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fortheloveofarchons · 2 days

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They stop at the Onikabuto Tavern, and meet some interesting people

From my Tangled AU Xiaoaether / Xiaother fanfic! Full chapter down below!!!

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“I don’t know how to describe it, but warm water tastes round and cold water tastes pointy.” Rapunther says as he walks. “When I tried hot coffee that my father made, it tastes thick; as for hot tea, it tastes pretty thin. It’s truly fascinating, isn’t it?”

Alatus could only make a small grumble as a response.

This is certainly not what he thought of when Rapunther told him he wanted Alatus to get to know the golden-haired guy better.

Fortunately, that conversation would end abruptly as they stopped by a tavern.

“It’s… interesting.”

Rapunther blinks his eyes, looking at the tavern that’s deep within the forest, nestled amidst towering trees and dappled sunlight. A rustic tavern that seems to have sprung from the very earth itself. Its weathered wooden exterior blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings, as if it has always been a part of the landscape, its presence a secret known only to those who seek it out.

“Well, it is the only place we could find food for you.” Alatus shrugs his shoulders.

“And for you!” Rapunther turns to him and smiles.

“No, I won’t be joining you.” Alatus folds his arms. “Don’t worry, I will keep watch from outside. But I can’t join you in.”

A yaksha’s karmic debt is said to make mortals around them feel uncomfortable. At most, they could fall ill or go insane, having a rapid change of personality. If a yaksha were to mingle with a group of humans in an enclosed space, it would bring chaos for sure.

Yet, for Rapunther, he feels nothing at all.

An oddity for a mortal… a unique anomaly.

“What?! But–” Rapunther throws his arms out, holding onto Alatus’s sleeve. “Please Alatus, I can’t do this alone! I don’t even know what to say– I’ve never been in this situation before!”

“You–”

Just then, his nose picks up a scent. It smells like sake– but different, and… immortal too.

An Oni?!

Alatus immediately steps in front of Rapunther, his spear summoned in thin air, clenching onto his weapon. “Stay close behind me.”

“Ah– Okay!” Rapunther does as he’s told, staying behind Alatus, closely.

Taking a few hesitant steps forward, his spear merely inches away from the door, Alatus immediately kicks it open with his foot.

In a flash, the two of them are enveloped in the scent of pine and earth, mingling with the savoury aroma of meals cooking on an open hearth. The tavern is dimly lit by flickering lanterns and candles, the soft glow casting dancing shadows across the rough-hewn walls. Wooden tables and benches are scattered throughout the room…

And a group of men staring back at them in silence.

“Uh…” Rapunther could only muster that word out loud.

“Hey, what are you doing?! Kicking down our door like that!” One of them stands up from their seat, their mouth filled with half-chewed meat. “Do you know how long it took for us to fix this?! Dang it! With that big mark like that we’ll have to spend more mora on it!!”

“That’s a lot of damage!!” One of the shouts from behind.

“Forgive me,” Alatus brings his spear up. “But I could sense the presence of an oni in this tavern. Leave now if you don’t wish for bloodshed on your clothes.”

“Huh?!” A voice calls out from the end of the tavern, and the guests part a path for the mysterious figure to walk– or rather, stomp. The oni, with white spiked hair and pale red streaks that goes down to his path, stomps his way forward.

The first thing Rapunther notices is the two red horns on his forehead.

The crackling of the fire could only provide an intense soundtrack to the tension in this tavern.

“What are you on about?!” The tall oni shouts back to them with a piercing voice, his attire decorated with a number of spikes and spines, his red geta sandals stomping onto the ground. “If you wanna mess with my hombres, you gotta get through to me!”

He points to himself with a thumbs up. “I’m the head honcho of the Arataki Gang, and everyone knows my name! Arataki Itto–”

“Sorry, I don’t like to remember names.” Alatus remains firm in his stance, and Rapunther could only give the head oni a small wave. Meanwhile, throughout all of this, Paimon could only chirp out in response, which sounds more like a laugh.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here folks.” The oni with a thick black belt decorated with a large buckle that resembles an oni mask lets out a smug smirk. “I’ve heard a bit about you, immortal yaksha.”

That made Alatus tick his eyes in irritation.

Itto turns to look at Rapunther, eyes softening from seeing his long golden hair and his soft features. “With a long-haired beautiful blondie…”

“Alatus, are they ruffians?” Rapunther whispers to Alatus, and Alatus could only let out a soft shush in response.

The red-horned oni turns to the pink round bird resting on Rapunther’s shoulder.

“And look what we have here fellas, a tiny flying melon!”

“Melon?!” Paimon chirps in frustration. “Bad oni! Bad oni!”

“Hey!” Rapunther covers Paimon with his hand, defending them. “Their name is Paimon!”

That only fuels the oni to laugh even louder.

“I might as well call that thing Birbmon the blob!”

That ignites a wave of laughter in the tavern, and Paimon’s feathers are puffing red with anger.

“Let me start over my introductions, I’m Arataki Itto!” The oni reintroduces himself again. “Arataki ‘The One and Oni’ Itto, Arataki ‘The Oni Sumo King’ Itto, Arataki ‘The Pride of Oni’ Itto, Arataki ‘Beetle Gladiator’ Itto, Arataki…”

Alatus slowly aims his spear down to the ground, flabbergasted by this… interaction. Meanwhile, Rapunther’s eyes glow in curiosity from this talkative oni.

“...Anyway, these are some of the ones I usually go by, so go ahead, take your pick. I'll respond to whichever one you choose, I promise.” Itto lets out a chuckle, putting his hands on his waist, puffing his broad chest. “Hehe, you're welcome.”

“Quite the useless titles I’ve heard.” Alatus replies. “And ones that I have never heard of.”

“Wait, what?” A single raised eyebrow expresses Arataki Itto’s scepticism and confusion at the absurdity of the situation. “You’ve never heard of them? Are you trying to be funny here?”

Slowly, the guests in the tavern are surrounding the two of them, and that made Alatus clench his spear tightly. In the heat of the moment, tension crackles in the air like static electricity as the group of men huddles closely around Alatus, their faces contorted with aggression and hostility.

“Shoot.”

Alatus squares his shoulders, his gaze flashing with defiance as he braces himself for the confrontation, adrenaline coursing through his veins. His muscles tense, coiled like a spring ready to unleash its fury at them.

Meanwhile, Rapunther, who is being shoved and pushed to the side, scrambles to find Alatus in the middle of the noisy crowd.

“Hey! Let him go!” Rapunther smacks one of them with his frying pan, only to no avail, as if their backs are sturdy like armour. “I need him, you rowdy ruffians!”

Paimon flies and pecks one of them in the head, only to be smacked by their hands, landing on the ground with a thud.

“Paimon!”

Taking a step back, Rapunther’s mind scrambles to find a way for this fight to stop. He looks up to find a large branch that’s plastered on a wall. With this opportunity, he swings his hair up onto the horizontal wooden pillar, which ties onto the tree branch tightly. With a strong pull, Rapunther pulls the branch up, slowly…

And he finally lets go of his grip.

The branch flies down and smacks down directly on the oni’s head, casting a silence among them. Arataki Itto slowly turns his head, his diamond-shaped pupils dilate in anger. Meanwhile, Alatus’s eyes widened and his head cocked towards Rapunther, unexpected by this sudden attack.

Once, his father told him that impulsivity is its own form of evil.

Yet, for Rapunther, it is out of necessity.

“Wait!” Rapunther calls them out, swallowing his saliva to build himself the courage to speak. Meanwhile, Paimon immediately flies over to Rapunther, hiding themselves around his neck.

“Look, I… I don’t know where I am,” Rapunther averts their gaze instinctively, and combs his hair through his fingers in a hectic manner. “A– and I need Alatus to take me to see the lanterns because I’ve been dreaming about them my entire life!”

The whole tavern is as still and silent as a rock.

“Find your humanity!” Rapunther stretches his arms out, as if he’s making a dramatic statement. “Don’t any of you have a dream?!”

Itto’s pointed ears flicker, and he grabs his gigantic claymore from his table, its blade making a rough trace on the wooden floor. The more Itto walks towards Rapunther, the more Rapunther takes a few steps back, until he’s cornered by the wall behind him.

Itto leans in closer, until they are merely inches away from each other. He smells like fruity sake and cooked rice.....

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fortheloveofarchons · 2 days

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Y'know who Sunday from H:SR reminds me of....

Hear me out!!!

I don't know if anyone has said this before but Sunday is literally Azeru and Ayato's love child together 😭 (I ain't complaining I NEED Sunday)

For Azeru it's the angel themes, wearing gold piercings/earrings, gold colour ornaments on their outfits, similar bangs, a cute smile, and the ability to entrance others with his suave voice.

For Ayato however, is that they have similar color palettes, having a younger sister, both are brothers who deals with the "behind the scenes" events of their own nation during their archon/trailblazer quest, and depicted to be a morally-grey character (and manipulative to some extent) in order to protect those they love.

All in all this is just my comparison to the two, may we Sunday havers get Sunday to be playable and to finally obtain him in the future!!!

🙏🙏🙏

#genshin impact #honkai star rail #kamisato ayato #genshin ayato #ayato kamisato #honkai star rail sunday #sunday hsr #sunday #penacony #azeru #azeruofficial

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fortheloveofarchons · 5 days

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My fav ship/dynamic in Hoyoverse:

C.W.: A very long post!

