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#aether & moon cloud/fluff/star
pronoun-asks · 1 year
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Heyo, could I get two different checks? First one for the names Juniper and Juni with 🌸/🌸s, 🎀/🎀s and cute/cutes and the second for the names Aether and Moon with cloud/clouds, fluff/fluffs and star/stars
I really like collecting labels, monster cans and candles - @bubblepop-ships
Hi Juni! I love your names!
Juniper/Juni, 🌸/🎀/cute
I met someone who likes to collect monster cans and candles. 🌸s name is Juniper, but cute goes by Juni for short too. I wonder what 🎀s favorite monster energy drink is. I've never had one before, so maybe I'll try it. Collecting candles is also neat. Maybe 🌸 has a favorite scent. Some do seem better than others, but maybe Juniper won't agree with that. Juni has some unique collections. I wonder how 🎀 began cutes collections.
Aether/Moon, cloud/fluff/star
Moon also collects labels. That's neat too! I wonder what kind of labels cloud collects. There are so many labels fluff could have. Maybe fluff could tell us about stars collection, any of fluffs collections, really. Cloud also has some cool names. Like one of clouds names is also Aether! That's so cool of star! I like stars "themes" too!
I hope Aether has a good day, Moon's collections grow, and Juniper takes care of 🌸self!
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lumiconic · 1 year
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♪ — NIGHTMARE
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❥ summary: comforting them after a terrible nightmare
❥ characters: xiao ; lumine ; aether
❥ content: angst, fluff, reverse comfort, gn reader
❥ note: woohoo lumine content!! i hope this is suited to your liking @sh1-n0bu :D !! i am SOso sorry ab how long it took 😭
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♪ XIAO
he feels the familiar ache of a bad dream, like a sickness in the pit of his stomach, as soon as he opens his eyes to a mist-shrouded world smelling of blood and that unmistakable stench of death. he looks around, his muscles tensed, chin tucked into his chest, knowing he's dreadfully unprepared for whatever horrors are conjured for him this time. 
a terrifying, sour taste of bile rises in his throat as his gaze lands on a familiar person, lying with eyes open and blankly staring at nothing, and he falls to his knees as though someone has knocked the air out of him, gasping wildly for breath and finding none. that person is you, and all at once the understanding that this isn't real is gone in a flash and he's pulling at your shoulders and crying your name as though it'll magically rouse you from the dead --
his eyes open suddenly to peaceful quiet and your arms wrapped around him, whispering soft reassurances. a leaf drifts in through the window, moonlight highlighting your concerned features as his breathing slows, posture melting into a limp exhaustion, and you pull back, clutching his hands and asking if he's okay.
the sound of soft wind and gently rushing water pours back into his ears. he places a hand on his forehead, pushing back locks of green shaded hair, cast into shadow by the awkward lighting. "just ... a nightmare," he says slowly, the words almost a prayer to reassure himself.
"it wasn't real," you prompt, achingly aware of that constant vision that appears in his mind what seems like every time he falls asleep. "i'm here, right?" he nods, taking a deep breath. you smile anxiously. "see? you don't have to worry. everything's fine." 
and it is, truly; he knows this reoccuring nightmare is irrational, but he can't remember to turn away when he's deep in his own mind, seeing the person who he loves most in the world dead on the ground. it's just impossible, for him to ignore this, because even with that nausea that clues him in, he would never be able to forgive himself if it happened in real life and he dismissed it.
his throat is drily hoarse and he breathes slowly and carefully, and your voice is clouded once more with sleep as you lace your fingers between his. "is there anything you need? water, or something to eat, anything i can help with?" he shakes his head. you being there is all he needs, a temporary solution to help convince his mind that everything is fine, and it is, and the relief hits him all at once with a bright clarity that brings a clear easiness to his face, softening the sharp, fearful features. 
you smile at him sleepily, closing your eyes. a bird sings a short note outside, and he sinks back into a deep sleep, holding your hand like a lifeline, and when he dreams this time, it's of you and him lying in a field of bright flowers and looking at the sky.
♪ LUMINE
her dream is a kind one at first, a picnic full of sunshine deep in a beautiful forest with you and aether and paimon, and she almost aches with joy at the warm smiles that surround her and the peacefulness that resides softly within her chest. 
but then the trees and the picnic crumble away and the scene flashes into midnight, clouds covering the moon, and aether's face falls into an empty, dead-eyed stare wearing a long black robe speckled with tiny stars, abyss mages appearing behind him, and paimon whirls into a monstrous version of the unknown god that stole him away from her, and you melt and reform into a horrible thing with viciously sharp teeth, and elongated limbs that don't suit your body, and she's surrounded on all sides --
you whisper her name into her ear -- "lumine! " -- and she sits up straight, panting with fear. you reach for her, fearful pity on your face, her gaze wildly unfocused as her head snaps around in different directions. she lashes out, slapping your arm away with blind, terrified fury, barely a heartbeat and a provocation away from slashing at you with her sword, momentarily unable to tell reality from that disgustingly real nightmare.
you scramble away, as far as you can get without falling off the bed, and you hold both hands in the air, whispering in a gentle voice, "hey -- hey, lumi. it's just me, okay? it's just me." she inhales, clasping her trembling hands in her lap, and holds it for five seconds, making eye contact with you. 
when the breath rushes out of her, the tension leaves her shoulders, and she slumps against the headboard, rigid and motionless with an angry expression on her face. you move closer and place a hand on her arm. "are you okay? you were saying something, in your sleep, so i t-thought -- " you stammer, tripping over your tongue for a moment as she looks at you stiffly, "i thought i should wake you up, should i not have?" 
you worry for a moment that the leftover wisps of rage, that overpowering anger that fills her and seems to take up her entire mind so there's no room left to be scared, will be directed at you when her mouth opens, brows furrowing, but it's just a heavy sigh that escapes her lips. "i ... yeah. thanks. i just need a second."
you reach over and flick the light on, throwing the room into sharp relief. you sit in silence as she stares at her hands, words on the tip of her tongue that she's unable to say yet. she knows the irrational anger that bubbles up to drown the terror and painfulness of that dream, with its hints of reality that she never wants to believe, is stifling and poisonous, but for now it just feels so much easier to let the sour irritation win rather than the truer all consuming fear. 
she feels your presence without looking up, your calm steadiness there beside her, and when her face crumples and she leans back and covers her eyes, you wrap your arms around her, and suddenly her dream feels so far away as she presses her face into your shoulder and you whisper that it's going to be okay.
♪ AETHER
he is almost painfully aware that it's a dream from the start, just from the way the deep blue sky shimmers with stars that shine from behind soft puffs of pale gray clouds. it looks too perfect to be real, and when he takes his eyes off the sky, he's sure of it, after he sees the hordes of familiar faces and you holding his hand, tucking a pristine golden petaled flower behind his ear. 
he searches the crowd eagerly and there she is, lumine, waiting with open arms and a tearful smile, and just as he brushes hands with his sister at long last, and the voices of the crowd rise to a joyful roar, and it feels like everything in the world is finally right --
he awakes with a horrible, empty longing cemented deeply inside him, a feeling like he'll never be whole again and his heart was ripped from his chest in a single blow, refusing to let the aftershocks stop. his eyes are glazed over and he shakes, body trembling with held in cries. 
your eyes widen; for all you had known, the dream he'd been having was a pleasant one, his lips forming a smile in his sleep that you were admiring when he awoke. you cup his face, unsure of what to do but wanting to comfort him in this moment, "a-aether," you say helplessly. "what's wrong?"
he bursts into sobs, clutching at you with white knuckles as tears pour down his face. you hold him tight to your chest, rubbing small circles into his back, and close your eyes with a pained breath. "it's okay, it's okay ... deep breaths ... " your quiet humming, while brutal loneliness thrums in the depths of his chest, is a paradoxical feeling. he knows you're there, knows you haven't left, and yet he feels heartbreakingly alone and like he'd give anything in the world for you to remain there. 
it gets easier as time goes on, as everything; as the moments blink by, your voice dimming to a softer whisper, he finds his eyelids growing heavier again, and the constant longing in the back of his mind lifts slowly like a fog bank dissipating, until his mind is as clear as it's going to get and he drifts into a dreamless gray mindscape. 
his dream is an unfathomable reality, a happy ending where he gets to stay with you and his sister and all the friends he made in teyvat; something he knows would be nothing short of a miracle to come true, and maybe the sudden sourness was a warning by his own subconscious that this was an impossibility. 
but at least he hopes -- at least he wishes with all his heart and maybe allows himself to believe it could be his reality -- that you'll be always with him, the one constant on whose side he can still stand by the time his journey comes to an close.
and if that could be the one dream of his that ends up coming true maybe it could be a shield from the inevitable sorrow that will accompany the end; after all, you are the most perfectly unbelievable thing of all, and he counts his lucky stars every day that you're with him.
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thank you so much for reading, and pls leave a like + reblog + follow if you enjoyed!!
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alatusprinz · 2 years
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" all that glitters is not gold . "
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- vera's melancholy . ( masterpost/mlist . )
★ - angst . | ✧ - fluff . | ♥ - smut / nsfw . | ♤ - dark content .
land of winds and idylls - mondstadt .
albedo / kreideprinz
♥ ♤- telling them about your cnc kink .
★♤ his red flag in relationship .
★✧ his insecurities in a relationship .
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
✧trivial things they do in that make you fall in love all over again
♤yan!genshin x abandonment issues/insecure darling
♥calling him good boy in bed
diluc ragnvindr
★♤ his red flag in relationship .
