dustofthedailylife
»Hear the maple leaves sing the story of the wind«
Dust | She/Her | 24 | Writer & Artist | Genshin Impact / Honkai Star Rail | Certified Alhaitham & Jing Yuan simp | Lore Lover
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"Hey, did you know...?"
Alhaitham x gn! Reader
tags // brainrot, drabble, crack, fluff
AN // inspired by a convo I had with my bf... I hate him /aff /silly
Alhaitham is the type of boyfriend to always infodump on you whenever something crosses his mind. He loves doing it! And he also loves your reactions to those random bits of trivia.
However - he is also the type of guy whose kind of humor is occasionally telling you fake "facts" that he made up on the spot with a straight face to see your reaction.
You were standing in the kitchen, preparing dinner with Alhaitham when he suddenly perked his head up and looked in your direction.
You were plucking a couple of leaves off your herbs before throwing them into the pot that bubbled on the stove.
"Did you know," Alhaitham begins in a matter-of-factly voice. "Oregano was once included in the periodic table of elements?"
You pause for a moment, looking back at Alhaitham who had already gone back to dicing the bell peppers.
"Wait... really?" You curiously lift an eyebrow. It was frankly hard to imagine a singular plant would be-
"No."
"Oh."
He smirked smugly, walked over to the stove with the cutting board, and threw the diced vegetables into the cooking pot.
"But... what's actually true is that coffee shortens your lifespan."
That would be quite crazy if that was true... However now that you are thinking about it, maybe the caffeine was the reason for it? After all it can cause a racing heart if you consume too much of it.
"Actually?" You asked, now hesitant.
"No."
"Hey! Don't mess with me!" You whined, poking his sides playfully.
He turned around, catching your hands in his calloused ones before placing a kiss on your knuckles, that same smirk and the glint in his eyes still on full display.
"But there is one thing in this world that can actually never be false."
"Oh what now?!" You rolled your eyes and giggled.
"I love you."
Smooth.
'You're such an idiot' Was the last thing he heard before the kitchen towel was softly thrown in his face.
Do not repost, copy, translate or edit - © dustofthedailylife || reblogs, comments, and asks about Genshin or my fics are always greatly appreciated and motivate me! Maple dividers are mine - do not copy.
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"Hey, did you know...?"
Alhaitham x gn! Reader
tags // brainrot, drabble, crack, fluff
AN // inspired by a convo I had with my bf... I hate him /aff /silly
Alhaitham is the type of boyfriend to always infodump on you whenever something crosses his mind. He loves doing it! And he also loves your reactions to those random bits of trivia.
However - he is also the type of guy whose kind of humor is occasionally telling you fake "facts" that he made up on the spot with a straight face to see your reaction.
You were standing in the kitchen, preparing dinner with Alhaitham when he suddenly perked his head up and looked in your direction.
You were plucking a couple of leaves off your herbs before throwing them into the pot that bubbled on the stove.
"Did you know," Alhaitham begins in a matter-of-factly voice. "Oregano was once included in the periodic table of elements?"
You pause for a moment, looking back at Alhaitham who had already gone back to dicing the bell peppers.
"Wait... really?" You curiously lift an eyebrow. It was frankly hard to imagine a singular plant would be-
"No."
"Oh."
He smirked smugly, walked over to the stove with the cutting board, and threw the diced vegetables into the cooking pot.
"But... what's actually true is that coffee shortens your lifespan."
That would be quite crazy if that was true... However now that you are thinking about it, maybe the caffeine was the reason for it? After all it can cause a racing heart if you consume too much of it.
"Actually?" You asked, now hesitant.
"No."
"Hey! Don't mess with me!" You whined, poking his sides playfully.
He turned around, catching your hands in his calloused ones before placing a kiss on your knuckles, that same smirk and the glint in his eyes still on full display.
"But there is one thing in this world that can actually never be false."
"Oh what now?!" You rolled your eyes and giggled.
"I love you."
Smooth.
'You're such an idiot' Was the last thing he heard before the kitchen towel was softly thrown in his face.
Do not repost, copy, translate or edit - © dustofthedailylife || reblogs, comments, and asks about Genshin or my fics are always greatly appreciated and motivate me! Maple dividers are mine - do not copy.
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"Hey, did you know...?"