Whether romantic or platonic, this is one of my fav relationship dynamic: The goofy, happy sunshine and their stoic partner that has a tragic/dark past.

Or in the hoyoverse case, sunshine protagonist with their anemo partners!!

Top left and right: Caelus and Dan Heng from Honkai: Star Rail

Bottom left and right: Xiao and Aether from Genshin Impact

Both appearing together on official art

Having close proximity with each other, and that both are out of "dire" circumstances, being that Xiao is saving Aether from a falling platform while Dan Heng is reviving Trailblazer with "CPR"

I just love their dynamic so much sksksksksk! Here's a few parallels from what I can find so far:

When they both first meet, things went a bit of a rough, awkward patch, with the whole CPR thing and Traveller trying to contact Xiao for the first time

Both gradually gets closer to each other while fighting enemies and going through quests

Appearing together on official arts

Being "saved" by their anemo partner: Xiao saving Aether from falling off a platform and Dan Heng about to revive Caelus through "CPR"

Caelus and Aether's yellow-brown colour palette; while Xiao and Dan Heng's colour palette is teal-coloured

Caelus and Aether having special powers being that they can switch elements and has light elements; while Xiao and Dan Heng having anemo/wind element

I like Xiao and Aether's dynamic more since Xiao has more chance to flesh out his character development through the quests and limited time events, moreover since genshin is older than star rail so we were able to see more interactions between them.

Although it's been a year or so after star rail was released, there's still a long way to go for the story and the limited time events. That said, I really like Dan Heng's quest in the Luofu, especially that small moment when IL Dan Heng was asking Caelus if he has any questions, to which Caelus remains silent (prob due to the events and confusion) and that Dan Heng was a bit worried since Caelus didn't respond about how he was really feeling. Also, another moment I like was when Caelus and Dan Heng were both stressed when they couldn't contact each other during the Luofu quest and Dan Heng was stressed trying to find the astral gang. I wish I could add more screenshots about their interactions but I can only add 10 pics...

I'm a bit sad that Dan Heng didn't join with the astral express gang in Penacony but it's understandable since dude went through a lot in Luofu. Still, I hope we get to see more of him! (it's also really sweet when Dan Heng was about to come to their rescue through the text messages when he found out that there's some issues going on in Penacony and Trailblazer got hurt)

Whether romantic or platonic, I hope to see more of their interactions cause I'm literally eating any of this type of content I can find on social media aaaaaaaaahhhh! Let me know what you guys think about them! (灬╹ω╹灬)

P.S. I've been thinking about posting a fanfic for Dan Heng and Caelus together on Ao3 so it's been in the drafts so far, also if you're interested feel free to check out my Xiaoaether fanfics on my pfp!

Also here's my spotify playlist for Xiaoaether! Feel free to have a listen!

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fortheloveofarchons · 10 days

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Zayneeeeeee omg he's so husband material!!

Don't get me wrong I like Xavier and how much of a mysterious sweetie he is, and I like Rafayel for how spoiled yet kind-hearted he is, but Zayne is literally twirling all of the green flags for hubby material so far!

A respectful gentleman, saves people's lives for a living, puts others as his priority to protect them, as financially stable as the other boys, is caring despite his stoic demeanor, and his ice powers to make cute animal figurines for MC is so sweet.

I can't wait to get his five star memory card, I already had one of them and his foreseer outfit is so beautiful!!! I can't wait to see more of Zayne and my god his lore is as interesting as the other boys too.

Also for the nickname I have him call MC "my love" skskskskksksk like he'll just say stuff like "My love, what do you want to do today? Let me go and change into my workout clothes, my love."

...I need more of this man fucccccc-- I'm curious as to what you guys think of him!

#love and deepspace zayne #love and deepspace #zayne love and deepspace #zayne my love

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fortheloveofarchons · 11 days

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Aether brings Xiao to a special area near Mt. Laixin

A special chapter to make it up for Xiao's bday!

C.W.:

- Fluff and angst - Kong | Aether is a ray of sunshine - Pining Xiao | Alatus - Mild sexual content - Light-hearted - Mentioned Lyney and Verr Goldet

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Dear Xiao,

I’ve recently finished my exploration around Chenyu Vale, and the place has delightful scenery!

I’ve gone through the journey of tea leaves, hiking through mountains of mists, and fought a lot of new creatures. Recently, I’ve stumbled upon a location that reminds me of a place called, “The Orchard of Pairidaeza”, also known as the “Eternal Oasis” back in Sumeru.

I want you to come with me to witness this familiar feeling I have felt when I explored the Eternal Oasis.

I thought about calling you at that said time, but if you have free time you can come early if you wish! I don’t want to rush you into things.

I will be waiting for you near Mt. Laixin. If you look at the next page of this letter, I have the coordinates for this specific place.

From your traveller,

Aether.

What’s so special about that place in Chenyu Vale? A question that Xiao has pondered for the whole afternoon. What was originally a letter that was held in Verr Goldet’s hands, was something special that Xiao had to skim through the letter three times just to be sure.

An invitation to explore the area around Mt. Laixin.

A special area, Xiao’s eyes highlighted those words.

Although Xiao hasn’t really ventured deep into Chenyu Bale, he remembered how the gentle breezes carry the fragrance of tea all across the mountains of Liyue, filling the air with the savoury scent. Some say that Chenyu Vale is the fog-robed peaks of the south. The faint perfume and ancient song of jade drifts together along the rivers past Qiaoying Village to the bustling port of Yilong Wharf.

In a flash of thick dark mists, Xiao teleports himself from the top of the roof of Wangshu Inn, to a place where the first view he sees is the glowing floating jade on the summit of Mt. Laixin, where an arrow of a blue light shines through the sky. A few Sacred Simulacrums that looked to be carved as jade owls were placed on some lands, their shade of jade glowing brighter under the moonlight.

“The Chiwang Terrace…” Xiao admires the glow of the jade light amidst the destruction of the terrace above, where concrete and jade float into the air around the summit.

Just then, he hears the angry groan of a lawachurl. Xiao immediately turns his head down from the top of a boulder he was standing on, donning his mask, summoning his spear in thin air, prepared for whatever obstacle he’s about to face–

“Wiiinnnddblaaaadeeeee!!”

He sees a flash of a yellow light, the outlander’s blade slicing through the lawachurl’s defence with lethal precision. The clash of steel and rock clashes through the air, and Aether immediately jumps up into the air… and pierces his sword directing into its chest!

With a sorrowful groan, the lawachurl slumps to the ground, its body slowly disintegrating into ashes, gleams of blue and white light casting out of its body. With a heavy heave, Aether stabs his sword onto the soil, sweat dripping down from his chin and neck.

That serious look of his changes instantly when he sees a gigantic precious chest in front of him, now unlocked for all its glory.

“Yippie, new loot!” Aether gleefully runs over to the chest, and slowly opens it, revealing all of the artefacts, some mystic enhancement ores, and moras. Xiao slowly walks towards him, his footsteps quiet as he observes the outlander admiring the success of his victory against the lawachurl.

“Why would anyone want–” Xiao stops himself and changes his sentence, looking at the mountains of Chenyu Vale that are shrouded with clouds. “Forget it, it’s not my concern.”

Aether’s ears perk up from that familiar voice, and he quickly turns his head to find Xiao behind him, standing within a distance.

“Xiao! You’re here.” Aether gives him a bright smile, and runs over to him. “I’m glad, I was really worried that you wouldn’t come.”

“Why would you be worried?” Xiao asks, his jaw flexes and creases form around his eyes, and Aether knows he’s tense. “Do you perhaps not remember, or trust my promise? I told you before, if you ever need me, call me.”

“I know, I know.” Aether sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. “Even though you have accepted my calls many times, my mind couldn’t help but always think of the second scenario.”

“...Hmph.” That made Xiao let out a scoff, turning his back away to avoid Aether from seeing his face.

I’ll never understand mortals’– and your expectation of disappointment.

Seeing this action from the Vigilant Yaksha, a big, imaginary bead of sweat falls down on Aether’s head from the guilt of his words. Aether slowly walks towards Xiao from behind, in tiptoes.

“Oh Vigilant Yaksha, I’m sorry!” Aether calls out his name from behind.

The yaksha ignores.

“ General Alatus… Heed my apology, pleaseeee~” Aether purrs the title, turns it into a caress, and Xiao shudders. He could feel Aether’s voice near his ear, and he instinctively turns his head to the side.

“Xiao Xiao~” Aether whispers in the nape of his ear, making Xiao’s back shiver instantly. Xiao immediately turns away, his expression a mix of fluster and frustration, and a pink hue escapes his ears.

“What exactly do you want to show me?” Xiao diverts the subject.

“Come with me!” Aether gives Xiao an excited smile, takes his hand, and runs with him…

Onto the lake.

As the moon casts its silvery glow upon the tranquil surface of the lake, Aether steps upon the water, as if defying the laws of nature itself. As time seemed to slow down, Xiao looks down to see Aether’s footsteps leaving shimmering ripples and glows, the faintest whisper of light trailing behind like ethereal footprints upon the surface of the water.

He gazes at the outlander’s back, whose golden, braided hair flies gently in the wind, and the scent of Qingxin touches Xiao’s nose.

