moon-song

[moon-song]

i am SO tempted to pull for alhaitham he is so gorgeous

[moon-song]

Little Endearing Things They Do

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Pairings: Alhaitham, Ayato, Zhongli, Heizou, Diluc, Xiao, Cyno, Thoma x (gn!) Reader (separate)

Summary: Little endearing gestures they do that make you fall for them anew every time - or how they show their love without words.

Tags: Pure Fluff, established relationships, headcanons with short scenario drabbles

A/N: First fic post of 2023! Hope this year will be a great one for you all ♥ May all your wishes both in Genshin and irl come true (my next wish is for Alhaitham to come home... I am down bad in the worst type of way.)

ALHAITHAM

Wordlessly offers his lap for you to lie down on whenever you come home from work and are exhausted.

He asks you if you want to talk about your day while brushing over your head or carding through your hair.

While you talk he keeps reading his book and continues to massage your head until you eventually find yourself falling asleep on his lap.

You let the door fall shut behind you as you throw your bag into the corner. A long sigh escaped your throat, causing Alhaitham to look up from the book he was currently reading on the sofa.

You dropped down next to him and leaned against his shoulder wordlessly. He lifted one of his arms and pulled your head down to comfortably rest on his lap. He always had the best intuition about what you needed.

“Exhausting day?”

“Mhm.”, you hum.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“No.”

You pause looking up at him with a soft smile that always made his knees turn weak. And he knew what you were about to say. Instinctively he had already begun carding through your hair and massaging your scalp, knowing full well it was the fastest way to calm you down and make you feel better.

“Can you read me from your book?”, you ask with doe eyes.

“This is a book about advanced physics, I don’t think it will be interesting to you, love.”

“I just want to listen to your voice, I don’t care what it is you’re saying, Haitham.”, you say with a sleepy smile.

“Wait, does that mean you’re not listening to me?”, he asked with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

“Oh shut up you doofus, I know you love it as much as I do. You just don’t want to admit it.”, you giggle. And you were absolutely right. And how could he ever deny your wish?

AYATO

Usually comes to bed really late.

You’re asleep most of the time he finally lays down and he hates it as much as you do. He’d love to go to bed and fall asleep with you together but most of the time it is outside of his ability to do so because of his work as the Yashiro Commissioner.

Yet every night when he comes to bed and sees your sleeping form he lies down next to you and cups your cheek with his palm. 

He softly brushes over it with his thumb with his lips curved into a fond smile.

Like most of the time, Ayato leaves his office when the rest of the estate has already fallen quiet. He sneaks down the hallway to your shared bedroom and slowly slides the door open.

You were already lying in bed and were fast asleep. Comfortably cozied up in the blankets and breathing shallowly and calm.

Ayato smiled to himself as soon as he spotted your sleeping form. He slipped into bed next to you and cupped your cheek with his palm. It felt warm underneath his hand and you smiled in your sleep as soon as you felt his familiar touch. If it wasn’t for his self-restraint and unwillingness to disturb your sleep he’d impulsively nuzzle into your chest.

He intertwined his long-slender fingers with yours, squeezing your hand with his, and just lay there for a while, taking in every single one of your features. Observing how your chest rose and fell slowly, how your eyes moved below your lids and how your lips formed into a faint smile whenever you felt his tender touch on your skin.

He smiled and slowly closed his eyes and felt himself drift off into slumber. Maybe he was rarely able to go to bed with you together, but all he needed was to have you by his side.

ZHONGLI

Sometimes you don’t know what you did to deserve Zhongli in your life since he always makes you feel so unconditionally loved.

He is always showing you his love in more ways than one. There are just so many little endearing things he does that make you fall in love every day anew.

One of the many things he does is unpromptedly bring a cup of steaming, freshly-brewed tea to your desk while you are working.

The tea is always brewed with the utmost precision and care. Zhongli has perfectioned brewing your favorite blend down to a T.

You heard a faint knock on the door to your office before it was slowly opened. 

You half expected the person walking through the door already but it never failed to bring a smile to your face nonetheless. In his hand, Zhongli was holding a fresh cup of tea and it smelled divine. As usual.

He walked up to your desk and carefully put the cup with the golden liquid down in front of you.

“Thought I’d bring you something to destress.” He donned his handsome signature smile before brushing over your shoulders with one hand. Leaning down he tenderly pressed his lips to your temple.

The little gesture always made your heart flutter in your chest and hold onto the cup as if it was a gift from the gods themselves.

“Let me know if you need anything, my love. I’m just next door.”

“Mh-hm. Will do. Thank you, Li.”, you mused with a content smile

He made sure to press another kiss to your temple before wordlessly heading out of your office again in order to not disturb your workflow further.

As soon as you heard the door click shut you lifted the cup and took a sip from it. The warm liquid spread evenly across your tastebuds and not only did it warm your from the inside out but the thought of Zhongli always pouring his heart into a simple little gesture such as making tea for you made your heart swell as well.

You truly considered yourself the luckiest person in the entirety of Teyvat for being able to call him yours.

HEIZOU

He’s a total tease and that’s what you love so much about him! You never fully know what is going on behind those cheeky eyes.

