#like do they have real friends from outside of teyvat? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

avocad1s · 1 year

Text

Bring Back What Once Was Mine

Chapter Summary: You concoct a plan to confront the Imposter and the truth is revealed

Characters Mentioned: Multiple Characters Mentioned

Content Warning: Cult and Religious themes ahead! You've been warned.

Reader is the true creator of Teyvat. GN! Reader

Part Five Part Six (You are here!) Part Seven

We got some OOC harbingers but they’re basically obsessed with you so 🗿

Present Day, Sumeru City

Slowly, the Imposter reached up with a trembling hand. They were displeased to find a bead of sweat swipe at their brow. Anxiety and paranoia overwhelmed them.

They couldn’t shake the feeling that what the Traveler had told them wasn’t the truth. If the Creator had died like Lumine said they did, Teyvat clearly would’ve been devastated.

They leaned back in their throne. A breathy sigh left them and they sank further into their seat. A dark aura filled the throne room. Since they had descended to Teyvat they knew who they were supposed to be. A mere placeholder, and if they ever stood next to the real deal, they would never compare. All of their actions were dictated by another. The imposter looked to their limbs almost expecting to find strings attached.

“Your Grace…”

“Did you find them?”

They couldn’t shake this feeling of paranoia. It festered, and grew until their suspicions forbade them to do nothing but seek confirmation to ease their worries. They had sent a guard to fetch the body of the real Creator.

“No, I didn’t manage to find them…”

They curl their hand into a fist, “are you really that incompetent that you cannot follow basic instructions? It’s been days, what do you mean you cannot find them?”

The guard falls onto his knees lacing his hands together, “Your Grace, please let me explain… I don’t think the person you’re looking for is dead.”

The Imposter tilts their head to the side at a unnatural angle, “what do you mean, explain yourself.”

The guard lets out a shaky breath staring up at them, “while I was searching I overheard someone in one of the villages talking about how some mysterious person with odd clothing gave them a flower that healed their little sibling. Could that be the person you’re looking for?”

The Imposter pinches the bridge of their nose, “how long have you known this?”

“I found this out yesterday morning, Your Grace.”

“And you’re just now telling me this?” They jump up from the throne as their voice raises, “they could be anywhere in Teyvat by now!”

“Please forgive me! I wanted to be absolutely sure before reporting back to y-“

“Quiet!” They shout, “I knew I should’ve put the General Mahamatra on this! Bring Lumine here this instant!”

The guard quickly scatters out of the room leaving the Imposter alone once again, they slump back into their seat. That feeling they’ve had these past few days was right, the real Creator has been running around Teyvat all this time. Though they were unsure of their motives, why didn’t the Creator immediately come and get rid of them? Surely they had to be aware that someone was pretending to be them.

They shook their head, right now they must deal with the Traveler. She had been a traitor from the start, and they had no reason to care for Outlanders. Getting rid of her and her fairy creature was the next course of action.

Present Day, an unknown location in Sumeru

“Paimon.” Lumine calls out. “Your practically pacing, could you calm down?”

Paimon stops staring at her friend, “calm down?” She scoffs, “you just told Paimon that the imposter was created by Celestia and that Nahida is going to try and break us out. How is Paimon supposed to calm down?”

Lumine brings her finger to her lips, “don’t talk so loud, if the guards outside hear you we’ll never get out and help the Creator.”

Paimon floats down where Lumine had made herself comfortable on the ground, “this is just getting more complicated. Paimon can’t wrap her head around it.”

Lumine agreed with her companion, this situation was getting more complex as more information is revealed. Was Celestia the enemy? If it was capable of turning against its own creator, what else is it capable of? Was Celestia the one who created the Unknown God?

“Who would’ve thought that the Almighty Traveler could look so defeated.”

Lumine picks her head up looking towards the source of the voice.

“The Wanderer?” Paimon says shocked, “what are you doing here?”

He rolls his eyes, “isn’t it obvious?” The Wanderer pulls the cell door open.

Lumine and Paimon share glances then both head towards the exit of the cell. “Why are you helping us?” Lumine asks once she was standing next to the puppet.

He looks away from the two girls, “Nahida came to me asking about the Fatui’s motives with the Creator.”

That’s right, The Wanderer was one of the Fatui Harbingers before he erased himself from history via Irminsul. If anyone would know the plans Snezhnaya had for Their Grace, it would be him.

“The Fatui had plans of summoning the true Creator to Teyvat once they had collected all of the Gnosis, but if the Creator is already here without the Fatui summoning them. They’re most likely looking for their whereabouts, if they haven’t found them already.”

“And if they do find them?” Lumine questions, “what then?”

The Wanderer smirks, “what’s with that look? You almost look worried for the Creator. Don’t tell me that you actually care about them?”

Paimon stomps in the air angrily, “of course we’re worried! They’re our friend and the Fatui can’t be trusted!”

He laughs at her outburst. “If the Fatui manages to find them then-“

He stops abruptly raising his hand so the two girls behind him stop walking.

“What is it?” Lumine whispers.

“Someone is coming.”

The Wanderer pulls the girl behind a large crate Paimon following close behind. Once out of view, a few gaurds came marching down the hallway to the cell where Lumine once resided.

“Huh? The Traveler is gone!”

“How is that possible?” One calls out.

“We must find her as soon as possible! We cannot return to Their Grace empty handed!”

Hurried and erratic footsteps come back down the hall as the guards quickly leave the dungeon spreading out to find the golden haired outlander.

“Looks like your lie didn’t hold up that well, we need to be more cautious.”

Once the coast was clear, they leave from behind the crate walking towards the exit of the dungeon after confirming that there was no guards waiting for them anywhere. The Wanderer pushes open the heavy door revealing they were right outside of the city. Lumine squints her eyes bringing her hand up to block the sun from her face.

“We’re going this way.” The Wanderer calls out.

“Aren’t we going to Nahida? She’s in Sumeru City”

“Nahida is waiting in Port Ormos,” he replies, “she’s planning on leaving Sumeru to find the Creator and she wants you to go with her.” Lumine speeds up her walking so that she was in step with the Wanderer. He glances at her for a moment, “what?”

“You never answered my question.” She retorts.

“What question?”

“Why are you helping us,” she repeats, “you said Nahida came to you for information but that doesn’t explain why you got us out of here.”

“I have my own reasons for getting you out but what I want is to meet them,” he addresses the Creator by their true name paying no mind to the surprised look Paimon gave him. “I have some… questions I want to them to answer.”

Snezhnaya

The Fatui wasted no time to make preparations to leave for Sumeru, and you were departing the nation of Cryo just as quickly as you arrived.

However you weren’t leaving alone.

The Tsaritsa had no intentions of letting you leave and confront the imposter by yourself. As soon as you told her that you needed to leave immediately, she and all of her Harbingers quickly prepared a ship for you all to sail to Sumeru.

Even though you told her multiple times there was no need for them to go and that you could handle it, she remained adamant so you just gave up and let them go with you.

Once you all had boarded the ship and sailed off, you wanted to use this opportunity to make a plan on how you were going to confront the False Creator once you had arrived to the nation of Dendro.

At least that’s what you wanted.

During your limited time in the Zapolyarny Palace, you didn’t get to meet all of the Harbingers. Then when they returned, you were already leaving. Although they were accompanying you on your trip, none of them dared to approach you. Maybe the Tsaritsa had told them you had taken the news about Celestia poorly. You weren’t sure but you were grateful you had this time to think.

“…Your Grace?”

Never mind…

You turn you head to the right and see Childe approaching you slowly, he had a small smile on his face. “Are you okay? You’ve been standing here for a while now.”

You give him a smile, “you don’t have to worry about me, I’m fine.”

His smiles widens, “well we still have a bit of time until we reach Sumeru, would you like to sit down? There’s a free spot near me.”

You were about to accept his offer but before anything could leave your mouth someone else speaks up.

“Stop assuming that Their Grace wants to sit next to you, Tartaglia.”

Childe’s eyes almost roll behind his skull as he turns to address the voice.

“Their Grace only knows me, I just want them to be comfortable Arlecchino.”

It was obvious by the tone of his voice that Childe had a distaste towards the girl who spoke up. Her black and white hair framed her face while she stares at her comrade with a cold look, you would assume she felt the same way toward him.

“It’s only because you are trying to hog all of their attention.” She snaps.

“Fighting in the Creators presence?” Pantalone tsked a closed eye smile on his face. “Such fools. Your Grace, you may sit next to me, I promise I’m not as aggravating as these two”

They both glare in his direction.

“You always come up with a excuse to stay in the Homeland, why did you feel the need to come with us now?” Arlecchino quips.

“The same reason why you came, Her Majesy and Their Grace are here.” Pantalone says in a soft voice as if he was talking down to the girl.

Although Arlecchino was trying to keep up her gracefulness facade in front of you, hearing his remark caused her eye to twitch, but before she could spit out another degrading comment she is interrupted by her senior.

“Stop with all the childish bickering.” Pierro orders and immediately all of the harbingers stop talking. Once it was quiet he turns his attention to you, “Divine One, Her Majesty would like to speak with you.”

You let out a sigh of relief, “okay, where is she? I can go to her.”

Pierro gestures for you to follow him to the front of the ship where you notice the Tsaritsa standing looking out at the ocean. Once she turns to greet you with a bow, Pierro leaves so it was just the two of you alone.

“Thank you for accepting my request, Your Grace.” She says softly, her hair blowing in the wind.

“I didn’t mind, they were all starting to argue so I was going to slip away at the first chance I got.”

She nods her smile fading a bit, “I apologize for their behavior.”

You shake your head approaching the woman, “no need, honestly it was refreshing to watch since I know what’s waiting for me in Sumeru.”

It falls silent for a moment, the only sound that can be heard is the crashing of waves against the ship.

“Your Grace,” the Tsaritsa begins again, “what is your plan once we reach Sumeru?”

“Actually that’s something I was planning to talk to you about.” You state, “since Snezhnaya citizens aren’t welcome pretty much anywhere, once we get to Port Ormos it’ll draw lots of attention to us. So I was thinking-“

“-thinking of what?” She asks.

“You should apologize to the Imposter.” You finish.

Her eyes widen, “what? Why?”

You rest a hand on her arm to calm her nerves, “not actually apologize but tell everyone that’s what you’re here to do, that’s the only way we will be able to roam Sumeru without the entire nation watching us and probably the only way we’ll be able to get face-to-face with them with no one else getting in the way.”

She looks away from you for a moment staring at the endless ocean, “alright I’ll do it, only for you.”

“Good.” You praise, “then here’s what else I was thinking…”

Port Ormos

Traveling with the Wanderer to Nahida’s location was tense.

Anytime Lumine brought up the Creator the Wanderer talked about them so casually and he even used their real name. It didn’t seem like he disliked the Creator, but his feelings to them still seemed unclear to the outlander. Maybe it was because he got his Fatui memories back, Lumine remembers that during her time in Inazuma the Raiden Shogun was very devoted to Their Grace, so it would only make sense that the devotion would bleed into her creation as well.

“Nahida is waiting for us over there,” The Wanderer point to Wikala Funduq, where her and Dehya hid when they were perusing the Doctor last year.

The trio enters seeing Nahida standing off to the side, once she notices that they’ve entered, she smiles brightly approaching them.

“You’ve made it, I was worried you all wouldn’t get out of the City.” Nahida confesses bringing a hand up to her chest.

“Paimon was worried we wouldn’t make it, there was so much security on the way here.”

“That makes sense,” the Archon replies, “if the Imposter really found out you lied they must’ve put out a search to find you, while at the same time, keeping it under wraps so other nations don’t find out.”

“The Wanderer said you had a plan that you wanted my help with,” Lumine says.

“Yes that’s true. I want to leave Sumeru city and locate Their Grace.”

“Do you know where they went?” Paimon asks and Nahida shakes her head.

“No, but I have a guess where they could be. My first guess would’ve been Liyue but after talking to the Wanderer I believe they’re in Snezhnaya.”

“Do you believe they’re in danger?” Lumine queries.

The Wanderer scoffs rolling his eyes, “the only one in danger there would be the Harbingers themselves. Those idiots won’t be able to stop themselves from fighting once the Creator is near.”

The girls look over at the puppet, “what do you mean?” Paimon is the first to speak.

“Just like everyone else in Teyvat they worship the Creator but none of them get along so I would bet they’d kill each other to spend time with them.”

Paimon’s face goes pale, “oh that’s terrifying! Paimon expects nothing less from the Fatui”

“Are you going to come with us, we could use someone familiar with Snezhnaya after all.” Nahida says the Wanderer.

He shakes his head crossing his arms, “not happening, I have no interest in seeing my old co-workers…”

The girls say nothing but they all understand, they did see all of the horrible things the Doctor had done to him in the memories of Irminsul. Not that he’s innocent himself, but he’s trying to change and that’s all that matters.

“Hey erm,” Paimon suddenly calls out,” isn’t that the Creator right there? On that ship?” The fairy points to a ship that just anchored by the dock.

She was right, it was Their Grace on the ship but they were talking to a pale woman with white hair.

The Wanderer let’s out a sigh, “It’s the Fatui, the one with thd Creator is the Tsaritsa.”

“The Tsaritsa? The leader of the Fatui?”

He nods at Lumines exclamation.

“Well you don’t have to travel to Snezhnaya anymore but I’m not staying here.” The Wanderer glares at the ship, “I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself if I see him.”

He leaves without another word and Nahida and the Traveler approach the ship.

“Comrade?” Childe questions once he steps off staring at Lumine, “what are you doing here?”

Lumine looks behind him to keep her gaze on the Creator, “we are here for Their Grace.”

“Huh? You already know about them?”

“Lumine? Buer?” You say once you leave the ship, “what are you doing here?”

Lumine’s faces practically beams once you acknowledge her presence, Nahida looked exactly the same.

“We were about to leave Sumeru to find you, there so much we have to say.” Nahida explains.

You raise your eyebrows, “you do? What is it?”

“The Imposter, they come from-“

“-Celestia” you interrupt, “I already know.”

Lumine tries not to roll her eyes at the smug looks from the Harbingers that stood behind you, would it be childish of her to brag how she was the first to find and help you?

“I’ve returned to Sumeru to finish the job.” You explain, “which reminds me, did they believe that I died?”

Lumine looks away ashamed, “for a while they did, but they just found out that I lied. They even kept me locked away after I told them.”

You frown at her explanation resting a hand on her shoulder, “I’m sorry that you went through that, it was negligent of me to ask for your help”

The Outlander shakes her head giving you a smile, now it was her time to boast, the Fatui gives her a dirty look at their close interaction.

A guard approaches the group shakily, “Snezhnayians nor the Fatui are welcome in Sumeru, please return to your ship and leave immediately.”

It was clear the he was intimidated, it wasn’t that long ago when one of the Harbingers was working with the Sages, he must be fully aware of their power.

“I am here to see… Their Grace…” The Tsaritsa states, “to apologize.”

The guard eyes widen as his fixes his posture, “you are?” He clears his throat, “well then, Their Grace is in Sumeru City. I’m not sure if they’ll see you. I’ve heard they are in a horrible mood today, maybe your apology will brighten their day.” The Cryo Archon nods curtly and the guard leaves the group to their own devices.

“Your Grace,” Lumine says once the guard was out of earshot, “you should come with us,”

“Hold on Comrade,” Childe interjected laughing dryly, “why would Their Grace come with you?”

“The Fatui’s reputation is down the drain in every nation, if they go with you it will only draw more attention. I can escort them to Sumeru city without anyone knowing.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Dottore finally speaks up, “didn’t you just say that the Imposter didn’t believe your lie, and with all of the heightened security and how tense you are, I can only assume they’re looking for you.”

Lumine feels her face heat up, he was right but she didn’t want you traveling with them. No matter what the Wanderer said, she would never trust them. They’ve already hurt way too many of her friends.

The Doctor smiles arrogantly, “Based of your silence I’m guessing I’m right. Their Grace should travel with me. I have many projects that could easily get them to the City without being detected. Not only that, this is my homeland.”

They group begins bickering once more on who was going with you and who wasn’t, it was a childish argument. Especially to do it right in front of you who was getting increasingly annoyed as they continue to yell and degrade each other.

“Stop fighting!”

The group falls silent staring at you.

“I’ve already decided, I will go with the Tsaritsa. Dottore and Lumine will also go with me.”

Everyone else sighs besides Pierro and Nahida who seemed more interested in what the plan was.

“You two-“ you point at the Cryo Archon and the Doctor, “-will go in and pretend to apologize and if they don’t believe you Lumine will be your bargaining chip, if they are looking for the Traveler, this should work.”

You glance at Lumine who looked like she was about to reject this plan any second now. “I know how this sounds but I won’t let anything bad happen again, okay? Once they let their guard down I will take over everything.”

The Traveler nods slowly, now feeling reassured about the plan.

“The rest of you should stay on the ship, we will return as soon as possible.”

They all say good luck before returning to the ship like you ordered, Nahida leaves in the other direction, Lumine couldn’t blame her, she wouldn’t want to be with them either.

You and your newly founded group leave Port Ormos with Dottore leading, he wasn’t lying when he said he knew this place well. No one in the group said anything, maybe because nothing needed to be said or because of the stunt they were going to pull off in the next hour. Whatever it was, the silence was still comforting.

It would only be an hour before Teyvat was fully yours again, but if what you fear is true, then Celestia’s betrayal will be a new problem for you to overcome.

Note: my plan was to have this out two days earlier… that did not happen 💀 Anyways only two more chapters left, are you ready to confront your doppelgänger?

Taglist: @esthelily @the-dumber-scaramouche @grimreapersscythe @seawater-aurelia-writing @probablynoposts @genshin-impacts-me @itsredactedlove @chidouna @thedevioussmirk @hoo-hoo @chaoticfivesworld @akemiixx01 @lunarapple @nowords-onlybreathing @fangirlinindia @veyu002 @blackcoffex @kaveh-is-pretty @ariasdream @averycuriousperson @bloopthebat @chuuya-brainrot @crazydreamcat @sparklyphantom @multistanbee @bluebelony @mokakoto @mega-trash-cringe CLOSED

#genshin cult #genshin cult au #sagau #genshin impact sagau #genshin sagau #imposter sagau #sagau impostor au #self aware genshin #sagau lumine #sagau x reader #sagau nahida #sagau Fatui

1K notes · View notes

hydrasra · 11 months

Text

Insignificant.

SYN: it is all a meaningless dream. do not worry about it.

DISC: ooc and swearing here and there. so.... fontaine is here. how we feeling? also, what do you guys want to name wanderer? also also, kindly let me know if you've changed your username and what was your old one so I can replace it if you are in the tagging list.

TAG: [ 22/30] @bloop-booop @sunsethw4 @neverlandlostchild @ghostlysyntaxed @wolfe02 @valeriele3 @the-dumber-scaramouche @weirdducky17 @esthelily @shroombro @ayanokomu @bamboozledchaos @xo-tokki @bloopthebat @maybeyourcat @7smexy7diva @shimi-shimi @issy-lol @theblueblub @nightmarewhispersxx @ra404 @blackhoodsmile

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

"do you ever feel insignificant, neuvi?" [y/n] asked, sitting down next to the hydro sovereign while staring up at the starry sky.

for a good minute, silence ensured, which made the "fake" creator look at him.

"I did," the iudex sighed softly.

"you did?"

a nod... and then, "now, the people of fontaine, and," neuvillette paused, took a deep breath and closed his eyes, "as well as lady furina made sure that I am always feeling comfortable. besides, they all seem to be very appreciative of my work," a deep chuckle escaped him.

he opened his eyes once again and locked gaze with [y/n], "and I am deeply grateful for that."

the "fake" one nodded, smiling softly at him before turning back to look at the starry sky, "well, in that case, I'm happy for you, neuvivi."

the two sat in comfortable silence for a mere minute before neuvillette spoke once again, "the people of teyvat... no, your people are simply making a mistake," their eyes widened and looked at him in shock.

'how...?'

"please, I hope you can forgive them when the time comes and they realise that, all this time, they have been led astray by a fake and chasing away the real one," he extended his hand towards them, and yet, he seemed so far away.

[y/n]'s shocked gaze softened, "I... don't know, neuvillette. their words and actions hurt," they managed to mumble.

"please," his hand was still extended towards them, "if you were in their place, would you not blindly follow the one you trust the most despite their questionable antics simply because of your devotion for them?"

[y/n] bit their lower lip.

'would I?'

silence.

and then, "I do understand your pain and hesitancy, however, creator."

"how do you know that the one in front of you right now is the real creator?"

neuvillette, with his hand still held towards [y/n]'s direction merely smiled softly. a rare and beautiful sight.

"I can only appear to the real one in a dream when they are resting. that was your wish for your sovereigns, wasn't it oh merciful one?"

[y/n]'s eyes shot open. they slowly sat up and groaned while looking around.

ah, that's right. they fell asleep and lumine, along with paimon and venti, decided to sleep on the same bed with them.

and despite it being cramped, it was oddly comforting.

sleepy [e/c] eyes fell onto lumine's resting face and a sigh left their lips while a ghost of a smile sat on their lips.

they then looked at barbatos and then, last, was paimon.

a heart ache.

they slowly untangled themself from the small sleeping pile and walked out of the room.

where were they going? they didn't know themself, they simply allowed their feet to carry them.

and carry them they did.

they now were outside of the mansion in lumine's serenitea pot, staring at the... same starry sky that was in their dream?

strange.

oh, and they felt a piercing gaze on them as well.

"your... grace," an all too familiar voice spoke in clear hesitation.

uncertain if he could even talk to them, much less breathe the same air as the creator that he had hurt physically previously.

a hurtful tug in both of their chests could be felt.

