his little brother is bundled back to Snezhnaya, Childe makes good on his promise to the traveller and takes the first boat out of Liyue Harbor. Any sense of homecoming lasts about as long as an uncooked steak in front of Xiangling, however, when his boat sinks, grounding him back in the mainland.

It's just as well, because the next morning, a body is found in the Northland Bank. A visit from a fellow Harbinger reveals a far more insidious plot than anything Childe could concoct with a god of the vortex and twenty minutes without supervision. The murders aren’t limited to the one Bank. They’ve been trailing down the Liyue border, getting closer and closer to the city. The Tsaritsa has a new mission for him: to figure out who, or what is targeting Fatui forces.

Against his best wishes, Childe is forced to see Zhongli again at the morgue. It becomes clear that he’s going to need a guide, and Childe resolves to quash his pride, and their differences to request his help to navigate Liyue and solve the case.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: A diamond in the rough that I slept on and then stumbled back to by accident. I had it marked for later on AO3 and forgot about it for like a good week to my utter self-disgust. It. Is. So. Damn. Good! The mystery is intriguing but I live for the realistic portrayal of the aftermath of the whole gnosis plotline. The betrayal, the bitterness, but ah, the sexual tension. The harbinger interactions in this fic make it gold though.

Lungs full of Roses by SecretlyACatLady

Childe had always assumed that he would die young. He had accepted that a long time ago, ever since he accepted the mantle of a Fatui Harbinger. However, he always thought that he would die in a glorious fight, his body broken but spirit relishing the strong opponent that had bested him. He was okay with that type of death.

Unfortunately, it seemed like Fate had decided to add one last insult to injury, because, here Childe was, dying because he had fallen in love with the ex-Geo Archon. The same Archon who seemed to have discarded him like an old toy ever since the Osial Incident. --- In which divine beings are cruel and a cursed Childe starts preparing for his inevitable death because no Archon could ever love a mortal.

…Right?

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: The fic that started it all for me, the one that sucked me into the fandom. This fic is heartbreaking. We always do love a hanahaki plotline but something about the way it frames the disease and the shame that comes with it...I highly recommend giving it a read. The angst is real I tell you.

The Bride of The Golden Dragon by Erika_Bee

“You’re to be sent on a special mission, Tartaglia.”

The young man’s eyes gleamed in interest. “How special?” He asked as he wiped the blood off his daggers.

His superior grinned. “Special enough to put your name in Snezhnaya’s history books.”

—

In which the Archon War ravaged the land of Liyue and to ensure the people’s survival, the God of Geo established the Harvester Contract: One bride per village, every year, in exchange for protection and a good harvest.

Or: Childe is sent on an undercover mission to kill the Geo Archon, but things don’t go as planned.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: Don’t let the title scare you off--this isn’t one of those fics where they feminize one of the male characters and reduce their personality to a mindless submissive bobblehead to the point that I want to throw my laptop out of the window. Not that there’s anything wrong if you like that kind of thing, just not my cup of tea. This fic though---READ IT! There’s just something refreshing about the writing and the plot, the way that Childe’s character reads off the page. I live for the interactions between the characters and how the author has mapped the relationships. Warning that recent chapters have swerved decided into NSFW territory though.

the brothers grim by izabellwit

Left in an unfamiliar land with a mission he never wanted, a young Kaeya lies, survives, and somehow finds a family in the process.

Or: How Kaeya came to Dawn Winery, and why he left it. Includes lore, sibling bickering, found family struggles, and a more in-depth look at the years between Kaeya’s arrival and Crepus’s death.

Ships: N/A

Notes: Ahh, little Kaeya. Cheeky ass little shit that’s too angsty and adorable for his own good. I don’t have words for this fic. It makes my heart warm but also makes me want to weep because god, this fic covers exactly how traumatic Kaeya’s situation is and why child soldiers/spies just shouldn’t be. And the dynamic he has with Diluc and Crepus--do me a favor and read it. Screams found family.

the wind through the mountain tops by glassdrachma

Boredom brings Barbatos of Mondstadt to bother a certain ex-Archon of the Earth.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: A light-hearted, humorous and fluffy as hell piece. Short word is that Venti comes to Liyue for some fun, causes chaos, accidentally plays matchmaker, and steals some vegetables. A get-together fic for Childe and Zhongli that includes a surprisingly self-aware (if blunt and snarky) Zhongli and jealous Childe that gets increasingly flustered.

melt (speak or forever hold your peace) by anatakana

Falling into bed with Diluc was an unbelievably bad idea given their tumultuous shared history, but Kaeya’s impulsive urge to amuse himself knew no bounds.

It’s all fun and games until emotions got involved.

Ships: Diluc/Kaeya

Notes: THIS IS NSFW. With plot though? This is THE FIC that got me shipping the two (though the game did a good job on its own). The angst is real here and we love the sheer gal of both of these two stupid men.

Cascading (In a good way) by Hubbleablubble

Kaeya is a fascinating annoyance.

(Or: A series of events in which Albedo gets to know Kaeya, and they slowly go from strangers to acquaintances to something more.)

Ships: Albedo/Kaeya

Notes: Sweet fic. Not my typical ship pairing. Loved the Khaenri’ah mentions. Kaeya is Trans FTM here though it’s only briefly mentioned. There is also an incomplete sequel (as of May 2021) featuring an Overprotective Big Brother Diluc on a warpath giving shovel talks to everyone except apparently Albedo that’s also worth reading.

The Language of Flowers by Jules (Penwyn)

Kaeya Alberich has made a habit of lying—after all, the only truths he’s ever spoken cost him everything—but there are only so many lies a man can tell before the truth comes spilling out.

Ships: Diluc/Kaeya

Notes: Hanahaki! Except not! Basically, Kaeya pukes up flowers that say the truth whenever he lies. Cue, angst! Lovely and quick read--love Kaeya’s voice here.

i know i'm where i'm meant to go by paperclips (pastel_paperclips)

"Childe," Zhongli says suddenly. "I am enjoying myself greatly."

Childe’s face breaks into a grin. "Then-"

Zhongli gasps, grabbing his wrist and tugging him over to an unsuspecting peddler with a cart full of rocks. "Is that an intrusive igneous pegmatite formed in the Inazuma regions?"

Childe’s grin smooths into a small, adoring smile. He has all the time in the world to figure the other man out.

OR: Finding the Geo Archon is on Childe's to-do list but hanging out with Zhongli is significantly more fun.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: Childe, you idiot. Humorous and funny, very light hearted. Makes you wonder if Childe has an IQ. He’s too busy pining/lovesick to realize that he told his target that he’s going to kill him for his gnosis. Zhongli and Liyue remain confused on how Childe still DOES NOT get it but half-ass hiding his Archon status anyway.

the bird without wings by Anonymous

"Kaeya!" someone yells. Small arms wrap around his waist tightly, red hair spilling out of the ponytail, and Kaeya's heart almost stops.

He's talked his way out of all types of situations. From placating international disputes to buttering up his informants, he's always had a quick response to everything.

But for once, Kaeya is speechless. He stares down at the boy with puffy cheeks, slightly crooked teeth and sparkling bright eyes.

Eight year old Diluc beams back.

Ships: Diluc/Kaeya

Notes: Diluc gets de-aged and Kaeya gets angsty. The interactions between the two are heartwarming and will induce tears. Childe makes a brief appearence that *chef’s kiss*

call me "lover boy" by Anonymous

Zhongli turns back, eyes bright with amusement, a stray lilypad still stuck in his hair, and Childe thinks, wow. I want to kiss him stupid.

Childe's not into the whole "swooning maiden patiently waiting for his beloved to swoop down and smooch the daylights out of him" thing. Nah, that's not his style. He's Tartaglia, eleventh of the Fatui harbingers, and he's going to kiss Zhongli right now.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: FUNNY AS HELL. Childe is straight up just trying to plant one on Zhongli but fate and people just keep interfering. It’s a weird trope aversion where the character is actively trying to confess rather than avoiding it but life gets in the way. 

springtime in snezh-nya-ya by miaomaomei

Tartaglia’s body moves before he can even think about it. He arches his back and flattens his ears against his head, baring his teeth in a hiss. Considering he barely even reaches Scaramouche's knees — Scaramouche, of all people! The guy is practically the size of a fourteen-year-old — he doubts that he is cutting as imposing a figure as he hopes.

It isn't a surprise, though. No one could become a Fatui Harbinger if they were scared of a little cat.

OR

Tartaglia is turned into a cat and he goes to Zhongli for help. It goes about as well as expected.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: TOO ADORABLE FOR WORDS. This is just pure fluff I swear. Love how Childe is written and the interactions between the two are just ahhhh. A balm on the soul.

Melt by tanktrilby

“My name is Diluc,” he says. A scowl naturally furrows his brow, and Kaeya looks like he wants to laugh.