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
kaeya alberich
★ ♤his red flag in relationship .
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
venti / barbatos
★♤ his red flag in relationship .
jade moon upon a sea of clouds - liyue .
xiao / alatus
♥♤ - telling them about your cnc kink .
✧ - entry x - my alatus .
★♤ his red flag in relationship .
★✧ his insecurities in a relationship .
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
✧ not-so-ordinary study date
♥ my oath to you - oneshot smut with plot basically
✧trivial things they do in that make you fall in love all over again
♤yan!genshin x abandonment issues/insecure darling
♥ beatitude - first time with xiao
✧drummer!college au!xiao brainrot
♥calling him good boy in bed
zhongli / morax
blank .
realm of tranquil eternity - inazuma .
arataki itto
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
gorou
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
kaedehara kazuha
★♤ his red flag in relationship .
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
✧ asking him "what are we?"
✧trivial things they do in that make you fall in love all over again
♤yan!genshin x abandonment issues/insecure darling
♥calling him good boy in bed
kamisato ayato
blank .
thoma
blank .
shikanoin heizou
♥ ♤- telling them about your cnc kink .
✧cute things they do + how they show their love
everwinter without mercy - snezhnaya.
tartaglia / childe / ajax
★ his red flag in relationship .
pantalone / regrator
blank .
dottore / the doctor
blank .
scaramouche / wanderer
★♤ his red flag in relationship .
✧ asking him "what are we?"
✧trivial things they do in that make you fall in love all over again
✧midnight endeavors - fluff oneshot
jealousy/reader telling him she's going on a date
♥calling him good boy in bed
the morn a thousand roses brings - sumeru.
tighnari
✧ cute things they do + how they show their love
✧ asking him "what are we?"
✧trivial things they do in that make you fall in love all over again
✧our prelude and beyond - slowburn fluff
cyno
✧ asking him "what are we?"
✧trivial things they do in that make you fall in love all over again
the star from afar - [ blank ] .
aether
✧ cute things they do + how they show their love
multi chapter series:
Matsuri masterlist - Drummer!Xiao x Reader x Artist!Scaramouche (Modern/Uni!AU)
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trashasaurusrex · 2 years
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Sick of the Silence (an FFXIV Lin one shot story)
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I wrote this in one day and it made me appreciate writers of all kinds much much more. I am bad with words xD
Was brainstorming some backstory stuff for FF!Lin, and ended up writing all of this. It involves Lindsey dealing with her powers, getting more Questions, and has a bit of fluff at the end. This takes place during the events of Stormblood. Enjoy!
(Story under the break)
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Silent, cold, and dark was the night, and its sky covered all of Gyr Abania. The stars glittered along the dark sheet, telling stories of old heroes and legends with each formation they presented. In the center of it all, Menphina’s half-moon shined brightly, clouds draping over it gently like sheer fabric. Underneath this display lies a Hyur woman gazing up above to the deity’s symbol, contemplating several happenings in recent days. More importantly, her struggles with her aether. She stood tall with her conventional, but dashing, red mage uniform, representing the almost forgotten art and its lost champions. Her hair was neatly tied back with only a few strands escaping the red band. Her lips were covered with a scarlett rouge red paint, and her eyes shined in between the shades of her eyeshadow. Despite the situation with the Resistance and Garlemald, she found ways to include her normal hobbies in her schedule, including makeup. Alas, it wasn’t enough to get her to stop thinking about recent events. 
Lindsey McKales, the Hyur woman, stood with crossed arms just outside of Rhalgr’s Reach on top of a high cliff that looked down at the Fringes. She looked up at the moon’s glow with wonder and questioning. Why? Why does this get worse, now? This…curse? Surely, Bluma had helped her figure this out in the Shroud, and yet, here she was. A theory in the young woman’s mind was that due to her aetheric abilities getting stronger, the void magics within her would swell. And, strangely, the phases of the moon would affect her condition, sometimes greatly.
The "curse" in question? Many summers ago, Lindsey had gained a strange, dangerous power that was quite similar to that of a voidsent's. It would alter her body and form, making her vulnerable to the void's influence. It also granted her great power, having her take on an altered form of a wolf. Monstrous, dark, and deadly, she had no choice but to hide it. Bluma, one of her closest friends, helped her control any urges she might have had and taught her how to balance her aetherial magicks and retain control. Due to Lindsey's frivolous nature, she took advantage of her progress and turned by herself, occasionally, to better understand her new form. But ever since joining the Resistance, she no longer had that kind of privilege.
Irritated, Lindsey looked down and shook her head with a growl, her lips curling up to form a snarl. “You had to make this even more difficult, didn’t you?” She looked back up to the moon. The bright figure reflected in Lindsey’s intense eyes, almost to say something, and yet, no answer was given directly. Lindsey waited for some sort of sign, then groaned when the land stayed silent. “Well! Guess I’m not gettin’ an answer anytime soon. I’ll find out, eventually.” With a defeated shrug, she made her way down the rocks and back to Rhalgr’s Reach, hopefully to something non-devastating or stressful. On her walk back, she couldn’t help but replay the events of the other night. 
---------------------
Alone in the Barber, Lindsey administered a few of her concoctions to her bruises and scars from a previous battle. She hissed at the scrapes that were fresher as she applied the medicine. With a raised brow, she looked up to see if anybody had heard her pained vocals. Luckily, no one was around just yet. Unsure of how many people were out, she decided to get up and check to see how many folks were still awake, and walk off any of the pain she had felt while she did so. She raised herself off the bed, sheathed her rapier and made her way to the center of Rhalgr’s Reach. As she looked around, she spotted a good amount of her allies conversing with one another. Being part of the rebellion was a good thing, she thought, and it was this that allowed her to meet a few people who would prove to be lifelong friends. However, it was a true test of her abilities and character. 
She recognized a few of the people still wandering, one of them being Ariale Albilon, a new friend she had made shortly after joining the Resistance. Lindsey thought about walking over to say hello, however, she decided against it soon after. Ari was already suspicious of Lindsey’s strange behavior, and seemed to have more questions every time they met up. Intelligent, inquisitive, and perceptive, she would have to know about Lindsey’s curse someday, whether it be through careful observation or straight from Lindsey’s mouth. She wasn’t quite ready to explain it all just yet, though. Hells, she hardly even knew how to explain it, other than saying, ‘I turn into a freaky dog at night.’ Lindsey smacked her lips together and made a slight grimace, then swiftly made herself scarce to avoid any questions. 
She slipped into the shadows, away from any curious eyes, and looked around to make sure no one had followed. She spared a few moments to make sure she was in the clear. As soon as she felt ready, she continued her walk around the base, making sure to stay under the shade. Suddenly, she stopped. Slowly creeping up her spine, a chill sent shivers through her body. A strange presence was nearby and she couldn’t tell what it was. All she could do was sense it. She calmly stood in the dark, eyes darting back and forth. She lifted her head up slowly and listened for any odd sounds, eyes still looking for anything suspicious. Unable to find any clues through this, she closed her eyes and took in the air surrounding her trying to pick up a scent, and lo, she did. It was foul, and quite familiar. A type of familiar that made the hairs raise on her arms. With her curiosity heightened, and a sense of danger on the side, she decided to investigate the situation further. She took one last look at the area before walking off to find a trail.
The moon that night was full, so it lightened the land beautifully. Lindsey couldn’t help but appreciate the natural lighting while she walked out of the base. As Lindsey moved away from Rhalgr’s Reach, the presence she had felt grew much stronger, and her body started to feel heavy. She muttered to herself in an annoyed, breathy voice, “what the fuck is this thing?” Her answer would come after following the now very clear trail of aether it, whatever it was, had left. She walked nonchalantly as she followed the trail. However, the closer she got, the more it began to fade away. Realizing she didn’t have much time, she began to run alongside the path, following it all the way to Schism, a landmark in Gyr Abania. She ran up to the stairs of the temple, and took a moment to observe her surroundings, including Schism. The scent was unmistakable, at this point; whatever she was following was waiting inside. She ran up the steps and into the temple, only stopping once she was completely inside. Then, she let herself tread slower. The steps of her boots sounded throughout the temple, the heels causing a ‘clack’ to echo with every step. Her eyes wandered all over the structure, and met with the entryway to the next room as she approached it. Her body felt even heavier, and yet, she still walked on. Her feet were suddenly harder to lift, even for her. Without warning, she felt the tip of her shoe hit a stack of broken tiles on the floor, and nearly tripped and fell. “Fuck, fuck!” She regained her balance and stepped over the broken tiles. At this point, she was losing her patience.
She adjusted her posture, and looked down the path that led deeper into the temple. She exclaimed, “Hey! Might as well show yourself, now! The only way outta here is through me!” Her voice echoed throughout the temple, alarming anything that was in it. “Or, I guess if you can use, like, aether, you’re fine…” she said in a quieter tone. She groaned and continued walking into the temple, the light from outside becoming dimmer and dimmer as the shadows enveloped her path. Lindsey treaded carefully through the darkened entryway and made her way down a small flight of stairs. Small cracks in the ceiling allowed some light to seep in, just enough to lighten parts of the path. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard nearby. Slow, gentle footsteps that sounded like they were coming from the path straight ahead. She stopped to look for anything odd, and placed her hand on the handle of her rapier. Her head turned to every corner of the room, yet nothing could be seen. Slowly, she started to feel a light brush against her neck, light enough to send shivers down her body. 
