#it could also be that Kaeya in that moment was just 'wait fuck I don't actually wanna die rn'

[cluescorner]

Given the Alberich Clan’s whole deal of “lead lives as those who blaze like fire, rather than those who wallow in the embers” and all of the other weird connections between Kaeya’s past/Khaenriah and fire, it’s really funny that Kaeya ended up with a Cryo vision. 

[ephemeral--dreams]

Making you cry during a fight (2) - Scaramouche, Yae, Kaeya

Okay guys here you go never ask me for anything ever again /j

(part 1)

☆ ☾ ☆ ──────────────────

Scaramouche

There's a sort of deep, instinctive fear that takes root inside the place where a heart would be, as he watches tears fall after a few too-harsh words. 

He's hurt you. He's been careless, he's been too difficult, too much - and it's going to drive you away. You're going to abandon him because of this incident, surely. Why would you stay with someone who makes you cry? 

It's… it's not a feeling he's dealt with for many years. The fear of being left. He has not allowed anyone to get close enough to him to have any concern over whether they're around or not. Scaramouche had learned his lesson about getting attached and having emotion, after all. He had spat out whatever  bitter words he pleased and felt nothing when he upset anyone he spoke to.

But those days are past, and while that's a good thing in many ways, right now it feels anything but. 

"I-"

"Sorry. I shouldn't be crying," the way you apologize as if you're the one in the wrong stabs right through him. You're the one crying, yet he is being wounded just as much. It's an awful thing, caring. "Just. Just give me a moment…"

Scaramouche hesitates. He's paralyzed, caught up in the idea that anything he does or says may make things worse. But what wins out is the idea of fixing it, fixing things before you give up on him—

"Stop it. You shouldn't be the one saying sorry here. I shouldn't have said that to you, alright? You should know better than to take everything I say so seriously, honestly, I-" he sighs, irritated with himself more than you, before pulling you into his embrace. You don't pull away. Good. Maybe he hasn't entirely fucked things up. "...I didn't mean it. Sorry."

Yae

Yae Miko is not the sort of person who yells during a fight. Or at any time, really. So that hadn't been at all what had happened during your little conflict. 

Rather, her words were pointed to hit where it hurt, an attempt to shut down whatever silly human nonsense you thought was worth causing a riot over. Problems came and went, and most weren't nearly as important as they may seem in the moment. Living many years had led her to this conclusion. She was a busy woman who had little interest in wasting her time arguing. 

...Calculating and perhaps dismissive she may be, but she isn't cold. Yae still very much has a heart, and it skips a beat when she realizes you're nowhere to be found at the usual time she would meet with you after finishing her shrine duties. Surely you weren't that upset over it all, right? 

No, you couldn't be still lingering on the issue hours later… 

Well, you could. Others were far more sensitive to these things, a fact she often forgot. Yae should know better. Isn't she used to highly emotional people, after all? At least your tantrums weren't going to practically destroy the nation…

She finds you at the foot of the mountain, sitting and idly staring into the distance. The tear tracks on your face are all too telling. 

Yae is not above realizing when she has done something wrong. Though she's also not one to openly apologize. She doesn't do much of anything openly. 

"You don't listen to me," you tell her. 

"Well, I'll try to listen more, then. Is that satisfactory?" She offers a hand to you. You wait a moment before taking it, allowing her to pull you up. "Just remember to consider my side of things as well. We can work on it… But let's not linger on this too long. Time is fleeting for mortals like you, hm?"

Kaeya

Kaeya is excellent at one thing - avoidance. In fact, he's been successfully avoiding you ever since your fight a couple of days ago. It's easier to simply wait until you've both cooled off. 

That's what he tells himself. It's certainly not  that the fight made him feel anxious. He's not running away from his problems, of course not.

(He's lying to himself. One wrong word and you'll leave. He knows that. It's bad enough that you had an argument, archons forbid he confronts you and it's the last straw.)

So Kaeya carefully stays out of your way, doesn't speak to you, doesn't let you catch sight of him. He'll have to deal with things eventually, he knows, but… Until then, he's content to keep things this way. Four days in you finally seek him out yourself, looking exhausted and absolutely miserable. 

"Can we- can we stop fighting? You're right, I'm wrong, all that-" He can only watch as you start breaking down in front of him, a cold, sinking feeling of guilt settling in. "...Just stop ignoring me, please?"

His life has been filled with bad decisions - it seems that he's made yet another, by avoiding you so long. Now Kaeya is faced with your tears as you practically beg for his attention. It's quite the opposite of what he intended. He reaches a careful hand to brush them away. "Shh, shh. No more, alright?"

You sniffle, looking up at him. "You're not mad at me?"

"Of course not, sweetheart. I never was. We can talk about it later, okay? Let me make you feel better."

[angelismmm]

oohhh i love your blog!! how about some morning sex headcanons with albedo, ayato, kaeya and cyno?

⟢ a rising sunset in the east ft. albedo, ayato, kaeya, & cyno ・synopsis. early mornings, busy afternoons, it all calling for intimacy in the bright sun rays through the cracks of the curtains that spill onto the floor, and slow sensual sex at the crack of dawn, right before he goes. ・notes. ugliest and cutest color combo ive ever made, #696969 for the win tho, bro why did i ever think writing was easy without fancy ahh words. day ii: im losing it, i cant write dom albedo, its ok i tried ・warnings. nsfw, morning sex, gn!reader, dom & sub!reader, dom & sub!character, strap/cock mentioned

THE ALCHEMIST: ALBEDO ・such a sweetheart honestly! wants to make those little moments between you two at least somewhat sweet, but he can't help but whimper at the way you went so slowly up and down his cock. and damn did it feel good. probably likes cowgirl / missionary the most. probably has a lot of stamina too! could go on 'till night time again if you wanted him to. orgasms too easily though, so overstimulation with him can barely be avoided. likes to call you an angel, or just basic petnames (i.e. love, darling, dear, etc., he's really cheesy). pretty loud in bed if i don't say so myself. like dom or sub, either way he whimpers and groans a ton, gets turned a whole bunch when you moan, lets him know you like it too yk? ・oh and if you the one pegging/thrusting him from behind or what, do wtv u can to his nipples, he likes that. like a lot. tug on them, rub them, like just doing that and being the one pounding his ass and he'll fall in love, praise him while doing it, tell him he's a good boy and you are on your way to make him orgasm another time. probably real sensitive too, like i said he is prone to orgasming a bit early into sex, like after tugging on his nips for a bit he probably will come as soon as that dick/strap come inside of him!!! anyway back to srs writing, he loves praise a lot, do that and rub his nipples, he'll come untouched. more sensitive in the mornings btw ・aftercare w him is soo soft, like he'll make sure you're both showered and stuff, makes sure you're okay, continuosly asks actually, cuddles you to sleep, before he goes in the morning, forehead kiss and goes out the door feeling like a man with the greatest partner ever.

THE YASHIRO COMMISIONER: KAMISATO AYATO ・likes being in control, any position will do honestly, whatever you're most comfortable with. major tease & wastes 0 time, wastes 0 time is going drunk on your taste, i feel like he's more into sucking/eating you off/out, doesn't have the energy to rail the fuck out of your hole, but maybe a taste of you could give him more energy, yk? gets so drunk on your taste he almost doesn't realize you've already came and your cock/pussy is already off his mouth, will probably overstimulate you a bit too, maybe even edge you a bit after that. ・degrades you like no tomorrow, but likes being degraded when you're the one pegging/thrusting into his ass. likes being punished too, probably the type to go "i'm too tired for this" when you ask if he's your slut to purposely piss you off. will gladly bounce on your dick/strap though, absolutey goes crazy on it, please place hickeys on his neck, show everyone that he belongs to you when he goes out <3 ・loves aftercare, loves also to shower kisses on your back while you both get ready for the morning activities, and as long as you ask for it he'll get for you, makes sure everything you want and need it there for you while he isn't there, so a kiss to your forehead, and he's out the door, and those little things that you had kept your eye on but don't wanna go out anytime soon? he'll get it as soon as possible! just sit tight, and wait for him, that's all he needs from you.

THE CALVARY CAPTAIN: KAEYA ALBERICH ・god damn, he is definitely a big tease while you sleepily ride his cock, your eyes barely open, pleasure running all throughout your body, your hands on his chest, the only thing that really helped your body up, and kaeya can't help but groan, you felt so ethereal, it made him feel like he's falling in love with you all over again. he just needed this before work, just needed you this one more time, he's been almost too busy, it took too long this time for a single mission to be completed, he's glad you can help him relieve his stress! ・probably praises you immensely, and whatever position is okay as long as neither of you have to move that much. pound him while his face is in a pillow, literal praise prince, seriously loves praise so bad, tell him he's being such a good boy taking all of you in. his loud moans in pleasure echoing through the hallway, loves even more if you fuck him in front of a mirror, seeing how much of a mess you've made him, gets turned on so bad, even if it's just you jerking him off, your smooth hands running over his red tip, aa just please keep going!! ・the type of guy to call you mommy/daddy, just depends how far you guys are into it (as in round wise yes.) anyways, aftercare is a dream!! so gentle with you honestly, getting showered with him is so heavenly too, smooth talker plus showering you with affection? such a sweetheart, and if you really can't walk after like in the other headcannons i made for ayato, he'd go for errands for anything that you need, but not 'till 8am, it's still 6am, he'll stay with you for a bit. just a bit 'till he goes.

THE GENERAL MAHAMATRA: CYNO ・WAAA baby is so sensitive, literally just touching all over his cock for a bit makes him wanna cum soo bad, just say the word and he will paint your hands white <33!! his drowsy eyes could barely keep up with the speed of how fast of a pace your hands were going up and down his dick, spurts cum everywhere honestly, kinda heavy load everytime he does too. will let you dominate him in the morning, doesn't really care ・make him choke on your fingers if he's being too loud, definitely likes getting degraded, but praise isn't out of the choices. a mix of everything, really, just don't let it be related to gory stuff, makeout with him and jerk him off, and he'll be off happier than ever. sensitive all over, just seriously do anything to him, more prone to cum just by you stroking him. ・if he does end up being a dom, lots of praise and kisses, really just soft thrusts into you. the belly bulge on your tummy is really what keeps him going, seeing how much of his seed is inside you, holds your hand throughout most of the rounds too, lowkey arrives late to work because of aftercare with you. ・treats you like a queen/king, reminds you all the time how much he loves you and cares about you, that's why he doesn't go that hard during sex, wants to make sure you're comfortable, likes to hold you in the shower, just you and him.

you can tell i was dying while writing this it's kinda icky too so mb.... cg on 700 followers for me ig.......

[orionicchaos]

Blushing mess | genshin x gn!reader

× gn!reader | they/them pronouns

× headcanons

× characters : diluc, kaeya, albedo, venti, razor, bennett, zhongli, tartaglia, xiao, chongyun, xingqiu, ayato, itto, kazuha, thomas, heizou, gorou, cyno, tighnari, al haitham, scaramouche

🌺

TW : fluff, but slightly suggestive in some parts (zhongli and maybe heizou idk) no proofread

others warnings : modern!au and non-modern!au (it depends lol) pre-established relationship and non-established relationship, they are kinda simping for you tbh, favourism in venti, zhongli, ayato, albedo etc parts, poorly written for some.. [male version]

summary : they couldn't help the red blush on their face, they couldn't help the warm in their cheeks, ears and neck, and worst, they couldn't hide it from you

a.n. : is this fucking repetitive? Hell yeah! do i lack vocabulary? also! still, i hope you'll enjoy, also if you want any other characters just say it! likes, comments and reblogs are highly appreciated too, especially comments !

navi.

♪¸¸.•*¨*•.

Diluc

-honestly, it's not even that hard to fluster him, he's (internally) easily flustered

-BUT, good luck trying to catch a reaction out of him

-Man knows how to hide his emotions, and i mean HE REALLY KNOWS

-Even catching the smallest hint of blush is a huge victory

-Diluc could be in a "screaming, blushing hard, crying his eyeballs out, throwing up, banging his head against the wall" state and you'd have no idea

-There's only one thing you can do to make him blush : surprise him with small kisses on the forehead when he expects it the least and then he BLUSHES

-Depends of the moment, but it can go from a very tiny blush to a big fat reddish blush that you can also see on his neck

-To aggravate the blush, you can always kiss him again and again, and again..

-He's act like nothing is happening, but man you know he's so flustered hehe

...

-Diluc? You call him

–Yes darling? He answers, the nose so close to the papers he's working on that it almost touch them.

–Can you look at me?

He raises his head and smiles at you, waiting for you to ask for something. To his surprise, you simply smirk, the one you pull when you're about to tease him, and you give him a butterfly kiss on the lips.

He can't say anything, the face redder than his hair and a silent scream hanging from his almost trembling lower lip.

Kaeya

-Kind of guy to flirt just to hide the fact that he's so easily flustered it physically hurts

-So whenever you flirt back it's the end of him

-Big big messy blush is reserved for the times you are both lying on the couch, and that you're playing with his hair while saying every compliments crossing your mind

-He tries to flirt back and keep his composure but oh baby, you just talk so fast he can't keep up

-if you add forehead kisses he might die

...

As you enter the room, Kaeya raises his head and greets you with a charming smile.

-My, my, what a beautiful partner I have. Maybe you should come closer so I can see you better.

-Not as pretty, handsome and mesmerizing as you, my darling, you slyly add.

He swears under his breath that he's going to die one day. You slowly approach the couch, then take his chin between your fingers. You slowly kiss him and take the lead, while stroking a strand of his hair. You withdraw from the kiss, smirking as he bites his lower lip, trying to hide the reddish blush on his cheeks.

Albedo

-Good luck

-I mean, you never saw him blush before, so you don't even know if it's possible

-You two weren't even that close, you did some school projects together but nothing crazy

-Still, you had a silly little crush (no, in fact you were so deep in love with him) on him, and don't know if your feelings are reciprocated

-You were kinda nervous (an understatement) about it, not knowing what to do of your feelings

-You tried to bury them deep in your chest but they kept flooding out of your heart

-One day though, you decided to confess

-On a cold evening of winter, you decided that it was the right moment.

...

Sitting in front of him at a small table in the library, you were listening to his understanding of the subject for this semester's project. The wind was loud and violently smashing the window's glass, the air was cold. You tried to focus on what Albedo was saying in vain, too busy scrutinizing the way his lips moved at each word and the disposition of his hair framing his face. You sighed, and thus caught Albedo's attention.

-Is something wrong, dear?

You heart clunched pleasantly in your rib cage, holding for dear life to this tiny hope that he liked you back. You shook your head, and tried to search for words. Your mouth was dry, and you had a strange sensation in your throat, maybe it was attempting to prevent the words from coming out.

The blond looked at you, uncertain of what to think. He found himself unable to continue his explanation, disturbed by your sudden gaze on his person. His heart missed a beat when you suddenly spoke.

-Albedo, be my boyfriend. Please.

It was almost as if you were begging him to. As if it was a necessity, as if you knew his feelings for you. Did you know?

–I like the way you... I like you. Please, it may seems sudden but I really thought about it and I really want to love you as a partner because being friend isn't enough. Because it hurt and I don't want it to hurt.

Not knowing what to say, he looked quite a long time at his feet. When he decided to meet your gaze again, you seemed so serious and sincere it made his cheeks warm, and he blushed.

Venti

-I'd say it's easy to make him blush but at the same time, not that easy

-He already has light pink cheeks most of the time, either due to alcohol or just when he's with you, because you always make him happy and his cheeks naturally tend to be pink

-You know that guy has no shame, he's thousands years old and knows every songs (including the ones that are yk.. come on you can't tell there isn't some poems which are about seggs)

-If you want to make him flustered flustered, good luck

-You have to find the most beautiful compliment in the world or he'll just chuckle a little before complimenting you in return (he's better than you at making you flustered)

-The easiest way may be to wait for an early morning when he's not fully awake yet.

...

The early morning's sunrays were shining through the window and into your bedroom, as you opened one eye to see the sleepy face of your boyfriend. You stared at his peaceful features. His nose, his round cheeks, his long eyelashes, and the way his hair was beautifying his already pretty face just as if he was made to be beautiful.

You let out a silent sigh, a small pount on your lips, and suddenly you felt like you were made to admire every details of his beauty, and to make songs about it to make sure the world knows it too. With a single light touch on the cheek, you woke him up and decided you should kiss him everywhere and so you did.

He was not fully awake and was still trying to understand what was going on. He felt your lips on his skin, your hand on his cheek and your other hand slightly pulling on his hair and it felt so unreal he thought it was a dream. Unconsciously, he moved his head so he could reach your mouth, his fingers grabbing the bed's sheets like his life depended on it.

His eyes were half closed and locked on your lips, but when he opened then wider and met your gaze, he saw a kind of fascination, like if these eyes were looking at something beautiful, almost out of this world, an unknown wonder hidden behind layers of mysteries unsolved. His heartbeats started to quicken when he remembered these eyes were looking at him, reaching for the soul laying in his heart. Maybe it was thanks to the intimacy of the moment, but his whole body was now radiating an alarming heat and his face, ears and neck were red.