Alhaitham x gn! Reader
tags // brainrot, drabble, crack, fluff
AN // inspired by a convo I had with my bf... I hate him /aff /silly
Alhaitham is the type of boyfriend to always infodump on you whenever something crosses his mind. He loves doing it! And he also loves your reactions to those random bits of trivia.
However - he is also the type of guy whose kind of humor is occasionally telling you fake "facts" that he made up on the spot with a straight face to see your reaction.
You were standing in the kitchen, preparing dinner with Alhaitham when he suddenly perked his head up and looked in your direction.
You were plucking a couple of leaves off your herbs before throwing them into the pot that bubbled on the stove.
"Did you know," Alhaitham begins in a matter-of-factly voice. "Oregano was once included in the periodic table of elements?"
You pause for a moment, looking back at Alhaitham who had already gone back to dicing the bell peppers.
"Wait... really?" You curiously lift an eyebrow. It was frankly hard to imagine a singular plant would be-
"No."
"Oh."
He smirked smugly, walked over to the stove with the cutting board, and threw the diced vegetables into the cooking pot.
"But... what's actually true is that coffee shortens your lifespan."
That would be quite crazy if that was true... However now that you are thinking about it, maybe the caffeine was the reason for it? After all it can cause a racing heart if you consume too much of it.
"Actually?" You asked, now hesitant.
"No."
"Hey! Don't mess with me!" You whined, poking his sides playfully.
He turned around, catching your hands in his calloused ones before placing a kiss on your knuckles, that same smirk and the glint in his eyes still on full display.
"But there is one thing in this world that can actually never be false."
"Oh what now?!" You rolled your eyes and giggled.
"I love you."
Smooth.
'You're such an idiot' Was the last thing he heard before the kitchen towel was softly thrown in his face.
Do not repost, copy, translate or edit - © dustofthedailylife || reblogs, comments, and asks about Genshin or my fics are always greatly appreciated and motivate me! Maple dividers are mine - do not copy.
#genshin impact#genshin fanfic#genshin x reader#alhaitham x reader#genshin brainrot#alhaitham#genshin imagines#astronetwrk#genshin fluff#genshin crack#genshin headcanons#🍁彡 gi#🍁 dust brainrot#🍁 dust blurbs
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man who is scratched up and bleeding and holding his side as he uses the last of his energy to trudge to your door in the middle of the night
#i love this so so much!!!!#i have had multiple fic ideas with this scenario#and Ive written none#also also... tempted to draw a comic of my OCs with this sjsksmss#currently obsessed with my OCs I am sorry (not)
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I just bought a new sundress and I feel so cute wearing it 🥺
It's rare for me to feel confident in summer clothes so this feels refreshing!
Might post a pic at some point if I feel comfy enough to share it. I also look a bit poopy rn because period is period'ing
#🍁 dust rambles#summer clothes are the bane of my existence#cause I hate my body#and summer clothes are usually revealing more of it#if you'd ask me i'd hide in jeans and longsleeves all year#because then you wouldnt be able to see the stretch marks on my legs#I also thinks my arms look fat...#sigh... the struggle#BUT ANYWAY this dress is so cute!#there even is a small back cutout and it looks so cool#tw: period
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I legit thought my Camellia didn't survive the sudden late frost this year.
The leaves started yellowing and falling off and the flower buds dried up and died too 😭
I removed all dead leaves and buds and began fertilizing it carefully again. It's looks a bit bald now but I can see new leaf sprouts at the stems and THE BUDS ARE REGROWING and they're beginning to open too. I didn't expect anything to bloom anymore this year.
I think I might've actually saved my precious pink girl 🥹🩷
#🍁 garden stories#when I tell you I legit almost started crying when the leaves started to become yellow#it looked fine after the frost but when it was time to bloom it became super upset...#then I became upset and fussed over it like a helicopter mother#i was like “my child!! stay with me please!!!”#camellia are such fussy plants istg#you look at them the wrong way and they're dying#BUT I love them so challenge accepted 🥹🙏🏻#i need to take even more precautions next year#i went through six stages of grief
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dust dust dust dust ml !!!!! im here today to send you all the sparkles and good vibes – i hope you're having an absolutely wonderful day – but if you aren't , im coming right over with some cake pops with chocolate frosting and sprinkles !! may life treat you softly today <3 !
YING, my dear!! 🩷
Thank you so much and all the same to you!! My day was wonderful. The weather was great, I went out with my boyfriend, we ate some waffles, I bought a new book and he some manga. It was amazing :3
I'd still take a cake pop though hihi 👉🏻👈🏻
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SRIKGFHVRAFSDG YOU EVEN ADDED AN EXTRA LINE OMG, RIN?!
