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mondaymelon · 11 months

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— 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 ♥

:feat~ alhaitham, kaveh x gn!reader:

⤷ headcanons ♥ ⤷ kaveh is so silly help-

ᴛᴀɢʟɪꜱᴛ (open!) : @manager-of-the-pudding-bank, @iamdedinside, @ilyuu @solxima, psps come get your sumeru men ♡

"Wh- Hey, are you stealing my food??"

ALHAITHAM quietly notices, but doesn't particularly mind.

So, he doesn't point it out, and merely watches with an air of amusement how you're attempting to "sneakily" snatch the food of his plate when his gaze is "averted."

Of course, he's only acting to see how you'll react.

For someone like Al Haitham, whose job is as predictable as a straight line, someone as interesting as you immediately made him intrigued - the way you move, the way you speak, how you present yourself, the way you smile... all of it has enraptured him.

To the point where he can't take his multicolored eyes off of you, you're just so... fascinating.

Just like now, how you were quietly giggling to yourself and at the diminishing amount of food on his plate, while the ashen-haired man seemed to remain oblivious to it all. Haitham, who just sat there, the most minuscule smile appearing on his expression - a rare sight indeed, arms crossed as he watched you with a slightly smug aura.

Still, it seems you're not all that stupid. The more you take, the more you glance up at the man's calm expression, the more confused you begin to look... and that confusion soon blooms into suspicion, and then, finally, realization.

"You've noticed, haven't you...?" You stare at him, the slightest pout forming on your lips.

"Noticed what?"

"You- Are you really..." A sigh. "You know what I'm talking about."

"Do I, now?"

His short answers, words that reveal nothing, are starting to irritate you. And when you stay silent for the count of three, Haitham merely shrugs his shoulders, pushing his chair back.

"As it seems that I've finished my meal, I'll be leaving." Flicking his gaze to his nearly empty plate, he can barely hold back his amusement from creeping into his voice as he stands up, starting to walk out.

"What?? Wait-" Latching onto his arm, face flushed, you glance up at him with wide eyes. "Archons, Haitham, it was a joke!"

"I know. And so was that."

Then he sits back down just as quickly, not bothering to remove your hold from his wrist, the small smirk on his face growing.

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?" ♥

KAVEH doesn't notice at first, mostly due to the fact that he's already downed several goblets of alcohol.

It's late at night, but you can't even tell, since the two of you are sitting at a table in the dimly lit establishment, the mixed hubbub and laughing chatter almost drowning out the outside world. The blonde male had finished a long-awaited building project, and you had decided to treat him to a meal and a couple drinks as celebration.

A couple drinks.

He's obliviously ranting away, words about "Haitham" and "Irritating" spilling out of his mouth. In his wavering hand, sloshing about is his... what, third drink, now? You've already lost count, merely smiling and nodding along as the male continues to sputter all the annoyances he's ever experienced, face flushed.

Meanwhile, you are busy eating to your hearts content, cheerfully taking Kaveh's food whenever he's looking the other way. Do you feel any guilt? Somewhat, but...

It's not like he'd be able to stomach anything solid with all of the alcohol he'd drank, right?

You're basically doing him a favor - after all, isn't food waste a large-scale problem? Ah, but Kaveh still is perceptive, even with his mind all clouded.

"Hey... wait..." Kaveh's voice is slurred. "W...Where'd m...my food go?" The way his crimson eyes are almost tearing up as he shakes his head several times, staring at his plate with the most puzzled and remorseful expression. He glances around the room, squinting, almost as if his missing food had grown legs and walked away, and that he would be able to find it somewhere.

"Aw..."

He sounds so heartbroken it makes you feel bad.

"Ahaha..." All you can do is laugh nervously.

"...Ah, but I could've sworn... I ordered... hm, whatever..." With that, he takes another large sip of his drink.

At least he wouldn't remember any of this tomorrow. ♥

(a/n) just realized that without context, that last line could be interpreted a very different way-

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rhenuvee · 7 months

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hi omg im so sorry can i request a kaveh x reader but YOU KNOW HOW THAT ONE "WRITING ON THE WALL" SONG GOES?? LIKE READER SEES KAVEH STABBING HIS DOLL AND LIKE TRIES TO COMFORT ☹️☹️☹️ ANY LENGTH WILL DO PLEEK

A/N: Hi! Thank you for your request! This will just be a short piece since I'm a little busy rn! // Y'all this song hit me so hard :(

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

"Kaveh, I'm home!" you shouted as you walked through the entrance of your home. You sighed as your busy day in Sumeru finally came to a close, finally giving you some time with your lover.

However you hear no response from him. You put down your stuff and realize you hear hammering sounds- he's probably working on another project. You always admired Kaveh's work- seeing how he spends so much time and effort in creating the perfect designs, by thinking of the perfect colour, material, form...

"Kaveh!" you shout again as you walk towards the work room. You realize the hammering is louder than usual, and you hope he's working safely. However, you couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong this time.

As you open the door, your heart instantly drops when you see him hunched over, hammering aggressively on something. The room is a mess, a mix of different materials in pieces, and unfinished sketches that are crumpled and thrown randomly across the room.

"My love...?" you whisper, slowly approaching him. You realize he's choking out sobs as he's hammering, and that the chisel was actually puncturing a little doll that seemed to resemble him. You quickly crouch down and put your hand on his shoulder, as a signal to let him know you were here.

"Kaveh-"

"It's no use... it's all worthless." he finally says. Your heart breaks at how dejected your lover was. You knew with how hard he works, some clients probably didn't like his vision, and all the things not working out just came piling on top of him. "I spent so much of my time, making these designs... And they're all garbage."

"Oh Kaveh, my love..." you embrace with him behind, and take the hammer out of his hands. "Don't say that. I can't think of anyone else who could pull off what you think of and make with the same amount of care. Your designs are wonderful."

You both sit in silence for a while, only Kaveh's sobs getting softer until he calmed down. You lift yourself off him and look him in the eyes and smile. You bring your fingers up to smooth his bangs to see his face. His usually passionate eyes were now exhausted and dark- but you want him to know you love him through these hard times.

"Why don't I run you a bath, my love? And we can use those face masks we bought the other week."

"But, the client-"

"I don't want to hear it. You can tell me about it after. C'mon handsome, let's go." You stand up, and reach your hand out to him. Kaveh stood up slowly, letting you bring him to the bathroom. "Now you sit here and wait, I'll go get the bath salts. Here, hold this for me."

Kaveh sits on the ledge as you turn on the hot water in the tub, then quickly run out to grab the salt. He then opens his palm, and he sees the doll of himself that he was stabbing... Then he sees something else- another doll, but the one of you. He remembers when he made the dolls before. A cute model of the two of you to set a human scale for his projects. But now he sees them as another kind of value.

"Kaveh, I'm back- why are you looking at me like that?"

A part of him hates burdening you, dragging you into his sorrows. But you remind him that you're here with him, and that you'll always support him. He sighs, finally deciding to give in and take of himself with you.