Frequently sneaks up to you to tickle your sides before hugging you from behind

Honestly, it’s amazing how quiet he can be when he walks.

If you had to guess, both his anemo vision and his profession probably contribute to that.

You were standing in the garden of your home, gazing into the distance where you could make out the faint shoreline in the distance. There was a mild gush of wind blowing in your direction and you closed your eyes, surrendering your senses to the breeze.

Due to that, you missed how the little menace you called your boyfriend snuck up behind you. With a mischievous glint in his eyes and an up-to-no-good smirk plastered on his lips, he lifted his hands up to your waist. He let them hover there for a while before he finally clasped down on your waist and started tickling you with fervor.

Your reaction whenever he did it is what he lived for. You let out a loud squeak and tumbled backward against Heizou’s chest. Unable to control your laughter you felt breathless and tears soon started pooling in your eyes begging him to stop the tireless onslaught on your midriff.

“Hei-Heizou… haha, st-stop it, please. I ca-can’t breathe… hahaha!”

“Hmmm, what did you say, sweetheart? I don’t think I can understand what you’re saying when you’re gasping like that.”

“St-Stop please.”, you shriek. While laughing tears you hopelessly wriggle in his arms. You were desperately trying to get away from his hands until he suddenly stopped and slung both of his arms tightly around you for an embrace. Pressing his face in the crook of your neck and placing a soft kiss there with a mischievous smile. You could feel it despite not actually seeing his facial expression.

“Why didn’t you say so immediately?”, he teased.

“I will make you pay for this later!”

DILUC

Loves being near you and wordlessly lets you know that he is there for you.

At the same time, he doesn’t want to overburden you with his physical touch so it will just be fleeting touches throughout the day.

May it be a short brush with his hand along your waist as he walks past you, grabbing your hand in passing for a little squeeze, or simply pressing a quick kiss to your temple.

He also regularly hooks his pinky finger into your belt loop when you’re in a crowded place with him. Just to make sure you’re staying near so that he can keep you safe.

Today had been an exceptionally busy day at the Dawn Winery. If not the busiest of the entire year for Diluc. The Windblume festival was coming up so he had to take care of all sorts of goods, trading, and setting up a stand at the festival plaza.

You barely got to see him at all throughout the day, but of course, you didn’t mind. You knew he had a lot of things to do. Yet despite that every time he saw you, he let his hand linger on your hip for a while as he passed by you, pressed a quick kiss to your lips before heading out again, or simply gave your hand a little squeeze.

Now it was nearing the end of the day as you finally heard the familiar clink of the door and steps down the hall that you would recognize any time of the day.

“I’m home!”, Diluc yelled.

You promptly rushed towards the foyer and down the stairs and basically jumped straight into his arms. He slung his arms around your shoulders and placed a kiss on the crown of your head with a fond smile. Archons, he hasn’t even been away for a day and his heart already yearned to be close to you.

“I’m glad you’re finally home.”, you cheered, burying your face in his coat. His familiar scent filled your nostrils and made you nuzzle deeper into his chest.

“I’m glad I am, too. I hope I didn’t bother you today by just giving you attention in passing.”, he mumbled with his lips still half-pressed against your forehead.

“Nonsense. I appreciate it more than you can think.”

XIAO

Keeps looking at you full of love every now and then throughout the day.

Grabs your hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze every now and then as well.

A small fond smile forms on his lips and a sparkle appears in his eyes.

Whenever you catch him looking at you he always quickly averts his gaze and a blush starts to bloom across his cheeks.

Xiao and you sat together in silence, watching the sundown enwrap the surroundings of Liyue Harbor in a golden glow. He glanced over at you and watched how you basked in the setting sun with closed eyes and your signature smile painted on your lips. He once again found himself entranced by your beauty. He considered himself to be the luckiest man in the entire world to be able to enjoy such a sight.

Xiao smiled to himself while continuing to watch your sunkissed form beside him and he could feel his heart swell in his chest. He loved you like he never loved before and he wished he could be by your side like this forever.

Silently he scooted a little closer to you and carefully grabbed your hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze and diverted his attention back to the sunset to prevent you from seeing his flustered expression.

It’s a habit he had formed. No matter if it was because he sensed danger because he sensed you were unwell, or simply because he wanted to be close to you. His hands now naturally found their way to yours. Interlocking your fingers and squeezing them lightly. It was his way of telling you he would always be there for you.

CYNO

You’re the first one he wants to tell his newest jokes to.

Cyno frequently comes up to you to crack another one and it always ends in the same manner.

Nonetheless, it always fills you with an incredible amount of joy… despite how bad they usually are.

You have to admit, the funniest part about his jokes is his reaction to your response to them and not the actual joke. But to be fair, you think that’s the special charm that made you fall for him in the first place.

“A biologist, a chemist, and a statistician are out hunting.”, Cyno recited proudly. His signature smirk was plastered on his face that let you know that he was putting forward a new joke again. “The biologist shoots at a deer and misses 5 feet to the left. The chemist takes a shot and misses 5 feet to the right. The statistician yells, ‘We got 'em!’”

You stare at him with a deadpan expression. The joke was so bad you didn’t even know how to respond and arguably, most people wouldn’t even understand it. 