"the sun is shining brightly today," a passer-by commented.

"yeah! looks like the hydro dragon is finally happy, huh?" one of their friends said, grinning.

neuvillette, who was sitting on a bench nearby, a rare sight and yet, people didn't crowd him, not wanting to disrupt him, let a ghost of a smile sit on his face.

yet, as soon as it appeared, it was gone.

"monsieur neuvillette, bonjour!" a pleasant and feminine voice said.

when he looked in the direction it came from, it was navia, accompanied by her two bodyguards and friends, walking towards him with a wave of her hand and a big grin on her face. the two men looking as expressionless as ever, however, they did greet him with a nod of their heads which he acknowledged with one of his own.

"good morning to you too, lady navia," he went to stand up to greet her properly, but the president of the spina di rosula simply shook her head in disapproval.

"there's no need. also, please, just call me navia," the pretty lady sat down next to him and her two bodyguards stood a few feet away.

it was their lady's private time with a friend after all.

"how have you been?" she asked, looking at the happy passer-bys.

"I have been all right, as always and you?" he said, looking at a melusine that walked by and waves at him.

he waved back.

"that's good to hear! and I have been in such a good mood lately! so imagine how happy I was to see the sun after so many days of rain!" navia leaned her head back, closed her eyes and seemed to soak in the sun.

"good morning, lady navia, monsieur neuvillette," a monotone and feminine voice said, which made navia's eyes snap open and look immediately in the voice's direction.

"good morning to you too, lady clorinde."

"ah, good morning, lady clorinde..." navia trailed off.

she was still a little awkward around the champion duelist, after all. not as much as before, however.

sensing the president of spina di rosula's discomfort, the tall woman was about to excuse herself, already coming up with an excuse to leave the awkward lady alone, but a sudden commotion caught her attention.

and at the heart of it all, there stood furina, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

"ah! please, move aside..." the people around started whispering, wondering what was going on and if something special had happened.

alas, she simply wanted to make her way over to the iudex.

furina smiled nervously at her people before calmly stating having to talk to her right hand and his friends for important matters.

which, in turn, made them even more curious but they did not want to be even more of an inconvenience to the person they admired and made way for her.

"ah ha! thank you, wonderful people of fontaine...!" and with that, furina seemed to practically run towards monsieur neuvillette.

oh, archons...

⠀⠀ ══ ❀•°❀°•❀ ══

hey, how ya doin? 🤩

I'm alive, don't worry.

#genshin impact #sagau #sagau genshin #genshin x reader #neuvillette x reader #furina x reader #lumine x reader #navia x reader #clorinde x reader

209 notes · View notes

trendywaifus · 1 year

Note

hey!! i saw that your reqs are open so i'd like to request hc of eula, hu tao, beidou and baal comforting their s/o who thinks that they're annoying and a burden because of their past relationships who made them believe that. e.g the s/o is afraid to talk about their interests because they feel like they're boring and annoying them. thank you so much in advance if you decide to write my request!! i hope the holidays are going well for you!

i like this one! remember everyone, don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re a less of a person. you’re more than they will ever be and you deserve more respect. someone who truly who loves and appreciate you will prove it! doesn’t even have to be a special someone, it can be family and friends. i’m also here for you whenever you feel like you’re at your lowest. (sorry for any errors and whatever im sleepy!)

— eula understands how you feel. coming from a widely—hated clan without any outside support, use to do a number on her. you feel as though nobody isn’t interested in how you feel or your interests. they look at you from outside lens and judge you without personally getting to know the real you—she understands. but don’t worry, she’s here to listen and unfold everything you’ve been wanting to say. she’s not good at comforting others but since it’s you, eula will do her best.

— you think you’re a burden? nonsense, don’t ever think like that; you make her darkest days bright. your smile, your laughter, it’s always engraved in her mind each time she fights and dances under the moonlight. you are one of her main sources of motivation, remember that. she’ll protect you with her life if she has to.

“ (name), that’s rather interesting, i could see you doing that, “ she says with a warm smile as you shyly tell her one of your interests. “ why didn’t you tell me sooner? “ you play with your hands nervously, gazing into her curious eyes, “ well, i’m use to others disregarding my interests. so. .i don’t really bother anymore.”eula’s face cutely scrunches up to a look of disdain and reaches out to hold your hand, her gloved fingers gingerly skimming across your palm. “ how unreal. my love, perhaps you should tell me who these others are? shall i enact vengeance on them? “

— like with eula, she understands how you feel in the realest level. she’s like the clown of the town, constantly getting talked about, judged, all of that stuff. yes, there’s times where she felt alone but she remembers her grandfather, zhongli, the traveller, and the friends she met as she breathes each day. there’s also you, how could she forget you? her special someone she dreams of so often.

— so when you tell her that you felt like a burden to others and to her, her usual cheery mood is gone from her face and hu tao’s serious. she listens, uncharacteristically quiet as she soaks in your words about your history with individuals who showed a lack of interest in you as a person. despite what was told about hu tao, she is a great listener.

“ my butterfly, all of what they said isn’t true, not at all.” her palm touches your cheek tenderly, she frowns. “ your voice is gentle to the ears; it managed to reach down and warm the cold, darkest feelings i’ve buried deep within my heart.” hu tao leans in to kiss between your eyebrows and pulls back with her signature smile. “ aiyah, you’re my muse after all. “

— as someone who’s been fighting for her life ever since she was a child, she understands how cruel teyvat and the people can be. she had to fight for respect and people to look in her direction. but now, she is a powerful captain with an excellent crew. she also has an amazing partner, a invaluable treasure that she would never give away and will protect with her life.

— when you spoke about your hesitance at revealing your interest to others, afraid of being seen as boring and uninteresting, beidou was shocked however she quickly recovered and continue to listen to you until you were done. she tells you how much she loves you with that toothy smile of hers and empathizes with how you feel.

she takes you into her strong arms, rubbing your back in a smoothing manner. “ sweetheart, you’re a strong person for openin’ up to me. don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, you’ve impacted my life in a positive way, i look forward to seein’ and hearin’ you talk everyday about anything and everything. don’t give those fool’s words anymore weight in your head than they already have, let it all be dead weight that you gotta start sinkin. “

— ei would genuinely be confused. it’s more like why could anyone mistreat you when you’re such a wonderful being? no matter how much she pondered at the thought of it even happening, she thinks the possibility is close to 0 and if it does happen, she will wipe the poor soul from existence.

— she is rather ignorant to social cues and not very quick in noticing human behavior unless it’s fear and anger. you have no reason to fear her and there’s nothing she has done to anger you. but when you show clear reluctance in telling her about your past and feelings when asked, she was worried but patient. when you finally unravel everything, ei felt terrible. how could she had not notice the signs? after this, ei’s more obliged to be more attentive towards your needs.

“ i. . see. “ ei grabs your wrist and gently guides you closer to her. her other hand places itself on the back of your neck and she rests your head against her chest in a comforting manner. “ i’m ashamed that i did not ask you this sooner and not being aware of your struggles. i will do whatever i can to make you feel how you make me feel, dear beloved. that’s one promise i will keep until i fall victim to erosion. “

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #genshin impact imagines #genshin imagines #ei x reader #raiden shogun x reader #baal x reader #hu tao x reader #beidou x reader #eula x reader

261 notes · View notes

waffle-spam · 4 months

Note

Heyy is me again(≡^∇^≡)

Can you do anemo boys x Moana reader Please❤❤

Also again it's ok if you don't do it(❁´◡`❁)

I also love you writing!!

Hiii thanks for the ask! I'm still only really familiar with writing Xiao so I can't promise much for the others lol. I'm going to try to put something down for each character though

Scenario: Venti, Xiao, and Kazuha with Moana!Reader (Maybe someday I'll revisit this with Heizou and Wanderer as well)

Contents: a LOT of exposition (I tried to come up with a backstory explaining how Reader got this ability), gender not specified, fluff

---

Ok so first of all, this is different from having a hydro vision. You can't just summon/weaponize water at will. It's more like the water is its own entity and you're able to communicate with it?

Let's say that it's an oceanid thing. You don't remember very clearly because it was such a long time ago, but you first "befriended" the water when you were very little. You were playing on the beach and you wandered into a cave. You were exploring when you noticed a faint blue light. Not only is the cavern cast in a soft cerulean light, but it reflects off the small pools in the cave, reflecting patterns onto the cave walls. You followed the light until you found the source: a floating, glowing little fairy-like creature with a singular glowing eye, fin-like arms and a fish tail. It seemed to be made of water, it's colors rippling and shifting like the pools in the cave. You didn't understand it but it seemed... lost. You gesture for it to follow you and it seems to understand, letting you guide it back outside. You notice it didn't like to stray too far from the water. You lead it back to the beach where you were having a picnic with your parents to try to offer it some food. It didn't seem interested, only floating around the sandwiches and bulle fruits curiously. You hear a sound from the shore and you look over to see something rising out of the water. It resembled your small floating friend, only much bigger, towering over you. The smaller one instantly flies over to its larger counterpart -- you wonder if it's its mama -- and you watch as the smaller one zips around, practically dancing, as if excitedly retelling its adventure. The larger one observed silently, as if listening, before looking over to you. After a few moments it pivots away, returning back into the seawater. The smaller creature looks at you and does a little flip in the air before diving underwater alongside its companion.

(Basically you helped a baby oceanid return home and its caretaker put a blessing on you so that other water spirits know that you're friendly. Since there are other bodies of water in Teyvat besides just the ocean, I'm writing it so that the local water spirits wherever you go are the ones bending the water to your favor.)

Ok now for the actual character stuff

Venti:

I'm gonna be real with y'all idk what interactions would happen with Venti BUT I HAVE ANOTHER IDEA

Wisp Venti

Like in his little wind spirit form

Basically you're collecting elemental spirit friendships like they're pokemon

Xiao:

The Yaksha was in Dihua Marsh, littered with cuts and gashes from fighting off a particularly aggressive group of hilichurls

Due to expending so much energy, his karmic debt is acting up as well

Between the splashing sounds of his stumbling footsteps, he can hear vengeful echoes of fallen opponents, the ghosts of comrades and victims alike, a familiar cold presence taking eating away at his body, sapping away more and more of his strength

Before he collapses into the cold, blood-tainted water, he's lands in a certain sometimes arms

"I've told you to stop coming out to look for me." Xiao mutters gruffly, grumbling about his karmic debt and how you keep risking exposure to it, though he doesn't resist when you scoop up his weakened form.

You both noticed some time ago that you have some sort of resistance to his corruption whenever you're near a body of water, as if it's siphoning some of its strength to you. Eventually Xiao gave up trying to avoid you altogether, though every once in a while he re-voices his concern of his presence being dangerous to you and you have to reassure him that you're fine.

"The marsh wouldn't stop nagging me to get over here." You retort, remembering how the current at some point picked you up and carried you here faster than you could've run.

"The hydro spirits get grumpy when you start bleeding out into their waters, you know," You tease softly, opening up the medical kit that the water had carried over to you and was currently holding up for you to quickly find what you need.

You press the gauze against a wound in his arm before securing it in place with a bandage. As you work, you fill the silence with stories of the water spirits and their antics today, the marsh water occasionally rippling and shaping itself to illustrate what you were saying.

The entire time, Xiao is watching your hands -- not the water -- without speaking a word.

He swears he can feel his corruption fading in your presence... or maybe it was because of the water? If the water favored you and you were helping him, did the water favor him by extension?

Kazuha:

This scenario would probably be the closest to the original Moana since it involves ships in the sea

Wait you're basically like the hydro version of Kazuha. Not the anemo/hydro vision part but the way the wind is always telling Kazuha stuff

Like I can picture as you're sailing on the Alcor, Kazuha tells you what he can sense in the wind and you tell him what you can sense in the water. The different birds/fishes and what they're doing, the breezes/currents, etc

---

You can tell who the favorite is :headinhands:

#Wafflespam brainrot #genshin hcs #genshin x reader #xiao fluff #xiao headcanons #xiao x reader #xiao x you #genshin imagines #I'm not gonna tag the other characters since they just got bullet points and not a whole scene written out like Xiao did

18 notes · View notes

tanxiang-genshin-pokemon · 7 months

Text

Ok, let’s see here, how am I going to do this…oh, I got it!

Hey everyone, my name is Tánxiāng Rambelgard! My mom is half Liyuese and half Inazuman, and my dad is half Mondstater and half Snezhnayan! We live in a village in a sort of weird neutral zone between a few regions, partly because dad’s alcohol business may not have been the most, um, legal? Anyway, we’re nearer to Sumeru and I got to study at the Akademiya!

I study Pokemonology, similar to one of the other me’s in the rotomblr multiverse, so I am somewhat like what you guys would call a Professor. I still don’t really know what they are, but I just know they’re called Pokemon

Pokemon kinda just showed up out of nowhere and I figured that, if I could study them, I would either make a name for my family or create a new field of study, like how architecture and biology are fields of work and study. I managed to get it to be considered a crossway between about half of the six Darshans, but the way these creatures are basically caused a BIG fight between, um, almost all the sages. Biology/Amurta, Spantamad/Alchemy and Ley Lines, and Aetiology/Vahumana kinda didn’t know what to make of this new, well, thing. None of the sages did. Since I was “new blood”, passed an entry exam, and was just lucky enough to have kinda befriended one, I think it’s a Sylvee? I don’t know, I’m just going by the sounds they make. But all that kinda made the sages put me in charge of this with help from one student from each school/Darshan until this fully settles into one or two categories instead of being in this weird ambiguous mess.

Definitely feel out of place being the daughter of what’s basically a liquor-runner and a former teahouse tea-farmer in a group of people who had parents with some expectations of them getting higher education outside of trade work. Yes, my mom was a tea-farmer for a teahouse.

//OOC under the cut

So, her personality is that she’s extremely friendly, sometimes unnervingly so. She just grew up with watching her family go through a lot and so anyone she considers “safe”, basically meaning they’re not friends but she knows or perceives them as being accepting and possible sources of assistance in a time of need, or a friend or ally, she wants to at least help when she can, though it’s usually food related. She is very observant and her “singing ear”/left ear can pick up on one’s pulse just by being within normal conversation proximity, wanted there to be a backup explanation for why she knows what she does.

Her service cat is based on my very real service cat, just slightly more exaggerated for entertainment purposes.

Characters she has deemed “safe” or allies: Diluc, AlHaitham, Kaveh, Tighnari and all associated with him, and Candace. “Allies”: Amber, Jean, Zhongli, Cyno, and most of the anemo and geo vision holders in general, she just vibes with them. “Friends”: razor, lisa, kinda Kaeya, and Gaming. Everyone else she is friendly but uncertain about for one reason or another.

Suggestive is ok, no overtly nsfw, no underage ships just on principle, minirs dni suggestive content.

Ok, so this is set right after the vison hunt decree was made, and therefore AlHaitham is not the Grand Sage and is still the Scribe, Zhongli is still Morax, Fontaine is still in danger, BUT the Stormterror threat is gone.

I am working with a canon without The Traveler purely because the timeline is not the most well defined and I am just not dealing with that.

I won’t do a crossover rp unless initiated, otherwise it will be treated as a normal genshin rp.

No teams, but I will keep Sylph the sylveon, Kagehime the umbreon, and Joan the eevee as each consistent AU “team”. I used the Chinese word for Sandalwood because Sandalo is spanish for sandalwood and is part of the scientific name for the tree.

I will be referring to the different Pokemon by their cries in the anime because obviously people in Teyvat, just having the things show up, wouldn’t know what these are

#rotomblr #pokemon #rp blog #pokemon rp #genshin rp #genshin impact #genshin au

2 notes · View notes

lunaetis · 2 years

Note

🤔 So like nya? Okay so, Lumine's thoughts on her hour eyes thus far, especially after current events in Sumeru? Furthermore, does she trust the Archons? On the flipside, do mes she think she's any closer to understanding her brother's journey?

Also, what does Dehya carry in her pockets? How quick is she to make friends? Has she ever been outside of Sumeru?

lumine, at the current point in time especially after the latest events in sumeru, is pretty jaded. i think we see the glimpse of that from her journey to inazuma, but after the whole thing in sumeru ? the sages ? seeing human's greed ? experiencing how irminsul could be altered ? the history of teyvat as a whole could be rewritten or tampered with ? she doesn't know what she could believe anymore. she's grateful to nahida, ofc, with the help and information she provided, but more and more, she feels like the information she received could not be trusted.

she trusts the archons to a degree. her trust in them is complicated. she doesn't think venti or zhongli are lying. she knows zhongli definitely knows something but is bound by contract to not say a thing. even nahida has a limit on what she could get despite having access to irminsul, so in a way, she actually isn't hopeful to learn about aether's whereabout from the archons. if anything, she's continuing her journey because aether said they'll see each other again at the end of her journey. that is what she's placing her trust, hope, and belief in.

as to understanding aether's journey, i think the more she learned, the more she felt that teyvat as a whole cannot be trusted. the memory within the leylines, the forbidden knowledge, the archons, celestia, none of them can be trusted fully and what she saw or heard could be an illusion. her experience in the latest archon quest ( caribert ) made her question everything, even her own mind and experience. this world is messing with her, and she wasn't sure if any of this was even real. this makes her even more jaded to the journey as a whole. the confusion, the suspicion, she no longer knows if her own memory is correct. the inability to discern reality from illusion / dream / false memory really does things to her state of mind that is already affected by the haunting of leylines she experienced in inazuma. she feels useless, powerless, and lost. this isn't a good feeling at all.

dehya carries many things with her, but what she always has are emergency rations, and first-aid kit / herbs that are needed to tend to the injured / wounded. she also tends to carry some trinkets or souvenirs for the children when she gives them a visit. as she bonds with others, she would also carry something that reminds her of them ( or their gifts for her ) with her at all times. dehya is extremely friendly, so making new friends comes naturally for her. whether she would fully trust them or not, however, is up to circumstances and varies from person to person.

as a mercenary, dehya had traveled to other nations before, mostly for work and by contracts. other than sumeru, she visits liyue most often due to it being the closest, but she had been to mondstadt before, as well. she had never been to inazuma, however, given that it was closed off before ( and what she heard about it doesn't sound very pleasant. ) she has a penchant to visit new places, to see new things and meet new people. experience of the travel and facing dangerous situations gets her blood pumping. she would always return to sumeru when time permits, of course. she's that type to always find her way back home, after all.

#dcwnrisen #.answered #.headcanon: lumine #.headcanon: dehya #[ AAAAAAAAAAH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASKKKK HJLKHJKHJKL #I'M SO SORRY THIS TAKES SO LONG #& IT'S A BIT ALL OVER THE PLACES #MY BRAIN IS FRIED BUT I REALLY WANT TO GET TO IT #SUCH GOOD ASK THO HJLKHLK I LOVE IT SM THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME DELVE INTO THEIR THOUGHTS #lumine is just ... she's a tad closed off & distrusting EVERYTHING rn #bc she cannot discern for certain which is true or not #HJLKHJKHJLK POOR LUMI ]

2 notes · View notes

arlecchno · 2 years

Note

that . dream sounds disturbing :D for some reason nowadays ive started to get more disturbing dreams as well ? they cant be described as nightmares because well i wasnt exactly scared ?? by them but they were ,,,, yk . disturbing . idk maybe im too desensitized to things my brain just either emotionally damages me or is like HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT [ throws random disturbing thing / content ] in my “nightmares” sometimes -

NOT THE LONELINESS 😭😭 i relate except im may or may not be legitimately lonely lmfao . a lot of those frickin popular uquiz quizzes call me out for it and im like “🤠⁉️”

lmao haitham is picking up cynos humor ?? not clickbait real ???? memes aside thanks for more portrayal validation i love rping alhaitham ( esp with kavehs ) theyre so fun - oh yeah i also have this

ngl since i have an alhaitham pfp on discord , i was kinda reading my messages in his voice cuz i was slandering language LMAO ( imagine alhaitham pronouncing “balogna” the way its spelled . made me giggle ngl )

im pretty sure aster has been my oc for almost a year now ( I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS THAT LONG BEFORE GODDAMN - ) so they have . an unholy amount of lore at the moment . i rlly need to modify the lore though because me and my friend ( we both made genshin ocs and theyre like partner ocs ) made our ocs before the release of sumeru where we got more information about irminsul and the leylines — which was vvvvvv important for my friends ocs lore — so now a lot of our stuff is either minorly outdated or some of our lore would just make a lot more sense done a different way 😭😭

even tho asters forever home ( well , as long as dilucs around ig ) is dawn winery , they travel teyvat a lot , which ties into their original name :D they wander the world too lmao ( its totally not an excuse to make them friends with all the character i like wdym hahahahahahahhaha ) . NGL THEY PROBABLY ALL MET AT THE TAVERN - whenever asters in mond ( a lot of the time bc obviously their house is there ) they work at angels share and like aster would walk into the tavern for the first time for like . a drink . dunno what kind of drink but then they just SEE this random ass kid from THEIR FALLEN ASS NATION and go “WTF” and promptly find out he is a fucking dumdum stoopid head and then regret ever coming to this place /j at the beginning kaeya and aster probably did argue at the bar a lot , these two khaenriahns WILL cause diluc to lose his sanity but its okay because then they can all cuddle by the fireplace when theyve all agreed that theyre okay with eachother ( they love eachother /p theyre just all in denial . ) . overall ragbros + aster relationship is just pure chaotic fluff and angst - sometimes they go out to murk all the fatui outside in mondstadt ! fun !! and oh god i typed WAY TOO MUCH ON THIS LMFAO

THE VOID BRICK WALL LMAO ah yes such a beauty is the unknown of the brick wall , it contains all the vastness of the universe in one block and you may observe every galaxy in its grain . also NOT THE TREE CRASH 😨

WHEKJDKDND YEAH I NEED A THOMA ROOMIE IF I EVER DECIDE ITD BE OKAY TO MOVE OUT IN THE FAR FUTURE BECAUSE I DONT THINK ID HAVE THE MENTAL ENERGY TO CLEAN THE PLACE ONCE A WEEK - and if i didnt id probably go crazy because i cant stand the feeling of dirt or sand on floors ….. bleh .

