setting aside despair agony anguish madness etc.

i love how dantes gives his biggest reveal speech, so dramatic, so intense, and villefort just. moves on immediately.

so far, every time he revealed his real name, people were thunder struck and all previous matters where abandoned, because it's DANTES ! a ghost rising from his grave !

while villefort's response is just: "ok. are you done ?"

The Hanging Tree

Your existence remains shrouded in mystery. Is only known with a melodic voice, a wanderer, or resembles as a ghost freely roams in Teyvat. He couldn't find you. You're near, yet too far. Too distant for his grasp.

TW: Angst with no comfort? Unsure for Lyney's part.

Scaramouche & Lyney X Reader!LucyGray (Hunger Games inspired)

note: I used to write stuffs so sorry if my writing is rusty. 🥹🥹🙏

Are you, are you comin' to the tree?

Where they strung up a man, they say, who murdered three?

Trees heavy with snow on it's tips. Cold breeze brushing off his stoned face. He felt nothing but devoid of sensation. Sitting on the lonely, cold bench. Scaramouche did not mean to kill your friend. He did not mean to betray your friend. He did NOT mean it. He was just trying to get him and you, escape from the scene of the crime. His first arrival of the Snezhnaya may be turned out to be great but after meeting you— his walls has fallen, unnoticed. He thought that his illed friend will be the last time to let someone in his life. A puppet who promised himself not to get attached, has a change of heart. You're too good to be true. Singing in the bar with the crowds enjoying your songs. Such charisma exceeds its lengths that a human, he thought, would have. And it lured him. Having shared interests and desires. Mainly yours. Your desire to be free. Yet, he doesn't know his. Then, it leads to this. It was all good but... The final sight etched in his mind was the lifeless forms of the duke's daughter, her assailant, and your former partner. And you, stood behind him. Such history you have with these three before you. Your friend saved you from exposing your plans upon escaping the hands of The Knave. You owed him for it. And died. As a punishment of him killing these victims. It wasn't your friend's fault. It's his. His sole intention was to save himself, inadvertently leaving your friend to face the consequences. He didn't mean it.

But did you knew this all along? The song— you sang about the tree. He thought that was dedicated to your ex. But it is a message that you knew all along. Scaramouche gazes at his trembling hand, unable to control it. Despite acknowledging his wrongdoing, your abrupt disappearance has left him stunned. He couldn't call this as betrayal but sees it as a consequence of dropping his guard around you— or a punishment. He blames you, seeing your actions as the catalyst for further complications. But he knows that the fault is not yours.

He refuse to accept it. Refusing to accept that he's become attached to your perilous allure.

Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be

If we met at midnight in the hanging tree.

Lyney didn't intend to conceal his identity from you to betray your trust. He didn't mean to. Eyes could not even bare to look at his trusted attorney. Not even yours. He have no guts to see your reaction. The revelation did shocked almost everyone in the opera as the archon stood confidently on the opposite side. Murmurs can be heard beneath him. But all he wondered is, what would be your reaction? Yet again, he doesn't have enough courage to look at you. To know how you felt— that he and her sister being part of the House of Hearth, tormenting you even in your sleep. You confessed that you to be in there and escaped. And you should consider yourself fortunate that 'Father' hasn't mentioned anything about an escapee. Did you escaped during the times of the previous Knave or— 'Not 's the time!' Scolding himself as he and her sister went a small, one hour recess with the Traveler. All Lyney could think about is you. He really didn't mean it. His heart beating in anticipation to reach out for you. To apologise that his intentions weren't there to pursue or harm you in any way. Even her sister can perceive the thumping of his heart and the restless movement of his hands concealed behind his back. It's clear that he didn't intend to deceive those who placed their trust in him. The Traveler, and you.

Much to his dismay. To his damn dismay. You were nowhere to be seen. As his eyes darted to where you had been sitting, the seat lay empty. It was the worst-case scenario he had desperately hoped to avoid. He can be put into jail for all he cares, or facing 'Father's' punishment for any mistake that hindered their goal, but your vanishing act after discovering this deceitful truth was something he dreaded.

Though he could sense a faint glimmer of hope for understanding from the Traveler, it wasn't sufficient to kindle the light. You're gone. It wasn't his intention. He didn't mean to.

"Lyney," her sister said, attempting to draw him out of his swirling thoughts. Lyney hadn't even noticed the tears streaming down his face as he caught sight of a familiar scarf. It's from yours.

You're not easy to understand. Just like flowers can hold multiple meanings just through their description. It signify a farewell and a hope for reunion. Is this flower solely about separation, envisioning a future meeting somewhere? Or perhaps in an alternate universe where their roles wouldn't hinder your relationship with him. He's willing to wait longer for you. Respecting whatever emotions you may be feeling—anger, confusion, or distress. This message stands as his gesture, even if he's not entirely certain of your return. But perhaps, he can hope for this one. Just maybe, one day.

note: Thank you for scrolling all the way here! 🥹🥹🫶