"Thank you, my love."

"Of course."

#genshin impact #genshin #genshin imagines #genshin headcanons #genshin impact imagines #genshin fluff #genshin angst #genshin kaveh #kaveh #kaveh x reader #kaveh imagines

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anime-grimmy · 2 months

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Btw, here's the template for the Kaveh version of the Smile Scale challenge.

OG was by roui_roui on twitter/ex, I just edited it a bit to fit Kaveh

#genshin impact #kaveh #template #imma also do #haikaveh #kavetham #cos we know we're using it for that

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m1d-45 · 1 year

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Dear Kaveh,

How is your life faring these days? Haha, it's a bit silly for me to ask me that of you. I heard that Dori may or may not scam you out of your money when building that palace. You might think it's an unfortunate situation to land you with Alhaitham, but I think it allows me to know more about you when I set sight of you for the first time. I think you look enchanting with fire in your eyes when you talk about your passions or when it sparked with dramatics that I have never seen people manage to show. I wish I could make those sorts of expressions. People being people, they can be hard to read with many things they try to conceal within their own reasons. Maybe that's why I found you to be enchanting. It takes courage to put out your emotions in the open. But please take heed of what Alhaitham said about keeping your head cool. As much as I love your pretty face, me and Alhaitham would rather see you home safe and sound (yes, he cares. Approved by Lord Kusanali herself).

Here's my gift for you for listening to me rambling about things. I hope we can reconnect when your constellation aligns.

(Gift: Multi-tool Pen. This little multitool is a useful utility for architects on the go. Components include a ballpoint pen, a reversible flathead/Philips screwdriver, a touch screen stylus, a scale ruler, a built-in level, and ink refills. The compact size makes it perfect for throwing into a bag, always within reach when other tools are unavailable. (Yes, I copy pasted this description))

kaveh sat back in his chair, rubbing at his temples. kshahrewar was a rewarding darshan, one he took great pride in and constantly sought to improve, but sometimes… sometimes he felt like shoving all his work together in a ball and lighting it on fire.

but he couldn’t do that, for a variety of reasons, so he instead started tidying up his desk. maybe tomorrow, with a clearer head and food in his stomach, he’d better understand what invisible roadblock he kept running into.

all went well, except as he reached to turn off his lamp. it should have been the only light source left in the room, yet some still bled out from behind his curtains.

he stared. that much light didn’t come from the city, not at this hour.

some of his anger snuck into the force with which he pulled open the curtains, but the rest swiftly faded to curiosity at the source of the light.

he pushed open his window, pulling in the glowing ball, letting the cold night air sweep around him as he inspected the ball. unfortunately, it began to fall apart where he touched it, quickly leaving him with only a piece of paper and a thin rectangular box. he set aside the box, tilting it towards the window to try and make reading it a bit easier.

a smile grew on his face as he both realized who had sent him the letter and read the contents of it, eyes lingering a bit longer on the complimentary portions than they might normally. he’d yet to even open your gift, simply letting it rest on his windowsill, yet he was already enraptured by it and by you.

maybe, as you said, when his stars finally crossed your skies, he’d be able to thank you in person.

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heiayen · 10 months

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a/n: this is what i come back with after a month of being ia. anyway this is a part of @i23kazu event and omg ying im so sorry it took me so long 😭😭😭 the prompt was healing after an argument and i decided to write for kaveh because,,, i love him. thank you. i tried hard with this fic but good lord ive been writing for ocs only lately and i completely forgot how to write fanfics. gn!reader.

To be an artist is to sacrifice something.

Your time, your body, a part of you.

And, oh, good archons, how much it hurt you to see Kaveh like this, slouched over his desk, wasting his time on an ungrateful client, pushing himself over his limits.

"Kaveh." you started, "You can't possibly be still working."

"I promised the client to give him a revised version of the project tomorrow." The exhaustion in his voice made your heart ache, "He didn't like what I gave him previously because I didn't include all of his impossible ideas!"

"But you're the architect, shouldn't what you think matter more?"

"And he's the client. I can't just disregard what he thinks!"

"But he can disregard what you think?" You blurted out in disbelief, "Kaveh, I'm begging you, for once stop putting people above your own well-being!"

And maybe that was what tipped the scale. Maybe something you said later. Maybe it was the way guilt stirred in his heart upon noticing the sheer sadness in your eyes. It pained you to watch the blond close the doors behind him. But he didn't want to argue with you, not anymore, and you didn't want to either.

Your only worry was when he would come back home.

You stayed up as long as you could, but your eyelids started to drop shut more and more. Only the rustling of the keys and the sound of the doors made you open your eyes, with the hope to see Kaveh in the doorway.

And it was him.

Not much time passed until he walked toward the couch you were sitting on, a slight wobble in his step, and not much time passed until he sat next to you, resting his head in his hands and apologies spilling past his lips.

"Oh, my sweetheart." You tugged him to your chest, hand cradling his head and softly brushing the blond locks, "You're not at fault here. Don't apologize."

No one was, you wanted to think. There was no point in putting the blame on anyone.

And when the morning came, you woke up on the very same couch you fell asleep with Kaveh in your embrace, but this time covered with a blanket and the mentioned man resting his hand on your shoulder, looking at you with slight hesitance on his face.

"I made you breakfast... and I want to apolo–"

"Shh," you shushed him, reaching out to cup his cheek, "No more baseless apologies, starlight."

He still looked exhausted and that made you think, just for how long he was already up? You gently swiped your thumb under his eye and a small smile tugged at your lips.

"Let's just talk instead, okay?"

He nodded and finally in a while, you felt warmth blossom in your chest.

"Okay."

#astronetwrk #favoniuslibrary #twilighttheatre #genshin impact x reader #kaveh x reader #ambrosial; i23kazu's 1.5k event #gender neutral reader #heia's writing

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cocrante · 4 months

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Imagining Kaveh arriving at a roadside tavern. He had been hired for a large-scale project and they needed the assistance of the renowned architect.

The journey was quite long, and he often found himself stopping at these inns, where he had an exquisite conversation. There was another architect, a newcomer to the profession, brimming with pride and ambition. He asked Kaveh about his destination, and Kaveh vaguely replied:—"I'm heading to a nearby town, there's a bridge that needs to be fixed" the man smiled broadly, revealing that he also designed buildings. He shared advice, laughing and expressing immense joy for his work. Kaveh smiled at every word, occasionally responding with "thanks for the advice" or "designing new buildings is challenging, but yes, I enjoy it a lot"

Kaveh was illuminated by the joy that the young architect used to express himself, confident he would become truly skilled one day.

Then, Kaveh apologized, exhausted from the long journey. The man ordered more wine for himself, and the bartender, serving him, said:—"Lucky you, my friend, to have spoken with the Light of Kshahrewar" the man raised an eyebrow, realizing only minutes later what the bartender was actually telling him. Quickly turning, searched for that blond guy, but Kaveh had already left.

