#he still calls out to his friends (you can hear him calling in the liyue mountains- the song is called 'bird call from afar') | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hiraya-rawr · 1 year

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looking for your favorites 3 (sagau)

synopsis !! they can't possibly be your favorite character. . . right?

characters !! wanderer, scaramouche, chongyun, abyss prince aether, razor

note !! EVERYTHING WAS WRITTEN IN MY FREETIME bit by bit, hence why it sometimes sounds a little off i guess? i tried to fix it as much as i could ++ I'm honestly not sure if I can continue writing for the og sagau concept, I keep twisting it into something else eeh- heheheh

contains !! gn reader, mild religious themes, honestly the sagau concept is a little everywhere in this one, i couldnt seem to settle on one type, spoilers on sumeru's archon quest, scaramouche/wanderer spoilers

• • •

A Genshin Player typically has a variety of characters to choose from. Such options can range from free-to-play characters to limited five stars. Regardless of how much one invested in the game, they're bound to have at least a handful of options.

This is what all characters are aware of— that they are options among hundreds to thousands of vision holders across Teyvat, with every character being special and enticing in their own way.

There's no way they could be the favorite.

Right?

[x] WANDERER

He doesn't quite know who he is.

He doesn't understand what his purpose is either.

He just wanders, lost, nation to nation in hopes of maybe discovering a sense of fulfillment.

And with all the wandering he's done, he -of course- has heard about you. A special entity to this world. A small part of him wonders if you'd know the answers to his questions (or perhaps, you could make use of him? If he could be useful to someone like you, then surely he would feel fulfilled?).

Despite his quiet hopes, he wasn't in any rush to find you. Nor did he hope for you to actually make use of him. He just continued wandering, from the mountains of Liyue to the forests of Sumeru— all the way to where he is now. The barren desert, with nothing but sand for miles and miles to see (and perhaps that rather intimidating, flipped pyramid at a distance).

Needless to say, he wasn't expecting you of all people to follow his tracks out into the desert.

At first you were just a spech amongst the sands, then you became clearer with your approach, showing more and more the familiar features he once saw in passing amongst statues or paintings.

When you were finally within hearing distance, you raised a hand as if to call out his name, hesitating for a moment before deciding what to say—

"Wanderer!"

He tilts his head, pausing to face you as you walk closer. The sand around you stills, as if no longer fighting against every footstep you take, and instead assisting you to come closer.

"You are. . . the one this world was created for, right?" He asks unsure as soon as you were close enough

"I suppose I am?" You reply with a laugh, and he finds that he quite likes your laugh. "I tried looking for you, I'm glad I caught up before you got too deep into the desert."

"You tried looking for me. . ? Why?"

"Because how could I visit Teyvat without meeting you?" You smile softly. He looks away, it doesn't make sense.

"Meeting me, huh. . . then may I ask for a favor?"

"Anything you want."

His eyes catches yours -sunlight hitting them just right- and without missing a beat, "Can I be of use to you? Can you give me purpose?"

You freeze, hands to your side as you stare back at him. In truth, you were expecting something like this, but now? So soon on your first meeting? He looks back seriously.

"Sca– Wanderer," You begin, "You're doing this. . . to find out who you are, right?"

He nods. You sigh.

"Well. . . I know a friend back in the city who can help you. They're a traveler as well. In fact, you can say they're a friend of yours!"

"A friend of mine. . ?"

"Trust me. You'll love them. And shall we go back?"

Go back? He wonders. There's miles and miles of sand around you.

"It would be nightfall soon. I don't think we'd be able to make it back today. I'm sorry."

You turn to him, lips in a wide smile. There's something wrapped between your fingers as you hold it out for him to catch. He opens his palm, it settles down slowly— it's. . . an anemo vision. Glowing brightly.

"Why walk when we can fly?" You grin.

bonus :

"Don't you feel hot at all?" You whine, shielding your eyes from the glare of sunlight.

"I have a hat."

"I see. . . "

[x] SCARAMOUCHE

* It's conflicting, really. Scaramouche despises gods— their invisible influence taunting him like he was a defective product, like he should be ashamed to ever think he could stand on their level.

* You were... an oddity in his feelings towards such powerful beings. The world was made for you, catered to you, and people naturally adored you (just like how they adored the traveler you've shown your favor to).

* So when you, the being which his very world was created for your entertainment, landed in Teyvat, as human as any human could be— he didn't know what to expect.

* He didn't care. There are hundreds for you to meet, and he's not about to wait in line, dilly-dallying for your attention like a common peasant.

* But in the open halls of the Tsaritsa's palace, you approach with the quick pattering of your heels.

* The crowd of Fatui workers naturally part as soon as they noticed your approach. It's odd enough to hear that the player begged to go to Snezhnaya -land of nothing but barren snow- but to rush to Scaramouche's main headquarters? Unheard of!

* Yet there you were, face to face with a single option out of hundreds (the single option you chose).

"What in Teyvat are you. . ." He trails off, his face scrunched between irritation and shock. He doesn't know what to say, really. Would insulting you incur some sort of divine fury?

"I came looking for you!" You reply.

He thinks you're an idiot. He shouldn't call you that, right? Would it damn him to the abyss or something?

"Why. . ." He tries to form the words, "Why in Teyvat would you–" He pauses, looking around at the small crowd.

With a glare, the Fatui agents scatter away from the hall. It doesn't take much to scare them away like little rats. As he turns back to you, you look back unafraid, if not a little excited.

"Why are you here? Do you pity me, is that it?" He asks with a bite to his voice.

"Yes."

"I– what? So you admit it?" He scoffs, is there a limit to your shamelessness? Is this a trait natural to the gods? "Unbelievable."

"I pity you, everything you went through, but that's not the reason why I'm here! Isn't it obvious?" You say, a wide grin beginning to form, "You're my absolute favorite!"

He freezes. What? Absolutely. . . favorite?

As if understanding his speechlessness, you continue on, "I've been wanting to meet you since the very first event– ahem, first time I saw you!"

"You truly are an odd one." He mumbles under his breath because why him? Why the one who was abandoned and used numerous times? He's merely a puppet without a heart.

An empty vessel.

"And why should I believe you?" He says unconvincingly, arms folded. He notices the little chatter behind the walls, those darn recruits are listening in.

"Why would I be here if you're not my favorite?" You quip back.

He scoffs, "I don't know, but there's certainly something wrong with you in the head. You're not exactly what I expected."

"If you were expecting a certain level of power, then I could still do that. I can give you gifts."

". . . gifts?" He tilts his head.

"Artifacts, weapons, talents— they're all for you since the very beginning anyway!"

Artifacts, weapons. . . power? He thinks. Truly, if you were such an ultimate being, you could provide him anything? As if pondering over it, he suddenly pauses.

Yes, indeed you could give him these things.

But why him?

Because of favorites?

How could he be favored when he was once thrown away.

". . . Can you give me a gnosis?" He says, voice uncharacteristically soft.

"Um. . . we'll work on that. Maybe on the later arcs."

[x] CHONGYUN

* Despite modern Liyue's sovereignty from gods, it's still a nation that values traditions and piety. It's natural that with your arrival, you only deserve the best!

* That included invites from some of the highest ranking nobles and guilds. It's no surprise that Xingqiu, the second son of the largest Commerce Guild, makes an appearance to greet you in the Jade Palace, his brother and parents already done with their turns.

* Xingqiu expected a lot from you, maybe discussions of the arts (or perhaps you're even interested in novels?). What he didn't expect was for you to ask such a random question.

"Oh Xingqiu! You're here! Ah– but where's Chongyun?"

He only pauses for a second. Chongyun may be the son of a longstanding exorcist clan, but they're not much to boast about in terms of influence or wealth. Chongyun is... well, Chongyun. His dear best friend.

"I apologize, I wasn't aware that you'd like to meet him as well. Chongyun should be. . . hmm around the harbor by now, perhaps." He stands straight from his bow, "We were planning on meeting after this, your Holiness, to look for haunted h— I mean, to stroll Wuwang Hill."

You already know what they're up to as you clasp your hands together.

"Excellent! I'll go with you!"

"Wait- what?"

* Oh poor Chongyun, he would be a frantic mess in disbelief. It was hard enough to believe that you suddenly went to Liyue, but to approach him of all people? Did you mistake him for someone else? Are you going to ask for directions? Did he do something wrong?

* The thoughts swirling around his head is enough to destabilize his yang energy as you helplessly reassure him that you're there because you want to meet him as soon as you could.

"Chongyun!" You rush up to him, arms wide in an embrace— the cryo allogene freezes in place, stares with his cat-like eyes in wonder because wait, wait, wait– is the one and only controller of this world approaching him for a hug?

"I- Wait, me?" He stutters, tumbling over his words as you smile. His arms are awkwardly raised, unsure if he should hug you back.

"Yes! I met Xingqiu a while back and was wondering why you weren't with him."

"You- you were looking for me?"

"Of course I have! I've always wanted to meet you in person like this!"

As you squeeze him in your arms, you feel him go limp as his face turns red in heat.

"Oh no! His yang energy!"

[x] ABYSS AETHER

Aether knew he was damned. The minute he resolved to see through everything till the end, despite everyone thinking otherwise, he knew no one would understand why he decided to do this.

Alone, is how he decided to do this. So he sits lonely on a throne in the nave of what seems to be a dark cathedral. The walls depicting menacing murals of an era where everything went wrong. The abyss mages that normally float in worship are no where to be seen, just the way he wanted it.

Until you appeared, the little soft patter of footsteps echoing down his aisle, the heavy doors moving back to reveal your underwhelming entrance. He sees you and he wonders if he expected you to come, to blame him or get angry because how could he stray so far from his oh-so-favored sister, Lumine.

Yet, you walk up to him with a look of what seems to be sorrow.

"Are you here to blame me?" He asks and his voice echoes against cavernous walls.

"Blame you? No. . ." You reply.

"Then do you pity me?"

"Aether, I just want to understand." You confidently say, finally by the foot of his throne. He doesn't feel comfortable looking down on you like this, not you, so he stands to approach your eye level.

"Shouldn't you already understand?" He questions, curious.

"I— don't. . . I don't know everything there is to this world."

Aether frowns. Maybe because he was hoping that you of all people -mortal or god- would understand why he's doing this.

"That isn't my problem. There are bigger things for me to think about." He turns away and just before he could take the first step;

"I don't know everything about this world but if it's you– then I want to understand. I'm sure you have your reasons. I trust you more than anything."

He pauses, face in wonder, because how could you trust someone so blindly?

With an exhale and a decision made, he turns to you, "Then follow me. If you want to understand why, then stay with me."

"Okay."

[x] RAZOR

It was a classic welcome— arriving in Mondstadt, touring around the city, greeting the characters you've always wanted to meet. Despite their initial formalities and decorum, you've managed to tone down the professionalism and started to treat each other as friends.

That didn't mean they weren't very open to the idea of you meeting the less. . . civil of the bunch.

"I'd like to visit Wolvendom." You tell the small group. It's another day in the city, enjoying drinks by the taverns under the sun. Lucky for you, the Cavalry Captain and the Outrider have their time off to enjoy with you.

"Oh? Is there a reason why?" Kaeya leans back, head tilted.

"To be honest. . . I wanted to visit Razor. I'm sure you know him!"

Truth be told, you just wanted to meet a certain good wolf cub hidden in the woods. While everyone has went out of their way to meet you, Razor kept to himself in Wolvendom. Perhaps he was too intimidated by the crowds pouring into Mondstadt, or maybe he just wasn't familiar about you, but Razor was nowhere to be seen since your arrival.

". . . Razor?" Kaeya says hesitantly, "Hmm while I have no problem with you going to Wolvendom to meet him, there is another issue. . ."

"What issue?"

"The knights decided not to let you meet Razor," Amber quips in, "I mean– It's not that there's anything bad about him, it's just that he hasn't learned his manners yet. We thought it might be disrespectful if he met you so soon."

"Disrespectful?" You voice out in shock.

"Of course we know that you're not strict about that now! But I guess we never clarified the situation with Razor. . "

You huff, standing up tall with new resolve, "That's it! We're going out to find Razor and give him the biggest hug ever!"

"We are?" They echo back in unison.

"Yes we are!" You hook both your arms around theirs, dragging them out the gates of Mondstadt.

ko-fi support || general m.list

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canonical-transformation · 22 days

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(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

Your name is Shenhe. You are a normal human being.

It is late afternoon. Today's date is unimportant. In two and a half hours your friend Yun Jin will be coming over for dinner.

To make your “signature” noodle soup you must still acquire Mushrooms and Noodles. You have hunted what you can. Now you must go to a store and exchange money for goods.

Perhaps you were procrastinating on this part. You do not like crowds, after all.

> return to Liyue Harbour

You hear the city before you see it, with the clamour of voices and the clatter of footsteps on cobblestone and the clanking of tools.

Arriving at the public park to the north of the city, you make your way down to the pond at Feiyun Slope.

You glance at the steps outside Bubu Pharmacy. The child from earlier is gone.

There is a spectacled man on the steps. He wears loose flowy robes over a comfortable shirt. He is staring at one step in particular, upon which is a pool of dried pigeon blood.