He’s looking at him through his lashes again, blue eyes teasing and warm. “Diluc,” he says. “A knight in overalls isn’t quite where I thought my preferences would lie, but here we are.”

(or: Kaeya loses his memories and makes some assumptions. Diluc can't honestly tell him that he's wrong.)

Ships: Diluc/Kaeya

Notes: As the summary says, Kaeya loses his memories. Diluc plays babysitter for plot reasons. Meanwhile, Kaeya freaks out and has an essential crisis because his instincts freak him out which = angst. Simultaneously, sort of love confessions? 

you are cordially invited by ktenologious

When the Traveler receives a mysterious invitation from a Snezhnayan businessman, they seek out help from the only Snezhnayan they are on good terms with. They decide it is a wonderful idea to go to this business party in the middle of the ocean because, well, what could be better entertainment than watching a Fatui Harbinger at work? It is too bad Childe couldn't come with them...

Meanwhile, the Tsaritsa needs someone to track down the source of a brand new drug at a party on a cruise; it just so happens that she has two Harbingers who specialize in causing chaos and sinking ships. Scaramouche is a sadist and loves this, and Tartaglia... Well, Tartaglia just wants to know why is he the one in the dress again.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe, sort of Diluc/Kaeya & Scaramouche/Childe

Notes: Features a crossdressing Childe and Kaeya for plot reasons. Funny as hell. Love Fatui dynamics/interactions. Highly recommend. Go read it. I’m serious. It’s so beautiful, I can’t. Also Zhongli is so love-sick and jealous, it’s hilarious.

The Road to Snezhnaya by paranoid_fridge

Everything's done and over. Now, Zhongli only needs to adjust to living like an ordinary mortal. Or that is what he thinks until a familiar face shows up in Liyue. Teucer comes looking for his brother who failed to return to Snezhnaya on the Fatui ships. And as Childe's declared "friend", Zhongli must help Teucer find him.

Or: Teucer drags Zhongli on a cross-country goose chase looking for Childe. Zhongli just happens to find a bit more along the way.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: I have no words for this fic outside of the fact that it is clear that Teucer has the only functioning brain and should be Best Man because he obviously did all the work here. Features an oblivious Childe and overprotective Zhongli, plus bystander Kaeya that is getting allll of the gossip. And also the most destructive group of children ever.

basket of knives by oronine

“I just want to be loved,” Childe says to himself, to whoever is listening. “Is that too much to ask?”

They are on the roof once more, this time Childe’s foot touches the edge of the building as he daydreams of something that cannot be. The sky is blank and cloudy and perhaps Lumine fears it’ll all end when he takes a step.

“Not at all,” she says. It’s still the truth.

Contrary to popular belief, Childe hates his family but loves them all the same.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: TW for suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, self-harm, depression, etc. Not a light read by any definition. Set in a modern AU, not in the genshin impact universe. Features a Childe that is Not Okay, good friend but also probably traumatized friend Lumine (and her brother Aether), and Zhongli. Family dynamic is messed up as hell and explores mental health quite well in my opinion. I’m not sure how healthy necessarily Childe’s relationships are but I think that’s a given considering the context and how derailed his mental health is in this fic. Definitely angst as heavy, made me tear up quite a bit. Read, but pay attention to the content/trigger warnings as it does get quite explicit.

Bane of All Evil by tzitzimeme

When Chongyun unintentionally offends Liyue's second most powerful adepti, he vows to mend the thorny relationship between Adeptus Xiao and human exorcists-- even though no one has succeeded in currying Xiao's favor for over a thousand years.

His best friend Xingqiu offers to come alone, mainly because he's worried about what kind of trouble Chongyun will run into. Along the way, they receive help from others: Xiangling packs them meals for their journeys, while Zhongli gives them advice on what demons to track.

Childe is just there because he thinks the whole thing is hilarious.

Ships: Chongyun/Xinqiu

Notes: JFKLFJS I LOVE THIS. I love Chongyun’s characterization and the interaction between all the characters. The dynamic between Chongyun, Xingqiu, and Xiangling are to die for. Also, this line: “Stuck-up Persnickety Bastard.” Random note but Xiao throws Chongyun off a balcony yet is also 100% a softie.

Talks about Nothing by tzitzimeme

In which Zhongli unlocks the Memory of Dust, only to find out:

1. Guizhong is 100% alive (just disembodied) within it, 2. Guizhong has been watching over him this whole time, and 3. Guizhong is very excited by the prospect of Zhongli getting a cute Snezhnayan boyfriend.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe, Venti/Xiao

Notes: The pure judgment that Guizhong unleashes on Zhongli (as well as her sass in general) is pure comedic gold. The dynamic between Xiao and Venti are also adorable. Meanwhile, Childe misunderstands and also just wants to know what the fuck is going on.

xi wangmu by tzitzimeme

Xiangling scales entire mountains to satisfy the palettes of her two pickiest customers.

(Or, two men who are emotionally stunted by their own immortality inadvertantly turn an overly enthusiastic chef into their messenger pigeon.)

Ships: Zhongli/Xiao (?)

Notes: Not sure if it reads romantic exactly, can definitely be read as platonic. The fic boils down to Xiangling trying to expose Xiao to variety because just eating plain almond tofu is a no no. Zhongli gives advice/uses Xiangling as a messenger pigeon. Backstory is explored!

Falling (Fallen) by asinglecrow

It’s only when Childe finds himself in front of Zhongli, a spear protruding from his stomach, that he thinks oh I might have fucked up.

Or: The worst (best) day of Childe's life.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: Funny and lighthearted! Gets sort of NSFW with passing mention of mpreg but otherwise, it’s just pure humor/fluff. Get-together fic featuring deadpan dragon Zhongli and Childe that is just done with everything. 

the louvre by morisuke

Here in Liyue, the air is filled with the ocean, and the sun shines through the mountains like it’s flowing through a crack in the sky. Here in Liyue, there is a man with no wallet at a vending machine that is going to waste the rest of his day showing a stranger around their school campus for a pocket sized can of iced coffee.

It’s interesting here in Liyue, Childe thinks.

or

Where Childe flirts with a stranger at a campus vending machine.

Ships: Zhongli/Childe

Notes: Set in a modern/college AU. This is a relatively quiet, soft kind of story. Childe comes to Liyue because reasons and falls in love quietly. It’s more of a snippet of life type of fic that’s sweet and peaceful. Love the change that comes over Childe as he finds a home.

[letterstomilen]

the death of rex lapis (hopefully)

Zhongli, Vampire Alternative Universe (warning: this is mainly expositional bc ive had fun playing around w the idea of how zhongli would be if he was a vampire so idk where this’ll go! there is some childe/zhongli but not much!! anyways happy birthday zhongli i love you :) Zhongli does not make a good vampire. 

Immortality is meant to make you smart.

But what people forget is that you don’t live that long because of wits. Immortality does not mean you are capable; it means that you were foolish enough to get bitten and didn’t think much of it later.

He wasn’t clever when he was held by Guizhong, who smiled sweetly at him as she looked at him, her hair brushing against his skin and cold hands curling the ends of his hair. And certainly not sharp when he failed to notice that her heart wasn’t beating and she seemed to look more at his neck— ”You have a very fine neck,” she informed him when he asked, and he nodded, assuming that it was one of those things sculptors just happened to notice—than his eyes for the majority of the night.

Whether it was out of guilt or disinterest, he doesn’t know. Zhongli would like to think that it was out of guilt, because prior to the night, they were friends. And after she bit his neck, she held him in her arms, whispering story after story as he stuck by fever.

The pain was unimaginable. First—there was shock. And then minutes later, while he wondered why the room smelled more like sweat and blood than incense, he realized that he was still held down.

This must be what quarry feels like, he thought then. But now he knows otherwise; prey would never be held so gently and lay there limply if they could help it. He, while being drained every bit of life, was a willing, sitting duck.

That was before the pain, of course. When she finally let go of him to wash her face—he recalls this clearly: her wiping her face, then licking the blood off her hands with the relish of a child on her birthday, before leaving to the bathroom—he laid there paralyzed. It was, he’s discovered, a bit like being drunk.

Only that the alcohol left his insides in unimaginable pain for days on end. He stumbled when he tried to stand; babbled as he struggled to speak. Even now he only remembers brief flashes of it, when he tore the skin on his arm with his newly grown canines, or hours of rejecting food that he could not quite stomach.

In reality, he was a child—a baby, really, if you were being blunt about it. The weeks that followed were horrendous and perhaps it’s a blessing that he spent the majority of them inhibited, the metamorphosis shedding every part of him that he was comfortable with. But as the days went on, the pain gave way to numbness and numbness gave away to strength.

And when he finally regained enough consciousness to form a coherent sentence, he asked Guizhong why she did it. She, with the certainty of somebody that’s lived for longer than he had, answered, “Well, you’ve always been interested in how the world would change after you were gone. Isn’t this now your chance to witness it?”

