#muse: crepus

[reallyrandomtj]

Mihoyo: Kills Crepus ( Diluc’s father ) before the game story begins

Me, stealing Crepus from Mihoyo: I THINK THE FECK NOT!

CASUALLY PLOPS CREPUS BODY TYPE HERE

Hi yes Mihoyo, stop robbing us of DILFS?

BONUS food for thought also about the Webtoon and Crepus

[dutybcrne]

Kaeya and Rethel both have a favorite method to ward off any potential suitors, and it’s dueling.

[tenebriism]

They bring him a dagger with his name engraved on it and precious jewels. All for his birthday. -Diluc // local viking appears before u with gift

He appreciates the gifts... always does, always will, even if he really, truly does not need them ( though, he'll make generous use of this dagger -- it's beautiful, and sure to slice better, DEEPER, than the ones currently in his collection that have dulled with use and time ), but the way he looks at Eivor, it's evident he desires something far more on a day like this. He hasn't slept a wink in the days leading up to this, and hasn't had the appetite to attempt more than a few slices of dry toast and a sip of coffee, here and there. He doesn't need gifts, he doesn't need repetitive, recycled affirmations that ' it gets easier, time heals all wounds, ' because it damn well does not...

Diluc just needs... company. A presence. He reaches out for Eivor, tentative in the gesture, and cannot look them in the eye; HE FEELS PATHETIC, but he doesn't want them to go, and silently pleads, in the way he steps just that tiny bit closer, for them to stay. The two of them needn't even do much of anything... they can sit and watch the leaves sway, or watch the bugs skitter across the dirt.

" Stay... ? If... you are able... "

Just for a little bit... so he can say he enjoyed something nice today...

@wolfkcst ;;

[daybreakrising]

@resolutepath: "Ah young Master Thoma, are you here visiting the boys?" There's a pleasant smile on the senior Ragnvindr's lips though it does not reach his eyes as he pauses in his work. The quill in hand is laid down in exchange for picking up the wine glass before him, a quick glance cast towards the decanter where the rich colour of dandelion wine fills half the vessel, before turning back to the boy. "I believe they will be down in just a moment, there's some washing up that needs doing after their venture in the vineyard..." he pauses, a wry look about him before he sighs. "How do you and your family fare?"

There is always something oddly welcoming about Crepus, at least to Thoma. He knows many find the man intimidating simply based on his status as the head of the Winery and a prominent house, but he has never been anything but warm and pleasant to him. Even when the three of them have gotten up to some mischief and brought before the senior Ragnvindr for scolding, he has never once felt uncomfortable in his presence.

"I was hoping to borrow them for a small adventure." The boy grins, hands settled comfortably upon his hips. Their adventures often involved tearing like wild things through the Mondstadt countryside surrounding the Winery, though lately such expeditions have started to take on a more serious note, with both Ragnvindr boys eager to hone their weaponry skills. Thoma, with his dreams of potentially becoming a Knight, was not far behind them.

At the question regarding his family's welfare, he dips his head with a smile tinged with sadness. "They are well, thank you." A pause, a sigh. "My father is destined for Inazuma in a few weeks. We're not sure when he'll be coming home." If he'll be coming home, but he doesn't say that.

[chishigure]

Me: I will not play or invest in another mobile/gacha game again.

Also me: I will maybe play or invest in another mobile/gacha game

[bringxthexfirexmultimusesx]

X ~Phoenix And The SongBird~X

Start Here | X | | X | X |

✬ “Yeah love you more.” Cre smiles as he pulls mur to the ladder to get down of the building.” Ill go first love.” Cre climbs down the ladder and waits at the bottom as he looks at grinning at that ass.” Nice view from here!”

@reds-mutlimeances

[kleewie]

speak now or forever hold your peace

summary: it’s your special day and you’re ready to tie the knot with the love of your life. but a certain letter ends up on your doorstep telling you to ‘don’t say yes’ and runaway with him now. hey, what’s a wedding without the drama? (in other words, a modern au about a special someone desperately wanting you to marry him instead. but this begs the question of who?)

→ pairings: diluc, & ayato

→ warnings: slight swearing. angst. fluff (if you squint), mentions of drinking and alcohol, gender neutral reader. 

→ author's note: i was listening to speak now (taylor please release the album) and this idea popped in my head. i might write a part two with more characters if i feel like writing more aaaaa. there might be present tense issues since this hasn’t been beta read,, anyway, i hope you enjoy!

long post ahead!

feedback, comments, and reblogs are extremely meaningful!  i’d love to hear your thoughts on my writing ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

the prologue.

“you dropped this.” ganyu says, handing a white envelope with gold engraving.

“a letter?” you ask, confused.

“earlier, you carried the bouquet and it slipped out.”

curiosity beckons you to rip the seal off the letter and pull out a card. the gold print catches your eyes while you repeat the words to your companions.

if second thoughts plague your mind, meet me at the back entrance of the church. i’ll see you soon.

“this has to be the worst time to be admitting to a fiancé steal-and-run,” keqing muses.

a joke, this has to be a joke. your thoughts sing. your wedding is in an hour. you should be preparing to walk down the aisle without a worry in the world.

instead, the notion of an objection to your marriage as you recite your vows makes your heart race— in the worst way possible. yet, the thought of who could have done this pops in your mind.

“any idea of who wrote it?” ayaka wonders, as if reading your thoughts.

the timing? the medium? the words? who else can it be?

“just a hunch.”

diluc: the first love

the first meeting with the heir to the ragnvindr corporation begins on the wrong foot.

hell, it begins terribly— you cringe each time the memory resurfaces.

a week before meeting diluc you meet his brother, kaeya—long story short, your father works for the ragnvindrs and wants you to befriend the brothers as they (crepus and papa) are good friends— and he tells you they are going to throw a surprise party for hothead’s eighth birthday.

one problem. he never explains what he looks like.

so on the day of the party, you lounge outside waiting for the birthday boy. and once a redhead arrives, it confuses you.

the invites practically say enter through the back entrance.

gosh, did he not read the invite? what if diluc saw! the party would be ruined!

thinking about it now, you wonder how distracted you were to assume a good looking boy with the rich-kid aura wasn’t diluc.

anyway, you rush towards him and hiss “what are you doing here?” while gripping his hand gently. “the party entrance is at the back door!”

he winces at your sudden friendly contact (or because you bluntly ruined the surprise, he is a smart kid. of course, he knows what you're talking about. yet he couldn't help but ask the question to rouse a reaction out of you) “party?”