–Hello, darling, you said as you kissed his nose.

His silence was so loud of love for you that the sun greeted you both with its warm and brilliant embrace, and Venti smiled.

Razor

-I don't know if he's never blushing because he doesn't understand what is going on most of the time or if he's always blushing because of anything you do

-That one is kinda fifty fifty tbh

-You two are friends, or bestfriends I may say

-He's so confused because he started feeling "weird" around you some months ago (he's in love yk yk)

...

A small smile curled on Razor's lips when he found you half asleep, laying against a tree. He didn't know from where the desire to sit down next to you came, but he accepted it nonetheless. Sat on the grass a few inches next to you, he extended his legs a little to find a comfortable position, taking care not to soil his school uniform's pants.

You smiled to yourself as you opened one eye, took his hand in yours, and he turned his head to hide it from you.

–Hello, Razor, you said while stroking his palm, and he stayed silent for a few moments.

-Hello, Y/n.

And you could see the red on his neck. If you had tried a little more, you could've seen his deeply pink cheecks.

Bennett

-One of the easiest to fluster, boy's a blushing mess 24/7

-Whatever you say, whatever you do...

-And you both aren't even in a relationship! (yet)

-If you want to really make him blush like he never blushed before, there's still one thing you can do : you have to lean close to his face, maintain the eyes contact, slightly touch his shoulder or whatever and say "I love you"

-Basically confess

-Boy's almost melting, he's so red I'm not even joking

....

You were both lying on the bed like friends do, in a small castle made of pillows and blanckets, all warm and comfy. It was one of these calm yet slightly flustering moments for Bennett, because you were so close to him and he could almost feel your breath on his neck and it felt so good knowing you were right next to him but he was also so in love with you and so shy about comfessing and his heart was about to melt. His whole body was so warm and his cheeks were already tainted with pink.

Like the little asshole you were, you started to move even closer to him, making sure both of your shoulders touched each other, leaving your hot breath on his skin like a burn.

Heart bumping in his chest, he turned his head so he could see you and your teasing smirk, so your eyes met.

-Hey Bennett, I love you, you mutter with a laugh, never breacking the eyes contact.

You could see his whole face becoming red and his eyes widening, as the commisures of his mouth curled into stunned grimace.

You putting your hand on his arm had him definitely dying as he started to stutter words you couldn't understand.

Zhongli

-It takes a lot to make him blush

-He's always so calm, confident, unbothered

-You two have a complicated relationship, basically you're supposed to be sex friends the night and to hate each other the day but you both fucked up and fell in love, yet refused to admit it

-You know because you were supposed to NOT fall in love

-So yeah complicated

-Another man who needs a whole ass confession to blush

...

The moon was already high in the sky when you came back home, Zhongli's hand in yours as your fingers squeezed his knuckles, almost running to your bedroom. He was surprised by the urge in your movements, as if he wasn't feeling his own heart at the verge of giving up on its job - keeping him alive until you kissed him.

Grabbing his collar with your gloved hands, you pushed him on the mattress, and you stared at him with a confused expression on your face. You were on top of him, sat on his thighs and fingers stroking his neck, while he looked at you with hopeful eyes, expecting you to give him what he wanted, and for the first time you could understand what he was thinking.

You let out a shaky breathe, closing your eyes for a second and suddenly you bowed over him, nose one inch close to his.

-We're fucking idiots. Damn!, you yelled. Looking so pretty for me. Just for me. Damn, Zhongli, I think I love you. Be mine.

Incomprehension filled his eyes and they widened so much it was funny. As he processed the words, his face became redder and redder, and you heard him swallow his saliva. You smirked at his face, went to eat his lips until they were puffy and he melted against you.

Tartaglia

-He usually is the one to fluster you, I mean y'all see what I mean

-He's not the one to crack a pick up line at every occasion he gets but he does a lot of compliments and always speaks before thinking when it comes to that

-Don't get me wrong he's cocky as hell but pick up lines aren't his thing

-He does not hide his feelings, even when you weren't together

-Now about the blush part.. Like Venti, his cheeks naturally tend to be pink all the time AND HE HAS FRECKLES yeah

-You can't do anything of your own will to make him blush, but there're also these times when even if you do nothing, he's still blushing hard

...

You felt his fingertips on your forearm, tickling your skin a little. As you noticed his head a little bit closer to yours than a few seconds ago, you tried to focus on the papers in front of you, waiting for your delicate handwriting to fill the reports and for your signature at the bottom-right hand corner.

-Ajax, come one, let me work.

He signed, retracting his arm, and started whining about you "being distant and cold and not giving him attention". You gazed at him for the first time in twenty minutes and chuckled at his pount.

-What about you let me finish everything that needs to be done right now and then I'll be all yours? For the rest of the day? Sounds good?

–For the rest of our life sounds definitely better, he said, and you didn't know if he was joking or not.

And even if your were supposed to be the one flustered by the compliment, the way you looked at him, with confusion, expectation, happiness and the smirk on your lips made him blush, as he tried to hide it from you, not understanding why he had that reaction.

Then, you let out another chuckle that melted his heart and he desesperatly covered his face with his hand.

"What in the hell is wrong with me?"

Xiao

-The friend who can't take compliments, like at all

-Is flustered by any demonstration of affection coming from you

-But will NEVER let you see his face, he runs away (teleport somewhere else you don't even know how) everytime

-Good luck trying to see his flustered face

-Good luck trying to make a move in order to date him </3

-He doesn't blush a lot tho

...

The autumn breeze was nicely brushing against your skin, and the music you were listening to was your favourite. It was a nice morning of september, one week after the beginning of the school year. As you looked for a paper in your school bag, you noticed a student standing in front of you, and the surprise of recognizing Xiao hit you.

He seemed confused, trying to find his words, and he silently cursed you don't know who under his breath. Maybe he has been forced to go talk to you.

-... What are you listening to?, he suddenly asked.

You smiled a little, and you handed him one of your earphones which you didn't use often because it hurt one of your ears. He accepted, sitting right next to you, as stiff as a tree. He nodded his head after a moment, like he was agreeing woth your music's taste.

You gazed at him and noticed a small, tiny blush on his cheeks, his jaws were relaxed and he had a small pount on the lips. It gave him a really different expression than usually, maybe a bit softer and maybe, his walls cracked a little.

Chongyun

-Has the biggest crush on you and can't help but be flustered and blushing when you're around

-His friends aren't helping at all

-Xingqiu, Xiangling and Hu Tao I'm looking at y'all

-He's always admiring you from afar and blushes when he looks at you for too long

-Nobody knows if he'll ever be able to confess because he can't align two words when he talks to you

-You don't have to do anything but to be you

...

The opened door of his locker was like a wall protecting him from you. He has been lucky enough to have a locker right next of yours and he cursed every deities for that, because he had to worry about meeting you everyday. He just couldn't see your smile without starting to have a tantrum in his chest and his cheeks to warm up.

Today was a really bad day for him because you decided to both greet him and smile while doing so. Like usually, he blushed and panicked, not even being able to say hello back. He pushed his head into his locker so you coulnd't see his face.

Little did he know that you noticed that behaviour a while ago and were just waiting for him to be more relaxed around you. Maybe one day he'll be confident enough to confess. But before that, you should try to act friendly enough with him.

-See you later, Chongyun, you added as you patted his back.

Xingqiu

-I can hardly imagine him blushing to be honest

-He's always so composed and I think he handles embarrassment easily

-STILL, he's weak for sudden acts of affection

-Little butterfly kisses on the forehead/anywhere on his face, quick hugs, compliments

-COMPLIMENTS

-He's a sucker for praises, (I'm right argue with the wall) just praise him and he'll melt

...

You left the bathroom the second your heard your husband calling your name, heading towards your shared bedroom. You found him in front of the mirror, trying to do something about his tie, a sheepish smile on his lips as he glared at you, silently begging for your help.

You chuckled a little.

-Darling, you're in your twenties. You're lucky I know how to tie this thing,

He pounted at you, before laughing.

-May you help me with my tie, my Liege?

You walked towards him, and helped him tying the piece of clothe, putting his long hair behind his shoulders so that it didn't bother. You then kissed his nose, closing your eyes while doing so, which seemed to stop his every movements.

-You're so beautiful, Xingqiu, and it's not because of the suit.

When you re-opened your eyes, you saw him smiling and noticed his red cheeks, as he scratched his neck.

Ayato

-That sly mf is the best at hiding his blush

-Smooth asf, you would never know if he's blushing or not

-It doesn't mean that he never blushes, he does (would never admit it tho) but you just CAN'T see it

-He doesn't want you to see his blush because he feels like he looks too vulnerable with it

-One time tho, when you noticed an almost invisible taint of pink oh his face, you tried to see it entirely

...

-Come on baby, let me see it, please!

Your boyfriend turned his back at you and almost hid in your shared closet, chuckling a little as if he was just messing with you. In reality, he was just so flustered he feared that he looked ridiculous. He was desesperatly holding to the "cool and hot boyfriend" image he had.

-I am not blushing, so there's no need for you to see it.

You laughed, not buying his lie.

-'Yatoooo, please ! I'm sure you look super cute!

You took him by his arm, pulling him out of the closet with a strength you didn't know you had. You both fell on the bed, driven by the sudden movement, and to your surprise, you fell on top of him, thus, you had a visual access to his embarrassed face.

He bit his lower lip and looked away with unsure eyes. He felt his already hot face become hotter and hotter as you admired him.

-Enjoying what you see?

His voice was almost shaking. The view felt unusual, it was the first time for you to see him like that, vulnerable.

-Yes. You're so damn handsome baby. So, so cute, too.

You cupped both of his cheeks with your hands, looking straight into his eyes, and you whispered.

-I love you so much.

Itto

-Big boy is actually a softy for you

-He fights he hugs but most importantly he protecc

-Or something like that

-Bro still believes he's in the friend zone because you called him "bestie" one day

-So whenever you try to make a move he's always "shit it's not that deep bruh move on my dude" but he's blushing like a mess and internally screaming

...

-Hey Itto, I was wondering... Would you like to go on a dinner with me?

Your sudden question made him stop talking in the middle of a sentence. He blinked once, twice, and realization seemed to hit him, and his cheeks turned pink.

-Oh, you mean like a dinner between bestfriends haha, yeah of course my friend I'm always glad to eat with-

-No Itto I mean like a fucking romantic dinner between someone who's trying to flirt and a guy who's to oblivious about it, like come on it's like you're doing it on purpose.

His eyes widened and he went silent for a good three minutes, as you sighed. He smiled sheepishly at you, sharp teeth showing a little.

-Yeah, I'd like that, he said somehow shy.

-Good, see you at 8 p.m then.

You left the poor man alone with his heart that had gone crazy, his flustered expression and warm cheeks.

Kazuha

-He's usually the one that can fluster you

-He has a few haïkus ready everytime he comes back from travel

-But that doesn't mean he never blushes, actually he does pretty often, as your relationship is recent in a sense

-Nonetheless he must the the only one who does not hide his face when he blushes because he trusts you so much

-Did I mention the haïkus?

...

You opened one eye as you felt a cold finger at the corner of your mouth. You smiled as Kazuha greeted you, loving look directed at your person.

He dropped off his travel bag at the corner of your bedroom, deciding that it would be taken care of tomorrow in the morning. He changed his clothes, choosing a clean shirt in the wardrobe, and a pair of baggy pants, then joined you in the bed.

You took him in your arms and went to kiss his lips, strocking a strand of his hair, before you pulled out to chuckle a little. You noticed a small blush on his face before he turned off the light.

-Welcome back, Darling.

Thomas

-The "busy" co-worker you talk with once a week

-He keeps avoiding you because of his massive crush

-Whenever he sees you in a corridor he fakes having an urgent business to deal with because he's that nervous

-Convinced himself you will never love him

-Sometimes, he buys you coffee, tea, or hot chocolate when he feels relaxed enough to hold a conversation

-Always has a light pink shade on his face when he talks to you

...

There was a long and heavy silence as you stared at him with dumbfounded eyes. He seemed rather nervous, hiding behind the bouquet of flowers he bought you, waiting for you to say something.

He looked at you through the stems, trying to stay calm. You didn't notice his small blush. He sighed at your lack of answer, scratching his neck.

-May you accept these flowers?

You took the bouquet without a word, not knowing what to say, and you took knowledge of the flower's sent.

-They're really pretty, thank you, Thomas.

He smiled at what you said, relieved.

-I'd also be delighted to have dinner with you, you added.

Thomas felt a pleasant squeeze in his heart, and you couldn't help but chuckle at his small pount. You then gazed at his hot red cheeks with tenderness.

Heizou

-Good luck trying to make him blush, he always sees it coming and prepares himself in consequence.

-By far the cockiest bastard

-The kind of guy to whisper the most obscene things in your ear in public, so he's the one who makes you fluster most of the time

-You have to surprise him, and watch closely because you could miss his reaction

-He's so cute when he blushes tho

...

-Don't run away now, pretty boy, you smirked at Heizou.

Holding his tie with a firm grip, you pulled him closer to you, and pinned him against the nearest wall. He felt cold sweats pass through his spine, as he swallowed his saliva.

-What now, where is all your teasing? Cat got your tongue?

-Come on Y/n, there's no need to go this far, it was just a little teasing, nothing more.

He tried to hold back a nervous laugh, eyes widened of surprise. He never saw this face of you and was kind of regretting pushing you this far.

-How about you got the taste of your own medicine ?

His eyes narrowed and you leaned closer to his ear, then whispered some unholy things and left the poor boy alone, red like a crayfish and stuttering random words.

Gorou

-Another easily flustered man

-Please leave him alone when he's working because he blushes for ANYTHING

-You're part of the Watatsumi Island army but you aren't under his orders, yet you usually skip your meetings and trainings to join his just to have the pleasure to mess with him

-He loves you too much to tell you to leave tbh

...

Surprised looks scrutinized your figure as you approached the group, then looked back at their general. You smiled at your husband, hands in pockets, and went to sit down next to one of his soldier, in front of him. You watched his face slowly losing his smile, and he pinched his nose bridge.

-Y/n, we talked about this, Gorou started as you stared at him with malicious eyes.

-Ah yes, we did.

Seeing that you weren't moving at all, he continued to explain this and that to his soldiers, and you kept your gaze on him. He tried so hard to keep his composure that you almost laughed.

-Well, that's enough for today. If you have any question, please go on...

-Sir, are you free tonight? You said as you raised your hand. 'Cause you look kinda cute and-

He yelled at you to stop, stuttering on his words, and you smirked at his behaviour. When everyone left, you took his hand in yours and kissed his warm pink cheek.

Cyno

-When he's at school, he has to play the role of the student council member (we all know he is in the council come on), and he's super serious about it

-The whole school hates him for this but he's forgiven because he's just that handsome and sometimes (sometimes) nice

-The kind of guy who will beat the shit outta bullies with no hesitation

-Anyway, whenever you try some pda in school, he's all red and curses you because you "are distracting him" while squeezing your hand a little harder and silently begging you to kiss his cheek again

...

It was a normal day of school; people were chatting in the corridors, borrowing books from other classmates, some teachers were already at their third cup of coffee of the day (and it was only 10 a.m), some were strangely in a good mood, and most importantly, you found Cyno in the middle of giving a lesson to the poor guy who forgot to return a paper in time yesterday.

You smiled fondly at the scene, walking towards your boyfriend, and giving a slight sorry gaze at the poor student in front of him.

-Hey, Cyno, how about you let that man alone and try to help be with my physics essay? you said, an inch from his ear.

He had a small jumpscare and looked at you with widened eyes, stuttering words because of your sudden proximity. You pulled him out of the corridor, in the yard, chuckling, and that was when he seemed to wake up.

-Y/n! Stop preventing me from doing my job!

-Oh, you smiled. Honey, you're so serious and cute... You should probably be less serious too.

His cheeks were now harboring a pretty taint of red, and Cyno looked away.

Tighnari

-Touch. his. ears.

-Touch. his. tail.

-That is what they have been made for!!

-Anyway, he's super sensible in these areas and the intimacy makes his heart go badoom

-Also, cup his cheeks in your hands and smooch him lol

-He does not like pda but he doesn't mind you doing it in the comfort of your room, even if he blushes sometimes

...

Tighnari closed his eyes when you started to massage his scalp, appreciating the sensation of your fingers running through his brands of hair.

-Can I touch your ears?

He gave you a small smile, nodding slightly his head in approbation. You then started to pet his ears, from the bottom to the tip, while smoothing the fur, scratching it a little in specific areas. Your boyfriend melted against you and blushed from the intention.

-I love you, Darling.

Al Haitham

-Doesn't seem like it but I believe that this man always blush because of pda

-But just because it's you

-Like even the dirtiest words wouldn't affect him (well it would but that's not the matter right now)

-Just take his hands in yours while walking in Port Ormos and you get to see his small blush

-If you add a kiss he'll be all grumpy and will try to hide his face because of how hot his cheeks feel

...

You hummed a Sumeru ballad as you walked down the street of the port, peacefully talking with your boyfriend. Your little walks with Al Haitham were now going unnoticed as people were now used to see you and him together.