Back in the present time, each of Xiao’s steps reveals the gentle glow that emanated from his feet, casting a soft luminescence upon the water.

It was as if their very beings were infused with starlight, a celestial aura that illuminated the darkness with its radiant glow.

Despite the brilliance of their glow, Xiao observes how they remained untouched by the waters below, their feet suspended above the surface as if borne aloft by unseen forces.

Aether releases his grip, spins, and turns to him with a smile, his hands on his back.

“Tada! What do you think? I’ve been doing some quests and I managed to find this place!” Aether asks. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Aether’s movements were fluid and graceful, his feet scarcely disturbing the stillness of the lake as he glided effortlessly across its mirrored surface.

With his heart doing physiologically impossible things, Xiao manages a sentence. “Yes, it is certainly unique compared to the other areas of Liyue. Truthfully, it has been a long time since I have ever heard of Chenyu Vale, so I haven’t…”

Xiao looked down to find not a drop of water dared to mar his boots, nor did a ripple disturb the perfect reflection of the moon above.

“Xiao? Have you ever danced–”

“No.”

That immediate answer made Aether cast Xiao a long and measuring look, and Xiao keeps his face schooled into a mask of neutrality.

“...Back then, on some carefree nights,” Xiao explains. “Bosacius would force me to join with them, and I would always refuse. As a general yaksha, it’s silly, senseless, and unwise.”

“So?” Aether asks, shrugging his arms. “It’s just the two of us, so your reputation won’t be destroyed by some silly dance. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with dancing. I’m almost certain that the other adepti have danced before.”

Xiao’s heart pounds. Blood surges through his veins.

“Aether, are you asking…”

Aether gives him a bow, Fontaine style, and extends a hand up to him.

“Shall we dance, Vigilant Yaksha?”

Beneath the shimmering glow of the moon, its silver rays painting a celestial pathway upon the surface of the tranquil lake, two figures stood…

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fortheloveofarchons · 12 days

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Rapunther experiences rain physically for the first time with Alatus

It's Xiao's bday today so I wanted to post an early chapter for my favourite adeptus!!!

Enjoy! Full chapter in the link down below!

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Rapunther had not realised how awkward things can get when you are walking with a stranger, especially when that stranger has no intention of communicating much.

“So, Alatus. What’s your favourite food?”

“I have no interest in mortal food. Cooking can be tedious and the wait for it is long.”

“Do you have a family? Like a mother or a father?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Why are you hiding so many things about yourself?”

“Hiding? I’m hiding nothing. I just won’t speak of desire to others.”

~~~~~~

He’s so hard to understand… So frustrating… Rapunther puffs his cheeks, pulling his hair close to his eyes.

Just then, Rapunther could feel something falling onto his head. In confusion, he pats his head, only to find it slightly damp. His nose then picks up the scent of petrichor, and looks up to find the clouds turning grey.

“Umm… Alatus?”

“How long are you going to keep dragging your feet?” Alatus looks over to Rapunther with an irritating glare. “Demons don’t stop for the rain, move.”

Alatus was gradually losing his patience as Rapunther dragged his feet even further. Rapunther understood that the weather might be a light sprinkle, but still, his father told him that the rain can make anyone sick.

“How about for a little bit? Please Alatus, we can continue after the rain stops.” Rapunther had a worried look in his eyes, and that made Alatus stop in his footsteps.

Alatus looks towards a serene lake, where the gentle patters of raindrops creates a soothing symphony that echoes across the water’s surface. His eyes land upon a remarkable sight– a few giant leaf plants, its vibrant green foliage towering above the water like green umbrellas.

Seeing this, Alatus wades into the shallow waters, soaking him from his knees down, his hands reaching out to grasp the oversized leaf. As he plucks it out from the water, he holds the giant leaf afloat, its broad surface providing ample shelter from the gentle drizzle, its vibrant green hues glistening in the soft light of the rain.

“Come. Didn’t you say you want shelter?” Alatus turns to Rapunther, angling the giant leaf to try and protect the golden-haired acquaintance. Rapunther and Paimon quickly join in after Rapunther pulls his hair in a bundle, the sound of raindrops pitter patter as they huddle together in this shelter.

It is serviceable enough, though not so serviceable that it protects their bottom half. The wind blows the rain into their legs, soaking them from the hips down.

Despite them being partially soaked, Rapunther mutters out a few words that Alatus could hear.

“...Thank you.”

As the rain continues to cast gentle dribbles, the two of them walk in silence, with Paimon resting on Rapunther’s shoulder, shielding themselves from the rain. Rapunther steps over one puddle and into another, mumbling softly as water splashes over his bare feet. Rapunther has few indulgences, and in this situation having good shoes is of necessity.

“Alatus…”

“What is it this time?” Alatus asks, without sparing a glance to his golden-haired acquaintance.

“When you said that demons don’t stop for the rain…” Rapunther tries to study Alatus’s expression, his boots wet and dirty from the wet puddles, yet utterly unbothered by it. “Do you refer to yourself as a demon?”

There’s a stretch of silence as Alatus looks up to the clouds, where the haze of the clouds looks like it has been painted in smudges of monotonous colours. Alatus holds the stem of the towering leaf tightly as the rain pours down around them.

“I suppose so, to some extent.” Alatus says at last. “I understand this is not an opinion most mortals share, but I suppose that submerging myself in this rain helps me keep those terrible thoughts away.”

“Submerging.” Rapunther repeats the word, his mind learning something new.

“When one is inside, yes.” The tension in Alatus’s shoulder gradually eases. “Outside, it is… different. More… calming.”

Rapunther can almost relate.

“I’ve never been in the rain, so this feels… refreshing. Aside from the wet puddles, of course. But I’m sure with nice shoes and a little portable shelter, it’s actually not that bad.”

A grimace pulls across Rapunther’s face.

It’s actually not that bad.

Who is he, some bumbling teenager who has no idea how to talk to someone who is the same age as him?

But it is so much worse than that. Alatus isn’t just someone who looks possibly the same age as him, he’s a wanted general, he’s an acquaintance, he’s– he’s someone Rapunther just met a few hours ago, Rapunther reminds himself.

Alatus turns his gaze towards Rapunther. “In my years of living, most mortals I’ve observed dislike the rain.”

Another reminder that Alatus is different, is set apart, and isn’t human.

Rapunther hears the reminders, which raises a question.

“You keep referring to me– and the people outside the tower as ‘mortals’. Do you… live longer than us or something?”

Alatus lets out a sigh. “Yes. That I will admit. We, yakshas, are immortal beings, fiercely illuminated beasts.”

He’s opening up… a bit. That still makes Rapunther happy. He had only touched the surface, and the Wanted General is still an enigma. Rapunther wants to know more...

#ao3 fanfic #ao3fic #genshin impact #genshin aether #genshin xiao #xiao #aether #xiao genshin impact #aether genshin impact #xiaother #xiaoaether #xiao angst #xiao fluff #aether fluff #aether angst #genshin impact fanfics #tangled au #tangled inspired #yaksha

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fortheloveofarchons · 15 days

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Been playing Love and Deepspace for the past few days and here's my take on this.....

Content warning though, it's gonna be a long post! And this is just coming from someone who only played the game a few days ago so this is just my first impression!

Let me just say this, algorithm...

It's your fault for making me download the game.

You knew I like hot attractive fictional men. You knew I like bratty boyfailures. You knew I like older, stoic yet kind men. You knew I like mysterious softboys.

YOU KNEW.

So you bombarded me with L&DS content on my socials, my home, my walls, and even my grass!!! I won't forgive you for dragging me into another gacha hole, especially when you knew that I promise myself to never spend a dime on any of these games!!! (I'm an f2p player)

Anyways-- Here's my take on this game as a newbie.

The VAs and character designs?

Amazing. I love the boys (including Caleb) and the MC customisation is really detailed. Though, I wish we could have short hair MC permanently but I'm glad we get to experience it on photoshoots. I do wish we get to explore more of the boys on the main plot cause it feels a bit underwhelming. Then again I just finished chapter 3 so we'll see!

I love the dates and the playtime mode since it gives us time to get closer to the boys and understand more about their past and their characteristics. (I'm convinced the claw machine gacha is so random cause one day Xavier won a lot and the next it was Zayne)

I will say tho for now I feel like Rafayel is more developed and interesting compared to the other two. I like Zayne in terms of how much he really cares about his patients and how he was closer to MC back then, but I wish we get more of him soon. For Xavier he's such a mystique as well and I really like him too! Overall, I wish we get more events dedicated to Zayne and Xavier.

The fluidity of the animation and graphics?

Really good considering that I'm playing it on mobile, I set it to medium and its runs pretty smoothly without any low pixelated quality. I love how detailed the backgrounds and designs are, and I really love some of the cinematic shots the developers added during the date scenes. I can't wait to pull for more dates for the characters!

Combat wise?

It's fine for now ,and I really appreciate the proceed 10x button when farming for materuals considering that I'm more of a casual player rather than a combat one.

Though I'm still frustrated that one of the requirements of getting 3 stars for extra diamonds would be to win the combat within 90 secs and I'm like-- boy if that dragon didn't have that short animation I would've gotten it faster!!! If it had been 120 secs I would have gotten it easier... I know that the whole combat system will get a bit complicated the more you ascend your hunter level so I'll just farm for materials just to prepare the inevitable.

Also I wish there were more ways to gain more exps for your hunter level instead of doing the daily tasks. Imagine you are about to head to the next chapter get some main content and yet you can't bc your hunter level is just two level away so you have to wait for the next day...

The plot?

I would say its okay for now since I'm about to head to chapter 4 and even though I finished chapter 3 it still feels like the beginning. The worldbuilding is really interesting but I'm still a bit confused on some aspects of the story. Overall, I can't wait to finally see Caleb on screen (I already saw him on Youtube and I wish he's playable he's so pretty sksksksks)

Edit: I just finished chapter 4.... what in the sweet metaflux world... CALEEEBBBBBB!!!!!

So yeah this is my impression on the game as someone who only joined after a few days! I hope to see more contents for the boys and I can't wait for more chapters (I spoiled myself at chapter 4 and my god... I want Caleb to be playable plzzzzz)

I'm aware that as a newbie my opinions are probably flawed considering that it's barely even a week since I joined, I would love to hear some advices from you guys just so I can prepare myself in terms of combat and to understand more about the characters if I missed anything about them!

#love and deepspace #rafayel #rafayel love and deepspace #zayne love and deepspace #zayne #xavier #xavier love and deepspace #love and deepspace mc #caleb #caleb love and deepspace #caleb plz be playable #zayne my love #xavier my sweetheart #rafayel my boyfailure #love and deepspace rafayel #love and deepspace xavier #love and deepspace zayne #love and deepspace caleb

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fortheloveofarchons · 17 days

Text

Alatus tries to console Rapunther

From my Xiaoaether / Xiaother fanfic Rapunther on Ao3!

.

“Father is going to kill me. Oh– he will ground me– No! He’ll punish me by locking me in forever, and he won’t allow me to paint anymore!! Or make candles!! I’ll die of boredom!!” Rapunther spoke so quickly it became hard for Alatus to tell what he was saying, not to mention the echoes in this cave could only make Rapunther’s voice distorted.

Rapunther hides himself in a small little cave, mumbling excessively to no one but himself. “Surely, the punishment won’t be that bad right? I’m sure he’ll understand… Yes, he’ll understand–”