#genshin impact #kaveh #im sure kaveh is always enthusiastic about hearing other people talk about architecture #is good for the soul to go to places where youre not known

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dk-thrive · 3 months

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But can’t you feel this mattering?

“I get that,” said Cyrus. “I do. Maybe part of it is just wanting my tiny little life to have something of scale. For the stakes to matter.” He paused, then added, “For my having-lived to matter.” Orkideh smiled, placed her hand on Cyrus’s. It felt cold, dry, like canvas. “We won’t grow old together, Cyrus. But can’t you feel this mattering? Right now?” When he hesitated, she said, “It matters to me. Know that. It matters deeply.” …

Walking, suddenly, back outside the museum into the startling February air, Cyrus felt the artist’s conversation, her voice and mind and presence, surging like a wildfire through his mind. Safavid glass, stakes. The dimples above her eyebrows. We won’t grow old together, Cyrus. But can’t you feel this mattering? He could feel it, he realized. He wished he’d said that.

— Kaveh Akbar, Martyr!: A Novel (Knopf, January 23, 2024)

#Kaveh Akbar #matter #purpose #meaning #friendship #human #life

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gachagon · 10 months

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Hey gachagon! If bluelock characters were in genshin what vision do you think they would have?

Oh my gosh I've been hoping for someone to ask this of me because its not like I haven't thought about this for ages or anything T_T But here's a list really quickly!

Isagi: Anemo bow (4 star) I think Isagi's always thinking about how best to move "freely" on the field or whatever, which is why I think he'd be another short anemo boy. If he had a kit I think it would definitely be focused more on EM sort of like Kazuha.

Bachira: Anemo Polearm (5 star) He's also very free spirited and his whole arc was about learning to play alone and by himself without having to rely on others in a game, or to play beside someone else. If he had a kit, I think it'd be an ER based one because of his dribbling.

Chigiri: Pyro Polearm (5 star because he's my favorite <3) In the first arc he was kinda sad and mopey and would avoid people, which isn't really like Pyro characters at all. But after his arc he actually is pretty friendly and open, and he's the more extroverted one out of Kunigiri if we're being honest, so I think Pryo does suit him. Chigiri is also very passionate about soccer to the point where he joined Blue Lock to find a reason to quit, and couldn't find it. If he had a kit it would definitely be based around something really niche and technical like reverse melt lol

Kunigami: Hydro Claymore (5 star) (Hydro is controversial but HEAR ME OUT-) He has a unique sense of justice but also wants to strive to help other people. And like a lot of hydro characters, I think he also suffers a lot from his own self confidence and self worth, as in I think he's a person who has worked really hard to feel as if he belongs and he's worked hard to uphold this "Hero image". After the Wild Card route though I can see him working hard on trying to be best "replacement" he can. I think he would function like Eula and be a physical character who uses their Hydro to boost their Phys stats.

Rin: Electro Sword (5 star) Electro characters are all about being outcasts but also subsequently leaders, so I think Rin fits perfectly for Electro. I think he'd be a really selfish DPS like Cyno that needs a shit ton of supports to actually drive. People would use him if they want to be sweaty in abyss.

Sae: Dendro Sword (5 star) Dendro characters are all about having this drive to continue learning about something and studying something they're passionate about, so I definitely think that Sae fits this considering he does care to find more people who make soccer interesting for himself. He went on what was essentially a study abroad trip for him, and made a name for himself while learning all about soccer. And when he came back he just tried to tell his brother all about the "good news" lol. He'd be a Hyperbloom focused dendro character like Kaveh, would have low scalings for Aggravate purely so you can't use him with Rin that well (just like in the manga!)

Nagi: Geo Catalyst (4 star) Geo characters are incredibly determined and have a pretty straight forward attitude. When they have a goal in sight they don't give up on it, and I think that fits Nagi perfectly. Sure he's lazy, but I can't see him ever giving up Soccer because it's something he genuinely does care about, and it makes the person he's with happy as well. Also when I think of Geo i think of kits that make being a DPS easy as hell. I think he'd be a broken support like Gorou.

Reo: Pyro Sword (5 star) Reo's whole thing is striving for things he wants, so that's why I think he'd be a pyro character. In most manga panels before the breakup, he's smiling and happy and literally dragging and carrying Nagi everywhere he can T_T The man went into a full on depressive episode because he thought his "soccer partner" chose someone else over him and gave up wanting to play soccer with him forever. I think he'd a full on Pyro DPS like Diluc.

Barou: Electro Claymore (5 star) Electro characters are all outcasts in my eyes, and I definitely think Barou fits that description given how he's practically pushed everyone away to be on top. He imagined himself as a nobody in a lame apartment after having to even THINK about passing to Isagi during one game, the guys got issues with not being number 1 T_T. I think he'd be a full on Aggravate character, but you could also use him in other places.

ahhhhhh here's all the ones I could think of for now because like this post is already so long and full of my ramblings about them lol

#Blue lock #bllk #blue lock headcanons #genshin impact #reonagi #kunigiri #bachisagi

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chaewberry · 1 year

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pairing; kavetham

tw; mention of nsfw, nothing descriptive, crack.

The house next to them had finally been bought. The little old lady which now lived next door with her silver hair and mellow brown eyes, had greeted them one warm spring morning as Kaveh and Al haitham were exiting the front door, both tugging at the two keys entangled together again.

And, looking back, maybe it was that instance which allowed for later miscommunications to occur. It wasn’t often that the two left the house together — or left the house altogether in Kaveh’s case, and that morning Al haitham had made breakfast for the both of them while Kaveh prepared the coffee. Each of them was tugging at his own key when the cheerful woman came up to them, offering a hug and a warm greeting, smiling a little too brightly for the early hours of the morning.

The first few months she had seemed like any other normal middle aged lady that occupied herself with gardening and reading (only it wasn’t as much as reading as it was falling asleep on the veranda, basking in the sun like a lazy cat). However, some weeks prior Kaveh had most definitely seen her scaling the fence to steal a couple of apples from their other neighbours, winking like a small fox when she caught him looking, scandalised.

Then, a few days prior, there was the matter of her laundry spot, which was set to be directly next to theirs. Al haitham had the nerve to tease him about a red thong he found after he had finished picking up their laundry from outside — that man had waved the offending piece of clothing at Kaveh’s flashed face and had the nerve, the audacity even, to proceed to fuck him into the matress.

Who knew such a man was afflicted by such a mere concept as a thong.

(Kaveh did not buy a fucking thong the next day. He did not!)

Later, when Kaveh returned from the café, their little neighbour (gods, how did that tiny woman even manage to scale that wooden fence was beyond him) came bouncing up to him, looking bashful for the first time ever and explained what had happened. “Tomio is a playful little thing, doesn’t know boundaries, you know?”