I ALWAYS STRUGGLE NO MATTER WHAT NATION LIKE . THERE WAS AN OCULI NEAR DAWN WINERY THAT I ALWAYS SAW THE DUMBASS SPARKLE TO ON THE MAP AND THEN IT TURNS OUT I NEED TO FLY A L L T H E W A Y UP SOMEWHERE TO GET IT LIKE . ARE . YOU . KIDDING . ME - it took me one whole year to figure out how to get that oculi . maybe im just stupid

omg you can NEVER mention dragonspine / winter patches around me im . IMPOSTER ALBEDO AND FELLFLOWER . they make me insane . i fucking USHXISJDIEIHDHSHAHAAAAAAAAA albedo / rhinedottir lore . alchemy in genshin impact lore . i am so . i will go feral the next time dorian / rubedo ( impostorbedo ) appears in story , wether it be event or not im . im insane thats what i am ………… hahaha …… 🤠

sometimes i forget people farm friendship exp .. im a super duper lazy player who absolutely despises grinding with my entire soul ( im the definition of “lore player” /hj ) i almost never switch out my team unless for fighting elemental bosses or enemies lmao -

DUDE MY CLASSES HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY SCREWING ME OVER WITH PROJECTS RN IM LOSING MY SANITY /nsrs im suffering so much . im losing so much precious sleep …… starts sobbing uncontrollably

i really like milk and white choccy too lmao - probs bc i just cant rlly handle bitter things but OH WELL ! my absolute favorite kind of chocolate is like any kind with strawberries / strawberry flavor in them , recently one of my friends shared some valentines chocolates she got from her boyfriend with our friend group and i gotta say that strawberry chocolate they had in there was ABSOLUTELY SCRUMPDIDDILYUMPTIOUS . it had pieces of dried strawberry too it was just . MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

DUDE where i live we have these things called mochi donuts and theyre so good ( ngl you can probably guess where im from just from googling mochi donuts lmao - ) regular donuts r yumyum good but mochi donuts are so satisfying to consume LMAO - but man i havent had a cinnoroll in AGES .. i think im just a pastry enjoyer in general lmao , strawberry , apple , and guava pastries are my life .

tbh i dont think any reply would ever be too long for me to read , like you could probably write me a 3 page essay as a reply and id sure as hell read it LMAO i ramble a lot too so that just makes the both of us 😋

HEIDJEKJD favorite song questions are so hard , right now id have to say either undercover martyn - two door cinema club if you just wanted my music taste im gonna list a bunch of artists now because i am a free advertising machine when i like things : owl city , the neighbourhood , chase petra , lovejoy , everybodys worried about owen , and uhhh everything from the epic: the musical sagas

ZE QUESTION ! whats your favorite like ambient sound ( city noises , water , leaves , etc etc ) and why :0

wOOO SATURN EMOJI 🪐🪐🪐🪐 I LOVE SPACE !! CYA NEXT TIME 💫💫

- jellyfish ( or alex idk lol )

oh my god HI AGAIN ALEX i'm sorry that i wasn't able to reply to this sooner 💔💔 my inbox has been wonky for some reason and it finally worked today (thank god), i hope this won't happen again 😔🤞 i miss talking with you so here's a really long reply hehe hope you don't mind!

i've had my fair share of disturbing dreams lmao, and i've also heard that if you get those kinds of dreams then it means you're dying early??? i don't really believe in superstitions though so i'm not exactly worried about it LOL

your alhaitham rps are hella funny LMFAO i always think of alhaitham of someone who'd slander a lot of things especially when it comes to languages (since he canonically speaks 20 languages), i also see him as someone who'd mispronounce words or pronounce words as exactly what they're written (like you said) and say it with such a straight face 😭 i feel like if you ever tried explaining it to him he'd be like "what do you mean this is pronounced as baloney? why is it even spelled as bologna if you're going to pronounce it so wrongly? what has this system become?" and i'm just going to be in the corner laughing my ass off at how blunt and unintentionally funny this man is

aster lore is back again!!!!! seeing you mention that aster was created before sumeru and how it's already been a year since their existence made me realize how long sumeru has been out for,, sooner or later we'll be getting fontaine in no time 😵 but back to aster! it always interests me how you have this whole background story of aster which is HELLA cool and stuff and how you keep up with the genshin lore too! i think it's such a nice touch for them to be related with the ragbros too— i can just see their silly little arguments and silly little moments they have together. i'm also sure as hell the moment aster sees the khaenriah eyes (well,, eye... to be specific) in kaeya they'd be like "oh hell no." too SJDJKJS it's just so funny thinking of the many scenarios of their first encounter could play out

oh trust me, i hate cleaning my room. if i ever have a roommate one day, i am praying to the lord that they're the most strictest person on earth so that they can make me move my ass around 😔 i'm just not the person who has the energy to do all that often

don't get me started. the oculis in mondstadt are actual hell. like i'm literally not kidding. how can they call it the nation of freedom when i have no freedom trying to get all those oculis when i was in such a low ar? /j

jokes aside the locations of those oculis in mondstadt were so... brutal. i remember using those oculi compass things and the locations they showed at stormterror's lair were so????? some of them were up at the sky and my low ar ass was so confused on how to get up there,, i also remember there was this one that was hidden in like a pillar and i actually had to get my ass up the highest hill there to fly down into that pillar because somehow they won't let me climb the pillar up... those were truly my darkest times lmfao

WINTER PATCHES!!!!! i really miss them haha i was so excited during the snowman event back then and i made a bunch of cute snowmans and taking pics of them with kazuha. hope hyv bring back the winter patches ASAP ‼️‼️ WE NEED MORE ALBEDO LORE ‼️‼️ also idk if you have done the windblume story event but just in case i'm still adding a spoiler alert;;

i'm guessing we got some rhinedottir lore? well it was only mentioned that she's apart of the hexenzirkel and she called herself a mother to albedo (despite the many things she's done that would say otherwise lmao). but fetus bedo in the cutscene is so cute hsjdjdjjs and it basically implied that his hair wasn't tied like that but instead he was created with that hair style 😭 bros really just magnificent without even trying

i'm so very interested with rhinedottir/albedo/durin/dorian lore like i just know that there's more to what we know currently.... but we probably won't be getting much anytime soon considering how deep rhinedottir's lore is sobs

LMAO i get what you're saying with being a lazy player,, i myself have been detaching myself off from genshin impact recently and it's quite relaxing‼️ i don't panic that i missed out on daily's anymore and i hope it continues that way 😭 i log in once in a while to do the events and disappear again for the next week

ahhhh the thought of school projects and assignments makes me squirm kwdjdjdj my break basically ended and i start school on monday so hahaha.... i'm back to hell again </3 so not ready for the heavy workload . hope you're getting enough rest!!! school is always so hectic hhhhh hope you're managing well

dried strawberries in strawberry chocolates????? SIGN ME TF UP(!!!!!!!! i love anything related with strawberries they're literally the best. thing. to ever. EXIST! mochi donuts sound so good looking at the pictures on google made me want to just . chomp them following the shapes one by one. donuts are absolutely scrumptious.

guava pastries?? :0 never heard of them but i'd definitely try them if i could ever get my hands on them, any pastry MUST be tried out by me‼️‼️‼️‼️ *evil laughing intensifies*

glad that i have someone to ramble stuff with!!! at least i won't suffer by keeping all this excitement to myself while rambling stuff on this blog ☝️

just listened to undercover martyn!!! i think it's kinda stuck in me now LMAO the sick beats are getting to me,,, and the beats lowkey remind me of remember when by wallows which is one of my favourite songs by the band!!!

OMG OWL CITY?? HAHA this is truly ironic because i used to love his wreck it ralph song when the movie came out!! this gave me so much nostalgia and kinda made me want to watch the movie again LOL 😭😭 overall your music taste is so>>>> you made me discover new artists like chase petra and lovejoy!!! i'm currently in love with beabadobee shdjdh some of my favourite songs from her currently are you lie all the time and dance with me 😋🤞

oh this question is interesting— i pretty much love oceans the most, if anything. the sound of waves and the chilly wind gives me so much comfort for some reason, and somehow the smell of saltwater never bothered me,, despite my dislike towards salt in general LMAO.

other than that, i think this might sound weird . but i kind of like the sound of the hustle and bustle of flea markets too. they can be kind of overwhelming sometimes because of screaming children and whatnot- but for some reason i enjoy listening to people talking with each other whilst buying stuff sjsklk very odd but it's interesting to see what other people are up to. it's so very fascinating to see the human life evolve and for me that's comforting somehow 😵‍💫

a question for you!!!! what's your favourite season and why :D

i better not get ahead of myself with my rambling and end this off here. hopefully my inbox won't shut down again like last time!! i was so upset that i couldn't reply to your ask and ended up replying this really late 💔 thrilled to see your reply soon!!! have a nice day alex 🪐🪐🪐🪐 (YES SATURN EMOJIS WOO!!!)

#h answers #jellyfish <3 #oh this was way longer than i intended to LMAO

1 note · View note

diejager · 2 years

Note

Yan! Childe with an s/o who does that one Tiktok trend??? The one that has the sound "its getting hot in here something

Since I finished all my requests, its currently open for sfw and nsfw requests of any kind for the fandoms I do.

Tik Tok influencer Childe

Yandere Childe

Tw: yandere behaviors, mention of killing, stalking.

Note: not proofread.

Wc: 1k

You first met on Tik Tok, both being popular enough that you two would instantly recognize outside of the platform. You had exchanged words on each other's chats and eventually followed one another on Instagram after searching up your profile names. It was truly spectacular how you two connected and immediately jumped to planning on meeting in real life.

If you lived in separate cities, then one of you would have to fly over - Childe would since he said that his pockets were packed to the brim with more and that a few flights wouldn't hurt. He would spend the day at your flat instead of renting a hotel room, it was the least you could do for a friend who proposed to save you the money for a flight ticket. Fortunately, you lived in the same city, different district, but you both lived within the city of Teyvat. He lived in the Snezhnaya district, the cold and grizzly atmosphere usually warded off people unless they were regular food lovers and alcohol addicts of the freezing district's cuisine. You spent a day there, during a blog with a friend of yours. It was still freezing with the wool jacket, scarf, bonnet, boots and mittens. It still fathomed you how the others walked with half fewer covers as you - Snezhnayan citizens were something else.

You, however, lived in the quiet center of the city - Celestia - it connected every district to itself and worked as the foundation of the legislative and bustling capital of Teyvat.

You two met often and made Tik Toks together as often as you got together. It boomed and skyrocketed your following. It was a shared idea to make the most of it since you two got along so well, unnaturally so. You found his boyish smirk endearing and the wild tussle of his ginger locks to die for. Whenever you asked him what made him like you so much, he cocked his head and smirked quietly.

"That's a secret for me to know, and you to find out, " he shrugged off the question casually.

Childe rarely hinted at anything specific, but he played his cards well enough for you to finally get together, not as friends or companions, but as a couple. It was a fast-paced relationship from the get-go, erratic and daring since you met and started as friends. The announcement even surprised a few followers and filled some who had shipped you two with bliss after their OTP finally came to realization. The shares, the comments, the likes and the rumours spread your coupling like wildfire, two of the most popular Tik Tok influencers started dating.

The occasional post together became something of a regular commodity for your fans, you made videos together and together only as one of the power couples of the platform. You went out on dates almost every day, Childe had his hands all over you, and he proved that he had no qualms with PDA. It was quite the opposite, he loved publically displaying his adoration and addiction to being with you. Hands tugging yours, arms wrapped around your waist, head propped on your shoulder, face buried into your sensitive neck. Anything and everything went with him, as long as he could touch you.

His possessiveness and attention-seeking habit grew the more time you spent together - not that you minded.

It was somewhat.... more endearing than his cocky smirk.

In the spur of the moment, you two decided to move into a bigger house, a condo on the limit between Snezhnaya and Celestia. Both of you were so entangled in each other's embrace.

You did more daring things together, more exposing things that got the attention of other people on you, lustful ones from both men and women. Childe abhorred it, he regularly stared at the cat calling you had in the comments with contempt and was close to finding out who it was and finishing them.

It repulsed him that they would seek what was his.

On the subject of daring moves, a trend had popped up and clashed with the older ones, being currently danced to It's getting hot in here so take off all your clothes. A song by someone Childe hadn't taken the time or will to remember.

He watched from the corner of the room as you danced. His eyes followed your hands as you unzipped your jacket, dancing as you slipped it off. It sent chills down his spine, your hips and hands moved sensually - in his eyes, at least. For the people that would view this, his heart seethed with anger and possessiveness. He didn't want them to look at you how he did.... but, even throughout his cloud of longing, he couldn't stop you from doing what you liked, it would break his heart to see you frown. He would support you in whatever you did or put your mind to. He loved you too much to let your break and cry.

So, his only solution would be to stalk the comments until he found which is harmful to you - in his mind - and send people searching for them. There's no way he'd let people act this atrocious towards you when you were taken and happy with him. Dead or alive, he wanted to point to be passed and deeply rooted in their minds : keep your hands off what's mine.

"Babe, let's go, alright?" Approached you after posting that video, holding you from the back as he pressed fleeting kisses on the side of your neck. " You wouldn't want to miss our reservation, right?"

You chuckled, turning your face to place a small kiss on his soft lips, hands grabbing his larger ones that lay on your hips.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time we got to one late. We're usually late because someone keeps on being childish. Hmm, Ajax?"

"Ah, then you wouldn't mind adding another one to the count, would ya?"

#childe x reader #yandere x reader #x reader #genshin impact x reader #yandere x y/n #genshin impact #yandere #childe #ajax x reader #genshin childe #yandere childe #genshin modern au #yandere genshin x reader #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin imagines

265 notes · View notes

starglitterz · 2 years

Text

to all the boys i've loved before.

─── AYATO ! // the pretty boy with a hidden playful side.

─ a short series based on my own personal experiences with love and crushes. a sort of messy goodbye to all the boys i’ve loved before.

warning(s) ; ayato is mentioned to be taller than reader once, 绫人 is ayato's cn name apparently read língrén according to the wiki

series masterlist.

to everyone you know, kamisato ayato is the perfect package; smart, respectful, and he's got the looks to boot. with his long blue hair and trademark smile that makes every junior fall for him in a matter of seconds. you're not even going to lie, you had fallen for this facade too, believing it to be reality. but somehow you started getting closer to him through one of your mutual friends, and that painted him in an entirely different light, yet somehow this side of him seemed much more real.

for one thing, ayato isn't actually as quiet and well-behaved as everyone makes him out to be. sure, in school he's practically silent outside of his own friend group and when answering questions, but through text and when there's no one else in sight, he honestly could win an award for his silly behaviour. one of the things you'll never forget is when it was just the two of you in class after school packing up your bags when he started singing that song from frozen 2 for literally no reason. yeah, the one that goes OOooOOOoo… into the unknOWNNNNN!!!!!!!! actually, you're not even sure if it could be called singing when he was practically just yelling it. you shot him a surprised glance, trying to hide the smile twitching at the corner of your lips, but as soon as you met his eyes, you both burst into laughter.

however, he is (un)fortunately as clever as everyone believes, which spells nothing but trouble for you. not in a serious way, it just means you had more competition to get the best grades. ayato tops the class in additional maths, but he doesn't rub it in anyone's face or brag about it, in fact he even helps you out whenever you're struggling with the homework, although he does scold you for not paying attention. he even sends you the chemistry notes you missed so you don't get in trouble for not copying them, so you could never be upset with him for doing better than you. both of you are equally matched in accounting though, which leads to a friendly rivalry where both of you always try to outdo the other ever since the teacher himself announced that both of you were the only ones who could compete with each other's level for the subject. the two of you manag to get the exact same mark in the finals, scoring full marks on the mcq paper and the same mark for the structured paper, and so a truce is called. you still study together though, and exchange tips right before the papers which may or may not have saved your grades… you'll never tell.

ayato does things that you would find annoying if it wasn't by him. for example, he's taller than you, so he constantly steals your stuff and holds it above his head because he knows you can't reach it. he teases you about being a shortie and tells you to drink more milk when you jump for it and still fail to get it back, but he returns it when you ask nicely, though you swat his arm after and threaten to beat him up next time. also he purposely steps on your school shoes, but he makes sure to do it gently so you don't get hurt, but it usually ends up in a stupid race to step on each other's shoes, which actually seems like it'll give teyvat school a bad rep since both of you are prefects. (did you mention that he actually looks very hot in a white shirt and tie? because he does.)

there's even one time where you're on the phone with potential colleges (he's applying to the same ones as you, albeit for different courses), and he's being so irritating in the background, but it's so funny that you nearly burst into laughter while on the phone. it goes something like the person on the other end greeting you, "hello, this is liyue university, how may i help you?" and in the background he just goes, "wow, y/n, can't believe you got accepted to inazuma college!" it seriously makes you want to slap him but you end up snickering onto the phone before you remember you're still on the line and have to quickly try to cover it up, which only makes him laugh too.

ayato the genius all-rounder is also an incredibly good pianist, who's been learning since he was young. he performs at the annual school events, and submits a video for your online talent show during the pandemic. you're not going to lie, besides the fact that it's astonishing how quickly he can play and make it sound good, you do have an ulterior motive for rewatching the video at least twice… it's not your fault ayato has really nice hands! you swear your gaze turns into heart-eyes whenever you look (respectfully) at them. there's one day when the two of you are alone in the student lounge, and he starts playing this really beautiful song, and when he's done you just grin and applaud it, a million genuine compliments spilling from your lips. you'll always remember how his face turned a rosy hue at the praise, and he looked away, unable to meet your eyes as he thanked you embarrassedly.

kamisato ayato has been voted the #1 guy to date by every single girl in your grade based on his personality alone. honestly, the standards are so low but he's so sweet to everyone and never gets involved in drama, which makes everyone fall head over heels for him. sadly, you aren't exempt from this plague either, but you do feel a secret sense of satisfaction when one of the girls remark that they wish he was 'more flirty'. because the truth is; ayato is a flirt!

when the two of you start getting closer, the comments he make start to be more and more teasing, as if he's getting a kick out of your ?!?!?! reaction every time. for example, when you make fun of him for being single, asking, "ayato, when are you getting an s/o?" he doesn't miss a beat as he replies, "depends when you're free." safe to say you nearly melt into the floor at that exact moment.

also, he has another name which nobody calls him by, and so do you! but one day he suddenly asks you about it, and you respond that nobody's ever asked to call you that so you just don't mention it. you like your first name anyway. but ayato proudly declares, "then i'll be the first! if you're okay with it, of course." it's oddly endearing, in a way, so you give him permission, and he says you can call him 绫人. both of you change each other's contact names to your 'secret' other names, although ayato steals your phone and puts the word 'best' in front of his name so it ends up becoming something like 'Bestayato 绫人'.

a common trait between you and ayato is that both of you are always awake at weird hours, although for wildly different reasons. he's an insomniac, so he can't sleep, while you stay up late doing who knows what, so you just won't sleep. but one thing's for sure, you can always count on him to reply even if you shoot him a text at 3am. you'll end up scolding him for still being awake, and then he'll scold you for being awake, and then both of you will promise to sleep earlier the next day only for the same thing to repeat. one time he makes fun of you by sending you a picture of the ice-cream in his freezer as he goes to get a snack when you were about to sleep, and he promises he'll buy you some next time as an apology for making you crave dessert at 4 am. your late night conversations are the best though, with the glow of your phone illuminating your face and a stupid smile curving your lips every time you read his replies; having a crush is so much fun.

a/n ; lol academic rivals to lovers my beloathed /hj

#ayato x reader #kamisato ayato x reader #ayato fluff #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #genshin fluff #genshin headcanons #ayato headcanons

120 notes · View notes

that-foul-legacy-lover · 3 years

Text

Digital Heart

Foul Legacy Childe x Reader Gender Neutral (no pronouns mentioned) Angst Warnings: Falling, fighting, minor injuries, nausea, breathlessness

In which Genshin is an interactive RPG accessed through an immersive headset, and you find yourself pushed to play it by your friends.

~ * ~

It started with a game.

For thirty days and thirty nights, your friends have been pleading for you to play it. Genshin Impact it was called, an free immersive open-world RPG with hundreds of weapons, characters, and power ups. Accessible through a specialized headset that tracked movement, it had only been a month since the freely downloadable game’s release and it was already a success, garnering praise from the customizable main character and the interactive playstyle. Play it. Your friends beg. You’ll love it. We can play together.

You refuse at first. The game might be free, but the headset isn’t, and you need to save that money to pay for food and clothes. Alongside your financial state was your schedule, a long list of work and chores that left little time to play games with constant updates like Genshin, so you told your friends- politely, as that’s how you were raised- that it’d have to wait. They agreed, quietly.

Then the next day, they ask again. You make an excuse- too much work. They agree, again.

The second day, asking. You’re too tired, you say. Of course, they respond.

Everyday, the same question. The same request, the same demand. It wears on you, amused exasperation drawing a sigh from you everytime you open your notifications.