He is frowning and massaging his temples. In your opinion, he seems dissatisfied.

The snake coiled around his neck whispers something into his ear. He turns his head and, spotting you, beckons you over.

“Miss Shenhe,” he calls out. “May I have a word?”

> walk away very quickly

#untitled shenhe game #genshin impact #polls #genshin fic #13 april 2024

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slickfordain · 1 year

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fandom: Genshin Impact

AU: SAGAU

Can you do one where they thought the reader would be a male but really the reader is a female. And when the reader is isekaid everyone treats her normally and then she meet childe and they fall in love. Then everyone finds out reader is the creator, and how everyone would react when they find out she is dating childe. Mostly the harbingers and the tsaritsa

 Some things might not have gone your way, I’m sorry if it isn’t to your liking

Somewhat Yandere, leads to Childe / Tartaglia / Ajax x reader, female!reader, girly reader

You weren’t really the one to speak during playing a game, but you were always willing to be on a call with your online best friend who you’d consider as your long lost twin. So here you are, trying to level up Keqing and Amber to level 70 in their character sheets.

Unknowingly, the characters are well aware. For both of your best friend’s world and yours. As you can see, SAGAU works for the two of you… With every other many people. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Your best friend chooses someone’s destiny, and so do you, and you both get mistaken as the creators. It’s not false because you and your best friend would technically know “everything”.

But the thing is, the characters cannot hear your voice. They can only feel your presence and aura. So you were anonymous, even your face. Nobody would impersonate you. If someone did, they would pity the said person— while the Archons will send a light threat towards them to stop it and snap out of it, giving them a second chance to willingly change their plans. And it always works, because the imposter never has the divine blood or powers. Realistically I don’t think the characters would blindly believe an imposter anyway, because how are they supposed to believe someone, if the divine is always controlling the traveler? Exactly. The divine hasn’t gone into Teyvat. Not just yet.

And Venti would personally see this as a mock towards the divine, so most of his threats are violent, because he knew how it was to impersonate someone. But it’s different for him. He gets to slip away because he had no choice. The Archons and Celestia knew that, leaving him be and not hunting him down. They’re not that crazy.

People can change for the better, that’s why they don’t kill imposters unless the imposters go too far with it. They learned that because you like bullying some people too, much to their notice whenever they feel your anger and sarcasm— despite not hearing you…. But you can be sweet and gentle as well.

At this point they thought you were a male, because you seem rather strong and brave to go against a boss with such little leveled artifacts… Yet somehow you still won, and now you’re leveling up for the battle with Signora doesn’t know, mind you.

But that’s when things happen, with you teleporting into Teyvat in an accident, not knowing what was going on and what was happening. You just knew, you were totally screwed because you ended up in Teyvat.

And you ended up meeting Childe, being quite startled by him once he had shown up, with his hydro weapon in hand before realizing you were just an innocent bystander.

That’s where it began.

Now, you’re not quite one to trust Childe because uhm……. Yeah. But, if you show him some respect like how Yoimiya did in her voicelines, you might as well give it a try to befriend him. So that’s where it lead to, you being a listener as Childe was questioning where did you come from and why did you wear such… Weirdly unique clothing.

You lied to him. Telling you were originally from Liyue, but then got kidnapped by some crazy hoarders and mixed their clothes together to create your outfit. Childe was surprised, thrilled and told you how much of a genius you were, but you just went by being humble and told him you weren’t. Haha. He didn’t believe that bullshit, because you were an absolute genius… And to think you survived those damn hoarders.

The friendship grew out, that the news about you spread like a wildfire… Though, everyone treated you normally, while the Fatuis had no absolute care about you. They would canonly, for SAGAU of the reader hid their identity (without knowing), could care for absolutely nothing. Not even the wanderer would care for you, unless he has seen how much you’re such a genuine friend.

Yeah. That’s exactly how it ended up into… You see, when you spent your time so much in Liyue being so silent and so polite— nodding and just trying to help people out, it eventually lead every commissions (That didn’t involve fighting) to you. You were now the new “traveler” everyone could rely on.

And everyone just simply adored you, even Ying’er and those people who sold things around Liyue. Yanfei was even going to book in a house for you, pitying about your life and was horrified about how many years you’ve been stuck with a bunch of hoarders. Once she sees them, she will give them a piece of her mind in the name of the law.

This attracted other nations… And the more nations tried communicating with you, the more they realized how much pure bright aura you had spread throughout the entire Teyvat world. And much to say the least, the traveler Lumine was so grateful you existed— because she’s now becoming less tired! You’re helping her out!

Everyone was so extremely fond of you, adoring every bit of your habits and movements, gazing at you like a hawk whenever you slept around. Because you’re lazy, and weak. You’re not strong or badass, but that was quite fine with them because they didn’t expect much. Why would you want to fight anyway? You think fighting is cringe when you do it, and find yourself comfortable doing makeup and being just— cozy.

You stayed in Teyvat, thinking this was just all a sweet shifting possibility, thinking you’ll wake up by the next morning. Wheezing and laughing every-time someone tried flirting with you, but got scolded by another.. And you managed to somehow get the Archons to speak to you first. Without doing anything.

You were a peaceful lazy tired gem, who just happens to be a normal civilian in Teyvat. You just wanted to do makeup in peace.

Childe was in love, not much to your surprises… Having deeper conversations with you inside your bedroom on your bed, having a sleepover under the fairy lights, talking about deep things. It eventually lead you two to open up, for the very first time ever since you two grew to be friends.

You were still nice and kind, not saying much about yourself which made Childe just— frown. He wanted to get to know you more, and urged you to continue on. Might’ve slipped up that he was in love with you, and since you thought that this was still yourself shifting into Teyvat— you approved of his confession.

How did the entire Teyvat react to this? Hah. They didn’t know actually… The wanderer might be suspicious of how close you and Childe were but, he thought you two were just best friends— so he finds every possibility to annoy Childe whenever he hugs your waist and sticks his tongue out at Childe, because you couldn’t see due to the hug. The wanderer saw you as an important friend he could’ve ever caught on with… A friend who saw his importance.

Heizou and Kazuha would even try sending you bouquet of (Favorite flower), telling you you are beautiful everyday. Everyone just… Seemingly saw you as their important best friend. It’s because they worshipped their God who hadn’t been… On for an odd while. They worried, feeling their hearts pounding and throbbing so quickly they felt like the need to burn their skin to melt themselves, and then kill and crush people. Why wasn’t their God back?

Please divine God come back.

You even notice how weird they acted every time they hung out with you, seeing them on their knees in front of a faceless statue… That was portioned like a male body, making you raise an eyebrow. Was this another Archon? An Archon you never knew about?

No… He must be more greater than an Archon… Why would the Archons bow down like this…? Unless, you’ve ended up into one of those weird fan fictions where there’s a divine God…

But luckily it “wasn’t” you~ And it was a male God, so you were fine, right?? You continued dating Childe who completely left the phase of praying to the divine. Oh, no, don’t get him wrong! He appreciates his God and everything…

But…

The way he got so emotionally close to you, made him choose you over the divine. He would kill the divine if it meant to have such a loving calm quiet person like you. That’s how much Childe likes you. You’re not special, but the fuck does he care about that for? You eat, sleep, laze around, and have this weird “artifact” on your hands, but remove it whenever you pamper him with kisses as he gives you the princess treatment. He’s so whipped for you, down bad.

And the afternoon continued on like usual. You were just asleep, seated down, head on the table above your arms while Ayato and Ayaka were simply so happy going to Liyue to know you! You were such a fun person, having dark jokes— Which uh, Cyno quite loved but, other than that you were harmless, just pretty normal which was refreshing for them… And they were always loyal to their divine, no doubt, they’re just squeezing you into the loyalty because… You were just a stunning best friend they could’ve asked for.

With everyone around the table talking and chattering, with Childe sitting so close to you as well with Wanderer, glaring at one another… Xiangling and Thoma accidentally dropped the knife from the tray, hitting your skin that you barely even felt, but woke up because it felt like a bug hitting your skin. Your body slightly flinched, but you didn’t scream or cry, your tired pretty eyes gazing confused at everyone. They looked horrified until…

Something leaked out of your skin, much to your surprise when you noticed there was— not gold— but pink blood running down, trickling slowly to the floor. It was said that gold was the divine’s original blood, but if it was pink, it’s the reincarnation of the divine…

The Archons had wide eyes, their skin going pale before they all stood up with shaky and heavy breaths, their hearts clenching while the entire planet of Teyvat fell into silence.

“… Uhm, you guys oka—”

“Y-You’re the divine?! The divine was a girl?!”

The yelling of Thoma startled the living shit out of you, as you stared at him baffled. You have never seen that man yelling so much before… Before noticing him and Xiangling trembling on their knees, their tears trickling out with absolute fear and regret. Guilt.

“P-Please let us treat you our divine! Barbara!!”

Jean had called out for her sister, who immediately ran towards you but… You just took the knife out?????? As if it didn’t do absolute shit to you?????????1?1?1?1?1?1????

Barbara swore she was about to faint. The true power of the divine was so strong, that not even a knife simply destroyed your mood. But it scared everyone, with Venti crying his eyes out, bawling before he grabs your wounded area and looked like he was going to murder someone.

Everyone was speechless. Childe was speechless. After all this time, he was dating the said God he had gone away from praying… Oh… Oh if you knew that he stopped, he was scared you were going to give him some punishment, an execution. Childe wouldn’t blame you, he would never.

“Guys… I’m just tired… Also this is just a scratch real- oh, now I heal—”

You somehow activated your regeneration ability, fascinating most who has seen it with their own eyes by now. And to say the least, they weren’t going to be happy by now that you started talking to Childe, by saying….

“Oh, thank you for the napkin darling.”

“Y-Your- I— uhm… Y-You’re welcome hon…! Ahah… I… You’re… Wow…”

Childe wouldn’t… Stop stuttering around you? Darling? Hon?! What was this all about?! The table was trying to process all this information, and before they could even say anything… You had gotten up to leave.

…

Childe is absolutely dying.

Because when it comes to the news spreading to Snezhnaya, the Tsaritsa is angry at Childe. Enraged that he dared to date her “feminine wifey”. The doctor and the fallen Angel will work together once more to get you, as Arlecchino and Pantalone struck a deal with one another with a handshake.

They will get you. They didn’t care before and they were blind by then, so now, let them take full care of you.

Do you still think this is yourself shifting into Teyvat, [Name]?

💉 I will test my gorey-writing skills next time

#various x reader #various #yandere x reader #yandere sagau genshin impact #sagau brainrot #sagau cult au #sagau x reader #genshin impact sagau

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xxstealla · 8 months

Text

Traitor

scaramouche x reader angst

In which Scaramouche prefers Haypasia's presence more than yours.

angst, cheating, no comfort

You have been wandering with Scaramouche ever since his second betrayal. Being by his side as his lover, never leaving his side, you promised after all.

So why is it that he built up his walls again? Why is it that he's so cold to you lately?

He has fatui duties, you know that. However, he could at least spare some time for his beloved, right?

"Hey scara?"

"What?"

"Do you think we can have lunch together tomorrow? Its been so long, and it's our anniversary."

"I'm busy."

"How about at night then?"

"I'm busy."

"Surely you have at least an hour to spare? It's a really special day-"

"I already said that i'm busy. Are you so imcompetent that you can even comprehend what 'busy' means?"

Tears threatened to escape your eyes at this point. You don't need to look at him to feel his cold glare.

"Sorry, I uh-"

Words struggled to come out as the tightness in your throat go worse.

"I don't want to deal with you right now. I already have a lot on my plate, and you being so fucking clingy is so annoying."

And with that, he left you alone in the once warm and fuzzy house you both called 'home'.

You decided to hang out with your friends to keep your mind off the eariler events.

All was well, you finished a delicious dinner with them, and while leaving one of your friends tripped and fell facefirst into the concrete floor.

But as soon as you bid goodbye to your friends, you caught a glimpse of indigo hair. Next to a young maiden of green hair. They were leaving a fancy resturant together.

Heh. That's weird.

'I thought he was busy.'

You tried to turn away, but he already met your eyes.

Smirking, he exchange a few words with the young woman. He then tipped her chin up, bought her lips closer to his, and connected them.

The world stilled as your vision blurred, the tightness in your throat returned.

You quickly fled the scene before he could make you see more.

Slamming the door to your 'home' open, it felt so empty. Something felt out of place, you felt out of place.

The image was burned into your mind, you wanted to gag. To hear him say that it wasn't real. To hear him say that you are still his one and only.

It hurts. It hurts so bad. It's as if the house itself was mocking you.

Pictures of the two of you, memories of the sweet moments that took place here, all thrown into your face.

You decided to leave. You packed everything you owned. Eyeing the matching bracelet he got you, you snatched it off and threw it in a bin somewhere, leaving the memories behind along with him.