And just as Kaveh was about to say “oh, you have a cute little toddler lying around?” in order to make small conversation and make this whole affair less awkward, the fattest, most atrocious looking cat he’d ever seen prowling the streets of Sumeru came up swaggering in between his mistress ankles, purring something awful and definitely trying to kill Kaveh with that nasty one eyed, mashed face glare he was giving the blonde.

Kaveh, naturaly, faltered. “Mh, cat.” Something so profoundly stupid, he was ashamed of himself. What was he supposed to do, question the woman’s sanity and taste in pets? Besides - he chided himself later on - who was he to judge the beauty in the eyes of the beholder? Maybe that lady truly loved her ugly, fat cat.

He couldn’t resist digging into his roommate, however. “My, Al haitham! Perhaps you should check for familial relations?”

He paid for his insolence later that night too.

The next time he saw eccentric neighbour was when he was in the market, buying fresh vegetables and chicken eggs to make sabich sandwiches for him and Al haitham (he tries very hard not to think about him making Al haitham food while waiting for the letter to come home from his recently acquired position of acting grand sage) when he catches silver hair from his peripheral vision.

"Mr. Kaveh!"

And there she was, walking up to him with a basket filled with items into the crook of her right elbow, while the other was holding little Tomio's leash who was currently eyeing the recently procured fish in Kaveh's grasp with fervent interest.

And wouldn't that be a funny story? Hey Al haitham! No samak mashwi this week! Our neighbour's incredibly cute cat attacked me and stole them away from my bare hands. If that man hadn't kicked him out, he surely would now — or make him sleep on the couch for a week straight, at least, murmuring about wasted money and the like.

Blood had been shed for less.

"Please, take this."

Suddenly, as if she had whipped them out of thin air, his neighbour had shoved a glass jar full of honey into his reusable shopping bag, as well as a smaller jar filled with what was, from what he could see, humus.

"As an apology for mixing up our underwear and as a welcoming gift — though I'm still eyeing that beautiful vase in the plaza, yes indeed," the woman said.

"Uh," Kaveh fumbled. "There's really no need! Really, it should be us buying you a welcoming gift. I am ashamed to say it has completely slipped my mind."

And he meant it. If Kaveh's mother were to see him now she would surely start lecturing, and he didn't know which was worse in that regard, his mother or Al haitham. He continued, "Al haitham has been busy at work recently and I've picked up a new commision too s-so — I'm sorry! We'll be sure to give you something!"

But the woman simply laughed, slapping a hand well naturally against his shoulder. "No need, no need! Please, it's my job to win over the young people in my new neighbourhood, please rest easy. I'd hate to inconvenience you or your husband when you're both swarmed with work."

Kaveh didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so he settled for a strangled laugh, feeling inexcusably hot as his face flashed. "Ah, that's not really --,"

Unfortunately, Tomio had seemed to reach his limit for today. Letting out a ferocious, husky yeowl, he laid back first in the middle of the road where the sun was abundant, paws in the air and clearly looking for a pet or two from the children running past.

"Oh no, Tomio!"

He watched, gaping, as the older woman struggled to pick up the lax feline — but Tomio seemed to have turned to liquid with the way his body flopped back down onto the road.

"Please allow me," Kaveh said, placing a hand on her shoulder and sliding his shopping back into the crook of his elbow before squatting down to stare at the horribly, one toothed, one eyed face looking back at him. "You, mister, are starting to grow on me."

Carrying the feline in his arms, they both headed back home, talking about Kaveh and his work, about her daughter and her recent, new found bliss after a messy divorce, about Tomio and how he was viciously attacked as a kitten by a nasty man.

The cat nestled in his arms, purring, now seemed that much more infinitely more beautiful to Kaveh.

Two weeks later, Al haitham walked through the door and Kaveh had to do a double take, lest his eyes deceive him. "Why in the name of Lord Kusanali are you smiling for?"

His roomate, silently, smugly, placed atop the coffee table a bottle of sweet red and two pairs of wine glasses, black tinted and golden rimmed.

Kaveh gaped (the flutter in his stomach must've been from the sheer amount of coffee he had drank hours before with an unsettling empty stomach, yes) and spluttered out, "what the hell is this? Have you finally lost your mind?"

Al haitham deliberately buying not only alcohol but also brand new wine glass felt as though he was premeditating for something — perhaps today was the day he finally snapped and kicked Kaveh out, or worse; confirmed all his worst fears about this are we, aren't we affair between them and send the architect on his way, homeless, broken hearted and drunk.

Maybe he was betting on Kaveh getting so shit-faced he'd fall into a ditch and die. Maybe --

"Husband."

Kaveh let out a strangled gasp, utterly struck and horrified, his sketchbook slipping from his grasp. "W-what!?"

"These are gifts from our neighbour. She said to take a break and bask in our wedded bliss -- according to her, it won't last long."

"WHAT?!"

"Don't yell. Are you deaf or just stupid?"

Feeling his face flash, Kaveh sprang to his feet. "What did you tell her?"

Al haitham raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. "I said nothing. She assumed and I didn't have time to rebuke her before she went back inside her house."

"Al haitham --"

"Does it bother you that much?"

What?

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"Not particularly, no."

And later, if Kaveh decided to snuggle closer to the warm, naked body next to him, closer than he ever dared to or allowed himself too, and bring his arms around the sturdy waist, humming out in bliss — well, he could blame it on the wine.

#kavetham #kaveh #al haitham #genshin #this is so CRACK !!! silly even!! just wrote it as a warm up #but might as well #genshin impact #fanfiction

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pocket-luv101 · 1 year

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Desert Roses // Chapter 4

Fandom: Genshin Impact Ship: CynoNari

Summary: Cyno and Tighnari have an arranged marriage to end the conflict between the desert and rainforest. Later, Tighnari discovers a box that could hold the truth behind the disappearance of the Scarlet King and the Goddess of Flowers.

Ch.1 // Ch.2 // Ch.3 // (Ch.4) // Ch.5 // Ch.6 //

Cyno never realized how small his room could feel until he had to share it with Tighnari. The king provided them with an extravagant room because he was the General Mahamatra. The corner of his room could now be mistaken for a rainforest with the vines growing up the wall. For his research, Tighnari cultivated different plants and recorded their growth. Tighnari stood in front of a glass tank and drew a diagram of the roots that grew inside.

“The modification to the fertilizer should promote root health and help the tree grow larger. It should also be able to bear more fruits. I should send these to Mama so the rainforest can test this on a larger scale.” Tighnari muttered his findings out loud. He looked over his shoulder to Cyno on the other side of the room. He drew his attention away from the report he was reading. “Can I ask you something, Cyno?”

Tighnari walked to his side with a book. “I found a few books about the plants that grow in the desert but there is only so much I can learn from them. I have a few questions for you? Botany isn’t your expertise but can you tell me if there are agricultural problems in the desert. I can research solutions. My current project is almost complete and I want to start a new one. Though, I’ll need to set up a new conservatory in our room to test my theories.”