“for diluc! his party?” you huff.

at the time, you think this kid has to be the dumbest monkey bun for being too slow to understand the vibe.

while to diluc, he thinks you are the pettiest pipsqueak to ever have lived— he assumes you knew who he is. but wanted to ruin the surprise anyway.

so when kaeya magically whisks through the front door with a smirk saying, “what took you so long, brother?” diluc reasons you’re in cahoots with the he-devil and instantaneously hates you a thousand-fold.

you being a smart kid, feels the resentment. and embarrassment fills up your whole consciousness.

yes. you spoiled the party. great job. and you feel so bad.

as you sincerely apologize, diluc cuts you off with a “save it,” and runs up the stairs to his house.

rude!

but you did ruin his surprise party (kids are petty like that.)

no worries, you do get to apologize properly.

well, after diluc accidentally pushes you causing you to land face first into his birthday cake— okay, to his defense, it wasn't premediated. someone left a bowl on the floor, near the table, he trips, and forces his weight onto your back, causing the whole issue.

though, diluc feels terrible.

yes, he still dislikes you for ruining the surprise (again, children are petty) but not to the point that he would intentionally hurt you.

so he genuinely apologizes.

you truthfully admit you had no idea he was diluc, while saying sorry.

and you become friends.

you both promise to let bygones be bygones.

still, each year on diluc's birthday, you unsurprisingly get a cake slam onto your face (candles excluded!) and he gets messages of “don't forget to bring the cake to diluc's birthday bash at 6:00 o'clock sharp!“ on random days before his actual day.

pretty much, you become the best of friends.

need someone to beat up bullies who laugh because you can't afford new school shoes? he's your kid! he'll pay for the hospital fees and buys two pairs of the shiniest shoes without letting you know it was him.

when bringing it up, he always plays dumb. “shoes? what shoes?”

and that's what you love about him, he never seems to claim the credit.

need a study buddy for high school entrance exams? he's your man! he will not stop until you master each and every subject matter, eyes closed.

and even if you do get failing marks, he never chastises you for it.

he simply encourages and promises he'll keep in touch.

just because you both go to different schools doesn't mean you'll lose your close friendship, you try to console yourself.

so imagine your surprise on the first day of class, seeing his red locks passing through the door. once your eyes meet, a small smile forms on his mouth. “surprised? don't think you’ll be getting rid of me anytime soon.”

and you're ecstatic. the chaotic duo together in high school! imagine all the fun trips, and school events you can attend together!

what are best friends for? obviously to have fun!

some days are particularly bad. like when you're sobbing your lungs out at three a.m. because someone manages to break your heart into a thousand pieces.

he's there too. always there.

imagine his surprise, hearing your heart-wrenching sobs over the phone. his soul breaks hearing you cry and his hands clench in anger; how could anyone hurt someone as wonderful as you?

he absolutely loathes your boyfriend.

ex-boyfriend, he corrects. by the way things are going he won’t accept anything less than stranger with a target on his head.

minutes later, he's inside your house with your favorite drink in hand, rubbing soothing circles behind your back with the other.

you apologize for wasting his time (you both have tests later in the afternoon) and listlessly laugh, “you'll eventually get worn out. my drama's a witch.”

“really?” he hums. “i could never get tired of you.”

more under the cut!

you exchange looks and feel the warmth of a blush crawl up your neck. while diluc coughs sensing the awkwardness.

maybe he does stand a chance. he hopes.

he leaves minutes later, slightly in a better mood to when he came.

yes, he feels awful seeing you cry. but seeing your reddened cheeks as a consequence of his proximity and comfort pacifies his shaky feelings.

things have been slightly awkward for the both of you after.

there have been lingering looks here and there, frequent touching of hands on the bus seat (“it's crowded, stay close.”) even gnawing thoughts of i don't think you know this, but i like you, without courage to say it out loud.

up until a certain incident happens.

with diluc's looks, status, and intelligence, no wonder he's the most popular student in the class. more like the whole year.

mountains of letters appear in his locker daily, and once in a while, a student proclaims their underlying love for redhead (to no avail, as he plainly acknowledges their feelings), finishing off with a “not interested.”

one day an extremely good-looking upperclassmen reaches out to him and confesses their feelings— you, feeling especially jealous, grumbles about how stupid he was to reject such an attractive person.

diluc, slightly annoyed at your assumption, rolls his eyes. “because i fell for you, obviously.”

your mouth gapes open.

what? no way.

his confession results into a game of hide and seek wherein, you: run for your life in sheer surprise (“oh god, this has to be the worst prank he's ever done!”); and him: chasing after you in complete frustration (“is it that hard to accept i have feelings for you?”)

in the end, he catches you underneath the oak tree and you both share a kiss.

how romantic!

both of you stay after school hours to clean up all the trashcans and mop buckets toppled over because of the hunt.

anyway, a relationship with your best friend is pretty blissful. almost very similar to your previous relationship (aka. friendship).

diluc teaches topics you have difficulty with, walks home with you after class, more frequent calls before sleeping at night, a little kiss here and there.

actually, a lot of kisses. and hugs.

with recurring “not in front of my face!” hisses from kaeya.

and retorts of “leave!” and “knock the damn door first!” from you and diluc respectively.

but with every relationship, there are ups and downs. 

and one awful down changes everything.

the moment crepus dies—the ragnvindr family vacation (for diluc’s eighteenth birthday) results to a sudden a car crash, with both brothers leaving the incident unscathed but scarred— diluc becomes bitter and closed-off. a natural reaction to someone whose heart has been ripped out into a thousand pieces.

you have been trying to console the hurt man: calling him every night; caressing his hair as he falls asleep; assisting him with homework he’s too exhausted to begin; and hugging his body tight as he shakes in utter grief and sadness.

you’d like to think, slowly by slowly, it gets better.

and sooner or later, you’ll be able to reach out to your closed-off lover.

and it’ll be okay.

but when you’re too busy consoling someone whose heart is covered in sorrow, who’ll be there for you when heartache and sadness take over you?

constantly hiding your feelings become the new normal as you try to lessen the burden on your boyfriend.

until it reaches the breaking point and he lashes out, causing a big fight.

with the pressure of being the next heir to the ragnvindr company, the expectations of stakeholders, and the burden of protecting all he cares about, diluc couldn’t allow himself to be open to any risks.

“it’s impossible to pretend nothing’s wrong, when everything is,” diluc murmurs. “i’m not ready to get hurt again.”

your body shakes and you cry. “why does it sound like you’re saying goodbye?”

it’s a stupid argument.

it wasn’t supposed to end that way.

but it is, what it is: the fight that ended your relationship.

the timing of the quarrel conveniently (sarcasm) destroyed all chances of reconciling with your ex-lover as he decided to: stop attending classes as the last semester of the year ended days before your fight; and to add fuel to the fire, he disappears without a trace.

diluc changes his number, moves out of his apartment. spamming the company email proves to be pointless, and even reaching out to kaeya causes a pitiful look. “sorry, i can’t.”

the last time you’ve seen diluc was the fight. and knowing his personality, he wouldn’t show himself unless he wants to. 

so when he appears at the wedding reception carrying a salmon-colored box, feelings of surprise, happiness, and confusion resonate your heart. 