#genshin #genshin x reader #scaramouche x reader #wanderer x reader #scaramouche #genshin x y/n #scaramouche x y/n #wanderer x y/n #angst #hurt #cheating #UEUEUE #scaramouche x reader angst #genshin angst #genshin impact angst #haypasia

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m1d-45 · 1 year

Note

Okay last little idea and I'll leave you be for a bit

Xiao actually responding to the names the creator gives him. Little Friend, Pretty Bird, ect. No matter how far away you are, if you call those names, he has to stop himself from turning into a bird and flying away at that very moment. Those pet names are as much his name as any other he's kept.

-sibling anon

me when xiao

in his time with you in his adeptal form, xiao has never told you his name.

and yet, he still hears you.

if he’s in the area and the wind brings him the softest call of “you here, little friend?” he morphs in an instant, instinct taking over as he flies to your summons. he ducks through the trees, landing gracefully in your outstretched hand, meeting your wide smile with a chirp.

“there you are,” you mumble, and he ruffles his wings in an approximation of standing straighter. he is here. for you.

he’s commonly perched on your index finger, or your thumb if he’s eating from your palm. you only feed him simple almonds, yet it tastes of a delightful meal, energy coursing through his body. he’s careful not to nick your skin in his eagerness, but nobody could blame his enthusiasm if they knew what he felt.

by sitting in your hand, he is rested. by staying at your side, he is healed. he still upkeeps his duties, ever vigilant, but he’s quicker now, spurred on by something—someone—to return to. his place is at your side, and he hates keeping you waiting.

even when he has to.

xiao crossed his arms over his chest, staring off at liyue’s plains while he waited for the traveller to finish talking with… whoever. he honestly wasn’t paying attention. all he was there for was the lost adeptal artifact that the commissioner had promised he had, and then he would be on his way.

the man said something with a tilt to his tone. the traveller laughed. xiao grit his teeth.

“friend? little buddy? where are you?”

the call pulled at his soul as every other name he held, and he itched to answer.

paimon made a comment, an ooh! tossed somewhere in the middle, and xiao snapped.

“can we wrap it up? this is not a proper use of an adeptus’ time.”

the man swiftly apologized, handing over the totem, and xiao all but snatched it from his hand. a ‘farewell’ may or may not have slipped from him in time for the traveller to hear, he wasn’t sure. all he knew was that one moment he was dropping the totem off at his room at the inn, and the next he was leaping off the balcony, shifting mid-air to fly towards you.

he let out a loud cry when he spotted you, tucking in his wings to dive. you saw him and held out your hand, a motion so familiar that the actions to land were muscle memory.

he flared his wings, slowing his fall, flapping once, twice, before settling on your index finger. your thumb reached up, as it always did, and he leaned into it, repressing a coo at the feeling of it smoothing over his back.

“there you are, my pretty bird. where were you?”

a shiver rolls down his small body at your words, and he hides behind your thumb. you had many names for him—little friend, blue bird, simply blue—but pretty bird?

your pretty bird?

he’s hot in a way he can’t identify, a melting mix of emotions filling his chest. pride, admiration, adoration, even, all blurring into a messy film that covered his mind.

you turned towards your camp, keeping the hand with him perched close to you. “doesn’t matter. you’re here now, pretty bird. i missed you, you know.”

and you missed him?

xiao’s known for a while that the one on the throne wasn’t truly his god, but now he’s wondering if you were. the swell of confusing feelings was proof enough; were you anybody else, mortal or immortal, god or adepti, he’d have surely struck you down for your behavior long ago. cooing over him as if he were a mere household pet, feeding him scraps of crushed fruit, calling him such names as ‘pretty bird’- he’d have morphed back the second he was strong enough, held his blade to your throat and called you insolent and ungrateful. he’d leave you with a scar, and yet here he was, apologizing for the one he did leave in any way he could.

you carefully poured some almonds pieces in your palm, and he shifted to your thumb as you sat. were you anybody else, you would be dead. but your eyes are still open, carefully watching him, and your heart still beats blood. he can feel your pulse through his claws, sometimes, and often finds his own slowing down to match it.

you had an adeptus eating from the palm of your hand, and yet you were none the wiser. you simply propped your head in your free hand, a gentle smile on your face.

“my pretty bird,” you said quietly, and xiao’s eyes closed of their own volition.

yours.

#m1d : [chats]#m1d : [secrets]#sibling anon #bird!xiao shenanigans #< sorry for high jacking your post for this king #to stew anon: i saw your ask regarding bird xiao but the topic makes me uncomfortable. while i agree with your last point everything prior #is off the table. not your fault btw i never gave anything to suggest otherwise #anyway here’s another 800 words abt bird xiao in hopefully ‘good enough’ compensation #hey FUCK tumblr for continuing to delete the last paragraph of my fics #wholeheartedly #GOD fuck this fuck everything lesson learned NEVER DO JACK SHIT IN THE DRAFTS #tumblr is hell and i’m not good enough at navigating to get our #i’m fuckin sobbing- on my hands and knees disoriented and confused

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eepyuii · 4 months

Text

frostbite — pt. 6

pairing ; childe x gender neutral!reader

content ; childhood friends to “rivals” to lovers, slowburn-ish

cw ; fighting and mentions of injuries, but nothing specific tho

notes ; happy holidays, fellow childe enjoyers!! hope you’re all having a wonderful time. this chapter feels close up-y if that makes sense but i promise there’s MUCH more to come >:3

previous | next | masterlist

you see childe as faceted.

he’s childe, he’s tartaglia and he’s ajax- all at once and one at a time. he’s childe, the ruthless maniacal warrior who prioritizes strength and triumph above all else- a weapon of war. he’s tartaglia, the calculating, fake smile wearing, connection-making debt collector- a fatui harbinger. but then, he’s also ajax, a warm, family loving, hug providing and dream protecting big brother- your best friend.

you see all three of those people in him. though… the latter, not so often. he was ajax when he was at home, seeing his family and playing around with teucer, that you know, but you hadn’t seen him in morepesok in more than half a decade. no, the last time you saw him be ajax was when you were fourteen- you called him ajax for the last time when you were fourteen.

ever since then, he’s been childe.

you’ve never made the mistake to call him otherwise, because there was no mistake to be made at all. when you were in zapolyarny palace, he was childe. when you were dining in liyue, he was childe. even when you first sparred and eventually fought in the golden house, he was childe.

so why is it now when you’re faced with an entirely new being, biology indecipherable yet identity indistinguishable, that you call him ajax?

perhaps you’d like to blame it on exhaustion- you’d been fighting incessantly for whoever knows how long, fingers sore from gripping your weapon so tight and legs shaking to merely stand. or perhaps it’s the sheer confusion and inability to truly comprehend the sight before you, there’s no plausible explanation within your grasp as to why he’s even able to transform into that after all. or maybe… maybe you see too many people in him that aren’t ajax anymore.

and you’re desperate to see ajax again.

and the worst part is that you can’t even name the being before you, you can’t come up with what or who it could be within childe’s facets. the mental gymnastics happening in your brain render you frozen, limbs heavy and heart erratic- leaving you to fall motionlessly when the creature stabs his weapon into the ground and promptly shatters it. the falling rubble reveals a whole new lower floor of the golden house, one that your downturned gaze can’t help but stare into as you’re falling. as the ground seems to get closer, you shut your eyes and brace for the impact, hoping it’ll at most break just your ankles.

but the impact never arrives.

instead, you feel a tug to your sleeve that breaks the violent pull of gravity you were experiencing- it results in your feet making the gentlest contact with the ground. you assume it was paimon pulling you just in time as she floats down along the two of you, because the second you open your eyes she’s flying over to the traveler to check on her.

the sight takes away any notice of the purple flash that passes through you in the very same moment.

after a brief recovery, the two of square up for a third time as you spot a purple spark from across the settling dust of the debris. it’s centered and tall, telling you the glow is coming directly from the singular eye of the creature.

“you got to the gnosis before me, didn’t you?!” a deep, distorted, growling voice yells out, yet you can still hear a bit of childe’s own voice within it.

“did you simply move faster? or… did you leak the information regarding the golden house to me on purpose? was it you, y/n? have you been working with them from the start?!” he swings at you expertly, electro trailing after the weapon’s path while surges of water shoot up towards you at the same time.

“no matter. hand over the gnosis, now! don’t make me take it from you…”

“w-we didn’t take it!” paimon defends.

“do you hear yourself right now?! none of us could’ve taken it, it’s not here!” you add coarsely.

he doesn’t seem to hear you as he incessantly strikes and blinks away from your attacks, sending his own long ranged lightning strikes instead. both of you take several heavy hits from the creature and after some time, you feel like you’re about to collapse. you don’t have anymore energy to heal yourself, much less the traveler- yet you still push yourself to sustain her as much as you can. you think you’ve reached hallucinatory levels of exhaustion when you see… it.

an impossibly large elemental whale that surges from the ground.

it flies upward with a deafening vocalization and slams back down with waves of water. you back up as far as possible as the whale takes up the entire floor, even if you doubt that what you see is real. that very doubt is soon dispelled when you watch the traveler fall to the ground where the whale just landed, soaked in water. you panic and rush to aid her but before you even get to the traveler’s side, the creature’s large blade comes down right in front of you- it was so close that were you even an inch forward, it would’ve sliced your face clean off. the traveler gestures for you not worry about her as she get struggles to stand up and eyes the creature, who’s currently preparing a charging surge of electro and hydro, while you’re cornered.

the seconds before he strikes seem to slow down while your heart pumps inhumanely fast- your mind scatters for what to do until you look down took your feet, noticing the way the excess water ripples with your steps. your hand twitches with cryo energy and a wall of ice shoots up the next moment, extending all the way to where the traveler is still getting up. the unexpected defense catches the creature off-guard and he staggers for a moment, giving you the chance to sprint all the way out and behind him, where his starry cape floats endlessly into nothingness. you almost land your sneak attack when he suddenly seems to sense your presence and turns around just in time to retaliate.

“all you do is run!” he growls.

when he slashes his electro-charged weapon this time, you manage to catch it with the pole of your own spear, holding it away from you with all the might you’re still able to muster. movement from your peripheral vision catches your attention.

“now!” you yell.

the traveler understands perfectly and jumps to hit the creature from the back while he’s still busy pushing back against your polearm. the strike seems to be final, as the creature drops his weapon from yours and steps back, falling to his knees. another flash of purple light emits from him and suddenly, childe is in the creature’s stead once more.

he heaves weakly, head turned down defeatedly.

“ngh… well then, time to cool off.”

childe is practically spitting out the words with how much force he has to put into getting them out. “it seems the burden of the foul legacy transformation was too great on my body. i lacked the opportunity to think this through…”

foul legacy… well there’s its name. seeing childe in front of you again makes the entirety of the last few minutes seem unreal, like you woke up from a nightmare where childe was… that. like it never happened- though the sheer amount of injuries that all three of you bear prove otherwise.

“…you had no connection to the gnosis, no matter where it’d been taken.”

“that’s what we’ve been trying to tell you! we didn’t take it!” paimon urges, hands on her hips.

childe struggles to get to his feet, as if his limbs have turned to lead, once he finally gets to it, he’s still panting coarsely.

“this battle has already left me satisfied. anyone who strives as i do to grow stronger shall be called a friend, even if our friendship can only be shown in battle against one another.” with the next sentence, childe eyes you momentarily, when you try to catch his gaze back, it’s already gone- as if he’s too ashamed to actually meet your eyes in return.

“pretty sure that’s not the normal way to make friends.”

you snort. “you’re still expecting anything normal after all this?”

“unfortunately, i mus bring this amiable conversation to an end. my quest still beckons. given that the gnosis wasn’t taken by anyone, we must look to the beginning- it was never in the exuvia to begin with. in fact, it might be that the exuvia was just a diversion of sorts.”

“hm… i wonder who called that way beforehand.”

“what? so you mean that…” paimon trails off and the traveler finishes.

“…rex lapis is alive?”

you nod. “it would appear so.”

“it seems that the guardian deity of the capital of commerce is also well-versed in little maneuvers beyond the boundaries of contracts. as such, we must now look to our backup plan.”

your heart sinks.

with all the commotion, you’d nearly forgotten what you went to the golden house for to begin with. to deter childe from summoning osial. suddenly, all the tension and uneasiness from the fight creeps back into your spine and the traveler notices instantly, visibly becoming concerned herself.

“childe…” you warn.

paimon, on the other hand, remains clueless. “backup plan?”

“i had hoped it would never come to this… for the weak to be swept away in the process. the truth is, the world belongs to those who pursue strength- i seldom willingly involve myself with the weak. unfortunately, we cannot be picky about our methods as fatui harbingers, children must all learn to eat their vegetables sometimes.”

his choice of words and childish expression seems to only pour more salt into the wound- famously something you heard his mother nag him about when you were younger, which in turn you’d hear him complain about to you in private. seems like he’s more than learned to eat his vegetables and only the gods may know how much you wish he didn’t.

“so what’re you planning to do?”

“i will awaken the god that lies dormant beneath guyun stone forest.”

“a god?!” paimon exclaims.

you sigh, shamefully averting your gaze to the ground. “osial, overlord of the vortex… he was defeated by rex lapis in the archon war. he’s remained pinned beneath the geo archon’s spears in guyun stone forest ever since.”

