#scaralumi fanfic

[goatakiart]

❀ It's hard to love ❀

Scara x Reader (Lumine)

Uni AU

Childhood friends (slow burn?)

SFW but slightly suggestive

Mention of drugs and smoking

⚘I work really hard to write and draw for each fanfic! I hope you like it! ⚘

Why is it that hard to love?

Scara and you have been knowing each other since childhood. You have been to field trips together, you have tried the same hobbies and have been to the same classes.

He keeps trying, for what? He doesn't even know. But whatever he's trying it's to no avail.

Everytime he tries to be nicer it's not working.

The other day, you went to the university's cafeteria and ordered a latte.

"Are you buying this shit again?" He exclaims disgusted.

What he was trying to say is..."I could buy it for you." But he didn't. He fucking didn't, and it pissed him off. He felt like a moron.

You roll your eyes in annoyance, knowing him full well. He was always like that, but you do know his soul. You know how he feels and who he really is. You can feel it when he has cried the night before.

Oh does he cry often.

But none knows, you were not supposed to know, but you do, you can sense it.

After university ends you both head to the library to study, he holds and sips on his third bitter coffee as he's listening to music and reading on the desk next to you, focusing on his studies. You instead, cannot study, for the love of God, how can you? It's the perfect time to steal glances at him. When he's listening to music, he really doesn't understand what's going on around him. The only thing you can do is doodle him as he's unaware. He's a top student, but none really expected him to be this good when he got to university. In school, he was always fighting with the other kids, never studying, always causing trouble. You have asked him a couple of times if he has ever done drugs. To which he answered no, but you knew he was lying.

Luckily, when high school ended, he could finally move from his mother's house to live with his aunt, which did him really good. It was still hard to have conversations, though, yet you cherished him because even if he acted like an asshole at times, he was always present, especially when you needed him, and that was enough.

It seems like you daydreamed for way too long.

"What are you looking at, Idiot." He exclaims, annoyed, he's right in front of your face, and you didn't even notice. This makes you jump from your seat and immediately look for the notebook you were doodling on. Where is it???

"Are you looking for that?" He holds it like a piece of crap by a page, between his index finger and his thumb, letting the rest hang.

You try to grab it, but to no avail, he flashes a satisfied, rather evil grin before he lets it fall and immediately catches it midway through on the air, which makes the book close loudly.

"Give it back..."

"Hah." He scuffs mockingly. Curiosity has won him over, and he opens the notebook eagerly. He didn't mean to pry on your private stuff...he didn't know why he did it. Maybe he needed a sign... maybe...

His eyes widen as he finally reaches the point of the book which is full of doodles...doodles of him.

You look down embarrassed, trapping your hand between your thighs in order to protect your body from the invisible force of shame. You expect him to mock you, but instead, his face...changes color?

His cheeks begin flashing a pink tint just before his whole face turns red, his ears too.

He immediately closes the book and gives it to you, all while looking away to avoid your gaze. Little did he know you also looked away from him. You try to get your book back, grabbing it forcefully in case he attempts to pull it away, but your fingers slightly touch his. He shivers and covers his face in response. I hate her, I hate her, I hate her, he tells himself, to convince his spirit to calm down.

"I....I will see you later, bye."

He walks away in hurry, banging the door behind him which makes everyone in the library to raise their head and look at that direction, you try to hide your own face before the people notice the action was related to you. Your heart is still beating like crazy. It almost makes you feel dizzy. Did he really see it all? What if he hates you now? Maybe he'll avoid you... this is so embarrassing. You lay your face straight on the desk, followed by a defeated groan.

Scaramouche walks fast to get back home, too fast, he almost trips a few times. His mind arguing by itself.

"Why the fuck is she doodling me?"

"These drawings were pretty good, does he think I'm handsome?"

"Maybe she just doodles whoever she finds in front of her to practice."

"Does she... draw other people too...?"

He stops at this last thought to take a deep, reaaaally deep breath.

"Fuck." He's too deep into this, it ruins him, it hurts him to the core, but when you're around it feels great, he feels like he can achieve everything when you're next to him, as if it's only the two of you in the world. It's genuinely confusing, his mind is spinning, he stops outside his apartment and lights a cigarette. He lays his back against the yellow cemented wall. He releases the smoke and arches his head back to look at the sky, it's cloudy, gray, and it reminds him of the mess he is. He relates to the storm, and he hates it.

His aunt, Nahida, storms out of the door in an appron, slippers and a spoon which genuinely startles Scara, the cigarette drops from his mouth to the ground, as his eyes followed the now useless cigarette he notices it begins to get covered in rain, which adds to its uselessness. Drowns it.

"Are you smoking again? What did I say?"

"Look, I'm an adult. I don't smoke in your house, so that should be enough."

Nahida understands the cold interior. He thinks that if he does whatever is necessary, there's no point for anyone to bother him. He has no idea how someone can do something out of care...or worry. Or maybe he has, but he doesn't wanna believe he deserves this kind of treatment.

"The food is ready, you should get in, you'll catch a cold in the rain!" She says, patting his back just before she gets in again.

Scara watches her as she enters the house. Suddenly, his body bounced as he recalled the fact that your house was somewhat far to walk back to. He leaps forward, stepping on the cigarette he previously dropped, to go and find you.

As he guessed, he spotted you on the avenue near your uni.

Just before you crossed the road, you were trying to cover yourself with your hoodie, wearing your backpack to your stomach, trying to protect the books from the rain. He gasps at your sight, he stops running, trying to catch his breath, he leans forward and his fists clench on his knees. This feeling again. He hesitates to call out your name.

A car passes by really fast, splashing water all over you, Scara in anger yells at the car from afar.

"Go to hell, fucker!"

You jerked your head, blinking as you notice his familiar figure.

"Scara?!" You yell from the other side. However, your voice is muffled by the loud sound of the rain as it gets heavier, he cannot hear you but manages to read his name on your lips.

Oh fuck. He thinks to himself, did he mess up again? He wants to run to you and cover you up...but he just stays in place, staring at you, his pupils shake as the rain pours on him, his wet hair all over his face. Theres a moment of silence before you decide to pass by the road, trotting to his direction in worry.

"What are you doing here??"

He tries to talk... wants to... but, but... why is it so hard? ... ah!!! Fuck it!

In one quick movement, he swings his hand and grabs your wrist forcefully, pulling you close to him.

Another pause. Your heart flutters for a moment, his indigo eyes looking into your own as if he's searching for something, grasping your attention. He cuts the silence like a knife would cut the butter, his sharp voice demanding your attention.

"Let's go."

He walks on the opposite side of you, pulling you behind him, slowly speeding up his steps, leading you towards his apartment.

"I thou--I mean, Nahida thought that it's best you don't walk all this distance in the rain, you will catch a cold."

You can barely hear him among the pitter-patter of the extremely heavy rain.

"It's okay, I can go..."

He tilts his head back, with a frown, his gaze pierces you angrily.

"It's half an hour trip, literally shut the fuck up."

"Okayyy, Mister, I'm sorry!"

"Hmph."

He rotates his head to the direction you're heading again, still pulling you.

You finally reach your destination. There's no time to process anything before he opens the door, almost throwing you inside before him. He wants you to get to safety quickly, but damn, is he rude about it. You both leave your shoes by the door.

"Look who's here!" Nahida greets you both. She rushes in to turn on the water heater and helps you both take off your coats and bags.

You know her very well, you have been staying for dinner a lot of times. You live alone, so Nahida always likes to treat you with good food instead of going back home to instant noodles.

You both sit on the table, somewhat awkward. You fiddle on the towel on your head. Nahida places the plates on the table, Scara helps her lazily, the glasses are clinging against each other, he separates them from his hands and puts them next to the plates. The menu today has chelow kebab. You love that dish. The aroma of the well cooked beef against the steamy rice together with the variety of spices is filling your system, revealing a hunger you didn't know you have. You all begin to eat and chat about all the random topics. Might that be school, family situations or even funny moments you all shared together, the kitchen is filled with laughter, and of course, Scara's grumpiness when it comes to the two women remembering funny moments that do not benefit him at all, which causes you to laugh even harder.

The water finally got hot, Scara insists on you getting into the shower first to avoid catching a cold. He never gets sick anyway.

You do as you're told and get in. It feels like home, so there's not much embarrassment going around. You shower quickly without many thoughts in your mind. The hot water dropping on your body helps your muscles relax, and your temperature finally comes back to normal. You quickly get out in the robe Nahida gave you and sprint into Scara's room.

He notices you as you enter the room and close the door behind you. He takes a long sip of his bitter black tea.

"Why the heck did she give you my robe?"