Fanaticism with history and predictions could only get you so far. To witness it—wasn’t that just a dream? And because he assumed that rocks were eternal and could not erode back then, he nodded in agreement.

It was a mistake.

Six hundred years ago, Zhongli underestimated the length of his lifetime. One day he’d be talking to somebody about their newborn and it would only be a blink later where their newborn was six feet under, hailed for having a long and blessed life. (What made a blessed life? It couldn’t have been the years –he concluded that every year he was more cursed than before.) Relationships were scarce because he forgot that not everybody experienced time the same way he did.

Days, contrary to his belief, were not fleeting seconds but rather twenty-four hours long. They composed of both the night and day, waking and sleeping hours instead of mindless walks that ended with him apologizing profusely before his fangs were embedded deep into somebody’s throat.

Somebody suggested for him to just do it in an alley and leave them there to be found at morning. But that was too disrespectful—uncouth even. He preferred to invite them into his home, graciously taking their coat and ushering them inside to a table filled with food. Venti always commented on how polite he was to the very end, taking extra care to cook food that he knew they liked—“Last meal before execution, huh?” he’d comment. “Very romantic.”—and making them comfortable until the very end.

That’s not how it started of course.

He tried starving himself at first—much to Osial’s amusement. On a night out, where Zhongli was more attuned to the heat and beating hearts of the people around him than the delicacies laid out, Osial took it a step further by passing him a cup with a thick, maroon liquid that sloshed around in it.

It smelled finer than the silk flowers that littered the gardens, and when he took the cup, he felt one step closer to the damnation Guizhong always spoke of. The worst part was that it didn’t churn his stomach—instinctually, he felt more delighted than he ever felt, a smile cracking his worn face as he inspected the goblet. Only when did he take note of Osial’s smug expression, the glint in his eyes that reminded him of an elusive professor, and the way he watched him carefully the way a parent would watch a child take its first steps, did he hesitate.

It wasn’t benign; it was as if he expected him to trip and fall over after attempting to take his first steps, taking pleasure in both the failure and success. Because both would end with Zhongli crossing the line one way or another, wouldn’t it? And there was nothing more enjoyable than sadism to somebody that’s seen it all already.

Right now he is fighting a losing battle. But he would rather starve than lose it here, so he hands the cup back to him, feeling a little more of his willpower crack.

Animal blood, by all accounts, is disgusting. It’s oily and sometimes he’d get sick, ending the night more ravenous than ever as if his skin were tightening around itself. You couldn’t just drink it—especially if you didn’t know where the animal has been. First you had to kill it neatly—a quick breaking of the neck would suffice, as strangulations were often drawn out—and then you had to clean it.

There was something almost humane in the process. Countless butchers have done it before, so he felt comfortable doing it himself.

It was only when he sunk his teeth into the carcass that he felt more like a vulture than anything else. The blood only staved off his hunger for short periods, so it was more of a painkiller than a sufficient meal.

And Osial found the whole thing to be hilarious.

“How unfortunate. If only Guizhong didn’t choose somebody that insisted on drinking animal blood, then it’d be more enjoyable. You know—if you open your mouth a little wider, you’ll look a bit more like the starving beast you are.” Then he dipped a finger in the cup and licked it as if it were chocolate, sweet and rich.

“Yes… Perhaps I should move onto better things. Do you think vampire blood is like wine? Or would age spoil its taste? I imagine that to a starving beast, there would be no difference—no matter how rotten your blood is, it’s still blood after all.”

Osial laughed and spit the blood out. “Well, you’re not wrong. This animal blood may be disgusting, but to you, what’s the difference?”

He wore his cruelty like a well-fitting suit, the creases shaped like ill-natured grins. Zhongli wondered if that will be him hundreds of years from now, but maybe Osial was always this unpleasant. Guizhong spoke of him the way somebody would talk about their ill-tempered cousin—sure, he’s awful to be around but he’s been a part of the family for so long already.

At the very least, he can provide a good meal. The question will always be for who, and his appetite is insatiable concerning all matters. Some vampires preferred a more barbaric approach of finding somebody, killing them, and then throwing the body away. Others—like Osial—treated it more like a game, drawing it out.

Sometimes he’d target entire families and call it a “feast” inviting others to join him. They were gruesome affairs that ended with many drunk on blood for weeks at a time, and even though he never went to them, he always heard about them.

Directly from Osial of course. Who seems intent on highlighting every small detail, every bloody death or desperate guest that was less than willing in the end but, Osial would say with delight, weren’t they all? As a matter of fact—and here was when he’d bring Guizhong into it, dragging her out of her room with her blueprints and models—Zhongli was very willing, wasn’t he?

“Up until he realized that he had to drink blood,” he’d say, as if he finally reached the punchline for a joke—then Osial would throw his head back with laughter.

And it’s not as if he hadn’t before. Sometimes, if he hurt himself, he would’ve licked the blood. But that tasted metallic—it was nothing like the delicacies that other vampires would set out, naming the meals by age, defining trait (sexual activity, lifestyle, etc.), and gender.

It took him fifty years for his willpower to break down. And he did it in front of Barbatos, who simply watched as he drank, not speaking of the way Zhongli drunkenly rambled for hours on end nor the way blood trickled down his neck and stained his clothing.

The deaths after that were easier. It was almost disappointing how he managed to replicate what Guizhong did with such ease. When he set the serviette over their chest before sinking his teeth into their jugular, he felt just like her.

Only when did he clean them up before burying them did he truly feel at rest. At the time it felt like appropriate compensation—a substitute for the promise he failed to keep for himself. The whole ordeal of washing the blood out of their matted hair and drying it out as he laid them down alleviated the sense of unease.

Guizhong would often watch him while he did it, pointing out certain anatomical features as she did. Her hands would trace over their veins, pressing down on the blue as she spoke. Osial joined them once, but he was so perturbed by the attention Zhongli dedicated to the process that he left immediately.

That was centuries ago.

He, sometime down the line, traded in these rituals for slaughter and abandoned that for mimicking the human lifestyle.

Barbatos would say that it’s been badly done, of course. 

“You make the worst human,” he once said, as he watched Zhongli struggle to stomach garlic bread that he offered him.

 Which could be why he’s now cornered by a vampire hunter.

The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is often frequented by vampires all around Teyvat—there are rumors of blood dealings with underground groups but the Milileth has never investigated it—and Zhongli, with no danger signals, happens to be one of them.

It doesn’t help that he works there too. The irony that all these years later he never quite rid himself of dealing with dead bodies isn’t lost on him.

And he did hear about the Fatui, because word about people hunting vampires travels fast in a country as busy as Liyue.

“Sir,” the vampire hunter informs him kindly, “you do know that this is a hub for vampires, right?”

The voice isn’t what shocks Zhongli. Neither is the maroon mask that’s hanging by the side of his head—one told to be notorious among only the most vicious of hunters—or the thin outlines of weapons in his clothes.

It’s his eyes. They’re a bright blue, usually associated with the sea on bright days, but they’re more akin to the vampires that Zhongli has seen before with the wild glint in his eyes. It’s jarring with the smile that he adopts as he asks, and he imagines opening his mouth to a pair of fangs.

He knows that he won’t find them though. If the rumors he hears are any indications, the Fatui are above recruiting any vampires that’ll threaten their operation.

“Ah. Yes. I do. I’m the consultant here, you see,” he explains politely.

And shouldn’t that be an indication that he’s a vampire? Hu Tao is notorious for her strange tastes. And he must know of the deals she makes with underground groups, the money and blood that’s traded between them.  

“Oh!” the hunter’s expression brightens as he clasps his hands together. “I heard about you! I got to say—when they told me that the consultant was knowledgeable on all things Rex Lapis, I was expecting an old man.”

He doesn’t wait to explain who Rex Lapis is. This, of course, is a given seeing that Rex Lapis has become a household name, infamous for his butchery of both vampires and humans alike. But a hundred years later, Zhongli hoped, people would forget about him—or maybe get rid of the fanaticism in their voices when they spoke about him.

It’s quite discomforting, really.

“Well, I am old.”

He laughs, “Yeah, yeah. You hardly look older than me. Call me Childe—I was hoping that you could, ah, answer a few questions I have on Rex Lapis. The 77th Master said that you’d be available and more than willing. She.. actually, here you go!”

Zhongli takes the paper he offers him, which says If you ask him anything, he’d be more than willing to spend the rest of the day answering it! in her rough cursive that he’s grown to dislike. Of course—the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is not beneath fraternizing with vampires or the Fatui.

But he prefers this much more than the vampires that stare at him as they struggle to place him in their ancient hierarchy. And this does work in his favor, he thinks. A vampire hunter wants to know more about him, Rex Lapis—wouldn’t this aid him in finally meeting his end?

So he politely smiles and gives him back the note, not missing how warm Childe’s skin is in comparison to his own. It’s been years since he’s touched a human without the intention of killing them, hasn’t it?