This is so sfghkdjhf I'm sobbing /pos
This is so accurate, too. I totally would decorate his office with plants because it was so lifeless in there before. A bit of green (aside from the man himself) makes for a better atmosphere 🎀
Also the line about dendro users?! I would be a dendro user so this is so true. Plants! PLANTS EVERYWHERE!! And I get super sad when one gets sick and/or dies 🥺
@rowavolo ! @lychniis ! @faesther ! @xianyoon ! @vennnnn-diagram ! @abyssmal-skies ! @baizhusangel ! @silentmoths ! @cerberuscaeli ! @dustofthedailylife ! @silkjade ! @soleillunne ! @average-yandere-enjoyer ! @navxry ! @the-travelling-witch ! @2broschlininahotub ! @mochinon-yah ! @queen-belial
🎤 someone has something to say about you... »»
― 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜ˎˊ˗
multibloggers, use the blog names i tag you in, ok? ᰔᩚ
landscape view for best results! if it looks scuffed on your phone's web browser, it might be best to view from pc...
tumblr username data will only be stored locally on your devices.
if the ui glitches somehow, try refreshing the page.
feel free to link to this page for your selfship blogs, if any! to auto-select, just copy the url and add ?tumblrUsername={{yourtumblrusername}} at the end of the link. e.g. ?tumblrUsername=zhongrin
‧₊˚❀༉ ー coded by yours truly ᡣ𐭩. resources (c) hoyoverse and downloaded from honeyhunterworld. dividers by @cafekitsune ー ‧₊˚.
#🍁 dust moots#🍁 garden visitor: zhongrin#🍁 dust reblogs#does that mean he likes the planties? 🥺👉🏻👈🏻#🍁 favorites
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Oooh!!! 🤭
Alhaitham (raise your hand if you're surprised! No one? Figures.)
Dust, she/her
"Dust? What about her? If you're trying to get information out of me, you won't. I'm afraid you will have to ask her yourself instead. All I will say is that I cherish her a lot. I'm sure you will see why, when you get to meet her, too."
"My relationship with Dust? Why does it matter to you? Do you perhaps plan to ask her out? Tch, good luck with that. *mischievous smirk*"
Looking forward to what you're cooking, Rin 👀🩷
last updated (gmt+8) ╰┈➤ 10 apr, 16:15
moots/friends, rb this and give me:
one (1) of your f/os (they have to be a playable character in the game now, tho)
your self-insert/oc's name + pronouns
your f/o's voiceline about your self-insert/oc
(optional) your f/o's voiceline about your relationship
slot: 8/20
ps. i will tag whatever blog you used to rb this post when the 'thing' is ready <3
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Today is Portfolio Day! 🩷
Hi! I'm Andariya (or Dust), a self-taught artist from Germany.
I mostly draw fanart of the things I'm into (mostly Genshin, Star Rail, TGCF, JJK, and Chainsaw Man right now) and my OCs.
I'm also an aspiring comic artist/mangaka and am currently working on the script for my first project.
Nice to meet you ❤️
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"Roll the dice" 🎲
I drew the Ghost Simp King himself. Alternate version [UTC]
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International Asexuality Day!!
Today, the 6th of April, is international asexuality day.
It’s only the 3rd year of celebration, as the day was recognised in 2021!!
It’s worldwide effort to recognize the asexuality community and promote understanding of the asexual spectrum, including all umbrella identities!!
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It's April 6th, that means it's International Asexuality Day!
Happy Ace Day to my fellow acespec people
🖤🩶🤍💜
#🍁 dust rambles#gray ace myself 🫡#and it took 22 years of my life to find out#where I just thought I was weird#I still sometimes wish I was just 'normal' (setting it in quotations because there is no normal but I can't think of a better word rn)#but I've come to accept that this is just who I am#for the most part lol
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Found this HSR character ranking quiz here and here are my results:
Untick disable ties and choose playable characters, upcoming characters, and notable NPCs (the latter because otherwise, you won't have Sunday, Gallagher and Aventurine for some reason)
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Herbs planted ✅ (nothing to see there yet but I'll post updates)
Flowers planted ✅
Tomato planted and named ✅ (much to the dismay of my bf) - It's named Thaddeus now. Say hello to Thaddeus Tomato 😂
It's spring again!! Did you guys already miss my garden blabber? 🤭
I bought some cute little tomatoes and new flowers.