He seemed to mistake your expression for not understanding the joke and began to explain it in lengthy detail.

“See this is funny because statisticians calculate averages and the average of minus five and plus five is zero and–”

“Cyno, stop! It’s already dead!”, you groaned with a giggle.

“No, actually the deer survived because that’s–”

“Honey…”, you interrupted with a half-sigh half-laugh. You walked up to him and put your palm on his chest. “I understood it the first time.”

“Oh.”

THOMA

Regularly leaves already way before you wake up in the morning due to his work obligations.

But despite that, he always makes sure to prepare some breakfast for you.

He knows you often dawdle around in the mornings and forget to eat - not on his watch though.

Whenever you wake up you can be sure he left a little note on the fridge 

He also always draws smiley faces or hearts on them. 

You shuffled from the bedroom to the kitchen. Slightly cranky you rubbed your eyes and yawned before you sat down at the table. 

Out of your peripheral, you spotted a yellow sticky note on the fridge that immediately brought a smile to your face. Thoma may already be at work but he always made sure you felt loved by him. And if you were honest, his little notes always made the start to your day a little easier and happier.

You got up from your chair and peeled the little note off the fridge to read it.

“Good Morning, Angel. There is a little surprise for you today. Love you xoxo.”

In anticipation, you opened the fridge and wondered what breakfast would greet you today. Porridge? Fruit salad? Or maybe… his signature fluffy pancakes? 

But as soon as you opened the fridge you couldn’t help but feel disappointed. There was nothing in there. Of course, you knew he didn’t have to make you breakfast but you always looked forward to it. 

You couldn’t help but pout and were just about to turn around to get ready for the day in instead when you felt a pair of familiar arms sling around your waist.

“Disappointed?”, Thoma said from behind you with a teasing lilt in his voice.

“Thoma? I thought you were at work.”, you uttered in surprise and turned around in his arms to hug him tightly.

“I got today off. Now then… pancakes?”

“Yes!”

Do not repost, copy, translate or edit - © dustofthedailylife || reblogs, comments, and asks about Genshin or my fics are always greatly appreciated and motivate me! Maple dividers are mine - do not copy.

[moon-song]

A SINGLE THREAD OF GOLD (TIED ME TO YOU) 𓍯 series of events where you realize your fate with him is much more intertwined than how you initially believed it to be.

INCLUDES. 🪡 childe, thoma, xiao, zhongli (i might do a part two for ayato, diluc, kazuha !! i just wanted to get this out of my drafts as soon as possible 😭)

AUTHOR’S NOTE. you know the trope “omygod it’s annoying you’ve been by my side all the time but somehow it became less annoying… i like it even and omg i didn’t notice that what i’m looking for is you all along” ?? yes this is that trope … inspired by taylor swift’s invisible string and the movie harry met sally! both got me in a chokehold rn. also the angst levels increase the further you scroll down.

somehow friends to lovers, mentions of wedding and settling down.

childe is a friend. although, he isn’t the type of friend that you share your secrets with, not a friend who regularly contacts you to hang out, nor is he a friend that eats ice cream with you whenever you get your heart broken. childe is the friend you met through mutual connections, the one that makes you say ‘oh! what a small world’ because you just met him last week at a friend’s birthday and now he’s attending as one of the groomsmen at your distant relative’s wedding.

he’s equally surprised as you, of course he wouldn’t forget the one person that told him: “god this party sucks” when the celebrant was just literally behind the two of you. he remembers you being brazen and holding a glass of beer on one hand.

just like the birthday party, during the wedding’s reception, childe finds himself sitting beside you. he asks you how you’re doing as if a lot happened within the week you were separated.

(“you say that as if a week could eventful.”

“hey! a lot can happen in a week!”

you raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to prove his point.

“like one of your friends getting married!” he gestures to the now married couple dancing.

you find yourself stupidly laughing.)

you both enjoy yourselves together. in the short period of time you sat beside him, you figured that childe was fun to be around and he basically knows everyone in the city.

that’s why, you couldn’t help but joke that you might see him again in another wedding.

(you did.)

surprise was an understatement when you saw him entering the venue. this time, you were a bridesmaid, and he was the cousin of the groom. and just like the previous wedding, childe finds himself sitting beside you, now talking about how the last two months went for you.

(“you better not tell me i can’t ask you about how you spent the last two months because it’s a short time.”

“you know how a year for a human is seven years for a dog?”

“you’re telling me i’m the dog?”

once again, you idiotically laugh.)

this time around, you found out that childe’s real name was ajax. childe was just a nickname given to him by his 8th grade teacher and the name has been stuck ever since. you figured out that he likes the nickname rather well— he tells you that it makes him interesting to which you disagree, sparking a thirty minute debate between you two.

when the party died down, and you were called to help the newly wedded bride, you both bid each other good night. this time, it was his turn to joke about the next wedding you two will meet.

(“if i saw you again in another wedding, i promise to shave my head.”

you snort, “see you at the next wedding then.”)

the moment you meet childe once again, you were a little bit disappointed that you weren’t wearing another bridesmaid dress. however, childe was more than ecstatic that he met you in a baby shower hosted by a mutual friend (once again).

the moment the couple popped the balloon which launched dozens of pink confetti to the air, childe appears right beside you almost immediately.

this time, you find out that he’s equally anxious as you to see the people in your life settling down. that your friends left and right are getting married and having kids, while you had the trouble of looking for someone to spend new year’s eve with.