~~~~~~

“This is fun!!” Rapunther swings himself on a tree in a circle, his hair wrapped around a sturdy branch, being secured with practised ease, using the strength of his arms and the momentum of his swing to propel himself forward.

As Rapunther arches through the air, his hair streams behind him like a banner of freedom, catching the sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees above. With each graceful swing, he feels a sense of exhilaration wash over him, the wind rushing past his face as he soars into the air.

Meanwhile, Alatus could only watch Rapunther swing himself in a circle on the tree, leaning his back against the sturdy trunk. Alatus stands in quiet contemplation, his eyes closed, yet the rhythmic pattern of Rapunther’s voice would always catch his attention.

“Yippiiiieeeeeee~~ Wheeeeeee~~”

Rapunther’s voice echoes in and out as he swings around the tree, making a rhythmic swish, punctuated by the occasional creak of wood and the whoosh of the air.

It didn’t help that the faint smell of florals would swing past him.

Alatus exhales heavily.

No.

~~~~~~

Rapunther sits on the grass, his hands covering his mouth, muffling his cries. His hair is sprawled messily onto the surface roots, and Paimon the round little bird could only rest at his shoulder, rubbing its feathers against his hand, to comfort the golden-haired Rapunther.

“It’s okay…”

Alatus, meanwhile, folds his arm from seeing such a one-hundred and eighty degrees turn of emotions from this young man. Paimon, seeing this, gives Alatus a glare. Their eyes darted towards Rapunther, hoping that Alatus would take the opportunity to comfort him.

With a heavy sigh, Alatus sets aside his reservations, knowing that he cannot turn a blind eye to the pain before him. He slowly walks towards Rapunther, and sits next to him on the grass.

“You know, I can’t help but notice that you seem to be at war with yourself here.”

“War?” That made Rapunther open his hands, closing his eyes tightly for a second then slowly opening them due to the open brightness. “With myself?”

“Mortals… I know that they fear many things.” Alatus avoids his gaze, turning to the leaves that landed on the grass. “Lightning, bugs, fire… incomprehensible. Fear of something so common.”

Alatus picks up a dry leaf, twirling it with his fingers.

“Yet… somehow, I understand how you feel. The longing for freedom from your oppressive circumstances, to break free from your chains and to find the ‘stars’ you desire. I… can understand why you wish to leave, yet feel scared at the same time.”

Perhaps… it was because of your words, Bosacius.

The words ring in Alatus’s mind, sending him back to a memory from years ago...

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fortheloveofarchons · 18 days

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Anemo boys that deserved to be protected at all costs

Srsly why do they have the most tragic background stories

"MY MAN"

four characters who make you yell "MY MAN MY MAN MY MAN" !! I'll go first !

thought this was a silly idea keep it going! tagging ; @rrairey @httpshujii @cindol @shokosprincess @seneon @cheriiyaya @accidentcache @suntoru and anyone else wanting to participate !

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fortheloveofarchons · 20 days

Text

Alatus saves Rapunther from the tower

“Rapunther.” Xiao folds his arms from the base of the tower, letting out an irritating glare. “Are you sure you can do this?”

Rapunther, feeling vulnerable from above, turns his face away instinctively. “I’m fine! I just… need a moment.”

A gentle breeze rustles the curtains in the window, the only light being available was that of the bright sun, and the hook on top of the window holds onto Rapunther’s hair, radiating a soft glow. He sighs, trying to relax his body on the exhales, and turns to face outside. The cool wind feels good against his warm skin.

His feet presses onto the cool brick, letting in a shaky inhale. After all, he wanted to do everything but step out of his safety bubble.

What was it like for my father to do this? He always looks up when I slowly pull him down so… I should do that, right?

He lets out a shaky exhale, to be brave is to try things even if you are afraid. Even if there are consequences for said actions, at least… you tried something, right?

Rapunther begins to adjust his long hair onto the hook as if it's a sturdy rope.

“Rapunther…” Paimon chirps in comfort, flying next to him with their little wings.

Rapunther gives them a gentle smile, letting out an exhale. “I’m alright, Paimon. I can do this.”

He turns to the sanctuary that fills his boredom, the place where he grew up. Rapunther looks down onto the unknown depths, then looks back at the tower.

“I’ll see you later.”

With a deep breath, he wraps his hands around the improvised hair rope and begins his descent. Each movement is deliberate and calculated, his long hair cascading behind him like a graceful waterfall as he lowers himself inch by inch, without looking down. With each downward pull, his muscles strain against the weight of his body, his feet plastered to the brick walls to secure himself.

Meanwhile, Alatus sits on the grass, putting his arm on his knee. He stares up at the struggling stranger pulling himself down.

“...Incomprehensible.” Alatus closes his eyes, taking in the gentle breeze.

Back to Rapunther, the wind whips around him, tousling his hair and sending it swirling in the air like a banner of defiance against the sky.

“I can do this… I can do this…” Rapunther recites those words like a mantra, tiny beads of sweat dripping out of his forehead–

CLANK!!!

The hook that’s been holding on for many years of pulling his father up and down, finally breaks out from the clasp. With a soft gasp escaping from Rapunther’s lips, he fell down from his position, his hair swayed in the currents of the wind like a messy halo.

“Aaaaaaahhhhh!”

“Rapunther!!!” Paimon chirps out in fear, flying down to Rapunther.

Hearing the sound, Alatus looks up to the source of the sound, his eyes became wide from this scene above him.

Rapunther could feel his insides rising in his throat as he fell. He saw the ground getting closer and closer, and a teardrop flew above his head.

Was this a sign… that I shouldn’t go outside at all?

Was my father right?

I wanted to be brave… and yet…

Alatus immediately throws himself off the ground, and his body flies through the wind, propelling himself further by pushing himself up from the bricks of the tower. In the blink of an eye, he closes the distance between them, and wraps his arms around Rapunther’s body.

“A– Alatus?!”

Rapunther feels the faintest sigh of relief against his ears, sending shivers down his spine from the Wanted General’s touch.

“I got you.” Alatus whispers. For just a moment, they stare at each other, suspended in the air, falling together. Rapunther forgot about the fact that he was falling down from the tower, only staring at Alatus. Alatus’s pink breechcloth was flying against the current of the wind, and the purple mark on his forehead was finally visible past his hair. Tears were still prickling Rapunther’s eyes, and so Alatus freed one of his hands for just a moment, and graced his thumb along Rapunther’s cheek, wiping the tears away.

“Hold on to me.”

That sent Rapunther’s head spinning.

In a flash, Alatus is already back on the soft ground, and Rapunther’s eyes are shut tight from anticipation, his long fluffy hair gently landing on the grass. Rapunther’s grip against Alatus’s arm was still tight...

#ao3 fanfic #ao3fic #genshin impact #xiao genshin impact #xiao angst #xiao #xiaother #xiaoaether #genshin aether #genshin impact aether #aether angst #tangled inspired #tangled #xiao x aether #aether x xiao #fluff and feels #fluff and romance #fluff and humor #fluff and angst

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fortheloveofarchons · 20 days

Text

It's been our salvation, and always will be.

Please reblog this if fanfiction has been beneficial to your mental health.

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fortheloveofarchons · 23 days

Text

The morning after with Xiao

Inspired by GraveASMR on Youtube!

C.W.

- Smut - Hickeys - Scratches - Edging - Pre-cum - Xiao having possessive behaviour - Xiao being a top - Aether being a sub

.

The morning light filters softly through the thinly-veiled curtains, casting a warm glow upon the room as Aether stirs awake, enveloped in the comfort of tangled sheets and the lingering warmth of shared intimacy. As his consciousness slowly returns, Aether finds himself in the presence of someone close to his heart.

“Xiao…”

With a content sigh, he stretches his body, but only stops midway when he feels a stinging sensation on his back, and an aching feeling on his whole body. The faint murmurs of the golden finches’ chirps drift through the open window, a gentle melody that accompanies the soft rise and fall of Xiao’s breathing. The yaksha’s features are softened in the gentle light, half of his face is buried in the pillow, his arms tucking inside the pillow for warmth while his back is revealed with some of Aether’s scratches.

Longing fills Aether.

With a gentle touch, Aether brushes a stray lock of hair from Xiao’s face, he wants to be the person to make Xiao feel comfortable– wants to be the person who wakes Xiao with a kiss.

Heck, he’d even take soft kisses, gentle kisses, hotter kisses if those kisses meant that he could continue where they left off last night.

But Aether knows that there is work to do. Can’t keep Katheryne, the receptionist of the Adventurers’ Guild waiting.

And so does Xiao, whose title is called the ‘Conqueror of Demons’.

As Aether is about to sit upright to prepare breakfast for Xiao, the rustles of the sheets and Aether’s movement stirs Xiao awake, watching his golden-haired partner about to stand.

“Hey…” Xiao immediately grabs Aether’s arm, pulling him back to bed. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Oof! Good morning Xiao,” Aether turns to Xiao, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry to bother you up this early, but I was going to prepare you breakfast and head off for commissions.”

“Oh, you want to go do your commissions.” Xiao’s arm wraps around Aether’s waist, preventing him from leaving. “Look at you, you can barely stand on your own two legs. Especially after what I did to you last night.”

“Ah…”

As memories of the night before dance through his mind, desire curls low in Aether’s gut.