“am i dreaming? mr. ragnvindr attending my small wedding?” you jested.  “why i’m honored.”

he hands you the gift, shaking his head. “i was invited.”

“i expected you to be busy, you-know, with your own wedding.”

the news of the engagement between the ragnvindr and gunnhildr families captured headlines for months now. of course, you know.

“father would’ve rolled around in his grave if i didn’t.”

you smile. after all these years, the sarcastic diluc you once remember shows his colors, albeit slowly.

your hands pull the ribbon off the present and you open the box. inside, a name tag with your name on it. 

before you can inquire the meaning of the present, the master of ceremonies chirps, “now, ladies and gentlemen. we shall have the cutting of the cake!”

that’s your cue to proceed to the main hall and do the honors of cutting the dessert with your beloved husband.

as if sensing your confusion, diluc answers. “so they remember you as the marriage celebrant.” then adds “try not to fall on the cake.”

you burst out laughing. all this time, he’s still the pettiest brat you know.  “i thought we let bygones be bygones.”

“i keep my promises.”

soon the mc ushers you towards the cake-cutting table, you taking your time talking must have taken a toll on the program flow.

a thought suddenly nags your consciousness. who wrote the letter?

turning your neck slightly, you see diluc walk towards a good-looking blonde woman, and his brother. a small smile creeps on his face.

of course, diluc didn’t write the letter.

he’s never one for regrets and second thoughts.

bonus:

“oh god!” you wail. “i failed math and science!”

diluc’s bewildered. all he hears before you bust down his front door are scrambled expressions of i’ll never get into college! and i’ll die alone!

you’re sixteen. you have your whole life ahead of you. how two failed quizzes develop into the slippery slope destruction of your complete existence confuses him. 

bawling, you grip his wrist. “diluc— you have to attend my wedding.”

he knows you well. whenever something terrible happens, whether it be a failed test or even larger issues, your mind spirals down the road of bad thoughts, irrational beliefs, and unreasonable consequences.

a sarcastic reply almost escapes his lips, but the worried look on your face erases it completely.

“…i will,” he answers.

“you will?” you sputter, brows furrowed in confusion.

of course he will. what kind of person would he be to miss your wedding?

“i promise.”

ayato: the nemesis

no one manages to ignite the nastiest part of your soul like kamisato ayato.

i mean, you’ve met your fair share of handsome, rich, and smart men, but he succeeds in coming out on top as the worst of the bunch.

yes, he is good-looking, wealthy, and clever. 

denying the fact is impossible.

but when someone talks about how kind-hearted he is?

how generous and caring?

it makes you blow a fuse.

you first meet him at a college party.

ayaka invites you to a close nit celebration with a few of your close friends, to celebrate the end of the exam week. her brother, who you’ve never met before as he skipped a year (or two), attends as well through her pestering. as she wants him to get to know her, quote “soulmate!”

you’ve only known the woman for a short while (four months) and you expect her own sibling to be as fun, charming, and generous as she is.

boy, are you wrong.

he arrives with his own friend group, all smiles, and takes the farthest seat away from where you, ayaka, and keqing (a classmate) are. he waves at his sister and returns to talk with a man with messy blonde hair.

ayaka annoyed at his indifference, hollers, “my friends! keqing and—” and pointing at you, “my closest confidant!”

ayato replies with a short wave and a smile.

he seems nice! (for now)

the party goes on: more glasses in hand, a few drinking contests, loud laughter, screaming, until it comes to a point where you feel dizzy from all the blinding lights— and your stomach makes this grumbling, gurgling noise.

you guessed it. you’ve eaten something bad. very bad.

muttering a quick “watch my drink,” you head outside. and ready yourself for any hurl that may sprout from your mouth.

while crouching behind a dumpster, you hear the chime of the door opening. the sight of blue hair catches your eyes, and you can’t help but listen into the conversation he’s having on his phone.

they weren’t being particularly quiet. i mean, it’s difficult to tune out someone shouting at the top of their lungs.

well, you’re not particularly blameless either. alcohol tends to turn the lightest of sounds into the heaviest of noises.

“having fun? meet anyone interesting?” the person on the phone asks.

ayato scoffs, “no one special.” he kicks a pebble before adding, “a few are nice, some are pathetic.”

his sudden display of hostility causes you to slip and, before you know it, his eyes meet yours. awkwardly, you grin. he returns the gesture with a smirk and walks back inside the bar.

a fluke, you reason. you’ve probably caught him at the wrong time. it’s easy to assume the bad in people out of context.

so you give him the benefit of the doubt.

the next day, you run into him outside the university courtyard with his friends. hoping (that you read the room wrong yesterday), you try to start a conversation with the man.

it ends fruitless though. he succeeds in ending the discussion as quick as possible with the excuse of having classes.

hey, sure! of course, you understand. classes are important. 

so you disregard his unresponsiveness.

a comment from ayaka, irks you. “really? he’s free at the afternoons though?” only slightly.

it’s fine! of course, you get the picture. talking to strangers tire some people out.

so you forget his lie.

but every time you try to get to know your best friend’s brother, he always succeeds in turning the conversation into something one-sided, leaving you feeling neglected afterwards.

oh well. so what if he’s nice to everyone but you? 

who cares if he gets along with all your friends?

it doesn’t hurt you one bit! (even if you’re the only one uninvited to hangout with his friends)

who needs a narrow-minded, rude, and overcritical jerk like him anyways?

thus, you ignore the douchebag with the passion of a burning suns.

except this time, he purposely steps on the paper (the air-conditioner blows it off your desk) that took you the whole night to cram and write by hand.

he does pick it up. 

however, the ungenuine “sorry,” he quips (with his signature smirk) fuels your anger to the highest level.

and you lose your temper.

but not before scrambling to erase the footmarks left on your paper ahead of the due date. which was in five minutes, tops.

nevertheless, you do confront him about the issue a few hours later.

“listen here, you piece of shit. it took me hours to finish that paper. hours!” 