“LINDSEY…”
As clear as day, she heard someone call her name. Something. It was as if the thing was right next to her ear. She quickly turned her body towards the presence and unsheathed her weapon. “Listen, I don’t like doing this sneaky shite, alright? Get out and show yourself already!” She responded aggressively. The entity which called her was nowhere to be found, though its presence was still there. She swayed her sword left and right as she looked for the voice’s owner. She turned back to the path up ahead, and her eyes widened at the sight.
A dark figure, covered in shadows, stood calmly in the middle of the path. The face couldn’t be seen, if there even was a face to be seen. Some sort of black liquid oozed off of the figure, fully visible to Lindsey’s eyes. They kept their head low, and their posture was slouched. Lindsey’s brows furrowed as she approached the figure. “I dunno why you were in Reach, but I can suggest some more scenic places that aren’t in the middle o-” Her voice cut off. Her body was completely anchored by a dark, powerful force. She dropped to her knees and lost the grip she had on her weapon, letting it fall to the floor. “W-what?!” The dark figure watched Lindsey as she struggled, and slowly raised their hand to reach out for her. They began walking towards her, slowly but surely. Their voice was much less clear, now, and they began to whisper to her. 
“…succumb…
…Strength…cannot…
…lost…”
A dark cloud began to envelop Lindsey, weighing her down even more than before. She felt her throat fill with a warm, foul liquid, much like how it did the first time she transformed. She coughed and gagged, and spat out a tar-like substance onto the floor, leaving a small puddle of it in front of herself. With all her strength, she tried to raise herself from the ground. Whatever this thing was, it was making her want to transform.
“This is…mine. I…control this!” She tried to shout at the figure with a weakened, raspy voice. She looked up to the figure with anger and determination, but couldn’t keep herself up that much longer. 
“I’m sorry…
…I cannot…” 
As the last words of the entity were whispered, Lindsey’s vision faded to black. 
The dawn of a new day appeared, and its rays of light shined through the cracks in the temple’s ceiling. Slowly, one gently shined on the Hyur’s cheek, greeting her warmly after the haunting ordeal from the night before. Today’s a new day, little mortal. Wake up and rise from your slumber…
The sun’s warm rays began to shine into her eyes, tempting the woman to open them and finally wake. Or, simply turn to avoid the light. She groaned, and did exactly that. Once her body was turned over, her face landed on a warm, wet spot on the ground. Extremely fatigued, but still curious, Lindsey rose her head to see what she rested her face on. It was black. She quickly picked herself up and moved away from the spot, realizing that it was the puddle she made from the previous night. The previous night, she remembered. She looked up to the spot where the mysterious figure had stood. There seemed to be no trace of them whatsoever. Lindsey furrowed her brows, puzzled by the situation. “Aw, gods dammit! Did I…crash here?” She groaned. She rubbed her chin with her sleeve, hoping to rid her face of any drool she might have had. When she looked at her arm, however, she saw black ink smeared on the red fabric of her outfit. Her mouth was covered in the black substance, meaning this attempt at the transformation was…a bit more violent than usual. It was troubling.
“Ugh…I’m sure I made someone worry. Well…how should the story go this time…?” Her voice trailed off, and she began to hum to herself a silly tune. She made her way out of the temple and back to Rhalgr’s Reach. Strangely enough, she found a broken bottle on the ground, most likely for alcohol. From there, she knew what to say to anyone who was curious about her whereabouts. The rest is history.
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The night sky still covered the land with darkness, yet the moon and the stars shined light where needed. Lindsey continued her walk back to Rhalgr’s Reach, replaying the memory in her head over and over. Something about that individual seemed familiar, and yet, she couldn’t quite put a finger on it. She was glad that she was able to lie to everyone and label her wanderings as a “drunken adventure.” However, a lie can only last for so long. 
Lindsey confidently strolled into the base with an exaggerated swagger. She waved to anybody she recognized and flirtatiously blew a few kisses to the women she liked. After her greetings, she made her way northeast of Rhalgr’s Reach, where a calm waterfall flowed down the rocks. Waiting by the waterfall was a blue-haired, blue-eyed viera with freckles that peppered her face like the stars do the sky. She stood near the rocks to hide from any wandering eyes. Lindsey approached her with a flirtatious smirk, hoping to butter her up before the conversation started. 
“Hey, Bluieee! Did you miss meee?”
The viera, Bluma, looked up at her friend with a smile. She chortled, and nodded. “You were only gone for a few moments.”
“Yeah, well, those few moments were like, super torturous, right?”
“I was finally able to do my research during those quiet moments.” She chuckled teasingly.
Lindsey’s mouth hung agape. She scoffed at the comment, and placed her hands on her hips. “Alright, then I’ll just leave. And take my sweet bee-hind with me!” She turned around and began walking away. “Enjoy your books, four-eyes!”
Bluma giggled. “But you wanted to talk, not I.”
The red mage froze in her tracks. She slowly turned back around to look at her friend. “Ohhh, right…glad you remembered.” She looked at Bluma with a goofy smile on her face, and walked back to her. She nodded at the viera, happy to have her company.
Bluma nodded, and pulled over a small satchel hanging on her side to bring out a journal. Lindsey watched as she did this, a little confused as to why she was seemingly preparing to write something. 
“Hey, are you gonna record everything I say?!”
“Nooo, I wanted to show you something after you said your part.”
Lindsey paused. For a moment, she wanted to continue questioning, but she shook her head and got back on track. “Um, right, whatever. Anyways! Listen, remember that night where I was uh, ‘drunk?’”
“Mhm.” The viera nodded attentively.
“Ok, so like…you know that was a whole round of buffalo shite, right?”
“Um…well…” Bluma lifted her hand to her mouth, hesitant on commenting any further.
“Just say it.”
“Y-yes, though…I don’t think anyone else suspects anything.”
Lindsey slumped her shoulders and rolled her eyes. “Uuuugh…it seems like nothing can get past you.”
Bluma shook her head. “No, no, it was just intuition that time.”
“Well, can you, like…stop being so intuition-y?” She jabbed Bluma’s forehead with her sharp, pink nail. “You don’t have to know everything that I do!”
Bluma rubbed her forehead, where Lindsey had left a slight mark. “But if you didn’t want me to know this, then why did you want to tell me?”
“I didn’t! I just knew that YOU knew!”
“I’m sorry! I’m just…”
An awkward silence came between them, both unsure of how to continue the conversation. Bluma took a moment to look at the cover of her journal, debating on whether or not she should even bring up her findings. With a deep breath, she brushed through the pages, and looked up at Lindsey with a smile. “If it’s alright, may I show you my piece?”
Lindsey looked at Bluma, surprised. She felt bad about her little outburst, but was happy that Blu didn’t lose interest in the conversation.  “Um…sure, go ahead.”
Bluma smiled and sat on the ground, patting a spot next to her for Lindsey to sit. The red mage perked up, and made her way to the spot next to Bluma, plopping down eagerly. Bluma nodded and began to turn through her journal to find a specific page. She landed on a section about white and black magic, specifically how it’s used by Red Mages. “Look at this! What we hypothesized was close after all!” Lindsey looked closely at the pages. A drawing of a blonde girl with her hair red at the tips was on one page, with several notes taken near it. 
Lindsey paused for a moment. “Umm…what am I looking at here?”
Bluma eagerly nodded. “I might have found a connection to your condition. You see, this girl, I believe her name was Arya, suffered from a condition where if she practiced her magicks too often, or over-exerted herself, she would lose control and become hostile to just about anyone. In this case, however, a separate entity was fighting for control over her.” She looked back up at Lindsey with worrisome eyes. “Do you think that might be the case for you?”
Lindsey blinked, trying to process the new knowledge Bluma had brought up. “Uhhhh…” She paused to think to herself for a moment. “It’s…complicated. Sometimes, I feel like it’s something working against me, but sometimes, it’s like…” 
Bluma watched Lindsey explain, attentive to every detail. 
“Like…it’s just me. The only downside is like, I get insanely hungry…and tired.”
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“Hungry is right.” Bluma couldn’t help but giggle. “Though, I suppose that’s similar to the voidsents’ need to feast on living aether…” She turned back to the pages and continued to read what she had written. “There used to be mages that would ingest the blood of voidsent for powers beyond our imagination. So, I suppose this isn’t entirely new.”
“Hmm…so somebody decided to mix their loot with my drink, did they?”
Bluma shrugged. “I doubt that, but maybe that concept can lead us to different cases.”
“I guess…”
Another pause came between them, this time, much more relaxed. Lindsey turned the pages and found more notes about the topic throughout them. She was impressed, and a bit flattered that even after all this time, Bluma was still interested in helping her. She stopped on a page filled with only writing and looked back to Bluma. “Um…hey, Blu? How did you get all of this stuff in the first place?”
Bluma looked up at Lindsey, unsure of how to answer. Then, she smiled softly, and gently placed her index finger over her lips. “You don’t have to know everything I do. I have my ways.” She winked slyly. 
Lindsey’s eyes widened. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the callback. “Touche.”
Bluma giggled. She placed the journal on the ground in between them, just in case Lindsey wanted to flip through the pages a bit more. “Anyroad, feel free to browse my research any time! Especially if it can give you peace of mind.”
“Um…thanks.”
Bluma looked at Lindsey with a warm smile, and nodded approvingly. “My pleasure.”
“Right…um, Blu?”
Bluma looked up at her friend, a brow slightly raised due to her curiosity. “Yes?”
“Look, uh…you do a lot. I don’t want my stupid shite to clog that brain of yours. You’re fun to be around when we’re not talking about dramatic stuff. That’s why I was a little pissed that you figured that out so easily.”
The viera looked on, slightly surprised. 