A jolt of surprise runs in your body like electricity. You take a moment to really shake the dirty thought that lingers in your mind. He has been in the robe you're wearing...naked.

"Um..."

He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Nevermind, I have another."

It's very challenging to hide the fact that your imagination is running wild at this moment.

What does he look like naked??

"Are you gonna just stand on top of my head all night? Sit down."

You try to find of an excuse.

"I was thinking that my clothes haven't dried yet..."

He raises an eyebrow.

"...and?"

A short moment of silence follows.

"I'll bring you some."

"You have women's clothes?"

"No, dumbass. I'll give you my clothes."

He reaches for the drawer and it doesn't take much time for him to pull out a pair of pajamas.

"Am I going out on pajamas?"

You clearly are playing dumb.

"I'm not sure if you pretend to be stupid or you actually are. The rain ain't gonna stop anytime soon. You're staying here.

He demands it, and you're not bothered at all by it.

"Are you sure?"

"There's no point to repeat what I just said." He's already walking out of the room midway the sentence, leaving you alone in the room, with the folded cloth sitting on your thighs and drops from your -still- wet hair running down your back, you attempt to remove your robe and dress up, till you notice the black underwear, his underwear. He really gave it to you just like that? You're way too hesitant to wear this. You're getting shy, or perhaps the thoughts in your head are rising at an increasingly dangerous speed. The creaking sound of the door opening drags you out of your thoughts, and a Scara in baggy clothes emerges.

"Why are you still sitting in the robe? Do you wish to soak my bed?"

You do wish to soak his bed.

"I'm sorry...it's just...um..."

He raises an eyebrow, your brain tries to focus on something else. The only thing it can pick up is the sound of the fabric on his hoodie as he crosses his arms. The silence is deafening.

"...Go on."

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

His head turned slightly to the side, his eyes turned down and forward to you.

"Yea, I just zoned out a bit. I'm going to change, can you turn around?"

The question embarrasses Scara, he doesn't even know the reason, he would prefer to be in the same room as you while you change, but his brain betrays his love deprived heart once again, it is not new to him. He simply opens the door to get out.

"Be fast about it."

But that doesn't mean he won't follow up with an act of kindness. Sometimes, passes till he knocks the door, and you let him in. He's holding a cup of hot chocolate. A tiny smile surfaced from the corners of Scara's mouth just when he saw you in his own clothes, even if small, the smile was radiating a sense of pride and...joy.

"Good."

He hands you the cup.

"Thanks..."

You place the hem of the cup on your mouth, taking a sip of your drink as you sit uncomfortably in his unexpectedly comfortable clothes.

"You didn't have to--" He cuts you off angrily.

"Cut the pleasantries. This is not like you at all."

Of course it is not. Your mind is too busy wandering around, imagining things you shouldn't.

"Would you be satisfied if I treated you like a bitch?"

"Maybe I would."

Wow. What?!

You both pause.

"I mean, I appreciate honesty, alright."

"I can be nice and honest."

"You're unbearable."

"And you're a prick."

"Are you sure about that? You're wearing this pricks clothes right now."

"I swear I could--"

I could remove them.

"--hit you right now.

"You? Hit me? Get a grip."

Maybe I'm into that.

You raise your arm as if you're going to hit him, jokingly landing your hand on his arm.

He scoffs. And you do, too. You find yourself laughing. Oh, how he loves your laugh. How he enjoys seeing you sitting comfortably in his room, in his clothes. He wishes to stop time right now, engrave this moment in his consciousness.

"Say...Lumine."

"Hm?"

Not gonna lie. The sudden change of mood stressed you, your eyes locked with his, and your eyebrows rose in curiosity. A line appeared between his brows as his eyes leered, trying to guess your expression as much as you were trying to guess his own.

It was always like that, no matter how close you would be to each other, there was always this invisible wall, as if his soul is within reach but you could never reach it, a distant dream, but a nightmare contiguous with your consciousness. The nightmare of losing him, the nightmare of him turning his back away from you, never looking behind him again.

It took him a long time to speak, you didn't rush things, he looked like he needed time, you saw it as his eyes, from a starry sky turned into a deep distant ocean.

He was scared. God only knows what he was scared of.

"Nevermind."

Another one ended convo. How many times did you go through this? It stirred your heart dry.

Your ribcage felt like it's compressing your chest, your heart swollen into it, about to burst, if this happened...your feelings would pour out...then he'll leave...he'll...

"No."

"What?"

His eyes widen, and a glimpse of hope poured out of them, giving this vast ocean a glimmer of the stars you witness inside his soul.

"I know something is wrong, Scara. Why are you avoiding me? What are you so scared of?"

His eyebrows frowned, he looked angry....or desperate...it was hard to read his expressions. You kept talking.

"I appreciate honesty as much as you do. However, you're not honest. No, you're not lying to me or to Nahida. You're lying to yourself. Have you ever allowed yourself to swallow anything else than this bitter tea?"

You felt your body weak from all the overwhelming emotions. You are trying your best to stay composed, but your body shakes netherless.

He takes a deep breath, his mind begins to spin.

"Is there anything else than bitterness in life? It's the true flavor of everything. You can see it everywhere, in history, in books, poetry, and people love it. They like the bitterness, and they enjoy pouring my cup with it."

"That's not true! And even if it is..."

You pause to stroke Scara's sleeve. Nothing will stop you. He needs to witness his worth from your own eyes.

"I'll be the one who will pour the honey in that cup. No matter how much you hate it, I'll be here regardless, and I'll keep annoying you, sending you texts, memes, talking about my day to you when you picked your phone up just because I called you five times in a row."

Why is loving so damn hard?

He hates it. He hates feeling vulnerable, she hits every spot, he hates not being able to put his feelings into words, and what about actions? Whatever he does, his actions do not match the emotion. It's pointless to try, yet... there's something in him that begs her not to let go of him. When she says just that, all hell broke loose.

"How fucking Irritating."

You gasped, taking your frown away from his sight. You're about to get up and leave.

He can't let that happen. Not again.

He grabs your arm with intensity, pulling you down again.

"Let go of me--"

There's no time to get mad, there's no time to react or speak further, because...because all hell broke loose.

His lips met with yours. In a still, silent movement. The movement itself might be "emotionless," but the action itself released all the emotions in the world. He couldn't react further in fear of doing the wrong thing, however he didn't let go of your wrist, he just grasped it harder, squeezing it painfully inside his palm, his closed eyes frowned in discomfort. It was only natural. This was so out of character for him. You noticed everything because,in your own nervousness, you find it difficult to close your eyes, taking your time to process what is just happening, not responding to his kiss. Unfortunately, this made him think he did the wrong move and attempted to move away.

You...can't let him go. Not again.

You grabbed his face and clashed your lips against his own once more. Your kiss was the exact opposite to his attempt. Your expression, however, is familiar to his. Your kiss was deep and sloppy, your heart was banging against your chest, feeling your pulse hammering on your whole body, your lower abdomen felt ticklish, your whole body was stressed by the adrenaline running wild in your system. He finally responded to the kiss with the same intensity, his body pressed against yours, pushing you, causing you to fall on the bed under him, but he didn't let you just fall, he was holding your waist firmly, letting you down softly as he turned the kiss from sloppy and intense, to collected and passionate. He seemed experienced, so you followed his lead and wrapped your arms around his shoulders. Your hands reached the back of his neck and kept moving till you began caressing the back of his scalp carefully. A slow, cozy playlist was left playing in the background while the raindrops kept pounding on the window. Everything felt perfect, an outcome you would never expect, an outcome he wouldn't dare to even dream of.

Loving is hard, but maybe it's worth it if you're the honey to his bitter tea.

[viatrixia]

[2/3] Traveler's Purpose

pairing: scaramouche x lumine [ft. childe] words: 2, 759 genre: fluff, tsundere!scaramouche, fight scene note: cross posted on ao3

series : part i. part ii. part iii.

In which Childe crosses paths with a certain blonde fighter who he has been dying to meet again. Except she’s not alone.

“Lumine, I left you for one hot minute and you picked up a street rat as your new pet?”

“Ajax, I don’t want to fight you but I will if you insist on taking Scaramouche with you.”

The thought of a foreseeable battle against this otherworldly warrior excites him. Before this, he didn’t think there was anything that could rile him up as much as a one-on-one, all out fight between him and Lumine. But seeing Scaramouche’s tilted smirk brings up emotions he can’t explain.

The traitor he is seeking is standing behind Lumine and far too close for his liking.  Scaramouche is milking every drop of privilege that comes with being the Traveler’s new companion.

“L-Lumine. Please be careful…” Paimon stammers. 