It's raining buckets today so I'm waiting for a bit more sun before I plant everything. Hopefully tomorrow *ogles the weather report* 🙌🏻
Also gonna cultivate basil, peppermint and coriander this year 🥰
#🍁 garden stories#when I asked my bf to name the tomato he at first refused and just looked at me like -_-#but then he dropped thaddeus#and I was over the moon#now it's the legal name of my tomato /silly#and pls ignore the hedge... it's not my task to cut it#it's the house owner's job and they just ignore it 90% of the time
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You were not supposed to hear that...yet
→ Masterlist || → Taglist
Pairing: Alhaitham x (gn!) Reader
Summary: Alhaitham reveals a secret about the inner workings of his heart to his friends over a cup of wine and in between some banter. However, he did not expect it would go this wrong...
Tags: Fluff, crack, comfort, teasing, consumption of alcohol (by characters), the whole 4ggravate crew is here, friendly banter between friends, a small sprinkle of angst because reader is insecure (but it's unjustified)
A/N: Dust posting a new fic?! Not an April Fool's joke, despite the date! Finally felt inspired and well enough again to finish this fic that has been rotting in my WIPs forever. I hope you like it. And feel free to hit me up with asks and reblogs - it'd motivate me greatly after my long break 🥺
The usual friend group of Cyno, Kaveh, Tighnari, and him - Alhaitham, was sitting at the Tavern. A gathering like it happened almost every weekend at this point.
The wine bottle on the table had been emptied around two or three times already when Kaveh ordered a new one yet again. At this point, Alhaitham had actually lost count of how many glasses of wine he'd already had, too. But one thing was for certain, he could feel the alcohol in his system and the warm blood that was rushing to his cheeks. All things considered though, despite feeling a little tipsy from the intoxication, he was still able to think clearly.
"Let me guess I'm the one who will have to end up covering your bill again?" He took sarcastic a jab at Kaveh.
The man in question just squinted his eyes and glared daggers at him before opening his mouth in an attempt to protest before it was quickly shot down by Tighnari's hand covering it.
Alhaitham leisurely leaned back in his chair smirking to himself, training his focus back onto the TCG cards in his hands and considering his next turn of action in the game he was playing against Cyno.
"What, am I just supposed to take it all the time and be quiet?!" Kaveh retorted, directed at Tighnari. The fox's ears were beginning to droop lower and lower as his expression became more and more deadpan.
"You all know as well as I do that if [Y/N] was here he wouldn't be acting like this. He would be on his best behavior and pay for the drinks without so much as complaining or being so cocky."
"By the way," Tighnari attempted to divert the attention away from Kaveh's ranting. "Where are they? Didn't you say they wanted to stop by the Tavern as well today, Alhaitham?"
Alhaitham played his round, throwing his card Cyno's way before looking up at Tighnari again.
"They mentioned it but I suppose something must've come up instead. I will ask tomorrow."
"Isn't it strange?" Kaveh addressed the others. "Whenever it involves [Y/N] he graciously offers himself up to talk to them and seek them out but whenever someone else is looking for him he is nowhere to be found."
"Maybe you just can't find me because I simply don't have anything to discuss with you." Alhaitham threw another jab at Kaveh with a smirk, which was promptly followed by a light punch against his bicep by the blonde architect.
"What? I constantly have to talk to you already when we're at ho-"
"SHHH! Don't say that out loud." Kaveh hissed, quickly covering Alhaitham's mouth in panic, since he didn’t want him to spell out that they were currently living together. “It's embarrassing enough that I currently have no other choice, no need to add to my misery.”
A witty quip was burning at the tip of Alhaitham's tongue after Kaveh's remark yet again, but he decided to swallow it. He didn't want to upset him too much, especially since he knew he'd had it rough lately. Even if it would've been said in jest, there was no need to add insult to injury. Instead, he simply resorted to taking another sip of his wine with a low chuckle and a glance in the blonde architect’s direction.
“Aaaaanyway…”, Tighnari cleared his throat, addressing Alhaitham once more. “What is it between [Y/N] and you anyway? You've become quite close haven't you?”
“That's an understatement.” Kaveh groaned, dropping his head on his folded arms on the table dramatically. “He can't stop talking about them. Day in and day out it’s [Y/N]-this, [Y/N]-that.”