(“don’t you think that all these events we’re attending are getting suffocating?”

this was the first time you wholeheartedly agree with him without the teasing.)

when everyone else was starting to clean up, and you finally put your hand on your friend’s belly to feel the baby kick, childe tells you he’s going home with a box of take outs. he finally asks you for your number, telling you that he hopes to see you again without the pressuring reminders of settling down.

(“see you on new years?”

“see you on new years.”)

five months went by without the wedding and baby shower invitations, you were glad to say the least. while you were incredibly happy for your friends, you can’t help but to feel insecure for being unable to settle down like the most of them are.

childe and you call sometimes, mostly right before bed and you always scold him for ruining your body clock. but as whiny as you can be, you never actually hung up on him.

these conversations over the phone let you discover little things about childe. like how he hates ketchup on eggs but is fine with it being on everything else, how he likes eating mint choco flavored ice cream but detests anything else flavored mint, and the fact that one of his hobbies is crocheting stuffed toys for teucer who you learned was childe’s youngest brother.

he came from a big family from the country side. he had three older siblings and another three that followed him. you learn that he was a family man; he specifically treasures and adores the three younger ones left at home.

you discover that to them, childe is ajax— the dependable big brother.

during the phone calls, ajax tells you his adventures back home. how he once got pulled into the lake after catching a fish bigger than him, how he once went home with more than enough bruises after learning how to skate for the first time. in return, you supply him the latest office gossip; how the boss and his secretary were sleeping together and almost got caught by the wife. putting things into perspective, your stories were much more dull.

despite these phone calls starting to become a part of your nightly routine, you both never came around to the idea of spending time with each other in personal.

however, the promise of spending new years with each other still remains. and when the night came, you were all bundled up in his arms from complaining how cold it was outside. it was now his turn to complain about the cold as you have succeeded at stealing his mittens and scarf.

(“you didn’t think you could dress for the weather?”

“my coats at home ruin my dress.”)

when the countdown starts and the ball finally drops, everyone starts kissing their partners while you could only stare at childe’s lips. he does the same to you, and before you knew it, you were leaning towards each other, finding the warmth of your lips.

ajax finally meets you halfway and the moment just felt right.

(the next wedding you attend to was yours. and every single one of your mutual friends were invited.)

friends to lovers, swearing.

thoma has been there for your first heartbreak.

he was there to watch every sappy romcoms known to man with you, he was there to give you a new roll of tissue whenever you ran out, and he was right beside you to clean up whatever mess you made.

thoma has been there when your first love shattered your heart into pieces just like how you’ve been there for him when his broke.

the two of you fell easily into a routine; he listens when you gush over the guy you recently met while you give him advice on how to win over his seat mate in class. he reassures you that it wasn’t your fault that things ended up that way while you listen to his frustrations about how incorrigible his girlfriend was. the two of you share a microwave meal as you both whine how relationships are tiring only for the two of you to share a tub of ice cream two weeks later, as you talk about how beautiful it is to love.

the night you call him, your words gibberish and barely comprehensible, it doesn’t take thoma very long to piece the puzzles together. you were obviously upset (upset is an understatement) about your recent romantic endeavor and it was up to thoma to cheer you up just like you’ve done for him many times.

on his way to your home, he picks up a tub of ice cream, a pack of tissue to be safe, and a romantic film that he knew would make you laugh at the ridiculousness.

he rings your doorbell to which you open the door in response, and he sees you standing in your pjs, eyes bloodshot and snot all over your nose. while this was the typical look whenever you were heartbroken, thoma is confused and left to wonder— you have yet to mention being interested to someone for the past two months.

but when a gold envelope haphazardly thrown on the kitchen counter catches his eyes, thoma gets the idea.

“he’s getting married.” you sob loudly, “he’s fucking getting married.”

the male hands you the box of tissue he bought, and you motion him to enter the flat.

“all this time, i thought he didn’t want to get married ever, but he just meant that he didn’t want to get to married to me,” you cry harder than what thoma was accustomed to, and scared that you might literally fall apart, he leads you to your couch.

“and you know what’s funny? they’re getting married on spring,” you inhale briefly, “in fucking spring thoma! that’s when i wanted to get married.”

the man pats you in the back, “he was a douche anyway; i didn’t like him.” thoma takes out the ice cream he bought, handing it to you and the spoon urging you to eat like it would make your problems disappear right away.

as if you hadn’t heard your friend, you continue venting out your frustrations. “and get this: the girl he’s marrying is hannah.”

“hannah?”

“hannah on your 21st birthday. your hannah!”

“oh.”

he sits on the couch, grabs the tub of ice cream and keeps it to himself.

and then the two of you sit in silence.

“do you think this is god’s way of telling us that we’re meant for each other?”

thoma raises an eyebrow.

“i mean, all the people that throws us away—“ thoma decides that he will lecture you on your choice of words, “—end up being together. like maybe we’re so bad that we’re made for each other?”