“i apologized, didn’t i?” he gibes.

your face reddens in frustration, “you’re going to pay for that!”

he smiles. “oh? is that a threat?”

that becomes the day you place a target on his back.

and the start of frivolous payback fueled by pure animosity and bitterness.

you offer homemade donuts to the kamisato household (you visit for a project), specifying that the box with the blue ribbon is for the unfortunate creature ayato only.

he gives you the stink eye the next day. he must love the mayonnaise-filled doughnuts.

ayato returns the favor by replacing the cream-filling of oreo cookies with toothpaste. in your defense, the wrapper was completely sealed and untampered. it’s impossible to know how he did it!

one afternoon, you place sticky notes all over his car. imagine his surprise to see an assortment of ‘goodlucks’ and smiley faces on the yellow paper,

and the list goes on.

weird enough. no matter what pranks you throw at each other, it’s sort of an unspoken rule to never cause enough harm to seriously hurt one’s studies or reputation (feelings).

you hope.

hence it comes as a complete shock to see your own cellphone floating in a bucket of mop water. no matter what you do, the device doesn’t turn on, prompting you to buy a new one. 

a cost you can’t afford either.

so you cry.

both from the stress and betrayal.

the initial anger from his neglect faded into something akin to dislike, closer to light bickering. it hurt more thinking how you were almost getting along. even if it’s not the most conventional way of becoming friends.

when ayato comes through the door. seeing as you’re late for another school project at the kamisato household (his sister begged him to pick you up) and he’s at the same building anyway, why not walk together? (with a bit of teasing along the way)

the first thing he sees are the tears streaming down your face. followed by your excruciating sobs. he instantly knows something’s wrong.

“what happened to your face?” he asks, softly.

cheeks flushing, you seethe. “how could you! stupid pranks, i understand. but destroying my stuff? you’re awful!” and another sob racks your body.

he watches your hands cradle a wet cellphone and right away, comprehends the situation.

you think he did this.

you think he deliberately hurt your feelings (and phone).

unexpectedly, the thought of you hating him wounds his conscience.

“i may dislike you, but i’m not heartless.” he mutters.

with glossy eyes, you stare at the man. 

he looks sincere. the most sincere you’ve ever seen him.

'cause you’re too busy noticing his flaws and scheming

he’s telling the truth, isn’t he? i mean, he isn’t the type to lie and all. instead, he’s more likely to laugh and take the claim rather than play innocent.

...so you believe him.

but ayato senses the hesitation and sighs. 

slightly irritated by your skepticism, he grips your chin with his fingers and gently pulls your face towards his—your eyes meet. “is it that hard to believe?”

you shake your head. almost immediately.

and the issue is solved. 

you believe the jerk-face is telling the truth (calling him one to eradicate the sappiness and to keep up with your i-slightly-don’t-hate-you-but-i-have-to-pretend-i-do-for-reputations-sake persona).

and he trusts you'll treat him the same (and forget about his sentimental moment with you in the classroom).

did i mention, you also receive a new phone from him the next day?

you burst into ayaka’s empty classroom, holding up the new device. “please tell your brother i’m thankful. but did he have to flaunt his cash by getting the newest model? oh god—” you exclaim. “i owe him a kidney now, don’t i?”

your closest friend shoots a quizzical look and asks, “what phone?”

dazed, you look at her.

who else would’ve bought you the phone?

so you take her confusion as protecting her brother’s character (doubt the man would appreciate you advertising how kind and caring he is to buy someone, one who has smacked an egg on his head last week, a phone).

and you go on with your day, occasionally throwing the guy a stink eye.

by now, you realize your relationship with your adversary changes from ‘i slightly despise you so damn much!’ into ‘hey, some brat pushed me down the stairs. you in for some whooping?’

simply, he becomes the chaotic, manipulative, and scheming associate you can count on to teach you math problems, while being present for more sinister things.

like recording three upperclassmen threatening to pummel you for breaking their so-called angel’s heart. technically, ayato did the breaking. and why you’re being bullied in his place, you have no clue.

“really? suing them? are you insane?” you blurt.

ayato shrugs his shoulders. “why? prefer a hit man?”

“no— what? i can’t afford a lawyer!”

you don’t have to, he has you covered.

apparently his trust fund covers intimidation, lawsuits, and hospital bills (for, surprisingly, a fourth upperclassman trying to trip you after hearing the first three fail at their bullying tactics).

not only does he offer protection over bullies, he provides unsolicited relationship advice as well!

like the time you start dating a student from a different university. each occasion you try bringing up the man, he has no qualms in squandering the alleged person’s reputation.

you roll your eyes. “he’s not that bad! he’s kind and smart and loves the same music i do!”

“oh, really?”

“yes! really.”

ayato scoffs. “lying doesn’t suit you, sweetheart.”

this close, you are this close to throwing your drink at him.

good thing you don’t.

days later, the so-called boyfriend goes missing and the next time you find him is at a bar. dancing and kissing random strangers.

you’re too agitated at the i told you so smirk forming on ayato’s lips to berate the player for hurting your feelings.

anyway, besides the pranks and teasing, kamisato ayato’s a great friend.

though, sometimes you have your doubts. 

especially when it comes to being the best man of your wedding.

why your husband decided on him, you absolutely have no idea.

“no. you will not bartend!” you hiss. “the last time you did, we ended up blacking out on a beach! on a random island! with thoma vomiting his guts out!”

ayato hums. “oh? your loss. it’s not everyday a special someone gets married.”

though, he senses your unrest. earlier, you were over the moon, excited for wedding. now, a feeling of dread radiates your form. mixed with the sudden outburst (asking to bartend was more of a joke, really), he knows something happened.

so he prods the subject. hoping it results to an answer (instead of him being kicked out from the ceremony).

and you, though reluctant, explain how a letter landed in your dressing room, begging you to stop and marry them instead.

eyes squinting at his, a sudden clarity forms in your head. “too low. this has to be the worst prank you’ve ever played! on my day— you’re nuts!”

ayato pauses, thinking. “i’m flattered, really, but i’m no wedding crasher.”

you shake your head, taken aback. 

if he didn’t do it. who else would it be?

suddenly, the processional song chimes, causing you to flinch in surprise.

following the sound, an elated ayaka hollers, calling your attention to walk to your proper place (as practiced in rehearsals). 

curiously, you peek at the quiet man. “you know, i still don’t really know why i used to despise you.”

ayato smiles. “i’m irresistible, aren’t i?”

bonus:

“you’re a bad liar, did you know that?”

ayato peeks at his younger sister. “oh, really?”

she knowingly places a hand on his shoulder. “everyone knows you’d wreck the wedding if you wanted to.” she pauses, “so why didn’t you?”

faraway, he watches as you bounce your legs in excitement. and soon, the doors will open, and you’ll walk towards the love of your life. 

the thought leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

“they’re good for each other.” he lies.

though he never wrote the letter. sometimes he falls asleep with you on his mind. is it worth it? risking everything he holds dear, for a chance? 

would you have fallen in love with him instead?

as symphonies of music reach his ears, a stinging thought sings.

‘would you have said yes if he asked?’

feedback, comments, and reblogs are extremely meaningful! i’d love to hear your thoughts on my writing ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

thank you for reading!!