“We started working on a project about six months ago. Things are progressing quite smoothly if I do say so myself. Certainly makes things easier if you're working with someone who is both hardworking and intelligent in every way. I’ve been lucky to have been assigned to the project with them.” Alhaitham answered Tighnari’s question rationally while ignoring Kaveh’s dramatic display.
“Here he goes again.” Kaveh huffed, directing his comment at Cyno and Tighnari. “Whenever he talks about them you hear nothing but praises.”
“If someone is doing a great job, is it not logical to give them the credit they deserve?” Alhaitham added matter of factly.
“No… I mean yes, but no. It's just not something I'd see you doing. It’s so out of character.” Kaveh huffed. “And before you say anything, yes, maybe I just don't know that side of you because I don't give you any reason to praise me. No need to add that, thank you.”
Kaveh poked his tongue out at Alhaitham before taking a big sip from his wine.
“Why, if you want to be praised you just need to say so, Kaveh. I think you're quite brilliant - your shortcomings aside.” He just had to add that last bit. Kaveh was just way too easy to tease. And what would this friend group be without the playful banter and jabs at each other?
Kaveh choked on the drink immediately and slammed his cup down onto the table with a loud clang. A fire burned behind his crimson eyes when he spoke next.
“This is exactly what I meant, thanks for proving my point!”
Kaveh looked at Cyno and Tighnari gesturing in the direction of Alhaitham with a move that said “Do you see what I mean now?”.
Tighnari just facepalmed and shook his head.
“And what is your point exactly?” Cyno inquired, playing a card from his hand.
“Did you not listen to what he said?” Kaveh gasped.
“Not really,” Cyno admitted honestly, his eyes trained back on the cards in his hands.
“It's the fact that he can praise others too, but never without also pointing out their faults in the same sentence. Did no one ever notice that? However, he never does that when it's [Y/N].” Kaveh explained.
“And?” Tighnari and Cyno replied in unison, looking puzzled as to where Kaveh wanted to go with this.
Kaveh put his head in his hand and groaned in frustration. “Sometimes you all make me feel like I am surrounded by idiots.”
Now everyone raised their eyebrows at him.
“You're all so clueless… anyway.” He sighed dramatically and accusingly pointed a finger at Alhaitham. “This guy. This admittedly handsome but blockheaded, know-it-all, stoic, annoying-”
“Get to the point.” Alhaitham chided, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Fine, fine." Kaveh spread his arms like he was holding a presentation and Alhaitham his canvas.
“This guy's right here, as alien as it may sound – has fallen in love.”
“You're in love?!” Cyno exclaimed his eyes widening. “With who?!”
Tighnari rolled his eyes, knowing full well Cyno hadn't listed at all the past ten minutes because he had been so absorbed in his cards, and gently slapped the back of his head.
“[Y/N], of course!” The Forest Ranger exclaimed with a huff.
Cyno, now rubbing the back of his head just ushered a “Wait really?” while Kaveh and Tighnari just curiously began eyeing Alhaitham in the hope of seeing any type of confirmation on his face. However, it stayed as unreadable as ever.
He nonchalantly took another sip of wine from his cup while leisurely looking back and forth between the cards on the table and the ones in his hand before playing another turn as if this conversation just now hadn't happened.
“So!?” Kaveh asked, almost hysterically at this point. “Do you intend to enlighten us?”
Just how had he gotten into this situation now? Alhaitham suppressed a sigh before turning to Cyno: “Your turn. Two of your cards are down.”
“Archons!” Cyno cussed, immediately attempting to go back to study his cards but a fist slammed the table harshly, drawing all attention to it.
Tighnari flinched in shock and Cyno, too seemed to be pulled back to reality. Kaveh’s hand was trembling slightly, visibly agitated.
“Stop changing the subject, Alhaitham. The more you keep avoiding answering the question the more I think I am right in my assumptions.”
Alhaitham pinched the bridge of his nose beginning to truly feel a little stressed by Kaveh’s insistance. The man was truly too nosy for his good.
“Kaveh, just let it be if he doesn’t-” Tighnari began before being cut off by Alhaitham.
“And what if you are right? What then, Kaveh?”
Everyone at the table fell silent and everyone was staring at him with a mix of disbelief and shock.