“which movie did you watch without me?” he teases, to which you take offense because you would never dare to watch a bad movie without him. the rest of the night continues without the topic being brushed over once again but for a moment, thoma actually considers the thought.

maybe, just maybe.

five months followed, and you never cried out your heart to him ever since. thoma, finds himself relinquishing from meeting new people, taking time to sort out himself partly. the other part knows that ever since you told him your silly theory about why your relationships always end up as failures, thoma had started seeing you more than as a friend.

he thinks that he’d make a great damn boyfriend; better than anyone else you had. he knows exactly what makes you double on the floor for laughing, the food you want to eat on certain days, and how to calm you down whenever you were anything but.

despite that, thoma waits. he waits for you to come to him, waiting for you to realize, and waiting for you to be ready. so when you call him up on a friday night, just to hang and not talk about how relationships were taxing, that was the moment he knew.

when you told him you wanted to see another romcom movie without being gibberish and snot blocking your nose, he decides that maybe it’s finally the right time.

thoma lives for the after. the after of every failed relationship because he knows that at the end of the tunnel, there is hope. that in every relationship he enters, he’ll be one step closer to “the one”. and as he looks at you, fighting to keep your eyes wide open to watch yet another sappy romcom movie, he realizes you were the after.

kind of soulmates to lovers, reincarnation, character death (but it’s a happy/hopeful ending don’t worry)

xiao dreams.

at night, dreams plague him in his sleep and he wakes up wondering what is it all about.

illustrations of what wang shu inn looked like more than 10,000 years ago visits him in his sleep, the old liyue looking so vivid as if he lived to tell the its tales.

in these dreams, xiao is always visited by the same person. their hair covers almost half of their face whenever the wind blows, their lips always chastising the “him” in his dreams, their smile was so bright that it completely unravels the heavy knot on xiao’s chest.

and xiao finds himself longing. whenever he wakes up in the morning, he yearns for this person. for him, it feels like the act of falling in love with someone you don’t know, missing somebody you never met.

(“promise that you will look for me in our next lives, alatus.”

xiao jolts awake.)

the young man has heard of that name before.

in his history class, way back in 7th grade, he had heard the feats and victories that belonged to the name. a fearless warrior that served liyue’s god, alatus was said to die peacefully years after the war yet he was all alone.

he had lived his life devoted to the god of contracts; spending his days fighting demons, alatus’ loyalty was to liyue and its people.

xiao hears that a museum nearly ten blocks away has opened to visitors. it is said it contains almost all the rich history of liyue that remains untouched, including portraits and statues once revered many years ago. there, xiao seeks answers.

he arrives at the sight of a familiar figure.

“do you know him?”

you turn around, looking at the guy bewildered.

“i’d have to be really old for me to know him,”

xiao feels his breath taken away from him as he finally confirms his suspicions; you looked exactly like the person in his dreams, only your hair is much shorter. the flurry of emotions inside of him breaks the dam; his heart pounding loudly in his chest that any louder you would have heard it, his head filled with incomplete memories, and his lungs struggling to breath.

(one night at wangshu inn, he sees you brushing your hair.

“join me and let’s look at the stars together.” you pat the space next to you.

“waste of my time.” he tsks, before muttering his breath but he finds himself taking his rightful place beside you.)

he notices the way your eyebrows furrow at him and your lips turning into a pout. “has anyone told you that you look exactly like the guy in the painting?”

true to your words, when xiao gazes upwards, he sees himself staring back at him. eyes bore into his soul, scrutinizing his every move and it’s extremely weird that such painting makes him feel like he’s being watched, and by himself no less.

below the painting, a gold plate is mounted against the wall.

a lover’s oath.

alatus in the art is holding someone. their white clothing smeared with blood, and the tears that fall from the yaksha’s face were enough to tell xiao that they were in their last moments before separation.

strangely, xiao feels a tug on his heart strings. an overwhelming feeling looks over him, and he feels like he’s about to cry.

“it brings you to tears, doesn’t it?”

(xiao in his dreams feels like his heart was ripped open.

in his arms, the only person he might have loved is already dying. the blood from the wound seeping on their clothes is a reminder that it’s only minutes away before their impending doom.

xiao, for the first time in a while, cries when he wakes up.)

“i dream of the person in white,” xiao suddenly confesses.

“they say that they might have been alatus’ friend, companion, and lover.” you tell him, reading from the standee near you.

when you receive no reply from the male, you glance at him and your eyes meet.

intrigue, you ask, “how do they look like in your dreams?”

“they look like you.”

the timeline varies but it’s mainly centered in whatever the genshin timeline is for plot convenience, references to death (still happy ending), reincarnation au, it literally takes several lifetimes for zhongli to realize he likes you, literally the “i’m god’s favorite mortal; he favors me” pipeline. ALSO i got carried away im sorry

first.

you first meet zhongli as a refugee from the waging war. the god governing your land slaughtered mercilessly by those who seek more power. your feet brings you to morax; looking for a shelter and protection.

you almost got turned away, even receiving snide remarks from higher beings for being naively brave to seek protection from a god when you were nothing but a mortal.