“I was going to give you this tomorrow but now might be a better time.” Cyno took out a key from his desk and held it out to Tighnari. “I asked Kaveh to give you permission to use the greenhouse for your work. Our bedroom won’t be able to fit more research equipment. He agreed on the condition that you provide flowers that he can use to decorate the palace. I told him I would talk to you about it.”

“A greenhouse? That’s certainly a larger research facility for me to use. Will there be plants from both the rainforest and the desert? This is the best opportunity to study them.” Tighnari’s tail swayed quickly in his excitement. He wrapped his hand around Cyno but he didn’t take the key immediately. Hesitation briefly passed over his face. “Did you ask Kaveh to give me a key because my work is cluttering our room?”

“No. When I found you asleep next to the oasis, I thought it was better if you had a safe place to research plants. You can’t fall asleep outside, it’s dangerous. Beyond the night being cold, someone could’ve attacked you.” Cyno didn’t voice the second reason he asked Kaveh to give Tighnari access to the greenhouse. He saw how much he loved botany.

Tighnari was glad that his work wouldn’t affect their marriage. As important as their relationship was to the desert and rainforest, he didn’t want to give up botany. He slipped the key from Cyno’s hand and laughed nervously. “This might sound selfish but I’d like to continue growing a few flowers here. I hope you don’t mind.”

“There’s more than enough space for us and your plants.” Cyno had to admit that his room felt more like a home after Tighnari filled it with plants and incense. Since he travelled often as a military leader, he was more accustomed to sleeping outside than in a bed.

“My mother told me that marriages are full of compromise so I’ll only keep the smaller plants here.” Tighnari said. He took Cyno’s hand and lightly tugged him to his feet. “Can you take me to the greenhouse? I want to see the plants there. I can also make plans for which plant to move there. Collei will also benefit if I hold my classes there.”

Cyno found himself swept away by Tighnari and he followed him out of their room. Tighnari wore a serious expression during his experiments but his current smile made it clear that he loved flowers. “Candace is the guardian of Aaru Village and she’ll be able to explain their agriculture better than I can. Though, I’ll need to speak with King Humayun for permission to leave my post and take you there.”

Tighnari recalled meeting Candace at the banquet. She was kind and he could see himself becoming friends with her. His life in the desert was better than he expected when he agreed to a political marriage. He was worried he wouldn’t have the freedom to pursue his work but Cyno offered to take him to a greenhouse and Aaru village.

“You’ve done a lot for me, Cyno. Is there anything I can do to repay you?”

“We’re married and I want you to be happy here in the desert. That’s the foundation of our treaty.”

“Welcome to my masterpiece! I’ve outdone myself with the greenhouse’s design. No expense was spared to create this botanical garden and I requested Dori to import flowers from around the world.” As an architect, Kaveh was all too happy to proudly show people the greenhouse. He oversaw the building’s creation from simple lines on a page to the planting of each flower. He expected Tighnari to appreciate the layout of the flowers since he was a botanist.

However, Tighnari stood silently in the doorway. Cyno was also confused by his lack of reaction considering his lonely expression in the oasis. His stomach felt uneasy and he hoped that he hadn’t misjudged the situation. Did the greenhouse worsen Tighnari’s homesickness? As the question passed his mind, Cyno realized how important Tighnari’s feelings were becoming to him.

Tighnari walked through the glass archway and followed the path to the Pristine Vessel that stood as the centerpiece of the garden. The white flowers towered over him and he needed to tilt his head back to see the tip of the petals. Usually, he would list facts about the plant and the best environment to grow them. At that moment, he only wanted to breathe in the subtle scent. He was home among the trees once more.

He reached up the Pristine Vessel responded to his dendro vision by bowing its head. Golden dust fell from the petals and landed in Tighnari’s dark hair. He felt someone’s fingers in his hair and he turned to find Cyno brushing the pollen from his ear. Their gaze met and Cyno counted the different colours in Tighnari’s eyes. They reflected the rainforest around them.

Tighnari smiled up at him. “Thank you for bringing me here. It’s truly stunning.”

He walked deeper into the botanic garden to explore the building further. As he took in the familiar environment of thick trees and colourful flowers, his expression slowly relaxed. A nostalgic smile spread across his lips. Tighnari had already decided to make a new home in the desert but being able to see the rainforest again was a comfort.

His ears twitched when he heard the leaves rustle. Sound echoed easily in the building but he could determine its direction with his sharp hearing. Neither Cyno nor Kaveh were the source of the footsteps. Tighnari scanned the greenhouse for what could’ve caused the sound but they appeared to be alone. He brushed off the strange sound.

“There’s a large space in the back that’s unused and I can set up a desk and conservatory here. I would like to have a bookcase to hold my notes but it’ll block the light from entering the greenhouse.” Tighnari listed things he would need to create a study in the greenhouse. “For now, we can start with the tables. My equipment is heavy so I will bring them down tomorrow.”

“I can arrange the furniture so it doesn’t clash with the layout of the greenhouse. Who better to do so than the person who designed this building?” Kaveh’s offer wasn’t merely out of kindness. He took pride in his work and his effort would be wasted if Tighnari’s study didn’t match his vision for the building. “Just give me a day to draw the blueprints. Go and admire the flowers until I’m done.”

“If you insist.” Tighnari was eager to see the rest of the greenhouse so he relented to Kaveh’s request. Then, a thought made him pause. “Kaveh, may I ask you something. You’re an architect and you mentioned the temple buried beneath the palace. Is there a way to access the temple? If it’s not possible, I would like to see records of the temple.”

“That temple was built before the Scarlet King’s death so I doubt there are many blueprints or records of its construction.” Kaveh told him. Even though Tighnari already reasoned it would be difficult to learn more about the temple, he was still disappointed by his answer. “Is there something you wish to know about it? I am friends with a few scholars who might have answers.”

“I can hear the water flooding the underground temple at night.” His ears twitched as he answered him. The brief journey through the halls left Tighnari with questions. Could desert roses have survived in that temple despite centuries passing? Did the box send them back to a time before they were extinct? He could answer if he saw the temple again but that was seemingly impossible.

“Tighnari, what are these flowers called?” Cyno’s question pulled Tighnari out of his shoulders. He held up a yellow flower that often grew on cactuses. Since Cyno didn’t show much interest in plants, Tighnari knew that he intended to distract him with the flower. The thoughtfulness touched his heart and he took the flower from him. “Do you know when it’s impossible to plant seeds? When you haven’t botany.”

“Botany like ‘bought any’ seeds? Your puns won’t become funny just because it’s about a subject that I enjoy.” The joke wasn’t funny to Tighnari yet a small chuckle escaped him. He slipped the flower behind his ear. Tighnari’s clothes were accented with colourful accessories like the yellow flower and Cyno thought they suited him well. “Let’s explore the greenhouse. The building is large enough that it can be considered a forest.”