[hiraya-rawr]

DILUC MASTERLIST

back to character m.list

must read = ❤️

❤️ I love you so // two // three // four // extra // extra // angst fic // neglected, sickly wife trope and a man who doesn't know how to show his love

Loyalties 01 // 02 // 03 // 04 // mature mini series // you're his lover and an undercover fatui

Family Agenda 00 // 01 // 02 // 03 // 04 // 05 // concept series // having more than 8 kids with him

❤️ "Hands off! I'm taken!" // fluff fic // in which he gets drunk and you pick him up

❤️ Little Star // SAGAU fic // the creator doesn't want diluc, everyone knows this (everyone is wrong)

The painter’s muse // soft fic // where reader comes from a family of painters for the ragnvindr family

❤️ Friends don't do the things we do // fic // you patch up the darknight hero

Suddenly // mature horror-mystery fic // he's trying to find you (he might be too late)

I love you in every universe // playable reader drabble // diluc never notices you, until your player co-ops with a diluc main

Secret Valentines // SAGAU imposter AU fic // he hides you

Sly Villain 01 // 02 // brainrot+fic // rewrite // you're a harbinger with an obsession

physiologically reactive // brainrot // dendro MC burns every time diluc touches

End game // short // Mondstadt is in ruins but he loves you

With a blind s/o // old hcs // He's super rich and overprotective // hcs

You're the "girl best friend" // old hcs // did he lose his chance or was there ever a chance at all?

Torture // mature fic // he gets tortured and comes home to you

Sly Villain // old fic // you're a harbinger and the darknight hero caught your interest

diluc gets a new skin // drabble // playable reader

❤️ Drunk Creator SAGAU

s/o fell first, diluc fell harder // drunk brainrot

diluc's fashion; by the maids // ramble

diluc & attachments // brainrot

dating diluc // brainrot // ft. protective little brother kaeya

ragnvindr reader's first crush // brainrot // crushing on albedo but your brothers are diluc and kaeya

youngest ragnvindr // 02 // brainrot // imagine the exhaustion of being their sibling

reassurance // not xReader brainrot

In Another Life // not xReader drabble

diluc has to choose between reader or kaeya // brainrot

crepus has to choose between kaeya or diluc // not xReader brainrot

diluc's your husband but kaeya is more present // brainrot

melt reactions with kaeya // not xReader brainrot

to appease diluc // not xReader short

Enemies to lovers // brainrot

ripping up a contract marriage // short

❤️ Housewife (SAGAU)

Beloved sickly wife

Triplets // Triplets (2)

❤️ diluc has a king sized bed

baby fever // ramble

kätzlein mc + tcg

mirror maiden mc

diluc's instagram

endgame

[delusionaid]

HEADCANONS : click the link to get some random headcanons for your muse.

Diluc is very good at using chopsticks. (Business trips to Liyue? I'm gonna give him a personal hc here and say Crepus forced him to learn how to eat with chopsticks when he was younger so he'd be able to do it as an adult. Diluc loathed it then but is grateful now.) Diluc almost drank the lethal dosage of caffeine once. (Boy has a thing for knocking himself out with drinks, apparently.) Diluc can play the guitar. (*Lyre) Diluc is smart but also very stupid. (I mean..) Diluc is a sleepwalker. (*TALKER. He's a sleepTalker. Kaeya can attest to that from the time he was new to the house and they had to share a room for a while. He usually says nonsensical or incoherent things, but it can be quite entertaining. He never remembers doing it the next day.) Diluc has one, very simple word that they cannot figure out how to pronounce. (I got this 3 times. Must be true. Want to guess the word?) Diluc desperately needs a hug but doesn't know it and refuses to ask for one. (Ok this is actually canon on this blog so well done.)

Wriothesley can play the piano. (I kind of like the idea, to be honest. It's hard to imagine what life with his "parents" looked like. I like both the version where it was really terrible living conditions and they were mostly neglected, but I also like the thought that they had to learn certain things and present a certain way in order to be "of value" to those they were "sent to". So some of them being able to play music could be an idea to play with.) Wriothesley needs a nightlight to sleep. (Hm, not sure about light, but I like the idea that he almost sleeps better when there's noise because he's always had that. First with his "siblings", then living in the street, then the Meropide, and even now the room around him probably makes noise all night long. Silence would be deafening.) Wriothesley's least favourite subject in school was Math. (shrug.png) Wriothesley could easily survive The Hunger Games. (I got this twice so it must be true. Grim.. but I somehow agree. There's some analogy to his life there, I think.) Wriothesley is smart but also very stupid. (WHY DO ALL MY MUSES GET THIS.) Wriothesley likes to eat straight coffee beans. (...Listen, we've all done strange things when hungry.) Wriothesley stole a lollipop at the checkout when they were 5 and they still feel guilty about it. (Nah, he earned that lolly.) Wriothesley is an ugly crier. (You know what, I'll take it. Most people are.)

Alhaitham is tumblr famous (Got this twice. For what I wonder?) Alhaitham is very willing to eat inedible things. (<.< Is this a slight against Kaveh's cooking?) Alhaitham is a dog person. (I disagree, he's a cat person. He likes that they're independent and don't want him to play with them 24/7.) Alhaitham sleeps in until noon. (I think he has, on occasion. He's not an early bird but he isn't (my) Diluc either.) It would not take much for Alhaitham to turn evil. (Literally canon every time he brushes some evil plot and rejects it only because it turns out to be flawed.) Alhaitham is great with kids. (...I mean. Depends on the kid.) Alhaitham has a diary that they write in with a glittery gel pen. (Fun fact, I think if he found a glittery gel pen that wrote really smoothly, he'd use it. Like who cares that it glitters if it's personal notes, the writing experience is pleasant. But he's not going out to buy glitter gel pens specifically.) Alhaitham needs a nightlight to sleep. (I wanna say.. used to need. Now he just sleeps in a bedroom with a window that lets in a lot of moonlight on most nights.)

tagged by: @apocryphis thank you! tagging: @voyagaer @liliavanrouge @dhabibi @nagareboshiko

[anotherferalrat]

Late Night Musings Pt.1

Indulge me for a moment.

As a preface, I would like to remind chat I am still very early in the story so no spoilers pls, I literally just made it to Inazuma and I've done like no character story quests

So I could be entirely wrong; I know Kaeya-Diluc-Crepus lore seems to be fairly up in the air. But the way I understand the timeline is Crepus dies during the day -> ragbros fight that night -> sometime before the morning, Diluc leaves to do hot girl shit (revenge)

In light of that...

Do you think Kaeya had to handle the funeral arrangements by himself :)

Of course Adelinde and the staff help where they can but as the only person of the household people can find, a lot falls to him.

That's actually how he finds out Diluc left. Adelinde comes to him in town as he's living in the barracks to invite him to the winery to talk plans. Having been yelled at not even hours ago to never set foot there again, he's like what if we do it here in the city instead and after a sec follows it up with why me, i thought Diluc would be in charge as the true heir.