More than suitable then.

“Of course. What would you like to know?”

[partlycharlie-archive]

bring me home

summary: "Hello," she says, tilting her head with a friendly smile. "Are you looking for something?" Dan can't speak. "Yes, actually," says Phil, thank fuck. "We're looking to adopt a dog." (or: the story with the dogs.) word count: 2,722 warnings: shelter dogs, mentions of animal abuse a/n: this was my fic for the @phandomficfests fic exchange, for @bonca !!! hope u enjoy

read on ao3

"Okay. Okay. Hoo boy. Wow. Okay. Are we doing this? Yeah. Okay. Wait, are you sure we - "

"Dan." After a split second of hesitation, Phil grasps Dan’s hands in his own, gloved fingers interlacing with Dan’s bare ones. Dan startles, though, just a little bit, and he tries not to react. This is fine, he reminds himself. We’re out - finally, we’re out. Everybody knows now. There’s nothing to be worried about.

He tunes back into the world and suddenly realizes Phil is speaking. "- and when we’re away, maybe Louise could take them for a bit! Or PJ, or - or maybe we could take them with us!"

"Yeah," Dan says, smiling. Phil turns to face him, and Dan watches as his face transforms: the lines around his eyes crinkle just the slightest bit, and his right ear lifts the way it does whenever his cheeks stretch, and his tongue peeks just barely from in between grinning teeth.

God, my husband is beautiful.

"You weren’t listening, were you." It’s a statement, not a question.

Dan smiles sheepishly, glancing down at his feet. "Sorry, I’m just -" He realizes that he didn’t know how to finish his sentence, but he looks back up at Phil and he knows it didn’t matter. Phil knows what he was trying to say, as always.

"Yeah," he says, squeezing Dan’s hand, "me too."

"You know, I think this'll turn out okay. We'll get - a Shiba Inu, right? And they'll be awesome, no matter what gender, and even if they're a puppy it's fine because we have a relatively large house and we can totally afford to buy puppy pads or whatever else we need to train a puppy, and if anything we can find some sort of puppy trainer. And - and if it's not a puppy, then that's great too! Because, then they'll probably be trained, and then we can just do walks and we won't have to worry about training them or anything like that, and it'll be totally just relaxing..."

"Dan, you're rambling again."

Shit.

"Sorry - sorry, I know, I know. I'm just. Nervous. I also feel like we definitely had this conversation, like, three minutes ago."

"Yeah, we did." Phil stops short in the middle of the sidewalk, and Dan almost trips over himself before his feet remember to stop when he tells them to.

"Why did we just stop?"

Phil points to the awning above their head - Starbucks, Dan realizes. "I figured we could stop for a coffee, maybe calm ourselves down a bit before we head into the shelter?"

"You really think coffee - " Dan quirks a disbelieving eyebrow, then revises his statement. "Phil, we both know coffee makes you jittery. Are you sure that's the best idea?"

"Tea?" Phil tries weakly.

Dan sighs with a tiny smile, but he pushes open the cafe door all the same. "You know, if you wanted a chance to settle down before we go, you could've just told me."

Phil blinks rapidly for a few seconds. "Are you kidding me? You think this break is for me? Dan, have you seen yourself?"

"Yeah, yeah..." Dan grumbles, but doesn't actually respond.

They get into the line and Dan pulls out his phone - yes, it's a bad habit to pull out his phone when he's just feeling bored, but it's a habit he doesn't feel like breaking, okay? - to check his messages.

There's one from Louise - good luck today!!! let me know when you get the pupper :DDD - and he smiles at it.

"Louise is happy for us," he says, tilting the phone in Phil's direction so that he can get a good look at it.

Phil grins when he sees the text. "I am too."

"Happy for us?" They move up in the line, and Dan starts to scan the pastry box - is that what it's really called? Dan feels like it's probably not, but to be honest he can't be bothered to remember - because he knows Phil is going to want something sweet when it's time for them to order, and Dan wants to be ready. Hmm... maybe the pumpkin muffin? The cheese danish looks pretty good…

"Yeah," Phil replies, knocking Dan out of his line of thought. "I'm excited."

Dan smiles at him. The cashier - pretty, with black braids tinged in green to match her nails - calls out, "Next customer, please!" and they walk up to the counter.

"Hello, how can I help you today?"

Phil smiles down at her - fucking giant that he is - and says, "This one will have a venti caramel macchiato, and I'll have a venti iced chai latte, please, and... oh, I kind of want something to eat..."

Dan cuts him off. "Cheese danish, please." Phil smiles at him gratefully.

"Do you want that warmed up?" the cashier - Alia, Dan notices as he looks - asks them. Phil glances sideways at him at the same time that he does the same, and they both smile at each other.

"Yes, please."

"Okay, that'll be 11 euro sixty, please." Phil fishes out his money and pays, accepting the change and the receipt in the palm of his hand, and they walk off towards the counter to wait for their drinks.

"Hey, Dan?"

Dan glances away from where one of the employees is making their drink (he can see Phil's name drawn in huge letters in Sharpie on the side of the cup) to look at Phil, who suddenly looks almost as anxious as Dan feels. "Yeah?"

"Just - what if they don't have a Shibe? Would you want to come back, or... or what?"

Dan wants to respond right away, but forces himself to take a step back and think about the question. It's obvious, regardless of how Phil may be trying to play it off, that this is important to him, so Dan needs to answer it right.

"Well. I'm not particularly concerned when it comes to what breed of dog we get - I'd be just as happy - well. Maybe not just as happy, but I definitely wouldn't mind having a Great Dane or a poodle or a chihuahua or a mutt, even, if we couldn't get a Shiba." Dan realizes he's rambling.

(Again. It's like some sort of motif or something. God, he really needs to get a grip on that.)

"TL;DR, I'd be fine with any dog. Don't worry about me."

Phil looks distinctly amused, Dan notes, as he takes his cup from the employee who had just yelled his order. "Thanks. Dan, you do realize we're having a verbal conversation, right?  Saying tl;dr doesn't, like, delete the last 30 seconds or anything."

Dan huffs.

"Caramel macchiato for Dan?" the employee calls, and Dan accepts it from his outstretched hand with a nod of thanks.

"Let me live," he says dourly, but Phil just huffs out a laugh and holds open the door for Dan to walk through.

"Christ, but it's cold out here. How are you drinking an iced chai? Who are you? Why?"

Phil just shrugs and takes a long sip of his drink, cheeks hollowing as he sucks through the plastic (eco-friendly his ass, Starbucks) straw. "Dunno. Layers, and gloves, probably," he says pointedly, staring directly at Dan's bare hands.

Dan narrows his eyes and curls protectively around his hot (preciously hot) drink. "Hmm. Okay. Sure. Don't come crying to me when your fingers start freezing off from the cold."

---

They stand outside of the pet shelter.

"Fuck. We're really doing this, aren't we?"

"Yep," Phil says, grasping Dan's hand in a comforting motion and sweeping his thumb across Dan’s wrist.

"Let's go. Now."

Two things happen in that moment.

One: Dan realizes, very quickly, that he's been betrayed.

Two: Phil uses the hand that's attached to Dan's (purposely, he now knows, which is a betrayal in and of itself) to pull him towards the shelter.

Dan yelps, loudly, and several other people's heads swivel at the sound.

"Wh-what? Why. What. What."

"Because I know you," Phil replies (to that jumble of nonsense, no less), not letting go, "and if I didn't do anything you'd stand there for another fifteen minutes talking yourself in and out of adopting, even though we've been thinking about this for ages. Let's go."

Dan's mouth twists. "I hate it when you're right."

"I know." Phil doesn't stop pulling until they're inside the door.

The little bell at the top of the door jingles when Phil pushes it open, and an elderly East Asian woman pokes her head out from a row of cages.

"Hello," she says, tilting her head with a friendly smile. "Are you looking for something?"

Dan can't speak.

"Yes, actually," says Phil, thank fuck. "We're looking to adopt a dog."

“How lucky!” The woman steps out and Dan smiles reflexively - whether it’s purposeful or not, she has the “harmless grandmother” shtick down pat, and he can feel himself starting to relax just looking at her. “We happen to have a couple of those around here.”

Phil snorts, and his eyes widen, like he wasn’t expecting the noise to come out.

“Anything you’re looking for in particular?” She crosses in front of them and heads to the front desk, settling herself down with a small oomph! (which - same.)

Phil elbows him while she’s looking down at some sort of notepad, and Dan also lets out a little oomph! (ha, see? They’re twins.)

What? he mouths, glancing back at the woman to make sure she isn’t looking at them.

She isn’t.

Phil points at her and raises his eyebrows, opening and closing his hand a couple of times in mimicry of a mouth talking.

Fuck.