-Hey, what do we eat for dinner, tonight? you asked him when you passed by a small restaurant.

He sighed as he met the expecting eyes you gave him.

-It seems that you already found a restaurant.

-Nah... But you're right though, that restaurant looks really comfy and it smells rather good! Come on, we should go now!

You adressed him your biggest smile and took his hand, heading towards one of the tables, while his other hand went to hide the lower part of his face, and both his cheeks and hand felt hot to him. Likewise, he couldn't help the peaceful feeling in his chest.

Scaramouche

-His face is always red... of anger

-Just kidding

-Since he's new to all of that "affection" thing he's a little bit awkward, and even shy, but he doesn't blush often ig

-Hens still the one who wants to hide it the most, not that he succeeds everytime tho

-When he starts to call you a "stupid dumbass" that needs to "stop saying so many bullshits" it means that he's actually flustered and maybe blushing

-But he can be a tiny bit affectionate when no one's around, yeah

...

-Hey, Kuni ? You called him while serving yourself a glass of water.

-Hm?

-Do you want me to cut your hair? It starts to get a bit long.

You sat on a chair, waiting for his answer, while he seemed to be thinking about it.

-Don't get me wrong, it looks good on you but I thought that maybe...

-Is it true? he asked, looking at a bowl of fruits on your kitchen's table. That I look good with long hair?

-Yes, you smiled to yourself. Maybe a bun would look good too.

Scaramouche's gaze searched for your own eyes, and he announced :

-Then give me a bun.

You chuckled at his demand and nodded. You passed your hands through his hair, pulling it all together in a nice loose bun with two strands of hair framing his face.

-... So beautiful, you whispered.

And just like that, you got to witness his flustered, pink face.

tag list : @amyskmk

credit : me

[nubisaureus]

NSFW Alphabet

I love this trend so I decided to give it a go^^

character(s): Thoma, Ayato, Kaveh, Kaeya

pairings: fem!reader x Thoma, Ayato, Kaveh, Kaeya (separately)

enjoy! ✿

✦✧✦✧ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵✦✧✦✧

Thoma

He's probably a switch, and even when he's domming, he's 100% a service dom.

A for aftercare: I think Thoma would be all over you, whispering sweet nothings in your ear, pampering you and absolutely showering you with cuddles (A/N: oh to have a Thoma in my life *dramatic sigh*)

O for oral: he's very close to being 50/50, but he loves going down on you, watching you tremble and quiver as he explores you with his mouth

Q for quickies: he's fucking serious on his job, really. Almost nothing you do can distract him from his job, but there's some days when he's just too needy to wait. Ah, if the Kamisato Estate could talk..

S for stamina: two to three rounds is the max he can go uninterrupted

U for unfair: teasing wise, he's not that cruel. What he likes to do though, is to shower you with compliments and watch you squirm because you struggle to accept any of them. He'd end up his compliments attack with a kiss on your forehead and a hug, in which you'd hide your face in his chest, and he'd gently stroke your back to soothe you.

Ayato

He's a dom through and through. There might be times when he lets you have the upper hand, but those don't last very long, and you like it that way.

E for experience: oh boi oh boi. He knows exactly what he's doing, and you can rest assured you're going to lose your mind for him.

K for kinks: this man has a pet kink and a degradation mixed with a praise kink, I just know it. I think he also has a bit of an exhibitionism kink, but never really gets caught. He likes to have you all to himself, but the perspective of getting caught by his servants turns him on.

S for stamina: one round without interruption, two if he's really in the mood. He likes to take his sweet ass time with you, so those rounds are...rather long.

T for toys: assuming sex toys exist in the genshin universe, I think he'd have a few, just to tease you to hell and back.

U for unfair: depends on his mood really; he could be sweet one moment, and then tease you until you're too hot and bothered to utter any logical sentence. When he's in the mood he's basically unstoppable.

Kaveh

This man is a sub, through and through. I just know it.

D for dirty secret: he purposefully went down on you one time to get back at Alhaitham,

J for jack off: he doesn't masturbate often, but when he does, he's always thinking of you riding him.

P for pace: he likes to go at whatever rhythm you want, but on some rare occasions, he'd go extra slow, savoring how you feel around him.

S for stamina: with all the all-nighters he pulls, he doesn't really feel tired anymore, so he can go for three rounds.

V for volume: he's LOUD AS FUCK. Seriously. He's so loud you sometimes wonder if people outside the house can hear you guys. That's why you two usually stay at your place, since you live alone. If you had sex in the same house as Alhaitham he'd hear you even through his noise canceling headphones, geez.

Kaeya

More of a dom, but if you were to take the initiative, he'd enjoy the show with a smirk on his face, so he's not opposed to it.

C for cum: he loves the sight of you oozing with his cum. Whether it's from your mouth or your pussy, he just loves seeing how much he can fill you.

H for hair: he's very well groomed down there, and anywhere else for all that matters.

L for location: anywhere really, as long as it's somewhere away from prying eyes, you better believe he'll make it work.

R for risk: he's very open minded when it comes to trying new things, so he'll consider any proposal you have most of the time, unless it's something that makes him really uncomfortable.

Y for yearning: his sex drive is high, very high, although he keeps it at bait while at work (fortunately for you, otherwise you wouldn't be able to walk most of the time).

[oathofkaslana]

hi hi hi leeeee :] as a colleiwarrior it is my duty to ask about collei o7 and if you want to do it id like to hear your thoughts about xiao too hehe

HAI PLUTO!!!! ill do collei and then xiao :3

Collei:

First impression:

OHHH I LOVE HER ALREADY SHE'S SO SNARKY AND HER LORE IS SO COMPELLING....... very very excited to see her in game i hope she comes out soon (<- had to wait like what. two/three years????)

Impression now:

gives me brain worms my God. i think i've thought about her too much bc theres so many lil symbols that i associate w her that just aren't intentional in the slightest. she has so so so much lovea nd heart in her and i wishhhh people understood her better. also extremely disappointed in her in-game writing for multiple reasons but like. the ableism and misogyny being a big one. :( colleination could fix her...... i wish she were more mean in the game.

Favorite moment:

her fight w kaeya and the subsequent "confrontation" w amber....... makes me so so sick in the head that was The original collei trio to me. i looove how it plays w all three of their characters even if it isn't shown very well. it's also the basis for a lot of my interpretation of collei since it shows the extent of her beliefs/lack of belief. dear god..... it's so so good.

Idea for a story:

i've talked abt wt spin off au and windblume rewrite a bunch on this blog so let's go with amber and collei liyue trip!! :DD someone comes and tells amber they heard something about her grandfather in qingce while collei's in town and obv collei's like i can't hold you back on this! so they jsut decide to go together bc collei's packed a bag anyways and they're both adept w survival skills surely their different skills will come in handy for liyue. going to qingce leads them to going to yilong port (i'd do qiaoying but i feel like its too close) and amber's like. kinda stumbling w her broken canto-mando and feeling weirdly emotional and she and collei both bond w "coming back" to a generational homeland while feeling like a stranger and its an important moment to both of them bonding as friends and a pivitol point of collei changing her idea of amber as a savior as more of amber as a best friend yk :''). also ga-ming....... i don't know if he'll stay for long bc honestly i do want it to focus on amber and collei but i think it'd be fun for him to at least make an appearance or sm yk!! the narrative there could be so compelling.

Favorite relationship:

........................okay yeah obv it's amber and collei aksjbdkbsdja BUT. her and cyno are a close second :]

Favorite headcanon:

SNAKE MOMENT. i have a moment in my wt spin off au where she tends to a snake in spite of a phobia of them and it's representative of her first step towards healing AND her caring for her younger self even if she's still wrapped in so much hatred of her. also trans (she/her) lesbian.

Xiao:

First impression:

he's so sad :(( i want him please come home.... he has so so much heart and he doesn't even know it because of his own grief and guilt and objectification of himself :(( he's bruce-coded FUCK.

Impression now:

MAKES ME VIOLENT. i love him so so bad i miss him all the time. his story is soooo entangled with grief and acceptance and every little step he takes reflects that. he's such a fun character bc it's kinda a study on what comes after the tragic hero's story yk? except the tragedy is in part because he lives! he feels so so much and has such a big hear tbut denies it any priority bc it's easier not to. :((

Favorite moment:

PERILOUSWS TRAILS CUTSCNEe......... MY GOD. DERA GHODDD. FUCK. it makes me so so sick in the head that entire quest. xiao so readily sacrificing himself for the others because it's his duty to and because its what all his loved ones did. him closing his eyes and accepting it and finding comfort in the fact that he knows what happened to bosacius and that he's following his footsteps. him being saved and being surprised but That being such a key moment to his grieving process. also the poem from the waterborne poetry event :'') (aka the only part of that event that matters). it referencing all of the yakshas :'''''') and talking of him missing them

Idea for a story:

i don't have an actual story w xiao in mind... i would loooove to see another story quest w him and the other adepti though :''') i wanna see him in the past so so bad :C

Favorite relationship:

him and zhongli! :] they're both characters whos stories are about grief but both have different timelines to it and i think that's so so interesting especially when you remember how zhongli showed no emotion during the archon war and how his depart from his duty was his final stage of grief (acceptance) whereas xiao plunged himself into duty and emotional repression as a means to cope with all the grief and guilt and pain that he feels.

Favorite headcanon:

i think the wangshu inn staff gives him li xi sometimes and he's just like "i am literally older than you please stop i have no need for this" but he keeps it anyways. they have a small room saved for him at all times just in case he ever wants it (he never takes it but he appreciates it). <- its small bc he'd die if it was an open space.

[alligaytorswamp]

hello hellooo as a kaeya and a kaveh enjoyer what do you think about kaeya & kaveh friendship 🎤 me personally i became obsessed with the idea recently idk how it's like they wormed their way into my brain

wait oh my god im so cringe for never ever thinking of that.. HMMM

i feel like they could be wonderful friends 😭😭😭like they are just genuinely respectful, nice and all? lichrally just good vibes!

maybe kaveh could think kaeya is a bit sussy, maybe kaeya made some sort of teasing comment and kaveh reacted in a strong way and i think upon seeing this kaeya would actually acknowledge that there are some topics/comments that should be avoided and that perhaps kaveh just needs a more chill buddy! so they are just nice! even if they somehow don't start out perfectly! i think they both would be very friendly regardless of their first impressions, bc kaveh is just a terribly nice guy and kaeya knows how to mingle <3

and FOR SURE either of them would suggest going drinking and that's where we get The Real Besties moment, like i'm sure they would be both delighted to get a new epic drinking buddy! and they got so much to talk about, starting with just talking about their countries, fav drinks, work, whatever have u, and they are both not into sharing Actual Personal info, which kinda makes them total equals in a way? like even if either attempts asking smth and the other is being vague, they will just Get It???? and when they more friendly (and tipsy lmfao) kaveh can complain about his roommate-hell, and kaeya def would just enjoy the tea, maybe actually (when more tipsy) chime in about some asshole roommate experience (idk maybe like memories of him and diluc being annoying kids u know) .. UGH SO CUTE

overall it's just 2 hot bitches being 2 hot bitches the energy would be unreal and teyvat would fall apart

not to make everything chaeya but-

like whatever au this is but kaveh stayed around long enough to meet childe, and their interaction prolly wasn't too long, but kaeya told him some things and there are Vibes, and also like childe is a fucking 11th harbinger-

basically. kaveh realizes that chaeya aren't really just some dudes who are mildly aware of each other, oh no there is clearly way more to it (with the way they talk/look at each other), maybe one time him and kaeya drink, childe comes around, doesn't stay but pays for their drinks and says something sort of flirty to kaeya

and kaveh is like OMFG IS HE HITTING ON YOU WAIT WHY ARE YOU OK WITH IT ???

and kaeya is just like lmao idk he's like funny 😏

and kaveh judges him. kaveh is the voice of reason who is kind of concerned for his new friend is a lil scared that there is a whole as harbinger buying them drinks like is this normal

kaeya probably thinks this is funny <3

(also here chaeya aren't dating yet, just sorta into each other, and maybe kaeya is a lil in denial and trying to play it off as if he is simply accepting these little affections from childe for funsies and there is nothing to it) (kaveh can tell there is a lot to it, and also he thinks they are both insane)

[koutaroulogy]

DRABBLE THREE ♡ IN THE BRIDAL ROOM

details : he can't keep his eyes and his hands off you.

contains : nsfw! cw: oral, fingering, masturbation. (i hope y'all remember i also write smut and dark content yeehaw)

more : heed the warnings! oh, and the tags :) putting the read more line for safety reasons lol :)) i luv u all btw ♡

taglist: @melkxsh @celestair @mochiimilq @catinneedofcaffeine @glowmiko @childe-support @etherealdiluc + join the taglist here!

"diluc," your voice came out ragged while your fingernails dug into the soft couch with a vicelike grip,

"you're supposed to be a- at the front pew by now..."

"i'll be there soon," he promises, breathing into the folds of your pussy and making you shiver.

"but not now. not when you're dripping all over me."

"barbara isn't going to like it when she finds the bridal room all.... dirty."

he grunted, pistoning his fingers along the muscles of your cunt that spasmed with your figure. your fingers desperately bunched your wedding dress in fistfuls as you let diluc partake himself in a feast.

suddenly, he withdrew and stood up from his place on the floor. the spasms went on, but the cool breeze from the window made you shiver when it hit your sensitive parts.

don't you know how lewd you look right now? with your head glistening with sweat, your mouth open and eyes rolling skyward, you're such a sight for sore eyes.

"please.... please! fuck, please diluc!" your whine made him cave. almost.

"please..." you reached for his belt buckle and unzipped his slacks, as if you were unwrapping a present.

once his cock bounced up from a nestle of red curls, you fitted him in your warm palm. his dick twitched in your soft grip. trembling, you began to palm him. up, down, up, down. the movements were repititive, but you began to hear his soft groans.

his resolve snaps and he swore. with a groan, diluc complied and dipped his tongue in between your folds once again. one of his hands rested on your clit, flicking the sensitive bud while the other hand fluttered towards his aching cock, desperate for release.

the sensation made you tremble all while you met each other's gaze, never looking away.

"ooh!" your keens made him melt and the tongue in your pussy slid in and out even faster. deeper. hitting your spot that it made your mouth open a little wider.

"i'm- i'm gonna cum!" you whispered and he heard it. so was he, as his dick pistoned itself into his fist.

"augghhh..."a flash of light struck his vision. soon he was splattering semen all over your soft legs and on the naked skin of your pussy that was revealed when the gown was bunched around your hips. he could feel your cunny spasm and squirt into his waiting mouth with a shaking orgasm that took your voice away. your eyes shot to the top of their sockets and your mouth opened to let a small moan pass.

your heavy breaths sounded through the room. diluc had long removed his fingers and tongue from your cunt and was now wiping away the cum off your skin with a wet rag.

"... we're really gonna get married huh?" was what the ragvindr said rhetorically moments later as he carressed your face, as if he had just registered that you were getting married in two hours.

"it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony," you reminded him as the redhead smoothed down your soft gown before hoisting you up.

"i don't believe in bad luck," he declared.

an hour later, diluc took his statement back when he tripped down the steps of the cathedral that had him gritting his teeth while you roared with rude laughter before helping him up to face the snickering guests to thank them for attending the wedding.

(he blamed it all on bennett who was the ringbearer of the ceremony, or maybe what you said was true- but it might be a coincidence for all we know since kaeya was seen sticking his foot out when diluc tripped on his own feet.)

[opalesense]

you asked for it

kaeya & f!reader [NSFW]

4.2k words • ~30 min. read

summary: after a frustrating and touch starved week, kaeya catches you playing with yourself despite promising you wouldn’t while he was gone. needless to say, he is not happy.

warnings: sadist kaeya, lots of degradation, choking, bondage, spanking, belt whipping, facefucking

notes: i’m so embarrassed to post this because i’ve never written a full nsfw thing before hahahhddhdhd anyway i’m going to hell... also if you can spot canon voice lines i’ll give you a smooch

"I’M HOME, PRINCESS!"

 Kaeya's alluring voice marked his distant presence outside the bedroom door. The sound of the front door closing behind him made me jump and snapped me out of my daydreaming state.  I could hear him taking off his shoes and putting his bags down on the dining table, the sounds of his coat shuffling off his body and onto the coat rack making my thoughts race even faster.

 He's home already?  I thought he was coming home tomorrow!

 "Our new recruits did so well in training that Jean let me off a day early.  They don't need anything else from me for now," he said, as if he were reading the questions that bubbled in my head.  "Can you believe it?  I hardly ever get a break.  I guess today is truly my lucky day."

 Panic began to bubble in my stomach now as I heard his footsteps quickly advancing towards me, giving me no time to cover up the sticky situation I put myself in.

 Literally, a sticky situation.

 I had been spending the last half hour curing my loneliness in bed, using my hands to replace the pleasure I was missing so badly from Kaeya.  His sudden return home made me curse under my breath. I was so close to a release too.