“if such an ancient god were to be unleashed upon liyue harbor, defenseless without the protection of its deity…”

your fists are shut so tightly that your nails start digging into your palms.

“he means to draw out rex lapis with a threat to his people.”

childe nods smugly. “do you truly think the cunning rex lapis would just stand aloof and watch the ensuing destruction?”

paimon’s gaze scatters around nervously. “but… the archon war ended two thousand years ago! how could an ancient god appear in a world now overseen by the seven?”

“simple. i’ve already prepared the means to awaken it.”

an amber aura suddenly surrounds childe and within another flash, sigils of permission start orbiting him.

“hey! those are sigils of permission!”

“the fatui have been researching them and… well- duplicating them.” you might as well assist in the exposition of the plan, no point in standing helplessly aside while childe prepares to drown an entire city. any chance of stopping him forcibly was also out the window, on account of how physically worn you were- standing on your shaking legs at all was already a challenge.

soon enough, thunders can be heard outside the golden house- it’s already done. you only don’t feel completely and utterly hopeless at how the next moments might turn out because, after seeing the traveler’s abilities in action, a sliver of faith festers in your chest. now it’s up to her and the adepti to deliver.

“hahaha! let’s see… will the nation that lost its deity be swallowed up by an ancient malice once more? if you wish to drown together with the people of liyue, you’re free to stay and enjoy the show!”

as childe laughs evilly, he’s swallowed by a vortex of water that floats up into the ceiling of the house and disappears without a trace and the three of you that remain rush out to catch up to him. unsurprisingly, there’s no clue as to where he might’ve gone and as the traveler and paimon prepare to head to the harbor and face again straight osial, they stop to look at you expectantly. you tell them that as much as you’d like to aid in the fight, you should go look for childe.

—

“heh… here to finish the job while i’m still weak?”

for someone so crafty, childe is not exactly hard to find. in fact, he’s in the first place you even think of looking- the mountaintop where you first sparred, sat against the trunk of one of the outer ginkgo trees in the area. his position displays a perfect view of the catastrophe you caused, the jade chamber floating before the seas where osial emerges from. childe doesn’t even turn to look over his shoulder when you arrive silently but he knows it’s you, almost as if he was waiting for you to show up.

“depends on how this conversation goes, really- and trust me when i say we have plenty to talk about.”

the harbinger remains silent, only turning his head to watch you sit neatly beside him against the next tree over and waiting for you to keep going.

“first of all… what the fuck was that in the golden house?”

he laughs, boyishly this time.

“a lot happened back there so that’s not very specific, but i’ll assume you’re referring to foul legacy. i guess i do owe you this explanation.” childe averts his gaze and sighs deeply, like he’s preparing to admit something difficult. the very start of his sentence justifies that.

“when i disappeared that day, i… fell. not like tripping on the ground or anything, i literally fell through the earth.”

you feel your entire being sink at the mention of that day. as painful as it is, you recall the exact moment he’s talking about- the very second the disappeared from your sight in the snow, at least now there’s some clarity as to what happened. unfortunately, that clarity doesn’t make anything any more comprehensible.

your eyebrows furrow in confusion. “w-what?”

“even after all these years, i myself don’t exactly know what happened. i just remember lying there in the snow, the wolves getting closer and closer and then- suddenly, a crevice opens and i fall straight through the ground. and i end up in the abyss.”

the abyss… you haven’t heard much about the abyss. it’s never come up as something of relevance or even interest to you. it’s always felt like such a distant topic to you, like i’d never truly be important enough for you to involve yourself in- turns out you’ve been sitting right next to it. snapping yourself from your brief thoughts, you turn to see childe with a tense expression, as though recalling is physically taxing to him.

“childe… you don’t need to tell me this if you’re-“

“ajax.”

“what?”

“call me ajax, please. i heard you say it back there and it’s been so long since you’ve called me that.” he asks, almost breathlessly.

so he did hear you before. dammit. the desperation for the name present in his voice sends you into reminiscence- about your time as children- how happy you were, how free you were, how careless you were. it seemed just like yesterday you were still fourteen and laughing with ajax as you played in his childhood bedroom. how did it all end up like this? with the two of you sitting in a mountaintop- pathetic, injured and tired as you watch an entire fucking catastrophe happen to a nation from far away.

ajax goes on to tell you about his time in the abyss, where he met a woman named skirk, where he was taught all he knows about combat, including but not limited to the foul legacy form, and where he became the killing machine that he is.

“then… can i ask- the day you came back,” you start off and the memory already brings stinging tears to your eyes. the scar on your neck, the one you still have from ajax’s sword, seems to start burning as well.

“why-… why did you react like that? was it the shock from all you went through?”

ajax’s expression turns to that of a kicked puppy- well in this case, he would be the one to kick the puppy and feel endlessly guilty about it. he eyes your neck and spots the small slit of scarred tissue, flinching at his own doing.

“i-i would say so, yes. if i’m being entirely honest, i don’t even remember that day very well. i guess i was still in a state or fight or flight… well, heh, in my case only fight.” he chuckles sheepishly and you return it.

“i’m… i’m really sorry for hurting you, y/n. i know i’m not exactly in the place to say that after fighting you twice in a day but- i promise i never intended to back then.”

you nod in understanding, you’re too spent to even try to be mad at him right now. looking back towards the fight, you watch osial take a heavy hit from the defenders of liyue just in time. at this point you’re not even worried that they might not win.

“i’m tired of fighting, ajax. as annoying as you can be sometimes and in need of a bicker, i’m tired of being… on edge whenever we talk. we’re clearly having a nice talk right now so, tell you what- what about a truce? let’s not make each other’s lives harder than they already are.”

ajax seems to physically light up at your proposition, like it’s all he’s ever wanted. he nods fervently and flashes a giddy smile that infects your own face subconsciously. you reach into one of your pockets with an idea, pulling out a small object that you present to him on an open palm.

“here. a symbol of our truce.”

you offer him one of the origami stars you made before, it’s not like you have any use for the hundreds of them that you made. ajax takes it into his own hands with the gentlest of holds.

“since when do you know how to make these?”

“since earlier today. i was astronomically bored waiting for the millelith to show up.”

ajax snorts out a laugh, then a second passes by and he bursts into full hearty laughter and for the third time, you can’t help but to join in on him.

“wait! does this mean we can still spar every once in awhile?”

“don’t push it, harbinger.”

taglist ; @kentply @osaemu @rain-and-a-nice-nap

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the-travelling-witch · 1 year

Text

𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐑

summary: in the quiet nights of liyue, you may hear it; a lonely song echoing in jueyun karst...

pairing: xiao x gn! reader

warnings: angst/ comfort, survivor’s guilt, allusion to self-sacrifice, taking place after the perilous trail quest

The air was silent as the world stood still, no animal cry to be heard, no grass blade to be moved. As always, the mountains of Jueyun Karst was the ethereal depiction of grace and tranquillity. Yet, in the night’s peace, a hauntingly beautiful melody hung like mist between the clouds of Qingyun Peak and filled the air with sorrow and mourning. Despite mortals avoiding the mountain passage, some have borne witness to this song, spinning tales and myths recounting the story of a lonely spirit wandering Liyue in search of… Well, people weren’t quite sure.

It wasn’t the first time the young yaksha sat atop one of the Karst’s many floating islands, his back against cold stone, amber eyes shutting out the present. Perhaps it was the closest he would ever get to a moment of rest, lamenting his friends’ passing so many centuries ago.

Lately, his tune had taken on an even more sombre tone, fresh emotion bleeding into his cries. Xiao despised himself for his moment of weakness, whether it was being helpless when his fellow yaksha suffered or coming here instead of abiding by his duty.

Truthfully, it was no longer only because of his contract with Rex Lapis he vowed to keep the nation safe. No, despite his best efforts to strictly separate mortals and adepti, someone had worked their way into his heart; someone who was good and whose smile Xiao wanted to preserve forever. Someone who didn’t deserve to be tainted by his karmic debt but who he couldn’t pull away from now that he had embraced them.

But it wasn’t only the guilt of endangering the person he loved which weighed on his mind. After a new light had been cast on an old mystery, Xiao had inevitably been forced to face scars which ran deeper than he’d ever like to admit. And with that confrontation came the remorse he so desperately tried to push further down every day he walked the mortal plane.

From the first time he had picked up a spear, Xiao had been a weapon, a lethal pawn pushed around on someone’s chess board. Fortunately, he was given the opportunity to atone for his previous sins with his duty as a yaksha, his fellow kin by his side.

They were the ones who had always longed for a mortal life, the ones who had believed they’d one day all be accepted into a society not meant for them. Yet, he was the only one who had received an invitation to mundane life… The only one who didn’t deserve it.

Back in the chasm, he should have—

Then, he heard it- the slowly approaching footsteps, the rustling grass, the animated breathing, he heard it all. But it was only the familiar touch on his shoulder, paired with the call of his name, which caught up to him and woke him from his sorrowful dream.

“Here you are,” your familiar voice said. As if the sun had started to rise in the dead of night, an inner warmth soon filled him when you took a seat next to him, leaning against his shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind me being here but I was just really worried.”

“Worried? What for?” Amber eyes focused entirely on you before scouring the area. “Is someone threatening you? Are you being followed?”

“No, silly,” you soothed, placing a hand on his, which had instinctively wrapped around the jade spear by his side, “I’m worried about you, of course. You seem more troubled lately and I don’t know how I can help or if I can help at all. I just want to be here for you.”

You could tell Xiao was searching for something in your eyes before he broke your gaze. Many times you had shared your troubles with him and pride had filled his chest at the trust you put in him. Never once had he even considered the thought of ridiculing your struggle, no matter how major or minuscule it might have been to him. So perhaps, he too could confide in the person before him?

It might have been the calming sway of the qingxin flowers surrounding you, the approaching morning sun or the genuine love he saw in your eyes but, on top of those mountains, Xiao recounted as much as he could, shared as many memories as his brain provided him with. And although he laid them out for you to see, the yaksha felt less empty than the whole time he kept them all inside.

“I’m the only one who didn’t lose their life,” Xiao shakily breathed, voice quiet and meek. “I’m the only one who didn’t have to suffer.”

“Oh but you suffered greatly, can’t you see? Every day, you fight this feeling and endure this pain. And you lost so, so much,” you said, a warm hand sheltering his heart. “You lost your friends, your family, who you loved and cared for. What greater loss could there possibly be?

“I can’t promise that things will be okay because I frankly don’t know if they will be. But I’d like to believe so. We can’t go back to the past, we can’t undo what we’ve done and, even more so, we can’t undo the things we didn’t have any control over in the first place. So, sometimes, all you can do is take a deep breath and start again.” Trying to collect your thoughts, you lifted your head from his shoulder. “What I’m trying to say is, it’s okay to accept joy and happiness without drowning them in guilt. Everyone deserves to be happy, that includes you.”

“Do you really think that is possible?” Xiao hesitantly reached out to intertwine your fingers, emboldened by the way you reciprocated his motion. “For someone like me?”

“Yes, I do, truly. If it makes you feel any better, I’m very grateful you’re still here. And sure, I could feel guilty about enjoying your company when I know of the burden you bear. But there are moments in life where you have to be selfish,” you whispered before placing a soft kiss to his forehead, where a beautiful purple mark sat. Cupping his face, you took in his watery golden eyes and gave him an understanding smile.

“So I selfishly chose to love you.”

tag list: @mccnstruck @teyvattales @silentmoths @ainescribe @meimeimeirin @dustofthedailylife @nsojbbkkm

send in an ask to be added or removed ♡

#holly's potions #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact angst #genshin impact comfort #genshin x reader #genshin angst #genshin comfort #xiao x reader #xiao angst #xiao comfort #xiao genshin impact

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k0mfort · 6 months

Note

“What part of ‘I want you, and only you’ do you not understand?” with kaeya (genshin) omg ty 🫶

pairing: kaeya alberich (genshin impact) x reader (gender-neutral pronouns)

type: one-shot

prompt: “What part of ‘I want you, and only you’ do you not understand?”

word count: 1,228

author's note: i hope u enjoy anon mwah ❤️

( masterlist │ ask/request │ prev post )

You pass through Mondstadt every few moons. The caravans of people you bring with you have somehow created a bond with the Wind City. This is the one place you all consider home—Teyvat is large, and you have seen places more beautiful than whatever the mind can conjure, but nothing is more beautiful than the singing dandelions dancing around the front gate of the city walls.

You entertain the thought of settling down. You have, countless times. You thought of starting a restaurant down in Liyue—or trying to somehow attain Inazuma citizenship despite the vision hanging loosely on your neck. But the perilous ways call out to you at night, and every time you begin daydreaming of setting your life down, it pulls you back in a whirlwind.

And no matter what the Cavalry Captain says to you tonight, nothing will change the fact that you belong to the road more than you even belong to yourself.

It is your first day back after months of not stepping into Mondstadt. The people have not changed—the wine stays good. A small party gathers at Angel’s Share, and you’ve somehow left the crowd and followed Kaeya up the second floor.