Even the ever chatty floating intelligence senses the tangible tension strum in the air. She occasionally bears witness to Lumine’s battles but none were easy to watch. Sometimes the fights end up drawing blood, sometimes it ends with Lumine fainting for days and other times she comes out barely alive.

Yet Paimon understands more than anyone how alive Lumine becomes as she dances with her sword in precise yet languid movements. Lumine shines the brightest when she fights for the people she holds dear.

Tartaglia regrettably knows this too.

And currently, the person she is defending so fiercely is none other than this miscreant deserter. The idea of Scaramouche being in such close proximity with Lumine leaves a foul taste in the Delusion bearer’s mouth.

“I’ve fought a lot of strong people since our last battle and lost to none… Shall we see if I’ve improved?” Childe’s voice deepens as he feels the claws of darkness wrap around his body in an almost suffocating fashion.

His long fingers trace the hard ridges of the scarlet mask bestowed upon him by his Archon. In one swift motion, he pulls the mask onto his face.

Invisible hands which only he can see reach out to him as though appearing from a tear in another space; from the land of darkness to pull him back into the deepest pit of hell. Yet they never do–they only ever hover over, whispering an impending premonition; a prophesied end to his legacy. 

The day Tartaglia, the war weapon of the Cryo Archon, falls from grace will soon come, but that day is not today.

With one swing of his double edged spear, the hands and the voices disappear as thought blown away by the sheer force of his Delusive powers.

Wind currents softly blow in the air, causing Lumine’s hair to sway gently against her skin. Tartaglia knows that this isn’t an ordinary breeze. She’s calling for the winds to aid her in this fight. The violet sparks in between her fingers tells him that there’s more elements at play than he initially thought.

‘Has she mastered using more than one element at the same time?’ He muses in amazement.

“It’s not too late to hand over the traitor.” He says as his own spear hisses with an electrifying whir. 

“Tell the Tsaritsa I said ‘ kindly, fuck off’ .” Lumine’s liquid gold eyes glistening underneath the azure skies. Her other hand comes to grasp the hilt of the sword in a secure yet combative grip. Wind currents propel her forward as an electrifying violet glow engulf her blade.

“So that’s how it’s going to be.” Childe blocks her attack with an easy gait and thrusts forward with his lance only for Lumine to evade him by a few millimeters each time as though she’s memorized his favorite moves since their last fight.

One strike could cost Lumine her life yet the lustrous glint in her eyes only gets brighter. A whirlwind forms underneath Lumine’s palm, pulling fallen twigs, pebbles and blades of grass within its core. Once the whirlwind begins to make a screeching sound like that of a thousand birds, does she release her hold, directing it towards her masked opponent. 

The whirlpool creeps towards Childe as it grows in size. Tree branches sway. Any signs of forest creatures that peeked through hallowed trunks have long run for shelter. 

Childe curses underneath his breath. This isn’t looking too good for him too fast. Everything around him is being sucked into the maelstrom gifted to him by his favorite Traveler. 

His eyesight is hindered by the green and brown and dirt flying around everywhere. He can feel himself getting pulled into the turbulent force.

“Maybe I spoke too soon.” He joked, nervous laughter and wildly beating heart.

“That, you did, Ajax.” Lumine smiles as she lurches into the heart of the vortex, completely ignoring the cut on her cheek and exposed skin from a flying tree branch and pebbles.

“Lumine!” Both Paimon and Scaramouche screams at the same time–even for an Anemo bearer and a floating creature, anyone in their right mind would think that jumping headfirst into a turbulent maelstrom is suicide.

All of a sudden, streaks of lighting begin to strike from the core of the whirlpool before it completely disperses, sending the stones and branches flying into every direction. Scaramouche lifts one hand up, creating his own wind current to block an arm-sized tree branch flying in his direction. For a moment, everything comes to a standstill as though time has stopped.

It takes a while for Paimon and Scaramouche’s eyes to adjust to the scene before them. In the midst of the chaos, Childe has morphed into his Foul Legacy, barely blocking the electrified strike of Lumine’s blade. 

“Is that all you’ve got?” Childe bellows, leaping backwards to create a distance between them and summons an explosive wave of ocean within a five mile radius.

“Shit.” Lumine curses, darting to her left, barely dodging the full effects of the Delusion bearer’s Riptide effects.

She feels a searing hotness on her arm where the wave managed to touch her, the violet markings of Childe’s Riptide beginning to etch in her skin. Not that she doesn’t know that evading it is impossible but it’s better than taking on the full force of its waves.

“Surrender is a valid option, Traveler.” Childe offers, arms outstretched on both sides like a saint welcoming a sinner into his embrace.

“As if!” Lumine vehemently shouts.

“You never do know when to give up.” Childe sighs as a hydro whale manifests behind him, twirling forward as though the entire air space is its domain.

Lumine’s free hand hovers over the ground as the earth begins to quake and rises into a wall, blocking the whale’s attacks. She sends a whirlpool in the whale’s direction, breaking down the water molecules into tiny droplets and redirects it towards Childe.

Having faced the same move once, he easily cuts through the vortex with his arrow. Yet once his vision clears, he realizes that the Traveler has managed to evade his line of sight. Childe’s heart begins to race–if there’s one thing he’s held onto as a fighter of the Fatui, it’s that one should never lose sight of one’s opponent.

And for that, he pays the price dearly.

“Surrender,” Lumine’s soft yet stern voice whispers in the wind yet she is nowhere to be seen, “is a valid option, Ajax.” 

By the time he notices a shadow over his head, a gust of wind comes crashing into him in every direction, sending him off balance. Childe barely manages to pull his arms over his face as the glint of Lumine’s sword blinks in his face. And he finds himself on the ground, armored gloves shattered and mask sporting a diagonal crack across his face. The skies remain an azure blue color, as though undisturbed and unobstructed by the fierce battle that occurred underneath.

It hasn’t hit yet but he���s sure that at least one of his bones is broken and though he doesn’t feel the sting, he’s lucid enough to feel the warmth in his left arm which he thinks is caused by a ghastly cut.

The bright skies get obscured by a shadow–a goddess with liquid golden eyes as she bends over.

“Are you still alive?” 

This goddess has a way with words.

“What a morbid thing to say.” Childe wants to laugh but it only comes out as a wheeze.

“Can you stand? You don’t look too good.”

Childe grunts, causing Lumine’s face to contort in worry.

“Need a hand?” She extends her left hand that’s covered in fresh cuts.

“Thanks.” Childe reaches out… only to be forcefully pulled by a different, more masculine hand.

“Don’t mention it.” Scaramouche grunts, grimacing as if he’s touching dirt.

Childe almost wants to puke but instead he wills himself to smile at his former comrade-turned-traitor. He barely has the energy to keep himself standing. That, and he has a feeling that if he swings the first punch, he’ll end up giving Scaramouche a reason to send him flying halfway across Sumeru’s forest and Lumine won’t fault him for it.

The golden Traveler blinks, watching the two interact, her extended hand falling to her side since it’s clearly not needed anymore.

‘They’re more civilized than I thought they’d be. Maybe deep down they still think of each other as comrades!’ The thought makes Lumine smile unknowingly.

Scaramouche turns on his heels, hands cupping Lumine’s face ever so softly–it’s almost as though the person who was grimacing at Childe was just a mirage; a trick his mind is playing on him.

“You’re hurt.” He says curtly though there’s no mistaking the warmth in his touch.

Lumine feels her body turning into a statue. Her cheeks, where the Wanderer’s hands are, are hot and red for some reason.

“B-but not as bad as Ajax. C-come to think of it we should get him treated–”

“I’m not talking about Tartaglia.” Scaramouche cuts her off. “I’m talking about you. Just because one person got bulldozed by a sumpter beast and another got struck by a boar, doesn’t mean one deserves less medical attention than the other.”

Lumine thinks that if there’s such a thing as dying from voluntary suffocation, then this must be it. Her breath hitches and gets stuck in her throat. She can’t seem to remember how to breathe.

In that moment, a disgruntled groan erupts from Childe’s lips.

“Ow–ugh–ow-ow-ow-ow-ow–I think my ankle is broken.” 

“Ajax!”

Lumine being Lumine takes a second to register what’s happening and in a blink of an eye, she’s on Childe’s side, placing his arm around her shoulder and supporting his weight. 

“Lean on me, I’ll help you walk…” She instructs, the boulder lying five feet away being their destination.

Once Childe is seated on the sturdy slab of rock, Lumine kneels down with her flying companion panicking. She begins taking off Childe’s left shoe where purple and red mars his ankle.