(but what is a god’s purpose if not to protect the nation he governs and the people inhabiting it?)

it was only in the right hand deity’s grace were you able to stay.

so like a fish out of water, you live amongst immortals, making yourself useful with mundane tasks that warriors shouldn’t be bothered with.

(when you died in the hands of the enemy, it served as a reminder why morax fights this war.)

second.

the next time zhongli notices of your presence, it was in the middle of the rise of liyue harbor. he is finally a step closer to building a safe land to house his people; long years of the war soon to be buried.

morax, now known as rex lapis, hears every single prayer made at his statues.

he feels you ardently take care of the sculptures and in return, he passionately listens to your pleas of saving your sick mother.

(on your way home one day, you find a plant you’ve never seen before. you take its fruit for your mother to eat as you hold onto your faith, hoping that this may be the answer to your prayers.

the next day, she stands up from her bed for the first time in a long while.)

third.

the first time you were able to hold a conversation with zhongli, was his first time walking amongst mortals.

he now goes by jiawei, a struggling merchant trying to strike a fortune in the harbor— at least that’s what he tells you during your introductions.

you’ve always thought that jiawei was a noble’s son. his vast knowledge on liyue’s history, his proficiency in reading and writing, and his peculiar taste for lavishness gave it away. furthermore, there were days he hadn’t been present, and you surely assumed it was due to his duties as a noble.

zhongli, or jiawei in this life, shares myths and legends of ancient liyue to you while you show him the ropes of living as a simple commoner in his land. he teaches you how to read and write while you teach him what goes on at the streets of the harbor.

(when jiawei doesn’t appear one night to meet you under the stars, you assume he finally grew out of his childlike wonder and immaturity. instead, he grows into the shoes that were his noble duties.)

fourth.

zhongli catches your reincarnation crying underneath an oak tree this time.

he approaches you gently, wishing to comfort an old friend even if you probably don’t remember him. a hand behind your back soothes whatever distress you’re carrying as he tells you everything will be alright.

zhongli learns you are bound to suffer the same fate as almost every maiden in his country.

in a few months or so, your hand will be taken and you will be forced to marry someone whom you have yet to meet.

and zhongli, for the first time, meets someone who openly cursed rex lapis.

(“trust in the lord rex lapis my foot, he doesn’t even listen to my prayers!”

zhongli purses his lips— if only you retained your past memories.)

the following week, your father shared good news that you wouldn’t have to marry to save your clan from ruin. apparently, your crops have never been better and every merchant is seeking business with you.

the next time you see the man who listened you vent out your frustrations under a tree, you thank him for the comfort you received. he expresses his happiness as you tell him that maybe rex lapis isn’t deaf after all while you don’t catch the slight tense on his shoulders.

(that life, just like any other life, you thank him with a different name yet again. zhongli feels that he’s close to losing his identity.)

fifth.

“i know you from somewhere.”

“that wouldn’t be possible; i have just gotten back from my travels.”

“i know you from a long time ago.”

“again, that would be impossible.”

the fifth time zhongli meets you, he notices that your sense of deja vu has gotten stronger.

the god gives you his mortal name that he decided to stick to, making it the first time among others that you meet him under the name zhongli.

in this life, he tells you that he’s a scholar that hails from the land of sumeru with keen interest on liyue’s rich history, and now he’s traveling across teyvat for his studies. you find yourself not believing him one bit.

he tells you stories from his travels, from the hospitality of mondstandt to the exquisite cuisine of inazuma, zhongli recounts the wonders of each nations he’s visited. but from his stories, you know that the man’s heart will always remain in liyue.

and as months passed by and seasons changed, you find yourself wishing that his heart would remain with you as well. but the god resigned himself to a much crueler fate; to walk down a path alone and by himself.

(“i think i love you.”

“it shall pass.”)

sixth.

the heart is a fickle thing, zhongli realizes.

in your previous lifetime, he refused to return your feelings and for a while, he’s committed to it. but as he lays his eyes on you for the first time in this lifetime, he was suddenly reminded that he too, was capable of loving.

zhongli doesn’t approach you, afraid that the feelings he has locked away far deep into the trenches of his heart will blossom and turn into something as beautiful as flowers. but alas, your soul finds his, under the same oak tree that he once found you under, and you almost remembered.

(“i just know that you were special to me.”

zhongli almost caves.)

seventh.

almost a century passes by and zhongli’s feelings for you remain the same. you died and you were reborn.

he never reveals himself to you.

eighth.

ninth.

tenth.

eleventh.

(“why do you seem so afraid?”

the god does not reply, afraid that his voice might give him away.

“why can’t you give us a chance?”)

twelfth.

when zhongli is just zhongli and rex lapis was no more, he comes and finds you.

he dines with you in your favorite restaurant, he walks around the harbor with you hand in hand, and he finally takes you to places in liyue to see its beauty that the textbooks could never justify.

for the first time, the ex archon takes the key and unlocks his heart, allowing himself to love with no restrictions.