He hadn't planned to reveal any of this yet, especially since he feared they would try to become his wingman. Which, admittedly, may be a nice gesture on paper but with them it could only end in disaster. Plus he would prefer to deal with his feelings alone first and think them through thoroughly, before talking about them with anyone. Besides, it should be you, if anyone, who should hear about them first - alas he was too deep into this now to weasel his way out.
“What?!” Kaveh’s mouth hung open in shock.
“So it is true then?” Cyno inquired, putting the card in his hand down on the table, now suddenly fully hooked on the tea that was being spilled.
“Hold on. Pause.” Kaveh sat upright, before quickly gazing over Alhaitham’s shoulder. “So you-”
“For Archon’s sake.” Alhaitham was beginning to get annoyed because he didn't know how much clearer he had to become for them to get it. “Yes - I’ve been in love with them. For a while now-”
“Alhaitham-” Kaveh tried to interject.
“No, don't interrupt me now, you pestered me about it for the past twenty minutes now you'll have to listen. I have never met anyone who is so hardworking, intelligent, and stunning in any way. Of course, I would be infatuated with a person like them. It would be hard not to fall for them.”
“Uhm Alhai–” Kaveh laughed awkwardly before being interrupted by Alhaitham’s ongoing monologue once more.
“At first I wasn't sure about it but I am now. I am thinking about them first thing in the morning and last thing when I go to sleep - unless you're hammering away on some project again that keeps me awake, Kaveh.”
Kaveh waved for him to shut up already but Alhaitham didn't let that bother him. If he wanted the full story with all the details - he'd get it. He hoped that would get this discussion out of the way once and for all.
“And guess what? They even remembered how I liked my coffee just after I told them once and gifted me a book that I had been trying to find for weeks. So yes, Kaveh. I love [Y/N]. There, does that suffice now, or?”
Kaveh let out a squeal as soon as Alhaitham had stopped speaking but upon further inspection of his expression, it hadn't been one of excitement but rather pure terror and awkwardness.
“Alhaitham…” Cyno and Tighnari said in unison and he only then noticed as well how their gaze was trained on a spot behind him.
“What?” Alhaitham inquired, curling a brow up in confusion before all three men pointed their fingers at something behind him.
When he turned his head around to look at what they were trying to show him, he felt his heart drop to his stomach for the first time in ages.
To his utter shock, you were standing right behind him. Or rather, you were frozen in place, your hand still half lifted in greeting as if you had just been about to greet the lot of them. Your mouth was slightly open in shock still and your pupils were but the size of pinpricks and transfixed on Alhaitham.
And judging by your reaction you must've heard every last word he had said.
“I-I…” You started stammering, clearly confused about what you had just heard. “I uh-, I'll head back home.”
You abruptly turned around on your heel and marched straight out the Tavern door you had just come through as if someone was chasing you.
Alhaitham hadn't moved a muscle ever since he had spotted you standing behind him and he looked like he was frozen in place. Everyone at the table had fallen so silent, one would've been able to hear a needle drop.
Alhaitham's eyes were still fixed on the door you had left through. The little bell that chimed every time the Tavern door hit it on the way in or out was still dangling lightly from the impact. But the movement was dying down slowly but surely - just like Alhaitham, who felt like someone had dropped a boulder on his chest.
You were not supposed to hear that, yet.
“You uh…, Alhaitham you should probably follow them.” Tighnari was the first to speak again. He awkwardly scratched behind his ears. Cyno hummed in agreement while Kaveh just sat there with his mouth wide open.
Alhaitham exhaled in frustration, unable to properly place his emotions. But they were somewhere between unsettled, nervous, and discomforted.
When he got up it felt like someone had tied heavy iron blocks to his ankles that were weighing him down.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” Alhaitham muttered before marching off.
When you stormed outside the Tavern the cool evening breeze gnawed at your skin and made goosebumps erupt all over. Although you weren't quite sure if it was the temperature or your emotional turmoil at play here.
There was no way Alhaitham had just said that and actually meant it. He wouldn't be the type of man to flat-out admit that he had feelings for anyone. Or would he? He had been talking to his closest friends after all.
You were questioning your sense of reality and thought you must've fabricated it all in your mind. Or maybe you misheard what he said and he was talking about something else entirely.
But no, he said your name, and the others looked panicked when you entered the tavern and approached the table.
As you rushed through the streets of Sumeru City the chilly wind kept whipping in your face. Not even you knew where you were going at this point. You simply went where your feet were carrying you.
But eventually, you realized you had run up the Akademiya and to the blue-green mosaic pavilion that glistened in the last rays of sunlight. The spot at which you and Alhaitham often spent your lunch break together.