“I’m no healer but I know enough to relieve the swelling.” Lumine murmurs, face scrunched into a mixture of guilt and worry.

“I think I have a gash on my arm too, Lumine.” The ginger haired Fatui whimpers.

“Paimon, light a fire and boil some water… Scaramouche, can you hunt for fowls and gather some sweet flowers?”

“F-fire? The last time Paimon tried to light a fire, she almost burned down the entire forest b-but Paimon can do this–after all, Lumine taught Paimon how to light a fire properly after that time.” The silver haired creature nods once she sees the dire expression on Lumine’s face.

Scaramouche’s eyebrow twitches as he stands in his original spot–the spot Lumine left him in–and places a hand on his hip.

In the midst of the chaos, he notices Tartaglia’s sneaky grin directed at him. It takes everything in Scaramouche not to march over there, grab the grinning ginger by the collar and send him flying all the way to Sumeru City where there would certainly be a doctor to treat his overexaggerated wounds.

But the Anemo vision bearer steels himself. If he did that, Lumine would be wrought by a greater sense of guilt and would likely go all the way to the City to search for Childe just to make sure that he’s alright and is getting treated.

Scaramouche sighs, willing the winds to propel him upwards to a level where birds would most likely be. 

“If she’s going to be this bothered, she shouldn’t have challenged him to a battle. I could take care of it myself.” He mumbles to himself.

Scaramouche eventually catches three dusk birds, holding them upside down by their feet while his other hand holds a handful of bright yellow flowers in a death grip… it would be a lie if he said he wasn’t envisioning gripping Tartaglia’s neck like how he’s gripping the flowers. But nobody needs to know that. Especially not Lumine.

By the time he returns, Childe has somehow stripped down to his pants, revealing his chiseled upper torso whilst Lumine is tending to his wounds.

Scaramouche’s heart fills with pride as he sees the bruises on the ginger’s body. Lumine may seem too compassionate for her own good but she never pulls her punches, even when she’s up against someone she shares a camaraderie with.

“Ah–I’m really not joking, it hurts.” Childe grumbles as Scaramouche gets closer.

“Then I take it, you'll send my regards to the Tsaritsa.” Lumine says calmly as she holds a hand over a bruised spot on Childe’s shoulder, water forming underneath her fingertips. It seems she too has sniffed out Childe’s over exaggerated wolf cries. 

At the mention of the Tsaritsa and Lumine’s unwavering conviction to stand by her new found companion, Scaramouche feels the familiar electrifying spark run through his body.

There’s a boiling pot several feet from them but he ambles towards the two fighters and drops the dead carcasses onto the ginger’s lap. Blood and all.

“Agh!”

“Eat. They’ll help you recover faster.” Scaramouche smiles a sickly sweet smile.

“You’re fucking with me.” Childe plainly says, glaring at the dark haired boy as though he’s on his last string of patience.

“They need to be cooked first.” Lumine pushes herself up from her kneeling position and picks up the hunt.

She says it so casually because she’s used to explaining the basics to her new found companion thinking that he was simply ignorant of the way humans live. Scaramouche never bothered to correct her or tell her that he too, once lived amongst the mortals and did mortal things. He loves hearing her explain things to him.

Lumine finds a riverstream closeby and begins plucking off the feathers of the birds. Scaramouche crouches next to her, staring at her apt fingers moving swiftly like a seasoned hunter.

“We’re not taking him with us, are we?” He asks, eyeing the half naked Fatui who’s watching them from where they left him like a hawk. Gone is the playful boyish side of him now that Lumine’s not looking.

“You’re giving me too much credit than I deserve.” Lumine moves on to the second bird.

“Hm?” 

“I’m not that generous. Just because I caused most of Ajax’s wounds and proceeded to treat him doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten the threat he poses on you.” 

Then her golden eyes shine dazzlingly underneath the sun as they meet his. As though she’s saying that she full well remembers the purpose of the fight and he is her purpose. Scaramouche can only blink, for if he tried to speak words would fail him over and over again because there are no words that could describe what he’s feeling right now. 

Before he can make heads or tails of the pulsating sparks coursing through his entire being, Lumine is already standing up and heading towards where the ginger Fatui is.

The corners of Scaramouche’s lips tilt into an unrestrained smile. He pushes himself up, following a few feet behind Lumine.

And his smile widens, hinted with a trace of smugness, when he meets Tartaglia’s arched eyebrows.

“Ah, Scaramouche, can you help take off the lid?” She throws her glance over her shoulders where said boy is.

“Sure thing, Lumine.” He easily agrees.

“Oh, I forgot to wash the sweet flowers.”

“I can–” Ajax chirps up.

“Don’t worry, I got this.”

“Thank you, Zephyr.”

Lumine beams, kneeling in front of the pot and placing the fowls into the boiling water, unbeknownst to her, Tartaglia’s expression darkens when he hears Scaramouche’s nickname whilst the owner of said nickname makes a quick turn, finger on his cheek and pulling his lower eyelid as he sticks his tongue out at the ginger.

[glasscloudreborn-blog]

Doll - ScaraLumi

There she went again. Ever since he'd decided to take the Traveler's offer to stay in her adeptal realm, it's become almost routine how his nights would proceed. The walls of the mansion weren’t especially thick and the realm doesn't really produce much noise to hinder any sounds to reach his ears.

 It would always start peacefully after they enter their respective rooms, especially since the normally noisy imp would be deep in sleep from her food coma.

 They would separate after dinner. He would proceed to his room on the second floor while the Traveler tucks in the imp in the room downstairs. (A room which the imp had apparently requested since it’s near the kitchen. Really, the Traveler spoils it a bit too much. She should be awarded for all the patience she has for the flying insect.) A few minutes later, she’d walk up the stairs and enter her own room across his.

 There would be silence until it hits midnight.

 Even with his eyes closed he could tell by now when it would start. The rustling of sheets would signal her restless dreaming. Then, her whimpers would follow. It wouldn't be long before her barely subdued sobs would ring through the night.

 It was irritating. He was starting to regret even accepting her invitation to her home in the first place. Honestly, the only reason he agreed was by the persistence of Lesser Lord Kusanali. He’d have been fine wandering on his own at night. He’s a puppet, after all. He didn’t have the same needs as humans and mortals alike.

 But to think he expected to have peace in her realm, only for her nightly weeping to disturb him.

 (It reminds him of all those lonely nights in the pavilion. Filled with his expectations and hopes that someday his 'mother' would come back for him. All those times, wasted over a fantasy of his naive mind's making.) Pathetic.

 He didn't need sleep, but he did want the promised peace. So, come one night he started sewing another doll. He didn't know what the doll should look like. But before he could think on it further, it had already started to take on the same shape of his Kabukimono doll.

 He frowned on it for but a second before continuing. Why would it matter what the doll looks like? She should be grateful he's taking the time to make her one. She should be.

 (And hopefully, it stops her tears from falling.)

 It took a mere night to finish the doll yet it took several more days before he could have enough (courage) pity to hand her the doll.

 He knocked on her door deep into the night. Her sobs immediately halted. He could almost hear the confusion through the door. So, he knocked again and called out, “It’s me.”

 “Wanderer?”

 He scoffed in irritation at the face that greeted him. (When would she ever use his name?) Her eyes were swollen and red. The voice she spoke with was small and shaky in comparison to the soft yet firm and confident voice she would usually use.

 “Here.” He shoved the doll into her hands.

 He watched as her eyes widened in surprise before softening at the sight of the doll. She smiled gently as she caressed the doll like it's something precious. Her fingers lingered over the tear on its face. He wonders what she's thinking about. Would she treasure the doll or would she store it somewhere to be forgotten?

 (Don’t leave me. Please.)

 Or will it become one of the many gifts she’d most definitely received.

 He didn’t care.

 Whatever. He has no need to linger here any longer. "Good n-"

 Before he could finish, the Traveler's hand caught his sleeve.

 "Wait." The doll was now carefully clutched against her chest. For a moment, he foolishly thought the doll was happy.

 His eyes lingered on it a little too much and averted his eyes to her face, waiting for whatever she wanted to tell him. A thanks, he presumed.

 He couldn't stop the hitch in his breath as her flustered face finally looked up at him. Even with the fake moon above, the light it streamed into the window and against her made her look ethereal. Her golden tresses shone in silvery light and her eyes almost glowed. Was this what a star should look like?

 "Maybe… You could cuddle me instead?"

 There was a mischievous glint on her beautiful eyes. But there was also an underlying plea that stopped him from simply scoffing and marching off to his room. An unexplainable heat reached his cheeks.

 “J-Just this once. You understand?!”