(you die from old age, and you know that your husband isn’t anything like you for his hair remained dark while yours turned white, his skin smooth and soft while yours had turned wrinkled and rough from time.)

twentieth.

liyue’s skies have been crying non stop and zhongli is to blame partly.

while he had renounced his claim to the land long ago, a part of his soul is still linked to his beloved nation.

your body remained lifeless, cold, and bitter in the god’s arms. you died peacefully in your sleep, beside your lover and zhongli feels like heart in his chest is being ripped apart slowly and painfully.

as a mortal, you were granted with infinite numbers of reincarnations. you meet zhongli, you spend your lifetime with him wondering why his touch feels so familiar, and then you die peacefully. the cycle repeats.

(zhongli is cursed; he’s sure of it.

while he remembers every waking moment with you, you were bound to forget him and the lives you spent together.

but still, even if the cycle of losing you hurts more than any wound he received from the wars he fought, zhongli continues.

for what is grief if not love persevering?)

twenty-fifth.

through the years, he has grown weary and tired. the path to godhood is a lonely one, but a path leaving his old ways whilst immortal? zhongli has never felt more alone in his life.

he ventures the lands and seas in attempt to break free from the shackles of being a god.

but even then, his path remains anything but fortuitous; his attempts were futile.

(it was his turn to swear at celestia and the higher beings.)

thirty-ninth.

zhongli finds comfort in writing.

he jots down everything about you in every life you spend with him, afraid he’ll forget one detail about you.

this is where he finds solace in when time takes you away from him. it’s what keeps him sane as he waits for you in your next life and the one after that.

as he reads and reads the words he put down into notes, he notices nothing ever changes. he always end up falling in love with you, and you always end up falling in love with him. for zhongli, may it be cruel in its own way, it is a reminder that immortal he may be, he always has a place in your mortality.

(“what are you writing?”

“just some reminders for the day darling.”)

fortieth.

zhongli, with how long he’s been living, should have known better than to leave his possessions laying out in the open.

it’s not like he’s keeping secrets from you, but even he would go crazy if he finds a journal (of his lover nonetheless) that suggests he’s already living his fortieth life.

but you were better than zhongli at handling things like this. you were much more patient and calmer, like the never changing rivers of liyue.

zhongli tells you of your past lives for the first time, and you cry.

not because you felt trapped by loving the same person all the time, but rather, sorry that your lover had to go through all of it all alone.

(“can’t you just grow old with me?”

“believe me sweetest, i tried.”)

morax, rex lapis, jia wei, zhongli. they’re all the same. they’re all slaves to love and to the dreams of spending the rest of their lives with someone they cherish.

that night, zhongli prayed, got on his knees and begged.

once, he was an enemy of celestia. now, he falls to its feet willing to do anything just for it to grant his wish.

he doesn’t sleep, eat, or drink. he just prays.

(oh how the mighty have fallen.)

a week later, your eyes squint at him and he wonders.

“is there something on my face?”

you shake your head, and without warning you pull a strand of hair from his head.

“are you supposed to have white hair?”

zhongli, funnily enough, starts bawling.

(you never thought someone would be so happy that wrinkles are starting to appear all around his face, and how the callousness of his hands become more evident.)

forty-ninth.

fiftieth.

fifty-third.

sixtieth.

seventieth.

zhongli is able to love freely. finally.

please do not repost or translate without my permission. reblogs are greatly appreciated!

[moon-song]

⏤⌗𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐝...

〈 🥀 〉⏤ SYNOPSIS. The puppet’s date of his birth. You were tasked to give the personalized gift from the Dendro Archon.

♔. . .PAIRING. Kuni-Scara-Wanderer x reader

♔. . .TAGS & WARNING. None...Happy Birthday, Wanderer ❣️

UNLOCK THE STORY WITH 〈 🗝 〉

⌗Earlier, Nahida wishes to seek your presence as she updated you about Wanderer’s encounters this early morning, apparently, today was his birthday. And Nahida encourages him to have a chance to live a fulfilling life. Though, it seems the Wanderer is on the end of the sentiment. 

⌗Afterward, he got ambushed by a collective student of the Akademiya who dragged him into a cooking contest which he doesn’t have dire need of it, but reluctantly, he just went with the flow. After the cooking contest ended, he doesn’t have any need for the meal that he just cooked and simply sent it to you through Tubby.

⌗All in an account, he wished to visit you in your pocket dimension, but he was reluctant to do so and decided to leave the parcel in front of your doorstep and teleported away from the scene. Unbeknownst to him, the spirit of the dimension was sneaking through the gaps of her teapot…or was it a kettle?

⌗Tubby was a (unintentionally?) snitch, and inform you that the Wanderer had dropped these meals for you, knowing you, you would instantly leave your teapot without any nutrients in your stomach. 

⌗On the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Nahida wishes to seek your assistance once again, by delivering this wrapped present for the Wanderer.

You're currently traversing Sumeru's vast demesne, wishing to the Archons (most likely Nahida or Venti) that you'll come across the infamous Wanderer in these vast landscapes of trees, a bouquet of assorted flowers, and exotic creatures of all sizes and shapes roaming around like it's a leisurely afternoon stroll. 

Eventually, your attention was drawn to the familiar large blue Kasa in the distance. Your gaze followed him until he came into view, and you couldn't help but become overwhelmed by what you'd seen.

His flexion was relaxed as he fixed his gaze on an Emerald finch, which sat on his pointing finger. Although he exuded tranquillity, his eyes were filled with longing and nostalgia. 