Hesitantly, she shows him the letter the young mas- the new master of the house left, only saying he was looking for answers and couldn't return until he found them and that he's sorry. Nowhere did Diluc mention him but he knows he's part of the reason.

The two work out a meeting place, somewhere that's halfway for both of them but *not* the winery.

Anyways point is, how do you think he felt writing the eulogy, several bottles deep, thinking he shouldn't- doesn't deserve to be the main speaker? That he's once again alone in this world, partially from his own doing? That he was too slow to save the man who cared for him and "drove away" his sworn brother?

Just. Fun thoughts :))

[poswiecenia]

BLOG UPDATE.

rules update for: my age being 28 in 1 - 2 days. preemptive update due to ease. various test muses status's: some now simply low activity added muses: lilya snezhevna & mathilda baeur ( ocs ), crepus ragnvindr, adelinde ; all genshin impact.

[reallyrandomtj]

Muse Involved: Crepus Ragnvindr

FUN FACT that will probably stick in your head for days?

Crepus never originally intended to be OWNER of the Dawn Winery and Angels Share Tavern, if his attempts to join the Knights of Favonious FAILED he intended to try start up a band to entertain the people of Mondstadt - his main venue? Angels Share of course ~ Crepus actually has a lot of control over his voice and enjoyed others reaction to hearing him sing for the first time.

Want to know his fav song to sing with his voice? HERE and HERE ~

[dutybcrne]

Rehashing/Redoing Adelinde hcs, now updated to match info of the story:

She is, by birth, Snezhnayan. Her real name is Ada Dorokhova.

She had no family to speak of, save her brother, Lev Dorokhov older than her by five years. The two were raised to join the Fatui ranks, as they had no other family to turn to.

Addie's brother had gone on to become a Pyroslinger. She remained a low-ranking operative, as he kept insisting he didn't want her to take on more dangerous missions. She learned diplomacy and banking instead, as well as picking up the various languages of the other nations and intel-gathering.

She did however learn to use his gun, at his insistence. She became a far better shot than he, even able to shoot a Mora coin from considerable distance with ease. It was this skill that allowed her to join her brother's company, in spite of her lower rank.

While dispatched to Mond, she and Lev took to intermingling with the locals out of uniform. While it was clear they weren't locals, many assumed and were told they were Fontanian to make things easier on them. It was during these times and interacting with the Mondstadt people that her brother began to have doubts about the Fatui's cause and the things they were taught to believe about the other people. He began to think that they could run from the Fatui and live a peaceful life here in Mondstadt. Because of him, she almost began to contemplate such things too

While expressing these thoughts to her, their company leader had overheard and had him arrested, intent on sending him back to Snezhnaya. In the ensuing struggle, Lev had been killed by his fellow Fatui.

She had been beside herself with grief, but even seeing that and knowing just how close the two had been, their superior officer kept telling her it was for the best, as a traitor like that would only hinder their mission. It was that very grief that had her taking up her brother's gun and turning it against her own comrades, slaughtering them all in a fit of rage.

She can scarcely remember anything from her rampage, save her feelings of grief and anger. From the moment she picked up her brother's weapon and took the first shot through her company leader's head, it was all a murky fog.

She does remember coming to and meeting Crepus Ragnvindr however, having stumbled across the Dawn Winery in running from the Fatui's now ravaged camp. She almost killed him too, had his abrupt query about her well-being and clear distressed concern not caught her off-guard.

After he talked her down and hearing her tale, he first offered her his coat to stave off the cold, then a place in his staff and a home in his manor as he helped treat her wounds. She rejected it promptly, not trusting why he would offer such a kindness to a Fatuus, though him outright lying to the knights who happened upon them and the carnage she'd wrought, that she'd been a mercenary who protected him from the Fatui, had been enough to sway her to trust him more. Especially when he'd left his coat in her care, a last comfort he could offer her and a promise to meet again before they'd part.

It would take several meetings after that before she would take his hand and be led home. During that time, she changed her name to a more local-sounding one, and took to using his cover for her, working as a mercenary in the meantime, occasionally running into him at the Angel's Share whenever she'd stop by for business or leisure. Or to observe him and the sort of man he was, to chat with him endlessly whenever his foolish little sun-bright smile would bloom upon seeing her. Each and every time, he'd ask her to come home with him. Each and every time, she would refuse, and tease perhaps he could try better the next time.

She accepted a year after he'd first made his offer.

Apart from being hired as a maid, Adelinde had also served as Crepus' personal aid and guard. She worked hard to hone and maintain her skills in every aspect she could, taking to her role with utmost dedication. It was perhaps this that wound up leading the rest of the staff to fall in behind her without question, even after having been regarded with suspicion by them due to her sudden disappearance. After all, it became all too clear to them that everything she would say and do, it was all for the good of their master.

She did develop feelings for Crepus, but never acted on them, especially after he'd gotten together with Diluc's mother and the lad had been born. She never faulted him for it nor did she dwell on them, much less seek to have them recognized or returned. Rather, she used them as incentive to better care for him and the young boy, even after his mother was out of the picture. This arrangement felt much more comfortable and right to her, anyways. She would never have changed a thing, even looking back now.

She taught Diluc how to use a firearm, as her brother had her, at the curious child's request. Seeing the lad so hard at work to try and improve to match her her did remind her of him at times, which never failed to make her heart ache.

She helped train Elzer in the use of firearms as well, in addition to helping train him to manage the Winery while Diluc grew up. With Elzer, she gave him the extra learnings she'd picked up with the Fatui to ensure he would be the best possible servant for the Ragnvindrs. He is the sole living person in Mond who knows the full extent of her origin, Crepus having been such, previously.

The one who reminded Adelinde of her brother the most though was Kaeya. She saw it in the gentle kindness he exuded, in the love he gave, the shyness he carried himself with yet always pushing himself to stand proud beside his more confident sibling. She saw it in his sharp wit and love of stories, the way his eyes shined in excitement at each and every one. She will never admit it, even if prodded, but it is for that reason that he was her favorite of the two. Still, she doted on both equally, adoring them both with every ounce of love her heart could muster. They were as much family to her, as the others in the staff and Winery came to be.

She and Crepus were both aware of Kaeya's heritage, the man having confided to her that Kaeya's eyes resembled those of Khaenri'ahns from legends he'd read. They both resolved to let the boy come clean at his own pace, as they felt he deserved a home, regardless of his origin, just as she had been given that chance. She made the greatest efforts to ensure he felt as welcomed as she did, that he adjusted well and personally tutored him whenever he needed the extra help. Every effort she could give to make sure he would feel safe in this new home.