 I quickly pulled my fingers away and sprung up from the bed, rushing to the dresser to find some clothes to throw on.  But as soon as I pulled the nearest shirt over my head, the bedroom door creaked open, revealing the handsome figure standing and immediately pinning his eyes at me.

 "Hi, Kaeya!" I turned and took a few steps towards him, immediately wrapping my arms around his torso and burying my head in his chest.  He smelled like sweat and hard work.  "Welcome home, sweetheart!"

 "[Y/N]," Kaeya placed cold hands on my lower back to return the hug and gave me a sweet smile, "what were you doing just now, cutie?"

 "I was just about to take a bath," I quickly lied and cupped his face with my dry hand to give him a peck on the cheek.  "Care to join me?"

 His expression suddenly changed from gentle and loving to unimpressed.  He could see through my lie – I could tell.  He was always so good at spotting my lies. His blank eyes pierced through mine, sending a shiver down my spine.  Or maybe that was his hands slowly freezing up my skin with his vision, the annoyance easily seeping through his sharp stare.

 "Are you sure, princess?" he reached to grab my other hand and lifted it up to his face, licking my wet fingers without breaking eye contact. He let out a deep growl at the taste, his eyes turning more dangerous by the second.  Any hopes of me escaping this lie were completely gone now.  "It doesn't seem like you were... 'just about to take a bath.'"

 "Kaeya..." my body quivered at his strong grip on my hand, "Listen, I’m so sorry, I was just so lonely without you–"

 His face inched closer to mine as he slowly walked both of us to the edge of the bed.  "You couldn't wait for a week?" his sharp voice tickled my ears, "I specifically told you to wait for me, didn't I?  You even promised me you would."

 "Y-yes, I did promise," we stood at the foot of the bed, my naked hips desperately pressed into his.  "I’m so sorry–"

 "Yeah, you’re 'so sorry,'" he mocked me and rolled his eyes with a smirk.  "You better be sorry, sweetheart.  I missed you too, but at least I kept up my end of the promise and didn't touch myself while I was gone, unlike some slut I know," he hissed.

 Suddenly, he wrapped his other hand around my neck and began applying pressure, pinning me down into the mattress.  His clothed knee spread my legs open and pressed against my sensitive clit, driving more shivers up my spine and triggering a moan from my throat that only came out as a weak whimper.  His face leaned down to mine to give me slow, gentle kisses.  "My slut," he whispered between kisses, squeezing my throat harder, "I can’t believe I’m in love with a stupid disobedient bitch."

 The insults only made my core light up with satisfaction.  I closed my eyes and relaxed into his touch, forgetting about all the consequences I knew he would lay out for me in a few moments.  I could tell he missed me just as much as I missed him with how gentle and loving his kisses were in contrast to his hand suffocating me.  We kissed as if this was our last time ever seeing each other, as if the world was going to end in one minute.  My heart thumped with excitement as the realization that he was finally back home began to settle in.

 He released my poor throat and instead ran his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp and deepening the kiss.  His lips began moving with a purpose, groans escaping and movements getting more and more desperate.  "[Y/N]," he muttered into my own lips, "I missed you so much, princess. You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted this."

 He slowly separated his face from mine and nuzzled his head into my neck, biting and suckling my already bruised skin from all the other love marks he had given me last week as a memento before he left.  "I’m not going easy on you after this, sweetheart. Savor my mercy while it lasts."

 I grew restless after a few minutes of him licking and nibbling at my neck and started to grind my hips on his knee, wanting some kind of advancement in this hazy evening.  He took notice of this and paused his kisses, lifting his eyes to meet mine.  I pleaded for more action with a pout, to which he replied by removing his knee and instead tucking his thighs below mine with my legs pinned at his sides.  I let out a shaky exhale at the realization that his bulge was mere inches away from my holes.

 "What's the hurry, princess?" he leaned down to run his hands up my sides, dragging my loosely fitted shirt along with him.  "Is there something you're waiting for?"

 He pulled the shirt up enough to expose my anticipating breasts, perked with excitement at his chilled fingers.  I gasped at the bite of the cold air he was manifesting.  "Kaeya, please..."

 “Please what?" he traced a finger on the underside of my breasts and planted more kisses across my collarbone, "Use your words, baby.”

 "Stop teasing me, please," I begged with shame, "You know I want you...  I need you inside of me..."

 He hummed as if he were processing my answer.  Instead of using his own words, he responded by completely pulling the shirt off of me and twisting it into a long strip.  He grabbed both of my hands and pinned them above my head, purposefully pressing his bulge against my aching hole.  He hesitated to look down at me, his eyes becoming consumed with pure lust.

 "Final warning, [Y/N].  Do you want to do this now?" Any remaining gentleness seemed to slowly spill out of his voice as he made it apparent he was asking for my consent.  My core lit up once more knowing we were just getting started.

 I trembled with a mixture of excitement and fear, not knowing what he had under his sleeve tonight after the touch deprived days that broke our usually consistent sex streak.  We were two lovers in desperate need of pleasure.  "I need to be fucked senseless," my voice shakily begged, "I need to be covered in your cum by sunrise, sir."

 He raised his eyebrows at the vulgar language that spewed out of my mouth, knowing how uncharacteristic it was for me to beg before we've begun.  Judging by the evil smirk that formed on his face, those two simple sentences were enough to send him over the edge and into complete darkness.  An evil chuckle escaped his lips. The glint in his eyes that was once loving and sweet became borderline malicious within seconds.

 "Safeword?" he breathily muttered with a grin.

 "Diluc," I sarcastically sneered at him, knowing how much he hated when I used his brother's name as a safeword, even if it was just a joke.  His hand quickly struck me across the face, catching me by surprise.  The sting made my eyes swell with small tears.

 "Fucking brat, always messing around with me," he chuckled.  "But you know, I could always arrange something for the three of us–"

 "Kaeya!" I interrupted him and he laughed at my flustered face.  We had been joking about a threesome for quite some time now.  At least... I was joking about it. Maybe he seriously meant it.

 He guided his hands to make me sit up then pinned my arms behind my back. "It’s just a suggestion," he grinned at the thought while tying my wrists together with my own shirt.  "Oh, to see my little princess squirm with both her holes pounded crying with pleasure and pain...  That would be quite the sight indeed, don't you think?"

 “Please shut up,” I giggled, bucking my hips into his for an ounce of stimulation.  He tightened the fabric around my wrists and tugged at it a few times to make sure it stayed in place.  He gently laid me down again, enjoying the sight of my naked body fully exposed to him.

 "Now for the fun part," he smiled.

 He sat up to take his own shirt off and set it aside.  My eyes widened at the sight of his toned torso, my mouth practically drooling as my gaze traced his muscular abdomen.  His delectable skin glistened in the light of the fading sunset and I couldn't help but stare at his beautiful body.  To my dismay, my staring was interrupted by his shirt being placed over my eyes as he blindfolded me, pausing the fantasies in my head that came with that delicious sight.

 I felt Kaeya’s hands turn my vulnerable body so my chest pressed against the bed, my back arching to greet his face with my holes.  He snickered at the sight of me being drenched as a result of him teasing me for the past ten or so minutes with kisses and cold fingers.  All I could feel was his chilled breath tormenting my wetness and a hand caressing my inner thigh.  "Seems like you're so eager to be touched despite ruining yourself with your own fingers.”

 "Y-yes," I whimpered as one finger outlined my entrance, making me gasp.  "More..."

 He suddenly slapped my ass with his other hand, earning a yelp from my throat.  "I’ll think about it after I punish you, cunt.  Don't think I have forgotten about that."

 He got off the bed to stand up and pulled my body closer to the edge of the mattress.  "Now, count to fifty."

 I hesitated.  "Fifty? What do you mean–"

   "Do I seriously need to repeat myself for your dumb whore brain?" he responded slowly and sternly as if he were spelling it out for me.  "Count to fifty now before I leave you here and drink at the tavern tonight instead. You wouldn’t want to waste an opportunity to get fucked stupid by my fat cock tonight, would you?"

   I paused again thinking about why he'd want me to count in this situation before shyly starting.  "One–"

 SLAP!

 "Fuck!" I instinctively buried my face into the sheets as his hand stung my ass.  That hurt way more than it should.  That's why he wants me to count?

 "If I hear anything out of that mouth other than numbers I will not hesitate to leave you here.  No cursing, no gasping, no moaning.  Do you understand?  Now pull yourself together and count.  Start from one again."

 I quivered at the thought of him leaving me here after already being separated for a week.  I suppose the pain I’ll soon endure is my punishment, after all. So with no hesitation, I obeyed what he told me to do.

 "One..."

 SLAP!

 “T-two...!"

 SLAP!

 It hurt so bad and it had barely begun.  “Three..."

 SLAP!

 “Pick up the pace, my little painslut.  You can handle it."

 "Four..."

 SLAP!

 “Five..."

 SLAP!

 "You're doing so well, princess."

 Soon enough, we were nearing the end.  I truly underestimated Kaeya's strength with each smack.  Sometimes I forget that he's a Knight of Favonius, that he has a vision, and that he trains nearly every day to maintain his strength.  His blows were hellish now in comparison to the first few counts, which were extremely gentle in hindsight.  And he never hesitated with each slap, as if he wanted to do this to me for a long time.

 “Forty eight..."  I was a teary eyed mess at this point, trembling at the pain that stung like a million needles.

 SLAP!

 “Forty nine..." I whimpered, thinking about how i got myself into this situation, never being punished by him like this before.

 SLAP!

 “F-Fifty!"

SLAP!

 I sobbed at the aching pain while he simply chuckled.  He sat next to me and sighed contently.  "How do you feel, princess?"

 "P-please stop...  no more..." I muttered incoherently as the pain didn't seem to fizz away.

 "You have a safeword you know.  But it would be a shame to stop now when we’ve only just begun," he caressed my bruised skin with care, making me flinch instinctively.   I gulped.

 No.  I'm not going to stop here.

 "Tell me how you feel, my love.  Don't be shy."

 I paused, struggling to come up with the right words when all my brain could focus on was the excruciating soreness.  "I-it hurts s-so much..."

 "I know, baby.  But that's what you get for disobeying me.  You’ve learned your lesson, I hope?"

 "Yes, I-I've learned my lesson, sir," I breathily cried, "I w-won't ever do it again..."

 Suddenly I felt his thumb caress my wetness, eliciting a gasp from my throat.  "Oh?  But it seems like you actually really enjoyed that," he played with my aching folds as I stifled my moans, not sure if I was allowed to make noise.  "Well, princess...  that's not what a punishment is for, don't you think?"

 He pulled away his hand as he stood up which made me whine at the loss of touch.  I heard him undo his belt, but once it was off, I didn't hear him unzip his pants like I had hoped for.  Instead, I felt a leather strip gently trail down my thigh.

 "Your skin isn't that pretty shade of purple I was hoping for either.  In fact, if I had to take a guess, I would say it's red from pleasure instead of pain."

 "Wait, Kaeya!  No, please, it really does hurt...!" I weakly muttered as the realization settled in when he gently tapped my skin with the looped leather.

 "I don't think you realize how long I've waited for a moment like this, baby," his gravely whisper struck a genuine fear into my stomach, "A moment when you'd slip up so I'd have an excuse to make you quiver in pain.  You've been such a good girl for so long that I've never had a moment where I can make you beg for my forgiveness.  Which, as a matter of fact, there hasn't been a single moment so far where you've begged.  I assume you haven't actually learned your lesson yet."

 He brought his hand up to prepare for a blow.  "I'm going to brand you.  I'm going to make your skin raw until I feel tired.  And I can last all night and all day, baby.  You know that."

 He whipped the belt down to meet my thigh, creating a new kind of pain that made me cry out in desperation.  This was a new side of Kaeya that I have never seen before.  A new darkness had consumed him so suddenly that I sat on the fence of being terrified and being turned on at the same time.

 And this was still only the beginning.

 "Convince me to forgive you or bleed.  Your choice."

 He immediately whipped me at a quick, consistent rhythm, paying more attention to my thighs in addition to my already bruised ass.  At times the belt would land on my holes, which made me twitch with excitement and agony at the same time. This isn’t like him. Why is he doing this to me?

 "K-Kaeya, please stop!" I moaned out after a few hits, "P-please stop, I'm begging you!"

 “Try again, slut."

 More hits landed with sharp hisses sizzling off of my skin.  "K-Kaeya, I'm so sorry!  P-please forgive me–"

 “I don't even know what you're apologizing for," he interrupted with that damned teasing tone of his, "Could you remind me again?"

 The blows got stronger, more urgent and unforgiving, hitting any inch of exposed skin even if it was already raw.  "I-I'm so sorry for disobeying you...  I'm sorry for t-touching myself without your permission...!  P-please stop, I just want you inside of me–"

 He paused the hits to emphasize his words, which were muttered through gritted teeth. "I don't give a single fuck about what you want, whore. You’re just a toy for my amusement and somehow you still managed to fuck up."

 He quickly resumed the stings. "I'll be a g-good girl from now on!  P-please...  Please just forgive me!  K-Kaeya!" my voice slowly raised in volume in cries for the pain to stop.

 "Dumb whore.  It’s funny that you think I believe you."

 “Y-yes, I’m a dumb whore!" I scrambled for words and just copied his. There was no use in begging anymore. A part of me hoped I would be beat to unconsciousness under him just to relieve myself of this pain momentarily.

 He let out a groan and a low maniacal laughter, "Seeing your veins under my belt makes my cock twitch, princess.  I'm not sure if I want to stop, even if you kept asking me to."

 I couldn't take it anymore.  The pain hurt so bad but as fucked up as it was, I was still so unbelievably aroused by him.  The thought of him getting so aroused by me pulled out some kind of satisfaction within, despite the borderline torture I was experiencing. Maybe he was so comfortable with hitting me because he saw my body as just another criminal to interrogate and punish. Maybe he was releasing pent up frustration on me. Why is all of this so arousing?

 I felt my core light up as my thighs squeezed together.  For a moment, I forgot about the pain and a wave of pleasure washed over my body, sending twitches through the nerves in my legs. "K-Kaeya, actually p-please stop, I think I'm gonna c-cum...!"

 He disappointedly cursed under his breath and let me feel one last blow for good measure before letting go of his grip on the belt and tossing it onto the bed.  “Fine. That’s enough for now.”

 He climbed over my curled up body so his bulge pressed against my tied hands near my tailbone, my head trapped between his hands on the mattress.  He stayed hovering over me, slowly panting.

 "I don't have enough words to describe how much you're turning me on right now," Kaeya began to slowly whisper.  I could feel how hard he was by how he nestled himself into my tied hands.  "Your body shaking under mine, shaking in pain and pleasure...  And to think you were going to cum by my belt alone...  You really are a slut, [Y/N]."

 "K-Kaeya, I'm your slut...  and I need your cock in me now," I weakly interrupted him, "I n-need to be fucked...  right now, please, I'm begging you..."

 He stayed there for a moment, taking in the sight of my helplessness before standing up at the edge of the bed again.  He guided my shaking torso up to finally flip me on my back, pulling me closer so my head hung over the edge.  My lower half felt so relieved to finally make contact with the soft sheets, which were slightly damp from sweat and possibly my own wetness. I felt him wrap the belt around my neck, letting the loop gently tighten around my throat as he tugged.  I couldn't help but be reminded that he could kill me here if he really wanted to.  I was completely surrendered to him.

 I heard him finally take off his pants with the other leg, the scent of his sweaty skin tickling my nose.  I have never longed to get this stupid blindfold off and lay my eyes on his figure already. It had been so long since we’ve seen each other and now that he’s here I couldn’t even fully appreciate the sight of him. Nevertheless, I felt the shadow of his cock drape over my face and let out an exhale before he tugged the belt to catch my attention.

 “Don't make me tell you what to do."

 I opened my mouth and stuck my tongue out eagerly which earned a chuckle from him.  He slowly pressed the tip of his cock into my awaiting throat, groaning loudly in the process.  he was surprisingly gentle about making sure I wouldn't choke immediately.  "F-fuck yes, [Y/N]...  taking all of it in like a good slut..."

 As soon as his long member hit the back of my throat, he tugged the belt tightly and groaned deeper.  My throat spasmed at the suffocating sensation which he responded to by pulling tighter.  I tried my best to relax.  "Behave," he reminded me.

 He began fucking my throat with no mercy, gradually quickening his pace but never pulling out or pausing to let me catch my breath.  He had trained my throat over the past few months for this, but the belt added a whole other level of difficulty and torment.  The muscles of my throat tightening around him more than usual made him breathlessly curse and praise me.  "Such a good slut...  My whore is doing so well taking my big cock...”

 He eventually let go of the belt to place both of his hands on either side of my face and fuck my mouth senselessly, ignoring my sputtering and cries for help at the suffocation.  It felt like I was drowning, but all I could think about was how good it felt to pleasure him, to hear his grunts and sighs of relief. His praises were consistent, a stark contrast to the way he degraded and pummeled me into the ground like a prisoner. Before I nearly passed out at the cut off oxygen, all his pent up frustration over the past week suddenly flooded my throat as his warm fluid was dumped into my mouth, deep groans and heavy breaths filling up the room.  His breath stuttered as I swallowed each pump of cum he fed me with hazy eyes, somehow enjoying this moment despite suffocating as he used his thumb to caress my face.  Kaeya placed a hand on the bed and pulled his hips away from my hanging head, leaning over my body and keeping only the tip of his cock inside my mouth.  I coughed and sputtered for a moment before pulling myself together to swirl my tongue over his tip, inciting a few twitches and extra drops of cum as a reward.  Tears and saliva painted my face, but at last, I finally caught a moment to breathe.