Fine, he mouths back, rolling his eyes, and straightens up a little. He clears his throat and she looks up from her notepad with a soft smile, one that he can’t help but return. “We were thinking maybe, like - a Shiba Inu? Something like that, though obviously we’d probably be fine with really anything.”

The woman’s mouth twists into a frown. “Hmm. Come with me.”

Phil looks kind of concerned, and Dan shoots the same look back at him - a sort of do you think we should? type thing, complete with the eyebrows and the nose and the mouth (you know, the whole shebang).

Phil shrugs, and they walk.

---

“This place is way bigger than I thought it was,” Dan whispers out of the corner of his mouth.

They’re following the woman - Ellie, as they learn when Phil asks - down a path that seems more like a maze at this point. Dan got lost after the first four turns and Phil, the poor soul that he is, has almost wandered off in completely the wrong direction at least twice.

Phil shrugs. “Who knows? Maybe she’s the newest Doctor.” Dan smiles against his will and almost crashes into Ellie, who has stopped without warning.

“Here she is,” she says, almost sadly, squatting to be closer to the dog she’s talking about. Dan turns and crouches so that he can look into the cage that she’s pointing back, and -

Shit.

He almost falls on his ass.

The Shiba laying on its (her? That’s what Ellie said, right?) haunches, staring up at Dan with the most pitiful eyes he’d ever seen, is fucking hideous.

God, Dan feels like an asshole.

Her hair is matted, one eye looks like it��s sealed shut, and the side of her face with the sealed eye droops a little bit. Dan’s eyebrows crease and he looks a little closer, and - yep, she’s missing a leg; the hind right one is cut off at the base, and all that’s left is a little stump.

Jesus Christ, what happened to her?

“We don’t know, actually.” Shit, did he say that out loud? “Only got her about a week ago, and she showed pretty serious signs of abuse and malnutrition, but other than that - no. I have no idea. One of my volunteer kids found her in an alley down the block, looking even worse, if you can believe it.” From the distance, the sound of a bell echoes, and Ellie perks up a little bit. “Sorry,” she says, standing up and brushing off the imaginary dust from her knees, “I’ve got to go get that.”

“How loud is that fucking bell?” Dan asks after a few seconds, tilting his head back to look at Phil. His skull thumps a little bit against Phil’s thigh, and Phil starts carding his hand through Dan’s hair.

“Too loud, if we can hear it from back here. I swear it didn’t seem that noisy when we walked in…”

Dan sighs. “I don’t know, Phil. She’s… I don’t know.” Phil lets go of his hair - Dan takes a moment to mourn the loss - and pushes Dan to sit up straight, walking to his left to sit down.

His face freezes when he sees her clearly for the first time. “Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“God, she’s so…” Phil sighs, scrubs a hand over his face. “We could take her, you know.”

“Come on, Phil,” Dan says. "You know we can't. God, I'd love to, but... it's too much. You know we don't have the time to take care of a dog like her."

Phil sighs and nods, pushes himself to his feet right as Ellie rounds the corner in front of them, looking like she already knows what they're thinking.

"It's a no, then, hmm?" she asks, and doesn't seem surprised when Dan shakes his head.

"I'm really sorry," he says, laughing a bit self-deprecatingly, "I just - I don't really think we have the time to put into someone who needs so much help, you know?"

Ellie nods slowly. "No worries - I know it can be tough, to have to spend that much time on an animal who can't help themself, per se."

Do you? Dan wonders, although he doesn't say anything. They've been here for half an hour, at least, and he's only heard one other person walk in, but Ellie went to get the door by herself. It doesn't seem like there's anybody else working here (at least, not right now), so wouldn't that mean she takes care of all of these animals on her own?

Every day?

Food, water, attention, medical care?

God - that's only four things, but it feels like so - maybe too - much.

"Well!" Ellie claps her hands together and urges Dan off the floor. He gets up, sparing one last glance at the Shibe, and stuffs his hands into his pockets. "You're looking for something a little more low-maintenance, I'm guessing? A little less work, preferably potty-trained, a little calmer?"

Dan’s first instinct is to argue back - to tell her what he had told Phil, that they’d really be fine with anything - but he stops for a second and realizes she’s right. They’ve got a lot going on, what with the move and the interviews (who knew, announcing your gay love for your roommate and fellow Youtuber would get you so much traction?), and it would be easier on the both of them if they could have a dog they didn’t have to worry too much about.

So he says, “Yeah, actually. That’d be nice.”

She nods once, firmly, and beckons them to follow her again. Dan and Phil exchange a look, a sort of this? again? kind of thing, but it's only a stretch of hallway and one turn before they land in front of another cage, this time with a medium sized dog (a corgi, the tiny little blessing) with a short tail that starts wagging ferociously once they catch sight of the group.

“This is Charlie,” Ellie announces, smiling brightly at them. “He’s four years old now - potty trained, otherwise trained, very happy overall but also pretty relaxed. Yeah?”

Phil immediately drops into a squat and threads his fingers through the holes in the cage, grinning when Charlie trots over to nose at his hand. “Hey, Charlie!” Dan can hear the exclamation points in his voice, and he and Ellie share a content smile. “Who’s a good boy? Hmm? You are, aren’t you? Yes, yes you are!”

“So. Yes?” She reaches down to the lock on the cage and pulls out a ring of keys, shuffling through them to find the right one, labeled C3A24.

Dan smiles down at them. “Yeah. Yeah, he’s the one.”

[geminimoonbeamx]

Naive: Intro

A/N: Hey guys! So I’ve been dying to do a mini series reader insert story for a while! I got this idea while I was reading some Tony/Daughter fics and I thought I’d put my own little spin on it. I really hope you guys are able to connect with this, I picked her moms name just because I thought it flowed better to actually have a name instead of putting something like (your moms name) everytime she’s talked about!

Word count: 1k+

Warnings: Disclaimer- I have the dirtiest vocabulary and my stories will probably always have cursing in them. Other then that this chapter was pretty vanilla!

Summary: As the goddaughter of Tony Stark you were no stranger to the Avengers, but when you meet the newest member- you’re a little more then intrigued. Unfortunately for him, Bucky Barnes has caught your eye.

💘💘💘💘💘

There weren’t many things that Tony Stark truly got excited about. Actually, he could tick them off on the fingers on one hand. New scientific discoveries, adding to his classic car collection(but only when it was a real timeless model, something he really had to hunt for), Pepper looking at wedding dresses- and you.

His god daughter was always something he could gush, embarrassingly, about. About how you’d graduated from college with top grades because obviously any god daughter of his was a fucking genius. About how you’d spent the summer in Europe, he’d laughed and showed your videos of Amsterdam to the team repeatedly. About how beautiful you we’re cause god damn it, you looked just like your mom, just like his late best friend and he could never get over it. But what seemed to be all he could talk about lately, was the fact that you we’re moving to New York.

“Finally, I’ve been trying telling her that the only way she’s getting any where with that degree is in this city” Tony had sighed to Pepper. Really, he’d been desperately attempting to convince you to come stay with him ever since the funeral three years ago. “I told her she might as well move into the Tower, since rent is so fucking insane here”

Even though he refused to think of it this way; the truth of it is that you we’re the only link he had left to Jamie, and trying to accept that his best friend of thirty years was gone was something he just couldn’t accept. The three years she had been dead hadn’t done anything to sway that. He still expected a phone call from her. Still expected to hear her bitching at him and worrying about him being the only one he’d ever really been able to count on.

Isn’t it sad? What he’d give to hear your mother bitching at him again?

It was highly amusing, watching the usually snarky Stark wade knee deep through not only wedding plans, but renovation plans for the entire fifteenth floor for the last month.

“Hey Nat, do you think this rug goes with these throw pillows? Or is it too much fur? This kid loves faux fur, what is she a Gotti?!” Tony had been barraging everyone with questions like this, trying to get his “graduation present” ready for you without you finding out about it or being able to put your input into it was hard. But would he ever admit he’d bitten off more then he could chew?

Hell no.

“No, it actually looks really sheik with the geometric gold table. Y/N’s gonna love it” Natasha had reassured, trying to hide her smirking laughter by taking a drink from her mug.

If Tony had noticed she was slightly making fun of him he didn’t say anything, he just went back to fretting, threating some interior designer on his iPhone.

“Between the wedding and Y/N’s homecoming, he’s going to run himself bankrupt” Sam snorts, from the table. Where he sits with Steve and Bucky.

It had been an… odd few months. The team was back together after the whole Sokovian Accords fiasco- but they we’re all still trying to figure out how to mesh right again. Tony being as distracted as he was had been some kind of god send, had given everyone some room to find their place.

Bucky, for one, was happy that the Billionaire’s mind seemed to be pulled in all different directions. It kept Tony from focusing all the hate on him. Because even though it was unspoken, and Tony had agreed to have him join the team- only after Steve gave the ultimatum that the two we’re a packaged deal- everyone with eyes could see the tension was still there. The way that Tony would never really meet his eyes.