 The sweet chime of her giggle that followed him as he stomped himself into her room was not appreciated. Nor were the arms that had wrapped around him all night until the following morning. There was nothing peaceful about the heartbeat in her chest he had pressed his ears into. Her smile and greeting in the morning were tolerable at best. He didn’t like it at all.

 The only reason he lets her do the same thing over and over and over again every night thereafter, was for his precious peace.

 (He doesn’t want to hear her cries again.)

[saetoru]

my fav genshin ships in order that nobody asked for but i will give anyway with commentary

kavetham (duh they are a crabby old married couple that hurl insults at each other and kill anyone else who dares to do it that is prime couple material and honestly there is so much about them i could ramble about but we’ll keep it short)

dainlumi (the only straight ship on this list lmao. anyway the way he says her name when he first sees her as abyss princess when he’s with aether made me die bro his TONE. SOBS. she was everything to him at one point idc)

cynonari (they quite literally have a child together. they are literally so mom and dad / housewife and working-away husband coded and they have the most wholesome in game interactions)

beiguang (a refined princess of a woman and tough and rough adventurer of a woman like what is there not to ship hello. they so make out on the ship or outside the jade chamber at night when no one is looking)

eimiko (they are both so gay lol and miko waited AGES for ei that it true love and it would be higher on the list except i am genuinely a bit salty about this ship bc i want miko to be mine)

[dailyscaralumi]

Wanna read a fic with lots of emotions and angst but with a peaceful ending? 👀 Something that you might relate to? 👀

This is the perfect fic! Check it out 🤌

(make sure to read the tags though)

https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/113231095?show_comments=true&view_full_work=false#comment_620713855

[remimibanana]

Title: Return

Where it's Wanderer’s birthday once again! This year, he’s welcomed with a talking robot, a cake, gifts he never asked for, and don’t get him started on the cats that came out of nowhere!

Word Count: 22,178

[ladyhibana]

🦋Commission for @anne-narchy

🦋You can read they fanfic on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43693587?view_full_work=true

I had a lot of fun creating this illustration ✨

[genshinimpactful]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Scaramouche/Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact) Characters: Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Scaramouche (Genshin Impact), Alhaitham (Genshin Impact), Lisa (Genshin Impact), Kaeya (Genshin Impact) Additional Tags: 3.3 Update Spoilers (Genshin Impact), lisa and kaeya detective team, Developing Friendships, Developing Relationship, no beta we die like Il Dottore's clones, wanderer and lumine drabbles post 3.3 events, Scaralumi Week 2022, fluff and light hurt/comfort Summary:

“Lisa!” Lisa Minci, upon hearing ferocious knocking at the door, looked up sharply from her perch atop one of the desks in the Knights of Favonius’ Library. Had she not also heard the cries of her precious cutie, and spied a slightly disheveled traveler at the door frame, the smile gracing her face would have been far more malicious in intent.

Uncrossing her legs and stretching her arms out in front of her - pleased upon hearing a satisfying pop from her spine - the librarian greeted the traveler, “Ara, if it isn't my cutie! I thought that you were to remain in Sumeru for the time being.” Her eyes crinkling in the corners, “to what do we owe the lovely surprise of your presence?”

Not mincing words, or sparing any time for pleasantries, Lumine uttered, “Does this library contain any books on baby names?” If Lisa had been drinking a cup of her favorite love poem tea, she very nearly would have spat it out.

[realvicoba]

Being human hurts.

To see, to consume, to feel, it's all too much, yet too little.

Why does one cling to something if it is worth nothing?

A trilogy of fanfics about being alive, grief, love, and deep trauma, written across the timeframe of my year.

(you need an ao3 account to read them. The third part is only available to everyone for a limited amount of time!)

[viatrixia]

[1/3] Balladeer's Deception

pairing: scaramouche x lumine words: 2, 741 genre: fluff, tsundere!scaramouche, fight scene note: cross posted on ao3

series : part i. part ii. part iii.

Scaramouche realizes that flicking his wrist and sending Paimon flying several miles away in the heat of a battle just to get Lumine to himself might not turn out the way he wanted.

“Hey, watch it!” Scaramouche screams, barely dodging a mitachurl’s axe that came flying his way just as he was dealing his last blow against a group of hilichurls.

“Oops! Sorry!” Lumine hurriedly apologizes, a sheepish grin on her lips before she turns back to the axe-less mitachurl.

“Eeep! That axe almost got Paimon’s head!” Shrieks the floating silver haired lackey.

“You’re a whooping 20-feet away. You’re more than safe–Actually, what do you even do for the Traveler?” Scaramouche frowns.

“Hey! Paimon helped Lumine a lot throughout our journey! Paimon introduced Lumine to so many yummy recipes for us to cook when we had to sleep in the wild–”

“Yeah, yeah.” Scaramouche rolls his eyes as he picks his suddenly itchy ear.

He sits crossed-legged mid air, tuning out Paimon’s rambling and focuses on his blonde companion’s lithe figure side stepping the mitachurl’s bare-handed attack. Lumine has fought an ancient dragon, an underground lizard, faced off Abyss Heralds and even gone against an archon–Scaramouche’s own mother–yet there is no mistaking the excited grin on her face as she finishes off the mitachurl.

Lumine loves fights; she loves the breeze that caresses her skin as she lurches to deal a fatal blow on her enemies; she loves the weight of the sword as she swings it with reckless abandon; she lives for the thrill of not knowing whether she would end up beaten and bruised or victorious in a battle. 

Her feet touch the ground, soft wind currents cushioning her landing whilst a loud thump echoes in the air as a mitachurl thrice her size crashes against the cold hard dirt. The groan that follows after almost sounds like a begrudging acknowledgement of Lumine’s victory and a promise that next time, the outcome won’t be the same.

“It was a good fight for me too, friend.” Lumine agrees, her hand on her chest as she gives a final bow to the fallen mitachurl.

Scaramouche left eyebrow rises, “you understand those things? But then again, you understand this floating thing too.”

“H-hey! Paimon is Paimon! Paimon is different from those mean hilichurls!”

“The churls are living breathing beings as any other.” Lumine begins and Scaramouche rolls his eyes.

‘Here we go again.’ He complains mentally.

“And as living beings, we’ll always find a way to communicate…” She rambles on about how any opponent, human or otherwise, deserves to be honored in any fight as they walk (or she walks, whilst Scaramouche and Paimon floats along).

They end up getting ambushed by a group of fungi as they wander the seemingly never ending forest path–if this trail even leads anywhere. Scaramouche may or may not have flicked his finger and caused a wind current that flew a frantic Paimon a few miles away. 

But Lumine being Lumine gets worried that they haven’t found Paimon after 10 minutes of search and rescue post-fungi battle.

“She didn’t wander off and get lost, did she?” Lumine muses on her own, standing in front of a small stream with her arms crossed and her thinking face on.

Scaramouche isn’t too worried. The winds whisper to him of Lumine’s little companion’s safety–well, Scaramouche’s standards for Paimon’s safety aren't all too high. It’s enough that she’s not getting chased by a sumpter beast or eaten by a Rishboland tiger.

Never mind that he can faintly hear Paimon’s cries as she calls for Lumine.

“Or… have the fungi evolved enough to know how to kidnap hostages? At times like this, I really wish I have Tighnari’s knowledge of the forest, maybe it’s best to ask him for help to track down Paimon…” Lumine continues with her musing, not realizing the deepening frown in Scaramouche’s face.

‘Tighnari? That half-bred dog that was hanging around Lumine last time?’

“Fine,” Scaramouche sighs under his breath, coming up behind Lumine without her even noticing her presence.

‘She’s an excellent fighter but she lets her guard down too easily in the presence of an ally.’ He muses to himself but doesn’t think to bring it up because in some ways, his heart melts at the thought of her trusting him this much. 

“Hold on tight.” Scaramouche wraps an arm around Lumine’s body and the two lurch towards the sky. 

The motion is so sudden that Lumine ends up unconsciously clinging to Scaramouche, her arms tightly hugging his neck, her chest flushed against his and her natural scent overwhelming his senses.

She smells like the wind in a flowerfield.

“Whoa…” She breathes out at the magnificent sight of the expanding greenery beneath them; trees that grow up to 200 ft and vines that climb up old damp barks in symbiome

“So this is the power of a god.” She murmurs seemingly to herself before turning to said god who’s holding her with a sparkle in her eyes, “we can find Paimon easier this way.”

Scaramouche resists the urge to grimace as though the name of the flying anomaly physically hurts his ears. But if it makes Lumine that happy to be reunited with that floating creature…

“The winds are saying she’s somewhere north,” He says simply and lets the current lead them towards the deeper parts of the forest where it’s known to host streaks of Rishboland tigers.