“Stop worrying so much! Maybe you’ll stop gettin’ those little spots on your face if ya do.” Lindsey lightly pinched a small zit on the side of Bluma’s face. Bluma’s eyes widened. She gently placed her hand where Lindsey had spotted the small bit of acne. Obviously, she was embarrassed that she didn’t notice that sooner. She shrugged, looking up at her close friend with admiration.
“I just want you well, is all. Genuinely, you’re…quite possibly the most wonderful person I’ve ever met. Ferocious appetite and all…” Bluma shrugged, and revealed a slight blush that covered her freckled cheeks. She looked at Lindsey with glittering eyes, almost as dazzling as the night sky above.
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Lindsey didn’t know how to respond. All she could do was stare. Her heart was pounding faster, and she could feel her cheeks warming up more and more. Her eyes twitched as she tried to comprehend what she was feeling. All that she could form with words was:
“I’m sorry.”
Lindsey got up hastily from her spot and started to make her way out. “Well! Thanks for the help. I’ll sleep on some of that and decide on what to do with it later. For now, I wanna dream about something that’s not associated with whatever the fuck is threatening us at the moment.” She turned back to her friend with a sly smirk. “You should rest that pretty little head of yours as well.”
Bluma was taken aback by the response, and a bit unsure if Lindsey had taken what she had said positively. Nonetheless, she nodded and rose up with her journal and notes in hand. “You’re right. It is a bit late.”
“But, seriously, thanks for the extra stuff, Blu. Not everybody has that level of dedication.” Lindsey replied with a nervous smile. 
“You’re welcome. I hope you rest well, Lin.” Bluma said softly. She waved, and watched her friend walk off to her tent. 
Just moments ago, Lindsey was attempting to ask a deity about her cursed lycanthropy, which was only met with silence. Turns out, there were answers. She was just looking in the wrong direction.
Thank you for reading! <3
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dourpeep · 3 years
Text
Happy Father's Day! Enjoy a sweet little thing I whipped up in celebration :>>
Thank you to @the-mermaid-of-mondstadt for the name suggestion for Kazuha's son-
A Reason for Dreaming
Summary: A celebration, not just of fatherhood, but the little things that led to this lovely day spent with his wife and child.
Contains: Kazuha x afab!Reader, fluff, father's day, meet cute, domesticity, having a child together, Reader is Traveler but not Aether or Lumine
A little boy with ruby eyes and a smile brighter than the sun runs over to you clutching a large leaf. It’s green, picked fresh from a tree, no doubt.
He holds it in his small hands, arms sticking straight out towards your face.
“Oh? What are you doing, love? Having fun?”
“Look!”
He presses it, hard, to his face and blows, cheeks chubby with the effort. Apart from the pbbbbt that erupts, no sound comes out. But the toddler looks up proudly regardless.
“Papa did that—”
A soft chuckle comes from behind you, your husband kneeling besides him with his hand out and palm upturned.
“Let me show you again, Natsume.”
It’s a beautiful summery day with the breeze making the leaves in the nearby trees dance, the clouds slowly rolling along the endlessly blue sky. Perfect for a picnic. So you, your husband, and little sprout found a lovely area tucked over by the shore of a lake.
Spread beneath a shady spot, you sit on a large mat woven from rice straw. You pat its smooth surface, and Kazuha takes a seat, soon joined by Natsume’s hurried steps.
In his hands is another leaf.
“Here, like this.” He shifts, sitting with one knee propping up his elbow, carefully holding his leaf against his lips. With it in position, he blows and it produces a high-pitched whistle. He pulls it away and laughs as your son tries the same. Once again, it doesn’t seem to work, but Kazuha leans to press a kiss to his hair.
“I think you almost did it that time.”
When the leaves are finally set to the side due to the demands of rumbling stomachs, Kazuha lays down against the mat and watches the clouds.
He never thought he’d be able to experience this, considering his life as a wanted man, constantly running and wondering where each day will take him. The life that he led was hardly fitting for a family, yet…here he was. His eyes close, the sounds of Natusme’s laugh and the smile in your voice making his chest flutter.
It’s been a while since he first met you.
A strange traveler from a distant land, unable to return—not unlike himself.
You had run across him one evening while he napped beneath a tree, the sun pleasantly warm on his skin and the weariness he felt calling for a break. A shuffle and a concerned noise caught his attention, and he opened his eyes to see you.
Relief flooded your features to see that the man was alright, the bandages that covered his hand worrying.
Before either of you realized it, a few days of travelling with you turned to months. It’s funny how much you made him realize he missed this sort of close companionship; one he seldom had when travelling over land.
Slipping into a comfortable routine felt natural, just as it was to take a moment’s rest on a nice day or shelter during a storm.
Getting ready for the night, gazing up at the stars beside you or the early mornings where he’d awake to the breeze tickling his cheek and you still sound asleep with a leaf nestled in your hair. These little moments compiled and formed a bond unlike any other he’s known.
He had fallen in love.
So imagine his surprise when you confessed to him on night, looking out towards the ocean somewhere between Liyue and Mondstadt.
You shared your first kiss together, with the moon and stars as witness.
But nothing really changes much between you apart from the way you seem to cuddle closer to him at night and the way that his hand instinctively finds yours.
Soon, you met with a dear friend from Liyue, a mysterious old woman that Kazuha couldn’t help but wonder about. She gave you something, kindness in her eyes and you accepted it quickly.
Not wanting to intrude on the conversation, Kazuha kept to the side. Not that it stopped you from gesturing him over to view it.
A teapot, golden in color and rather large.
Imagine his surprise when you take his hand in yours, squeezing it as the world suddenly faded away.
He hadn’t known a home since his abrupt departure of Inazuma and the countless months of life spent sailing with the Crux…and although he still expected that he’d one day leave whether it was by choice or to protect you, he helped.
Chopping wood, building furnishings, carefully placing each one just right within the realm—until you had a lovely home you could return to at a moment’s notice.
The ache in his chest began to grow, the wish to stay with you only making the idea of leaving harder. Then, he surprised himself when he realized that he quickly settled into domesticity. A quiet question that he asked after a long day, muscles aching after a difficult and long commission, Kazuha inquired if you’d like to go back home.
Your eyes lit up when he said that, and though his cheeks grew warm at the slip, he’d begun to accept the idea of it.
His favorite part of this new way of life would be that there was no longer the worry of shelter, nor of safety. If you were to ask him, that is. Otherwise, it’d be the ability to see you with your messy hair and eyes heavy while you fought the sleep that would undoubtedly come. Maybe even the way that you always seem to hover when he’s in the kitchen making a meal for the two of you, curious and eager to steal a taste.
Even as straightforward as he is, Kazuha wanted to keep this little secret to himself—just for a moment longer.
Some time later, while walking around Liyue, you took up a commission posted by a few children who frequented the harbor. He watched as you played pirates, holding out a toy sword and exclaiming. The children quickly reprimand you, making you laugh because of course, of course, they meant the good kind of pirate.
You presented them with a little gift of apology, producing fresh lotus heads as a snack with a flourish.
For a brief fraction of a moment, a thought crossed his mind.
It didn’t return until one night when you two were already half asleep in bed. He thought of how he’s become used to this strangely normal life—one where he was free to travel all Teyvat yet still have a home to return to and you right beside him. He no longer had to worry for your safety as well, having proven your abilities time and time again.
It was safe. This life with you was safe. And he was so deeply in love with you just as you were with him so perhaps…
That night, he turned to you, resolute.
When he first held the little bundle in his arms, there returned that little flutter, the warmth in his chest he felt whenever he was with you. Always so sincere and expressive, believing fully that each moment should be treated with just as much importance as the last, he cried.
A smile on his lips, tears streaming over his cheeks.
To think something like this—a home, a spouse, a family—could be his as well. After so much hardship and loss…
You must’ve blessed him.
Kazuha opens his eyes to view the sky. But it’s blocked by two familiar silhouettes.
“Ah, we didn’t mean to wake you…” A leaf falls on his nose and Natsume giggles and throws himself over his chest. With the air knocked from his lungs, the man feigns distress and draws another fit of laughter from the toddler.
“So…many…regrets…”
Laying limply, a red eye opens to peek at you before closing right back while he plays dead. But the feel of insistent little pats to his cheek makes him spring up, arms squeezing around his son and an exclamation accompanying his attack.
“Got you—!”
The wind blows gently, rustling the leaves of the big tree above you, carrying the peals of delighted laughter with it. So Kazuha watches as Natsume chases after a stray falling leaf, comfortable in the little world that the two of you have created together, enjoying a beautiful day outside in celebration of this life that’s found him despite the odds.
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stargazer-balladeer · 3 years
Note
OK HEAR ME OUT I BRING ANGST IDEAS- traveler/Lumine x Venti- they found Aether and they have to go- venti is depressed yes- because you left ya- BUT THE TRAVELER COMES BACK IN THE MOST UNEXPECTED TIME AND FLUFF- (like venti sitting on his hands statues looking down and then a portal comes out of nowhere and Lumine and Aether pop out and-- AGHH ID BE SO CUTE-) <<request oneshot/headcanons>>
Coming back to me [Genshin Impact]
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[Venti x Gender Neutral! Reader]
Notes: I- I like u anon. Let’s be friends 😃😃. Tho i would prefer it being fully angst- i guess this’ll do HAHAHA. I am making this gender neutral bc i can 😈. (Also,, hope that my ‘poem’ isn’t too cringy to read 😃😃 i tried okay? Atleast give me points for trying- WHAHAHA). Anyway,, hope ya’ll like this!