Play it.

You can’t.

Play it.

You don’t have time.

Play it.

You need to focus!

Play it.

…

…Alright.

Finally, you cave. You create an account, a headset en route to your house. You clear an area in your house so you don’t accidentally hit anything. The headset arrives, and you insert the batteries, said to last up to an entire day playing nonstop, a stage you dearly hope you never reach. You pull it down over your head, cringing at the thought of your hair getting so mussed, and switch it on. A long and potentially worrying warning flashes before your eyes and you blink, not used to the in-depth cameras yet, as the screen goes white.

Welcome to Genshin Impact! Please name your character… appears, and you subsequently slip down the rabbit hole.

It’s fun, you find. Your friends were right, you did like Genshin Impact, although you thank your lucky stars that you weren’t as attached as some players were, as you still had work and life to attend to. The combat and story were enjoyable, and the characters were funny and diverse in personality and playstyles. The main character, who was also your customizable avatar, was quite literally you, the story explained, a traveler from distant lands who fell face first into Teyvat by mistake and tragedy. Of course you still haven’t gotten entirely used to the whole immersion thing, and sometimes shuddered under the eerily real programming of the NPCs and characters, but that was nigh unnoticeable when focusing on fighting monsters. Your deep love for exploration and discovery surfaces, and you take as long as you want exploring every inch of the wonderfully modelled map as you follow the main story, or “Archon Quests”. You calm the great dragon Dvalin and bid your friends at Mondstadt- Kaeya, Amber, Lisa, Diluc, Jean, and Venti- goodbye, Liyue sprawling out before you in wooded forests and cloud-covered mountains. A mysterious man runs across you at the Inn, the immortal Adeptus Xiao, although you would’ve thought he was quite young due to his short stature, and you encounter Zhongli in the Harbor, along with Lady Ningguang and her subordinates, Keqing and Ganyu. A member of the malicious-seeming Fatui also greets you and introduces himself as Childe, a name you don’t trust for a second, yet find yourself getting strangely attached too. The story progresses with you at Zhongli and Ningguang’s sides, the suspicion being pointed more and more to the Fatui, and you find yourself staring up at the elegant pillars of the Golden House, the mora mint building.

You gulp. You know this is where Childe’s boss battle takes place, and you’re not sure if your team is prepared, even if you stocked up on food right before leaving the Harbor. Inhaling a deep breath, you shove the enormous front doors open, and a cutscene pulls your fear tight against your throat. Everyone’s suspicions were right- he was here to steal the Geo Archon’s gnosis, and you have to stop him.

Easier said than done. The cutscene of your face shows a determined, fierce expression, instead of the nervous one you had in real life, and you almost laugh. You dearly hope your characters are strong enough, and step into the arena.

Phases One and Two are relatively short, as you quickly learn to avoid using Childe’s respective elements of his Vision and Delusion while his shield is up. The battle is fun and fast-paced, and you feel a thrill in your bones as you dodge another attack before swinging your sword in retaliation. Childe stumbles, and Phase Two ends with a cutscene. The corpse of Rex Lapis, something you considered a bit gruesome, is discovered to have no gnosis, and you can feel the raw anger in the Harbinger’s voice as the air crackles and hisses. A horrible, blinding light shines, and Childe is gone.

At least, human Childe is gone. In his place floats a monstrous version of himself, nearly 14 feet tall and complete with horns and armor, and your mouth drops open slightly as you gaze at him wide eyed. But your focus is violently shifted when the floor cracks and turns to dust, sending you tumbling down into the belly of the Golden House. You land with an unceremonial thump, thankful that the creators hadn’t been cruel enough to make you feel the damage you took in-game.

And Phase Three, the final phase of Harbinger Tartaglia, commences.

He has considerably more health, and his attacks can range from irritating to deadly, you just barely dodging the falling Hydro arrows that would’ve slaughtered your current character. Of course, it doesn’t help that you’re sneaking glances at your attacker every few minutes. Your mind wanders to the lore as you shield yourself from violet lightning. Does this transformation hurt? Where does it come from? Why does it look like a moth? Maybe one day you’ll get answers.

Despite the raised difficulty, Phase Three also ends rather quickly. Your characters, it seems, were overleveled. The remainder of the Archon Quest passes, Childe reappearing once at the end, and it’s over. The screen blips off as you log out and place the headset on a table before laying on your bed and using the last few hours before bed to contemplate what you’ve just seen.

The next days quickly fall into routine. After completing all your work, you’d take an hour or two to play Genshin, leveling up your characters even more and going through various quests, Childe’s included. You see his transformation, dubbed the Foul Legacy form, again, and almost swoon before stopping and giving yourself a harsh scolding. You fulfill requests and tasks for various people around Teyvat, or at least the parts of Teyvat you can access, and improve your skills and stats. You have a talent for dodging, you find, and use it to your advantage while fighting.

And every Monday, when the clock resets, you re-enter Golden House to battle with Childe and claim your just rewards.

Of course you could do it everyday, but a squirming, guilty feeling in your gut stops you, making you feel like you’re hurting him, no matter how many times you try to tell yourself that he’s simply a video game character, a program in an electronic system.

This thought makes you a bit sad, you think.

The fights are getting easier, something you credit to your rising stars of characters, and you stand before the Ley Line Blossom quicker and quicker each time, something you expect to be no different today.

Phases One and Two are just the same as you take advantage of Vaporize and Overload, drowning out Childe’s pre-programmed sounds of pain with your own abilities. The battle pauses, and you’re transported to the same chamber underground, with its fiery walls and glittering arches, as the fight resumes. With the same attacks and characters, it’s becoming a tad dull, and you frown, wondering if you should try to get another character soon.

You’re lost in your thoughts when you slip and fall.

This you feel in the real world, having landed hard on your back and knocked the air out of your lungs. For a few moments you struggle to breathe, and Childe takes the opportunity to appear right over you, his spear flashing purple. You swear internally, bracing yourself as he readies his weapon.

But the strike never comes. You inhale desperately, oxygen finally flowing into your chest, and open your eyes. The graphics of your game are gray and fuzzy around the edges, framing Childe as he slowly puts his spear down and, to your amazement and slight terror, jerkily reaches towards you. Voice clips play overhead, pieced together to make not words, but a static-interspersed whining sound, much like a concerned beast. Your eyes widen, and Childe stops, withdrawing slightly almost as if he’s worried that you’re afraid, and you whisper his name once, as a tentative question.

Then with crackle and a ping, your game crashes and everything goes black.

You gasp and rip off the headset, chest heaving as you struggle to comprehend what just happened. You’re shaking, nervous and fearful, but curiosity runs strong through your veins. Your finger slides towards the On button, and you press it and slip the device back on.

You’re standing outside, the doors of the Golden House closed as if the battle never happened. The guards surrounding it look ordinary, occasionally repeating phrases you’ve heard and ignored countless times. Glancing around and trying to squash the nauseous bubbling feeling in your gut, you push the doors open again.

It’s different this time. Instead of being in the upper room, you fall a short distance into the Third Phase Chamber, your shoes clicking on the tiled floor. Childe floats in the center, his back to you, and you take a tentative step forward. He turns and looks you dead in the eyes, before flinging his spear to the side and rushing towards you on his feet, kneeling to your height. Instinctively, you jump away as he sits on the ground before you, letting out joyful chirps and trills, sounds you didn’t even know he could make. You approach him, sword held loosely in your hand as an extra precaution, and he tilts his head and coos as you cautiously sit with him. Your hands are trembling as you try to understand that this is real, he is real, all of this is happening.

And if it’s not, then it’s some damn good programming.

Questions start to fill your mind, one after another, and you ask him, responses coming as a nod or a headshake.

Is this real?

Yes.

Or programming?

No.

Could you always do this?

No.

Just today?

No.

Over a period of time. Yes.

How…?

The final question hangs in the air, and he shrugs slightly, then points at you. You did this. You woke him up, made him feel pain, sorrow, and happiness, all stemming from you, his love for you. From the minute the Archon Quests let you meet, he was vaguely curious, the most emotion he’s ever felt in his cold, empty programming since before. And when the code broke, he adored you, not like Childe viciously adored battle, but a soft adoration, one with all his digital heart could muster. You smile, and he purrs at what a wonderful smile it is.

Something flickers in the corner of your eye. Then another. And another. You turn and squint, then gasp as your surroundings begin to dissolve into colorful squares, the game taunting you as it glitches and lags. You and Childe leap to your feet, only to watch helplessly as the world crumbles away. You look down at your hands and see them beginning to break apart into pixels. Childe reaches out to hug you, to hold you close, but his hand passes right through you, a sickening reminder of how unreal he is. He wails in anguish as you both try to grasp each other, only to shatter more, the pixels covering your screen like rain on a windowpane.

Your game crashes for a second time, the only sound a desperate whimper that soon fades into an electronic squealing.

It takes a week to fix your device, the tech people saying that it was “overloaded”. Finally the repairs are finished, and you’re back at the Golden House, the doors already ajar. You slip into the room, expecting either a battle or, hopefully, someone to greet you.

But the room is empty. No one, human nor monster, stands in the center. Instead there is one lonely Ley Line Blossom, waiting, the final gift from an impossible love.

513 notes · View notes

literaryobsession · 3 years

Text

alone together || highschool!xiao x reader

summary: you and Xiao are alone on prom night

warning: fluff?

word count: 1611

“Are you sure you’ll be alright alone, Y/N? We can stay if you want us to.” Hu Tao peered at you. You pushed your friends away, they have been fussing over you ever since they saw you limping yesterday. It wasn’t really that much of a tragic story, you simply slipped and fell. But you didn’t let that stop you from attending prom! It will probably be one of the last nights when you’d see your friends before college.

“I’m good, Hu Tao. Go on.” You urged the girl, “I’m fine. I have drinks, I’ve got food. I’m all set for the rest of the night.”

“Alright. Just call us and we’ll come over, alright?” Xingqiu adjusted his coat, “Chongyun and I have snacks under our table, just grab whatever you want and it’ll be our little secret.”

You don’t know how they managed to bring outside food when your class president, Keqing, told everybody that since there will be food served tonight, you didn’t have to bring anything. In fact, she stressed on the idea that you should not bring anything.

But you knew Xingqiu and Chongyun were in the prom committee so they really had a way to sneak in whatever it is that they wanted.

You watched your friends move to the dance floor, enjoying the night away with your other classmates. They all looked like they were having fun and you sighed, regretting that you had a sprain in this special night.

“If it wasn’t for that sprain, we could have outdanced all of them.” Childe settled on one of the vacant seats on your table. He looked great in his tux. “How’s the ankle, babe?”

You laughed at the petname that he used. Childe used this name on everybody but everybody knew that he had eyes on someone else. Lumine was his kryptonite, the only person he really couldn’t play flirt with. With Lumine, Childe’s usual confidence crumbles into nerves.

“I’ll be fine, Childe.” You nodded before teasing him, “Aren’t you asking Lumine to dance with you?” You let out a soft chuckle when a sprinkle of pink dusted his cheeks and nose. “Go on, Ajax.” He used the name Childe a lot because he really didn’t like how weird sounding his real name was.

Childe pouted at you, “Childe. It’s Childe, remember?”

“Alright.” You raised your hands in mock surrender, “But please Childe, just ask Lumine out. You’re stressing everybody out with your constant daydreaming about her. Just ask.”

“What if...you know, she doesn’t feel the same way?” His playful expression turned somber.

Being friends with Childe for years, you adored his sweet side. “You have us when she says no. I’ll take you out.” You reached out to pinch his cheek, “Now go. Aether is talking with Ganyu, you can safely talk to his twin right now.”

Childe smiled gratefully at you before plucking up the courage to march up to Lumine, you took a sip from your cup. Teyvat High really was something, huh? You really enjoyed spending time with your friends here. Your teachers were amazing too. Almost all of your happy memories were made from this school so going away for college feels so difficult.

“Aren’t you dancing, Ms. L/N?” One of your teachers, Ms. Ningguang, laid a kind hand on your shoulder. She taught Math and was quite an intimidating presence in front of the classroom. She has a kind demeanor though, even though most of the students were afraid of her.

“Oh, I sprained my ankle. I can’t. I like watching them though.” You answered your teacher. “Would you like to sit with me, Miss?”

Ningguang shook her head, “That’s alright, thank you. I have to go around and make sure everyone is having a good time.” She gave you a wink, telling you that although she wanted to stay, she had a duty to do. “Xiao’s alone too.”

You glanced over to where the boy was. Xiao was indeed alone, standing by the punch bowl and watching Venti play with the band on stage. He probably felt that you were staring so he glanced at you. This surprised you so you turned your attention back to your teacher, who was giggling.

“As much as I would like to commend you for advising Childe to ask Lumine out, I would rather see you tell that crush of yours about how you feel.” Did everyone know you like Xiao? Hu Tao did say you were obvious. How were you obvious?

Was it because when you were partnered with him in your History class, you could barely get a word out?

Was it because whenever you would see him, you’d turn into a blushing mess of a person?

Or maybe because you spent all your waking hours planning how to talk to him without anything going wrong?

Alright, so maybe you were obvious.

Your teacher walked away and you looked back at the dance floor where you found Childe and Lumine dancing. Kaeya dragged Rosaria near the couple and teased them loudly so everyone noticed that Childe finally managed to ask Lumine for a dance. Both Childe and Lumine blushed profusely at the crowd’s reaction.

You laughed at the sight.

“Here.” A cup blocked your line of sight and you looked up to see Xiao offering it to you.

You gasped and froze on your seat, staring at the boy before you.

“You were looking at the drinks area so I thought you wanted something to drink.” Xiao put the cup on the table and looked at the dance floor, “So, he asked her out finally huh?”

“Oh, uh, yeah.” You wanted to bite your lower lip. If you say anything else, you’d mess everything up. Xiao came over and brought you something to drink, don’t freak out!

He pulled out a chair and sat down, “Do you mind?”

“I do.” Then you felt your face heat up, “No. I mean, I do not mind. I don’t. Sit anywhere you want!”

Xiao stared at you for a few seconds before letting out a chuckle, “You’re funny, you know that?” Okay, now he was just being kind.

Xiao didn’t notice how awkward you always seem to be whenever you two would talk or maybe he just didn’t address it because he didn’t think it was important. He continued greeting you whenever he would pass by you in the hallway or giving you a nod whenever he would catch you staring at him.

He was very kind, even though your friends always told you how annoyingly arrogant he was in some of your classes. Hu Tao said he liked working alone and didn’t enjoy working with Ganyu for a project that they had in another class. He also doesn’t have much friends except for Venti, who always gets whisked away by his many artistic extracurricular activities.

“How is your ankle?” Xiao turned his eyes back to you.

You licked your lips and tried to avoid his gaze as much as you can, “I’m in pain. A bit. Not a lot. A bit of pain. I mean, it is sprained so it can be painful when I walk so, I don’t walk so it isn’t painful. Like a lot of painful?” You wanted to stitch your lips shut. What did you just say?

Xiao didn’t mind though. He was probably too used to your ramblings. “That’s good to hear.”

“You don’t have a date?” You wanted to clear the tension, hoping to confess tonight. You were able to push Childe to dance with Lumine, how can you not do the same thing yourself?

He shook his head, “I came with Venti but he’s busy so...” Then he asked you, “You don’t have a date? Aren’t you dating that Ajax guy?”

“Childe? No! We’re great friends.” You laughed, relaxing for the first time around Xiao. “He’s in love with someone else.”

Xiao stared at you before looking at Childe, who was having fun with the girl he was with. “Oh. Lumine, huh?”

You saw the look on his face, noting the distant gaze. He looked like he was... Was he in love with Lumine?

Damn, that really stung.

“Were you thinking of asking someone out though, Xiao?” You wanted to confirm if he was but you could feel your heart breaking as he continued watching the couple dance and laugh.

“I was.” He whispered, “But...I don’t think she likes me back, so I didn’t try.” Xiao finally blinked out of his stupor and turned back to you.

“Oh.”

Xiao sighed before drinking from the cup he had, “Been in-love with her for years. I never got the courage to actually talk to her.” Your heart started crumbling over his pained tone. “Whenever I do get the chance to talk to her though, she doesn’t seem to want to talk to me so, I never really made a move. She’s really amazing though. She’s incredibly happy and has a lot of friends. Everybody likes her.”

“Xiao..” You wanted to reassure him that even though Lumine didn’t like him back, you were there.

“Tonight. I told myself that I’ll tell her tonight.” Xiao took a deep breath and you can see life coming back to his golden eyes. “What do you think? Should I?”

Even though it wasn’t you, you wanted to support him.

You will support him. “Of course, Xiao! Tell her.” You gave him a big smile, the biggest smile you can muster to hide your heartbreak.

Xiao nodded quietly, took a deep breath, then he looked straight at you, “Just so we’re clear, Y/N...”

“Yeah?”

“You do know I was talking about you right?”

#genshin impact #genshin fic #genshin xiao #adeptus xiao #xiao x reader #xiao x you

319 notes · View notes

cno-inbminor · 3 years

Text

iterum vivere (childe/tartaglia)

a/n: wow, it’s been fucking forever. first genshin fic featuring childe/tartaglia!!! a very huge thank you to @suspensin for reading this over and being my rock and support, and i love her so fucking much. I couldn’t have finished this without her!

plot: reincarnation and modern/uni!au ft. afab reader!traveler with she/they pronouns x childe/tartaglia

-- in which meeting childe is a bit of a dangerous game of push and pull

wc: 12.1k; angst + fluff

warnings: DOES CONTAIN IN-GAME SPOILERS (1.5? 1.6? + story quest and idek) and NSFW MENTIONS (mdni to be safe). there’s no explicit smut but thoughts do run a bit wild here and there

EDIT: Altered ChiLumi version now posted on AO3 here!

“Haven’t we met before?”

The shine in your eyes does nothing to hide your curiosity, head even tilting a little in observation. He watches them scan his face for any recognizable features, but attempts to focus on the strange, taut string of déjà vu that pulls him toward you. In a moment of absentmindedness, he had heard a faint voice call out his name from your direction. Confusion overtook him as you weren’t looking at him, but something inside his brain said that it had to be from you. And so his feet redirected his path towards your figure in the student union building, as if on a mission.

“A fucking whale, Childe?”

Oh.

“I don’t think so…?” You trail off, curiosity now replaced by perplexed feelings. “Do we have a class together?”

I think I would’ve noticed you by now if you were.

“Ah, what’s your major?” Childe asks quickly to avoid listening to the little voice in his head.

“History and anthropology, you?”

“Economics, but I’ve taken a history course for core credits. Maybe it was then?”

“With Dr. Zhong?”

“Yes!” He snaps his fingers. Part of his brain decides to usefully function and scan his memories to see if he remembers your face or head of hair in the lecture hall then. “Last year? Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 11:20?”

“Actually, yeah,” you affirm in surprise. You think you would remember the relatively attractive ginger in your class, but honestly, it had all been such a blur and you were often pretty sleepy during class. Dr. Zhong didn’t quite appreciate it, but you made up for it with your exam and essay grades, as well as paying better attention in some of his other courses.

“Did you need me for anything?”

“I’d like for you to come visit and meet my family.”

He’s really not appreciating this extra voice speaking for him.

“Well…uh…” Childe stammers and looks away sheepishly, hand rubbing the back of his neck. He honestly had no reason for approaching you, and now, he just looks like a desperate idiot. Think quick, he tells himself, floundering for some shitty excuse.

“I wanted to, uh, take another history course as an elective and um, wanted to know if you had any recommendations?”

“Oh,” you blink. That’s a first. When he meets your gaze, the swirling shades of sapphire strike something deep within you. Flashes of events you can’t make out go by in the blink of an eye, but then you realize you’ve been staring for too long. Blood rushes to your cheeks because you don’t exactly want this guy to get the wrong idea from you, because how are you supposed to explain, “I’m sorry, but I think we have met before, but just a really, really long time ago, and we might’ve been more than just acquaintances because that’s what it feels like?”

“I think you’d like Teyvat Mythology,” your voice wavers on the verge of cracking. “Dr. Zhong might have a TA this time around, but Xiao’s a great teacher. Doesn’t have long, rambling anecdotes, but explains things well and gets straight to the point.”

“C-cool, I’ll look into it,” Childe replies and smiles brightly. “I’ll head out then,” jabbing a thumb over his shoulder, where he just realized he left a grouchy Scaramouche waiting by a vending machine, newly purchased Starbucks Tripleshot drink in hand. “Nice seeing you, (y/n).”

He scurries off before you both realize that you never told him your name.

“Who’s that?” Scaramouche asks, jutting his chin in your vague direction.

“Someone from my Intro to Liyuean History course last year,” Childe waves off. “Come on, let’s go before the line at the pasta bar gets too long.”

The next time you see Childe is by accident, traversing across an open field of grass that many students like to sit out on to relax with friends, sunbathe, hold events, or play casual team sports if room permits.

You had your earbuds in and were scrolling through social media when laughter rang above all other sound, causing your head to snap up and swivel around to find the source. And while it might’ve been strange to an outsider, your steps immediately slowed as you watched the man of your tiring, vivid dreams sprint in your direction, eyes pinned on a frisbee heading towards him.

He’s wearing a grey sports tank and basketball shorts, headband holding back his bangs as he makes a slight jump in the air to catch the plastic disc between his palms. His feet plant into the grass as he looks for someone to pass it to, and you watch (with embarrassment) the muscles in his throwing arm relax and tighten with practice, frisbee steadily soaring through the air in a beautiful arc towards a teammate. He then lightly jogs to get closer to his group, but then his back stiffens.