Kaeya raises the glass of wine to his lips—at this point, the alcohol no longer does a thing to his system. He’ll down however many glasses that are given to him, and he will probably at some point vomit them when it’s too much for his liver to handle. But getting drunk? The concept seems foreign to Kaeya.

He rests his back on the balcony and shakes the glass in his hand to watch the red liquid swirl in his glass.

The taste? Kaeya does not particularly enjoy red wine. Why does he keep coming back to it? It’s strange.

He glances at you. His confession didn’t seem to faze you—like you have been expecting it. Or you are used to it. Kaeya assumes that a mixture of both would be the reason for your ease. He doesn't hide his affection, after all. He quickly recalls all the times he has asked you to join him for a drink or lunch; all the time he scoots his chair closer to you when you would bring your friends in the tavern. All the sleepless nights in his chamber, too, must be quite the indicator for you of his attachment.

Kaeya finds falling in love to be quite easy and falling out of love quite the opposite, especially when it comes to you.

He turns and sets the glass on the balcony. “You’re acting like you didn’t hear me.”

His retort sends a wave of laughter out your mouth, which in turn sends chills down his spine.

“I am not lover material, Captain,” you smile, swaying your body. “Teyvat is as big as you can see, and more. You’ll find whatever woman or man you actually want beyond Mondstadt’s borders.”

“But you’re the only one I want.”

“No,” you insist, as though you know better. “I am the only thing you know. Staying in one city does that to you, you see.”

“That’s where you are wrong,” Kaeya chuckles, resting his elbow on the balcony and his chin on his hand. “Do you not trust me?”

“Oh,” you laugh, shaking your head and waving your hands. “You put me in quite the spot… How do I not trust the most trustworthy man in Mondstadt?”

He scrunches his nose, the edge of his lips tugging upwards. “Oh, dear. I didn’t come here to be mocked.”

“I am not mocking you. I would never…” You let your eyes wander around for a moment, grinning softly at him. “Well, not tonight, at least.”

“How do you expect me to not fall for a smile like that?” He asks, playfully looking away, though still catching the way your gaze shifts away, your hand going to rub the skin of your neck rather brutally. “You still don’t believe me.”

You sigh. “I told you. I am not someone you just make a lover. There are so many better choices—the pretty girl by the fountain this morning. Or the Liyue man staying for the month.”

“I don’t want the pretty girl by the fountain, or the Liyue man staying for the month,” he tilts his head. “Is it that hard to understand?”

You bite the inner corner of your lips, not looking at him. Kaeya can see the gears in your head turning—he can hear all the oils squeaking and lever pulling.

“You want the person who you meet… like, I don’t know. Four times a year?”

The tone of your voice makes it seem like he is being ridiculous. But Kaeya has never felt more sure. He is sure of the longing on his chest the same way he is sure of the wine in his blood veins. The alcohol is not speaking as he had pulled any power away from it—the night and his mind has never been more clearer with your glistening eyes and trembling lips.

“That is what you are, yes,” he nods, and watches how your shoulders drop. “You are a person who I see four times a year. It has been like this for so long that I cannot remember the life I had when I wasn’t waiting for you to arrive in town.”

“Captain…” You hesitate. “You’re just going to get hurt.”

“I get hurt every time you leave the city.” Kaeya straightens his posture, leaning his side on the railing now as he faces you. “And yet it hurts less and less the more time you do it. I learned not to take it to heart because I know you’ll always return.”

Kaeya blinks as you turn to look at him.

“Do you get it? You are the one I want—no one else. Just you.”

You touch your neck again, this time braving yourself to look Kaeya in the eyes. “Me, leaving over and over again. You, not knowing when you will see me again. This is not something easy, Kaeya—”

He sucks in a deep breath at the whisper of his name in your voice.

“—and this is hard,” you blink—only then does Kaeya realise that you have been holding back the choking of your words.

“It’s not hard,” he raises his arm out, letting the palm of his hand cup your cheek. The coarse thumb rubs the skin under your eye, careful to not press down too hard. “It’s not hard waiting when getting to love you is the consequence.”

“Dear Lord,” you scoff with a small smile, closing your eyes and melting into his hand. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Kaeya hums, stepping in closer to you. “I’d like to have a taste of it,” he murmurs, leaning to press his nose on your forehead, “if I may.”

You smile, his gaze peering at you greets your sight the moment you reopens your eyes.

“Regret often comes in the form of your most wanted desire.”

He furrows his eyebrow. “Regret and I have known each other for a while. I know that you are the one thing I will not regret,” he moves to place a kiss on your cheek. “Place your bets on me. Trust me like I trust myself.”

You wrap your arms around his neck—hell, you might give it a try.

#requests: anon !#genshin #one-shot #kaeya #kaeya x reader #kaeya x you #genshin x reader #kaeya alberich #kaeya alberich x reader

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wanderingconstellations · 10 months

Text

ETERNAL LOVE UNDER THE OAK TREE

ZHONGLI x GOD!READER

FYI— MAJOR ANGST

(F/F means favorite flowers, E/C means eye color)

————————

Zhongli stood in shock when he saw you wandering around alone— seemingly looking behind you and see...him behind you with a shocked look on his face.

You've been dormant for quite a long time— and yet, you don't know that most of your friends are dead or hasn't been in contact with you for years.

You're Zhongli or Morax's lover, and yet you fell into a deep slumber before the archon war started. Morax, Barbatos, and some of your friends was able to keep you safe from the harms of the war.

You resided away from the eyes of the world, sleeping the centuries and centuries to pass. Every now and then, Zhongli would come and visit you— hoping that you would open your e/c eyes.

Zhongli thought his eyes were deceiving him, so he reached out to you— touching your cheek and feeling the soft skin against his own.

You smiled warmly, and he pull you off into an embrace. He held you tightly, crying quietly while he held your warm body in his arms.

You closed your eyes, reminiscing the feeling of your lover's warmth and comforting scent.

"Morax..I love you.."

You spoke these soft and quiet words to him with a smile that seems a bit bittersweet yet still soft at the same time.

You spoke as if it would be the last time you would both be together, and it was. It was going to be your last time with him.

"M-My love...I genuinely have so much to show you, and now you're back we can—"

"Morax."

You cut him off, gulping down the lump in your throat. You want to make this as memorable as possible, you want to have this last moment before you're gone.

He looked at you with his amber eyes, and knitted brows. He pulled back from the hug just a bit to take a good look at you.

"I don't have much time left...You wouldn't mind continuing without me do you?"

His heart shattered when he heard those words, he was in utter confusion. What do you mean you don't have much time left? He wanted to show you everything about Liyue have spend some time with you...

Only for you to get taken away from him once again.

"W-What do you mean? You awoken and—"

"Listen Morax, I don't have much time left. I wish there was enough words to describe how much you mean to me. I'm sorry it had to be this way. I'm sorry we didn't have time. If only destiny can align the stars together, if only.."

He latched his arms around you once again, tears glistening in his amber eyes. He was holding you even tighter now, inhaling your scent and holding you in his arms.

"Morax..."

You uttered, tears were also welling up in your eyes now. You hugged him back, and you knew this would be the last time he would ever see or even feel you.

Zhongli stayed quiet. This couldn't even describe the pain he felt. He loves your hair, combing and taking care of it felt comforting. He loves your voice when you call out his name or nicknames, hearing it makes him feel warm. He loves your warmth, it makes him feel at home— and the yet he loves it so much. He loves everything about you, and now everything about you is what he's losing now.

You were slowly dissolving into thin air, and Zhongli held you even tighter in his arms. He was muttering under his breath, repeating, "I love you," over and over again.

————————

He sighs when he takes whiff of the scent of (f/f), recalling on how you mentioned on its meaning and how beautiful it was.

He was walking through the field of your favorite flowers— only soon stopping under the oak tree you both used to sit under.

He gave a small smile, reminiscing the times of you and him.

Zhongli soon placed the bouquet of (f/f) under the oak tree where you always used to sit and then sat in the place where he always sits.

...

He stayed quiet, letting the gentle wind past by while leaning back onto the huge oak tree— just imagining your presence and your voice.

You will forever be in his heart, forever at the back of his mind.

PROOFREAD— ❌

WORD COUNT— ❓

#genshin imagines #angst 4ever #angst brainrot #genshin angst #genshin impact angst #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact x you #zhongli angst #zhongli x reader #zhongli x you #genshin impact morax #morax x y/n #morax x reader #angst because it hurts #no comfort #hurt with no comfort #Spotify

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sl-vega · 2 months

Text

✧Sticking to the Script✧-Prologue

⋆｡°✩ Prologue-A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now

"I just don't think we'll work out anymore"

You choked back a sob as you stormed out of the restaurant, those words still ringing in your ears.

"I've been seeing someone else."

You continue to blink back tears as you tried to block those words out.

"You aren't actually surprised-are you?"

Surprised would be an understatement you thought bitterly.

Two years. Two fucking years of being together.

"And for what?" you told yourself as you sobbed, some tears escaping. You didn't even know where you were going, you just wanted to be far, far, away from him.

You pulled out your phone to message Lyney

You put your phone back into your purse. Tears and raindrops trickling down your face.

You leaned against the outer wall of the tea house. The downpour was heavy and you could feel your dress cling to your body from the water. You found some shelter by a tea house, but it didn't make any difference, your feet felt numb in the fancy heels you had put on for your date, and your makeup that your friends had helped you with was all messed up from your tears.

You stared at the busy street, at the many cars rushing by, you prayed that Lyney would show up soon, you just wanted to escape.

This time, you didn't hold back your sobs you let them all out. Your vision was blurry from your tears, your head hung low and the tears fell down to the side walk.

Suddenly you felt the rain stop.

You turned your head to your side and saw a boy around your age holding an umbrella over your head. He was dressed in semi-formal attire. He looked familiar. Where have I seen him before

"Sorry, I just noticed you crying when I walked by." he said as he gave you a gentle smile, still holding the umbrella over your head. You whispered your thanks to him.

"Xingqiu!"

The boy turned around after hearing someone call out to him. He held your wrist and placed the umbrella in your hand. "I think you'll need this more than me." he told you as he turned around.

"I hope that whatever you're going through gets better"

He gave you another smile before running through the rain "I'm coming!" you heard him yell as he ran towards the source of the first voice.

You felt your face flush as he left, it was a brief moment of bliss before you remembered why you were out here in the rain, before you remembered what just happened. Before you remember your boyfriend of two whole years had just confessed to cheating on you.

Archons, I'm pathetic

You thought to yourself, you felt like you were going to start sobbing again. Then, a familiar car pulled up.

"(Y/N)!"

You heard Lyney call your name, he quickly got out of the car. He was holding a red towel and he handed it to you. "What happened? Why isn't Chaoxi with you?" he asked, along with many other questions that you couldn't bother to remember.

Your eyes were still red and puffy from crying.

"He-" you tried to muster out some words but you started sobbing again. Lyney pulled you into a hug, placing the towel around your shoulders, and taking the umbrella you were given earlier.

He led you into the car, opening the door for you. "You don't have to talk about it now." he said as he wiped a tear off your cheek. You nodded, as you stepped into the vehicle, fastening your seatbelt.

As he started the car, he placed his hand yours, he looked you in the eye and said "It'll be okay."

You looked out the window and thought

I hope you're right

additional notes:

-prologue out FINALLY

-ik it's a tad boring but i got to set the scene

-in case y'all didn't pick up on my shameless exposition, let me summarize this chapter for ya:

-chaoxi is y/n's boyfriend and he just confessed to cheating on her (on their 2-year anniversary no less!)

-chaoxi is actually a character in game, he's an npc in liyue that's dating three girls at the same time

-yes xingqiu giving y/n his umbrella is a reference to that one mlb scene

-you can't write a romance story without including smth like that

-lyney supremacy fr fr

-this chapter title is actually a reference to the song "A little fall of rain" from the musical les miserables

-ty to @freyao7 for proofreading this 4 me <3

masterlist

✧Sticking to the Script✧

Pairing: Xingqiu x FEM! Reader

Genre: fake dating, strangers to lovers, slow burn, fluff, angst (?), high school smau, modern smau

⋆｡°✩-Synopsis: Xingqiu just got entered into a special writing contest, the type that's invite only, the theme this year is love, the only problem is that he has zero romantic experience. but he really wants to prove himself as a writer. meanwhile, you just found out that your boyfriend cheated on you, and you need to show him that you're 100% over him, the only problem is that there's no way you can get an actual boyfriend that quickly. clearly, the solution to both of your issues is to fake date each other. it shouldn't be hard for an actor such as yourself, all you need to do is stick to the script.

(OPEN) Taglist: @freyao7, @thatoneswordgirl, @sn1perz, @latay7, @esmetrees, @nmriki0, @help-whatdoimakemyusername, @httpsrenren, @cupid-spams, @aixaingela, @kaitfae, @luvkvni, @danhenglovebot

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milkyst4rs · 1 year

Text

Opposites attract

a Zhongli x GN Reader fic (reader gets called 'pretty'!)

Yummy fluff mmm yes 💯

Not proofread SO IM SORRY 🙏🏽☠️

Zhongli is a very soft-spoken and wise gentleman. Locals will often see him strolling around Liyue Harbour, looking at shops and taking in the scenery. His looks stands out amongst the townsfolk of Liyue, as many men and women almost always do a double take when he passes by.