Warning: none.. i dont think there’s any... right?
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“As the stars dance in the sky, my heart still yearns for you.
When willl you come back, I still wonder.
The warmth you filled inside me has now grown cold.
Come back and filled me with your love again, and thaw this ice inside me.”
Venti stares longingly at the sky as the last words left his mouth, his lyre strumming the last notes as the wind picks up the sound and swept it away. He sighs as he let his lyre rest on his lap.
How many years has it been? 4? 5? Venti can’t remember. Maybe doesn’t want to remember. The pain of being left behind is still fresh in his heart after all. A stray tear ran down his cheek, leaving a trail of water behind, which he promptly wipes away with his sleeves.
“What’s the point in crying..? It’s not like their gonna come back miraculously if I cried for them.” Venti mumbled, almost numbly. What is he saying? He doesn’t know anymore. He just wants his beloved s/o back in his arms, back in his immortal life, back to him.
He watches the clouds pass by as he switches his gaze to the empty, quiet town of Mondstadt below. It was an eerie night, almost no one in sight except for some knights who are in night patrol. On occasions, Venti could see some flashes of red but he waved it off as a figment of his imagination-
Then he saw something weird. The sky began to swirl right in front of his eyes. He blinks several times, and rub his eyes, and look at it again, making sure it was real. And it was indeed real. He was questioning it and its threat when-
“VENTIIII—!!”
Venti’s eyes widened when a familiar face came to view suddenly and tackled him to the ground. He screamed a bit and lets out a ‘oof’ sound when his back hits the ground (mind you, he was sitting on the hands of supposed ‘Barbatos’-).
“Who-?” “VENTI-!!” His eyes further widened when his face came to view with yours. Your brother, Aether, chuckled behind you as he came out of the portal in a neat manner. Unlike you who tackled the poor Archon to the ground—
“Well.. isn’t that an entrance, dear (sister/brother.” “Shush, Aether.” He only laughed as he walk away to give you two some moment. (We stan for Aether in this house-). You huffed at your brother before turning your attention to the Archon and his face almost made you laugh.
He has a awestruck face on while staring you wide eyes. His eyes barely blinking as you failed to keep your laughter in as a couple of chuckles escape your mouth. “What? Surprised to see me?”
Unexpectedly, Venti started crying while laughing. You look at him confused (has he gone mad-??). “Are you okay, Venti-?” He sniffled as he slowly sat up. He has a big smile on his face as he puts his hands on either side of your face.
“You’re back.. you’re finally back.” He breathes out while holding your face in his hands. Your eyes widened a bit before smiling warmly back at him. “Yes.. I’m back, Venti. Sorry it took so long.”
Venti couldn’t wait anymore as he brings you to a long awaited kiss.
Finally.. you’re back. Back to him.
“Finally, the moon is finally reunited with his sun.
Even though their worlds apart, they showed the world that their love knows no bounds.
Now, underneath the sky, they sealed their love once and for all.
Nothing shall ever separate them ever again.”
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[x] Main Page || [x] Mondstadt Page
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murasakispace · 3 years
Text
Loki X male! Reader (headcanons)
English is not my main language. Sorry for the mistakes.
Warning : none. But a lot of fluff, it is also my first headcanons.
Summary: What if you were attracted by Thor and what if Loki would be in love of you ?
On Asgard, you love who you want to love. 
Meaning that if a man loves a man, who has the right to say anything about it? Same for women and for any people living here. Queen Frigga herself had a lot of people looking for her attention. 
This put aside, you were actually attracted to Prince Thor. 
Who isn’t ? He’s just kind, strong (you were too) and was always drawing your attention wherever he could be. 
Even during battles, which is clearly not really safe when people’s life is at stake (and also yours)
The day you fell for him was when you had been thrown in the air and that he went to save you like a knight in shining armour. (or more likely with a shining hammer)
He was just.... You couldn’t say anything else nor describe him. Did you ever seen something as beautiful as this man who came to save you ?
You weren’t able to think anymore either. 
He just left you half lying on the ground, your legs shaking, not able to stand or hardly, a blushing mess...Oh you must have been handsome here 
Yet, another man was interested in you. Another prince. Another god. But more evilish. A living mischief. Someone more secret, more distant from people. 
A strong warrior, well... At least, he knew how to fight. Until today, that was all what you were giving to him, the sole interest you were seeing in him. 
He was a stark contrast with his brother. That didn’t surprise you much when people spread gossip about him not being the real brother of Thor and the real son of Frigga and Odin. 
He glanced at you sometimes. You didn’t understand why. You were too busy to follow Thor when the blond-haired man was holding you, his strong arm on your shoulders and alcohol in his other hand. 
Yet, one day, you are tired of following Thor around like a little puppy during one of Odin’s banquets. You just have a drink and you look at this flaming god all the time you are far away from him.
You stay by yourself, observing the crowds. Thor vaguely waved his hand at you. Your drink was resting in your hand, and you were losing yourself in the colored liquid
You were getting sadder and sadder to receive so little of Thor’s attention. 
You heard a slight noise just next to you
Someone sat down. Someone that you weren’t expecting at all. 
It was Loki. The second prince. Yeah... This one. “surprise” would be an understatement because he mentionned more than once that you weren’t exactly what he liked as a person. 
And as said previously, you didn’t like him either. 
But he was somehow different today. It was well-known that he hated this kind of party. He was spending his time with a drink and looking with disdain to his surroundings
"What brings you here" you asked with an empty tone, not reaaaly wanting to know what it is about
"Some company. And since you seem lonely... "
His answer hadn't any importance for you. It was just to avoid a embarrassing silence between you.
You mumbled something. No one would have been able to hear it. Until Loki it seemed because a little smile made his thin lips curl upwards.
You can't help it but smiled back. How strange... He was so endearing.
You only remark it now but loneliness made you realize that Loki is actually very good looking. Like is brother. But Thor looked more like the Sun. The second prince embodied the light of the Moon and the poetic charm of the stars during a clear night. His pale skin...
If you heard yourself, you would certainly slap yourself yet a burst of laughter in the distance made you reconsider the idea of staying with Loki.
It seemed that he saw this glance. The black-haired man didn't react. Though, he couldn't prevent himself to make a snide remark so as to push you to focus on him and him only.
Loki was thinking about the blindness of his brother. You were sincerely blessed by the grace of nature. You were mesmerizing.
And Thor was occupating your thoughts while he could entertain you more than this stupid show-off and also his brother (adopted but are we going to argue?)
He would talk to you and you would answer, kindly with your voice that could push two mountains into a fight. After all, you didn't like these person around the blond Prince. They were only bugs tapping against the glass of a window and stuck in their obstinate ignorance.
Now, Loki enjoyed to see you, he has just to stretch his arm and he would be able to touch you. Yet, he wouldn't do so, he doesn't want to see you flee from him. Or using a silly excuse so as to run away.
Even with the thousands of years that you spent not so far from each other, it was finally hard to start a conversation without sounding awkward.
Stammer. A lot of stammer. You stumbled on your words. You even doubted of your ability to speak to one another.
But you decided you had nothing to lose by exchanging with the prince so you just started about the fact that the party was going to be too noisy for your taste. Most of the people were becoming drunk and the last ones who were reasonable got back to theirs quarters.
You decided that you would leave. Though, as the evening and then the night passed over Asgard, you grew sort of attached to Loki.
He was clearly not the man you thought he was.
Besides his obvious charm, he was witty, listening to whatever you would say, even the worst jokes you had, ready to exchange your point of view on different topics.
You didn't think at all that he would be so interesting. You had to admit that he wasn't so dull.
It took a certain time to get you to talk again to each other. And each time, you weren't able to let him go that easily.
When did you acknowledge how handsome he was both inside and outside?
Loki has pretty well seen how he managed to melt this icy armour you were wearing around your heart when it comes to see each other. He was touching your soul and he was pleased of it.
Loki was happy because you weren't listening all the rumors that people liked to spread about him.
For you, he wasn't embodying only Mischief, but also humanity. He was just asking to people to look at him like the person he was.
True. He had done awful things but... Look at him. Swallowed by Thor's shadow, not even existing for the Argardians. He was only "Thor's brother". Just a pale copy, a missed thing next to his flaming brother.
And... He would never forget when you came to him, while Thor's little puppies managed hurt him through all the sass and sarcasm that his reputation was made of.
He felt like his soul was shattered. The feeling of being split up by bitterness and anger against his brother's popularity.
"You know, Loki... The moon and the stars may be invisible during the day. It doesn't mean they are not here. You are not some shadow. You are Loki, god of Mischief and an incredible man"
"I am no such things." he snapped back, tears almost falling from his beautiful eyes.
"You are. You are the most shining star I've ever met. Even hidden by clouds on a rainy day, I would still look for you because without you, I feel as if I was lost"
It sounded like a confession. Loki had dreamed of such words for himself, from you or from anyone. Someone who accepted him as he was. And that was priceless for him.
Loki would feel his heart warm up, like when fire magic was running trough his veins. But he felt free from all of those negative sentiments.
He could not forget either the way your arms sneaked to his shoulders and when you attracted him against your chest.
When did anyone hold him this way for the last time ? He wasn't able to remember. He just felt air coming inside of you and getting out by the same path along your ribcage.
He was happy. Just happy. Nothing else.
Was he dreaming when you got closer to him, your breath mixing together and your warm lips against his and your hand brushing the skin of his cheek?
Loki obviously didn't refuse the most elegant and aethereal kiss he has ever got from a long time.
He was not dreaming after all. When you separate Loki felt the desire to come to you again and make you understand he was all yours.