~~~~~~

“Aether… You really look ravishing like this, I wish I could see more of this side of you when we are in bed.”

With Xiao’s soft fingers on Aether’s cheek, along with his left hand sinking into his fluffy, unbraided golden hair, Aether couldn’t help but lean his head onto Xiao’s right hand, tasting his thumb, sucking it gently.

Xiao exhales heavily, seeing Aether’s eyes drifting shut to ecstasy. Just a few moments ago, Aether was holding onto Xiao’s body tight as the yaksha bites his neck and chest, leaving wet trails of saliva and hot bites being marked on Aether’s body. Xiao could still feel that stinging pain from Aether’s nails clawing into his back.

He could imagine that Aether would leave more scratches when Xiao is inside of him.

“We can’t forget your precious thighs now, can we?”

A strangled sound catches in Aether’s throat as Xiao’s hand travels down to Aether’s shaft, half-hard and already aching from Xiao’s hot kisses and bites. Xiao is aware that Aether is immortal like him, surely Aether knows what he’s doing, but Xiao did not expect him to be a bit shy, a little uncertain.

Aether was the one to make flirty attempts to Xiao, after all. The blonde-haired outlander has to be somewhat experienced.

Yet, Aether immediately arches into his touch, tears coming out of his eyes from the overwhelming emotion of being edged on. It didn’t help him much when Xiao started to leave kisses on his inner thigh, leaving bites on them.

Xiao then lifts his head up, and his left hand travels down to Aether’s neck, curving around the back of his neck. He then draws Aether close for a slow kiss, a lingering one, one that makes soft little sounds of pleasure against Aether’s lips.

Looking down, Xiao could see Aether’s precum dribbling down to the side of his thigh. Xiao’s teeth then bite into Aether’s lower lip.

“I would call you beautiful,” Xiao says, his voice a low and wicked rumble. “But they say that beauty is on the inside and… I haven’t been inside you yet.”

Aether gasps, his hips jerking hard on Xiao’s.

“Please Xiao… I want it…” Pleasure burns, and a needy, insistent ache that steals Aether’s breath. Aether’s submissive begs and whimpers were a contrast to the usual smirks and giggles he would make when he’s interacting with Xiao during the daytime. “I want it so bad… I’ll do anything…”