You are no exception, of course. Given that you are Zhongli's partner, you actually get to be with him instead of just oogle all the time. You are very proud of that fact.

"He is just...ARGGGG!!! He is just so adorable!"

You were at Third-Round Knockout with your two friends Ganyu and Keqing, fawning over your boyfriend Zhongli. You didn't care if people could hear your fangirl chants, they need to know how wonderful that man truly is!

"Yesterday, he brought me a bouquet of roses. I was obviously, like, really happy! So I asked what's the occasion? AND HE SAID THERE WASN'T ONE HE JUST WANTED TO SHOW HE APPRECIATES ME. That is the most romantic thing anyone has done for me..."

As you go on about the sweet gestures Zhongli has done for you, the two girls sitting opposite you giggle and squeal along with you.

"I'm really happy you found someone that truly loves you [name]...you guys are perfect for each other!"

Says Ganyu with Keqing nodding along.

Honestly, you were shocked that Zhongli actually liked you back. He is such a gentle and soft person while you are...well, you're a very energetic and loud person. When you two just started dating and people caught wind of it, some people were gossiping saying that both of you won't last given the difference in personalities.

------------------------------------------------------

After your little lunch date with your two friends, you were back at home. Walking up to your front door you saw a familiar pair of shoes, immediately your eyes lit up. Zhongli is back home early!

You wasted no time opening the door, and there he was in all his glory. Sitting on your sofa reading a book. Hearing the door open, he turned back to look at you.

"Ah, hello darling. How was your afternoon?"

Archons, his voice...

You ran up and plopped yourself beside him on the sofa. Smiling up at him you said,

"It was wonderful! I met Ganyu and Keqing....."

As you rambled on about your day, Zhongli couldn't help but admire your pretty lips.

"-Li? Zhongli? Are you listening?"

Ah, it seems he lost focus staring at you.

"Sorry dear, you look...very pretty today."

He said, ears turning a bright shade of red.

The way you smiled at his little compliment, it added and infinite amount of years to his immortal lifespan.

Without hesitation, his hand gently cupped your cheek and he leaned down for a kiss. You indulged immediately.

"W-what was that for?"

Only this man can turn you into a flustered mess.

"Apologies dear, I'm feeling particularly bold today. Would you like to lay in bed with me?"

It was only 2.30pm in the afternoon but what the heck.

------------------------------------------------------

You got changed into more comfy clothes and are laying your head on Zhongli's chest, you can feel the vibrations coming from it as he talks to you.

"It has almost been a year since we have officially become partners. I have to say, I find myself falling for you more and more each passing day. I have lived for thousands and thousands of years yet you...you manage to make me feel such a warm sensation just by being in your presence."

You look up at him and leave a kiss on his cheek. His face heating up.

"Getting together with you has been the best decision I have ever made in my life. Though some people still think that we are not suited for each other, I feel lik- no, I know we are perfect for one another. Don't you think so too Li?"

"Oh yes, I definitely do love."

He leans down a little to kiss your soft lips, his heart soars when you reciprocate. The two of you bathe in each other's affection, you will never get tired of it.

Pulling away, both of you panting lightly. You squish his cheeks and giggle,

"You, sir, are very cute. Did ya know that hm? I want to put you in my pocket and protect you from allllllll the monsters in the world."

"Oh? Well, I think I'm a bit to big to fit into your pocket. Though I thank you for your concern 🙂"

Ah, Zhongli and his talent for not understanding jokes.

#zhongli x reader #zhongli x y/n #zhongli #genshin fanfic #genshin x reader #genshin fluff #zhongli fluff #ZHONGLI MMMM

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worriedvision · 2 years

Text

Here is the alternative ending for the original Cyno X reader x Tighnari fic! Gender neutral reader, will ass a link to this when I get on my laptop. Zhongli to the rescue!

You work in the mines with your coworkers, but due to not having any friends in Liyue you found you stuck out. You did join them for outings, but you didn't feel like this was your group.

You sat by yourself after some of them left due to family issues, which you understood, and you decide to drink some tea before heading home. When a man asks if the set across from you was occupied, you say no. To your surprise, he doesn't drag the seat to join the nearby group, but he sits with you.

You spend the night hearing his stories of the Chasm after you tell him you worked as a miner, and for once you felt like you belonged. Once he finished his tea, he reaches for his wallet before realising he forgot it.

"Let me." You ask, putting mora on the table. "After those stories, I think you earned it."

You didn't think he would go out of his way to find you when he could, but you were proven wrong when you were shopping. He was there, somehow always able to make time for you, and eventually you grew closer.

You become good friends, and you find yourself beginning to gain confidence. No longer did you think about your exes, you had Zhongli there (even if you weren't dating). You did have feelings for him, but you didn't want to ruin the only friendship you had in Liyue.

When the chasm begins to show signs of collapse when you were working, Zhongli had a bad feeling. He can't help but abandon his work momentarily to run for you. He didn't quite get why at first, but he doesn't second guess his feelings.

He ignores the warning from the guards, legs carrying him to god knows where. It was like his legs had a mind of their own. He comes across a freshly collapsed set of stones, and he breaks through them to see you and the miner that adamantly wanted to keep going. Both of you had passed out at that point, and Zhongli doesn't waste a second. He hoists the both of you up, one on each shoulder before summoning a shield and standing up. He spies a carving on a small rock, and he picks it up before heading out.

Tighnari was standing there, worry written on his face, and Zhongli gives the man the old man he didn't know, deciding to take you along to Bubu Pharmacy.

"Excuse me?" Tighnari calls out, running over. "Drop _ so I can-"

"Oh? You know this person?" Zhongli purrs, a menacing glint in his eyes. "How so?"

"They are my, well my boyfriend's, well out-"

"Lovers?" Zhongli finishes, Tighnari nodding eagerly before he holds his arms out to take you. "No. They aren't yours anymore."

"What do you mean?" Tighnari protests, still trying to grasp you.

"I can empathise with the struggle of letting someone go, but My empathy does not extend past that." Zhongli explains, still walking. He knows fine well that Tighnari was jogging to keep up, but he didn't slow down. "You cannot change the past, move on."

Tighnari opens his mouth to ask if you told Zhongli about the relationship, but Zhongli answers before he starts.

"I didn't need to ask them regarding the break up." Zhongli states. "After they said a non-descriptive reason for leaving - regarding 'people who didn't have time for them' - I figured it all out relatively quickly."

"And who do you think you are, taking our love away from us?" Tighnari asks, expecting Zhongli to be a nobody. After all, how could you top off a well respected forest ranger and the former general Mahamatra?

Tighnari stops walking when Zhongli does, but it's not because of Zhongli stopping. The way Zhonglis eyes seem to glow shook Tighnari.

"I go by many names, Zhongli is only one." Zhongli hums, maintaining uncomfortable eye contact with Tighnari. "Now, if you sign a verbal contract to tell only your other lover of this, I can let you in on a little... Secret."

Tighnari nods nervously, swallowing before consenting.

"I was once the god of contracts. Rex lapis. Or perhaps you would prefer to hear the former Geo archon, Morax." He states matter of factly. "Now, how can a mortal compare to a god, hm?"

Tighnari doesn't move, and Zhongli takes it as his cue to leave.

You wake in Bubu Pharmacy, Zhongli sitting across from you with his arms crossed and lightly dozing. When you move, his head picks up, and he smiles to see you have recovered.

"Good morning." Zhongli greets. "How do you feel?"

You process the question, and you realise you don't feel nearly as bad as you thought you would. You don't think too much of this, saying you feel tired but other than that alright.

"I'm glad to hear that." Zhongli starts, shifting his weight so he was facing you. "I would like to confess some feelings I have been nurturing for you. I enjoy my time with you, but you are different. When you were in danger, I could sense it, and my protective instincts kicked in. I cannot pin when I last felt this."

"I would like to start courting you." He finishes.

You nod, agreeing to this.

When you were told you were not to work, given how you got yourself into that dangerous position, your heart broke. Zhongli comforted you like a good boyfriend, and he pulled out the stone carving he saw. You recognize it and your handiwork, and Zhongli smiles warmly as he suggests you start making stone carvings and sell them for profit.

He acts as a manager of sorts, negotiating good contracts when it didn't involve the usage of Mora, while you kept your hand on the wallet. As your business grows, you feel your relationship with Zhongli solidifies as well.

As you move in with Zhongli when things become very serious, you can't imagine a better life.

#gender neutral reader #genshin impact imagines #zhongli x gender neutral reader #zhongli x reader #tighnari

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mitschki · 1 month

Text

Busy!Neuvillette who is so dedicated to his duties, finds solace in occasional visits, particularly from you. Amidst his struggles with paperwork, y/n’s unexpected presence brings him relief.

Neuvillette was in his office as per usual, tending to the scattered paperwork on his desk. It was his everyday routine, working tirelessly on crucial tasks that required his immediate attention. It was his way of expressing his commitment to the nation of Fontaine. Visitors were a rarity, as he had instructed the melusines not to disturb him during his work hours, making it difficult for outsiders to secure a meeting with him.

Although interruptions were not typically welcome, Neuvillette found a certain relief in the occasional visitors, perhaps a subconscious acknowledgment of his relentless work schedule. Although, he does prefer to finish his work rather than having the task interrupted midway through. Yet, when y/n graced his office with her presence, his perspective shifted entirely.

He found himself relieved to set his duties aside solely to engage in conversation with her, captivated by her tales of travel throughout Tevyat. Despite his centuries of experience and knowledge, he yearned to learn more about her travels around Tevyat; it enlightened the Iudex.

Maybe it was the way you perceived the world that made your experiences a great story to share. He loved your enthusiasm either way, it was rather infatuating.

It was another day for Neuvillette, working on a document that has remained his attention for several days. It irked him, it wasn't the document that had frustrated him greatly, but rather the answer to it that still remain unbeknownst to him. He sighed deeply, he was an experienced and intelligent man. So why can he not finish this efficiently? He looks over to the piles of documents to the side of his table, which needed to be taken care of the next.

He leaned his head back against the chair and closes his eyes, irritated— until he hears the door swing open, footsteps echoing his office. "Monsieur!" The familiar voice called, which rattles an immediate glare from the Iudex with a soft smile displayed on his face. The woman walked in with a graceful large grin on her face, swinging her arms side by side. Her presence immediately relaxed his tension, perhaps he just needed you. He thought to himself.

"Ah, my dearest friend," he gently remarks with a smile, "how may I be of service to you?" He inquires, regarding the woman seated upon his sofa, who appears at ease as she emits a profound sigh. She chuckles at his cordial greeting, casting her gaze towards him.

"Can I not enjoy your company every once in a while?" she joked, settling onto the sofa and placing her bag beside her. Neuvillette straightened his posture, resting his hands on his desk as he regarded her. Beautiful.

Perhaps it was the way her hair cascaded over her face, or how it accentuated her beauty effortlessly. He didn't dwell on the reason; he simply appreciated it.

"How have you been? You look tired," she observed, concern evident in her voice as she surveyed his state. She always seemed to notice, whether it was the papers scattered about or the excessive number of mugs piled next to his documents. It was out of character, especially considering his aversion to coffee.

"Do not trouble yourself with my well-being, I am merely attending to my duties," he replied with a half-smile, his blue eyes glinting beneath half-lidded lids. "I assume your travels were enjoyable?"

"Well, yes," she responded uncertainly, her gaze drifting to her hands. "I had a wonderful time in Liyue. It would be ungrateful of me to say otherwise."

"How so? You have always embraced new experiences with enthusiasm," Neuvillette remarked, noting her nervous fidgeting, "this is unlike you."

"I met someone in Liyue who reminded me of you," she confessed, her voice softening. "His mannerisms, his interests, they were so reminiscent of you. Perhaps I missed you more than I realized, which is why I'm here. I understand it's a foolish reason," she laughs.

A faint blush crept onto Neuvillette's cheeks, a reaction he wasn't accustomed to. He cleared his throat, masking his flustered state behind a composed facade. "No, not at all. Please, continue."

"It’s alright, monsieur, I don't fear your judgment," she reassured, offering a tentative smile.

"Don't misinterpret, Mademoiselle. I hold no judgment toward anything you share," he replied, adjusting his posture. "I, too, share your sentiments."

Y/n blushed at his response, her words stumbling out in nervous stutters. "Oh," she nervously laughed, "Forgive me, I didn't expect the Iudex to reciprocate my feelings."

"I find your presence enlightening, perhaps," Neuvillette softly smiled, "Recently, I have been immersed in several days of paperwork that I find difficult to manage, but your presence here has alleviated that stressful tension," he chuckled.

"The Neuvillette experiencing difficulties? That is difficult to fathom," she joked, her laughter resonating in the office.

"That is correct," he smiled, "It appears I have been toiling tirelessly, to the point of overlooking my responsibilities to the people of Fontaine. Your visit serves as a poignant reminder of that."