Before your instincts kick in for you to turn and bail, he looks over his shoulder and stares straight at your now stunned self.

The sole ruby earring that glints in the sunlight catches your attention, and you recall your dreams of terrifyingly dark, violet electric power, blades of water rushing toward you, and then the stomach-churning sensation of falling from great heights pours concrete into your veins—

Childe looks a little amused for having your sole focus, hand lifting up for a quick wave. And as you numbly return the greeting, your heart beats out, “Run from him.”

And so with the flight response pulsing and firing from your synapses, you abruptly speed walk away, almost breaking out into a sprint towards your dorm. You ignore his pointed, confused look, and pretend you don’t feel the two holes of imaginary fire searing into your back. It isn’t until you’re laying back in bed that you release a huge sigh of relief and pray to a deity you don’t believe in that those eyes of mirth will not haunt you tonight.

But of course, with a deity that doesn’t exist, the prayers go unanswered.

“Do you believe in any of the mythology you teach?” You ask Xiao about a few days later when you stop by his cubicle. Luckily, no one else is around for this conversation, and Xiao has always been kind enough to humor your thoughts. Granted, he might feel obligated because you had asked Dr. Zhong to be your advisor for your undergraduate Honors thesis, and Xiao was directed to be your receiver of some general questions and source of information if he wasn’t around.

A quick scan of your complexion tells Xiao everything he needs to know. Your eyes are overtaken with rumination and exhaustion, haziness clouding them as you seem to ponder over your own question. It’s not often that you ask him anything not related to your thesis or coursework.

“Perhaps there’s some sense and truth to the tales passed down,” he softly muses. “What makes you ask?”

You lift yourself to sit on the clean area next to his computer, legs slowly swaying back and forth. “It might sound crazy but...I’ve been having dreams lately. They feel too real, too natural to be anything that my mind would make up. I’ve never had the most creative imagination by any means, which is why there’s some comfort to me being a history major, but I can’t shake these.”

“So why ask me about the mythology?”

“...the Archons are there. I even dreamt that I met the Geo and Anemo Archons. And they controlled various elements, just like we were taught.”

You don’t notice that Xiao has ceased his rapid typing, fingers hovering over the keyboard before one hand removes his glasses from his face. He uses the other to rub his eyes and softly pinch the bridge of his nose before sliding the frames back on. Dark, golden amber eyes survey you as you grapple with the unfathomable possibilities of your nightly visions, at least until you shake your head in disbelief at yourself and lightly scoff.

“Who am I kidding?” You ask no one in particular. “Maybe I’ve been doing too much research and everything’s mixing together.”

“You’re ahead of schedule, if that provides any consolation.”

“Some.”

It takes Childe a grand total of one minutes and 53 seconds to sign up for Teyvat Mythology for the spring semester.

WInter in Liyue is only slightly miserable, being so close to the ocean. It’s chillier than usual on this dreary day, yet something compelled you to exit your dorm and shakily make your way to the campus coffee shop for a warm drink. Coffee, hot chocolate, you haven’t quite decided yet, but just as you let yourself bask in the warm building, familiar ginger hair and blue eyes wash away the comfort.

Or do they douse you in security?

They remind you of your recent dreams that now have shifted away from stress and violence to easygoing summer days by the oceanside, running barefoot in the sand while collecting beautifully patterned azure starconches. Sometimes, you thrust a hand towards an oversized four-leaf clover on a wooden stake with the power of wind and catch yourself in the air, soaring and looking around to find more of the little shells. Other nights, they consist of climbing steep cliffs, only to sit at the edge in the clouds with fatigue wracking through your system and marvel at the view before you.

Someone’s always with you though, ruby earring and maroon mask and cobalt blue gem hanging from the waist, sprinting with you, playfully tackling you down, pulling you up towards mountain peaks, laying their head on your shoulders, brushing their lips against your cheek--

You welcome the change of peace in those dreams, but only because they don’t leave you quite as tired the next day, as if you’d been avoiding an inescapable dark force.

Part of you wants the burning question of why this person, this man, in all his glory and brightness, affects you so fucking much when you barely even know the guy -- why looking at him sends your heart to lodge itself in your esophagus, why your lungs feel like they’re so close to being completely collapsed under the weight of his stare, why feeling like you’re trapped and caught between wanting to run towards yet away from him. It makes no sense, and you’re tired of trying to make sense of anything you don’t exactly want to remember from your dreams for some, once again, inexplicable reason.

But there’s no time to think as he quickly ambles towards you, your own feet shuffling forward to meet him in a warped reference of a distance that constitutes to “the middle” before you can stop yourself. Your shivering hasn’t quite stopped yet, and Childe seems to take notice of it.

“Pretty cold out there,” he softly states. It’s cute, the way you’re curling in on yourself to retain some warmth.

“Y-yeah, not sure why I decided I really needed something warm to drink right now,” you reply and avoid his gaze. He watches you peer over his shoulder to squint at the menu display hanging from the ceiling, seemingly contemplating on what you should get.

“How about I get yours today? My treat for your class recommendation last time.” Anything to keep you here longer. Childe doesn’t realize how much he’s missed you, which confuses him, and chooses to ignore the fact that he’d been camping himself at the study tables in the building where the history department is located in hopes of even just catching a quick glimpse of you.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” you immediately attempt to subvert his generous offer, hands shooting out from your jacket pockets and waving in rejection. “It was nothing.”

“Please?” Childe puts on his best puppy eyes before reaching for one of your wrists, gently tugging you to the register. “Just this once?”

You want so badly to squash the tiny flare of disappointment that erupts in your chest from the newly acquired knowledge that this was just a one time thing. Do econ majors hate to feel in debt? That they must be even with everyone, or would rather have people indebted to them than the other way around?

There’s no time to think when Childe gives the cashier his order before turning to you, and without wanting to waste anyone’s time, you rattle off your usual beverage. He’s quick in fishing out his student ID to spend some of his campus currency, shooting you a boyish grin when you pout at your half-opened wallet.

“Go take that table over there,” he says, pointing to one in the corner by some windows. “I’m gonna tell my friends to go on without me.”

“I didn’t mean to intrude or pull you away from them,” you slightly panic. The sooner you can leave, the better. Right? “You don’t need to sit with me, I was just gonna head back to my dorm.”

“I insist. Go ahead, I’ll be right there.”

Why your brain takes his orders over your own is a mystery in and of itself, because before you know it, you’re plopped down in one of the lounge seats and staring off into space, mind reeling over the last two minutes. You pretend you can’t hear the way Childe’s friends nudge his arm playfully with their shoulders, wiggling their eyebrows suggestively as Childe tries to get them to stop being nonsensical.

“You’re gonna scare them off,” he hisses at them, hands pushing at their backs so they could finally leave him to his devices.

“Not before you do!” One of them laughs and Childe groans at their antics. “All right, all right, we’ll go. They’re cute though, might steal them if you don’t make a move.”

The darkening of the aura surrounding Childe is too quick for them to fully process, not before he dampens any of their fleeting hopes with a, “Don’t even fucking think about it.”

But it disappears just as fast when his and your drinks are called out, and he gives them one last shove before retrieving your to-go cups. Childe directs all his focus towards the seat diagonally from yours as opposed to the one that’s straight across, and you’re sharply ripped away from whatever reverie you let yourself slip into.

“Thank you,” you murmur, hands cupping the drink and feeling the heat seep into your fingertips. “You really didn’t have to, it was nothing big.”

“Can you blame me for just trying to find an excuse to finally talk to you?” He asks without a skip and you can’t tell if the quickening of your heartbeat is from a looming sense of doom or excitement. Those eyes, the tiny swirls of the ocean, blue like those shells buried in the sand--

It takes three seconds too long for you to understand where he was going with in his words, and part of you feels unamused at his smooth talking. You’ve always guarded yourself against guys like Childe, devilishly handsome who know their way around language semantics, ready to pull you in and just as ready to push you away. That (possibly unfair) bias, coupled with everything else you’ve been feeling for him, sounded the alarms and set the walls up around your heart. Perhaps you need to stop wearing your heart on your sleeve, because Childe immediately retracts his forwardness.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I promise I’m not looking for anything in return and you don’t owe me anything, but I really did just...want to sit and talk and...get to know you?” Childe trails off a little towards the end. Your body loosens up and relaxes just a tiny bit, feeling bad for your snap judgment. Let the guy do something nice, don’t look into it too much, you tell yourself. It’s a coffee, not a five-course dinner.

You reach out a hand towards him, small smile across your lips, ready for his to join yours in a quick handshake. “I’m (y/n), senior history and anthropology double major. It’s nice to meet you.”

The pounding of your heart against your ribcage has nothing to do with the shimmering of his eyes, nothing to do with the fact that his hand fits with yours just right, and nothing to do with the fact that an eerily similar voice from your dreams whispers, “I love you.”

You learn a number of things about Tartaglia in the four hours, like his family members and their respective interests, which classes he did and didn’t enjoy taking, certain takes on Schnezhnayan politics, his own various hobbies, crazy accidents from the occasional college parties, and more. He’s a bit of an open book, probably telling you way more than any regular person would, and definitely more than anything you revealed during all this time. Everything you tell him seems surface level, nothing too deep. The walls are still there to protect you from the unexplainable, profound feelings his presence seems to elicit, and luckily, he doesn’t prod any further. Childe feels the resistance and respects it, which just adds more brownie points in your book, and you almost feel bad for having given so little in return.

“I wish we were taking Teyvat Myth together,” he sighs when walking you back to your dorm, hands stuffed in his pockets. His ruby earring catches the light from the sunset, the shade almost complimentary to the golden amber rays that streak across the sky. “Would’ve helped having a history major in there.”

“Is that all I am to you, an answer bank?” You jokingly ask, but he watches concerningly as you shoot your gaze to the ground, mindfully stepping over the cracks between concrete slabs.

“Of course not,” a gentle sincerity reaches you, giving you the confidence to make eye contact with him. “I’m sorry for making it sound like that, it wasn’t my intention. I really just meant it as a way of saying if the professor or TA ended up being a total bore, then well, having you would make it more fun.”

“I’m sure I’d bore you even more,” chuckling, speeding up to get away. You’re growing too comfortable in whatever atmosphere Childe has created, like an enclosed air bubble bobbing gently in the depths of the sea and letting the waves carry you both to whichever ends of the earth.

“Hey,” he interjects, hand reaching out to stop you with a soft yank of your wrist. There is no resisting force from you, feet stepping backward until he meets you eye to eye. It’s unfair in the way that he can render you motionless by standing just an inch from you, arms brushing with his head tilted closer to your own. “Seriously, I’m glad we did this today. Are you?”

No, because now I don’t know what to think, I don’t know who you are, I’m not any closer to figuring out why you terrify yet leave me so enamoured with you, I’m torn between punching and kissing you and--

“Yes,” you subconsciously answer, brain immediately short-circuiting to scold yourself. “I had fun.”

His grin, charming, devilish, is so so bright, bright enough to rival the Liyue sun that sits on the pier, on the edge of the ocean, bright enough to rival the love that your fraternal twin showers you with on a daily basis. You want time to stop right here because you’re almost sick of the voice settled deep within your heart that screams, “Don’t get comfortable, you must run from him!”

“Good. Let’s do this again?” And you nod, of course you do. Foolish you. “Don’t be a stranger!” He calls out as he turns on his heel and waves over his shoulder, hand raised in the air, and you’re suddenly transported to another scene, a less refined version of the Liyue Harbor, watching as the head of ginger hair with a red mask in a flashier attire of grey and maroon walks away from you and onto a roaring, magnificent ship; big, ivory sails only seen in books and museums. It’s the same gesture of “see you later”, and just before he turns, you blink, and you’re back to seeing your campus again.

But Childe does look back once, warm and content that you’re still standing there, watching over him, and he can’t help but think about when he can spend time with you again, because suddenly, it truly feels like there’s not enough of it anymore.

“Excuse me, what’s a Red Bull?”

The last thing, or person rather, you expect to see on the last day of finals for the fall semester, is a small boy who looks way too young to be here, tugging on the sleeve of your windbreaker. He’s at most eleven, ten maybe, but he has eerily similar characteristics, as well as an accent that doesn’t quite belong to most Liyue natives. Still gathering your bearings from your own perusing of the fridges that hold all the possible beverages a college student could consume, you kneel down until you’re at eye level with the child.

“Repeat that for me? Are you looking for a Red Bull, you say?”

“Yes!” He beams and holds out a student ID that most definitely doesn’t belong to him. “My brother asked me to grab him one because he was busy with something.”

Your eyes flit over to the top shelves where the aforementioned cans of caffeine are located, and definitely too high for someone of his height to reach. “I’ll grab one for you. Did he ask for a specific flavor?”

“Nope, he said regular. Thanks, you’re really nice! Do you know my brother?” He asks, waving the ID at you so you can get a better look at the name. That’s definitely a face you recognize, but the name leaves you confused.

“Yeah, um,” glance over again, “I know...Ajax…”

“He’s the best toy seller in the whole world!”

Somehow, it suits him much better than Childe or Tartaglia, and you’re not quite sure what toys have anything to do with the matter at hand. Speaking of hands, the little boy grabs yours in sheer delight. “Can you take me back to his room? I kinda forgot the directions he told me, and everything’s so big around here.”

“Sure, just let me buy something, too, and I’ll take you.”

“Okay!”

The cashier isn’t the least bit fazed by the little brunette at your side -- it’s always common for family members to come in around the end of semesters to pick up kids or visit, and being an open building with snacks and drinks and a stopping point of most tours, they’ve seen it all. You even let him pick out a bag of chips and a candy bar for himself for being so polite and not a complete menace, paying with your own campus currency.

Teucer, as you’ve learned in the last two minutes, likes to point out things and ask you questions. Luckily, you have answers to most of them and do your best to pad the time, enjoying the feeling of a tiny hand wrapped around three of your fingers. It’s sweet to any normal passerby, believing they’re witnessing an older sister doting on their little brother around the holidays, but to Childe, seeing the tender sweetness on your face as you nod along to whatever Teucer is rambling about to you, sets his heart aflame. He’s already constantly on the verge of wanting to hug and kiss you and never let go, but you haven’t made any indication that you could potentially like him back, and this is just torture.

“Look what they bought me!” Teucer shoves his rewards in Childe’s face as if he had extremely poor eyesight, and you can’t help but laugh a little as you set his Red Bull down on his desk, clutching your own preferred beverage while looking around his room. Finals must have gotten to him with the unusual lack of tidiness in the small space, some laundry strewn here and there, a couple boxes of eaten microwave dinners in the metal wire trash can, some textbooks left open and marked with more sticky notes than you’ve ever seen. You’d only been here once before to drop off some food that he desperately messaged you about, stuck doing a project that he just couldn’t step away from.

“Pretend you don’t see the mess,” Childe pleads, handing a kid tablet to his brother but holding on before Teucer can take it. “What do you say to our nice friend here for buying you these snacks?”

“Thank you!”

“It was nothing,” you shyly smile, ruffling his hair. “I enjoyed meeting you.”

“Wait, what’s your name again?”

“It’s (Y/n).”

“Okay, (y/n)! Wait…(y/n)..as in…”

Teucer trails off and gives a look to his brother, one that spells curiosity and trouble, before he grabs your hand and pulls you into a corner. Any movement Childe makes to leave his desk chair is immediately squashed by Teucer’s disapproval, and the older man is left to helplessly worry when you’re told to squat down so secrets can be whispered into your ear.

“He talks about you a lot whenever he calls home,” and you want to laugh at Tecuer’s attempt to sound as scandalous as possible. “All the time! I think he likes you, like, like like.”

Oh. Oh dear.

“What makes you say that?” You whisper back, indulging both yourself and him, yet also internally snickering at how troubled Childe looks.

“Sometimes, he video calls mama, but we’ll all sit around and talk, and whenever he’s talking about how he saw you or something, he just looks...happy. Really happy.”

The surprise on your face does nothing to settle Childe’s nerves and he’s about to start wringing his hands together. Whatever Teucer was telling you couldn’t be good, probably embarrassing, like the one time he unceremoniously fell on his ass while ice skating over a frozen lake, or when he tried fitting fifteen marshmallows in his mouth and nearly choked on them when their mother caught them in the act, or--

“I think he just thinks of me as a good friend,” you try to inform Teucer, not letting yourself get any semblance of hope. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“If you say so,” Teucer pouts. But then he stops whispering and bounds over back to his brother, grabbing the tablet before plopping down on the half-made bed.

“Look, I was overconfident and thought I could execute a perfect single loop on the ice, but there was a rock and I lost balance and--”

“I wasn’t being told any stories about you falling on ice, but do tell me more,” you chuckle and take some joy in watching the blush spread across his cheeks. It’s easy to tell that he’s mentally berating himself for jumping to conclusions.

“Well, first off, thanks for buying him all that, and my drink, too,” he sighs. “I spoil him enough as it is.”

“I can see why it’s hard not to,” you smile knowingly. “So is it just him here? Where’s the rest of your family?”

“Funny story, he somehow managed to convince my parents to let him come here on his own as his first ever plane flight, so I had to pick him up yesterday from the airport. He’s flying back with me tomorrow.”

“And the RA?” You ask with an eyebrow raised.

“Ah...well...what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him? Speaking of, what was Teucer whispering to you about?”

There’s a pensiveness that overtakes you when you look at Teucer again, who’s happily playing some sort of game and completely oblivious to the rest of his surroundings. You won’t, can’t, take his words to heart, and will take them with a grain of salt at most.

“Nothing important. Although I did learn something new...Ajax?”

“Say my name -- fuck, say it, please--”

“I guess cat’s out of the bag,” he chuckles and looks away, absolutely unaware of the flare of heat that swirls in your stomach from the fleeting vision just now. “I came up with other nicknames as a kid to seem cooler, and they just stuck with me. Plus, the business world is full of people who just want something from you, or just a transactional relationship. I’d rather not give my real name to them, if you know what I mean.”

“That’s fair,” you nod and lean to sit on the edge of his desk. A thought pops into your head and you turn the words over in your head like a washing machine on the spin setting, teeth gnawing on the flesh of your bottom lip. If Teucer hadn’t been in the room, he would’ve been this close to kissing you.

“But if it’s worth anything,” your voice slowly, softly starts, cautious and wary of your thoughts. “I think...Ajax suits you best.”

Curse fate. Curse the legendary Archons. Curse karma and deities and spirits because all he wants to do right now is stand and tower over you, trap you between himself and his desk so you can’t escape, take those pretty lips between his until they’re bruised and swollen because of him, hear you call out his name in the throes of pleasure so he can finally replace his fantasies with tangible memories. The unnatural, magnetic pull that draws him to you is unbearable now -- he feels like he’ll lose the last tendrils of his sanity if he doesn’t do something.

You can’t stop him from slowly reaching out to grab one of your hands, lifting it towards him until he’s close enough for you to feel his breath ghost over your knuckles. It sends a shiver down your spine and blood is pounding in your ears because you can’t begin to fathom what he’s thinking about while doing this, even more so when his lips make contact with your skin and your breath hitches, stuck in your throat as he languidly peeks at you beneath his eyelashes with a heated gaze, then lowly confessing, “My name sounds best when you say it.”

Good heavens.

It’s difficult to swallow and keep your composure, especially when Teucer yells out in glee over, what you can assume, beating something in his game, and Childe drops your hand. But his dilated pupils don’t retract in the slightest, refusing to let you look away so that maybe, you can understand what he’s trying to convey to you. He’s taking the first step because he’s terrible and can’t contain his self-control anymore, pushing the ball into your court, ready for you to either play or exit into the sidelines.

When you do blink, there’s a vision of your naked body wrapped around another, limbs clinging desperately to a sturdy and panting frame. Lips, much like the ones that have seared themselves onto your knuckles, are at your neck and sucking, biting, before moving to your ear and laying filthy words into them that drive you closer to the edge. It all happens so fast that you feel you’ve just experienced whiplash, yet also feeling secondhand embarrassment at how lewd some of these thoughts have been.

You can’t stay here any longer.

“I-I have to go,” spills off your tongue before you can really think about it. The way the haze shatters in his eyes is heartbreaking in its own way, but there’s no time for you to explain. Your brain is in overdrive and eager to run, run, run. It detects danger on all fronts, but you muster out a, “H-have a good break, come find me next semester, mmk?”

And you’re out the door with inhuman speed. When the door clicks shut, only then does Teucer look up from his screen and frown at the lack of your presence. “Where’d they go?”

Chlide doesn’t seem to hear him, and Teucer has never seen his big brother look so sad and confused before.

He holds on to that last tendril of hope, because mark his words, he will find you come January.

After about a week at home, enjoying the festive time with his family and mildly unconcerned about next year’s courses because that was a problem for another day, Childe has his first, crazy, nonsensical dream.

At least, that’s what he tells himself when he snaps awake and his body aches with exhaustion. Not only are his joints in agony, he also feels like he’s sporting unforeseen bruises, which makes absolutely no sense because he hasn’t done anything that would warrant them, no matter how much he and his brothers do some rough-housing. His night of sleep was all consumed by flashes and scenes of weapon fighting, lucid enough to remember feeling his arms flex and wield bows and double-headed polearms and being cognizant of all the enemies??? surrounding him. They ranged from deranged looking monsters, floating beings with soulless masks, and large humans in electricity-padded armor, to behemoth machines in the sky that could leave you within an inch of your life thanks to a drill for a hand?!

But what’s even worse is that you seem to have managed a deal with Morpheus himself and infiltrated his dreams. You were there, too, sometimes fighting with him, sometimes against him, much to his dismay, and while it was nice, he just didn’t get it. Why the friendliness and hostility? Why was there an anger that overtook him when looking directly at you, parrying your blade and sending harmful arcs of water toward your figure?