 "Keep licking and I might immediately cum again," Kaeya chuckled, cooling down from the heat of the moment.

 "I wouldn't complain," I playfully responded, letting out small coughs to clear my throat.

 "I suppose that's enough punishment for today," he gently lifted my head back up on the bed to provide better airflow.  He untied the blindfold off of my face so I could finally see him again.

 "Hi, handsome," I grinned, saliva dripping down my cheeks and into my hair. He ran his fingers through my hair and began massaging my scalp.

 "God... you are so inexplicably beautiful right now," he whispered desperately.  He began slowly stroking his cock in front of my face and deepened the massage, a proud yet cunning grin stretching across his face.  "But you'd look even more beautiful with my cum dripping out of your cunt, don’t you agree?"

 I moaned out his name and slowly lifted my knees up to my chest, teasingly using my hands to pull my thighs apart as an invitation. My eyes stayed locked with his. "Punishment's over, right?"

 He silently agreed, releasing his cock from his grip and taking another moment to catch his breath.  I watched him with pure lust in my eyes as he positioned himself at the crevice of the pillows in front of me then pulled my body forward to sit in his lap.  His sensitive cock twitched as the tip of his shaft kissed my dripping hole, aching to rearrange my insides.  He used one hand to pull himself down and shower my shoulder with bites and kisses, the other hand reaching down to massage my wet cunt, preparing for the night ahead.

 "My beautiful, stunning slut..." he growled into my ear between kisses, "I can't wait to see you completely destroyed by sunrise. You asked for it, after all."

[cinnamonest]

Daily Life - Scaramouche

Ahhh ye I loved writing those. For anyone who hasn’t seen them I’m linking the posts from when I did this theme with Kaeya and Diluc as well as the one with Zhongli, Xiao, and Childe

--------------------------------

He's... not much of a morning person. He's actually pretty quiet in the mornings, he's still groggy and having to wake up and all that. So he doesn't say much, just kinda nudges you. Do NOT make him do it twice, though, no doing the thing where you groan and roll over or beg for more time. He'll just yank the covers off of you. 

That's if *he* wakes up first, though, which is... unlikely. It's more likely you will find yourself in the reverse situation -- telling this grown ass man that yes you have to get up. Yes you have to go to work. You're going to be late. Come on. Get up. I'll make you food if you do. Please. It... takes a while. He’s actually late quite a bit due to his tendency to wait until the last possible minute and drag his feet. Not that anyone ever has to audacity to actually confront him about it. It can almost be kinda... cute? In a weird way. Just don’t actually say that out loud.

But still, it's rather surprisingly quiet. Yeah, sure, he could get food from his work, there's certainly a sort of eating area where they provide food for the masses of the underlings, but it's gross so, eating here it is. He used to do that before. Not that he would actually, god forbid, sit around and mingle with anyone, but he used to take it and go munch on whatever was provided, by himself. Just because it was easier and the man has probably never cooked anything in his life, doesn't know how to, but you do right? Well, if you don't, figure it out. Now that he has you he shouldn't have to go out of his way to get fed, you can do that, make yourself useful. 

He has the same thing going on as mentioned in the daily life post for Xiao where he just kinda... creepily watches you go about your morning. Except not from the other side of the room, no, he just follows you around. The days actually have an awkward start because you don't want to be the first one to speak and risk making him grumpy, so you just kinda wait for him to talk. It's never a "good morning," he just jumps straight into telling you what the day is going to look like plan-wise, or complaining about this or that. But he will stand kinda right beside you the entire time, if you're making food he just stands there and leans against the counter and talks to you. If you're getting ready and have to go get this or that he'll follow you into each room and keep talking. Boy is clingy.

You could look at it as a blessing or a curse that the man takes you everywhere he goes. You don't get locked up and chained to a bed with nothing to do, but you also... have to deal with him pretty much every waking moment. If you've proven yourself annoying when not given things to do, you get things to do, simple measures to keep your attention consumed and not bothering him. Books and pencils and paper and whatever. But if he has a task to be done, it's your job, will call out the occasional go put this over there or go get that and bring it here. Why should he stand up and do it himself when you can? And it's in your best interest to do it immediately and quickly. 

If it's a mission sort of day, going from place to place, he just drags you along wherever he goes. Expects you to just stand there quietly and not interrupt while he's talking to important people. If there's like, actual physical combat... well, if combat is expected, it's one of a few times you'll get left under the care of someone else (value and cherish these precious moments), and if it's unexpected hostility from someone, well, you know the drill -- go run away a hundred yards or so and stay behind something until it's over. And don't you dare think of using the opportunity to do something stupid or run. You tried a few times in the past... it didn't go over well.

The two things you get a lot of throughout the day is complaining and fucking. The first is usually after interactions -- some subordinate that has to come up to him to talk to him, some connection he's forced to converse with for the sake of a mission -- either way, he gets grumbly as soon as they're out of earshot. Honestly it's not hard to deal with, just kinda agree with everything he says, give a nod and smile and say he's right. You don't even really have to listen to what he's saying. As for the latter, fucking follows a predictable pattern, you can pretty much accurately estimate that you're about to get bent or pushed to your knees at specific times -- namely, whenever he's particularly stressed or nervous about something, when someone beneath him fucks something up or upsets him in any way, or when you specifically do something to upset him, be it intentional or unintentional. Lots of quick rough fucks throughout any given day, really.

Now, there are a very very very few days where you genuinely can't tag along, this is pretty much for your own safety and to prevent him from being distracted by concern for said safety. This is only when there is a planned conflict with formidable enemies. It's one of very few times you'll ever be left alone. Not under the care of any one person, but likely two or three personally appointed guards that he knows well enough to trust. During this time, they are given the instruction to keep an eye on you while you're given your normal idle task options like reading. It's not very eventful, and there's not really any opportunities for escape, it's just boring.

Unlike a lot of the other yans, you don't get a "honey I'm home now listen to me rant about my day" sort of deal, because you've been with him all day and heard him complain throughout. That doesn't mean the complaints don't continue, but he gets quieter once settled in for the evening. It's also the softest time you'll get -- at that point he's tired from whatever events occur throughout the day and has less energy to be irritated.

He never really verbally insisted on it, but the habit of bathing together just kinda naturally formed from the first few days when he had to drag you back and forth to follow a normal living routine. It's very very quiet. You never asked him to, but he just automatically does everything for you, scrubs at your body and hair before you get the chance. It's... not very gentle, but he's not intentionally trying to be rough or anything. Nor is it intended as a gesture of kindness or anything, you're pretty sure he just kinda started doing it since you were stubborn and refused to move a muscle when you first came here, and now does so on autopilot, without really thinking about it. You've decided to not bring it up. It's nice enough.

He's actually kinda particular about his sleep. He can stay up late if needed, but prefers to go to bed more or less soon after, and no, you can't stay up on your own, if he's going to sleep so are you whether you like it or not. He doesn't fall asleep immediately, just kinda lays a while and stares off in thought. As long as he knows you're awake, he's not gonna make any movements to touch you or anything. If you pretend to be asleep though... you might get somewhat cuddled. And if you decide to move to lay on him on your own or nuzzle up to him, he's not going to fight it. Will probably be surprised and embarrassed, but will lay there and allow it, maybe gently pat your head.

[thedilucharem]

"Maybe Master Diluc DOESN'T Have A Harem After All . . ." (The 20 Follower Special: Part II)

Mondstadt's resident drinkers put the 'high-functioning' in high-functioning alcoholics and try to get to the bottom of whether the harem exists or not; featuring key assumptions about Diluc's personal character outside of his own perception, a troll of a bard who is trolled by how his trolling is received, and compounding disbelief.

Part I

(Also known as 'This is STILL unintentionally the greatest inside joke of all time.')

Note: I don't know how this is longer than the first part, but the plot works in mysterious ways, doesn't it?

Footnotes: tab

In the later part of the day on a particularly quiet evening at Angel’s Share, our lovely cast of daydrinkers are about to head out to go back to their respective homes.

Nelson: (drunk) Oh man . . . I think we overdid it today . . .

Payne: (head cradled in his arms) Shhh stop talking . . . it’s making me queasy.

Nelson: (shakily gets up from his chair) We’re so lucky . . . that we only do this on the weekends . . .

Payne: (groans) Speak for yourself . . . 

Nelson: (sloppily clambers over and starts to yank Payne up) Come on . . . gotta get your shit-faced self home . . .

Payne: (groggily) Ugh . . . (tries to stand)

Nelson: (mutters) I told you . . . that this wine was strong stuff . . .

Payne: (barely manages to get up, leaning on Nelson for support) Shut up. You said I couldn’t chug it. So . . . I did.

Nelson: (sighs deeply) I . . . did no such thing. (heaves him up) Told you . . . not to though.

Payne: (grumbles) Semantics.

As the two of them are about to stagger out the door, a myriad of select individuals filters into the bar in heavy silence, somewhat misplaced given the atmosphere. Through their collectively bleary vision, they barely spot a pink nun, a green bard, and some sort of blue person. Or white. They think anyway.

Payne: (blinks up at the people coming in) Hmmm. Who’re . . . who’re they?

Nelson: (thinks slowly) Uhm. (blurts) Fuck. Applicants?

Payne: (nods) Mmm. Sounds right. (slurs) Harems do grow over time . . .

Nelson: (mutters to himself) What even is a harem . . . some sort of drink?

Payne: (mutters back) Nah, it’s a plant . . . a really nice plant . . .

With that, they stumble down the street towards home, but up on the second floor of Angel’s Share, a group gathers and congregates together with interesting news and a decent amount of alcohol.

Venti: (cheerily as he takes a seat) Hello, hello my companions in drinks and likened spirits! What brings us all to the second floor of the tavern tonight?

Rosaria: You’re better off asking him that question. (jabs a thumb in Kaeya’s direction)

Kaeya: (sitting quietly with his hands clasped together, deep in thought) 

Venti: (curiously) Why the long face, Sir Kaeya? What’s the matter?

Kaeya: (snickers to himself) Nothing that could be solved with alcohol, that’s for sure.

Venti: (faux shock) Huh! I find it hard to imagine that there could be any problems that couldn’t be solved with wine . . .

Rosaria: (rolls her eyes) Of course you couldn’t. (snorts) Not unless it was alcohol poisoning or something. (shakes her head) It wouldn't surprise me if your liver was all kinds of fucked to the Abyss and back, bard.

Venti: (cheekily) Oh come on, Sister Rosaria! It’ll take more than that to take me down, you know! (begins to reach for the bottle of wine on the table)

Kaeya: (lightly smacks Venti's hand away, tuts) Wait just a moment.

Venti: (whines) But Kaeya, I want some . . .

Rosaria: (raises a single eyebrow) Are we expecting company?

Kaeya: (cryptically) Of a sort. And if the time is what I think it is, then they should be arriving here right about . . . now. (cordially) Venti, would you go down to the ground floor and retrieve our companion for us, please?

Venti: Huh? (stops, then knowingly) Ooooh. (playfully salutes) You got it, Captain! (giggles, then bounds down the stairs)

As he went down to the ground floor, their expected ‘company’ walked into the tavern, being led up the stairs to their table by the unusually insistent bard tugging on her arm. 

Eula: (chiding) Errant bard, I demand that you unhand me this instant-

Venti: (ignores her) Come on, come on, Sir Eula! This is apparently important and I wanna get to drinkin’! (lets her go and then promptly sits down and attempts to uncork the bottle)

Eula: Hmph! (sees Kaeya and Rosaria) Ah, my greetings and well wishes to you both. (glares at Venti) And to the unruly bard as well.

Rosaria: (nods in greeting before wrestling the bottle out of Venti’s hands and undoing the cork herself) 

Venti: (sticks his tongue out at Rosaria before smiling at Eula) Hello, Miss Eula! 

Kaeya: (smoothly) Welcome to the table, Sir Eula. (pulls a chair out) Why don’t you have a seat and make yourself comfortable?

Eula: (brief) Thank you. (sits down) 

After the wine has 'breathed' enough according to the expert opinions of the wine connoisseur (Eula) at the table, Rosaria pours them a glass of blood-red wine and they begin settling in for what may be a very long evening.

Kaeya: (takes a sip of his wine) So you're probably wondering why I’ve asked for all of you to come up here tonight?

Rosaria: (shrugs) Sure.

Venti: (gentle giggling under his breath, drinking his wine)

Eula: (tries not to cringe at herself) Not as much as I think I already know some of the reasons. 

Kaeya: (takes out the letter he nabbed earlier and slides it to the center of the table)

Eula: (eyes widen, then narrow with scrutiny) Is that what I think it is?

Kaeya: (smirks) Well, what do you think it is, Sir Eula?

Eula: (inhales sharply, her ears red) If it is, then I have received something similar to it. (takes her folded letter and tosses it onto the table)

Rosaria: (takes both letters and opens them) (raises her eyebrows in shock) You’re kidding me. (scans them again) This is supposed to be a stupid rumor.

Eula: (snorts) Clearly not, if the Gunnhildr and Lawrence Clan are accepting it as complete fact. 

Kaeya: (rubs his temples with a thumb and index finger) What I don’t understand about this is how we’ve all only been hearing about this now as opposed to months before it happened.

Eula: (nods in agreement, furrows her brows) The process in of itself would take at least three months if they were doing this officially, but based on the time the letters were penned, it’s been only two days.

Rosaria: (begrudgingly) To be honest, I thought it was just gossip and left it as that. What could I even investigate, something the baker’s daughter said to her friends yesterday afternoon? (shakes her head with irritation, under her breath) I need a smoke. (sips more wine)

Eula: (leaning over the counter) I personally haven’t been able to find much of anything regarding the citizenry knowing that these letters even exist, so I believe that this may be beyond anything that could be called fictitious. 

Kaeya: I haven’t noticed anything else out of the ordinary either and any leads I followed ran cold. (hums to himself) 

Rosaria: (genuinely thinking on it) If it was nefarious, I would have found out more about it and have it handled by now, but this is different. (to Eula) If I was a bit more biased, I’d think someone was fucking with you and the Grand Master’s clans and if I was ignorant, I’d think someone is fucking with us in particular.

Eula: (swirls her drink in the glass) I don’t know what to make of this, but what I do know is that something is afoot and I happen to be a good amount of the subject matter.

Kaeya: (hums contemplatively, finishing his glass) You know, Rosie-

Rosaria: (without missing a beat) I’ll cut you.

Kaeya: (rolls his eye) Sorry, Rosaria. (huffs) What you said a moment ago could indeed be the case.

Eula: (incredulously) You think that some knave concocted this entire scheme as some elaborate prank? (directly at Kaeya) A joke?

Kaeya: (somewhat defensively) It’s the only thing that makes sense with what’s been presented! 

Rosaria: (puts one hand up) Hold on a second. If you and the Grand Master got a letter, it probably means that Diluc would’ve gotten some as well.

Kaeya & Eula: (turn to the stairwell, then back at each other)

Eula: (to Kaeya) Does he have a shift tonight?

Kaeya: (nods) He should be in later. 

Eula: (lifts her chin) Hmph! He’ll have a lot to answer for if even a fraction of this is even remotely true. 

Venti: (thinking out loud to himself as he drinks his second glass) Mmm, I don’t know about that. (makes the motion of wisely stroking his chin) Perhaps there is a grain of truth in it we have yet to find . . .

Kaeya: (blinks as if he just remembered something) Ah yes! (turns his body to Venti) (politely) Venti?

Venti: (looks up at Kaeya, innocently) Hmm? 

Kaeya: (smoothly and intentionally) As Mondstadt’s finest master bard, it would be safe for me to assume that you know your way around the talk of the town. So would you happen to know anything about this?

Venti: (flattered, but mischievous) Well, I may have heard a thing or two here or there, but who can be sure of what is fact and what is not? (shrugs) People are fond of interesting chatter and bards love it all the more! (slyly) Some of those ballads don’t write themselves after all. 

Meanwhile, Eula and Rosaria listen intently with their respective second glasses of wine, wondering what the point was if there was one to be had in the first place.

Kaeya: Oh, of course not! (a tad more serious) So based on what you’ve heard and seen at this table, would you say that there have been some songs made with this in mind? 

Venti: Songs that happen to reveal the truth by sheer coincidence and with no intention of doing so have been penned in the past. (giggles) However, the songs that have been composed as of late are quite the opposite, quite the comedies if I say so myself! (stage-whispers) The bards are quite fond of exaggerated speculation.

Kaeya: (inquires) Well, if it isn’t too much trouble, would you mind playing us one of their songs?

Venti: (grins) For my fellow drinking pals and their excellent tastes in wine? Gladly! (summons his lyre) 

Eula: (finishes her wine and settles in her seat with casual anticipation) This ought to be good.