After all this time while he was craving for your attention, he finally got it.
He got even more. You were the world for him and he was yours. Asgard, Midgard... All of this didn't matter anymore as long as you were together.
You were happy and in love. You had forgotten Thor since a long time now. You had your own little star.
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philliamwrites · 3 years
Text
sunkissed
Fandom: Genshin Impact
Pairing: Albedo / Aether
Tags: #kissing, #morning softness, #fluff
Words: 1.6k
Summary: “Don’t,” Aether laughed, rising his shoulders to hide his skin from Albedo’s hungry mouth. “I’m stinky after yesterday’s battle.”
“No.” The tip of Albedo’s nose grazed his sensitive skin. “You smell like the sun. Always warm. As if the sun loves you. As if it wants to cling to you as long as possible.”
Notes: A birthday present for my lovely friend. This pairing just butters my biscuits, fam.
Also I'm still taking commissions for anyone interested! Just write me a dm!
Masterlist
sunkissed
»’cause you’re so lovely, you’re so lovely, i can’t help but fall for you, love when you love me, it’s so lovely loving you
    When Aether awoke, he was all alone.
    He opened his eyes in a sleepy daze, and as his hand reached out to his left, he found the crumbled sleeping roll empty and cold. Immediately, he startled fully awake as if struck by lightning, his mind clearing from sleep and dreams that tasted like ashes on his tongue.
    “Lumine?” he said out loud—the first name he remembered ever speaking, and the last he wanted to be his dying breath. But when usually his sister would come to his aid, trained to respond to the sound of his voice from childhood, to rise from bed when Aether cried, to run to help him when he fell down, now he was all alone inside the tiny tent.
    No. Not quite alone.
    It’s his first day in Teyvat all over again after he’d regained consciousness and called out for her, and had found Paimon in her stead, drifting in the ocean stretching before Starsnatch Cliff. Now, her little snores filled the suffocating quiet and coated his throbbing heart in a soothing balm labelled companionship.
    Aether thought that with time, missing Lumine would become easier to bear. That he’d simply grow dull and time numbed his feelings. Clearly, he was wrong, and Father Time was not that kind.
    He crawled outside the tent, quietly so he wouldn’t disturb Paimon, and emerged into the early sunlight winking through the tree crowns. Their little campfire from yesterday night had lost its battle and died hours ago, and Aether shuddered when a light breeze stirred its ashes into the air.
    That was when he spotted Albedo sitting at the top of a slope. He hadn’t noticed Aether waking up, his eyes fixed on the horizon where clouds had gathered in the east, and the rising sun lit them in brilliant shades of reds and corals and violets. His hand, holding a fine brush, danced across a canvas, trying to capture that ephemeral beauty with lithe fingers Aether knew were capable of much more than painting. His chest tightened when he thought of yesterday night. Their quiet voices and hushed whispers as they tried not to wake up Paimon even though all Aether had wanted to do was scream Albedo’s name when he finally came as Albedo’s rough thumb had grazed the tip of his member. Thankfully, Albedo was kind enough to swallow all of Aether’s moans and gasps, leaving his mind completely fogged and drunk on his kisses.
    Aether tried not to think too much of it as he went up the slope where Albedo sat, overlooking the vast valley stretching out under them.
    “Why didn’t you wake me up?” Aether asked. He stretched in the morning’s light, delighted by the early warmth and slight breeze on his skin. “I wanted to see the sunrise with you.”
    Albedo’s eyes drew lazily from his canvas to Aether’s waist, watching how his shirt rode up and revealed more of his skin without allowing his hand to stop once as the brush mixed reds and blues. “I tried. But you just drooled.”
    “That’s a lie.”
    A smile crept up Albedo’s face. “True. But you looked too lovely to wake up. Like you had a good dream,” he said so seriously, Aether felt heat rise to his cheeks. His arms dropped back to his side. He couldn’t handle Albedo’s honesty first thing in the morning.
    Albedo rose an eyebrow. “Am I wrong?”
    Aether did have a dream. A dream about Mondstadt’s Windblume Festival where all his friends had gathered around a table in Angel’s Share, and in the centre, like the sun holding its own universe, sat Lumine, beaming at him.
    “Happy birthday, brother,” she’d said, intertwining their fingers just like on the day they were born.
    “Happy birthday, sister,” he’d said, touching his forehead to hers just like during their days spent inside their mother’s womb.
    How much he longed to be with her again.
    Aether exhaled. He hadn’t realised he’d been holding his breath until that moment. Albedo must have heard him, for he raised his head and his gaze met Aether’s, and he wondered how much of the endless black hole that his grief cut into his heart Albedo could see.
    The corner of his mouth pulled up into a rueful smile. “No, you’re right,” Aether said. “I had a dream. A good dream, indeed.”
    Albedo stopped painting. His eyes were the colour of the ocean after a storm, clear and bright and deep enough for Aether to drown in them. He wanted it. Aether wanted to be swallowed whole. Become tiny, pocket-sized, perfectly fitting in Albedos’ palm and be devoured. Be completely consumed until nothing was left, and all of him belonged to Albedo only. What a wonderful mess that would be.
    Quickly turning his eyes away before he dropped to his knees and begged Albedo to take him right here and now in the open, Aether tried to douse his desire by gazing out at the sublime scenery. A flock of birds took flight from a nearby tree, their song echoing through the valley. Clouds drifted over their heads on their lazy journey over fields and rivers, taking unrecognisable shapes as they told stories about every place they’d seen. Aether envied them.
    “You know, in the world where I’m from, it’s always night,” he said. “Sure, it’s beautiful, we have so many more stars than you guys. And moons. But it’s the same. Wherever I looked, it was always the same. But this—” He waved his hand at the sky above them. “Your sky changes every day. It’s always different, the colours, the clouds. Dawn, dusk. I didn’t know words like that existed when I first came here. It’s beautiful.”
    Albedo followed Aether’s gaze, considering the landscape in front of them. But his eyes—suddenly ablaze, a roaring fire—drew back on Aether as he said, “It truly is beautiful.”
    Aether didn’t feel beautiful. He’s pretty sure his bed-hair was still sticking to all sides and his clothes were rumpled. But Albedo never failed in making him feel wanted, desired. Be that in the early morning hours without having his face washed or teeth brushed, or on the battle field with blood and grime spattered all over him.
    Just like now, Albedo was able to make Aether come undone with a single gaze of those piercing, ocean eyes.
    “Let’s go back before Paimon wakes up and throws a fit because she thinks we’ve left her,” he said and turned around before this would turn into an unholy, filthy ceremony out in the open not even the Archons should witness.
    Aether didn’t come very far. Halfway down, Albedo caught up to him and in a flash, seized Aether’s wrist. He pulled him to a nearby tree, and a second later, Aether felt rough bark against his back. Albedo closed the distance between them in one step. His hands cupped the back of Aether’s head, his mouth slanting down over his, hot and sweet as tea with honey. Aether ran his teeth lightly across Albedo’s bottom lip, and he made a guttural sound that raised the hairs along Aether’s arms. He pressed his body hard against Aether’s, lowering his head to kiss his throat, to lick and suck at the pulse point where he could feel the beating of his heart.
    “Don’t,” Aether laughed, rising his shoulders to hide his skin from Albedo’s hungry mouth. “I’m stinky after yesterday’s battle.”
    “No.” The tip of Albedo’s nose grazed his sensitive skin. “You smell like the sun. Always warm. As if the sun loves you. As if it wants to cling to you as long as possible.”
    Aether’s knees buckled. How could simple words like that make him forget his own name. In Albedo’s hands, he turned to clay, left at Albedo’s mercy for he was the potter and Aether would become anything to please him. Albedo’s fingers traced his curves, the dips and hollows of his body as if he were describing a painting in gilt and ivory with each rush of his hands. Aether raked his hands over Albedo’s body, trying to find purchase before he completely turned into a puddle and dissolved between Albedo’s fingers. His hands caught on the belt strung across Albedo’s chest, and they both halted for a second as they waited for a heartbeat that didn’t come.
    Albedo exhaled softly as he lowered his forehead to Aether’s. “If I had a heart, it would hurt for your burden.”
    “It’s fine,” Aether said. He took Albedo’s hand and put it over his own heart. “Mine is enough for both of us.”
    Albedo smiled. He pressed Aether’s knuckles to his lips, and murmured against his skin, “And what a magnificent heart it is.”
    Aether held onto Albedo so much, just a little more and they’d become one. It felt like they were the only two people on this earth, just the two of them off to see the world and all its wonders. Aether wouldn’t mind. He wouldn’t mind if tomorrow came and all of Teyvat’s people fell into an endless slumber, and eventually completely disappear. Until recently, Aether hadn’t know it was possible to love someone this much. That if the world were to end tomorrow—if Aether were to have just one wish before it would all end in darkness, it’d be to wake up to Albedo’s sunkissed face in a quiet place they called home, built with their own hands. If that wasn’t love in its truest form, then every fairy tale Lumine used to tell him was a lie, and it was up to Aether to write his own story in which he’d make sure to burn so bright by Albedo’s side that even stars envied them whenever they come together to create a whole new universe.
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starcunning · 5 years
Text
Drasteria adumbrata
Happy birthday to my very favorite Leo/Virgo cusp.
Oh, you thought we were done? We might actually be less done than before.
[M/F] [WOL* (Kallisti)/Nabriales][G-rated Fluff][ARR 2.56][Shadowbringers spoilers][Erebidae][4k words]
[AO3 mirror]
The air in the cave was gelid. That might have been a problem once, long ago, but Kallisti had passed beyond such concerns in the moors of Yafaem. There was a stillness to the aether, too; much of it was likely bound up in the summoning of Saint Shiva.