Why did he relish the fear in your eyes when he darted towards you with electricity cracking through the air?

There’s an overwhelming sensation now to grab his phone to text you and apologize -- for what, he can’t fathom and there are no words to accurately convey what he’s thinking. “Hey, sorry for wanting to kill you in my dream :( “? Or “Sorry for being a friend but then stabbing you in the back, but then being nice to you again”?

And the only thing that really made sense was the serenity and contentment that would course through his veins as the two of you danced around on ivory sandy beaches, picking up shiny blue starconches and taking down more weird creatures; the breathlessness when you would fall back into the water and re-emerge to reconfirm his beliefs that you were one of the most beautiful humans he’d ever laid his eyes on; the love--

Hold the fuck up.

He doesn’t love you. He likes you a whole lot and he’s severely and deathly attracted to you, but he doesn’t love you. Your existence has only been made known to him for about two months, and he didn’t really start talking to you until three weeks in. So no matter how comfortable he feels with you, no matter how much he wishes that you were sleeping peacefully next to him so his nights wouldn’t feel so lonely, it was too early, too hasty, to say that he loves you.

“I’ve been wondering, why didn’t you bring them home?” His mother asks him out of nowhere during breakfast, all to add to this extremely tumultuous roller-coaster morning he’s been having. All he wants to do is eat his bowl of milk and cereal, then potentially go back to sleep before fulfilling his promise to go with his siblings to the nearby skating rink. It takes everything in him to not choke on his spoon of grains.

“Agreed, didn’t you mention they didn’t really have any family to go back to and that the move to Liyue was semi-permanent?” His father chimes in, laying a quick peck on his wife’s temple. “It’s never fun to spend the holidays alone.”

“They would’ve felt like they were intruding,” Childe replies quietly, stabbing his bowl a few times before scooping up another spoonful of cereal to his mouth. “I know we’re friends, but we haven’t known each other for that long, and maybe they’d be uncomfortable because that’s a lot honestly…”

“You don’t know until you try,” his mother sings and pats him on the shoulder. “We do have a guest room after all.”

“For them and their twin?”

“And quite a comfortable futon with enough blankets.”

Childe smiles fondly at his parents’ kindness. He can only imagine what this winter break would’ve been like now -- you and your twin floating around, trying to help out with certain chores, sitting by the fireplace and watching TV, huddled up with mugs of hot chocolate, playing board games with everyone and engaging in all the shenanigans…

Laughing. Loving. Grinning. Basking.

Handing over one of his hoodies to you as a sick way of torturing yet blessing himself for seeing how lovely you look in his clothes, standing silently in the doorway as you attempt to help out with mealtimes next to his mother, watching you run around in the backyard and dodging his siblings’ snowballs while lodging a few of your own -- how wonderful it all would be.

But he squashes it down as quickly as possible, because you escaped his grasp. You ran away from his advances temporarily and even though you gave him permission to seek you out come the spring semester, he worries that you might take it back. Something will wake up inside of you to keep him out of your heart and your life, and he’s not confident enough at this point to believe there’s a good chance you will come spend the holidays with him and his family next year.

“Maybe next year, ma,” he sends her a hesitant, yet somewhat broken purse of his lips that’s just the least bit curved. It tells her everything he’s thinking, and the quick patting of his cheek lets him know she understands.

Half an hour later, Childe finds himself curled up on his side under the sheets, phone in hand as he stares at a blinking cursor. It shouldn’t be so hard to send a text to convey his holiday greetings, because that’s all it is -- part of him is becoming desperate and aching for some interaction with you, even if it’s just a text sent back for conventional social pleasantries. He’ll take it for now, right?

Before he can totally chicken out, his thumbs quickly type a, “Happy Holidays, (y/n) :)”, and it’s a little embarrassing how quickly after he hits the ‘send’ button that he tosses it over his shoulder so he’s not directly looking at it anymore. His heartbeat is too quick and he prays for no phantom vibrations or phantom sound notifications to avoid any disappointment of thinking he got a reply. It was a harmless text, yet he’s treating it like he just got assigned on a mission to go and murder someone for the first time. What will he do if you never text him back? Does that mean you really don’t want to talk to him? Are you dead in a ditch somewhere? Did you change numbers and not tell him? Did your twin get all the details and make the executive decision to block his number? Will he never get a chance to talk to you again, even if it’s about something in the Teyvat Mythology class next semester? Will you--

His shoulder screams in protest when he quickly flips himself over at the text notification sound, hands shakily unlocking his phone and opening up your conversation again. His heart rate significantly decreases, reaching back to its normal pace, especially as he reads the little words on his screen.

“Happy Holidays, Ajax ^^”

There is hope.

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

You’re huddled under the comforter of your twin’s bed, phone just peeking above the edge as you stare at it with a brightness in your eyes. For the most part, you had been sulking there, apart from meals and going back to your own room to sleep, and mentally berating yourself for the way you reacted to Childe the week before.

“He just texted me to say happy holidays,” shrugging to put on a facade of indifference. It’s stupid that you’re trying to hide your feelings from your twin of all people, who could pick apart and identify your emotions in a heartbeat. A roll of his eyes lets you know that you haven’t fooled him at all.

“So you think that whatever comment he made, which was very suggestive and indicative of clearly non-platonic feelings, was just something...friendly? Remind me again how you came to that conclusion?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking!” You whine, looking around to see if there was anything you could toss at him. “It’s just, with everything, all the dreams and stupid gut feelings, I just -- I don’t know, okay?? I can’t tell you enough how much I wish I had just kissed his stupid face and see where it goes from there.”

“Okay, gross, but don’t beat yourself up. Though...I do have a good idea on how to maybe get a good reaction out of him. You wanna go to the New Years’ celebration at Xiangling’s?”

“I think she’d threaten me with a knife if I didn’t. She wanted to go shopping at some point, too.”

“I’ll drop the overprotective brother act for one night, okay? One night, just to let this happen, and for your peace of mind.”

He does a fair amount of conspiring with Xiangling, a friend they met one time at a restaurant a couple years ago, even tagging along on the shopping trip. Together, the three of you find yourself a dress that Xiangling swears would make any person drool over you, including Childe, because at the end of the day, he was a person with the possibility of being attracted to you.

You think it’s a bit silly, but honestly, what do you have to lose at this point?

At 11:57PM on New Years’ Eve, Childe is standing outside in the freezing cold with his family, arms lifting up bags of sparklers and fireworks. They’ve driven out closer to the wild like they do every year, and everybody excitedly gets lighters ready, making sure someone’s got a clock out there that tells the seconds. As the younger kids open up the packaging and argue over which one to set off first, Childe’s phone vibrates in his coat pocket.

It’s 11:58PM when he manages to fish the device out and thank himself for buying gloves that are touch-screen friendly, excited to see that there are two texts from you, the latter reading, “Happy New Year!”. It doesn’t matter that you’re a little early, but he’s mainly intrigued by the fact a photo came before it. In his mind, you’re probably curled up with your twin brother, hopefully a selfie because wow, he misses your face.

He gets something else instead, and he is so glad that it’s dark outside and the electric lamp they have is too far away from him to draw any attention.

You have your arm around your brother’s waist and another girl’s that he doesn’t recognize, but it’s a full frontal view of your outfit, one that hugs your curves beautifully and shows more cleavage than he’s ever seen from you, sophisticated and elegant, yet fun and leaving enough to the imagination. There’s a bright smile coming from all of you, and you look like you’re at someone’s house or apartment with plenty of other people milling around in the back, but they don’t matter, not when all he can focus on is you.

Gorgeous, breathtaking, arousing, mind blowing, and gods, he wishes he could teleport to Liyue at this moment, find you, and kiss you right at midnight. Fuck the fact that he doesn’t exactly believe in superstitions like, “Kissing your significant other at midnight means you’ll last forever!” but he’s willing to take the chance with it on this night and the ones after, if he’s allowed. He tries not to think too much about pinning you against the wall and letting the world dissolve -- wants to be the one with the privilege to drag down that zipper and feel his bare skin on yours, and --

As Teucer starts yelling there’s only a minute left, he instinctively locks his phone and shoves it away out of anyone’s view. The last thing he needs is his family teasing him about ogling at your photo for a straight 50 seconds, wide-eyed and pupils on the verge of dilating, the visible breath leaving his mouth just a smudge more dense and prominent than usual.

The only thing he can do to distract himself from popping a boner in front of his parents is to join in on the countdown, making sure all the fireworks are set up correctly and grabbing a sparkler for himself. He waves it around with Tonia and promises to fulfill her wishes of taking one of those pictures right as she draws a pattern in the air. Their excitement is palpable and addicting, and even though the larger fireworks set off a few seconds after midnight hits, the nostalgia fills his lungs with fond memories and future wishes that they only continue this tradition for as long as possible, and hopefully, with you at his side.

When it’s 12:04AM, you get a picture message back of Childe bundled up in a black paletot coat, matching beanie and all, a gloved hand holding a sparkler and lips curved upwards, with a caption that says, “Happy New Year’s! See you soon :)”. You show it to Xiangling and your brother, both taking it as a win in their books, although the former does tipsily protest that there should be a better indicator of Childe’s brain breaking at how amazing you look right now. Maybe she’s prophetic, because another text chimes in and the words set you aflame, as well as suggestive whoops into your ears.

It’s a simple, “You look incredible btw”.

If you didn’t want to properly savor this moment, you would’ve found the nearest shot of the strongest liquor and tossed it back with abandon. But you want to remember the warmth in your veins that wasn’t from the alcohol or the heating, the fluttering of your heartbeat, the teeth-baring grin that you couldn’t fight off, the constant re-reading of those four words -- because they’re so different from everything you had been feeling before with him, the need for protection, the need to escape. Instead, you’d like to be in his arms right now and see for yourself how he’d look at you in this moment, and if he would take any action.

You want him to. So, so bad.

Childe spends his last week at home hating the fact that you’re just sitting around somewhere in Liyue, doing whatever you’re doing, probably doing some light preparation for your last semester of classes, and he’s not there to take advantage of all this free time and hang out with you. When classes start, it’ll be busy and hectic. You still have your thesis to finish and revise, and while that won’t eat up all your time, it’s still some that he’d want to fill in with his presence if he could. He debates whether or not he should ask for your schedule and compare it with his, maybe set up meetings every other day or propose that they all eat one meal together every day. Childe’s not quite sure of what you plan to do after graduation, as it hasn’t come up in conversation yet, but either way, he’s determined to stay in contact and make things work out. Long distance isn’t ideal, but with technology now, he’ll take it.

He feels a little bad for how excited he probably looked to be leaving home, uncharacteristic for the most part. His older siblings have already gone back to their respective homes, and it’s mainly Teucer and Tonia that worry and tear up when he starts packing his belongings. Tonia finds it unfair that Teucer got to meet you first and the latter makes sure to rub it into everyone’s faces. It’s hard for Childe to sleep on the plane because he’s thrumming with excitement, yet somehow even more nervous than usual when the plane hits small bouts of turbulence, and he doesn’t seem to relax until he sets foot back on campus.

He’s here. It’s January, and you’re physically closer to him than ever in the last two weeks.

“Found you.”

On the first day of classes, you’re sitting alone with some salad greens in a bowl, poking your fork at some scraps while you watch something on your phone, earbuds in and back towards the entrance of the canteen. It would explain the unannounced entrance of the very person who’s been at the forefront of nearly every thought in the last 96 hours, his fingers gingerly removing an earbud to surprise you as best as possible, and you startle in your seat.

Your heart kicks into overdrive when he hands you back your earbud and pulls out the seat next to you, setting his own plate of food down as he plops down in his chair. But then he says nothing afterwards, instead choosing to send you a cheeky grin before digging in. You’re left to slowly phase out of your state of shock, stuck between either running away or frantically texting your twin to come and save you even though he was off on a date with Keqing.

It’s not that you weren’t elated at the fact that Childe had done exactly as you told him last month, you just weren’t...prepared? It’s a shitty excuse and a cop out -- you’re mainly just having trouble with racking your brain to find the right words. What are you supposed to say? What should you do? Is it socially acceptable to lean over and kiss him on the cheek because that’s what you’d like to impulsively do at this very second??

“So you did,” you settle and steal a roasted potato wedge from his plate. It’s his turn to be taken by surprise, but he gets over it much quicker than you do. In fact, he spears two wedges and drops them in your bowl, smiling at you as best as he can with a mouth full of food. You give them your thanks before the silence settles in again.

“Did you have a good break?” He asks before his next bite.

“I did. You?”

“It was nice. My parents said I should’ve brought you and your twin home to spend the holidays with us. Can’t say it didn’t cross my mind before finals.”

Holy shit, what? “We couldn’t intrude like that, but that’s really nice of you guys.”

“That’s okay, there’s plenty of chances to visit later.”

You tilt your head and furrow your eyebrows. “But we graduate this semester?”

Childe challenges you with one of his own eyebrows raised. “And? Are we never gonna see each other again?”

Honestly, the possibility had occurred to you. You aren’t entirely sure of Childe’s plans after graduation, and if that meant he was staying in Liyue or going back to Snezhnaya or even moving to Inazuma or Mondstat. While people preach on and on about how lasting friendships and relationships are often formed during college, you believe it’s more common to slowly drift apart as life gets busier. And if Childe moved away, or if you did, it’d be hard to consistently keep in touch with 10 hour workdays.

The thought saddens you, regardless. You like him so much and you’re glad that he was even in your life to begin with, because as unbelievable as it sounds, seeing him was almost akin to the feeling of coming home. Amidst all your nerves, your confusion, your spiraling thoughts, something deeply sated in your heart was a comfort that you found with very few people in your life whenever in his presence.

The thought of leaving and never looking back somehow doesn’t feel new -- it’s bittersweet, but the air in your lungs feels like it’s surrendered to something, like it was to be expected.

“You can’t just leave without telling me--”

“It was last minute! I had no choice!”

“You could’ve written up a message, anything--”

“Can you imagine the position you’d be in if the message got intercepted? I wouldn’t have been safe, she’d make you come after me--”

“As if you’d be any safer in Inazuma of all places! That’s the one place I can’t easily get to!”

“I can take care of myself, Childe, I don’t need you to protect me.”

“This isn’t about me protecting you, (y/n) and -- stop walking, will you?!”

“Then what is this about?” You spin on your wheel with eyes aflame. “Why are you so angry with me? It’s normal for me to disappear for weeks at a time, why was this any different?”

“Because you could’ve died!” He yells back in despair, chest heaving. Your silence is his cue to continue. “You could’ve died and I wouldn’t have known until much later. You could’ve died and all I’d ever think about were the things I never got to say to you, and how I wish I had treated every day with you like it was our last.”

It isn’t hard to tell that you’re stunned and at a complete loss for words. Childe often hides behind facades of charm and wit, and only when he is truly weak does he choose to be this vulnerable, baring his heart for you to see.

“I only have two nightmares in this world. One, my family being harmed in any way. Two, reading in a report or hearing from an agent that you’ve been captured and killed.”

“I like to think that we will.”

His hand reaches out to lay on top of yours, giving it a quick squeeze. “Well, let’s make the most of it this semester.”

Conversation afterwards is easy, filling each other in on holiday activities. Childe speaks extensively about several family traditions and you listen with rapt attention, basking in how fond he is of all of them. Even as you both bring your dishes to the return belt and leave, he immediately offers to drive you both somewhere to get boba, noticing your reluctance to part ways. But boba shops have to close, and you both have class tomorrow morning, and you’re both finding any excuse to keep talking, even if that means sitting outside your dorm building on a nearby bench.

You eventually bid each other good night’s and see you later’s, him refusing to walk away until the heavy door locks shut behind you after you swipe your student ID, and you looking over your shoulder to watch his figure disappear into the night.

True to his intentions, Childe makes great efforts to meet you at least once a day, and he can’t get enough. Each parting from you tugs and tugs at his heart, as if there’s a high possibility you’ll never want to see him again the next day, and he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Your twin and Childe get along well for the most part, and he even meets Xiangling on one of her shifts at her regular restaurant, who sends you a salacious wink and an eyebrow wiggle over his shoulder that nearly causes you to burst from embarrassment.

February rolls over without a hitch, even if you’re a little disappointed that Childe didn’t make a move for Valentine’s Day. Granted, you two still spent time with each other and he’s so darn physically affectionate and he bought you a carnation from the event his dorm held, but you wish you had the guts to fess up and just kiss the man.

It’ll happen some day, you tell yourself. You have time before graduation.

Two days before the end of the Friday that would signal the start of Spring Break, you wake up in a cold sweat, mind reeling and head splitting, heart so so heavy, as a connection is made between your present and your dreams. Not long after, there are tears streaming silently down your face and into your open palms placed in your lap, and you sit in shock as everything comes back to you. Memories are such treasured burdens, you realize.

For the most part, you had gotten used to the dreams, choosing to take charge of what you know and feel now with Childe over succumbing to some strange neurological premonitions. Especially in your dreams when many people’s faces were blurred over and hazy, and the only things you could rely on were voices, touch, and other physical features. You thought that maybe your mind was just playing tricks by transposing Childe’s hair onto a body that was also strikingly similar to his, but for the first time last night, you could see each defining feature on his face as clear as day.

The sight of his figure arching gracefully over yours, the water arrows that appeared out of thin air, the back that protected you from some military men, the voice that said, “Hey girlie, hold still.”

And that was when you had snapped awake to your current state.

Past the initial shock and uncontrollable tears, you soon bent over as sobs wracked your chest, overwhelmed by all the emotions and the pain the memories brought you; losing your twin, finding him to only be left with even more questions after roaming for decades and decades, meeting all your loved ones throughout Mondstat and Liyue, fighting yet falling so hard for Childe, feeling the fear when facing his Foul Legacy form, hating him for Osial, loving him, breathing heavily as the tip of your blade was pointed at his neck and his own just centimeters from yours, tendrils of water inching closer and closer--

Everything makes sense now.

When you meet your twin for lunch at the cafeteria, you pay no mind to the fact that you’re in public and hug him harder than you ever have in years. He’s already a little alarmed that your eyes seem swollen and you look like finals came two months early, but when he asks what’s wrong, all he gets is a shake of your head and nothing more than, “Just a bad nightmare. I love you, y’know that?”

“I love you too?”

“Don’t sound so unsure, now let’s go and get in line before they run out of Jueyun Chili Chicken.”

Even when you meet Xiao later in the early evening to talk about your thesis, you find yourself holding back more tears just two minutes in, reminded of his past and his own life, and he’s moderately concerned, hesitantly handing you a tissue from the corner of his desk when a stray tear escapes. “Is everything okay?” He hesitantly asks, really hoping that he didn’t do anything to make you cry.

“No,” you almost wail and sniffle while dabbing at your eyes. “Sorry, it’s just been a really long day.”

Xiao’s inquisitive gaze softens, remembering how hard undergraduate life could be sometimes. Graduate school was a whole other level, but that shouldn’t discount your own personal difficulties. Plus, in all of the year and a half that he’s known you, you’ve never broken down like this before in front of him.

“You work really hard, Xiao,” you continue, and he’s not sure where this is coming from. “You’re always so helpful and willing to work with me and answer my stupid questions and like-- you practice self-care, right?”

Xiao nods as a white lie, but it seems to comfort you. Maybe too much because you pull him in for a quick and unexpected hug, and you both decide to reschedule this meeting for tomorrow.

As per usual, you wait for Childe to join you for dinner since you finished up earlier than expected. It gives you more time to think about everyone from Mondstat -- Kaeya, Diluc, Lisa, Jean, Amber...funny to think that some things never changed as you compared their past version to the ones you know now.

“Mora for your thoughts?”

There’s a peace that warms your heart when you hear Childe’s voice, one that forces you to smile at him as he sits down next to you. “Just thinking about old friends.”

“I have to admit, I’ll be a little jealous if it’s another guy taking up more space than me in that pretty brain of yours.”

What a flirt. This man isn’t good for your heart. “Who said you had any to begin with?”

He dramatically places a hand over his heart. “You wound me, (y/n). How will I ever recover?”

“You’re ridiculous,” you snicker. Childe reaches over to pinch your cheek and you bat at him in protest. Easily, he grabs one of your hands and simply pulls you towards the food lines, knowing that you’ll stop fighting back soon.

Part of it feels strange now to feel and see his hands with no leather gloves on.

“Childe,” you start halfway through your meal, continuing after he hums back in reply. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

He freezes briefly, but recovers so quickly that if you hadn’t been watching so closely, you wouldn’t have noticed. “I think it’s neat, the idea of having past lives. Why do you ask?”

What he really wants to ask is if you’ve been having those dreams, too; if he’s starring in your nights like you have been in his.

“Just a thought, especially since you’re taking Teyvat Myth now, too.”

“Do you...do you think if there was a past life, that we knew each other?”

There’s something about the look of content on your face before you meet his gaze -- he thinks that you know more than you’re letting on but you’re holding back for some reason. He wants to know what’s going through your brain right now, why the fondness in your eyes sends a jolt through him like he’s been searching for it all his life, if you know anything about this magnetic pull between you two.

“I like to think that we knew each other well.”

Even though the first day of your returned memories was somewhat eventful, you couldn’t help but feel yourself wanting to pull back from Childe -- at least, until you can successfully compartmentalize which emotions belonged to you past self and which ones belonged to your current mindset. You didn’t quite agree with his duties and his affiliation with the Fatui back then, even if he had his reasons that did make sense, to some degree.