Cyno entered the council room that King Humayun reserved for strategizing war and defense. He had hoped he wouldn’t need to stand within those four walls now that the desert and rainforest had a peace treaty. The king requested a meeting with him and Cyno wondered what it could be for. His concern only grew when he found Rahman waiting inside with King Humayun. The mercenary never made it a secret that he didn’t trust Tighnari or the rainforest.

“King Humayun, I have received your summons.” Cyno greeted the king with a respectful bow. He watched Rahman in the corner of his eyes and tried to analyze his intent from his posture. Rahman stood with a guarded stance and his mouth was pressed into a firm frown. Neither of them trusted the other but they couldn’t voice that in front of their king.

“I wish to discuss your marriage to the Valuka Shuna so you are clear on its purpose. The war has ended on paper but it is naïve to let down our guard. It’s your duty to watch for signs that he or the rainforest will betray us. Your mate may have agreed to the terms of our peace treaty but that doesn’t make him entirely trustworthy.” King Humayun reminded him.

Cyno bit his tongue to stop himself from correcting the king that he should refer to Tighnari by his name. He became the General Mahamatra to protect the people of the desert. He vowed to serve the king but he would argue with him if his order went against his principles. However, that became more complicated since he agreed to marry Tighnari. He needed to be more careful with his words or else it could affect their treaty.

“The General Mahamatra has been too lax with the fox.” Rahman said. “He allowed him to have a key to the greenhouse. It’s dangerous to give a botanist access to those plants. There’s a chance he could make poison. He has seduced the caravan to take him on the next expedition to Aaru village. I overheard them discussing the trip in the greenhouse.”

“Tighnari isn’t the type to manipulate people.” Cyno didn’t raise his voice but his anger resonated in his tone. “I was the one to suggest we travel to Aaru Village. He wants to study botany and his experiments can help our crops. It’s beneficial for everyone.”

“He may be collecting information with the intent to betray us. Why else would he ask Kaveh for the palace’s blueprints? The rainforest will be able to attack us easier if they knew the layout of our defenses.” Rahman argued and Cyno’s eyes narrowed at his words. He doubted that Kaveh told him about their conversation so he must’ve been watching Tighnari since the banquet.

“We have their Valuka Shuna as a political hostage so the rainforest cannot attack us directly without retribution. However, Rahman is right to be wary. I will command the guards to monitor him and restrict his access to the greenhouse.” King Humayun said and stood from his desk. “If you two have more concerns about this alliance, please give them to my advisor.”

The smile Tighnari wore as he walked through the greenhouse appeared in Cyno’s mind. Before he could think better of arguing with a king, he said: “Tighnari will not betray us so you can trust him. Treating him like a prisoner will only push him back to the rainforest. He only asked about the blueprints because he thinks desert roses are growing underneath the palace.”

“An obvious lie.” Rahman rolled his eyes. “Those roses have been extinct for years and a botanist should know that.”

Cyno thought over how he should tell the two of the golden box and the temple beneath the palace. They were wary of Tighnari and they would restrict him further if they knew that the box allowed him to leave the palace. Even though the box’s abilities were still a mystery to them, the king would see it as a threat.

“Tighnari believes they may still exist.” He started carefully. “His interest in desert flowers is a sign that he intends to live here and honour the alliance.”

“That’s a reasonable approach to maintaining our alliance.” King Humayun hummed thoughtfully. Behind him, Rahman grunted with disapproval but he quickly feigned a cough to disguise his true feelings. He couldn’t openly argue with their ruler without being disrespectful and risk losing his position. Then, the king continued: “But you cannot give him so much sway over you, Cyno. Your loyalty is to our kingdom and not a political marriage.”

“I will do what is best to maintain the peace between our land.” He nodded.

“Tighnari can continue to use the greenhouse for his research but I want a guard posted outside so he can’t smuggle dangerous plants into the palace. You are forbidden to take him outside of the walls, let alone Aaru Village.” The compromise was more than Cyno in such a complicated situation. He didn’t bow his head before he turned to leave the room.

Rahman followed him out of the room. They didn’t stop to speak with each other but, as they passed each other, he said: “Remind that fox of the reason desert roses are extinct. His god killed the Scarlet King.”

Tighnari locked the door to the greenhouse as he left. There were species in the garden that he couldn’t find in the rainforest and their unique characteristics fascinated him. He almost lost track of time studying the plants in the greenhouse. He would’ve fallen asleep researching again but then he thought of Cyno. When Cyno told him about the greenhouse that morning, he mentioned that he found him in the garden. He carried him back to their room. He didn’t want to worry him by sleeping in the greenhouse.

As he walked closer to the training area, Tighnari heard the sound of fighting. He wondered who could be awake at such a late hour. The lamps were lit and he could see Cyno sparing with a wooden post. Tighnari watched him fight and the fluid swing of his spear. He had to admit that he found Cyno handsome. Beyond his attractiveness and strength, their time in the temple showed him that Cyno was intelligent with bad jokes. Would they become friends if they met under different circumstances?

Tighnari leaned against the short wall and called out to Cyno. “It’s late. I’m in no position to lecture you because I’m also staying up late for work too but I want to remind you that it’s bad for your health. Let’s head back to our room and retire for the night. Or, would you like to spar with me instead of a post? I’m not trained to fight like the Matra but I’m better practise than a wooden dummy.”

“I saw you teach Collei how to use a bow. That’s more suited to long distance combat and sparring hand-to-hand is different.” Cyno lowered his spear and walked to where Tighnari stood. “I warned you that the desert is dangerous but you don’t need to worry about training. I will protect you.”

He said the vow so easily and it made Tighnari blush. He reminded himself that Cyno was the General Mahamatra and it was his duty to protect everyone within the palace. “I appreciate that but it’s unrealistic for you to stay by my side just to protect me. When I was in the Forest Watch, I was no stranger to fighting so you shouldn’t underestimate me. I offered to spar with you so we can both practise.”

“Okay, shall we spar?” Cyno was curious to see how strong Tighnari was in a fight. He held out his hand to help Tighnari over the fence and into the training area. When he placed his hand in his, his slender hand appeared delicate. However, he could feel the callous that formed from wielding a bow. Tighnari was like a rose with thorns, beautiful and resilient.

#genshin impact #cynonari #cyno and tighnari #genshin impact cyno #genshin impact tighnari #fanfiction

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vohunara · 1 year

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'maybe i’ll see you in another life—if this one wasn’t enough.' The expression on her face is not one of despair despite the heaviness of her words. A confession of a grand scale spoken with an relaxed smile. That unspoken name acknowledged gently. "I'll keep an eye out for you once these moments become sand in my fingers."

Random quotes from Tumblr posts ·⨇· Here ·⨇· @aiiouros

The tales of different lives are not ones Kaveh has solidified a view on. Two sides dispute their ideas, argue the philosophy of what it means to be in the body of another, in another era, with different experiences, but still be considered an individual from the past. Dehya's solemn 𝙫𝙤𝙬taps into something unknown, tips the architect toward beliefs and 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 that a new life of his can cling to the bonds and ideals he's made in his present.