Rosaria: (groans out loud) Would it kill you to just tell us normally?

Venti: (cheekily) Where’s the fun in that, Sister Rosaria? (strums the lyre)

Venti then launches into a speedy seven-minute medley concerning the letters, the rumors, the people and groups surrounding them, and how they all correlate with one key detail they’ve missed entirely: the now infamous Dandelion’s Honey.

After he is done, he takes a bow and sits back down, smugly sipping his third glass of wine for what he thinks is a job well done.

Eula: (stupefied) So . . . what you’re telling me is that the reason this all started and spiraled out of control like it has was that . . . it got out that Master Diluc is releasing another brew of Dandelion’s Honey?

Venti: (confidently) That seems to be the case!

Kaeya: (pressing) But why? Sure, Dandelion’s Honey was only meant to be a one-time thing, but how did a harem get involved?

Rosaria: (tiredly) Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe it’s just because of how Mondstadt is. (musing) Polygamy isn’t really frowned upon here and people love to talk.

Kaeya: (puzzling) Well, I suppose that makes a little sense, but that doesn’t explain the letters. Why would the clans think that this rumor was true?

Eula: (snorts dismissively) Some of the Lawrence family heads will believe practically anything with the right balance of fantastical and grandiose detail with a basis in reality. (sniggers mockingly) And they hardly converse with the common folk or step outside of their sprawling estates to begin with. (laces her fingers) In short, I could expect this from some of my older relatives and by proxy, some of the Grand Master’s as well.

Kaeya: (groans loudly, dragging one hand down his face) How could people even make that jump from someone knowing someone to them being in some sort of relationship because of it? It’s ludicrous!

Venti: (knowingly) Believe me, Sir Kaeya, people will take anything and run with it as long as there’s a reason, however minute it may be. 

Rosaria: (sips at her wine) Who’d be in a harem with him of all people anyway?

Kaeya: (shrugs) To quote you earlier, your guess is as good as mine.

Venti: (finishes his third glass of wine, melodically) If one would like to find the answer, they only need to take a gander . . . (snickers)

Eula: (sighs in frustration, setting her empty wine glass aside, hopelessly) A mead and a harem doesn't even register as going together in any scenario I can think of.

Rosaria: (laughs darkly) Maybe Dandelion’s Honey is simply a motif for something else, then?

Venti: (calls down) Charles, can you bring another bottle of that exquisite wine up here? Ours is running a little dry! (suddenly) Oh, and some of the white wine too!

Eula: (to Venti) Can you also ask for a keg of beer?

Venti: (questioning, teasing) Not a tankard?

Eula: (deadpans) Did I stutter, bard?

Venti: (loudly in the direction of the stairwell) And a keg of beer, if you will!

Charles comes up with the requested items, including the keg, much to his back’s displeasure. 

Kaeya: (still thinking) I don’t think we have the full picture here. It can’t be that simple, there’s something else . . .

Venti: (throws his arm around Kaeya’s shoulders) Don’t overthink it too much, Sir Kaeya! Why don’t you have a drink or two and unwind for a little while?

Kaeya: (hums to himself, absent-mindedly rapping his fingers on the table) That white wine does look quite delectable.

Rosaria: (rasps) I’m taking that smoke break now. Don’t call me back before it’s done unless you’re dying. (looks pointedly at Venti) And I swear to Bardabos, if you try to do anything with my drink, your life is forfeit. (gets up and walks off towards the balcony)

Venti: (shudders involuntarily as he pours his own drink)

After Rosaria comes back from her smoking break, they partake in their drinks for a little while longer, occasionally bringing up their reasonings again, only for it to go nowhere conclusive. It’s hard not to feel like the bard is pulling their leg and delighting in their pitiful misery, especially when he says something particularly interesting.

Venti: (smug, with an insufferable smirk as he drinks his wine) Do you all really think that this line of questioning is truly that hopeless?

Eula: (blearily) It’s mead. (mutters) Good mead, for sure, but still mead. (taps the keg into a tankard and drinks)

Rosaria: (staring down at her wine glass, sarcastically) Maybe one of his 'consorts' loved it so much that they convinced him to make it again.

Kaeya: (throws his hands into the air) I would say that he’s not one to be swayed by such abstract whims, but I didn’t expect him to be allegedly tied to a harem either. (bitterly) At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me if this was true somehow because apparently, I’m losing my edge. (drinks heavily out of his fourth glass)

Venti: (looks to all of them mirthfully, takes a long drink before stating) Ahem! Guys?

Eula, Kaeya, & Rosaria: (turn to him tiredly, in sync) What?

Venti: (innocently cocking his head to the side) Haven’t you considered that people have simply confused Master Diluc for having a harem when they’re just his friends instead?

The cryo users pause briefly, the words taking their sweet time to sink in and properly marinate, ruminating in their heads as the sheer amount of sense, brain cells, and copium mixed in with that question and the alcohol caused an illicit reaction born out of minds that had reached critical levels of logic and reasoning. 

And so, as a result, all three of them dissolved into an uncharacteristically loud bout of drunken laughter. They've heard just about everything they could take already, really, so of course they’re going to laugh at it. If I went in as deep as they've gone, I wouldn't believe this either, but I wrote it, so I'm built different.

Eula: (wiping tears from her eyes) Bard, if the life of a musician ever gets too rough for your disposition, please consider branching off into comedy!

Rosaria: (heaving heavily) That’s fucking rich! (starts laughing again) 

Kaeya: (claps Venti on the shoulder) Oh, you sweet thing. (still chuckling, mirthfully) If we thought that he could maintain any sense of a friendship, we wouldn’t be here right now . . . 

Venti: (blinks once, mouth partially open) Wow. (pours himself a drink, drawn out) Ooookay, then.

Rosaria: (recovers a bit) Wait, you were serious?

Venti: (raises a single eyebrow as he sips his drink) It’s not the first time Mond has mistaken a friendship for something more.

Eula: (snorts loudly) Bard, you do know who we’ve been talking about this entire time, right?

Venti: (somewhat indignant) Of course I do! Who else has been rumored to have a massive harem? It certainly isn’t anyone else I’ve heard of!

Kaeya: (disbelieving) You’re joking with me. Him? With friends? (shakes his head, bitterly) I’ll believe it when I see it for myself. (takes a long swig) In fact, if it’s true, I’ll eat my eyepatch! 

Rosaria: (finishes her drink, setting the glass down) I’m holding you to that, Alberich. (starts picking under her fingernails with a small dagger, muttering) If this isn't bullshit, I'll eat my veil in solidarity.

Venti: (properly exasperated, guffaws) Is Master Diluc having friends truly that hard to believe?

Eula, Kaeya, & Rosaria: (with resounding affirmation) Yes.

Venti: (deadpans, looking up to the ceiling) By Barbatos.

The fellows then descend into a tenuous silence as they continue to drink for a while, only to be interrupted by the sense of a looming presence.

Venti: (sits up from a slouched position, ominously) A storm, it approaches.

Eula: (fairly drunk) Nah. There weren’t any clouds in the sky today.

Rosaria: (strangely relaxed) Ugh, I hope it doesn’t rain. The cobblestone gets a stupid kind of slippery.

Kaeya: (shrugs as he sips at yet another glass) (drawls) We could just wait it out in here where it’s warm, toasty, and full of wine . . . 

A booming laugh jolts them all to rapt attention and hits them with some semblance of sobriety. Venti immediately perks up with relief and hope as he hopped off his chair and ran down the stairs, only to drag someone familiar up.

Beidou: (waves, grinning widely) Heyo! I was wondering where you guys were when you weren't at the bar.

Eula: (looks up at Beidou) Ah, the 'privateer'. Greetings to you. (goes back to drinking)

Kaeya: (genuinely happy) Captain! Please, come sit down, we have plenty of drinks.

Rosaria: (simply drags a chair from an empty table and brings it to their table)

Venti: (plops back down on his chair) So, Captain, how’s the sea-faring treating you these days?

Beidou: (sits and takes out her flask) As usual. Trade is good, conditions are as they are, and the sea is as it always is. Nothing to really complain about there. (looks them all over) How’ve you all been?

Venti: (starts) Well actually-

Rosaria: (grabs him by the scruff of his collar and claps her other hand on his mouth, attempting some semblance of civility) Good. Just great. Dare I say, absolutely wonderful.

Beidou: (at Rosaria and Venti) Uh-

Kaeya: (quickly) Don’t mind it! It’s just that the bard has caught onto a few new tunes that he can’t help but sing nonstop and we’ve had to deal with it the entire time! (convincingly) We wouldn’t wish the same perilous fate on you as well.

Eula: (mutters loudly) Oh yes. Archons help us all if he goes on about that harem again-

Rosaria: (swiftly kicks Eula’s shin underneath the table) 

Eula: Ow! (glares pointedly at Rosaria) How dare you. (hic) I’ll get you back for that yet . . .

Beidou: (perks up with recognition) Huh? What about a ‘harem’?

Kaeya & Rosaria: (groans loudly) 

Venti: (rips Rosaria’s hand off his mouth) (panting) Yes! The harem! Have you heard anything about any in Mondstadt or anywhere else?

Beidou: (takes a long swig of her flask, draining it) Just a moment. (takes the bottle on the table and starts pouring it into the flask) This is some seriously good shit y'all got here this season. 

Eula: (whines as she sips at her beer) I was gonna finish that . . . 

Rosaria: (lets go of Venti’s collar) It’s what you deserve for throwing my ass into this hell again.

Beidou: (corks her flask, chuckling to herself) You know, it’s really funny that you bring up a harem now because the other day, my crew on the Alcor thought that I had one.

Kaeya: (chokes, coughing quickly) Wait, come again?

Beidou: (laughs) Yup! I had almost the same reaction you did. 

Rosaria: (slowly, almost hesitantly) So . . . do you have one?

Beidou: (cackles) Hell no, Rosie! (shakes her head) That ain’t my kind of stuff. 

Rosaria: (involuntarily twitches her eye, grumbles under her breath)

Eula: (blearily) But where did such a rumor come from? (coughs into her fist) Ugh . . . (takes another swig)

Beidou: (continues on) Apparently some busybodies out there raised their eyebrows at the thought of a thirty-something-year-old woman hangin’ around a bunch of young men. (snorts) Ha! So by that logic, most of the Alcor would be my consorts! (snickers to herself) People will come up with anything to entertain themselves . . .

Venti: (snickers smugly) Indeed!

The three cryo users look at each other, then down at their respective drinks, and then finally to Venti, who seems to delight in their collective misery as he sips his wine.

Eula: (as carefully as she could) Captain Beidou of the Crux Fleet?

Beidou: Pfft, you don’t need to tack that on there. What’s up? 

Eula: (swallows, nervously) While your own circumstance is pure folly, would you be open to the idea of it actually being true as it pertains to others?

Beidou: (raises her eyebrow) Hmm?

Rosaria: (thinks, then sighs deeply and slides the two letters from earlier over to her) 

Kaeya: (starts to protest, but decides against it) This hunch of yours had better be quite the one, sister.

Rosaria: (tiredly) If it isn't, I’ll seriously eat my veil.

Beidou takes one look at both of the letters and then proceeds to completely lose her shit, doubling over in an absolute cacophony of laughter.

Eula: (indignant) I- what do you find so funny about this?! This is quite serious!

Kaeya: (glares in displeasure) I find myself in agreement with Miss Eula for once.

Beidou: (catches her breath briefly, holding out open palms) Wait-wait-wait, so those letters are legit?

Eula: (loudly) Yes, yes they are!

Beidou: (looks at the both of them before doubling over in laughter again, shrieking) By the Archons, it’s real! (audibly wheezes)

Rosaria: (looks directly at Venti, menacingly) If this is some sort of practical joke you’re pulling on us, then I think it’s run its course, bard.

Venti: (laughing gleefully) Come now, Sister Rosaria. You’d surely know by now if it was a joke or not! 

Beidou: (finally calms down enough to speak) Man . . . (wipes a tear away from her eye) They really weren’t kidding when they said that Firefly was one of Mondstadt’s most eligible bachelors. (ponders) I had absolutely no idea about the harem though. (shrugs in acceptance) Then again, who wouldn’t want to get a piece of the hotshot of Mondstadt’s wine industry?

Kaeya: (eye widens in realization) The wine industry . . .

Rosaria: (looks at Kaeya, hissing) What is it now?

Eula: (still quite huffy, glowering) Is something the matter yet again?

Kaeya: (turns slowly to Beidou’s direction) If you wouldn't mind my asking this of you, Captain, but are you here, perhaps, for a favor or two?

Beidou: (sips out of her flask, casually) I guess you could call it that. (inquiring) Why are you askin'?

Kaeya: (actually stutters) So . . . so-

Rosaria: (liberally smacks Kaeya upside the head) Stop it. Stop it right now.

Eula: (looks directly at Rosaria, then proceeds to drink heavily) 

Beidou: (towards Venti, confused) Will you please tell me what’s got them in such a tizzy? Is this just how cryo allogenes are in general when they’re in the vicinity of each other or is it just the day?

Venti: (drawls conspiratorially) Long story short, as soon as it got out that Dandelion’s Honey was coming back, everyone in Mond lost their minds as to why! (shrugs) Sure I’m curious about why myself, but personally I’m just happy that Master Diluc’s willing to experiment more with mead! And whatever the kind of mead he makes, I and all of Mondstadt will gladly partake! (raises his glass) To delectable mead and good company!

Beidou: (chuckles as she lifts her flask) And to good friends that make damn good alcohol. Cheers!

Unbeknownst to the two of them, all three cryo users had frozen in the midst of their somewhat tense arguments and turned their eyes directly at them, not quite believing what they were hearing.

And as if all of their thoughts and speculations sought to see themselves concluded, the man in the center of this mystery had finally come in for his shift, slipping in among the midst of chatter and conversation.

Diluc: I can start my shift now, Charles.

Charles: (skeptically) You sure about that, Master Diluc?

Diluc: (nods)

Charles: (sighs) Alright, if you want to. (leans closer to him, whispering) The captain arrived some time ago and is currently upstairs.

Diluc: (mutters back) Thanks.

Charles: (simply claps him on the shoulder) Good night to you, Master Diluc. (leaves the tavern proper)

Diluc: (briefly) Good night. 

His eyes peer up the stairwell and he can’t help but groan internally at who he spies at a table up on the second floor. Meanwhile, a majority of the table can’t help but feel the same way for unrelated reasons.

Kaeya: (head buried in his arms slumped over the table) (muttering to himself) I won’t believe it until I see it. I refuse to believe it.

Rosaria: (slumped over Kaeya’s body) I have to actually eat my fuckin’ veil . . .

Eula: (hunched over on the table, dozing) Mngh . . .

Beidou: (to Venti) They’re seriously done and buzzed already, huh?

Venti: (slurred) That seems to be the case . . . (slings his arm over Beidou’s shoulders) It’s just you and me for now! (wryly) Unless . . . (calls down with barely contained mischief) Bartender!

Down below, the ‘bartender’ tries not to glare daggers at the bard and fails before begrudgingly making his way up the stairs.

Beidou: (reaches out and clasps his arm with her free hand) Heyo, Firefly. 

Diluc: (readily returns the gesture) Hello, Captain.

Venti: (waves, upbeat chipper) Hey there, Master Diluc! You look like you’ve been doing well.

Diluc: (nods) You can say that I have. (looks down to the three cryo users, dryly) Although I can’t say the same for your companions.

Venti: (too casually) It’s nothing you need to worry about, Master Diluc. They’re just reeling from the piss-poor reality of their situation.

This green fucker knows full well what he was doing and he's just happy to instigate it as this is the most entertaining shit he's seen in a while.

Rosaria: (lifts her head up to glare specifically at Venti) That’s rich, coming from the ringmaster of it all. (buries her head back into Kaeya’s spine) I’m so tired of this . . .

Eula: (blinks once in Diluc’s direction before shifting her head away, bluntly) Go away, I don’t want to see you right now or ever again in my life. 

Diluc: (furrows his brows in initial confusion, before grim realization sets in, reddening) Wait, look-

Kaeya: (lifts his head, interrupting him tiredly) Now, now, Master Diluc. (moves his hand slightly to slide some letters to him) We have questions and we want answers to them. 

Thoroughly exhausted from this dance, Rosaria suddenly whips out a dagger and stabs the letters into the wooden table so as to not let them be passed further, fines for damages and shocked glances be damned.

Rosaria: (groggily) Oh, for fuck’s sake, if it’s coming from you, this’ll take another half hour if not more. (sits up and looks straight into Diluc’s eyes) Look, Diluc. Do you have a harem or not?

Diluc: (reddens, grumbling) No. 

Rosaria: (to the point, uncaring) Then why does everyone think you do? 

Diluc: (looking away, averting his gaze, curtly) I haven’t the slightest idea. Your guess is as good as mine. (pointedly at Kaeya) Although he’d probably know more about that anyway.

Kaeya: (laughs bitterly at Diluc) Do you really think I’d be here if I did? Hmph! (turns away from him, mumbling) Death After Noon isn’t even in season.