“Isn’t that where the Rishboland tigers live? Do you think Paimon’s alright?” Lumine’s eyebrows join together.

In the distant rainforest, a fairy-like creature shrieks as she levitates just inches higher from her original position, enough to escape a Rishboland tiger’s claws but barely. She whimpers, “L-Lumine, where are you when Paimon needs you most?! Save Pai-AH!” She survives the wild creature’s claws for the second time with her wits and her will.

The traveler, unaware of the struggles that befell her companion, continues to worry, “if they get to her first, it’s going to be hard to find another emergency food…” 

The screws in Scaramouche’s brains came to a stop as though needing oiling. When the blond traveler’s words finally sink in, Scaramouche bursts out into laughter. He knew the duo had a running inside joke about food but he’d never, in a million years, thought that the soft, too-selfless-for-her-own-good traveler would refer to the floating creature as rations especially given how she’s been the peacemaker between him and said emergency food all this time.

“Just when I thought I knew you…” Scaramouche mutters to himself, knowing full well that the gust of wind blowing past them would mute out his words.

They reach an area where an ambush of Rishboland tigers crowd around, their tails languidly moving from side to side, some watch with curiosity while some leap into the air, their paws extended towards a floating object from afar.

“A-ah, g-good kitty…” The floating object stammers as a tiger larger than the rest–supposedly the alpha–approaches it in a calm yet intimidating fashion.

“C-c-c-ome on, P-Paimon isn’t even that delicious.” The object barely manages to form a coherent sentence.

“Paimon!” 

Almost as Celestia finally looked upon her with mercy, Paimon hears a familiar stern yet warm voice calling her name. A second after that, something white falls from the sky in front of her, forming a barrier between her and the alpha.

The familiar blond before her almost makes her want to cry.

“L-Lumine…” She sobs.

“Stay back, Paimon.” Lumine instructs, a wind vortex slowly forming under her palm.

In a matter of seconds, she directs the vortex towards the approaching tiger and the rest of its kind flying into tree branches and dispersing away with a menacing hiss.

“Whew.” Lumine sighs, wiping off the sweat from her forehead as she sheathes her sword.

Paimon comes running into the blond’s arms, sobbing like a child who had a nightmare. Lumine’s face falls at the thought of Paimon having to fend off the tigers all by herself. 

Scaramouche does not not feel emotions. If he truly felt nothing as a puppet, then he would not have agreed to join the Fatuis nor hold resentments for his mother. But to say he swore off picking on the silver anomaly would be a lie. He holds no remorse for what happened to the floating intelligence. She didn’t even have a scratch on her body–all that was just an act to get Lumine to hold her in those sturdy yet gentle arms, he’s sure of it.

It takes a while for Paimon’s cries to fall into sobs and then finally, soft sniffles as she falls asleep next to Lumine in front of the fire. All the while, Scaramouche discreetly grumbles to himself about how sly the floating creature is–she managed to monopolize Lumine all to herself. 

The last thing he remembers is seeing the sight of Lumine’s wavy bangs swaying against her face and the orange hue of the fire warming her pale skin. Her golden eyes appear more amber as she soothes Paimon with kind words, her hand patting the silver haired creature’s back gently.

But the crackle of the fire slowly turns into a mechanical sound of rusted screws dragging against a rough surface while thunder echoes from somewhere in the distance. The fire he was staring at is long gone and in front of him, is nothing but endless darkness.

Scaramouche sighs. He’s been here one too many times.

“Why… did you abandon us?” A scratchy voice asks from every direction.

Scaramouche doesn’t bother answering, he doesn’t even react.

All of a sudden, light pierces through a hollow from the ceiling, revealing the crouched body in a white yukata standing 20 feet from him.

“You… you promised you’d make them pay!” The vassal’s head snaps up, its black, pupil-less eyes somehow manage to stare right into his violet ones and send shivers down his spine. Its deep purple hair brushes against its porcelain skin, its body making cracking sounds with every movement of its joints… as if it wore itself out all these years. 

He wished that the times he’s seen this… this thing has made it easier for him. But it never does. He’s staring right at himself–or, the part of him that crawled out of the failed experiments belonging to his mother. Lost, vengeful and devastated.

“Things… things are different now…” He finds himself trying to appease this creature’s wrath.

“Ha! How different do you think it is? Until their mortal bodies fall and decay? How many times must we be abandoned for you to see?”

“Lumine isn’t like the others.” He finally says, stern.

The creature scoffs. “She is a creature of another world, once she finds her kin, she will waste no time in setting course to another world. And we –we will be abandoned yet again.”

The creature cackles, its joints cracking as it tosses its head back.

“Scaramouche. Scaramouche– Zephyr !” 

The wanderer’s eyes snap open to find a pair of golden pools staring at him, distraught. The scent of wind in a flowerfield pierces his senses, forcing him to focus only on the woman in front of him. He feels warm–too warmed by the fire that seems to still be dancing in full vigor. The resounding laughter is now but a distant echo in his mind. 

“What, did you have a nightmare? Want me to cuddle you to sleep?” He wants to smirk like he usually does but for some reason he feels too tired to do that so it ends up looking as if he is genuinely asking.

That turns out to be a mistake. Lumine’s worry stricken face morphs into one that of anger.

“Worry about yourself! You were thrashing in your sleep, your face was so scary… and… and you were saying my name.” Her expression returns to anxiousness as she recalls the scene that woke her up.

“I’m sorry for waking you up.”

“That’s not the point here, Zephyr.” She seldom uses the nickname she gives him though he wishes she would.

But that makes this situation even more dire than he thought.

“I must’ve scared you, sorry.” 

“That’s not it either.” 

Lumine’s face contorts into an unexplainable cypher, she looks as if she wishes to say more but instead she sits next to him, raises his head and places it on her lap. Scaramouche freezes as if he’s been hit by the icy frost of cryo slimes.

But he recovers a second later and curls his body into a fetal position–he may not be able to ugly-cry like a certain floating intelligence but if a showing his vulnerable side after a nightmare is what will raise pity for him in Lumine’s books, swallowing his pride and acting like a scared little puppy is a small price to pay for salvation.

He thought being able to lay his head on Lumine’s soft thighs is the most he’d get out of the nightmare but her lithe fingers begin to stroke the strands of his hair. Every time her finger tips touch his scalp, he feels an electrifying current run down his spine and settles deep within his bones. Perhaps, if he had an organ to pump blood to his veins, this would be equivalent to what people would describe as a racing heart.

“You know… you don’t have to act tough anymore… you don’t have to hold it in. If something annoys you, you can vent to me. If something makes you sad, you can cry with me. If something disturbs your sleep, you can wake me up and I’ll do everything I can to soothe you.”

“I’m no child. Some nightmare isn’t going to make me cry and weep and ask you to check every shadow for monsters.”

‘Because the real monster is within me.’

“Still, isn’t it nice to have someone lay with you to talk to on nights like this?”

“Well, every night is ‘nights like this.’”

Lumine’s fingers go motionless at his words but he simply murmurs ‘don’t stop, it feels nice’ and the gentle motion of lithe fingers combing through his hair resumes.

“When did you start having these nightmares?’

“I was already having them after I became transient but it got worse after achieving godhood–the ghost of my past self seeking a promise I made to myself long ago… It makes sure I don’t forget.”

They fall silent for a moment, only the sound of running water nearby and the nightly creatures fill the air.

“Sing for me, traveler.” His way of speaking makes it sound like an order but the subtle tremble in his voice tells her that it isn’t easy for him to open up to her like this.

These are the things only Lumine knows about Scaramouche.

“I’m not much of a balladeer… so don’t blame me if one of your eardrums bursts.”

Scaramouche makes a sound between a chuckle and a scoff, as though agreeing to her terms.

So she begins to hum a tune; one that reminds her of the folklore she heard somewhere in the past about wandering souls finding one another through the whispers of the winds. Her melodic voice seems to calm his nerves and soothe the knotted strings within the hollow of his chest. The owls and crickets accompany her singing like an orchestra. Squirrels peek from within the tree trunks as though curious which of its forest dwelling kin owns such an angelic voice.

The mellow, tilting song comes to an end with the story of the wandering souls returning to the winds as they reach the end of their lives.

“Hmm. Not bad.” Scaramouche remarks.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet? I’m not singing another song.” Lumine responds, a playfully annoyed tone wrapped around her words.

“I’m scared of falling asleep. I need something to hold… like a life sized pillow–ow.” 

Scaramouche’s head hits the hard ground as Lumine abruptly stands up, looking down at him with an unfazed expression.