Bucky couldn’t blame him. He’d done…what he’d done and Tony had every right to hold a grudge.

It didn’t make it anyless uncomfortable living in the mans house though.

“I don’t think that’s possible” Natasha reasons.

“You’re right. The man pockets are fuckin’ bottomless . Lucky bastard” Sam swirls his protein shake.

“He’s seems happy, which is good. A happy Tony trumps an unhappy one any day” Steve points out. Steve knew what the consequences of unhappy Tony looked like. The drinking, the downward spiral.

“He really loves this kid, huh? Who is she again? His goddaughter, right?” Bucky inquires, his eye brow raised.

“Yeah, her mom was his best friend, he’s always spoiled her rotten” Steve chuckled a little “She’s a real good girl though. A bit of a spitfire, but the sweetest thing once you get to know her”

Bucky’s eyebrow raises even higher at the way Steve regards the girl. The small smile on his best friends face as he talks about her.

“Really? You sound like you’re a little sweet on her, punk. What is she some kind of grade A dime piece?�� Bucky teases, expecting the rest of them to at least smile at his sharp joke. When his laughter is the only one that rings through the kitchen his nose quirks “What?…I was just kidding”

Why we’re the three of them looking at him like that?

“Nah, don’t joke around like that, man. Not if you value your thawed out ass” Sam’s tone is warning.

“What?”

“Tony is really protective of her, like real protective. If he caught any of us lookin’ at her like that he’d fire us” Steve’s tone matches Sam’s. Total seriousness.

“Screw firing you, He’d toss you through one of the windows and watch your body hit the cement is what he’d do. Y/N is a hundred percent off limits. Head this warning” Natasha gives him the little “I’m watching you” signal with her fingers before she walks out of the communal kitchens.

“You guys cant be serious” Bucky scoffs, a small smirk on his face. The reaction they all seemed to have about his little joke was entertaining…“Wait? You didn’t try anything with her, did you, Steve?”

That tell tale blush creeps up Steve’s neck and Bucky shakes his head. That little horn dog he’d grown up with was still there, under the righteous Captain America mask he wore.

“It’s not even like that. She’s just- a little flirt. You’ll see” Steve sputters, trying to defend himself.

“She really is. She’s probably one of the most charming people I’ve ever met in my whole life” Sam laughs in agreement “I’m just not the one who got caught cuddling with her on the couch in the middle of the night”

Bucky gives Steve a shit eating grin as the blonde gets even redder.

“Fuck you, Sam-”

“Oh woah, Cap. Watch your language!” Sam and Bucky are both laughing at Steve’s total dismay and the broad shouldered man gets up from the table.

“Yeah, yeah laugh it up. Tony threw me through a wall for that. I could have been killed!” Steve exclaims, walking away from the men who just seem to laugh louder —- You’d never been a morning person and you walked through the air plane ramp in a little bit of a daze, balancing your tote and your laptop bag on each shoulder.

Why you’d chosen to take a 5am flight was now a foreign thought to you as you make your way through the crowds of people, just wanting to find Tony, get to the Tower and sleep for a sold twenty four hours.

Your phone chirps and you look down at the screen.

Tony calling blinked in bright lettering on the iPhone and you your thumb across it, answering it, not able to keep the large smile off of your face.

“Hey Tony!” Your voice is excited and your mood instantly lifted.

“Hey kiddo, how was the flight?” Tony’s smooth voice comes from the receiver.

“It was okay, I tried to knock myself out but couldn’t. Since when are airplane cocktails so weak?” You tease, your eyes desperately scanning for a Starbucks. You knew JFK International Airport had to be littered with them. You could practically smell the sweet, sweet caffeine beckoning you.

“I’ll have to file a formal complaint. We didn’t pay extra for first class for nothing” Tony uses his best ‘haughty taught white soccer mom, I want to speak to your manager’ voice and you cant help but laugh “But listen, I was going to come pick you up myself but the whole team got called into this spur of the moment meeting. I would try to ditch it but it’s with the director of the secret service so I don’t see myself getting out of this-”

Tony rambles, his voice so apologetic its almost pathetic.

Had you been hyped for him to be waiting for you at baggage claim like he’d always done when you we’re younger? Yeah, but you we’re an adult now. You didn’t need him feeling bad for things he couldn’t control.

“Tino stop!” You laugh, using the nickname you’d always had for him “It’s fine, I promise. I’m a big girl. I’m just going to find a Starbucks and caffeinate and then I’ll grab a cab, okay?” You reason with him.

“Uh, no. Find your coffee but Peppers waiting for you at baggage claim and you guys will take a car back. A cab- Cab? Who do you think I am?” You roll your eyes at your god fathers ever flamboyant nature.

“Alright, I’ll text you when I find her. She still like’s skinny white chocolate mocha’s right?” You question “Have fun at your meeting, see ya’ soon Tino! Love you”

“Bye kid, love you”

After grabbing a pair of venti drinks; a triple shot Pink Drink for you and Peppers white chocolate mocha you maneuver yourself through JFK, down escalators and around the travelers that seemed to forget their manners in the hustle of traveling. Your shoulder get’s bumped more then once.

You know you’re a bigger girl, shorter and wider then most but could they at least say sorry!

“Dick!” You hiss at the man who’d almost knocked the coffee out of your hand.

All of the irritation is let off your shoulders when you see Pepper standing tall, a sign in her hands that had your name scrolled on it prettily.

Jeeze.

You’d missed her. You realize, you hadn’t been in New York since your mom…

“Y/N!” She calls for you, grinning widely and you power walk to the red head, nearly bouncing with happiness as you get to her.

“Pepper!” You cry joyously as you hug her, well as much of a hug as you could give her with your hands so full. It’s mostly just you leaning into her as she wraps her arms around you.

“Oh my god, look at you! Look at your hair! You look so goregous” Pepper fawns over you, cupping the side of your head and looking down at you with dancing eyes.

She couldn’t believe how…old you looked. In her mind you’d always be the cute, chubby twelve year old with long curly pig tails. And yet here you were, looking like a grown woman.

“You’re making me feel so old right now” she admits, only half teasing and you roll your eyes.

“Oh shut up. You know you’re still hot. Here, this is for you” you hand her the latte and she gives you a soft look. You were still a sweetheart.

“Now let me see the rock!” You exclaim and she waves her ring finger at you as you two begin to make your way to the car, both of you giggling- your squeals earning you some side ways looks.

You couldn’t remember the last time you were so happy.

-----

I’m so excited for this story y'all! If you wanted to be tagged in the next chapter just ask!😬😬😬

https://xgminigypsy.tumblr.com/post/166573773564/naive-part-1 PART ONE

https://xgminigypsy.tumblr.com/post/166595772104/naive-part-2 PART TWO

https://xgminigypsy.tumblr.com/post/166629591854/naive-part-3 PART THREE

https://xgminigypsy.tumblr.com/post/166664664834/naive-part-4 PART FOUR

https://xgminigypsy.tumblr.com/post/166703266654/naive-part-5 PART FIVE

https://xgminigypsy.tumblr.com/post/166903805364/naive-part-6 PART SIX

[overeducatedandoverworked]

Accidentally On Purpose: The Sexual Harassment Case

Having gotten out from under SHIELD's wings and into Stark Industry had its advantages. She had an actual salary now, for one, which meant she was now being paying about half of what putting up with Tony Stark was worth. She also had her own office in the middle of the labs, which was pretty sweet. She'd been using it to take micro-naps while working, which she was sure everyone would totally understand. If she told them, anyways.

But there were also a few disadvantages... like having to deal with the jerk in front of her.

"Hey, beautiful. Ever wanted to try turning up the heat a little? Because I'd happily keep you warm."

Ugg. Why'd she always attract these kinds of bozos? Okay, she'll admit that when she heard Johnny Storm and the other members of the Fantastic Four were arriving in Avengers Tower, she had been thrilled. She was a little star-struck, and she was starting to develop a taste for superheroes (she blamed the Avengers, with their perfect biceps and perfect abs that you could shred cheese on), but her attraction had ended the moment that he had opened his mouth and THAT had poured out. He was a complete and total perv. Eww, no thank you!

"No, I think I'd rather go jump in New York Bay first, thanks," she replied, signing the form she'd just finished filling out and grabbing the next one off the stack. "Don't you have a supervillain to go beat up or something?"

"Nope!" He replied, leaning back on her spare chair and crossing his arms above his head, looking for all the world like he was having the time of his life. "Reed's busy sharing whatever stupid idea he came up with this time with Stark, so he's busy for the next couple hours." The door opened behind him, but he was too busy ranting to notice.

"Come on, why won't you let me take you out?" "Maybe you're just not her type," Natasha replied, making Johnny jump in his seat. Darcy couldn't suppress a smirk. He had had a run-in with Natasha earlier in the day, apparently, and he looked for all the world like he was staring into the face of death. Which, in a way, he was. "Ready for your lesson?" Natasha asked, setting her eyes now on Darcy. Yikes, even though she'd know the woman for two months, she still totally understood Johnny's fear.