#Genshin #Neuvillette #iudex neuvillette #Genshin Impact

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amalee · 2 years

Text

lay in a field of glaze lilies

zhongli x fem!reader

warnings: angst no!comfort, reader is immortal but you are not a god or adepti, mentions of a blade (once) zhongli is referred to as morax, not!proofread, ooc zhongli??

You had always held pride in yourself for befriending the stone cold warrior god Morax. You became a witness of the slaughter he had done to friends turned foes and the backstabbing pain of betrayal that he had endured, the way his eyes always narrowed when talking to a mere mortal and how merciless he was to whoever he deemed was a threat or enemy.

His stone cold persona had never changed when you befriend him, even after spending chilling evenings and sweaty summer afternoons sparing with him, you were still unable to break the shield of companionship between you and him. It wasn’t until a couple of centuries later when you shattered the barrier and become close friends with the ruthless god.

"Are you really leaving Morax?" The chilling evening that accompanied the night sky had made you shiver even after taking a few sips of osmanthus wine you felt cold, your eyes shifted to the taller figure that was sitting a few feet away from you, his longing gaze that was once situated on the clear moon now met yours.

“I’ll be back before you know it.” He voiced with a light huskiness, a bit amused watching as your face creased in concern. “Let me accompany you as well.” It must have been the wine talking, but the regret of your words were starting to kick in. Morax let out a chuckle before downing the last bit of the wine still left in his cup. “It is my duty to fulfill not yours, do not brood over small concerns.” You wanted to deny his words but kept silent, he was right.

“When I become an archon I can create a nation full of those gaze lilies you were talking about.” In attempt to lighten the mood he brought in his unusual humor.

“They’re called glaze lilies!” laughter spilled from your lips and you saw a faint smile on Morax’s face, with your elbows on the table, you placed your face on your palms your fingers pressed up against your cheeks as you leaned in closer to him. “You seem pretty confident that you’ll become an archon.” You tone was sly and teasing almost challenging him.

“Of course I am, after all I am Morax, the most feared prime adepti.” His tone was teasing and laced with arrogance. “Citizens will call me Lord Morax and you Lady y/n.” You laughed at his cockiness, his amber eyes looking at yours once more his voice was softer this time. “And I promise, that once I become one of the seven, there will be a field filled of glaze lilies in Liyue, made just for you.”

Your fingers moved on their own to brush off the few strands of hair that was blocking his eyes and pulled it behind his ear, your touch was so light that he almost didn’t feel it. “Then, will we be able to lay in a field full of glaze lilies, together?” your words were whispered among the cool breeze but he could hear them clearly as if it were whispered right by his ear.

He didn’t say anything for a while, but instead brought his pale cold hands to your warms ones holding them tightly as if he didn’t want to let go creating a sense of comfort to him, then he placed a feathery light kiss to the back of your knuckles when you gave him your kind smile.

He felt a bit.. strange, he was sure that this was not how friends should be acting to one another, but he wasn’t sure why the steady thumping of his heart had sped up at the thought of your words. Clearing his throat he spoke again.

“Before I leave,” he paused locking his soft gaze on you, one you had grown to love over the last centuries spent together, “will you fulfill my last wish tonight by singing me the captivating tune I heard when we had first met?”

And so, the last words to your best companion were the soft tunes of a special song sang only for him.

When morning came you basked in the refreshing scent of mint that was sitting near your pond outside surrounded by the light mist in the air from when it rained last night.

You didn’t realize how incredibly lonely you would become now that Morax was gone, but you kept busy aiding around the villiage and occasionally taking short strolls around the vast city in hopes of keeping your mind off him and the war that was currently happening.

How long did wars last anyway? You decided that it lasted too long when days started turning into weeks and weeks turned into months and still no sign of Morax.

Time was ticking slowly for you and you wished for nothing more then to go back in time and ask him to stay or at least leave with him, but there was nothing left you could do except reminisce your memories of him. The strained feeling of guilt and regret was sinking lower and lower every day he didn’t show up. The pang of fear weighed heavily on your shoulders and you felt yourself become more and more engulfed in the thought that maybe.. he really had died in the war.

There was a pile of unsent letters on your desk that you’d stopped sending upon realizing that the first one you sent was years ago and still, you had not gotten a letter sent back from him. You also stopped keeping track of how long he had been gone for.

It took you a while before you started going on your long walks around the city again, but the feelings of guilt and fear were still clouded in your mind. The pieces that were left behind by him now felt like it no longer belonged here with you, or here in his homeland.

On a early morning you had walked into the city on one of your long strolls when a name you haven’t heard of for years had left the lips of a street vendor.

“Have you heard? One of the seven had made his own nation.” The stall worker was busy giving back mora to the costumer when they replied back.

“Oh yeah, the one led by Lord Morax and Lady Guizhong? What was it called again?”

“Liyue.” The words left your lips like and automatic response and you felt your heart beat quicken at every word that left the vendors mouth. He was alive! Your steps quickened with every stride you took getting closer and closer to the stall worker asking directions to the new nation.

The walk to Liyue was excruciatingly slow but your mind was finally set at ease at the thought of seeing your best companion after so many years. The sun was beginning to set when you finally stepped foot in the land of geo, you had no time to admire the beautiful landscapes due to the sharp blade of a polearm inches away from your neck.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” The boy’s eyes narrowed at you. Your eyes darted to the demonic mask sitting on his waist, the familiar weight of fear had stopped you from moving.

“My name is y/n and i’m from-” For a moment you saw his eyebrows furrow in confusion before going back to his reserved face.

“I didn’t ask you where you’re from, what are you doing here in Liyue?” He pointed his polearm closer to your neck.

“I.. just want to see Morax.” Your throat felt dry and itchy. The closer the sharp metal came to your neck the more quieter you became.

“What is your association with Rex Lapis?” The green haired boy finally removed his polearm from your face his eyes still narrowed at you with suspicion.

“I’m a close friend.” You did not feel any better even after he pulled his spear away from you, you saw his eyebrows crease further with confusion and he didn’t say anything for a while until you broke him away from his thoughts.

“Can you help me reach him?” You were deathly afraid of the stranger but you were equally as desperate to finally see your best friend.

“Rex Lapis is in Qingce village currently celebrating his newly shared nation with Lady Guizhong, I’d advise you visit him another day.”

“Please..” you begged, “I just need to see him once more.” Your words were quiet but the boy was even quieter, before he finally spoke up.

“I will escort you to him myself.” Maybe it was pity that made Xiao decide to help or maybe it was because your name had sounded oddly familiar to him but, his words were short and blunt when he stuck his hand out to you. You looked at him questionably and with slight hesitance moved your hand closer to his but stopped when they were about to touch.

“Who are you?” There was no malice in your tone but there was slight confusion and unease to it.

“Adeptus Xiao.” His voice was gruff but had a nice touch of softness to it. “I serve under Rex Lapis, and keep Liyue safe from any danger.”

“Nice to meet you adeptus-” before you could even finish your sentence he grasped your hand and in the blink of an eye you were now standing in what you assumed was Qingce village, by now the sun was at its peak with orange and pink clouds painting the sky. You turned around to thank the adeptus but he was gone before you could open your mouth you let out a small “thank you” anyway hoping that he would hear it.

You crossed the wooden bridge to the large open field of gardens that was filled with beautifully vibrant orange and yellow flowers. You came to a stop when you had spotted an unfamiliar figure, she was sitting on her knees holding a basket full of what you assumed were flowers.

The blue flower that was hidden amongst the orange flowers had caught your attention, the petals had looked as if it was not sprouted, as if it were closed, shielding whatever it was hiding inside.

You continued to wander in the field— that is until you heard the familiar melody of a song, the special one you sang the night before he left, leave her lips.

Then you saw him, his features had become more handsome and he was much taller than you remembered. He took slow steps to the girl who you figure out is Guizhong. He came to a stop right before her and she had stood up picking out the blue flower which had not changed from earlier even after singing to it, a small frown forming on her face.

“It didn’t work Morax. The glaze lily did not sprout.” The frown on her face only seemed to deepen when he grinned. “I was sure it would have worked perfectly fine, perhaps you should try again my dear.”

You felt your heart tighten at his words, it felt like you’d been stabbed and he was twisting the sword in your wound to add on to the pain.

She was singing your song, to a flower that you came up with, for the same guy you had fallen for.

“I feel as if the ‘gold’ we are supposedly searching for is not here and you are just poking fun at me.” Guizhong’s voice was light hearted but she still held her frown.

He picked up the glaze lily from her hand and set it in her long silky hair cupping her face with the gentle touch of his hand.

“Do not fret, for I have already found it.” he paused for a moment, a fond smile forming on his lips, golden eyes were filled with adoration for the girl standing before him.

“You are the gold that I treasure in my heart, Guizhong.” you watched as the girl only smiled placing a white flower from her basket behind his ear, then a sweet kiss at the corner of his lip. Her lips must have been addicting because he dipped his head down for another chaste kiss.

How much you wished he had said your name and kissed your lips instead.

Morax wrapped his arms around her figure his grip tightening when she moved her gaze to look up at him. “Let’s go pick out more glaze lilies.” he then placed a kiss on her temple, the tight grip was loosened and he had let her roam off in another area, you took that as a sign to leave as well, but—

“Y/n.” his golden orbs flickered your way, he could feel your familiar presence.

Hearing his voice call your name after years of waiting made your heart feel even more heavier then before, it was like someone was hammering nails onto your heart.

His tone was much more mellow now and you gave him a small smile in response.

“Pleasure to see you again Morax.” and he nodded in agreement. It was quiet for a moment before you spoke again, “you have created a beautiful nation.” he smiled at you in return, “I was lucky enough to have some help.” it was your turn to nod at him, then it was quiet again, until you felt the salty drops of tears hit the dirt floor, the silent cries from your lips had broken the tension.

You didn’t know if you were crying from happiness, frustration, or sadness, so many emotions were coursing through your body that it was overwhelming, but nothing could top the over powering feeling of disappointment you’d felt at the moment.

You wanted to yell and shout out all your pent up anger that had been bottled up for the past years at him, but your words were low and faint and came out hoarse.

“I thought you died in war, Morax.” another tight wrenching squeeze from your heart had you catching for a breath, the tears streaming like a waterfall down your face, it was getting harder and harder for you to breathe, “why didn’t you come back?” you could see the way he had moved with discomfort from your question.

“I have..” he paused finding the right words to say, “moved on, dear old friend.” his tone was so light and gentle that you almost believed that he wasn’t the Morax you’ve known at all.

His words made you angry, all the years that you spent in guilt waiting for him to return were dismissed by him because he “moved on.” bullshit.

“So you decided to leave the memories of me and the village behind?” he had felt the anger in your tone but was still as calm as ever.

“Perhaps you should refrain from bringing up the past. I am not who I once was before, it brings me shame reminiscing my earlier days.” His gaze had not changed since you first made eye contact with him, his familiar stare that you once found comfort in had now sent a chill down your spine.

“So, are ashamed of me as well?” the hurt in your voice was evident, the sword of betrayal that he pierced into your heart had struck deeper when he had not uttered a word.

You had never felt so vulnerable in the presence of Morax, it felt as if the two of you were strangers now and it was almost like you had not spent centuries together prior to the war.

“Did the memories that we shared not matter to you?”

The silence was deafening, but you were still waiting for him to say something, anything would have been better than the unbearable quietness surrounding the air. You took his stillness as a yes, you bit your lip as the tears continued to stream down your face, you felt sick.

“Did you even think about coming back after the war?” you locked eyes with his golden orbs and it was clear, that you no longer held any significance toward him, and that you were not worthy enough to be considered a friend anymore.

“But the glaze lilies..” your voice was hushed and your sadness was still evident, “you’re telling me that the glaze lilies were-” his next words were sharp on his tongue. “The glaze lilies were merely a coincidence.” he shut your hopes down just as quickly as he built them.

“There are no coincidences in a world that you’ve created Morax.” your words must have thrown him off because you saw him shift, a small grunt falling from his lips, however he said nothing to dismiss your idea.

“You should leave y/n, and start out a new life here in Liyue.” He was still inviting you to stay as if he didn’t just shatter your heart moments ago.

“Oh.” you had felt so dejected at his words and the realization had sunk deep in your body, you wanted to crumble hearing the words leave his mouth. you felt foolish for thinking that the almighty Morax had actually regarded you as a friend. after a long moment of silence you finally nod slowly at his words. “Then I too, shall move on. Goodbye Morax.”

He felt the sway of the wind get stronger and watched as your hair flowed against the soft breeze in the air, your tear streaked face had now been a permanent memory for him. His hand lifted up in the slightest as if to reach out to you, to pull you back in to him and assure you that you indeed were correct. That he was thinking of you when he created the lilies, but the sounds of wind pushing against the field of flowers that Guizhong was currently picking out, and the sight of your glossy tear filled eyes he dropped his hand.

This was the first time in a while that he felt lost. he knew that what he did was wrong, that he messed up, and ruined the only thing that connected him to his past. But he also knew that he’d only make even more regrets if he reached out after you, he had a beautiful relationship with Guizhong, after all. not you.

Morax was still quiet when you left, he showed no sign of worry or regret and you were beginning to think that your friendship with him was no more than a token of entertainment. At least he had still carried the memory of you, the glaze lilies were a clear confirmation of it no matter how much he had denied it.