Addie did eventually admit her feelings for Crepus some time before Diluc's eighteenth birthday. She had never intended to, but has done so only because he had directly asked her regarding them, and she refused to lie or keep secrets from him. She never had, since the day she'd begun to work for him, after all. As happy as he had been to know of them, and as relieved as she had been to know he was alright with it, they were never truly able to navigate what could come out of them, as Crepus died soon after.

In learning of Diluc's intent to journey to Snezhnaya, she cashed in a few favors with her old mercenary buddies and a few Fatui folk she knew without shadow of a doubt she could still trust to have them look after him the best they could. No doubt he would be hard to locate, with what limited information she could have and provide, but if it could make the difference between life or death for him, she would take every measure she could.

She admitted as much to him when he returned, through relieved tears and choked sobs upon seeing him.

She was not only one of the first to learn of his intents to moonlight as a vigilante, but his greatest supporter. She resolved to ensure not a single alibi of his could slip, to ensure each and every one of the staff would remain nothing but loyal to him, and resolved to personally take care of any 'loose ends' should it really come down to it.

Adelinde has personally stopped many a home invader over the years, from the start of her service to Crepus, to the present day, and never fails to sleep without both her own and her brother's guns prepped and ready at her bedside. She also frequently patrols the manor in the late hours, and there are no shortage of guns specially hidden around the manor for her to make a grab for in emergencies.

No, she will Never tell Diluc where they all are.

[waltzofphoenix]

@thundertide asked:

❤️ - How did your muse come to realize their romantic and sexual orientations? Was it difficult to accept? Are they proud of who they are?

✧˖° — KAEYA figured a lot of things out pretty early in his teens, because he started having undeniable feelings for several people he knew regardless of their genders. It was pretty much a non-issue for him at that point, because his adoptive family were unfazed by his crushes as a whole... although they did love to tease him!

Things got complicated later, when Kaeya started masking all of his real feelings behind an easygoing facade. He became more of a thrill-seeker, too, chasing anything that gave him good feelings at all.

Which is to say: he's proud of who he is, yes, and has no feelings of shame directly attached to his sexuality. But he's not proud of some of the things he's done in the past, especially during the years Diluc was gone, when he leaned heavily into some really unhealthy methods to cope with his depression.

Only very recently, thanks to Albedo's patience with him, Kaeya has finally started to untangle his complicated feelings.

˖°✩ — DILUC thought he figured things out early, too. As a teenager he had fleeting thoughts and feelings about a lot of different people, and it didn't really phase him much. He thought it was normal for these things to stick around for a little while and then fade away.

Then Lia breezed into his life and changed everything.

His crush on her was stronger than the others, strong enough that he became convinced it was 'true love' and she was 'the one.' (Both very romantic concepts he'd adored since he was a kid... especially since Crepus also swore his 'one and only love' had been Diluc's mother.)

But in the rush of things that happened after his father's death, which included spending a night with Lia, Diluc found himself questioning all his feelings again because he just felt... numb, in general.

Maybe she wasn't different after all?

In the years since, he has accepted the fact that he's ace, but he still finds himself struggling with the ghosts of his past expectations for his own future, that 'happily ever after' he once wanted... which he's convinced himself he will never get to experience.

💘 - What is your muse like when they're in love? What does your muse find attractive in someone else? What are their love languages? How do they show affection? Do they show any distinct signs that they're in love?

✧˖° — KAEYA finds a lot of traits attractive, but is usually drawn to the people that can hold their own in a fight and/or are exceptionally bright and clever. He wants to be around people that keep him on his toes, you know?

He's a caring person who pays attention to small details in general, so when he's trying to show his affection he goes above-and-beyond to get the other person's attention as well — whether that's by spending extra time with them or getting them an especially personal gift.

But when he suspects he's in love, Kaeya actually withdraws so he can assess the whole situation. He doesn't want to rush into that kind of thing for a LOT of reasons.

Attraction is easy for him! Love... is a lot more complicated.

˖°✩ — DILUC is a doting partner and can be a little overprotective, which is actually a big reason he's drawn to people that can take care of themselves. He finds strength very attractive, in a general sense.

His primary love languages are acts of service and quality time. With how busy he is, if he actually takes time out of his schedule to spend extra time with someone, or doing something for them... they must be pretty special, right?

So, when he's in love with someone... Diluc would start spacing out his night patrols and business appointments so he could dedicate more of his time to that person.

(Also, despite usually having a cool and collected vibe, he's actually quite easily flustered when he has a crush! So that could be another big clue that someone is important to him, haha!)

😖 - Does your muse have any embarrassing moments that they still think about? Do they laugh at them, or do they haunt them?

✧˖° — KAEYA has a bunch of embarrassing moments he still thinks about, yeah. Some he can laugh at, others make him cringe, and still others... he seriously regrets, because he caused others pain as well.

(Adelinde and the other Winery staff have several stories to tell, as do Jean, Diluc, Albedo, and Rosaria!)

˖°✩ — DILUC definitely has a few embarrassing memories that still haunt him, but he can laugh about some of them, too. Unfortunately, a lot of his childhood memories tend to be tinged with sadness, so they put him into a melancholy mood — even the ones that should just be silly and embarrassing.

Perhaps time will change that, especially since he's going to have a new person to share old memories with soon...

🍡 - Can your muse cook? Can they bake? How well can they do either? Do they have any kitchen disaster stories?

✧˖° — KAEYA is decent at open-fire cooking and can make a good, nutritious stew as well as his 'specialty' skewers. His father taught him that old trick: letting stuff sit in alcohol for a little before frying it kills a lot of bacteria, which can help prevent food poisoning on the road... while also giving the food a little extra flavor.

Baking, on the other hand... he can manage simple dishes, but he'd much rather eat something prepared by a true chef. (Which is to say: he eats out a lot.)

˖°✩ — DILUC can actually cook really well! He's not on the same level as a professional chef or Adelinde, but he did enjoy spending time in the kitchen as a child and learned to cook, bake, and mix all kinds of drinks! He has a good understanding of various flavors and what stuff will taste good when paired together.

Of course, he does have a few 'disaster' stories, too. His weak point is that he's rather impatient in general, so he tends to rush things and take shortcuts, like using more heat to cook faster. So he has burnt food on multiple occasions, and even caused small fires a few times.

However, he has learned to compensate for his shortcomings so it's almost a non-issue these days. (Almost.)

(AM NOT SORRY <3)

; [ I'M NOT SORRY, EITHER! ]

[daybreakrising]

NEW MUSE ALERT

i know i already technically announced these three, but i thought i'd do a proper post for it. these are all currently only TEST muses, so may not be permanent additions.

PLEASE NOTE: these are all on the PRIVATE LIST only, meaning they're not on my active roster & MUST be asked for - i won't offer these out unless we've already discussed interactions. some may also be selective / exclusive: please read the information for each muse carefully.