"Yeah, I'll be down in ten minutes," she oh-so-casually replied, grabbing her sports bag.

"Make it three," Natasha said, then turned and left the room. Darcy turned to Johnny and said, "Looks like I've got a date," and walked out of her office, not even waiting for him to pick his jaw up off the ground.

“So your type is dark and deadly, huh? Well, I say that you could use a little… heating up.” Darcy couldn’t help rolling her eyes when she heard that voice behind her. Johnny had been pursuing her relentlessly all week. She swore that he was taking her blatant refusal as a challenge. She’d dodging him with JARVIS's help, but he kept popping up in the strangest places. Like Jane’s lab, for instance.

“My type isn’t dark and deadly. It’s just that I have standards, ones that are too high for me to consider you,” she tossed out, not even looking up from the equations she was inputting.

Johnny wolf whistled. “That’s quite the burn, gorgeous. See, this is why we’d be perfect together.” She looked up to glare at him, and he grinned, then (oh my Thor) swaggered towards her. “Admit it: you want me.” Was he… was he posing? Odin help us all.

“No, no I do not. Do me a favor, and leave.” She turned her music back on and turned back to the computer, ignoring him as he whined, “Come on, beautiful, give me a chance. Let me take you out—”

“I believe the lady has made her desires clear,” Thor’s booming voice interjected. She turned around to greet him, and saw Johnny visibly shrink. “She does not wish for you to remain, and thus your best course of action is to leave my lightning sister alone, before she requests your removal.”

Johnny, for his credit, nearly ran out of the room. “Thor, you’re my favorite brother from space,” Darcy said, going over to give him his greeting hug.

“The feeling is thoroughly requited, my little friend,” he said, hugging her back tightly.

Darcy sighed as she finally got to the front of the Starbucks line. It'd taken a good half hour of waiting in line, but it was totally worth it. She loved getting out of the tower to do her two favorite things: drink caffeine, and chat with friends. She was just glad that Pepper had declared one late night after she had seen her still awake after twenty-eight hours straight that all caffeine-containing beverages were to be considered business expenses. There weren't many things better than free coffee. Speaking of which...

"Could I please get one venti quadruple-shot half-and-half caramel macchiato, with double syrup, extra drizzle, and extra whip? The name's Darcy, thanks." She gave her sweetest smile and tried to ignore the way the barista's jaw dropped. "Oh, and a grande sugar-free green tea, please." She was digging through her purse to grab her company credit card when a man next to her said, "I'll pay for her drinks."

She looked up next to her, only to see, "Johnny? You've got to be kidding me." She found her card and handed it to the barista, pushing his hand out of the way in the process.

“Why are you so cold? I was just trying to make sure you got all warmed up!”

"What are you doing here?" She hissed, doing her best to shoot daggers with her eyes, the way Natasha seemed to do so well. He shrugged, following her to wait for her drinks.

"I may have asked around to see where you go in your free time. And when I saw you leaving the tower—"

"You followed me?!" She shrieked, catching the attention of the people around her. She lowered her voice and whispered, "This is really, really not okay. I've told you over and over again, I don't want to go out with you, I don't want to spend time with you, and I just want you to leave me alone. Are you hearing what I'm saying?"

"I know that's what you're saying," Johnny said, still wearing that stupid, cocky smile, "But I know what you really mean is—"

"This guy bothering you, Darcy?" Bruce interrupted, appearing with their drinks and handing her her cup. His body language was perfectly calm, but his eyes were tinged green, and he seemed to radiate anger.

"No, no," Johnny said, "Not bothering her at all. See you at the tower, Darcy."

"No you won't!" She called after his retreating form. She turned to Bruce. "Thanks for that. The guy won't leave me alone."

They sat down at a table and Bruce gazed down at his cup of tea for a few moments before mumbling, "I've never liked men that won't take no for an answer. The other guy doesn't, either."

Darcy couldn't help smiling. "And both of you were my knight in shining armor today! But enough about that jerk. Tell me about your work."

That’s it. Darcy was on the edge of getting a restraining order. Johnny was practically stalking her. She had even talked to Tony, who had passed on the message to Johnny through Reed Richards that he was to stay away from her. She was so glad that the Fantastic Four were going to be leaving today. It had been a long two weeks, and she was looking forward to finally being able to breathe easy. She just had to put up with Tony and Richards’ final lab day together, which all of the other lab assistants had ducked out of, the wimps, and then she was free!

Of course, that was a lot easier said than done. So far she was succeeding, although it had involved a lot of yelling phrases like, “No, don’t try to put JARVIS into that machine!” and “Hold on, Tony, you can’t pour vodka into Red Bull!” and “Stop, Tony, Pepper does not you giving sex advice to Reed and Sue. Yes, she will find out about this. I’ll make sure of it.” Even though Reed was even more arrogant than Tony, which she hadn’t thought was possible, he at least had the sense to follow directions. That was a nice change of pace. He was fairly self-sufficient, although he did lose track of time, much like Banner often did. She could handle that.

At least she had them mostly settled down now. They were just putting the finishing touches on their prototype, while she was running the simulations on the computer with JARVIS’s help to make sure nothing would explode. Or implode. Or create a wormhole. All three were legitimate concerns.

All of a sudden, she felt a hand around her waist, and Johnny’s voice in her ear, saying, “So, baby, you wanna go on that date before I leave?” A cold chill went through her body, and the training Natasha had been drilling into her kicked in. She grabbed his arm, twisted it backwards, and while he was knocked off-balance, kicked his legs out from under him and backed up two steps while he hit the ground. She grabbed her taser, set it for its highest power, and fired it at him before he could get up. As he spasmed on the ground, she ran to the other side of the room, where Tony and Reed were watching the scene as it unfolded.

Reed raised his eyebrows at her, and asked in a half-arrogant, half-amused voice, “Was that really necessary?”

“Look,” Darcy said, still panting from adrenaline, “It was this or a lawsuit. You really wanna go up against Tony’s lawyers?”

Reed looked over at Johnny’s unconscious and slightly-singed body, and said, “It was about time you did it. I was afraid Sue was going to have to. This is probably less painful.”

[unlatinoverde]

Caput Mundi! The capital of the world! This is the Latin name that the ancient Romans gave to their city. Of course, it is no longer the centre of a great empire. However, make no mistake, it is still a stunning travel destination. In fact, the city is overflowing with travel possibilities. Historic ruins? Check! Long walks? Check! Local eateries? Check! Rome ticks all the boxes.

In these days of city breaks, the question is how to make the most of short visit. More to the point, how can you make the most of 24 hours in Rome? 

Welcome to Rome!

Day 1

Check In 

Early morning flights or trains will transport you to the city (see Practicalities below). You can negotiate to check in early at many hotels. This gives you the time to freshen up and relax, so take a shower before you head out to see the sights. Most of the main places of interest are packed into the historic core of Rome. Therefore, it is a good idea to pay a little extra for a central hotel if you are able to be flexible with your budget. The Pantheon area is well-located and scores high points in terms of impressive historic monuments. 

  Lunch in Historic Rome at La Lupa 

Relax outside at La Lupa

When in Rome, do as the Romans do! Well, they love their food in this country. Therefore,  you might as well start your trip with a local lunch. Head up towards Piazza di Spagna where you will find Antica Osteria La Lupa. Although the food may be unspectacular, the setting is gorgeous. Sit on the terrace outside and feel as if you are a million miles away from the tourist masses a few streets away.

Via della Lupa 6, 00186 Rome 

Explore Rome on Foot 

Pizza di Spagna 

Sit on the iconic Spanish Steps

When you’ve eaten your fill, it will be time to get started on your walking tour of the city. Head to Piazza di Spagna where you will find the iconic Spanish Steps. All life is here! It’s the place where tourists and locals alike sit, chat and just watch the world go by. The fountain at the bottom is a photographer’s dream. In consequence, you will have to compete for space to take your shots with the world, his wife and her mother. Once you’ve survived the photo shoot, dodge the bodies and make your way to the top of the steps where the Trinità dei Monti church is located. Again, this is another great place to get good photos. In this case, you will have views down the steps and panoramas of Rome in the background.

Villa Borghese 

View from Villa Borghese to Piazza del Popolo

Villa Borghese is perhaps best known for its museum and art gallery. However, a walk in the neighbouring gardens is free. La passegiata is a truly Italian tradition and you can expect to see couples and families wandering around on a sunny day. There are plenty park benches, so no need to worry about getting tired. Make sure to take a peek down into Piazza del Popolo, one of the most famous squares in central Rome.