Diluc: (drags a gloved hand down his face, to Beidou) I apologize for this. I genuinely have no idea what’s going on right now.

Beidou: (chuckles) And what do you have to be sorry for? Apparently, our little deal was leaked and people started to speculate a bit, them included.

Diluc: (wryly) Ahh, so that’s what’s happened. (still a bit confused) But where did the harem come from though?

Kaeya: (still turned away) That’s what I’ve been saying! (petulantly) I find it hard to believe that you could have one, let alone maintain one.

Rosaria: (nods) Exactly. So what’s the deal?

Eula: (from her slumped position on her chair) And why are the noble houses treating it as the gospel truth?

At this point, Venti too has become exhausted of this entire line of particular inquiry and mischief. He can hardly believe it, but as they’ve all started to run circles around the point, he decides to take this into his own hands and make it have some sort of sense in his own, equally insufferable way.

Venti: (voice intentionally amplified by whatever Anemo powers he has) Guys.

Everyone stops and turns to him, and Beidou simply leans back to enjoy the show that’s about to play out.

Venti: (laughs in a sense of surprise) I don’t actually have to spell this out for you, do I? I mean, I’m just a humble bard and even I can realize that you’ve all completely missed the point I’ve been trying to get you all to!

Diluc: (crosses his arms) Well, let’s hear it then. 

Venti: (coughs into his fist before declaring) Master Diluc does not have a harem and this is an indisputable, undeniable, and cocksure fact!

Eula: (breaths out a sigh of relief) Thank Barbatos.

Venti: (smiles) You’re welcome! Now, since it’s established that there is no harem, why would people think that there was one?

Rosaria: (bluntly) Because people are busybodies who don’t know how to mind their own business?

Venti: Nope!

Eula: (slowly) Because . . . it would be politically advantageous?

Venti: Nada!

Kaeya: (squinting) Ease of access to his power? Or perhaps out of some hidden desires or secrets that I somehow don’t know about?

Venti: No, no, and no! (to Diluc) Wager a guess?

Diluc: (genuinely thinking on this) Is it . . . something to do with my proximity to certain people?

Venti: (eagerly) You’re getting closer!

Eula: (scrunches her eyebrows in concentration) It’s gotta do with people, but maybe people that aren’t from Mond . . .

Venti: (nodding) Mhm!

Rosaria: (snaps her fingers, realization) Does it have anything to do with the stupid oni that keeps challenging me to card games?

Venti: (enthusiastically) Warmer . . .

Eula: (perks up with recognition) Yes, him and the finely-dressed gentlemen?

Venti: (encouragingly) Yes, you're getting warmer . . .

Kaeya: (disbelieving the words coming out of his mouth) The Fatui Harbinger too?

Venti: (excitedly) By the Archons, you’re all so close it’s killing me! Come on . . .

Diluc: (realization with loud incredulity) Are you talking about my other friends?

Venti: (shrieks, leaping out of his chair) Ding-ding-ding! (does a little dance around his chair, enthusiastically) You’ve got it! (throws himself back into his chair, laughing all the while)

This is what no gnosis does to a former Archon who has nothing better to do.

Kaeya: (genuinely shocked) You have friends?

Eula: (weakly) There's another?

Rosaria: (already cutting off a piece of her veil, fed up) Fuck me soundly. (to Kaeya) You better get that extra eyepatch you have on you ready, Alberich.

Beidou: (somewhat invested) Well holy shit, the plot thickens like absinthe. (takes a swig from her flask, to Diluc) Mond doesn't know you have a social life, Firefly?

Diluc: (shrugs) I honestly didn't think people cared that much.

Venti: (springs back up) So! Now that we've established verbal acknowledgment and the physical presence of another individual among us that Diluc is indeed unusually familiar with other people-

Beidou: (simply nods) Mhm!

Venti: -and that all of them are from outside of Mondstadt, for some notable figures in high society, this presents a unique opportunity to gain some influence, hence . . .

Eula: (puts her chin in her propped hand, drawls shrewdly) The Lawrence and Gunnhildr clans send suitable 'candidates' to try and worm themselves into the inner circle for their family's respective interests.

Venti: (claps his hands in confirmation) Bingo! And this, along with the fact that he runs half of the wine industry, is of noble status, dedicated to his work, and - in some people's opinion at least - quite easy on the eyes, people could naturally make the assumption that anyone he was seen in public with would have to be someone of some importance.

Rosaria: (snorts as she chews on the fabric) This shit reads like some fiction novel.

Beidou: (chuckles) I'm pretty sure I've seen an opera play out like this before.

Kaeya: (sipping his wine, at Venti) Well this is how you would see all of this, given your own views.

Venti: (raises his eyebrows) Oho? And how would you see this, Sir Kaeya?

Kaeya: (smirks in challenge) If you would allow me to play the devil's advocate for just a little while . . .

Venti: (excitedly) For sure! (grabs his drink) I'm all for different points of view!

Diluc: (sighs heavily in forced acceptance)

As they all know him well enough to do so, they settle in for what could be one of the most ham-fisted lines of thought that they had to be subjected to. The only reason that Rosaria hasn't left yet is that she really wants to see Kaeya try to eat his eyepatch.

Kaeya: (gives a slash of a grin) Then I shall. (sips his wine before speaking) Most of the evidence that's been brought forward would suggest that he would have a harem but here at this table, we know that that isn't the case. The people, however, don't know what we already do.

Eula: (nods) This is true.

Kaeya: (to Venti) I distinctly remember that you also brought up the mead earlier as something that some people tied to the existence of a harem. (gets up, starting to slowly meander around) You see, Dandelion's Honey was a one-time brew and Mondstadt was quite sure that it was going to stay that way. So why would the brewmaster suddenly change his mind?

Rosaria: (factually) Well, it did really good. Could be for business purposes?

Kaeya: Ahh, but if it was for business, then other drinks and lines would have done the same, yes? (to Eula) How long has it been since the Dawn Winery made their one-time elderberry wine?

Eula: (sighs with nostalgia) Too long.

Diluc: (raises his eyebrow) You mean two years ago?

Kaeya: (continues) And did they ever continue that pomegranate cider after it sold out within the day?

Venti: (pouting) No, and I never got to try any of it!

Diluc: (rolls his eyes) You had so much of it that you blacked out and forgot the taste.

Kaeya: (stops in his tracks with a look in his eye) With this in mind, we can conclude that the mead coming back isn't for business. So it must be something else, then. We could say that it was for the sake of further refining it, but then we also have to assume that he tried them and saw it fit to do so, which he did not.

Diluc's silence with this statement is enough of a confirmation.

Kaeya: (looks over the others as he goes on) So if it wasn't for either of those, why would it come back? But if the reason for it coming back was because it was so good, why wouldn't it come back? We all had it, didn't we?

Venti: (nods eagerly) Mhm!

Eula: (unabashedly) It was the best mead I ever had.

Rosaria: (stops chewing) Ehh. I'm more of a wine kind of person, but it was pretty good.

Diluc: (stating) It was a mead.

There's an unusual pause after that, in which Kaeya locks eyes with Beidou as if waiting for her to respond before he simply asks her directly.

Kaeya: And what's your opinion on it?

Beidou: (looks to Diluc, then back to Kaeya, plainly) Don't know why you're asking me that question.

Kaeya: (inquiring) Well, you mentioned it earlier, so that means you did have some of it, right?

Beidou: (simply) Yeah I did. I liked it.

Kaeya: (eye glints) Exactly, fellow Captain. In fact, I distinctly remember that the mead was such a hit that it practically disappeared within the week. (suddenly) But wait just a second here! There's one thing that we need to take into consideration!

The gathered people wait with curious anticipation and growing realization for the dramatic pause to end.

Kaeya: (turns to Diluc, sweetly) Say, Master Diluc, what was the intended length of time for Dandelion's Honey to be out?

Diluc: (carefully) About two weeks.

Kaeya: (even sweeter) And if one was to ask, how would the mead get here over that time?

Diluc: (deadpans, irritated) On the road. Just like everything else.

Kaeya: (in typical faux dramatics) Why of course! (egging him on) So you could say that highwaymen and bandits could intercept some of the goods and take them for themselves?

Diluc: (annoyed) Yes. (emphasizes) In theory.

Kaeya: (shrugs casually) Well, it's not really much of a theory if it actually happened. (furrowing his eyebrows) Oof, just thinking about that pile of paperwork makes me cringe. (looks directly at Diluc) And if I recall the details correctly, I believe that the retail for Dandelion's Honey was only meant for Angel's Share, correct?

Diluc: (exhales heavily and pinches the bridge of his nose) Just get to the point already.

Kaeya: (short laugh, hands up in surrender) Alright, alright, geez. (to everyone else) Wouldn't want to offend the sensibilities of Master Diluc here, now would we? (turns back to Beidou, calculating and a bit coldly) So, if Dandelion's Honey was never meant to leave Mondstadt at all, one must wonder how you are able to sing its praises if your ship was never in Dornman Port during that time at all.

If you think this is far-fetched for Kaeya to pick up and piece together, may I remind you that he has sussed out so much shit on Diluc and his areas of operations and that he hasn't said a word to anyone about it as of the publishing of this post?

Beidou: (sitting up, demeanor shifting slightly) Meaning?

The privateer that leads Liyue's largest private fleet also does not take kindly to certain implications regarding her personal character.

Kaeya: (genuine, but firmly) Don't misunderstand me when I say that I found it quite peculiar that you came across the mead. You are no petty thief and you do not seem to do anything without a reason, but it's no simple coincidence that after around the same time you supposedly tried it, merchants from Fontaine talked of a mead that was 'as sweet as honey'.

Beidou: (thinking, inhaling and exhaling before making up her mind and replying) Some Treasure Hoarders along the Liyuen coast had some crates of the mead and I snagged them. We kept most of it, but we did sell a crate or two to some guys in Fontaine. (shrugs) Don't know if it goes together, but it makes sense.

Kaeya: (hums with confirmation) And with that, another piece of the puzzle is set in. (with the barest sense of guilt) No hard feelings, Captain?

Beidou: (casually) If you buy me a beer, then sure.

Kaeya: (graciously) Consider it already on my tab.

Beidou: (breaks out into a grin) Nah, I was just joking! Archons know that the assumption was right there anyway. We're good.

Rosaria: (swallows the lump of fabric, then rips off another chunk of her veil with her teeth, muttering) How wonderful.

Kaeya: (addressing the table grandiosely) Now that we know that it wasn't for money, glory, or popularity and that there's some sort of timeline, whatever else could be why our beloved mead is returning to us? (stage-whispers) Or, perhaps there's another question we could ask ourselves. (turns to Diluc yet again, sickeningly sweet) Since when did you genuinely have any friends, Master Diluc?

Diluc: (rolls his eyes, glaring) Is it really that hard to believe it, Sir Kaeya?

Eula: (very drunk, deadpanning) Absol-fucking-lutely.

Diluc: (turns to her, coolly) I don't recall asking for your opinion.

This, on one hand, was a blunt statement.

Eula: (without missing a beat, flushed red and sneering) And I don't care if you didn't as you don't mean much to me anyway. (lifts her nose at him) I simply can't be bothered by what you have to say about me anymore and-

Kaeya: (tries to cuts her off) Now now, Eula. No need to get worked up-

Eula: (thoroughly offended) And why wouldn't I be? (coughs into her closed fist, straight-forward) I may be a Lawrence, but as I am also a part of this, I can have some opinions on this matter, can't I?

Rosaria: (roughly swallows, almost choking) Let the woman speak.

Eula: (finishes her beer, flushed bright red, at Diluc) If anything, your aloof disposition (hic) is what caused this to begin with!

This, on the other hand, was straight-up slander.

Diluc: (openly taken aback, annoyed) I am not aloof, I just mostly keep to myself.

Eula: (glares) Right. As if that (hic) doesn't mean the same thing. Besides, why else would some average person (hic) believe it if the individual in question (hic) is hardly seen outside of their estate and place of work? For all intents and purposes, (hic) intentional or not (hic), you have painted yourself to be the weird (hic), eccentric wine tycoon of nobility (hic) that could pull something like this off!

Diluc: (crosses his arms, reddening, stubbornly) Whatever Mondstadt came up with in terms of this simply serves the purpose of being entertaining to think about. (growls under his breath) The stupid letters only tell me that the people are caught up in a delusion that will die down in due time.

Eula: (hisses with clear displeasure) Well regardless of what those 'stupid letters' were (hic), I will have you know that the answer is a resounding no. (venomously) I'd rather die than chain myself to you, of all people.

Diluc: (somewhat flabbergasted) And I wouldn't want to do that to myself either- (backtracks) Wait, no, we aren't even going to go through with it-

Eula: (incredulously) We?!?

Diluc: (just as incredulously) I meant the turn of phrase?!?

With Eula too drunk to remember that she could simply challenge Diluc to cross blades with her and with Diluc too off-guard to diffuse the sparring of words, the sight leaves some commentary to be had by the observing drinkers and textile grazers.

Rosaria: (to Kaeya, still chewing) Your estranged relative is really arguing with someone drunk off of their ass right now.

Kaeya: (sinks into the empty chair next to her, giving up on trying to wrangle the situation in his favor) A drunk that happens to be Captain Eula no less. (takes out a spare eyepatch from his pocket and starts absent-mindedly gnawing on it) Leather should be edible, right?

Rosaria: (uncertainly) Eh. Depends on how it was made, I think?

Beidou: (passively) I recommend boiling it first so it's easier to chew.

Rosaria: (holds up her half-torn veil) Will boiling water work for this too?

Beidou: (shrugs) Maybe. Haven't tried it myself, so I can't say for sure.

Venti: (quietly sips his wine, whispering to Beidou) As much as I disagree with them, I kinda see her point.

Beidou: (mutters back to Venti) Uh huh. Then again, she hasn't seen him and Childe in the same room yet.

Venti: (nods) Definitely. (pauses) Do you think we should stop them?

Beidou: (thinks, before saying) Nah. I think it's good for them to get rid of the pretenses. They ain't gonna just jump into fist-to-cuffs anyway.

As that sentence leaves her mouth, the initial argument had been slowly devolving into the drink whisking Eula away and Diluc finally stopping for long enough to really consider his actions.

Diluc: (sighs heavily, genuinely) Look, all I'm saying is that I apologize for any animosity you feel due to my association with the letters as I did not want it nor have any intention of pursuing that. (exhales and shakes his head) Forget it. You're drunk.

Eula: (groggily) And you're . . . a social recluse. (promptly slumps forward onto the table, dozing)

Rosaria: (finishes her singular glass of wine) And down she goes. (takes Eula's tankard from her loose hand and props her head up, to herself) She really needs to stop doing this to herself.

Diluc: (exasperated, more to himself) This was not the time nor the place for any of this . . . Hmph. (embarrassed, awkwardly) I have things to do. (briskly walks off and is about to go down the stairs, saying) I'll get some water for you all.

Venti: (finishes another glass of wine, drunken and incredulous) Water?

Diluc: (already walking down, calling behind him) You're cut off. All of you. (points in Beidou's direction) Except you. Just don't overdo it.

A chorus of displeased groans ring out from the table.

Beidou: (calls down) The deal's still on, right?

Diluc: (from the ground floor, faintly) Yeah.

Venti: (pouts) Oh come on. How is that even fair? I still want some . . . (suddenly makes rapid grabby hands at Beidou's flask)

Beidou: (snatches his wrist without even looking at him) Don't even try it.

Venti: (whines) But you have the good stuff in there . . .

Beidou: (unapologetically) It's my good stuff now.

Venti: You can at least share! (pulls his wrist out of her grasp) You really are just a greedy pirate. (turns away from her) Hmph!

Rosaria: (to Beidou) I don't know how or why you and the bartender are friends, but whatever it takes to bring the mead back I guess.

Beidou: (hums absentmindedly while stretching her arms) It took him a little time to warm up to the idea of bringing it around again for retail, but I certainly don’t regret it now.

Venti: (suddenly turns back around, comically waggling his eyebrows) Why Beidou, that’s practically a miracle! How did you do it?

Beidou: (shrugs) I didn’t really have to do anything! He called it a 'personal favor' of sorts.

Venti: (genuinely surprised) Huh! I oughta try doing something like that sometimes . . . maybe he’ll take a ballad or two?

Beidou: (hums low) I dunno if that’ll work out for you, considering the somewhat ‘unique’ state of your tab*.

Venti: (pretends not to hear that) Sooo . . . if I ask, can I pretty please have a tiny sip out of your flask?

Beidou: (rolls her eye) It'll still be here tomorrow, so you can get some tomorrow. (deliberately moves the flask away from Venti's reach)

Venti: (groans loudly) It's not fair . . . you're so mean to me . . .

Kaeya: (with his cheek cupped in a propped hand, garbled with leather, to Beidou casually) I don't get it, but I suppose I can respect your friendship with him.

After the little snipe, he tries to pull off a chunk with his teeth, only for the somewhat mangled eyepatch to snap out of his free hand and into his other eye.