That might have been a problem she was expected to address once, but to slay that false goddess would have seen Kallisti turned out from the shelter of the Warrens. She had been accepted among Iceheart’s heretics only by Nabriales’s insistence, being otherwise too recognizable a figure. And being still wanted for regicide, there was little to be done but shelter among the ice and snow while Nabriales and Igeyorhm directed events.
Soon enough, she had been assured, it would not really matter what she was accused of.
It was evening, and the wind whipped her indifferent cheeks as she strained to catch the last rays of the sun. The heavy blanket of clouds overhead dampened the sunset to something almost unrecognizable, but she did not turn her head as she felt the displacement of aether that presaged teleportation.
“Your work is done for the day?” she asked. The wordless affirmation was felt rather than heard, but Nabriales nodded. “What are you doing?” he asked after a moment. “Trying to remember what daylight looks like,” Kallisti replied. “It’s so cold here.” “You do suffer so, don’t you,” he said, tone dripping with false sweetness. “Things are drawing to a close.” “We should go to Costa del Sol,” she said. “If there’s time.” The non-sequitur seemed to confuse him. “You want to take a vacation?” “It will be time for a Calamity soon, won’t it?” Kallisti wondered. “That’s why you’re doing all this? The last one changed things significantly. It seems a shame not to enjoy it while it lasts.” Nabriales pursed his lips beneath the rim of his mask. For a moment she thought he might refuse, but when he spoke, he said, “There is another place we should visit before the Ardor. It will not survive the Rejoining, and it is past time you were illuminated on certain matters.” “My schedule is clear,” she said.
Nabriales extended one hand. The claws of his gauntlets glittered like ice in the dim light, but when she put her palm in his she was surprised to find he was as warm as ever. He drew her in, enfolding her in his own aether, his darkness blotting out her vision. She closed her eyes and leaned in against him, reaching out with her senses to feel him—not just the cloak of shadow wound around her like clouds around the moon, but the core of dark crystal at his heart. She felt it distantly, through her body and his, but focused upon it as she had learned to do when he had brought her to the Chrysalis.
She did not think they were headed there now, but dared not speculate on what might be so important to him that he would derelict his duties for it. It was easier to travel with an empty head in any case, so she focused only on the sound of her own breathing, and did not allow it to hitch as the teleportation hooked into her gut and reeled her along. It seemed to last a long time—longer than she was accustomed to, and when she felt earth beneath her feet once more it took her a moment to get her bearings.
They stood upon a stony beach—white rocks about the size of her fist dappled the shoreline. The water was clear blue, the waves dappled with golden light. Kallisti adjusted the brim of her hat, turning in a slow circle, but found no sun sinking upon the horizon. Against her better judgement she glanced up, expecting to find it at its zenith, but the firmament overhead was undifferentiated light—equal but opposite, in its way, to the clouds that blanketed Coerthas where she had stood but moments before.
She turned back to Nabriales, thinking to put the question to him, but he was cringing beneath the brilliant sky. Instead she asked, “What’s wrong?” “The Light,” he said. “It is anathema to us. Beneath the water is better, I’m told.” Then he was off, wading into the surf, Kallisti’s hand still in his own. “Where are we going?” “The Caliban Trench,” he replied. “To the last place the Light does not touch.”
He seemed eager to get there, already submerged to the waist. Kallisti’s robes billowed around her, the waves lapping at her chest. With her free hand she clutched at her hat.
“Nabriales,” she said, drawing him up short. He turned back to look at her, seeming baffled by her hesitation. “I still need to breathe.” “You had no such need when we visited the Chrysalis,” he pointed out. Her ears brushed the brim of her hat, laying back. “Why would the air of the Chrysalis be unsuitable?” she wondered. He grinned. “The moon you are all so keen to worship as a goddess is more like Dalamud than you think. It, too, serves as a prison, and at its heart slumbers Zodiark. The Chrysalis is as near as we are allowed to His presence.” She squinted, not merely at the brightness of the sky, but at him. “The Chrysalis is on the moon?” “In, rather, in much the same way the Sharlayan Antitower penetrates to the heart of the star, unto the borders of Hydaelyn’s influence,” Nabriales said. “Antitower?” she echoed. “What? I think I would have heard of it.” The Ascian’s smile broadened: “There is much that was kept from you,” he said. “The secrets of Sharlayan not least of all.” A wave broke upon his back, and he took a step closer to her. “I still don’t think I can do it,” she said. Nabriales merely shrugged, and then reached up to take her by the throat. With exacting delicacy he put the claw of his other forefinger to the side of her neck. She felt her pulse leap and then settle—surely the Echo would warn her somehow if she were in mortal danger.
Not that it would save her, she could not help but reflect. After all, Laurentius Daye had had her dead to rights, as Nabriales did then.
She could feel her blood trickle over her skin as he opened a slash in the side of her neck, so delicate as to be almost painless until the sea spray hit it, and then salt seared the wound. He turned her head by force, repeating the gesture on the other side. He reached into her, then, his aether commingling with hers and felt herself rearranged—not in the same way that Lensha might have done, straightening and reinforcing in the service of healing, but in a way that left her transmogrified thereafter. Her neck tensed, and new muscles flared—her gills gaped, for that was what he had opened in the sides of her neck. She pressed her hand to his, feeling the edge, and then dove past him into the water. The drag of the water tore her hat from her head, but she abandoned it, reveling instead in the coolness that suffused her.
The light that permeated did not warm, but it was altogether more temperate than had been Coerthas—it did not seem to be winter here at all. As Nabriales caught up with her and they broke from the surface, threading through forests of seaweed, she recalled the question that had struck her first when she arrived, forestalled by the sight of him in pain. He seemed relaxed—even content—then, so she opened her mouth to ask the question. It came out in a rush of bubbles, and she felt water fill her lungs.
When it had finished—and she could walk along the seabed—she repeated the question. “What is this place?” “This is the First Reflection,” he said. “Mitron and Loghrif had primed it for Rejoining before they … retired from this place. When we trigger the Ardor upon our return, it will be reabsorbed into the Source.” “It looked a lot like La Noscea,” Kallisti noted. “Functionally, it is,” he replied. “I was born not far from here,” he said, “albeit on a different Reflection.” “The Twelfth,” she said, remembering distant Dravania. “Do not ask to see it,” he said. “It was Rejoined shortly after I was uplifted, some time after the Thirteenth collapsed.” “Do you miss it?” she wondered. “Do you never wish to go home?” “Where do you think I am taking you?” he wondered, his lips quirking in a crooked smile.
He led her then to a place where the current swept out to sea, and they let it carry them—past the shelf break, and they sunk to the slope. The water dimmed much of the light overhead, everything dimmed to a murky green that reminded her, almost, of home. Their passing startled schools of fish, and once a coterie of Sahagin drew near, but Nabriales’s sigil flared over his mask, and they dared no closer. Soon, however, they came upon it.
There was a vast ruin beneath the sea, in a trench that opened before them. Its structures were in ruin, shattered glass in broken tracery, spires of corroded metal stretching upward toward a surface they would never reach. Even broken, she could see its grandeur.
“What is this?” she asked. Something stirred in her breast—some half-forgotten dream of a memory not her own. Was it his? “This was Amaurot,” Nabriales said. “The original Nabriales was born there.” Her brow knit, and she looked from the city to his masked face and back. He reached out with his empty hand. A moment later her hat settled upon the crown of her head. She tugged it into place, ears swiveling and flicking to settle it correctly. “Shall we go down there?” he asked.
He awaited no answer, only stepped from the ledge. His robes billowed around him in the water as he sank. Kallisti clutched the brim of her hat and stepped after him. There was a walkway below, but it had crumbled into dozens of rough-hewn boulders. Still, when she touched down upon it, her feet met level ground, and she looked down to find the stone underfoot smooth and unbroken, graven with an elegant, regular zig-zag pattern. Nabriales offered her one gloved hand, and she took it, careful of his claws.
She could see fish and other creatures among the ruins, flitting through the water or peeking from the crevices. Still, for a bubble several yalms wide around the pair, the stone was repaired; the facades of the buildings gleamed; even grass and trees grew in the wells in the stone. Looking back at the way they had come, however, left no trace of their passage.
“What did you mean, ‘the original Nabriales?’” she wondered. “Oh, little fool,” he laughed. “Your mothercrystal would not have told you. Before She sundered the world, there was but one race of man, and we lived free of worry or need. We were ageless beings, and given to us was the power of creation. Nabriales is not a name, but a title, and we lived here, in Amaurot.” “Your name,” she said, tail twitching sluggishly behind her, “is not Nabriales?” “No,” he said, as though this were obvious. He led her from the walkway up to one of the buildings. In one instant it was all but collapsed, the door sagging from the hinges; in the next it was pristine, lamps casting cones of light up the white marble facade. The door was heavy and paneled in bronze, and when he pushed it open they stepped into an atrium of golden yellow stone with bronze pilasters. The floor underfoot was inlaid with contrasting cream and deep brown stone. These too were bounded by gleaming metal. “So what was it?” she asked, approaching one of the empty benches there, wrought on a scale rather too broad for her. “I had thought you might like to know your own name,” he said. “You were Eris.” “We knew each other?” she said, reaching out to touch the lacquered wood. It was cold, but solid and real. “Were we lovers?” He laughed softly—not the triumphant sound she had grown so accustomed to, but something gentler, more intimate. “No,” he said. He reached out to curl his hand around her throat, tipping her chin upward. Her gaze lingered on the chandelier there, its milky glass and metal inlays reminding her of the nautilus shell motif of Sharlayan. “Who were you to me?” she asked softly. “We were rivals,” he said. “Of a kind. My colleagues and I were members of the Convocation of Fourteen, and you … were always bringing a dissenting opinion to our public addresses. Debate was something of a pastime in Amaurot, so none of us really minded. Elidibus,” he said, his tone souring, “was quite amused, actually.” “There are fourteen Ascians?” she mused. “I had assumed one for each shard, plus the Source, so wouldn’t that be fifteen?” Again his laughter sounded in her ear. “We were not Fourteen when Zodiark was made,” he said. “One of our number left after his wife, Helen, departed for one of the cities already in the grip of that first primordial calamity, which we summoned Zodiark to halt.”