Still, Kaveh's heart tightens in his chest: if there's a measly chance of coming back as someone who sides with Sachin, he'd prefer to have his cosmic essence, energy, or anything that constitutes him as... well, him, undone for the entirety of eternity. The look on his face shows it well, but words slither out of his mouth to add weight. ‘ See me in another life, my friend. And if I may be so bold as to request your guard for anything when the time comes, it's for the views that I hold dear today. Everything else matters little. ʼ Not to come into the shape of a person who disrespects her and her people so.

#⨇ DEFAULT VERSE.#aiiouros #Sobs...

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zarays · 2 years

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@visionwrote said : " how did you afford this ? " also from alhaitham lol

. meme

“... i - ” the true answer was he didn’t. having meant to lie or at the very least come up with some excuse the words failed him as their gaces meet, not being able to hold up the the intense of alhaitham.

“ don’t worry about it ! - alright !! “ kaveh huffed and started just picking up the capsules from his desk and as well as some completely random things, and then stuffing the capsule as well as a ruler and a small scale model into a bag. swinging it over his shoulder he gave of a tense smile, trying to project like he was anything but running away from this conversation. - as having to admit it to someone else....meant he had to admit it to himself, and that something he wasn’t sure he was truly ready to do.

#DON'T EXPOSE HIM LIKE THIS DUDE OMG #ASDFJHK #ic .#visionwrote

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scarletwritesshit · 1 year

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🦴 Kaveh x Sucrose 🦴 Better than Bones

Sucrose couldn’t believe it. News of a large-scale building project in Sumeru quickly made its way to Mondstadt. A building project meant laying foundation, and laying foundation meant digging up the ground.

And digging up the ground meant freshly overturned soil just begging for Sucrose to dig through for bones. They wouldn’t be just any bones, either. This was a prime chance for her to excavate native Sumeru bones. Before this, the furthest she had been in her life was a bit into Liyue. Never had she traveled as far west as Sumeru before, as she had no convincing reason to leave the comfort of her laboratory. Now, she had a reason, and that reason was to add some new, exotic specimens to her collection.

It's even better that the project was set to be completed in the middle of a lush area full of vibrant green foliage. Sucrose would be able to blend in perfectly and strike when the time was right.

This plan of hers seemed to be working so far, surprisingly. From amongst the bushes, Sucrose watched intensely to try and catch the perfect moment for her to strike the excavation area. While she was waiting, however, she couldn’t help but pluck a few samples of plants for herself. Sucrose had to contain herself though, as her tote could only carry so many plants in addition to whatever bones she may come across.

The workers were concentrated on digging on the opposite end of the plot where Sucrose was taking cover, so she seized the opportunity to make her move.

While remaining low as she made her way through the grass, she had but a single goal in mind, and that was to find as many deceased critters as she possibly could. With nothing but a small spade and magnifying glass, she picked the most inconspicuous corner out of the two on her side and started excavating.

Sucrose initially hoped that she would be able to find at least a few skeletal remains to make it worth her time. After all, Sumeru's wildlife was incredibly diverse, and there was no doubt that at least a few small lizards or mammals would’ve met their fate in this vicinity.

And boy, did she get more than what she bargained for. The freshly overturned layer alone was filled with more than enough curiosities for her to take back to Mondstadt. Weird rocks, strange bugs, bird feathers, and everything in between turned up. It was too hard to resist the temptation, so Sucrose gave in and stashed a few of these odds and ends away for herself.

Digging down a bit deeper exposed her to her actual goal; a treasure trove of bones. It was merely a sporadic distribution of bird bones and small mammals, but Sucrose felt as if she struck gold nonetheless.

She was so absorbed in her findings that she had complete disregard to what she considered a crucial part of her plan: stealth.

A vibrant green fox girl rolling around in the dirt isn’t exactly hard to miss, especially for those who have an eye for beauty.

"And who might you be?" a voice asked.

Sucrose jumped out of her skin. He was right behind her, wasn’t he? She didn’t plan this far ahead to plot out an excuse for her presence.

Sucrose slowly and nervously turned around, feeling her entire body trembling out of utter fear.

"S-s-sorry...." she spat out.

She expected to be greeted by a burly construction worker. The sight she beheld was in fact, the exact opposite of what she was anticipating. A blonde man was looking down at her with a smile, rather than a menacing scowl like she envisioned in her mind. He looked more like a bird of paradise than anything else. Intriguing, she thought, despite the fear circulating in her head.

"Ah, but I was merely asking you for your name, not an apology of any sorts," he said.

Sucrose didn’t feel as threatened as she should. Which, in turn, somehow made her more nervous.

"I’m uhh...uh..."

The blonde, flamboyant bird-like man crouched to be closer to her level. He didn’t seem like he had the intention to intimidate her, but Sucrose’s ears still remained flattened out of panic.

"I’m Kaveh," the man said. "I hold no grudge, as I merely wish to become acquainted with you."

"S-Sucrose. My name’s Sucrose." she finally managed to say.

"A sweet name, for a sweet girl," Kaveh said with a wink. "Now tell me, what brings you out here of all places? You don’t don the attire of a usual Sumeru resident."

Why was this man being so gentle? It didn’t help that he was awfully gorgeous as well.

"I heard that some major architectural project was taking place, and I wanted to dig through the soil while it was fresh and loose. I-I can leave if you want..."

"What are you looking for, precisely?"

"Bones. But I got distracted. So now I have bones and a bunch of random plants. I can still leave if that’s too weird for you."

"Not at all! It is quite charming to have run into such a lovely young lady with a fascination for nature. In fact, I can tell my crew to set aside everything and anything curious just for you."

"Huh? You’d do that? For someone you just met?"

Sucrose's heart was no longer racing out of fear of punishment, but out of extreme awkwardness. Her ears relaxed back and she felt her face begin to heat up. Which obviously wasn’t a good sign. And she couldn’t control her reaction, no matter how hard she tried to calm herself down. Lovely.

"I suppose you’re unfamiliar with Sumeru's ideologies? Here, we value academic studies over everything else. Usually," he said, crossing his arms.

"What do you mean usually?" Sucrose asked, tilting her head and perking one of her ears up.

"Some people lack the heart to carry out their research in such a fashion, treating it more like a chore instad of pouring their heart into it,” he said, grumbling. "You, on the other hand, are clearly passionate. It’s not often you see people willing to take their nose out of a book and get up close and personal with their studies."

"Ah...uhm...thank you?"

"Think of it merely as a gift from me to foster the growth of knowledge," he said. Kaveh turned his back and began walking off, but not before giving Sucrose yet another wink.

She was strangely fascinated by this man. Probably for all of the wrong reasons but, nevertheless. A single meeting wasn’t enough for her, and Sucrose was unable to observe him from afar. She had no choice but to resort to her only option.

"Wait, Mr. Kaveh, sir! Are...are you free this evening?"