“Seems like you’ve calmed down enough to be cracking jokes, I’m going to sleep.” She walks across him to her original spot and lies down next to a snoring Paimon, her back on him.

Scaramouche folds his arms under his head as a makeshift pillow, staring at the vast galaxy–the skies may be fake but they Celestia did an excellent job at replicating the intricacies of the stars and the cosmos.

He lets his eyelids flutter shut as he trails off, “perhaps another time…”

To get the traveler to agree to let him hold her while they sleep, he means.

[doubleotakupower]

Scaralumi fan fic- Winds across the sea part one:

Hey- what if I was insane and also shared future comic ideas as fics every so often? I’ll turn them into comics eventually- this just lets me be insane and chuck my ideas out there! I’m a writer outside of art and animation- so adding fics to the mix is a no brainer!

I’ll post this one in parts- part 1 focuses more on Scara’s past actually but bear with it, it’s important for later on fyygfy

****************************************************

“Hey, hey, big brother, look! Theres a bunch of dandelions over there by the bank!”

These were the excited words of the excitable tatarasunan youth that quickly clamoured over to the nearby riverside, leaving the wandering puppet curious from a distance. The small child had been seeming rather worn out as of late, the confines of the small house that he found himself stuck in in recent times almost appearing to have sapped his energy. It was with this sight that the husk had decided to take small boy out for some air and that the sudden energy to such an otherwise meaningless thing had gotten them confused.

“A dandelion? Isn’t it just a common weed?” The puppet tilted their head in ambiguity as the child came scurrying back as though the very question had summoned him, two of the soft and fragile looking plants in hand.

“That’s not it! Mama used to tell me a story that came from beyond the sea! If you blow on one of these and make a wish, then apparently the wind will carry your wish to the anemo archon!” The child proclaimed to the puppet with an firm pout on his face, presenting up the flowers to them as though they were a prized catch.

“Is that so…” the puppet could only give a mellow and washed reply to such a tale. The anemo archon huh? That was right, he supposed there were other archons aside from the one who had breathed life into him beyond the waves. He had to wonder if such a story were true… and if the anemo archons wind would even hear the wants of those who were so far beyond the sea. Would such an archon even bother to hear the small longings of mortals? Afterall, it was not like they had experienced any such act of charity from the archon they already knew.

“Huh _____ is something wrong?” Were the child’s querying words to the puppets unsettled glance to the distant sea that could be seen wavering in the horizon- such an ask snapping him back to reality.

“No, everything is fine” the puppet half lied- the child raising an eyebrow to him before lifting up a dandelion flower to them.

“Then make a wish with me! You don’t see dandelions here too often! The anemo archon must have wanted us to make a wish” the child gave a playful smile as the puppet gently took the dandelion from the small hand before him. The flower felt so brittle, moreso than an ordinary plant. Even a movement was enough to unsettle the fluffy seeds that bloomed around it. There was a familiarity to the plant, something about it that reminded the puppet of something. Such a thing filling them with a unwavering anxiety to the plant in his hands… A wish hmm? How long had it been since the puppet had, had the hope to yearn for anything.

The child stood proudly next to him and with a deep breath, they sent the seeds of their dandelion spinning into the air- the tender breeze of the island almost appearing to catch them as the glided down- dancing them up into the air and over the river bank the plants had lived their life by.

“Wow! They really do go far!” The child admired as the puppet gave a passing question as their eyes traced the seeds that soon flew out of view.

“What did you wish for?” The puppet inquired, the young boy flinching to this.

“You aren’t meant to tell anyone, otherwise the wish won’t come true silly!”

“Is that so…”

The puppet twirled the flower lightly between their fingers in thought. What a pointless rule, did the anemo archon make it to toy with people? That sounded like something an archon would do…

“Aren’t you going to make a wish?”

“I suppose I will”

The puppet exhaled for perhaps the first time in a while onto the the flower before them, their mind bouncing through thoughts as they did so. So much had happened in the few decades they had been awake… underlying in this innocent action was a sensation the puppet couldn’t quite describe. An emptiness that tainted the pure intentions and kindness of the child who expectantly watched him right now? After all he had done, did the puppet deserve the ability to wish? Did a so called monster like them have a right to cast their longing out to the breeze in the same way humans did? He had to wonder, if the plea’s of mortals were so easy for archons like the one he knew to cover their ears to- then where exactly did the plea’s of something inhuman such as he lie?

Such thoughts spiralled in the puppets mind as he stopped his breath, watching the dandelion seeds rise high into the sky. The puppet had no such desire for himself currently, such ambition had been slashed away bit by bit over the years… and yet even in his soaring doubts, he still found himself making a wish on the seeds that drifted away. That at the very least, the young child beside him would have their wish granted… and that they could have more reasons to smile for even small reasons like this. If the puppets wish would be mean less, at least his wish could boost that child’s- so it could be carried over the sea.

“Big brother, you are so amazing, your wish flew so high!” The young boy admired as the puppet simply shook his head.

“It was important that my wish got to the archon before you I suppose?” He replied as the boy became somewhat curious to this.

“Hmm?”

“That was fun! I wonder if our wishes were heard!” The young boy noted as the puppet shook their head.

“Who knows… they have the entire sea to cross, it’s unlikely…” The puppet responded dully as the child could only frown at this.

“Eh, you can be so negative at times big brother…” the child noted as the puppet reflected on this. Was that so? He hadn’t noticed.

“Well… the flowers are very fragile… even just a breath was enough to rip them apart” The puppet pointed out as the young boy thought on a rebuttal for this for a moment… when he then shook his head with a confident smile to the puppet.

“Well… the seeds had to survive the ocean once to make it here… I’m sure they can do it again” the child reminded the puppet who for a moment was taken aback by the youths words…

Something so weak had survived the hardships of the sea… he supposed that was something in their favour… even still, the puppet had their doubts- after all, it wasn’t just the sea those seeds had to survive.

“If we find dandelions again, will you make another wish with me?” The boy questioned as the puppet looked back the sea, a passing uncertainty gracing the puppets eyes. After all, even it the seeds reached the land of winds, there was no saying at all that the archons would care to grant such wishes.

“If my wish comes true maybe…” the puppet responded in a distant fashion.

Maybe such a vague reply was suitable for such a small promise- for the puppet and youth did not get this opportunity together once more. Dandelions did not return to the static prickled shores of Tatarasuna, nor did the young child have much chance to be excited over wildlife as they had before.

Rather it seemed that the puppets wish was, as to be expected, something that fell on deaf ears… and that the wishes of a husk and the lives of mortals were as feeble and fleeting as the seeds of a dandelion, that danced and were lost to sky above…

[chickenparm]

Trivial Lessons Pt 3 (ScaraLumi)

Scaramouche isn’t as worldly as he thinks he is. Lumine is the only one he’d considering learning from.

AO3 LINK Previous Part | Next Part (To be posted)

Scaramouche/Lumine 1,859 Words - SFW No heinous tags - just a mountain of fluff and Scaramouche getting the physical affection he deserves.

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Scaramouche expected his request to be put on the back burner. It’s suited for a project that Lumine can fiddle with occasionally, entering his space infrequently to send his mind spinning and his nerves buzzing with far too much nervous excitement to be considered healthy. 

Loneliness doesn’t have the spare moment to begin settling on his shoulders before he’s dragged from its clutches. It would be well within her right to push the matter down on her list of pressing matters, yet as he follows her out into the jungles of Sumeru while marveling at how deftly she hops over root and vine, it’s obvious that he’s risen higher on the list than he ever could have expected… though not for wanting. 

And that very want clutches at the bottom of his lungs, making it difficult to breathe as they make it to a flat section of grassland. The trails of her cape whip with how she turns to face him, walking backwards with her hands clasped behind her back. Even blind to where she’s going, she seems to be so sure of her own footsteps. 

“Sorry it’s so sudden. I know you’ve probably got better things to do than follow me around-”

“I don’t.” Scaramouche responds smoothly, as if he were stating that the skies are blue and the grass is green. For the first time, Lumine nearly stumbles over nothing at all, though she rights herself easily before Scaramouche can even think of reaching a hand to steady her. 

It should be concerning that he's so willing to enter her space on instinct, but it’s all he’s thought about, even before their little agreement. The notion of pressing the pads of his fingers against her skin brings a shortness of breath he’s only ever experienced in his lowest moments. To have it be associated with something that lingers so sweetly is something new and exciting.

As with any pleasant feeling, Scaramouche greedily wants his fill.

Unclasping her hands, she reaches to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. The tips of her fingers brush against the plush of her cheek, pressing in just enough that Scaramouche can catch the lush give of it beneath even a gentle touch. How softly would he need to run his fingers over it before she wouldn’t give way? How delicate could he be?