You sunk down on the bench exhaustedly and stared holes in the ground.
No way.
There was just no way.
Alhaitham. The man you had fallen for so hard that he had begun to occupy every waking thought you had. That man was supposed to have feelings for you and had just flat-out admitted it?
No, this simply had to be a dream. A bad joke. Or maybe even a bet between the group that they orchestrated to prank you.
You could feel your heart thumping in your head and it felt like your head was swimming. It was as if you had downed an entire bottle of wine by yourself, but you were as sober as one could be.
Yes, that had to be it. It was a bet between the boys over one too many cups of wine and they had all acted their parts out flawlessly.
You got up again walking to the railing, overlooking Sumeru city that shone majestically in the last remaining rays of sunshine that the day had to offer. Another gush of wind blew your way, making tears well up in your eyes. Although it may have also been your emotions who were to blame for that instead.
You inhaled deeply. Once. Twice. But nothing seemed to help calming the rapidly beating heart in your chest.
In your daze, you completely missed how someone had quietly come up to the pavilion as well.
Alhaitham leaned against the railing himself, looking over the city in silence, too. He was clearly ringing for words. Although you assumed the wrong reason for his struggle.
“Look,” you began, trying your hardest to suppress the tremble in your voice. “If you came here to apologize - please, spare me your words.”
He looked at you opening his mouth before closing it again right after with a silent nod. His cheeks were dusted in a light pink shade - you assumed it was caused by the alcohol he had downed at the tavern with the others.
“I hope that we can go back to normal tomorrow and just finish our project. I’d prefer if we kept our distance after that. I think it’s for the best” The words left your mouth at normal speed, but it felt like you had to force every single one out. They felt tenacious, like old chewing gum that you tried to pull out from in between your teeth.
“I understand.” He stated calmly before retraining his gaze back into the distance.
You both kept standing next to each other in silence for a long while before you decided to confront him about it directly. You eventually decided it was for the best if you got things off your chest now so that you could get over him quickly. Ripping it off like a band-aid would hopefully give you the relief you so desperately craved right now.
“You know,” you began. “I don’t know who came up with the idea and I also don’t care, no need to tell me. But you guys should never do this to anyone again because you never know how much it might end up hurting someone else’s feelings.”
Alhaitham stood upright and turned to face you directly. He crossed his arms over his chest and slightly cocked his head like he always did when he was thinking about something you said.
After a momentary pause, he asked: “What do you mean?”
“I mean that you shouldn’t toy with someone’s feelings as a prank. It’s never actually funny for anyone but the people who orchestrate such a prank. No matter if the other person reciprocates the feelings or whether they believe the statement, they always end up being the one who is being ridiculed.” You explained as rationally as possible, which was a stark contrast to the tempest that was raging both inside of your heart and mind.
“Especially when the person hoped to hear those exact words for the longest time, too…” You added. It wasn't more than an utterance under your breath - so quietly it was barely audible. But Alhaitham heard nonetheless.
“But I meant everything I said.” He stated matter of factly, seemingly catching on to the fact that you must’ve assumed the wrong things about the whole situation.
“What?! Alhaitham, please, there is no need to add insult to injury. You had your fun now–”
“No.” He gently took your hands in his, exhaling heavily. “Archons, you weren’t supposed to find out like this.”
He rarely swore which made the impact of his words even stronger.
“I wanted to tell you face to face and was waiting for the right moment to do so. But, just know that every word you heard and everything I said back at the tavern was the truth. No bet or scheme made me say it. Not that anyone would be able to make me say these things in the first place.” He sighed once more, giving your hands an emphasizing squeeze. “I meant it.”
“You did?”
“Every word.”
You felt the blood rush to your face and immediately lowered your gaze in an attempt to hide your flusteredness.
“Had I known this would happen, I would’ve told you everything right from the start. I don’t like how this went now but–”, he moved his hands up to cup your face. His beautiful turquoise eyes trained on no one but you.
“I’m absolutely certain I like you. You drive me crazy. And I love and hate how much you occupy every waking thought of mine because I can’t focus on anything when you’re around. And when you’re not, you’re still always on my mind. So please – be mine.”
Do not repost, copy, translate or edit - © dustofthedailylife || reblogs, comments, and asks about Genshin or my fics are always greatly appreciated and motivate me! Maple dividers are mine - do not copy.
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