With your back faced towards him he watched as you walked further and further away. His brows creased together as a twinge of hurt and regret formed on his delicate features, his heart squeezed tightly in his chest as his golden eyes lingered on your disappearing figure. Finally, after a moment of unbearable silence and the wave of emotions gearing in his chest, he finally turned around and walked back over to Guizhong. He was offered with a gentle comforting smile by her, one that reminded him of you, and he smiled back. The white flower that Guizhong's soft fingers tucked over his ear had now fell on the dirt floor as he leaned over and placed a sweet gentle kiss to her forehead.

Taking his words to heart you had found yourself staying in Liyue, you were much too curious of the vast landscapes to leave, you set yourself in a home outside of Liyue harbor and had turned friends with the mysterious yaksha.

It has been decades or perhaps centuries later since he had last seen you. He was now referred to as Zhongli, a mortal living amongst the crowd of Liyue citizens. Guizhong was now just a memory of the god, and over the many years he had spent alone, he built time to relish in his thoughts and regrets.

His past haunted him, he sees you almost every day strolling around the city with your straw basket in hand buying fruits and vegetables or occasionally street food that you end up giving to the cute dog near the entrance of the gates of Liyue. the dreading feeling of accidentally stumbling into you lingers in his mind often, and he finds himself turning the other way when he sees you from the corner of his amber eyes from a distance, wondering if you’d do the same if you saw him again.

He was a coward, he’s been telling himself that for years- aeons, after he saw you crying all those years ago when the two of you had finally reunited again after a long while. he ruined the only chance of reconnecting with you again and wanted to apologize to you, to tell you his regrets, and mistakes. soon enough he sought out to find you in hopes that you would forgive him for his foolishness.

Maybe it was a stoke of luck or perhaps it was a twist of fate, but he saw you in Qingce village in the gardens standing in front of a glaze lily that has yet to be sprouted, although he was quite a few feet away from you he could still hear the sweet tune of your melody that was whispered in the drift of air as if you were singing it for him.

You were singing to the glaze lily, and it had blossomed in a result of your voice, and your song. It was the first he had witnessed the flower unfold and it was quite miraculous, the plant only seemed to listen to you. Even after many attempts Guizhong was never fortunate enough to see or make the blue lily uncoil.

Zhongli felt delighted at the scene and opened his mouth to leave a pleasant remark taking a few more strides your way, but ultimately his words and body came to a sudden halt watching as another figure, another man, walk closer your way, behind you. His first instinct was to summon his polearm, but when the guy wrapped his arms around your waist from behind and rested his head in the crook your neck he saw your gentle smile and stopped himself.

Perhaps you two were friends? After all a hug wasn’t unfamiliar to both you and him when the two of you were still friends. Zhongli continued to listen as the young male spoke.

“You have an amazing gift you know. You are the only person who is special enough to make a flower spring by singing to it.” You lightly laughed at his words, the idea sounded ridiculous to you, turning your body to face the man’s you hit his chest with the light thud of your head, he smiled as the gentle wind of the cool evening blew your hair out of your face and wrapped his arms around your waist tighter as id you were a precious flower, shielding you from the harsh beam of the orange sun hitting your beautiful features.

“It is just a mere coincidence.” You words were light and a bit empty as if the thought of the lily sprouting from the sound your voice brought an unwanted memory. The guy unraveled from the embrace leaning down to pluck out the pale blue flower from the ground smiling softly as he wrapped it behind you ear.

“I can assure you that, there is no such thing as a coincidence in the land of geo.” your smile seemed to brighten at his words, and he brought his hand down to your fingers his lips pressing a gentle kiss on your knuckles.

Zhongli knit his brows together a bit at the irony, blinking slowly a few times as he watched. the scene playing in front of him was too familiar, and it had a bit of a numbing effect on his heart. those were words he wished he blurted out, to reassure you that he did indeed fulfill his promise to you, but his pride was too big for his own good, and he let you go.

He was moments away from leaving you be until you spoke again, the words were soft and slow on your tongue as you spoke, your eyes were filled with much tenderness and admiration for the man standing in front of you.

“Can we lay in a field full of glaze lilies, together?”

Zhongli felt the thumping of his heart speed up after hearing your familiar words, he was frozen in his spot unmoving, reluctant to leave. those words you spoke were no longer targeted at him and instead to another friend. except, he knew all to well that this was not how friends treat one another, because a friend does not ask to lay in a field full of glaze lilies together. a lover does.

#zhongli x reader #genshin imagines #genshin impact #genshin zhongli #genshin xiao #guizhong #zhongli angst #genshin angst

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slowips · 7 months

Text

need a little time away

childe & reader

childe returns from liyue after 2 years with great news! he is now an expert in what liyue calls feng shui, and he says your house is full of bad luck. so... what's the solution? him, of course. he'll be staying in your house.

# childhood friends, visions do not exist, fatui is not a sus organization but a well respected company, bullet fic, hot proofread, 1.6k words.

✱ this was a draft i had on this blog since the beginning of the year. i didn't have enough energy and interest to reformat or rewrite it for my writing blog, so i'll be posting it here and calling it a day. it's also partially because i forgot the plan for this story, lol. but title was given by (@)isekyaa, which i used for another childe fic.

.　⁺ . 　 ˚　✦　.　　+ ⁺　　 . ✦

childe was a peculiar childhood friend.

you remember him telling you that fishes would sleep upside down with their bellies peeking out of the water's surface. that's a sign that you should not touch them—no matter how hungry—because it was rude to disturb the fishes sleep.

(fish is better fresh anyways, and by fresh he meant caught alive.)

he would tell you that when your hands are so cold that you can't feel them, it's caused by invisible fire in the air. you don't feel heat from the fire because it's invisible.

(since it's still a burn, it means it must be treated asap.)

shy and sweet, even though he shared things that you've learned are not quite right, he was still a joy to be around.

then one day, he went missing.

at first it wasn't alarming. children get lost in the thick forest of snezhnaya all the time. it's part of growing up. helps builds essential skills like having a good sense of direction.

but then he didn't come back home for dinner. his parents frantically called the town for help.

"my poor child," they cried. "lost in the woods with a single coat".

everyone banned together to track the lost child. he wasn’t the type to go wandering around on his own for long.

was he playing alone? was it a kidnap? did you hear any fights among their family? what urged him to run away? do you think the search is worth?

whispers and rumours grew, which dampened efforts but you trudged on in deep snow.

crunch

the gale of an impending snowstorm warns of you danger. it pushes against you as if yelling at your bad decision to press on.

crunch

you promised to find their son. you promised to find childe.

in the center of the snowstorm stands a someone with similar stature to your missing friend.

you returned with a child with blue eyes and messy orange hair, tuffs sticking out in a recognisable fashion.

you couldn’t find childe, the peculiar childhood friend.

whoever you brought back didn’t like it when you reminded him of his misunderstandings.

(“look, childe! the fishes are asleep again!”

“they’re dead. probably because of a parasite. want to catch one and see for ourselves?”

“i think i got burned by fire in the air.”

“it’s a frostbite. it’s fun to see how deep the numbness can go. want to try it with me?”)

news of his new hobby, fighting, would become the talk of the town.

there’s always an edge to his smile, a non-shine in his eyes that make it blend with the harsh environment of winter.

his parents sent him to work for the fatui. you’ve hardly ever seen him since. it was as if they couldn’t bear looking at an imposter.

“you didn’t know i came back?” childe asks at your door.

he has frequent trips overseas, and every time he returns, he’s the talk of the town. they whisper about the months he went missing, cajole at the stories he tells from his adventures overseas, and admire the man he has become.

(good with kids too, the grandmothers coo.)

he’s not wrong to say it is strange you’re surprised he’s back when this isn’t the first he greets you shortly after he returned.

in your defence, your month has been going splendid (NOT)... you’ve been distracted by so many things.

dog died, retrenched, attended a funeral for a distant relative, bumped into a cabinet that broke your family’s heirloom. anything bad imaginable felt like it happened to you.

you would say your house is haunted if snezhnaya citizens believe in ghost.

you aren’t really in the mood to greet a puppy dog smile that never quite seem to land.

before you can explain yourself, a strong wind blows. it extinguishes your flame.

(it’s backup because your heater was sent for repair.)

“you know what? we should talk inside.”

you couldn’t agree more.

as you closed the door and proceed to reignite the fire, you notice how he’s staring at your interior.

“you don’t know how my house looks?” you quip, “never changed my layout for years.”

childe remains quiet. he looks at the ceiling, then looks at the carpet.

“liyue has this idea that the way your furniture is structured should coincide with the flow of luck.”

you don’t know what he’s talking about, but it’s rude to interrupt your guest. you hum as a prompt for him to continue.

“it’s called feng shui. i practically studied it while i was there for 2 years and i know a house ridden with bad luck when i see one.”

it sounds ridiculous.

sure, you can’t deny your luck has been all over the place the past month, but it can’t be because of a layout you have for years.

child points north.

“this is the flow of luck this season. you should rearrange your furniture.”

“how so?”

“like here,” he says as he stands across the dining table parallel to your door. “horrible decision. this is the first thing your visitors see when you enter, and it should not be the dining table.”

“o-okay…”

for some reason, even if the subject of energies and whatever bores you, there’s a rhythm to how he speaks. it’s as if he’s almost (almost almost almost) like the childe you once knew.

(carefree, laid back, and innocent.)

“why in this orientation anyway?” he asks as he looks at the door then the dining table. “you’re blocking the pathway into your house.”

“my parents only drop by for a few minutes so i wanted a table close to the door.”

“not an excuse,” he says wagging a finger. “this is blocking all the luck. i’ve heard of your misfortune. never thought someone would be so unlucky to have a hail stone puncture the roof.”

you would have groaned, but knowing childe, he wasn’t done.

“do you have the stone with you still?”

“… why would you want it?”

“oh, for fun.”

there it was. that childe that told you he liked the taste of blood in his mouth.

that childe who beat up another who apparently spoke ill of you.

childe who tells you he can teach you how to survive the cold winters with a single coat. he learned it from a kind stranger.

“okay, so what should i do?” you ask to get rid of these depressing thoughts. you slump into your couch. “where should the dinning table be. my space isn’t big enough for it to be anywhere else.”

he stays quiet to examine your living room again. he’s probably already picturing the areas behind closed doors.

you really aren’t in the mood for a whole renovation, especially when you’re broke after loosing your job. plus, the dining table is a gift from your parents, so it’s not like you can discard it. they’ll probably scold you till your ears fall off when they visit next week.

“it seems like we have to mitigate the situation with something else,” he says after his thinking. “again, not an excuse to not shift what we can, but you do need a lucky charm to help chase away the bad luck.”

and he smirks.

oh, he smirks.

“what might that be?”

“it’s not a what. you should be asking who.”

“not asking.”

“it’s me.”

“didn’t ask.”

“you sure you don’t want me to solve it for you?”

it’s not like you don’t want childe to stay in your house. he has stayed for a couple of days before.

granted they were because he was kicked out of the house for whatever reason. this? this was unreasonable. you don’t know what he’s planning. feng shui or not, he’s going to need a better reason to live under your roof.

before you can push him out of your door, you can’t turn the damn knob.

what.

“it’s a sign.”

“no it’s not,” you insist as you use two hands to twist it. the door knob rattles. any more strength and you fear you’ll break it which is worse.

“you have to accept the circumstances. and, i’m trying to help.”

you look at childe, disbelief littered all over your facial features. fate is a cruel thing.

“the coldness probably froze the mechanic,” he diagnoses. “will you let me help you warm it up? i won’t cause a fire. promise.”

fine. he is right that he’s trying to help, and when he gets that door unlocked you’re kicking him out.

as you exchange places with him, leaning against the wall to watch him start a fire and use it to warm your door handle, you guess having someone who knows how to deal with these bad situations is a boon.

you guess if you’ve accepted your childhood friend is not coming back, then you can accept this too.

(unwillingly.)

when he unlocks your door, you’ve made up your mind.

“you can stay,” you say to his surprise. his face scrunches in confusion but it bursts with happiness later.

“i knew i could count on you.”

“on me? i thought you’re staying here because i’m counting on you to be my lucky charm?”

“oh, we’ll, that too.”

“you’re not telling me something.” you press your foot on the floorboard so hard you think you hear it crack. “why do you want to stay in my house?”

“you can keep me for feng shui reasons.” he raises his hand in a surrender pose. “your floor cracked, by the way. want me to fix it for you?”

you roll your eyes, too tired to say no. it will be foolish to reject free services.

“fine. i need a break.”

“rest well…?”

that’s the last thing you hear before you crumple on your bed.

#childe x reader #childe x you #childe x y/n #genshin x reader #genshin x y/n #genshin x you #genshin impact x you #genshin impact x y/n #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact imagines #reader insert #x reader #tartaglia x y/n #tartaglia x reader #tartaglia x you #i actually... miss this writing style... i don't know. i think after working i've tried very hard to pack my sentences #but then it sort of lost that innocence of verbal telling #idk how to explain but i like this actually :3

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