Hands that have forgotten nearly everything but violence clench at his sides. Time is what he has in abundance now, and it’s best used unlearning habits that are no longer conducive toward his goals. What he aims for now stands in front of him, a surprised little smile on her face. 

“Well, at least you won’t be bored?”

Once, when she’d given him a place to call his own in her home, Scaramouche told Lumine that he would always be honest with her. Others might not receive that same courtesy, but the unnecessary lengths she’d gone to for his sake without asking for anything in return have proven she’s worthy of that. 

It’s with this resolution in mind that his tongue darts out to wet his lips, unnecessary with the thick humidity in the air that coats everything, and rebuffs, “I don’t get bored with you, Lumine. Not now, and not before… this.”

His hand gestures vaguely between them, an offer for her to fill in that prevalent blank with whatever her mind suggests first. It could’ve been their alliance that had once started out tenuous, but lingered worrying close to a dependency he’s ill equipped to rebuke. Or, perhaps he might have been referring to how she’d promised to guide him in something that she was well within her rights to scoff at. 

Both of the answers would be correct. The way her cheeks flush into a pretty peach color tells Scaramouche which one she’s picked - and he can’t complain when her attempt to hide her smile by biting her cheek is a failure. 

Business comes first, despite how he wants to explore the reasons for exactly why Lumine reacts the way she does. The commissions she’d taken on were laughably easy, something she certainly didn’t need his help for. But existing in her presence feels exactly how the air had tasted on his tongue the moment his feet had touched grass for the first time. Crisp, clear, centering when the world is unfamiliar and terrifying. 

Guiltily, he relishes the sensation as the sun hangs lower in the sky and the great tree of Sumeru City looms above them with its sprawling foliage. In its shade, the city feels cooler than the claustrophobic heat of the jungle beyond its walls. The temperature grows cooler as they descend into its roots, beneath where the sun can reach and warmth instead comes from the friendliness of those who frequent the Grand Bazaar.

Not so long ago, he counted himself as one of them. Even with the memories firmly in his mind, his body still feels foreign compared to those who pass by. Zubayr Theater is a hotspot of locals, even though no performance is happening today. Instead, the redheaded little dancer from that very morning approaches in clothing that’s far more casual than what he’s witnessed during her shows. 

“Thank you, Lumine! This helps so much, what a relief.” Nilou makes a show of her shoulders slumping for but a moment before her poise returns. Some payment is exchanged in a satchel that Lumine doesn’t even bother to count, rather she tucks it away in preparation for what she seems to know is coming. 

Nilou’s arms fling around Lumine’s shoulders, squeezing her happily as she stands on the tips of her toes. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do in return. Oh! We’re holding a show this weekend, all three evenings. You should come by if you have time!”

“Wouldn’t miss it, Nilou. I’ll shoot for Friday.”

And Nilou positively beams as Lumine returns the embrace without hesitation. The two of them make a pretty picture - gold and red, the white of Lumine’s dress and the azure of Nilou’s draped clothing. Despite this being an act of two, rather than of one, Scaramouche’s eyes linger only on the actions of the Traveler. 

The ease that she returned Nilou’s affection makes something foul and familiar twist in his gut. Not for the first time in his life has he felt envious - it’s lived in his veins since the moment he had something to covet. Whether it be a friend, a family, a heart, a reason for existing that others seemed to find so easily… Scaramouche understands jealousy intimately. Lumine’s fingers pressed into the fabric of Nilou’s back, her smile wide, her joy clear enough that someone like him with only a foggy grasp on that level of happiness can still understand it. 

When they part, when Lumine falls into step beside him as they make their way to the upper levels for that evening’s dinner, she finally broaches how he’s fallen into silence that’s more consuming than his normal placidity. At the crook of his elbow, her fingers curl tight enough for him to feel through the brace, and she asks, “Want to talk about what’s bothering you?”

No, he wants to blurt, because it’s embarrassing. 

Mortifying that he wants something so… primal. Affection, physical touch, but only from the one person that he could stand to spend any amount of time with. It feels too selfish to demand of her, though Scaramouche is far from benevolent and generous. In another life, one he’s lived before, it would have been so easy to cock his head to the side with wide eyes and ask if she’d treat him as she’d done with Nilou. 

But hadn’t he already done that? In fact, he’d initially requested more. Something this simple shouldn’t bring this debilitating level of shame, enough to make his limbs feel weak and his skin heat. The tunnel to the upper levels is dark enough to hide his flustered state, and perhaps it’s the dimness that gives him the courage to ask, “I want a second lesson.”

“Well, alright. I didn’t want to move too quickly, but if that’s what you want.”

Emboldened by Lumine’s immediate agreement, he bends his elbow to bring her to a stop, trapping her hand despite Lumine making no move to break away. With a steadying breath, he pushes himself over the ledge he’s terrified of. “Can I hold you like that?”

Lumine, always quick to pick up on his meanings, tips her head to the side and looks at him with infinite patience. “Like with Nilou? Are you asking for a hug?”

Yes, he is. But despite the certainty, he can only nod mutely. The bravado is gone beneath her scrutiny, as good-natured as it may be. With a gentle tug, Lumine turns him toward her and steps close enough that the toes of her shoes brush against his own. Even at this distance - so close that he can feel her warmth through the layers between them - Scaramouche’s chest clenches with a need so strong it’s almost worrying. The overwhelming pressure feels unbearable.

“Do you want to hold me? Or would you rather I hold you?”

“I didn’t think there was a difference.” 

And her quiet laughter doesn’t feel like the slap in the face it would have if it came from anyone else on this plane of existence. Instead it has a similar sensation to what he assumes it would feel like to be on the receiving end of the same gesture he’d just observed. Safe, warm, addictive.

The hand on his elbow steadies him, even as his thoughts threaten to race away uncontrollably. Slowly, deliberately even, she explains, “Of course there is. I think it’s simplest to describe it like this. Do you want to protect, or be protected?”

“I can’t choose both?”

“Not always. How do you feel right now, in this moment?” At the crook of his elbow, where the guards turn to fabric to allow movement, Lumine’s thumb passes along skin that’s sensitive enough to feel the movement intimately. “For the first time, how about you let me make you feel safe? Next time, you can decide for yourself.”

Next time. That one little phrase echoes in his brain, louder and louder in a cacophony that bangs against any thought that might have formed in the interim. Its silencing only comes from Lumine looping her arms beneath his, palms at his shoulder blades to pull him closer. Pliable at her behest, he lets her position him exactly where she wants - chin on her shoulder, chest pressed to her own, arms hesitantly looped around her waist. 

Slowly, with more confidence, his clinging grows tighter until he’s certain it must be uncomfortable. But Lumine doesn’t waver, only laughing under her breath and smoothing a hand down the curve of his upper spine, then back up. At his cheek as it presses against the pulse at her neck, Lumine’s heartbeat thrums, lulling him into uncharacteristic peace until his eyes flutter closed in appreciation of such bliss.

Lumine’s heart races freely, fluttering like the smallest of birds in his ear. 

[qweetyderpface]

The Shape of Your Love

Ship: Chiscara (Genshin), Chilumi (Genshin), Scaralumi (Genshin)

Ajax, Lumine, and Kunikuzushi have known each other since highschool- and they're stuck in a love triangle! A love triangle, not a love corner!

Ajax likes Kunikuzushi, Kunikuzushi likes Lumine, and Lumine likes Ajax.

This love triangle has lasted for years and this year, it's finally going to break as all three set their plans in motion.

What could go wrong?

Link: N/A (this has not been posted and is a work in progress)

Update Schedule: TBA

[dailyscaralumi]

You like scaralumi / lumiscara? Then read my silly little fanfic!!

[flyingwargle]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Scaramouche & Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Kong | Aether & Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact) Characters: Scaramouche (Genshin Impact), Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Kong | Aether (Genshin Impact) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Roommates/Housemates, Oneshot, Complete, Asexual Relationship, Aromantic Asexual Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Asexual Scaramouche (Genshin Impact), Queerplatonic Relationships, Scaramouche is Called Kuni (Genshin Impact) Summary:

Aether has a bone to pick with Lumine's roommate. Through explaining who he is to her brother, Lumine discovers that they have more in common than she thought, especially when it concerns matters of the heart.

Written for Rom Com Week Day 7: Roommates

i was so excited to write more but got so overwhelmed that I only ended up with one ;~; it was fun, though! thanks for the prompts, keaira!

[koinyan0722]

[Scaralumi] To Yesterday’s You and Me Pilot

Pilot Episode: In the Hallways