SANDRONE

pronouns: she / her (may switch to she / they once we know more) availability: open to anyone

notes: example of her muse featured HERE

PIERRO

pronouns: he / him availability: selective, requires discussion

notes: will have hcs linked with @resolutepath's crepus

PANTALONE

pronouns: he / him availability: exclusive to @resolutepath until further notice, may open up to select others in future.

notes: family connection to baizhu

[koala711]

My Missing Constant | III

[Kaeya X GN!Reader]

You never realize how important someone is to you until you lose them.

Content Warning(s): Grammar mistakes, minor mentions of alcohol consumption, a n g s t, slight mentions of blood, and very minor mentions of violence

Word(s): 1,267

[Prologue / 1 / 2 / 4]

(A/N): I’ll be honest, I don’t know what to put in my CW's because idk what qualifies enough. Better safe than sorry ヽ(ヅ)ノ

-

“The Acting Grand Master?”

A table filled with off-duty soldiers peered over at the currently highest ranked knight- a.k.a. their boss. It was a little unnerving to see her there in the place they let loose, but they were still curious.

Just what was Jean Gunnhildr doing at a tavern in the middle of the week?

“Jean,” the red-headed bartender addressed, not seeming to be too surprised to see her here. It didn’t distract him too much, though as he continued to work up a nice drink for one of the knights that’d ordered moments earlier. “I didn’t think I’d find you here tonight.”

“Me neither, but,” she let out a sigh, sitting on one of the bar stools and sliding over an already opened letter. “Master Diluc, do you happen to know what caused Kaeya to take such an abrupt absence?”

The clear, yellow liquid slipped into the Boston shaker before it was covered by the shaker’s top.

Diluc glanced down at the letter. Every single letter was written in perfect cursive, and the small marks that made it Kaeya’s writing were littered throughout it. He knew why he had left. Of course he did, how could he not? When he was writing the letter with hesitance yesterday morning, he knew that it would cause him to react like this, but not this fast.

“Well, the other day he did come in to ask about (Y/n).” This was one of the few moments that made Diluc scoff in amusement, thinking about how guilty the Cavalry Captain felt to run right as he got the letter. “Although, I’m sure there’s no need to worry. Whether wanted or not, he’ll always come back.”

-

The Dawn Winery was filled with people of all status', mingling happily amongst friends and family on the first floor. Gatherings like these were never Kaeya's favorite, but if it was for his brother, he didn't mind too much.

He hummed, swirling the bit of wine in his glass happily. Two glasses is all he is allowed tonight, but not that he minds. He has other pressing matters, which may have to do with the meek friend watching the party from above.

"You can't enjoy the festivities by just watching," Kaeya mused, standing next to you as you looked at everyone from above on the railing.

It’s been awhile since the two of you have been to a party like this, nevertheless Diluc’s birthday party. He was never the kind to throw extravagant parties like this, but Master Crepus insisted since it was his 18th birthday. 

"I know..." You continued to play with your fork, piecing apart the chocolate cake in front of you. "You know how I am at these activities."

After about 10 years of getting to know you, it was easy to know the things you were and weren’t comfortable with. He himself has witnessed the kind of events that gave you the perfect reason as to why you were like this, and sometimes he wishes he could have stopped them all.

Kaeya cleared his throat with a smile, looking over at you with a happy glint in his eye.

“Just because you are a descendant of the Lawrence clan does not mean you’re not allowed to have fun,” he says, holding his hand out for you to hold.

He could see the hesitance in your eyes, the very eyes he could get lost in if he were given a second longer before you’d torn them away nervously.

“I... I suppose.”

Your shy smile and acceptance of his hand was all he needed to whisk you away to the world you felt so far from, and if you ever became uncomfortable, he’d gladly lead you back home to where it all felt safe. 

By his side you stood, barely ever apart because you felt safe as your arm was tucked into his, and because even if he didn’t admit it, he enjoyed his proximity. 

At times he thought he was selfish, indulging in these moments a bit more than he felt he deserved, but whenever he looked over at your comfortable nature, he remembered that maybe it was okay to indulge if you were happy as well. 

Kaeya smiled to himself, picking up a bowl filled with the grapes you always snuck to eat whenever you visited the winery. He’d left you for a moment because you needed to go to the bathroom, and seeing these across the room for the chance you’d continue to smile the night away made him rush over and back.

He didn’t know when things became like this. When he’d smile at the mere thought of you, or indulge in this world the both of you felt like outsiders in. He didn't really mind though.

“Kaeya?”

He turned around to your voice, and the small smirk he had as he presented you your grapes slowly faded away like the light around him.

There he stood just outside of the cobbled alleyway of Mondstadt’s city of wind, watching as you appeared from the abyss. Your clothes were covered in eggs and flour, all roughed up with bruises and a couple of shallow cuts showing under the moonlight.

It was an awful sight to see for anyone except those that did this to you. Those who took things to the extreme for sins you didn't commit.

Tears dripped down your cheeks and fell to the cobble as your body shook with every step closer to him.

“Why’d you leave me alone?”

~

Kaeya shot up from the ground, gasping for air as he clutched his chest in a panic.

It’s been a while since he was awoken this abruptly, but it wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling. Despite the image he upheld in Mond, he had many things he’s always worried about, and you were just one of the many.

Perhaps the fact that this journey to Liyue Harbor was because of you that alongside his thoughts, his dreams and nightmares were also filled with you.

Kaeya let out a sigh, slowly picking himself up from the ground he slept on, and continued on his way to the harbor just a little down the road.

There used to be a time he felt as if he belonged in Mondstadt. It wasn't too long ago that that feeling weakened, but still he remained. He cared about some of the people there. There was no reason to leave.

To say he felt deserving of it all was another story. He didn't feel like he deserved many things, like the home Crepus gave him as a child, the family he had, to be Cavalry Captain after Diluc left for a while, and after the incident, he felt as if he was undeserving of you.

So why was he here at the gate of Liyue Harbor, chasing you down for hours and days for a meeting he felt as if he didn’t deserve? 

A person he didn’t deserve?

Kaeya didn’t know himself. He didn’t know what overcame him, too drunk on the desperate feeling he had in his heart and mind to not let you go like this.

He looked back to the mountain road he had just walked down. Perhaps he should go back? As he stared off to the road, Kaeya heard his brother’s words ringing in his head.

“Don’t mess up this time.”

...

He remembered his dream and how happy the beginning of it was. The party did happen in real life and the two of you did end up spending the night together. He could recall how the two of you eventually snuck out and sat on a small cliff along the water, staring up at the stars as crystal flies danced in the night sky. 

Kaeya’s mind was silent as he pictured that moment of simple bliss.

The least he could do was try. He was already here at Liyue Harbor, was he not?