“And it was her fault,” came another voice. Kallisti whipped around, her robes swirling in the water. She regarded the newcomer, and was surprised to note that he was Garlean, of all things. He wore no robes and no mask, but a dress uniform heavy with medals. He looked at her for a moment, then scoffed and snapped his fingers. The room changed around them, the details of the mosaic refining into sharper clarity. “Really, Nabriales,” he said, “stick to what you’re best at.” “What is that?” Kallisti wondered, head canting beneath the brim of her hat. “Supercilious self-aggrandizement,” the man said. “‘The Majestic.’ Well. It certainly was not architecture—and not recruitment. Do you even recall the trouble you caused, Eris?” “You knew me too,” Kallisti said, blinking in fascination. Nabriales shifted his weight, interposing himself between the pair. “Emet-Selch is of our number,” he said to her, then turned his face forward. There was a tension in his posture. “Why are you here?” “You are not subtle,” Emet-Selch said, rolling his golden eyes. “I am steward of this shard until it is rejoined, since I have no need of my mortal guise, and its original tenders sacrificed themselves to prime it. But why are you here?” “To show her the city,” Nabriales replied. “It is her birthright, which Hydaelyn has kept from her.” “Mmm,” Emet-Selch temporized. “No. I suppose, being born to the Source, she might have better claim than you, pale shade that you are. What did you think? That she might become the new Mitron? Igeyorhm has already asked me to consider elevating her half-formed pet to Loghrif’s station. But she is no Ebrietas, and this is no Eris.” “She is as much Eris as I am Nereus,” Nabriales—Nereus?—said with quiet vehemence. Emet-Selch laughed, though it sounded deadened in the water. “She actually is more Eris than that,” he pointed out. “But she is not Mitron, much as you might like to dream of her filling the seas with new life. When this shard is rejoined, we will go and find a proper Mitron. Eris was the one responsible for Menelaus’s departure from the council; it is not just that she should sit among us like she was fit to govern.” “That is Elidibus’s decision to make, not yours,” Nabriales said. “Oh, so his authority is at your convenience. I cannot imagine Lahabrea will speak for Ebrietas, and I certainly will not speak for Eris. Really, what will you do when you are denied?” Emet-Selch asked. “Put your head underwater and scream? You are already here, so I will leave you to it. Do remember,” he said, “that if things go poorly on the Source because you could not attend to the simple tasks you were given, we know exactly where to find the next Nabriales.”
It was a threat, Kallisti grasped instinctively, though she could not exactly put what it meant into words. Nabriales bristled, stepping further in front of her, blocking her view of the room beyond. When she looked to peer around him, Emet-Selch was gone. “Are you alright?” she asked. The new name felt strange upon her tongue, but she forced it over her lips just the same. “Nereus?” “He does love the sound of his own voice, doesn’t he,” the Ascian said. “Why do you remember this place and I don’t?” Kallisti wondered. “Because I was ascended, and while I can unmoor you from your mortality I cannot do that. That is reserved to Ascians of the Source—their souls are more complete and their powers greater. It is why you are stronger than me, when you remember how to be.”
She thought about that a moment, and then she pulled herself up onto one of the too-large benches, settling there with a sigh. “Elidibus knew,” she decided after a moment. “I have to assume so,” Nabriales agreed, materializing beside her. Kallisti leaned against him, letting his aether wash over her, much warmer than the seawater around them. “Who is Ebrietas?” she wondered. “She was Igeyorhm’s partner. She was not part of the Convocation.” “No, I mean, who is she now?” “Guess,” Nabriales laughed. “Who have you seen in Igeyorhm’s company of late?” “Wait, Lensha?” she said, sputtering. “The very same,” Nabriales confirmed. “She was of the faction that departed with Menelaus.”
“Who’s Menelaus?” Kallisti wondered. “I guess it would have to be Arenvald; he’s the only male Echo-blessed I can think of.” Nabriales shook his head. “We don’t always come back the same,” he said. “The other shard of Nabriales they have waiting in the wings should I ever require replacement is—you would recognize her as a Xaela Au Ra, though she would call herself something else. Menelaus could have incarnated as a woman. He has before, in eras past. But his last incarnation was shortly before the Sixth Ardor, known to you as the Calamity of Water. He usually does come back just as conditions are becoming ripe for a rejoining.” “So he could be Minfilia.” “He could, but he is not,” Nabriales said. “His absence has made us bold, it’s true; we would not have primed another shard so quickly, were he here to stand against us.”
“Why did he leave?” “He departed the council because he objected to our plans to halt the destruction of our very star. In pursuit of his wife he visited the cities across the sea, and was disturbed by what he saw there. That should have strengthened his convictions; instead it made him doubt. It is he that created Hydaelyn.” “Created Hydaelyn?” Kallisti sat upright. “And you summoned Zodiark … but that would make them …” “At last you see, little fool,” he murmured, pulling her in to press his lips to her forehead. “Your goddess is the very thing you sought to destroy. What did you think Her blessing was, to protect you from tempering? Only the very same thing.”
Kallisti closed her eyes, but found little comfort in his embrace. She slipped from his grasp, and made for the door of the room, which now seemed much too close, for all it was vast. Nabriales followed after, his restorative bubble recreating the stoop out front. She left the door open as she withdrew, until they stood in the middle of a grassy plaza, the bounds of the Ascian’s influence clearly visible.
Beyond them—past the crumbling rim of their circle—the door to the building hung open, not returned to its crumbling state. She could see the gleaming metal inlaid upon the floor within, and the warm light of the chandelier spilled out into the ruin. A school of fish swam through the shaft of light, glittering, and darted into the chamber. She waited for it to decay; to crumble back to metal skeleton and shattered rock, but it did not. It stood, unchanging, and she stood facing it, feeling unexpectedly defiant.
“If you were to revive Zodiark,” Kallisti said softly, still staring into that open door, “what would you do?” “We would restore things to how they used to be in our time. Part of this would happen automatically—when the sundered souls come together—but we would use the powers of creation restored to us to recreate the rest.” “As Emet-Selch remade that room,” she said after a moment. “I am surprised he stopped there,” Nabriales admitted. “He is fond of gilding the lily.” “And nothing would ever change again,” Kallisti asked, not quite a question. Nabriales shook his head. “Life … would continue, of course; children would be born and new concepts would be developed and refined, but the ideal is a complete existence in a perfect world.” “I thought you were bringers of chaos.” Kallisti scoffed. “But really, you’re more bound to order than anyone.” He laughed, turning to embrace her, his clawed gloves pressed to her cheeks. “You sound just like you did then,” he said. “You were never happy here.”
She watched the ebb and flow of water through the city—invisible to mortal sight, but her aetherial senses were awakened to the subtlest change. Fish swam through the ruins, and some few creatures crept toward the open door, drawn toward the light that spilled out into the street. None dared approach the pair, skirting the bubble of restoration. They might have, Kallisti assumed. There was no barrier that separated the two of them from the vast seas. They were merely discomforted by the sudden change in the environment.
So too was she.
“I don’t want this,” she said after a while. “I don’t want to suffocate under rules or tempering.” “I wonder,” Nabriales said, “were I made whole, and none could dispute that I owned the name ‘Nereus,’ would you remember me?” His expression was half screened away by the mask, but the way he pursed his lips betrayed some discomfort with the question. “I don’t know,” she said. “Well,” he murmured. “We need not worry on that now. What strictures bind you we can find a way for you to slip. You were not of Her party when She was made. She has little hope of keeping you under Her thumb.” “I am worried now,” Kallisti insisted. “If this city is my birthright, I want to abdicate. Would you choose me over this?” She reached for him, skimming her hands over his chest until she cupped his head between her palms, and put her thumbs to him to pry away the mask. It dissolved at her touch, and his dark eyes fixed on her. “Yes,” he said. “Then …” She paused, trying to organize her thoughts. “I don’t want to be Eris, and don’t really want you to be Nereus. Let them ascend the other Nabriales in your stead.” “You’re asking me to run away with you?” “Yes!” Kallisti said. “I think so.” “Where will we go?” “I don’t know!” she laughed. “Where do dragons come from? Meracydia, sure, but Lensha told me they were from somewhere else before that.” “True,” the Ascian said. “They arrived after the sundering of the shards, and none of the reflections have them.” “Then we have a destination,” Kallisti said.
He leaned down to kiss her, the warmth of him smothering in the cold, deep water. Something occurred to her, then. “If you’re giving up your title and your ancient name … what do I call you?” “My name before I was ascended …” He paused, seeming to think about it a long time. “It was … it was Brett.” “Hi, Brett,” she said, giggling. Then she said, “Do you think we have time to visit Costa del Sol before we leave?”
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