Rosaria: (chuckles coldly)

Kaeya: (covering his eye as errant tears leak out of it) Damn it all, now I'm actually blind! (rummages through his pocket, pulling out yet another eyepatch and putting it on his other eye, to Rosaria) See? I'm ruined.

Rosaria: (gently shoves Kaeya's face, as playfully as she can manage) How tragic.

Kaeya: (blearily) I could deal with one eye, but two? (slumps his head onto the table) That's just cruel.

Venti: (roughly pats his back) There, there, Sir Kaeya. It is naught, but a simple scratch! Nothing that a little bit of a gentle healing touch can't fix, really. (slaps his hand onto his left eye, this doing nothing at all)

Kaeya: (pitifully) Ow! (frowns) Now it hurts more.

Rosaria: (deadpanning, yet somewhat urging) Poor baby. You still gotta eat a piece of your eyepatch though. (fiddling with her half-hacked veil) I did it, so you have to too.

Kaeya: (mutters, blatantly pouting) What is this, Liyue? (turns in Beidou's direction) No offense.

Beidou: (taking yet another drink as she half-watches the current bout and half-monitors Venti's movements) None taken.

Rosaria: (teasingly in her own way) C'mon, Captain. (takes the chewed eyepatch and cuts off a small piece with a knife she has) You said you were going to do it and I'm holding you to it.

Kaeya: (openly whining) It's gross and hard to chew.

Rosaria: (makes to pry open his mouth with his finger caps) Open up, Alberich.

Kaeya: (begrudgingly complies and opens his mouth)

Rosaria: (half-heartedly pats his cheek) Good boy. (plops the piece into his mouth)

Kaeya: (grumbles before chewing in earnest)

Rosaria: (snickers) Don't try swallowing it too fast now. Really don't want you choking to death on me.

Kaeya: (frowns, accusingly) You're enjoying this aren't you?

Rosaria: (grins in lighthearted cruelty) Very much so. (begins to cut apart the previously cut eyepatch) Please, by all means, take your time. (drawls) I have all night.

A little while later, the 'bartender' had indeed kept to his statement and brought a pitcher of water before descending back into the bustling fray of the ground floor.

The easygoing atmosphere steadily returned amongst the persons there, as they got through the last of their drinks and waited for the uneasy sobriety that comes with the alcohol still in their veins.

Eula, at this point, had fallen into a drunken slumber, lightly snoring in a manner that would embarrass her if she was conscious enough to care. Beidou and Kaeya's respective capes are draped across the Spindrift Knight's shoulders while Venti's hat did it's best to cover her face and Rosaria's ruined veil was tucked underneath her head.

Before they all left for the night, however, there was something that they could all agree needed a definite conclusion.

Venti & Beidou: (chanting in unison) Eat it, eat it, eat it-

Rosaria: (with a rare mischievousness, encouraging) Come on, you're almost done . . .

Kaeya: (grimaces as he roughly swallows the last strip of his eyepatch, from the depths of his soul) Bleugh.

Venti: (throws himself into the air, hovering on a gust of wind buffeting everyone around him) Wahoo!

Beidou: (loud laughter) I can't believe you actually did it! (passes him her flask) Here, have a palette cleanser.

Rosaria: (light clapping, neutral, but genuine) You have no idea how happy I am about this.

Kaeya: (already drinking down what's left in Beidou's flask, smacking his lips in disgust) I can still taste it. (despairingly) I can still feel it in my teeth.

Rosaria: (casually pulls out a thread from between her teeth) Tell me about it.

I will now take this opportunity to remind you that Rosaria has been mostly sober this whole time.

Venti: (gently floats back down onto his chair, quite smug) With that all said and done, I think it's settled now, hmm?

Kaeya: (looks pointedly at Rosaria)

Rosaria: (looks back at Kaeya)

Kaeya: (to Venti, begrudgingly) Yes, Venti, you were right.

Rosaria: (admitting, sighing deeply) Diluc has friends and he is nice to them.

Venti: (goading) And?

Kaeya: (rolls his eye, deadpanning) There is no harem. There is no conspiracy. And there are no secret lovers.

Venti: (smiles, satisfied) See? It's not that difficult to believe after all! You did eat your clothing anyway.

Beidou: (chuckles more to herself than anything) I can't deny that this whole thing wasn't fun to watch after a while. I'm glad that's been cleared up now. Would've been real awkward if it hadn't. (yawns, stretching her body out on her chair) Anyway, it's getting late and I've got stuff to do tomorrow. So if y'all don't mind (gets up), I'll be heading out now.

Rosaria: (starts to get up as well) I was just about to leave too. (looks to grab her veil, only to remember that Eula has it) I can take her back to her place too, so don't worry about it.

Kaeya: (pushes his chair away from the table) How funny that you all decide to get going while I just made up my mind to do the same. (gets up, going over to Eula and gently shakes her shoulder)

Eula: (groans sleepily and petulantly)

Beidou: (simply grabs Eula by under her arms and pulls her up, turning to Venti) You coming?

Venti: (springs out of his chair, nabbing his hat from Eula's head) I don't see why not! Drunken tomfoolery is best enjoyed in good company after all.

The lot of them somehow maneuver a barely conscious Eula Lawrence down the stairs and eventually make their way out of Angel's Share into the warm night, Diluc cannot help but feel a pang of . . . mirth? Perhaps faint amusement? The circumstances that brought this about certainly allowed for it, he thought.

Regardless of that, he made his way up the stairs as to clean the space, only to find the dagger still pinning down some papers. Fairly familiar-looking papers. Curiosity getting the best of him, he plucked the knife embedded quite deep into the wood and took a simple look at the contents, only to sigh quite tiredly.

Without another thought about them, the papers in his hands caught afire, steadily reduced to embers. Strangely enough, an unusual drifting wind blew away the ashes and smoke from his palms, stroking his face and gently blowing back stray strands of his hair.

Diluc allowed himself a brief smile before he went back to his work, as this particular matter seemed to be truly said and done anyway.

Even so, it's somehow forgotten to inform Jean of this the next day.

---

This got long, but I'm sorry that I'm not really that sorry about it.

Everyone needed time to shine and the sheer amount of dynamics in terms of canon, being explorative, or otherwise was almost overwhelming. I tried to characterize Kaeya again and I think I'm starting to get it just a bit. As for Eula being an unofficial member of Teyvat's resident drinkers, I can only say that she deserves to be adequately welcomed by some company that would understand where she's coming from and care for her.

Not to sound arrogant or anything, but before 2.8, I had it written that the rest of the harem would get drinks on the house and I was right. I felt really good about calling that before there was any mention of it from Diluc's own lips. My characterization isn’t complete shit after all. The accuracy of the layout of the Dawn Winery in the previous installment was by sheer coincidence. I did not know I had that shit down to a science until Hidden Strife was a thing and I saw the inner layout for myself.

Concerning the master of the winery, I must say that his characterization here was primarily influenced by external elements, the most volatile of them being Eula and Kaeya. You cannot tell me that Eula and Diluc would not have some of the most ridiculous banter, and for what? Just existing in their respective vicinities with their own core beliefs and assumptions about each other? They deserve to interact in canon at least once.

You will have to pry drunken and happy rhyming Venti, chilled-out and playful Rosaria, and buzzed and honest Kaeya out of my cold, dead hands. 2.5 also enabled me to excuse the fact that Beidou showed up and to be honest, she goes where she wishes. It was either that or Rosaria attempting to skewer Childe on her spear. Blood is hard to get out of refined hardwood and is just generally bad for business.

Speaking of Beidou, I think she minds her own business for the most part and lets people handle their own stuff if she knows they can, hence the lack of explosiveness from her besides Kaeya's own inquiries.

(I don’t drink so yes, I just learned the difference between a tankard and a keg. You saw nothing of my works involving alcohol before this, so shush shush shush.)

With that out of the way, I am done with this. I'm pretty sure this series is the longest thing I've written on my own for now. And while I was writing this, I got to 28 followers! I hope you liked this most recent installment in the complete derailment of this line of inquiry.

*I put it in the beginning already, but just in case this is more convenient, this refers to another work of mine you can find here. It may have been forgiven, but it will never be forgotten.

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hello, hello!! It's me again!! Here to interrupt your feed with yet another of my random genshin thought of the day! Recently, on one of Zach's (Aether's VA) streams with Poonam (Klee's VA), one of the viewers mentioned something about Klee driving a mini-car affectionately titled the 'dodocar'. This got the gears in my head turning, and I started thinking about the different modes of transport each character would use. These are some scenarios my brain came up with!! I wanted to send them your way because you always have the loveliest ideas, and wanted to know if you had any more thoughts on the matter! As such, Miss Hazel, today I present to you my offering of Genshin boys as different modes of transport! 💕

- 🔎

Diluc would drive a car. No question about this. I've always imagined him to have a sleek, modern-looking car that's maybe a little bit on the pricier side, but not completely outrageous by any means. The man doesn't really seem like the type who would want to show off his wealth, but he also can't deny that he has an eye for much of the finer things in life.

You watch as Diluc mans the car, watching the rolling hills flash by the window. There's something uniquely intoxicating about sitting in a car with someone else for hours on end. It makes you want to open up to them, makes you want to share stories which you perhaps wouldn't have wanted to share otherwise, much like a drunkard who's had one glass too many and is now blabbering on about their whole life story. Ah, but then again, perhaps this is only so because the two of you were drunk on something else entirely? You didn't know the answer to that question, but as you watched the way his sunset-eyes crinkled with mirth at your terrible, terrible Michael Jackson impression, you think you were okay with never knowing the answer to that question so long as the two of you could stay in this moment forever, just as you were.

Albedo doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would really enjoy driving. Instead, I think his preferred mode of transport would be cycling! He wakes up much earlier every morning because he insists on cycling to work instead of driving. Albedo seems like a very practical sort of fellow. Sure, cycling is more time consuming, but it's efficient, more environmentally friendly, and overall better for his health. That makes it a win in his book.

On the weekends though, especially as the weather starts to get warmer and the air is filled with the welcomed promise of spring, Albedo would often take you out for dates in the park on a special tandem-bike. The two of you would cycle around for a while just watching the flowers bloom and the greenery come back to life, before stopping for a quick picnic lunch underneath a grand magnolia tree. You laugh as you move to wipe the little bit of cream from the cake you two just devoured which is still stuck on his upper lip. It's a sweet, saccharine kind of love, one that reminds you of fresh morning-dew and hopeful new beginnings.

Over the summer, you found out that Childe has somehow managed to get his grubby little hands on a jet ski. Uh-oh. He says he wants you to ride it with him. He's saying please. He's giving you the puppy-dog eyes. You cannot say no to that face. You do not know where he got it from or even when he learned how to use a jet ski, but really don't think this is a good idea. Come on, you cannot look at this man and try to convince me that he is not an absolute speed demon. One moment he's showing off cool tricks on the jet-ski and then the next moment he's- oh JESUS CHRIST CHILDE SLOW THE FUCK DOWN, SOMEONE'S GONNA FALL!!

Thankfully, he's a skilled enough driver that everything went relatively smoothly. This time, at least. As he stops the vehicle to give you that dopey little grin and make sure you're still alive, you take a moment to playfully hit him on the shoulder for making your heart race a million miles an hour. He only laughs. Still, it was exhilirating. And you would never admit it to his face, but he does look kind of cool showing off tricks on the water. Maybe this wasn't such a terrible idea after all.

Kaeya is a proud owner of a motorcycle. Specfically, he owns one of those lovely old-school 1980's Honda motorcycles. The people living in your neighbourhood almost went mad the moment they saw him pull up at your door with, complete with dark sunglasses and a leather jacket. You thought he looked rather stupid. Still, you were glad that he brought his bike with him. It made it easier to traverse the city traffic and get to your destination quicker.  Kaeya takes you out on a ride to one of his favourite destinations for a midnight snack: a night market, filled with rows and rows of stalls selling piping hot food. You hop from stall to stall, sharing the food and tasting everything the market has to offer together before heading back with a full heart and a full stomach.

There's a sense of youthful freedom that comes with taking late-night rides with your beau like this. Your arms around his waist, the wind billowing past your face, the moonlight reflecting the stars in his eyes... It makes you feel young again, makes you feel as though you were seventeen once more, discovering the thrills of love for the very first time. You've missed this. You've missed him. Sighing contentedly against his shoulder, you silently watch the blinking city lights fade in and out of view as you drive through the city that never sleeps.

Zhongli... Has no vehicle of his own. He's broke, your honour. Sorry Zhongli, I don't make the rules here. Thankfully, he lives in a city with a great public transport system, so he has no issues getting around if he needs to. The lack of personal vehicles also means he gets to spend more time walking with you, an activity which he has grown to really enjoy, so I suppose there is a silver lining after all. The two of you often work rather late, so the streets were usually barren by the time you leave the office. You and Zhongli would often walk to the train station together after your shifts have ended, basking in the stillness of the night and the almost alien glow of fluorescent lights.

He loves chatting with you during these walks. He would ask you questions about your day, about your work, about plans for the weekend. Sometimes he would point out the different types of plants and rocks he noticed on your walk to the station. In the train, the two of you would sit silently together, content to just enjoy each other's presence. Sometimes, on particularly rough days, you find yourself falling asleep on his shoulder while waiting for your destination. He finds this incredibly endearing, and would always take it as a cue to give you a quick peck on the cheek before tucking you closer to his side.

Sometime later, you two are awoken by the train staff. The both of you had fallen asleep on the train and had missed your stop. Whoops.

i love these! 

I really vibe with the Albedo one too - he’s very practical and pretty frugal, waste isn’t something he seems to enjoy creating so everything eco-friendly would be his go to ( we can be eco-friendly together my dear )

lol Zhongli!

plus you made these cute little interactions T.T adorable to the max!!

[ikissjesse]

venti x gn!reader

characters: venti, kaeya, rosaria, might be more later

pairing: venti x reader

wc: 635

warnings: alcohol, jealousy, swearing

wrote this for my friend @sweetys !! Its gonna be quite short and im not sure if im gonna continue it 🧍

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WRITING A CHARACTER X READER SO SORRY IN ADVANCE IF IT SUCKS </3 also i havent touched genshin in months so if stuff doesn't actually make sense/match the game im sorry

venti has never been lucky when it comes to love. and this is only further proven when he finds himself head-over-heels for someone he barely knows.

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"ugh, y/nnnn, I wanna go to the tavern..." a short man groans as his acquaintance leads him through a crowd of people at the market. "I get it, you're an alcoholic. now shut up." they sigh, turning to face the blue-haired lad known as venti.

"oh come on, I'm not that bad." he scoffs. the person infront of him simply shakes their head. "that has got to be the biggest fucking lie I've ever heard." they say. venti crosses his arms, "can we please just go." he mumbles.

just as y/n is about to give in, something 一 or more accurately, someone一 catches their eye. they turn to their left to be met with none other than kaeya. "hello, y/n. what brings you here?" he asks them, his tone smooth, lips curled into a small smirk.

"I was just walking around with venti. what about you? I rarely ever see you in town unless it's important or if you're heading to the tavern." they answer quickly, adding their own question. the two talk for what seems like hours, and venti soon grows impatient. he coughs in an attempt to grab y/n's attention, which proves pointless as they're still focused on kaeya. venti can't help but feel a sting of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. he wants to be the one they focus on. the one they talk to. the one they drop everything for.

he wants to be the one y/n wants.

and everyday the little glimmer of hope in his eyes fades as he watches them, laughing and smiling with everyone. everyone but him.

.."venti? helloooo? earth to alcoholic??" y/n snaps their fingers infront of venti, startling him. "oh, it's just you. what's up?" he questions, clearly he has already forgotten about the events that took place today. "what the hell do you mean whats up? It's getting late, kaeya just left so I thought maybe you'd wanna go to the tavern?"

venti thinks for a moment, remembering how he felt while kaeya and y/n were talking. that sharp sting of jealousy he felt earlier finds it's way back to him once more, and he looks away from the person.

they tap their foot impatiently, waiting for ventis answer. he inhales and exhales deeply, avoiding eye contact with y/n, "I don't feel like going anymore, sorry." he murmurs, leaving before y/n can ask further questions. they stare at their blue-haired friend in confusion as he walks away, shrugging before heading to the tavern.

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"..and then he just got up and left!" y/n huffs as they take another swig of their drink. rosaria chuckles and snatches the bottle out of y/ns hands, "I think you've had enough of this, pal." she smiles at y/n, earning an eye roll and a grin from them. the grin doesn't last long though, as mere seconds later their face drops again. "do you think I did something to..upset him maybe?" they frown.

"c'mon, I'm sure he's just being a dumbass, as usual. there's absolutely nothing on earth you could possibly do to upset someone." rosaria assures, pushing the bottle back towards them. y/n takes one last big gulp of their drink and looks at rosaria. "I'm sorry, I've gotta go. same time tomorrow?" they ask, a faint smile on their face. rosaria grins. "sure."

y/n pays for their drink and heads out the door, the cold air hitting their face like a brick wall. they walk for a while before finally getting home. heading inside, they flop onto their bed 一not bothering to change clothes 一 and the very last thing they think of before falling asleep is venti.