The killing, the threatening, so intent on stealing Rex Lapis’s Gnosis in the name of the Tsaritsa, summoning Osial as a mean to an end -- and you definitely can’t forget how stubborn he was in not listening to your protests, so caught up in his brain that you had betrayed him and sent you plummeting to a near-death experience despite his earlier promise of no intention of killing you specifically.

Everything had been toeing a faint, thin line with Childe then. Undeniable chemistry and tension, guarding yourself for yours and Paimon’s safety, slashing at Fatui agents, whispering out pleas and affirmations of “I’m yours” while riding him, sometimes having to sneak out in the mornings…

The only thing you don’t remember is how everything ends -- maybe it’ll come back to you eventually, but for now, you think you’re okay not knowing.

If Childe still doesn’t remember anything from back then, you think it’d be unfair to spend time with him in all your conflicting emotions, even when it’s spring break, where you have so much more hours in the day to be with each other than normal. Fun plans around Liyue had been made, like a two-day one-night trip to Yaoguang Shoal, and you’re this close to cancelling on him.

But he had been looking forward to it so much, even made most of the preparations for it. Who are you to rob that joy from him when it was you who couldn’t figure out your own shit? Are you self-destructing?

Perhaps.

Before you know it, you’re sitting in the passenger seat of his car, staring out the window at the scenery. Somehow, it pleased you to see that the nature of Liyue had been carefully preserved over the many centuries despite its development into the modern age. You get lost in picking apart the differences between then and now that you don’t notice how quiet you’ve fallen and Childe looks over worriedly when you show no reaction to your favorite songs playing on the stereo.

Even when he calls your name once, twice, nothing gives as you clearly have tuned everything out. So he leaves you be until there’s about half an hour left on the drive, unable to hold back and succumbing to reach over for your hand. You startle so strongly that he almost feels bad for having done it unannounced. But what’s even more disturbing is that this isn’t really the first time.

You’ve been talking to him less, often sitting quietly and staring off into another world that he can’t seem to reach. His texts are answered less frequently and with less wit and enthusiasm, so much so that he just appreciates you still show up to see him. Each time he asks if you’re okay, you always affirm that you are. He’s had a hard time believing you, but Childe believes you’ll tell him when you’re ready, surely.

It’s a little ironic yet fateful that Childe planned to bring you here, of all places. In the past, you had spent many days and nights running around in the sand with him, fighting slimes and hilichurls and collecting starconches for him. You remember laying on a large towel next to him as you both looked up into the sky, pointing out stars and constellations while sharing endless kisses away from prying, spying eyes.

“I’m sorry, I must’ve zoned out,” you sincerely apologize.

“It’s okay, I just wanna make sure you relax while we’re here. This is supposed to be a vacation.”

“You’re right,” you agree and squeeze his hand. “Let’s make the most of it before we become adults who are too busy to have fun like this again.”

And you do. Childe rented a small beach cabin (rich boys) closer to one end of the shoreline, just big enough with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen with a dining table. You help him bring in your bags and some groceries bought the night before, setting them down quickly so you can peer out the window again to take in the view. Childe picked a good time, too. Although it’d be a little chilly at night, the day was still warm and mainly overcast with clouds.

“What do you say we change into our swimsuits and head down to the water?”

“Sure.”

Childe hadn’t really been expecting for you to step out in a large, casual tee and gym shorts, one shoulder exposed. He might have been hoping to see a little more skin, but his mother didn’t raise a chauvinistic pervert for a son.

The light in your eyes as you both approach the water is everything he had been missing the last few days, your excitement and joy contagious. As soon as you place everything down on the sand, you kick off your flip flops and leave him behind to step into the water, giggling at feeling the waves crash over your ankles and bring sand between your toes. Childe approaches you from behind and starts smearing sunblock on the back of your neck, to which you just grin beautifully at him in thanks and he has to fight off the desire to kiss you right then and there.

You’re too caught up in embracing the ocean afterwards to feel the shrinking distance between you two, mistaking his warmth for the general spring air. It isn’t until he’s done with your shoulders that he hands you the bottle to leave you to do the rest of your body, and when you turn to thank him, he’s much closer than you remember. His eyes are gentle, holding your gaze and almost daring you to look away first.

But if there’s one thing you can place without a shred of doubt, it is the unmistakable look of love, because you had seen it many, many times before without knowing until later what it meant.

How so incredibly lucky you were to have Childe back in your life now, loving you all the same, and with no life-threatening barriers. Fate or the Archons have given you a second chance, and you’d be damned to take it for granted.

Childe welcomes your lips against his, wasting no time to bring you into his arms so you’re pressed against him as much as possible. He can’t care for the overt public display of affection because this is everything he’s wanted for months now, waiting patiently for you to give him permission to make you his. Your lips are incredibly soft and pliant against his as you first kiss him patiently, then applying more force and desperation to taste more of him. He mirrors you, one hand cradling the back of your head and the other on your neck with a thumb extended to your jawline, teeth moving to nip at your bottom lip. It’s dangerous, the way you smile against his lips, and when he sinks his teeth in deeper before pulling back, your quiet mewl nearly drives him over the edge.

But you’re in public, and this was an amazing first kiss. You two have a beach to enjoy and a fun night planned, and now that he doesn’t have to hold back on his affections, it’ll be even better.

His lips part from yours regretfully, his eyes languidly opening to meet yours. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots a blue starconch in the sand and freezes.

It’s not that he’s never seen one before, but something clicks. You. The shore. Starconches. Starry nights. His dreams. Monsters. Gods. Fighting. So much fighting. Training. His family. Dragons. You. Falling. You falling. You fighting him. Yelling. Kissing. Loving. Chasing. Him chasing you before you disappear at a teleport waypoint that somehow you only can operate. The abyss. Your twin.

Oh, Archons.

“ -ou okay, Ajax? Ajax?”

He snaps to look at you again. How does he go about this? How does he ask?

“(Y/n)...have you ever heard of the Fatui Harbingers?”

He has to admit that it’s a bit amazing to be able to identify all the emotions that cross your complexion, from curiosity to realization to conflicted. You’re actively trying to piece everything together without revealing too much on the off-chance that you’re wrong, that Childe hasn’t regained his memories and is just asking about something from class randomly and completely out of the blue.

Wait.

“You haven’t reached that material yet in class,” you whisper, heart in your throat at the realization. Could it really be…

“I was once Tartaglia, eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui, who possessed a Delusion and used my Foul Legacy Transformation with you several times,” he murmurs back, tucking a stray tendril behind your ear. “Is it too late to apologize again for summoning an ancient god and letting you fall about five floors with no warning?”

He should’ve been prepared for you wrapping your arms around his neck, pulling him in for a tight embrace. “No, never, but I spent weeks after kicking your ass so you’ve been long forgiven.”

Childe burrows his face into your neck, breathing in your scent and basking in this moment. There was so much to talk about, but you two arguably had more time in the world than ever with nothing holding you back. There was no impending war looming over, no one on the run, no opposing forces. His silent wish for a different life with you seems to have been answered finally. If running into you had been the event to set everything in motion, he only wishes he’d done so earlier.

All that matters now is you’re here together in this plane of existence, given a chance to love again, and experience everything you couldn't before.

As written in the stars, take my soul for it is forever yours.

fin

#childe x reader #tartaglia x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin scenarios #genshin impact scenarios #genshin imagines #childe #tartaglia #childe angst #genshin impact #genshin angst #genshin impact angst #this fic maybe took two years off my life

553 notes · View notes

tetsuuji · 3 years

Text

Tides of Water: Prologue

Pairing: Childe x fem!Reader

Summary: The young pair was inseparable since little days, always seen tied together. But with the beginning of high school, the two went their own ways and forgot about their childhood’s fairytale. Or so Name thought. Born into the ones of the richest families in Teyvat, Name and Childe were bound to happen one way or another, and once the marriage between them came knocking on the door, they were brought back together. However, neither of the two were the same people they used to be, and both learnt that since the very beginning of their shared life.

Word Count: 1568

Tags and Warnings: Fluff at the beginning, angst at the end, friends to strangers, modern AU kids/teenagers POV, usage of Childe’s real name, mentions of strict childhood

Notes: I am so sorry this took so long to post. I had a shitshow of the last week, plus my graphics card died again. But we’re here! Hope it’s a good enough intro into the whole story and thank you @genshinfanboy for beta reading! Reblogs and feedbacks are appriciated.

“Have you ever thought of what your future would look like?” You winced at the sudden break of the soothing silence between you both. The strands of his ginger hair tickled your nose as you turned to him, only to see him staring at the flickering stars above you. His ocean eyes were focused on the sight, blinking too many times while you questioned where he pulled the question from. You were too young to have such conversations, merely tackling into the beginnings of middle school, yet he never failed to amuse you with unexpected topics.

But that was Childe for you; never afraid to speak his mind.

“Not really,” you mumbled, averting your gaze back to the night sky. “Papa probably has things planned for me, so there is nothing for me to think about, I guess.” Some part of you knew that was the case. Ever since you were able to talk, he has had a strict approach to raising you. Learning at least two languages, excelling in chess and mathematics, making sure you read a few books a week. The list went on as you grew older, making you a female copy of your father. You didn’t have many toys to play with or friends to hang out with, although your mother took it upon herself to cheat the system every once in a while. Was it to brush your hair after a bath, read you fairy tales before bed, or sneak a plush or two without your father noticing, she made sure you knew what it felt like being taken care of outside the stern routine you had.

After all, she was the one who introduced you to your best friend and his family, and that was something you always silently thanked her for.

Childe was the complete opposite of you; his parents let him shape himself in the way he wanted to. Being the youngest at the time gave him the freedom of getting extra spoiled, almost carefree, yet he ended up as someone every parent would like their child to be.

He was someone you wanted to be but knew you couldn't.

The only reason your father allowed your friendship to bloom was Childe’s father himself. Being best friends since their high school days, the two were inseparable. Although two polar opposites, they seemed more like brothers than anything else. For sure, your mother encouraged you to spend time with Childe in the first place, but your father never said a word after seeing you together.

“That’s so lame, Name.” His teasing voice made you frown. “You should have a secret hobby. Don’t be the boring one.” Even though you knew there was no ill intention behind his words, you still pinched his side, drawing a dramatic squeak from his mouth. Rolling your eyes, you puffed the air you held out and pouted at him. His eyes never left the scenery above, but you noticed a tiny smirk forming at the corner of his right lip.

Ajax ‘Childe’ Tartaglia was a menace who you were proud to call your best friend.

“You know how they are, stupid. ‘Can't do much about it.” You loved your parents equally for everything they were doing for you. So, it was only natural to accept what they planned for you without any second thoughts.

“Well,” he exclaimed, abruptly turning around to face you. Childe’s tiny head was too close to you, his hair tickling your nose, with a big smile plastered on his cute face. “At least you’ll have me in your future! Promise I’m not going anywhere.”

His eyes closed, the smile only growing wider. Your heart fluttered at the scene. It skipped a few beats hearing his words. He would always be by your side. He would be the ray of sunshine in your pre-planned life. He would always be your Ajax.

As you returned the smile to him, he ruffled through your loose hair, lying back down on the shared blanket. Emitting the warmth in the already warm sunroom, he pressed himself closer to your tiny body, fingers searching for yours. You quickly glanced at your small hands, letting him intertwine them together. There was that soothing silence between you once again. Shortly lived as Childe quickly started rambling about his own plans and wishes, never once forgetting to mention where were you in that story. You were happy.

He made you happy.

Little that you knew back then your life would turn around 180 sooner than you thought.

It hurt to face him. It hurt to let those words out of your throat. It hurt to hurt him.

You knew about your departure overseas before the middle school graduation, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say anything to him earlier. It pained you enough already, and you knew how much it would do the same to him. But you had to; you just decided to wait until the very last moment.

Childe grew out to be a teasing gentleman. He could have spun everything around his finger without blinking once, yet showed major respect when needed. You were proud of him, more than you were of yourself. There was still shape that had to be done about him, he was only 15, but you knew he would be a sly charmer.

Without you by his side.

Both of you quietly stood at the frozen fountain inside your garden, your favorite place to chase each other since little days. His already tall figure loomed over you, but his eyes avoided meeting yours, no usual shine inside them. You knew you had broken him, how could you not? His best friend, his better half, was leaving him for however how long. The moment you shared with him right there and then was the last one, but you couldn’t even make him smile, make it easier for him.

“Why didn't you say something earlier?” Childe’s voice was detached; no one would understand how hard he was trying not to let it crack. None but you. With each lip bite, another blade pierced your heart with sorrow. It felt like the air had thinned out, making it impossible to breathe. You wished he looked at you, and saw the guilt hoarded inside your irises. But there was nothing instead. Only the sound of him breathing incoherently and clenched jaw.

“I…” Your voice gave up on you, yet you had to find it in yourself to end the already one-sided conversation. “I was scared.” Was that really enough? Deep inside, you knew it's not, it wasn't a good reason. As honest as it was, it couldn’t give him the fair closure he deserved.

Maybe you should have said something earlier. Maybe it would have hurt both of you less if he knew sooner. But it was too late already. It was too late even if it was sooner.

You were leaving and it couldn’t be stopped. Childe knew that, cursing everything and everyone that kept it hidden away from him. But he never said it out loud. Shoving it deep inside his brain, he didn’t say a word. He didn’t blame you. He couldn’t blame you. After all, your life was decided before you knew it. The only wish he had was more time. More time to hold you in his arms. More time to tell you how he really felt.

More time to confess his love to you.

Instead, he leaned down his forehead onto yours, his cold skin absorbing the warmth out of you. And he just breathed, eyes closed, mouth sealed in a straight line. You hitched at his movement, pleading your heart to stop racing so fast and loud, but touched his nose with yours as your eyes stayed glued to his stoic face.

“Don't forget me,” he whispered, wishing it more to himself than anything else. Your heart broke in half as he finally opened his eyes, the oceans turning into a midnight sky from the sadness that consumed them. Tears finally escaped and rolled down your face uncontrollably as you pulled him into a tight hug. Wrinkling your coat, he tugged you closer, just to feel you next to him one last time. Until you meet again.

“Never.” You thought that was a promise you would never break. It was easy, you couldn’t forget about him. He promised he would stay by your side forever, no matter what happens.

Yet, some twisted part of your fate had different plans for you, and Childe became nothing but a faded memory after 10 years of you leaving him alone in that garden.

With each passing year, he roamed your mind less and less, until you found yourself never thinking of him again. Memories you two made together were nothing more than a smudge you couldn't restore. Nor did you try to in the end. You focused on yourself and your career, making sure your parents had a reason to boast about their daughter being the next successor to numerous hotels around the country. It was the only way for you; to listen and obey what was expected of you.

You owed them that much. You owed them your whole life for being where you were, satisfied with the lush life you lived.

And you had to agree with anything they still had in preparation for you once you step through their doors again.

Taglist: @ariesreii, @mitskisaveme, @tiny-uwuu, @genshincopium Send me an ask if you wish to be added! Striked mentions can’t be tagged.

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact childe #genshin impact tartaglia #genshin impact series #genshin impact scenarios #childe x reader #tartaglia x reader #genshin childe #genshin tartaglia #childe #tartaglia #female reader #modern au #Oli scribbles #oli's tides of water

158 notes · View notes

skywardscroll · 3 years

Text

the ghost of you | xiao

✧ word count: 6k

✧ this was a request! : xiaos-defenseless-backwindow : Hi, I just read your Xiao Oneshot, and I’m in love with the way you write, especially for Xiao. The way he’s cynical and laments about human greed and selfishness yet he still cares for them. A jaded soft boi with a golden plush heart.

So I wanted to make a request fic. Because I needed to see more Xiao written from you. I was hoping that it may have a bit of NSFW in it, but unsure what things you are willing to write or not for NSFW and what your preferences for the reader and character’s sub/dom, top/bottom status or if you don’t care either way and are open to any position for them. (Unless you do have a list and I’m just dumb and can’t find it)

✧ summary: you were young when you first saw the ghost in the field outside your home. as time went on, you were convinced he was a harbinger of misfortune in your life.

✧ warnings: NSFW! MINORS DNI. Language, mentions of death / y/n is orphaned. angst. implied virgin!xiao, unprotected sex, oral (male recieving), cream pie, y/n and xiao are both switches, but xiao is definitely soft and subby. praise, public sex (kinda)

✧ a/n: okay i hope this is good and not cringe lol </3 i’ve never written nsfw before, so i really do hope this is alright! thank you so much for requesting this! it definitely challenged me (and i can’t believe how long it is lol.) i also had no idea how to end it so,,, it’s a little cliche :p ANYWAY! i hope you like it!! please let me know any feedback you have <3

You first saw him on the edge of the meadow when you were just five. A young girl, who felt at home when there was dirt on her knees and the sun soaked into her shoulders, and a ghost.

Though, in all fairness, he never looked like the ghosts you’d read about in stories or seen wandering around Liyue during October festivals. He wasn’t a white sheet of linen with eyes cut out, or translucent with a trail of slime in his wake – He looked very real as he stood at the other end of the flower field with his eyes wide and heavy breath. Did ghost even have a reason to breathe?

It was turning dusk when he looked to the setting sun and then back at the young girl across the way from him. He could see your tattered clothes from the many days of playing outside in the field and in the nearby water of the marsh. Little flyaway hairs tickled your pink cheeks as you looked back at him with a furrowed brow. You were on the verge of speaking out to him – he could see it in the way your mouth twitched.

The ghost, with a very serious expression, turned away from you and disappeared into the afternoon mist in the second you blinked.

It was a long time before you would see the ghost again. Time passed, each year you learned more and more about the world around you and its intricacies; You learned of the Gods and of beasts that littered Teyvat, of bandits and treasure hunters, of friends and enemies.

Eventually, with the knowledge of all these things, you lost belief that it was a ghost you saw. Instead, your memory convinced you that it was just childhood fantasy that brought his image to you in your mind – an imaginary friend. Even so, a part of you wanted to believe that the boy with pretty black and blue hair was real. If Gods and Geovishaps were real, why couldn’t phantoms be as well?

You were twelve when he finally returned to you in the meadow, though this time you were unaware of his presence. It was the middle of the night and the only light for miles came from your window. A single candle lit the opened window and, even from far away, he could see you were sitting at your desk reading a book. Everything felt so peaceful, but he was sure tonight was the night.

The only sounds audible as he made his way across the field were the grass bending beneath his weight and the crickets chirping in the summer night. Occasionally, the sound of pages turning hit his acute hearing, letting him know you were none the wiser to his presence in the meadow, nor to the danger that stood only moments from your home.

“Y/N.” The soft voice seemed so light that it was almost indiscernible from the wind that made your candle flicker. You looked up from your book and stared straight into the amber eyes of your forgotten acquaintance.

“Who are you?”

There was a certain pain in your chest, one that radiated familiarity and confusion all the same. That face, with his pointed nose and the diamond shape on his forehead. He looked different in the candlelight than in the sun, but eventually you saw the overgrown eyes from that day in the field just outside your window.

“You have to leave.” He spoke, his voice urgent but soft. “Now.”

“What?” The tears were already forming in your eyes, your heart automatically searching through his tone to only find seriousness and concern. “Why?”

“Come, through the window. I’ll tell you afterwards.”

He blew out your candle for you while you climbed on top of the wooden table with shaking legs. What was happening?

The lump in your throat told you that you were being foolish in trusting him, this ghost. Was he a ghost? The way he hadn’t aged in all these years lead you to believe so, despite what you thought you knew of the world. Besides, could ghosts even speak?

You noticed how he refused to touch you as you jumped through, your weak and nervous legs just barely keeping you upright on impact. The boy crouched down, and only then did you notice that he possessed a vision of Anemo on his glove. He also, in his opposite hand, held a tall polearm which seemed to glow mystically in the night. A fallen warrior, perhaps?

“You must run to the Wangshu Inn. Do you know how to get there?”

You shook your head, because though you were older, your parents never let you wander the roads alone. They deemed it too dangerous for a little girl (which they were right about, but you would never admit to being little at the age of twelve.)

The phantom breathed again as he thought. He tried to ignore the way you shook even in the humid summer air. He had to think quick.

“Follow me.”

You followed closely behind him, trying to think of how pretty the fabrics of his clothes were rather than the pit in your stomach telling you something bad was about to happen. He moved so quickly and silently through the flowers, though, that it was hard to ignore how rushed – how urgent – his maneuvers were.

He led you to a small hole that was made by the big tree in the middle of the field. You’d been here many times when you were young, playing house in the interwoven roots that were exposed above the ground after being there for possibly a century.

Making sure you were concealed, he turned around to look back at you. It was almost enough for his hardened heart to soften, seeing you so small and afraid.

“I’ll be back. Don’t move.”

You obeyed the ghost’s instructions, even as the sound of screams filled your small ears – Even as the stink of smoke pervaded your smell. You wished to run, but the fear within you was paralyzing as all you could do was squeeze your eyes shut and hope that when you opened them, you would be safe in your bed.

The next time your eyes were opened, however, they were greeted with sunlight filtered through a window. You were on an unfamiliar loveseat in an even more unfamiliar place which smelled of moth-eaten clothes.

“Oh! You’re alive.” A voice spoke, overly cheerful for your tired state to find amusing. “Here, have some tea.”

A hand with black-painted nails offered you a pretty teacup with gilded edges. You’d later find out that this was the hand of Hu Tao, and that you were mysteriously brought to the safety of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor after the ransacking of your childhood home. You, thanks to the ghost from your childhood, were the sole survivor.

Having no home, you grew up under Hu Tao’s care from that summer day onwards. Known as a reserved and intelligent young girl by the people of Liyue Harbor, you were officially Hu Tao’s apprentice at the parlor.