“Prepare yourself then,” A smirk plastered onto Xiao’s face, a rare moment for Aether to witness. “It will take a moment before I can even release it.”

~~~~~~

“Are we gonna go over what happened last night?” Xiao’s fingers gently massages Aether’s stomach, tempting Aether back into a mood of desire.

“I…”

“Or are you too embarrassed?”

Xiao could remember that expression Aether had when he was inside of him: Aether’s skin flushed a bright and beautiful red, until he’s panting, until each of Xiao’s thrust pushes a gasping moan from Aether’s lips. Xiao remembers how tension lines his own body, drawing him tighter and tighter as he rails into Aether’s body, missionary style.

He remembers how Aether’s quiet, aching moans were the last straw for the yaksha...

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fortheloveofarchons · 30 days

Text

Xiao turned into a bird and Aether takes care of him

C.W.

- Kiss and make up - Potion making - Xiao | Alatus being a birb - Hu Tao, Zhongli, Paimon and Verr Goldet mentioned in this chapter

.

The letter that Aether had received back in Wangshu Inn seemed like an urgent letter, with only a few sentences written on the paper.

I have heard that you are currently back in Liyue. It is of great timing for you to come to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour immediately. As for the issue at hand… I’m afraid it’s about Xiao.

“Aether! Slow down!” Paimon flies from behind, trying to catch up with him. “Paimon can’t fly that fast…”

Aether ran as fast as he could, sweat beading out of his forehead, his legs slowly getting tired. Yet, his mind persists. The moment Aether runs up to the red bridge in Chihu Rock, he sees the familiar building with golden-red pillars and green roof tiles.

Along with a familiar lady with the plum blossom hat and the man with dark brown hair.

“Mr Zhongli! Director Hu Tao!” Aether chokes out his words, his hands holding onto his knees to steady himself. Raising his head, he sees that Hu Tao’s expression remained unchanging: A gleeful smile on her face.

As for Zhongli, his geo-coloured eyes flicker to worry.

“What happened–” Aether asks on an exhale. “Where’s Xiao? Is everything okay?”

“About that…” Zhongli points to Hu Tao’s hat. Aether turns to her, his eyes narrowing as he attempts to decipher the cryptic message. Hu Tao’s eyebrows rose along with her smile, and she took her hat off, flipping it upside down for Aether to witness.

With a raised eyebrow, Aether takes a step forward, only for his eyes to become wide.

A round-bodied bird, whose feathers are adorned in shades of teal, with the familiar purple diamond mark on its forehead.

“Xiao?!” Aether immediately grabs the hat with his hands, watching as the little bird is resting peacefully inside Hu Tao’s hat.

Paimon takes a look from behind, only to cover their mouth in shock. “Wh– What happened?!”

“Again, about that…” Zhongli lets out a sigh, rubbing his forehead in frustration. “Do you remember when you and Paimon conducted an alchemical business selling different kinds of potions?”

“Oh yeah!” Paimon replies, nodding their head enthusiastically. Their head could only recall the amount of mora they have earned. “We sold a lot of potions, and we learned a lot of things!”

“Then, do you remember when Director Hu Tao had made a bulk order on the ingredients?”

Paimon scratches their head, trying to understand the meaning behind this question.

Aether steps in and replies on Paimon’s behalf instead. “She ordered a large batch of a variety… but…”

Aether’s mouth fell open as the gears clicked in his head.

“D– Don’t tell me…” Aether turns to her, his lips becoming slack as his terror grows. “Did you try to make your own potions and use them on Xiao?!”

“Hey, hey~” Hu Tao closes her eyes as waves her arms defensively. “For the record, I was trying to be experimental for my business. Business is slow these days, so I thought if I try to conduct a few harmless potions it would be beneficial for my work! And– I could gain more customers!”

“Director…” Aether’s entire body became impossibly still, his hands clutching onto the under brim of Hu Tao’s hat. “Your business is about conducting funerals!”

“Aiya~~ I was trying to sell some healing potions for them!” Hu Tao clenches her fists, shaking her hands in protest. “I know my business tactics have been off, so I wanted to try something called… reverse psychology! If I were to sell these healing potions, this would make my clients feel safe when they think about Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and perhaps I could repair my relationship with Doctor Baizhu with these potions as a peace offering.”

An imaginary black and white thread forms into a convoluted tornado in Aether's mind, trying his best to understand how that would really work if the healing potions came from a business that deals with death.

“I…”

Zhongli makes a subtle cough, covering his mouth. “Point being, it appears that after the consumption of Hu Tao’s potion, Adeptus Xiao had temporarily transformed into a little bird.”

Aether’s golden eyes glint with hope from hearing that word.

“Temporarily?” Aether asks, taking a step forward to Zhongli. “You mean… Can he be saved?”

“It would take time, but yes.”

Zhongli stretches his arm out to the interactable wooden board, a sign for the two of them to chat privately. Giving a short nod in return, the two of them walk over to the board while Paimon bombards Hu Tao with more questions.

“Although I was an archon back then, I had to ask Madame Ping and Cloud Retainer for advice before you came.” Zhongli folds his arm, a signature move by the man who used to be the Geo Archon. “They’ve said that since the potion is pretty much harmless, Xiao would be able to revert back to his original self by today.”

“Then… Why summon me here?” Aether asks. Just then, the bird wakes up from his nap, and blinks at Aether. Once, twice, thrice, then immediately flies up, making chirping noises before he rests on Aether’s soft hair. Aether couldn’t help but let out a laugh, his heart now in a steady beat from Zhongli’s reassuring words and Xiao’s activeness.

“I need you to take care of him for today. Director Hu Tao and I had to deal with the sticky mess that she made in her office.” Zhongli’s head turns to stare at the two of them, with Paimon’s bickering and Hu Tao’s argumentative verses, it certainly raises a few eyebrows from the passersby. “It would take a while, and I trust that you are careful and delicate with animals.”

“Uh… Yes, very delicate.”

A sweat drops down from Aether’s chin, thinking back to all those times when he slaughtered some Sumpter Beasts with his blade for some raw meat, freezing fishes with his cyro elemental powers so he could make some grilled fish, and killing the pack of pigeons that resides on the bridge at Mondstadt.

That petrified look on Timmy’s face was priceless.

“Moreover, since this concerns the guardian yaksha, it's best to solve this issue for those that are close to him.” Zhongli gazes softly at Aether’s eyes. “And you, dear traveller, are one of them in Xiao’s heart.”

Aether’s cheeks were already pink from running, but Zhongli’s sentence pierced into Aether’s heart, making his face bright red like a Jueyen Chili.

“Is that so..?” Aether fans his face with his hand.

“I suppose it’s about time we should take our leave.” Zhongli walks over to Hu Tao and Paimon, giving one more glance to Aether. “When Xiao returns back to normal, inform us.”

“I will!” Aether makes a salute pose like those Favonius knights back in Mondstadt. Zhongli lets out a deep chuckle in return, and turns to Hu Tao.

“Director, shall we head inside to clean up the mess?”

“Let’s!” Hu Tao turns to Aether, her hand raising for her hat. Aether then returns the hat to her, and Hu Tao neatly puts it back on, but not before she adjusts the position on it. She lets out a hum in satisfaction once it settles neatly on her head.

“Mhm~! Take care of this silly little adeptus for me, will you?” Hu Tao gives him a wink before she bids farewell with a wave.

“Alright…” Aether turns around, but not before he hears a little bit of a conversation between Hu Tao and Zhongli.

“...It’s just a potion to make him a lil’ bit tired for him…”

“...It’s still wrong, Director…”

Tired? Tired from what? Aether ponders the question, but shakes his head in resignation. Meanwhile, Paimon flies next to him, looking up at Xiao resting on his head, then down at Aether, who is giving them a criminal offensive side eye.

“Don’t ask too much.” Aether folds his arms defensively. “Zhongli just wanted me to take care of him for a while.”

He then walks off with Xiao the little bird, while Paimon is scratching their head in confusion.

“Uh… Paimon hasn’t even said anything yet…”

Full chapter down below!

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fortheloveofarchons · 1 month

Text

The Wanted General, Alatus

C.W. Contains violence and blood in the beginning of the chapter

.

No– Please! It’s only you and me, don’t die here!!

I’m sorry, but I have to end my life, for us.

My destiny is to make the ultimate sacrifice!

Alatus… go, and be free from this place.

Everyone… please! Don’t go!!

DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE WITH THAT MONSTER!!!

As the last remaining yaksha, he’s been on the run in the balmy spring woods.

He darts through the trees that were donned with a fresh coat of green as tender buds unfurled into delicate leaves, his face gently hit with the sweet fragrances of the Cecelia flowers and Windwheel Asters.

The last general had heard of the warm nation of freedom and bountiful nature, but the frost-laden trees in the lonely stillness of the winter woods where he lived made him believe that it is merely a fairytale, a delusion. As he was running, he realised that his breath was not creating chilly smoke in the air. He runs as far as he can go, it doesn’t matter when his eyes are brimming red from exhaustion, his stomach making tight knots from the starvation that he had endured.

The torn off petals of the flowers and fruits were not enough to satiate his stomach. With as much power as he has, he moves with silent urgency and swiftness, his clothes wrapped with a brown cloak to ward off any external injuries. His movements are swift and deliberate, leaving behind no trace save for the ephemeral imprint of his passage on the muddy canvas.

His footsteps stop, his senses sharp, taking in the heartbeat of the dawn of spring, the rustle of green leaves, and the subtle crunch of twigs sticks beneath distant footsteps.

Footsteps that don’t belong to the wanted general.

Footsteps that made stomps, aggressive and louder than his short and careful ones.

Footsteps that seemed to multiply from behind.

His uneven breaths combine with the sweat forming on his forehead as he quickly hides deep in the bushes. He hoped that whatever it was, would go away.

That is, until he hears a subtle crunch of a tree branch above him, his back casting a shiver, sensing that someone was watching him. With a swift and calculated move, the hunter emerges from above, her weapon drawn– a sword.

Yet, what that hunter could only see in front of her was a wispy black smoke.

“Found you.” The wanted general whispers in her ear. A determined blow strikes the hunter in the neck, knocking her down onto the ground, alerting the others.

“Look out, it’s–”

Teleporting himself, Alatus takes down another armed bounty hunter, knocking them down with the sharp tip of his primordial jade spear.

In the middle of the forest, birds and crows let out loud chirps and caws, flying away from the bloodshed.

Panting heavily, Alatus looks back at the scene of the crime. He counts with his index finger around twenty bounty hunters, all bloodied and banged up on the ground. Most of them were either dead, or heavily injured to the point that they were unconscious.

All except for one.

Hiding in a bush, his shaky hand holding the dagger. As the last bounty hunter was about to strike, a whoosh of teal flew past him, striking a hit onto the tree next to him. “AHHH!”

“Show yourself, mortal.”

The trees, a silent observer of this fight, illuminates the predator-prey dynamic by casting leafy shadows over the scene. The hunter crawls his way out of the bush, sweat beading out of his forehead.

Alatus summons his spear back into his arms, holding the tip of his weapon right in front of the bounty hunter’s forehead.

“State your purpose, or I shall strike my weapon down on your head.”

“I– I– I just want some money!” The bounty hunter kneels down in a praying position. “The.. the posters have shown that if we captured you we would be compensated immensely! But… but… they didn’t tell us you were this strong!!”

“...Let me see the poster.”

The bounty hunter whips out the folded paper on his pocket, and hands it over to Alatus. He folds the paper open, revealing a poster of him, with the bold words, WANTED in crimson red.

DEAD OR ALIVE

The illustration of the wanted general only shows a young man with long messy hair that reaches his stomach, a tattoo on his right arm which is a rough silhouette of a bird upside down, along with a purple diamond mark on his forehead.

“Fool, how does this amount of money not instil fear in you?” Alatus crumbles the paper, and throws it on the ground. “As far as I know, the larger the goal, the bigger the risk.”

“I just thought they were being generous… or that it is a risky scam! They didn’t mention anything about your status!” The bounty hunter begs, knocking his head onto the ground multiple times. “Please! I’m sorry, I promise I won’t find you again! We can forget about this!”

“...On one condition.”

“Yes?!”

“Do you guys have extra clothes?” Alatus’s arm opens up, revealing a dirty white gown.

“Uh… I guess you can take their clothes…?” His hand shakily points to the dead bounty hunters, his other hand slowly reaching to his dagger that’s strapped to his thigh.

“Fine by me.” As Alatus turns to leave, the bounty hunter makes a strike from behind.

The wanted general disappears in front of him, causing his face to slam onto the ground, his dagger out of his hand, the air had been knocked clear out of his lungs.

“Eh?”

He feels the cold jade on his neck, and an arm pinning him down.

“Evil like you shall be dispersed.”

“No! No–”

Blood splatters and gushes out of his throat, silencing his last words. He holds his throat tightly, trying to prevent more blood from gushing out. But his efforts are futile, as the world around the last bounty hunter blurs.

His vision becomes hazy, and the young man in front of him only feels like a blurry canvas.

Eventually, his eyes succumb to a dreamless slumber.

~~~~~~

The golden hues of the morning sun kisses the surface of the serene lake, and a small fire is being built near a towering oak tree. Throwing his old clothes, Alatus watches the remnants of his past burning to a crisp. He stares at the flame for a moment, ensuring that not a single trace of cloth would be evident in the campfire.

Letting out a sigh, he walks towards the lake, dipping his feet in first before submerging himself down the lake, his body tingling with coldness. Emerging from the water, he lets out a sigh from holding in his breath in the lake, and looks down on his reflection. His hair messy and wet like seaweed, his face no longer tainted with stains of dirt and dry blood, and his body feel more refreshed with the cleanliness of the lake water.

After washing himself, he emerges out from the water, droplets of water cascading from his skin. He makes his way to the towering oak tree, seeing the fire gradually extinguished, the remnants of his past clothings burned to crisp. Nearby, a bundle of clothes lay, freshly acquired from the luggages of the bounty hunters. With nimble fingers, he unwraps the stolen garments, and assembles himself a simple yet warm ensemble.

Wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a high collar, he covers his left arm with a white sleeve that’s donned with turquoise cloud motifs. After wearing his baggy dark purple pants and black boots, he wears a pink breechcloth around his waist.