Via delle Quattro Fontane 

The enchanting via delle Quattro Fontane

Now it’s time to backtrack to Trinità dei Monti. Don’t worry! There is a good reason for this and you won’t be disappointed. Via delle Quattro Fontane is a long and hilly street that elevates street art to a new level. Walk up the street to the intersection with Via Quirinale and Via Venti Settembre where the four classical statues are located. There is a statue with a fountain on each street corner, hence the name ‘Street of the Four Fountains’. The two bearded male figures represent the Tiber (Tevere) and Arno rivers, while the female figures are the Roman goddesses Diana and Giunone. The sculptures are intricate in detail and it’s one of the city’s secret places.  You won’t have to battle the masses to take photos. In fact, this is a place that invites you to linger.

Trajan’s Forum and Il Vittoriano 

View into the Trajan’s Forum at sunset

Continue straight along Via delle Quattro Fontane until you reach Via Nazionale. There, you should take a right and head down in the direction of Piazza Venezia. On your way you will come across Trajan’s Forum, another reminder of the imperial history of the city. Dominated by the imposing Trajan’s Column, many consider this to be the greatest of the imperial fora. Should you have time, it is also thought to be best to visit it before you go the Roman Forum (separate tickets required). It apparently helps you to put everything in perspective. If you arrive too late for a visit, it is another great place just to stop and look.

Once you finish admiring it and taking photos, continue on to Piazza Venezia. The nearby Vittoriano was built to honour Italy’s first king. It is an imposing structure that is worth a daytime visit to see panoramas of the city and the surrounding mountains. However, it is clearly militaristic and not particularly loved by the local populace.

Dinner at Antico Arco

I may look tired, but it was worth it for the bread!

Antico Arco, located near Villa Doria Pamphilj, generates a lot of buzz. Note that the location will require a taxi (ten euro each way from the centre). Overall, I can recommend it, although my meal there with a friend can perhaps best be summed up as ‘fireworks and flops’. First, the fireworks were my starter (a deconstructed kebab), the amuse-bouches served between the courses (a fava bean soup and a mini dessert of orange and chocolate crumb), and also the bread, which was some of the best I ever tasted. However, the lamb main was unspectacular and the actual dessert had an overpowering taste spicy taste. It was a little disappointing given that the restaurant often receives rave reviews. Your call!

Budget on about 150 euro for a meal for two including wine.

Piazza Aurelio 7, 00152 Rome

Those who want to finish the day with a dose of Roman nightlife might check out the trendy Bar del Fico near Piazza Navona. On the other hand, you may be dog tired after the day and decide to save your energy for the following morning. In this case, a letto!

  Day 2

Breakfast With A View 

Breakfast may be free, but the view is priceless

Why not enjoy a typical Italian breakfast of a brioche, coffee and juice in Piazza della Rotonda?  The square is absolutely enchanting. After all, it isn’t every day that you get the opportunity to have breakfast accompanied by views of an almost fully intact Roman monument. Also, it’s Rome, so you can just enjoy people watching and soaking up the atmosphere. Ristorante Di Rienzo has great views of the Pantheon.  If you stay at the reasonably priced Di Rienzo Palace, they will include breakfast in the price of your room.

Explore More Rome on Foot 

The Pantheon

View towards the entrance in the Pantheon

For better or worse, the Pantheon is now a Roman Catholic church. As a result, there are restrictions on your visit. For example, you can hardly go in to take photos if there is a service taking place. However, you should certainly see its vast interior when you are in Rome. This incredible edifice gives you a sense of how the city looked like in its imperial heyday. Along with the Colosseum, it is a place that transports you back to ancient Rome and it is almost perfectly preserved.

As it is a church, signs tell you to dress respectably, not to make noise and not to use flash photography. The fact that the Catholic Church decided to use it as a church enabled it to survive in its current form. On the other hand, it somehow just doesn’t feel right for many visitors. After all, it still looks and feels like a Roman monument.

Free entrance

Opening Hours:

9-19:30 Monday-Saturday, 9-18:00 Sunday and  9-13:00 on Public Holidays

  Chiesa di Sant’Agostino

Madonna di Loreto by Caravaggio

Another church! It’s Rome! About a ten minute walk from Piazza della Rotonda, you will find Chiesa di Sant’Agostino, which gives its name to the piazza where it is located. From the outside, it may appear uninspiring. However, wait till you see the artwork inside. Apart from art by Raphael and Sansovino, the highlight of a visit must be the Madonna di Loreto by Caravaggio. Seeing this piece of art is a true ‘wow’ moment.

Piazza Navona

La Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Piazza Navona

Just a five minute walk from Chiesa di Sant’Agostino, Piazza Navona packs a punch. In a city of fountains, you will find three masterpieces here. Its centrepiece is the magnificent Bernini Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, but the Fontana del Moro and the Fontana del Nettuno, which are found at either end of the piazza, are also stunning. View the square from the arched entrance of the nearby Museo di Roma. This place is a highlight of a trip to Rome!

The Trevi Fountain

Can you find the lady at the Trevi Fountain?

Make your way over to the Trevi Fountain. Is it touristy? Yes. Do you need to be careful there? Yes, there are pickpockets. Should you see it? Yes, yes and YES again! Not only is it the largest Baroque fountain in the world, but it is arguably the most beautiful fountain in the world. Under a clear blue Roman sky, the Trevi Fountain positively sparkles. Of course, the secret is out and has been for a few centuries. However, no visit to Rome is complete without seeing it and you may want to go back again and again. Why? Because it looks different but equally captivating whether you visit in the early morning, during the day or at night. According to local superstition,  you will return to Rome if you throw a coin in. Indeed, maybe you will want to return as soon as you see the Trevi Fountain.

Full frontal view of the Trevi Fountain

Toss a coin into the fountain to return to Rome

Side view of the Trevi Fountain

Lunch at Spaghetteria L’Archetto 

Spahetteria L’Archetto. This is a real find. Serving a more than comprehensive range of pasta and pizza, it attracts both locals and tourists alike. You can either eat outside on the terrace or inside in the main restaurant. Although it is not located far from the Trevi Fountain, prices are really reasonable. The service is helpful and the food is tasty. What better way to finish off your trip to Rome!

Via dell’Archetto 26, 00187 Rome

Practicalities

Getting There and Away 

Rome has two major airports. All the main airlines use Fiumicino and it has links to other destinations in Italy as well as other destinations in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The Leonardo Express train runs to Roma Termini Station every 30 minutes and costs 11 euro. The price of a taxi has apparently been capped at 48 euro due to complaints about tourist scams. Ciampino is often used by low cost airlines such as Ryanair and it is located closer to the city. However, there are no train services, although buses take about 40 minutes to reach central Rome.

Trenitalia offers train services throughout the country. It is a good idea to book your tickets in advance. Be warned that the website is a bit unwieldy to use. Trains from Milan take about three hours, while similar express services from Venice and Florence take 4 hours and a little over 1 hour respectively.

Accommodation 

There is accommodation for all budgets in Rome. Di Rienzo Palace, near the Pantheon, is highly recommended. A single here costs around 80 euro per night and includes breakfast at their restaurant in Piazza della Rotonda. The bathrooms are sumptuous and the rooms are more than adequate. Also, you can laze on the rooftop sun terrace on a warm day. Salvi, who manages the hotel, speaks fluent English and provides a friendly welcome to the city. Take this as a rave review from this traveller and I’m not paid to give recommendations!

Bathroom at Di Rienzo Palace, Rome

Many travellers wax lyrical about Trastevere and it could be the place to go if you want more of a local experience. There are apparently some really good AirBnB apartments and rooms available if you book early enough.

Food  

Foodies should note that Trastevere again gets top marks from travellers for the quality of its local eateries.

Rome is touristy and this has an impact on both price and quality. Stay away from the main tourist attractions and you will find good value restaurants. Travellers staying in central Rome will find good bargains if they are prepared to do a bit of footwork. Spaghetteria L’Archetto (mentioned above) is excellent value and most dishes cost less than 10 euro.

Warning 

Rome is touristy. Therefore, you have to be careful of pickpockets around all the major tourist sites. Don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket and be careful in crowds such as when you travel on buses and trains. Take particular care in Termini Station. Just to give you a flavour of this, a gang of gypsy children surrounded me at the underground station in Termini a few years ago. Although they got nothing, they managed to slit every pocket in my trousers!

Relax outside at La Lupa

Sit on the iconic Spanish Steps

View from Villa Borghese to Piazza del Popolo

The enchanting via delle Quattro Fontane

View into the Roman Forum at sunset

I may look tired, but it was worth it for the bread!

Breakfast may be free, but the view is priceless

View towards the entrance in the Pantheon

Madonna di Loreto by Caravaggio

Piazza Navona

Side view of the Trevi Fountain

Direct view of the Trevi Fountain

Toss a coin into the coin to return to Rome

Can you find the lady at the Trevi Fountain?

How to Make the Most of Rome in 24 Hours Caput Mundi! The capital of the world! This is the Latin name that the ancient Romans gave to their city.