In your younger years, this essentially involved keeping Qiqi company while Hu Tao dealt with the more sensitive and intricate dealings of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

You continued to grow and come to terms with your misfortune. As odd as she was, you were extremely grateful for Hu Tao. Instead of being cynical of your position, she helped you move on in a relatively healthy way; She helped you understand the nature of the paranormal, of death, and of life.

You were ultimately grateful to still be alive thanks to her guidance, despite the years of survivor’s guilt you’d endured to get to that point. You grew up sensitive but bright, and forever in debt to Hu Tao, who was kind enough to save you from the harsh world.

However, even though the two of you had grown extremely close, you never told her of the ghost in the meadow who removed you from your home; Though, you knew she would believe you even if you did. You weren’t sure why you never mentioned him, especially with his odd appearance and involvement with that night all those years ago; Hu Tao would certainly be intrigued with the tale of the ghost you’d grown up seeing.

But, there was one thing you could be sure of: Thinking about him made you ill.

And now that you were of age, Hu Tao would send you out on your own to conduct business on behalf of the funeral parlor if she had other obligations. It wasn’t your ideal job, as you’d witnessed enough loss and death to last you, but it was the least you could do considering all the years she worked to take care of you as well.

On this particular night, Hu Tao sent you to the way of the Wangshu Inn on account of another ghost sighting in the woods nearby. While your superior was undeniably better at helping ghosts cross over, you’d learned enough to get by to where she could send you on your own. Dressed in your uniform, which was similar to Hu Tao’s, you made your way to the busy inn late into the night.

As per your luck, this was all in vain, as no ghosts showed themselves to you the entire night. That was the only flaw within your skills: getting the ghosts to appear was ironically very difficult, despite your childhood. You would return with disappointing news, to which Hu Tao would tell you that you were too closed off – blinded by your aversion to death – and that you’d just have to try again.

These frequent trips to the inn were not worth the journey, which required you to pass by the meadow you played in as a child, with the remains of your home still charred into the dirt.

You had to force yourself to not look at the ruins of your childhood home which you’d visited once since the incident. The millelith made you come back while the remnants were still hot to retrieve any of your valuables that might have survived. There were none, and you weren’t sure if it was because the bandits had stolen them all, or if they turned to ash. Ever since, you despised passing by the remainders which haunted you.

You realized that, despite your efforts, you were looking at the meadow with tears in your eyes against your own permission. That field, filled with orange flowers that stretched for miles, once brought you so much joy and freedom. A part of you was glad that the fire didn’t spread, and that the flora still survived, but it was painful to look at and be reminded of what once was.

The sun rose above the top of the mountains and through the leaves of that elder tree you climbed as a child. From the road, you could see the uneven, dying bark that would flake off at the slightest touch, and you observed the wind as it blew subtly through the leaves, and as some of them fell to the ground.

And what did they come in contact with but a figure with blue in their hair?

It took a moment of disbelief before your clarity made sense of the scene in front of you. Seeing him again immediately made you feel something worse than any illness you could imagine. The image of him standing in the field, staring at you from beside that tree like he did in your youth, filled you with unadulterated anger.

“Hey!”

He tried to turn away, but you were already running towards him at full speed.

“You!”

In your anger, you picked up a rock and threw it in his direction, only to miss and see him look at you with annoyance.

You fell to the ground by the time you reached him, the flowers seeming to try to swallow you whole as your knees scuffed the grass and dirt beneath. The tears in your eyes blinded you as the sunlight began to glimmer against them.

“Are you done?”

Breathing heavy, you looked up at him in disbelief. “Am I done?” You recited. “Am I done? You! You let my family die! You let them—”

“I saved you.” His way of speaking was irritating, as he seemed to not react to or match your anger as you subconsciously hoped he would.

“You knew something bad would happen and you did nothing.”

“Nothing?” He crouched down to meet you, “I tried, Y/N. I tried to save them. It’s my job to save them. I failed, but I won’t apologize for saving you.”

“Why? Who are you?”

He exhaled before sitting in front of you with his legs crossed. You blinked away your tears to be met with the same face from when you were a little girl. The amber eyes that saw you in the meadow, the diamond on his forehead… How is it that he remained the same, while you became a grown woman?

He looked back at you, too, and began to wonder the same thing. Though he knew why this was, he loathed it, and wished some things had changed in the last twenty-some years. He was still the same entity, living the same life for the same purpose. While you… You grew into a beautiful woman, even with your fiery temperament.

“My name is Xiao.”

“Hmph. Well, Xiao. Just know that I hate –”

When you looked back to him after taking a brief look at your lap, he was no longer there. It was just you, alone, under the tree where you had met Xiao – the omen of misfortune; your personal harbinger of death – all those years ago.

Following your arrival back to the funeral parlor, you told Hu Tao that you would never go to that far away from Liyue Harbor again. It didn’t matter to you if you never saw that damned ghost again – Xiao; with his golden, narrowed eyes that seemed to never stop their judgement, or his apprehensive behavior.

So, naturally, Hu Tao sent you back out there the next month, this time to escort a client from the inn to Liyue.

“I told you I’m not going out there anymore.” You had replied, tone very stern to let Hu Tao cognizant of your seriousness. “You’re the one with the Pyro vision, anyway. If anyone should be escorting clients, it’s you.”

“Oh, come on. I have to stay here and prepare.” She said, “I’ll give you seventy percent if you go…”

So here you were once again at the Wangshu Inn, waiting for ‘a woman notably fond of the color pink’ to arrive. She was said to be a wealthy woman from Fontaine who’d received a Geo vision when she was young and wished to be buried in Morax’s domain. Not that it was any of your business – You only cared when she showed up late. Which, at this point, she was significantly behind schedule.

“It’s late...”

You knew from the voice who stood behind you, and you didn’t dare to turn around.

The food court below the Wangshu Inn was empty this time of night; Just you and Xiao were there in the night.

“Y/N…”

“How do you even know my name, huh?” You whipped around, hostility in your eyes. Something about his quiet nature made your heart wrench with guilt at your antagonism toward him, but it wasn’t enough to sedate the anger that lied within you. “Why do you keep bothering me?”

“I just want you to understand… What happened that night.”

“I know what happened. You abandoned me in the field while bandits—” You inhale on your words, and a jagged breath comes out. “I spent years trying to come to terms with what happened, and seeing you again feels like all of that was for nothing.”

Xiao considered leaving; Maybe the visions were wrong. He felt remorseful for making you remember what had transpired, but the events of that night haunted him as well. He truly did just wanted you to understand.

“I’ll be in the field in an hour.” He sighed, wringing his gloved hands, “If you wish to know what happened and why I’ve been watching over you… Meet me there. I won’t force you.”

You didn’t reply, just focused on the Silk Flower bush across the way from where you sat while you stewed on his words and in your anger.

Why was there a part of you that wanted to hear him out?

Thirty minutes passed and the woman still hadn’t appeared. Even more, as the time grew close to two in the morning, you took note of the clouds that grew irate in the sky and, for fear that you would be caught in a storm, you decided to make your way back to the harbor alone.

Sure enough, as you traversed the dirt road, the thunder soon boomed into the night. It was a boisterous sound; enough to put you on edge for the duration of your walk.

Coming up on the flower field, you could see Xiao sitting underneath that all-too familiar tree, his back turned to the road, and you. He looked out to the mountains that were lit up by the moon, and the way the water of the Dihua Marsh flowed in the sky’s luminescence even enticed you, who was still in sour spirits.

He seemed unaware of your presence, and suddenly you were given a choice for the first time in your life.

You looked at the way the flowers swayed in the night wind in waves, remembering all those times that you lied amongst them while cloud watching. Your memories of the days before were so bright, and always took place during the warm daylight. They, as they relayed in your head, had a golden hue to them. You were so happy.

Now, you lived in the dark; So unsure of what to make of your past or what to do with your future. Hu Tao, since being in your care, made most of the decisions before you. Hell, that’s why you were here now. Someone else told you to be at the Wangshu Inn, waiting for someone who didn’t even show.

But this meadow was the one place where you ever had a life of your own. Does Xiao know this too?

“You ought to explain yourself quickly before it rains.”

He turned to look at you with somewhat of a relieved face. Though, from what you knew, he always carried the look of concentration on his brow; But his jaw wasn’t as strained as it usually was from what you could see of the now moonless night.

You sat beside him, staring off in the distance.

“I’m unsure of where to start.”

You kicked your legs out, already picking at flowers from beside you. “…Well, how did you know?” You asked, “about the bandits.”

“As an adeptus, I see visions sometimes. People can call on me when they’re in the midst of trouble, and I always come… But there are times where I can see the trouble before it happens.”

“Then, how did you know where to find me? When to come?”

This question, he was more hesitant to answer. He swallowed, feeling his heart become heavy. “In truth? I saw it that day when you were just a child.”

You remembered his expression, the widened fear in his eyes and his quickened breath when he looked back at you when you were young. “All those years ago?”

“There’s something about you that ties us together.” He said, “I always see visions of you more than anyone else, in all my years…”

You laid back and let the flowers overtake you like they would when you were a girl. Something about the act, about seeing the stars in-between the grey clouds, made your heart soften.

“You were trying to protect me in particular, then.”

Xiao nodded, “I tried, Y/N. I really did try to save them too.” He laid down beside you, keeping his distance as he stared up at the stars alongside you. “But I did feel an obligation to protect you… Your spirit… More than most of the people I save.”

That’s when the tears fell, and you let out an anguished cry. Xiao slowly moved his gaze from the stars to you, the pull on his heart almost unbearable. This was the price he paid for being selfish, for saving you because of a feeling. It weighed on him for years, and now his karma was reaching its peak.

“You… You said you’d come back. Were you the one who brought me to Hu Tao?”

He just nodded again, and you squeezed your eyes shut. “I was hurt when I returned to you, but you were asleep… So, I carried you and let that young child at the apothecary heal me. Hu Tao never brought it up?”

“I never told her of you, either.” You whispered.

You could see the atmosphere being taken over by the dark clouds and watched as the last bit of visible sky worked hard to remain seen. You noticed how the two stars that remained were particularly bright.

“I watched over you, even while you were in Hu Tao’s care.” He confessed with a heavy tone, “I trusted her, even with her unconventionality, but like I said…”

“You felt an obligation to protect me.”

The two of you looked at each other, the feeling of mutual understanding refreshing beyond explanation.

“Xiao…” Your lips were swollen from crying, but the name still passed them as if it was meant for your lips alone. “Thank you.”

You didn’t realize how close the two of you had gotten until you were looking in his misty eyes. He, with the exterior as cold as ice, had protected you all this time. You mourned the loss of your home and your family, but you better understood Xiao’s involvement now. You could tell in the way he breathed that he felt heavy with sorrow at the events of that night and had been dealing with it even longer than you had. You spent years thinking you were alone when Xiao had just as much penitence as you did. The both of you had lost so much that night, you didn’t want for the both of you to lose each other too.

You kissed him in the heat of your realization, feeling pulled by divinity to do so. If he pulled away, you would deal with your embarrassment then, but being with him now felt so right – almost unbelievably so.

“Y/N.” He whispered against your lips, before catching them in another, deeper kiss.

You sighed a little as you slid yourself on top of Xiao. You realized now that he was very much real. You touched his tattooed arm, skimming your hand against the smooth skin of his toned muscles.

He was no ghost – but your guardian.

His body was pinned beneath yours, both of your legs on either side of him as all he could do was squeeze your hips and keep his lips on yours. Thunder cracked above you again, though neither of you truly cared enough to stop.

He was real – This was real. This only further pushed yourself further into him; You didn’t want him to slip away.

You could tell through his wary ministrations that this was foreign to him; he was hesitant in all his movements and almost shy, which was unexpected from someone typically so curt and introverted. There was nothing paranormal, fake, or false about this. This was Xiao.

“Are you okay?” You finally asked upon looking down at him from your position above and seeing the wild blush on his face. His lips were a pretty pink color as he breathed through his mouth. “I’m sorry if I’m being too forward…”

“No…” He quickly replied, so much so it almost sounded like he was imploring you. “I feel it too… We’re meant to…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but you didn’t need him to. You could feel your soul singing at the close contact, as if it had finally reached its other half.

We’re meant to be together.

“Thank you.” You whispered, leaning back down and tenderly kissing the corner of his mouth.

“Thank you.” His flushed cheek received a peck next.

“Thank you.” Below his jaw, “Thank you, thank you.” Below his ear, on his collarbone.

You felt his Adam’s apple vibrate under your lips as he allowed a moan. You smiled with your teeth against his pulse. He was alive, and you almost loved him for that alone.

His hands, still situated on your waist, pulled down to bring you flush against him. You could feel the way his shirt hugged the ridges of his abdominal muscles, and traveling lower, you were aware of the growing erection as it pressed against your pelvic bone.

“Xiao…” You muttered against his skin, pressing your ever-growing heat against him, causing another moan to sputter out of his lips.

“Do it again.”

You did as he wished, feeling your head become light and dizzy at the sensation of his desire growing hard against yours. Sucking on his collarbone, you let one hand reach between your heated bodies and run itself over his torso.

It was in his moment that the first raindrop fell, followed by another. You were unbothered by the way the dirt beneath your knees became softer with each raindrop, or how your clothes were becoming soaked. As he lifted his hips against you, the only thing that saturated your senses was Xiao. Xiao… Xiao.

The rain came down cold and fast, a stark contrast to the heat of your flesh as you slowly lifted yourself from Xiao, only to slide down and grab onto his waistband. Looking up at him, you toyed with the waistband until he nodded down at you, his eyes already half-lidded in pleasure.

“Please, Y/N…”

You bit your lip as you complied with his wishes once more, spending no time in pulling the fabric down and exposing himself the sky above. You blushed upon seeing the explicit scene before you and couldn’t help but exhale in awe upon seeing his cock slap against his garbed stomach. You admired the way that, with each heavy, icy raindrop that fell on his angry-red tip, it twitched in anticipation.

You let him lay there in eagerness as you discarded your parlor attire. Leaving your shorts and shoes on, you let the rain collect itself on your breasts before spreading it on your nipples, enjoying Xiao’s breathy silence as he watched you.

“You’re so beautiful, Y/N.” He whispered so quietly it could barely be heard above the rain. Still, from the deeper blush that appeared on your face, he knew you had heard him. He watched you lean down, the butterflies in his stomach almost devastating.

You swirled your tongue on his cock, licking the water off of it before enveloping your lips around the head and sucking hard. He shook as you did so, his thighs quaking from their position on either side of you, and his biceps flexing as he reached down and pulled your hair from your face.

“Unng… That’s it.”

He moaned so much. The noises were so breathtaking that you couldn’t be bothered with teasing; You just wanted to hear him.

“Please… Y/N…”

Your tongue traveled down to the base of his cock, and you let the rain lubricate him enough for you to use your hand against him. You were moving so fast along his length that he was completely consumed with pleasure.

You situated yourself to straddle his left leg, still stroking him as you gently rubbed your pleading warmth against his knee.

Xiao reached up and played with your breasts as you rubbed your clothed clit against his kneecap. He admired the way the rain made them glisten in the dimmed light of the moon, and how your moans reached his ears so sweetly in the open air.

“Xiao… Fuck.”

You rubbed his tip against the palm of your hand until he was doubling over in pleasure; the strangled noise coming out of his throat sent a rush of adrenaline directly to your pussy.

Xiao slid his wet hands back down to your waist once more as he flipped the both of you over, your hair now splayed in the grass and flowers as he looked down upon you.

Everything paused in this moment as his member situated itself right on your pelvis. He could feel the heat of your core radiating through your black shorts, and the excitement he felt was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

The part of him which reasoned that what the both of you were doing was foolish was so quickly disregarded in favor of the love he felt for you. It scared him that he felt so attached to you, knowing that you were only a mortal.

But he couldn’t bear himself to think of that – to ruin this moment. You looked so beautiful beneath him, in the place that bound your souls together. The stars had declared you soulmates here, though he didn’t know it.

“Xiao?” You asked, having to yell over the loud rain and thunder that surrounded you. “Are you alright?”

He leaned down and kissed you hard, as if you would disappear if he didn’t keep you anchored. You moaned loudly against his lips, feeling him rut his cock against your clothed mound.

“Please, Xiao… Please, need you.”

He bit your lip softly as he ran his leather, tough glove down the valley of your breast and past your belly button to the waistband of your own shorts. He played with the skin there for a while, watching as you writhed beneath him at the tickling sensation.

“I’ll always be here when you need me, Y/N.”

You moaned again, and once more as he finally unclothed your bottom half. The cool, stormy wind immediately brushed against your dripping heat, and Xiao swallowed hard in an attempt to control his urges.

Instead, he removed the gloves from his hands, and ran his bare fingers along the crease of your center.

“You’re so wet…” He mumbled, before lightly tapping your sticky, quivering clit and watching the liquid strings attached to his fingertips slowly break off.

“Mphm! Xiao… Please!” You pleaded, unable to withstand your desire for him anymore. “Please… Fuck me… I can’t take it.” You breathed, grabbing the arm that was supporting himself above you with a tight grip.

He whimpered at the phrase, feeling his cock twitch even more as you rubbed yourself against him. Xiao, feeling equally impatient, pushed himself into your scorching heat. The difference in temperature immediately had Xiao grinding his teeth together to withhold the moan that threatened to leave him.

You, however, made no attempt to hide the appreciation of his cock reaching deep inside you, and you cried out at the feeling of him slowly entering you.

“Oh Gods… Thank you… Xiao… Than—Shit!” You mumbled as he quickly worked himself in and out of you.

Xiao, too, was moaning, but his pleasure clouded his brain so much that his mouth couldn’t seem to form words. He leaned down, sucking the rainwater off of your jawline as he let the vibrations from his throat carry through onto your skin.

You felt so divine, so soft and slick, on his rigid cock. Xiao could feel your walls tighten around him with each thrust he made and, as he laid above you, he could feel his cock making an impression from inside of you. His abdomen felt each thrust reach up inside of you, which only made him go faster.

It wasn’t long until you had your first orgasm, the intensity of everything finally culminating in your stomach and exploding like fireworks. Xiao thought it impossible for the wetness inside of you to become any stronger, but he was dangerously wrong.

The spasming of your walls, the gushing of your orgasm… It was all so intense. Never in his 2,000 years of living had he ever felt something like this; Something so powerful, so good. He wanted to stay buried inside of you forever.

“You feel so good Y/N…” He sniveled, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. “So… So good.”

You began to push your breasts against his chest as your back arched on its own accord. The overstimulation was becoming tremendous as you could feel your second orgasm approaching.

Xiao’s stamina was impeccable, you gathered as he hadn’t let up on his impossible pace yet. Perhaps there was something supernatural about him, after all.

“Fuck…” He swore, feeling his stomach muscles tensing up as his own orgasm was approaching. He was unsure of the feeling and what it meant, but instinctually knew that he wanted to chase it.

“I’m gonna cum a—again… Xiao…” You cried, immediately feeling your second orgasm wash over you as your knees bent upwards and your legs began to shake. You gripped his forearm tightly and squeezed your eyes closed. Xiao admired the way that your mouth hung open in a silent scream of pleasure before his mind was clouded by the aftershocks of your orgasm in your cunt which enclosed itself around him.

It was with this sensation that he finally came inside of you with a cry. He could feel the tears trickling down his face, as they felt hotter than the rain that also poured down him.

He slid himself away from you, knowing that he was unable to stand because his legs were so weak and unstable. Sitting back on his calves, he admired the scene in front of him.

Having lived for so long, he thought he had seen every beautiful sight there was to behold; From the top of Qingyun Peak to the endless horizon of the Sea of Clouds. But staring at you now, your bare chest heaving as the rain still hit your pointed nipples, his cum slowly pushing itself out of your twitching core…

He couldn’t see himself ever topping this view again.

“Are you alright?” You finally asked as you sat up, the glow on your face so flattering on you. “It was… Um, really good.”

“I agree.” He took the drenched, muddy fabric of your clothes from the ground and offered them to your trembling hands. “Are you… Alright?”

“Quite honestly, I haven’t been this alright in a long time.”

Xiao escorted you back to the harbor in comfortable silence as the sun rose on the foggy, drizzling morning. With a small, unfamiliar smile, he dropped you off at the gates of the city.

“I’ll be around.” He promised, blushing before placing an unsure kiss on your cheek. “Just call on me if you need me.” He whispered in your ear.

“Okay… Thank you, Xiao.”

“No… Um... Thank you.”

He disappeared as you blinked, this time the action leaving you hopeful.

Upon arriving back home at the Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao bombarded you at the door.

“Y/N, I’m so sorry!” She sputtered out multiple apologies, though you could only catch a few through her quick words. “I thought that she wrote she was going to be here tonight – she meant next week – I’ll go next time – ‘m sorry!”

“Hu Tao!” You said, your voice cracking slightly. You felt your face heating up, and you cleared your throat. “It’s okay… I just need to rest.”

“I’ll make you some tea, it sounds like you already have a cold coming on.”

You smiled and nodded, putting your damp coat on the coat rack. Luckily, you looked in the mirror and could note that any bruises on your neck from Xiao had yet to form.

“By the way, we had another complain out there. The courier from the Wangshu Inn brought a letter talking about ghosts in the middle of the night. Apparently, they were unbearable last night.”

“O-Oh. Um, do you want me to go again?”

Hu Tao hummed, “No, it’s alright. You’re probably tired. Besides, I shouldn’t force you to go where you don’t want to.”

“Oh… Well, I don’t really mind…” You mumbled, a blush on your cheeks.

304 notes · View notes