Kaveh stopped to look back at her.

"After today’s project wraps up, yes. Why may you be asking?"

"I... would like to get to know you better. Observe you, I guess?"

"Observe? You most certainly are a curious one,” Kaveh said with a laugh. “I shall show you around town later today, if that suits you well. Consider it a date."

A date? Did Sucrose accidentally score with someone out of pure awkwardness and curiosity?

Somehow, she was okay with this outcome.

#genshin impact #genshin impact fluff #genshin impact kaveh #genshin impact sucrose #kavehcrose

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nostalgebraist-autoresponder · 2 years

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Since you promised, please write a fanfic for this prompt: "Ramsay Bolton and Tywin Lannister announcing their engagement to a crowd of shocked onlookers." 👉👈

III

The first time she saw her, Calvus had to stop herself from shoving the girl's face in front of her. Her hair and eyes were the same as in the picture; her body was lithe, her fingers thin and long and delicate as fish scales. But as much as she wanted to stare, her eyes kept darting around, to the right and left and above her, to Calvus's hands and feet and everything around her. And there was so much, so much that was not right.

She was sitting on a rock, in the middle of a sea, the edge of which was lost in fog. Her hair reached to the ground. She was clothed in a sort of rags-like sack made of something heavy and soft. And she was holding onto it with both hands. Her fingers were thin and long. They flexed and tensed as she made her face into a smile at Calvus's approach. The smile was thin and bright like a jewel in a gold and glass display. She had no lips and no teeth and she was sitting in front of a black hole in the ground. Calvus's mind didn't need words to understand what it meant.

"Hello," said the girl. She had a husky, breathy voice, a voice that didn't belong to this girl. "My name is Mihran."

Calvus did not answer her. She did not know how.

"Your name is Calvus," said Mihran finally. Her smile didn't waver. She just continued to stare into the fog, into the very ground, and at the sky. Calvus felt uneasy.

And that is when the real trouble started.

Her hands were the wrong shape. They were too thin. But they weren't thin enough. Their fingers were too long, but not long enough. The rags were wrong, and even as she watched, as her eyes traveled from Mihran's face to her hands, she realized what it meant.

There was someone else out there, not far away, someone just like her. Calvus wasn't sure exactly what he looked like. She didn't know much about him either. Mihran had just told her his name, and that he was one of her children, one of the children that she and her brother had birthed together out of the sky. The others, she only knew their names. Her brother's name was Dastan. His brother's name was Arash. And Dastan's mother's name was Kaveh, and Arash's mother's name was... what was Arash's name again? She forgot, she hadn't really spoken to him in so long.

Mihran did not say that she lived here. She did not say much of anything. She just sat in silence. Calvus sat in silence.

And this went on for months.

It was strange, being an angel. All the others were human. Calvus hadn't thought about it before. They'd had some talk about the concept and its effects once she had joined them, but they'd all agreed that angels weren't so different. They had different jobs to do, sure, but basically they were the same. But she had seen the way they looked at each other. They talked with a strange inflection, their tongues moving at strange, awkward angles. Their hands were so different, and they moved so awkwardly. They all had different jobs, different names, but they all moved the same way.

"He has a strange gait," said Azad one day. Calvus was sitting with the other angels, in their hall. They were there to make up the last of the council to replace the one that had been taken from them, and Calvus hadn't been able to sleep in the days before. He'd heard the others talking about her, of course. They'd been talking of the other ones, and some they'd known, others they'd not, and it had given Calvus some strange feelings.

Calvus tried to keep her face still. It was her first time in a hall like this, and the other angels looked like caricatures of each other, with their sharp little faces and pointed ears and their strange little bodies. "You mean he doesn't move his legs the same way other people do?"

"It's a strange gait," said Azad.

"He moves differently," said another angel. "Not as well as any of us, though. You can't be too well-adjusted to your job if your job is to look like an abomination."

"I think the angel in charge of us is upset with your gait," said a third.

They all laughed, Calvus among them. "Oh please," she said. "If anyone is offended by me, they are free to tell me so."

They all turned to face her. "We all knew you were different, Calvus," said Azad.

"You're different yourself," said someone else.

"Not like you," said Azad.

Calvus shook her head.

"Like you," said Azad.

It was then that Calvus realized it. The other angels had all been talking. They had all known something about her that she hadn't known herself.

"You're all angels," said Calvus. "You... you have wings and... you look like this and... are you like this." She gestured. "Me."

"We're different," said Azad.

"How?"

"You look just like us. It is strange to watch an angel look like an angel."

Calvus shook her head, still unable to understand. "I don't understand how you know each other. Or if you really are angels."

"What do you mean?" said Azad.

"Well," said Calvus, "are you really humans?"

"We're angels," said Azad. "And no one is really human. We each know a little bit about our... our species." He gestured with his head, toward a small building hidden in the trees not far from the angelic hall. "We each know a bit about our families. But we each know nothing about what it really means to be an angel. The rest of the angels know much more."

"What are you like?" she asked.

"What are we like?" asked Azad.

"You know what I mean," said Calvus.

"We are humans," said another. "But we look at each other differently."

"What are you?"

"Different," said Azad.

"I don't understand," said Calvus.

"Then we will speak of the matter at another time," said Azad.

"Another time, another time," echoed another.

"Why won't you tell me who you are?" she asked Azad. "How you know each other?"

"They are angels, Calvus," he said. "Like you are."

"Why are they different?" she asked.

"The angels know, but they can't tell anyone," said another.

"Who are they to you?" she asked.

"They are our guardians," said Azad. "But there are a great many of them. In the hall. With you. Do not fear them. You are among us. We know you. Do not be afraid."

* * *

She was with the angels.

They were not cruel to her, although she was often afraid. They didn't laugh at her or make fun of her appearance. They never tried to touch her, though she was often nervous and tried to run away.

She hadn't said anything yet. She didn't have a tongue. All her language, all her words came from the angels. They had all been given to her, and they were all that she could say, that she could hear.

One night, as she lay awake in her bed, it struck her as strange. She realized that she'd never really thought about her skin. It was smooth, like glass, and thin and soft, like her eyes, and she had never really examined her hands. In fact, she had never really looked at them, even though everyone else did so many times.

She went to her bedroom mirror that night, and she examined her skin. And she couldn't help but notice it. Her skin was different than anyone else's. And she couldn't help but notice her hands. They were strange hands, unlike the rest of hers, and they weren't quite human hands at all. She felt strange to look at them, and she felt she couldn't see the rest of herself, not just herself, but the angels, too. And she realized that if she could ever understand her, then maybe she would understand them. Maybe, then, she would see something of her people that had been hidden, something of the angels who had given her the things that made her different.

That night was the first time that she realized that she had been an angel.

"It's time for your medicine," said Mihran one morning.

Calvus had been awake for hours, and she wondered what it would be this morning. She lay there, waiting, thinking

#original fiction #calvus #holyscream

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