Finally, he adjusts the black and dark turquoise gloves and gauntlets, stretching his arms, as if wearing this sheds his past along with his old attire.

He turns his attention to his unkempt mane, the strands of his long hair dancing in the breeze like wild tendrils. With a gleam in his eyes, he retrieves a makeshift blade from the bounty hunter’s thigh, and begins to trim his hair. Each rough stroke of the blade was deliberate, a symbolic gesture of shedding the burdens of his former life.

As the last strands fell to the grass, he ran his fingers through his newly cut hair, now in a messy shoulder-length with distinct teal undertones.

Feels… light.

After burning the cut-off stands of his hair and burying the bodies of each bounty hunter, he keeps one of their satchel and stashes any necessities he could shove in. Before he embarks, he finds the crumpled up poster of him on the ground, its eyes staring at him soulless.

Just like his golden irises.

He grabs the poster and shoves it into his satchel, and continues to walk to the path he finds based on the map from the bounty hunter....

Full chapter down below!!

I know I only published it after almost one week but I just wanna say thankiew all so much for your support! Kudos, bookmarks and comments are much appreciated!!

Also special thanks to @rueleaf-art for spreading this fanfic on Instagram!! It really means a lot (๑°꒵°๑)･*♡

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fortheloveofarchons · 1 month

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Rapunther (A Xiaoaether Tangled AU)

This whole story was inspired by @rueleaf-art on Instagram and Tumblr! Go check her out!!

Rapunther, a young man with long, golden hair, seeks to watch the lanterns that his father insisted are just merely "stars".

Xiao, a wanted general from another kingdom that goes by the title of Alatus, seeks a safe refuge so that he would not go back to serve the king who once tortured him and his yaksha companions for evil deeds.

What happens... if the two of them meet for the first time? Will Rapunther be able to witness the "stars" he yearns as a child locked inside a tower?

Will the wanted general find solace and love from someone he just met?

Will Rapunther finally escape from the shackles of the tower he once called home?

This brings you the Tangled AU of this ship, Rapunther.

.

This is a story of a boy named Rapunther.

And it all starts with the sun.

Now, once upon a time, a single drop of golden sunlight fell from the heavens, and from this small drop of sun fell onto an Inteyvat flower amidst a giant field of blossoming flowers. The flower that once consists of white and light blue petals, is now a magical, golden flower.

Many years passed, the kingdom was ruled by a king and queen, and the queen is expecting a child. Unfortunately, the queen was frail and sick. Her breaths were slow and soft, her eyes sunken and dark from exhaustion, and she could barely move from her bed. As time is running out, the people of the kingdom would try to find any miracle, be it herbs, alchemy, or even elemental magic.

Yet, none of them seemed to work.

That is, until they heard of a legend called the golden Inteyvat flower, where it can cure all sickness and diseases. Why is it called a legend, you may ask?

You see, that specific flower came from a land that was once abandoned during the war. It’s people have passed away, either from being murdered or due to the side effects of the war, which is called ‘Erosion’, It is where it can cause a person to lose their sense of self, from their memories to their own bodies, fading like a sand that’s blown away from the wind.

As Inteyvat flowers wilt quickly, it was even impossible to find them after the events of the war.

The only detail that was not mentioned about the legend… was that it was hoarded by a man named Chlothar Eide. Instead of sharing the heavens’ gift, he resented the Gods for not seeking aid to him during the war, and thus he hoarded the flower all to himself, to prevent himself from eroding, keeping him alive for hundreds of years.

And all he had to do… was to sing a song to it.

Mu fla, mon cravi shaviri

Pu makriya

Vu, melodie son nafluri

Mu fla, mon cravi shaviri

Pu mashi na

Hu lu mi sche yo

Diri

Rilacri

Si yu mi flavi

Drim cra ri chi di piu

Melodi, suvinavi

Rilacri

Si yu mi flavi

Drim cra ri chi di piu

Melodi, suvina

In the blink of an eye, the old man transformed. His wrinkles gradually disappear, his once grey hair regains its youthful black hue, and his mind feels refreshed and rejuvenated. He stood before the flower, a vision of his younger self, letting out a cackling laughter for his hidden salvation.

That is, until he hears subtle footsteps.

In a quick moment, he grabs a basket that is covered with leaves and twigs that resembles like a bush, and covers the flower up quickly, dimming the golden light. Yet, as he quickly turns to leave, his lamplight that’s hanging from his arm accidentally knocks out of the basket, revealing the bright flower. Without realising it, he runs to hide in another bush, carefully watching to see who was out there.

Just then, a few soldiers arrive, lamplights in their hand to search for the flower. Due to Chloatar’s carelessness, they found the golden flower in a field of wilted flowers that crumbled like dust.

“We found it!”

They carefully dug the flower out and carried it to their kingdom.

Meanwhile, Chloatar could only stare intensely, watching as the flower gradually disappeared from his sight.

With the petals of the golden flower carefully plucked onto the water, the king carefully holds the bowl while the queen sips the magic of the golden flower, healing her.

With the miracle, a pair of twins were born.

Two healthy babies. A prince and a princess.

Aether and Lumine.

With beautiful golden hair, one longer and one shorter.

To celebrate their birth, the king and queen launched two flying lanterns into the sky.

For that one moment, everything was perfect. Yet, it was shattered over their heads like a beer bottle.

Because that’s all it is.

A moment.

“Finally… It's done. You two were such a pain to deal with.” Chlothar throws away the stained beer bottle, shattering onto the floor. Both the king and queen’s head were stained with blood, tainting the white pillows and bedsheets. The canopy bed had fallen to the ground, a sign of a struggle from the both of them.

“Thankfully, with this herb I sneaked into your meals. Both of you were too weak to fight against me.” He throws away the brown round pills onto the floor, smashing the contents into pieces until it turns into dust. The sounds of the twins’ wails made Chlothar blink back to reality, remembering his task.

“Right… the magical flowers .”

He walks towards the crib.

The moment he sees the twins’ blonde hair, the sounds of their cries drown out in his mind, his smile as wide as a butcher’s knife.

He looked towards the baby with longer hair, gently touching his soft and silky hair against his wrinkled fingers with spots.

“You cannot mock me more than fate itself already has.”

Chloatar sings the same song to them, watching their hair turn from a blonde to a bright golden hue. He grabs a small knife from his pocket, intending to cut a few strands in hopes to keep the golden hued hair to preserve his youth. Instead, the moment he cuts it, the hair reverts back to its light blonde hue, and his body and mind are reverted back to his current self, dishevelled and old with an insane look on his face.

“No… No!”

Seeing his only power fading, Chloatar had no choice.

He took one of the twins, and ran away from the palace.

And just like that, the prince was gone.

The kingdom searched and searched everywhere, but they could not find the prince. Due to the fears of losing their male heir and maintaining their power in a patriarchal monarchy, they announced to their people that their ‘princess’ Aether is the one that was kidnapped and missing, while ‘prince’ Lumine is the heir for now.

Deep within a forest, in a hidden tower, Chlothar raised the child as his own. He had found his new magic flower, but this time, he was determined to keep it hidden.

“Why can’t I go outside?” The child asked.

“The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people.” Chlothar said, humming as he brushes Rapunther’s hair, that glows as bright as the fire down the chimney. “You must stay here, where you are safe. Do you understand, flower?”

“Yes father.” The child said, gazing at the closed window.

What Chlothar forgot one thing, is that the tower could not hide anything. Each year on the twins’ birthday, the king and queen would release thousands of lanterns into the sky, in hope that one day, their lost prince would return.

Rapunther would always sneak out, his long hair cascading down the steps, He would carefully open the windows to gaze at the brightly lit lanterns, hoping that one day…

He’ll be able to hold it.

I hope you enjoy this chapter! I have updated a new chapter on this story and that I have added disclaimers on the very first chapter of the story. Do check it out if you are interested or if you want to know more about this story!

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fortheloveofarchons · 1 month

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Aether is scarred from lightning and thunder

Inspired by @heysoanime on Instagram, go check them out!!!

C.W.

- Angst - Aether angst and needs therapy - Xiao wanting revenge - dark Inazuma angst - Raiden Shogun and Teppei mentioned - Zhongli appearance - Zhongli/Childe mentioned

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In the dimness of the bedroom outside of Liyue, shadows dance on the walls as lightning streaks across the night sky, casting fleeting glimpses of terror on the face of the golden-haired traveller lying in bed. While his floaty companion was able to sleep through with ease, his body was tense with each flash, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest as the storm outside rages on.

The thunder, like the roar of an angry illuminated beast, reverates through the room, shaking the very foundations of his being. With each deafening crash, his heart pounds in his ears, drowning out the soothing rhythm of rain tapping against the windowpane.

The traveller pulls the covers up to his chin, seeking refuge from the tempest raging beyond the safety of his walls. But no amount of bedding could shield him from the relentless assault of nature's fury.

With every flash of lightning, static flashbacks appear in front of Aether, even if he wishes to not remember them again.

BANG!!!

He remembered how the life in their eyes dissipated, like empty windows in an abandoned village. Those whose Visions were stolen away were almost like a husk of their former self, a fragile hermit shell that can easily be destroyed.

SNAP!!!

The sound of lightning calls to mind about the time when the God of Eternity, whose hair glows in luminescent violet. The moment she summons her Musou No Hitotachi, her lightning sword emerges from her chest, revealing the core of her power. In a quick flash, he remembered his body suffering from the stinging, burning pain from her lightning strikes.

CRACKLE!!!

The memory of the resistance soldiers’ bodies slowly decaying like old corpses, while the delusions drain out their lifeforce would be a moment that cements his hatred for the nation of electro.

His breath came in shallow gasps, his body trembling with each rumble of thunder and lightning that rolls through the darkness. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the flashes of lightning that pierced his mind and body like fiery daggers.

Every creak of the room, every gust of wind, sent shivers of dread coursing through Aether’s veins. He felt small and vulnerable, a mere outsider at the mercy of one of the most brutal elements in Teyvat.

“Please… anyone… please stop…”

In the depths of his fear, he longs for the storm to pass, for the tranquillity of sleep to wash away his worries. But the storm seemed endless, a relentless onslaught that refused to relent.

He had no choice.

He had to call someone.

“Xiao…”

“I’m here–” The wispy smoke appears in a quick moment, revealing the yaksha, Adeptus Xiao. His nonchalant gaze immediately widens from seeing Aether covering himself in a blanket.

“Aether?” Xiao removes the blanket, seeing Aether in such a dishevelled and exhausted look: His long blonde braid messy, his eyes sunken with heavy bags, and his hands trying to compose themselves by clenching onto the blanket.

“Aether, hey…” Xiao immediately tends to Aether, brushing the short strands of his blonde hair out of his face and fanning his sweat away. “What happened? Who did this to you?”

Aether quickly shakes his head, pressing his left cheek onto the pillow. “It’s nothing, just some bad memories. I just– I must’ve accidentally called you, I guess.”

“ You guess? You people really have such contradictory words.” Xiao scrunches his eyebrows.

“...Just forget that I ever said anything.” Aether whispers his words out shakily. “You have enough carnage to deal with. I’m fine now so please… don’t worry about me.”

Xiao remains silent, his lips growing thin and firm. Looking down on Aether’s blonde braid where it hangs off the side of the bed, Xiao gently holds the tail of the braid and takes off the band, slowly unbraiding his soft, messy hair.

“Aether? Do you get nightmares lately?”

“...Sometimes.”

Xiao continues to unbraid his hair until it reaches to the top, where their eyes meet. Aether’s eyes darted to the side upon seeing Xiao’s golden irises, and Xiao could only let out a sigh. “If you aren’t sleeping well, I can help with that. Those terrible memories you mentioned… is it about Inazuma again?”

Aether’s mouth opens, then closes firmly.

“Xiao, please. Forget about it.” Aether shuts his eyes, breathing shallowly. “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t apologise for something that wasn’t your fault.” Xiao consoles him, placing his hand on Aether’s chest. He gently pats his chest in a soft rhythm, lulling him to sleep.

As Xiao could hear the gentle snore from Aether, he releases his hand and walks out of the room.

“I’m sorry Aether…”

He apologises, his golden irises sharp and bright under the moonlight.

“But I am not so forgiving to those that hurt you.”

He didn’t mention much about Inazuma when he got back to Liyue, but considering that he’s involved with Venti and Rex Lapis, he must’ve… confronted her for the same purpose: Finding his twin sister.

“How could the God of Eternity do this to him…?”

Summoning his Primordial Jade Spear, Xiao charges out of the door, his vision as dark as a tunnel, with hints of red in front of him. Like those battles he had been through during the archon war, as if he was seeing red. The heavy rain drops splashes on his hair and his body, soaking him wet. The air is heavy with the scent of wet earth and freshly fallen rain, mingling with the sharp tang of ozone that lingers in the wake of each lightning strike.

He knew he could be dead the moment he set foot in Inazuma. He knew he would be stricken down by the Raiden Shogun.

Yet, it all didn’t matter to him.

Only the traveller matters to him.

Aether… he does not deserve every bad thing that has happened to him…

“Where are you going, Xiao?” A deep voice calls out to him from behind.

That voice…

#ao3 fanfic #ao3fic #genshin impact #genshin impact fatui #xiao x aether #aether x xiao #aether #genshin aether #xiaother #genshin xiao #xiao #xiaoaether #zhongli #raiden shogun #raiden ei #fanfiction angst #fanfic angst #aether angst #xiao angst

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fortheloveofarchons · 1 month

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Xiao comforts Aether in the Serenitea Pot

C.W. - Fluff and angst - Aether is so done - Aether needs therapy - Xiao being kind - Kiss!

Aether sighs, looking around his own serenitea pot, his feelings mixed with emotions of proudness and tiredness. It’s been a long day for the traveller, and all he’s been doing is decorating and furnishing his little teapot realm.

Aether whips out his furnishing blueprint, which was titled as the, ‘Chorus of Desert and Wood’.

With leaves that resemble the contours of starlights, lush and demure plants with brightly coloured flowers, some purple plants that grow in clusters like a dense bush, these components pair well with the fountain. To Aether, the fountain is made to be exactly like the one that’s in front of the Zubayr Theater in Sumeru. Its mist is able to bring a cool breeze to the audience, including himself, whose face is gently sprinkled with water.

With these components, thus orchestrating a beautiful chorus of flowers, trees, and some wild grass. In front of the fountain, lies a dream-like aura furnishing item that’s called the, ‘Floral Swing’. The suspended chair is supported by gracefully-curved trees, the seat held by vibrant vines twisted into ropes, while the trunks and beams are dotted with clusters of blue and white flowers that exude a pervasive fragrance capable of carrying people off to a floral sea in the clouds.

“I think I did a pretty good job!” He says, admiring his new furnishing set. Thanks to the placements, the grass also growed wonderfully, without any unnecessary weeds growing.

“If only Paimon was here to see this…”

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Paimon is snoring loudly in her little bedroom, sprawling across the bed in a messy tangle of limbs and blankets. One arm hangs off the side of the bed, while the other is tucked awkwardly beneath Paimon’s own body. Paimon’s tousled white hair sticks out in all directions, evidence of a day filled with play and adventure.

“Ehe~ eheheheh~” The emergency food’s face is relaxed in sleep, with a slight smile playing at the corners of Paimon’s mouth, perhaps dreaming of mountains of food or mora.

“More… more food… bring in more food… yummy…”

…Right.

~~~~~~

Settling himself onto the floral swing, he pushes his legs from the ground, gently swaying amidst the blossoming flowers.

“If only Lumine was here…” Aether says it to himself. Surrounded by the vibrant colours of Sumeru’s nature, the immortal traveller is lost in contemplation, the shine in his golden eyes reflecting a depth of loneliness that only eternity could bring.

Each petal and leaves that dance in the breeze whisper tales of fleeting life, contrasting sharply with the immutability of the Fourth Descender’s existence.

As the swing gently rocks back and forth, making a little creaking sound, reality seemed to flicker and fade in his eyes, like an old film reel skipping frames. Travelling and venturing into many worlds, he and his kin watched as the seasons changed, flowers bloomed and withered, people growing old and passing by, and life ebbed and flowed around them. Yet to him and his sister, they remained unchanged, forever separated from mortal existence, both twins burdened with the weight of endless years.

Despite the vibrant surroundings, Aether felt an emptiness in his heart that no amount of furnishing sets and nature splendours could fill. Ever since he and his twin sister were separated, he has longed for companionship, for someone to share in anything he could ever think of.

But he knew that such a connection was impossible no matter what.

“If only there was someone who could see this with me…” Aether says.

The first person that came to his mind was someone with a purple diamond marking on the forehead, and a familiar green tattoo around their right arm.

“Don’t be ridiculous…” Aether gives himself a laugh, adjusting the white scarf on his neck. “There’s no way Xiao could even appear in this teapot realm.”

Under his own little rambling, the golden-haired immortal didn’t hear the gust of wispy black smoke coming from behind him.

“I mean– Xiao is always so busy extinguishing demons, he probably doesn’t even have time to deal with… What does he call them again? Oh! Right!” Aether tries to mimic Xiao’s voice, making his voice a bit more deeper. “ I have no time to deal with your mortal affairs. How absurd of you, I’d rather eat snow than stay in your company– Unless you have a plate of almond tofu, of course. ”

That made the yaksha’s brows furrow tightly, crossing his arms.

“If you awake to a knife at your throat!! If monsters dig their claws into you!!” Aether starts bolting out a song out of nowhere, his voice crackling and bolting with every note. A tuneless melody that’s out of sync. “If death comes knocking at your door!!!”

Xiao glances around the realm at nothing, as though he might see something that would explain this.

“Call out my name!! Da dum da dum!! Adeptus Xiao!! Da dum da dum!!” Aether continues. “I will be here!!! Right when you call–”

Squeeeezeeeee… .

Aether could feel a rough pinch on both of his cheeks, halting whatever song he was singing out loud.

“Eh?”

“Are you done singing?” Xiao asks near Aether’s ear, leaning in close. “Perhaps this would be enough to shut you up. By the way, why exactly did you call me?”

“Oh, Xiao!” Aether lets out an awkward laugh, his cheeks turning to a light tint of red due to the squeeze. “I… Uh… I missed you?”

“Hmm? Why would you miss me? I” Xiao gives a confused hum in response and lets go of Aether’s cheeks. “I mean– Why would you miss me , of all the people you’ve met?”

Aether’s cheeks are now flushed as pink as a rainbow rose...

Full version down below!!!

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