And his mouth was so gentle that it was almost impossible not to notice that they were trembling as well. As he exhaled, his lips parted just slightly.

He looked like someone lost. 

When your eyes met his piercing gaze, your trance ceased. As his usual demeanor returned, he (lightly) swatted the bird away from his finger. His signature smirk accentuates his porcelain skin. "What a coincidence, it's been some time since we last met."

You didn't react in any way; you just stood there unwittingly until you realized you had a wrapped present in your hands. 

You spotted the same species of bird out of the corner of your eye, landed on his shoulder with no doubt filling its perception, and sat there with no care in the world. Cooing with delight at the puppet.

"If you have nothing to say, then, have a nice day." Impatient by your silence, he went back to gaze at the landscape of Sumeru. More productive than what you were doing.

Concurrently, he noticed you standing there with a mildly perturbed expression on your face, fidgeting with your fingers and shifting your gaze between the ground and him. You appeared contested. He wasn't sure why he felt this way, especially since you weren't acting any differently than usual.

But he tried to push those thoughts to the back of his mind. His eyes widened in a split second, like a lightbulb had gone off, before he looked at you with a feigned disinterest.

"...You're not leaving? Don't tell me you came all this way to see me." He interjected. "To be honest, I don't really care for celebrating birthdays, and I don't have anything to give you in return for your well-wishes."

The final segment is more genuine and not as prompted. It makes it more difficult to understand his tone. Regardless, you're not there to interact with him; you were simply tasked with delivering the present from Nahida. But leaving the Wanderer behind felt strange to you.

He sighed reluctantly out of nowhere. His indigo hues bore you with reticence. His thoughts passed through yours. "If you don't mind, perhaps...we could sit here together for a while."

⌗And that is how you’ve ended up, laying on the grass with the Wanderer, as he cast a gaze upon the atlas. Watching the sky shift its colors from pretty azure to a memorial soft palette of pink and orange. The sun will set as the new dawn of the moon will arise. The clouds drifted like smooth sailing.

⌗You almost forgot about your primary objective, which is to give Wanderer his present. But you don't really want your time with him to end because it was just so calming and peaceful. But the time must come to an end, for another day to arose.

⌗Startling the puppet, he watched you as you pulled out the present behind your back. It was wrapped in a color tea green, tied with a delicate ribbon that matches your eyes. With proper handling, he took the gift from your hand and stared at it with wonder in his eyes. 

⌗ "Hmm? A birthday present?... You didn't put something strange in there, did you?" He looked at you skeptically before taking a brief look at the gift, his eyes widening in surprise. If you squinted enough, you would notice his cheeks were dusted in a pink hue, similar to the sakura bloom you found in Inazuma. 

⌗ "Happy Birthday, Wanderer." You cooed. He appeared to be about to say something, but instead shook his head and accepted the gift. Checking the time, it's time for you to go, as disappointed as that sounds. You gave him one last look before saying your goodbyes and walking away.

⌗Arriving at the Sanctuary of Surasthana, you greeted Nahida as you update her on your encounter with the Wanderer. Nahida beams at you with a smile, with a chuckle lacing afterward. "That's great to hear. The gift in question was inspired by his...memories, and I hope he doesn't find it offensive, but I want him to know that whenever he drifts off to another land, I want him to know that we're always by his side, even when we're apart. Hehe, literally."

The Wanderer looks at the dolls that have been placed in front of him. Nahida, the Traveler, their floating companion, and...you are all depicted by the dolls in question. He's not sure how he feels about it. 

He lowers his gaze to the dolls on the floor. He took the doll that strongly resembles you and examined it with awe. He caressed the doll tenderly as if he was afraid of damaging it. And without much thought, he gave the doll a peck on the forehead.

Somewhere in Sumeru, you stare blankly into space as you and Nahida share a cup of tea, the Dendro archon looked at you confusingly. "Is something the matter, [Name]?" 

Your hand traveled through your head as you caress your forehead, for a moment there you felt cold delicate lips placed upon the crown of your head. The sensation faded away in an instant. You shake your head, it must have been just a figment of your imagination. 

Maybe so...

[moon-song]

LOVELY.

— it’s his birthday, but he doesn’t feel like celebrating… perhaps some affection from you is what he needs.

characters: scaramouche / wanderer, gn! reader.

tags: fluff, comfort, inspired by scara’s birthday letter.

author’s note: happy birthday to wanderer !! unexpectedly, i fell for him at the end of this year hehe now i love him v much (@bunny-rambles and @alatusprinz contributed to that).

absurd. pointless.

those are the words crossing the wanderer’s mind today.

a birthday. his birthday. what difference did one more year make? another day, another life, nothing worth celebrating, if you were to ask him.

the dendro archon, however, begs to differ.

nahida had tried to get scaramouche to attend some classes in the akademiya (something about him immersing in the atmosphere and interacting with people). which had backfired, in a sense, since the wanderer managed to run away and hide in sumeru’s wilderness.

at least, he could have some peace now.

or so he thought.

“so? may i know what the mighty wanderer is crouching behind those shrubs for?”

ah, you again. sweet, annoying you, who made scaramouche feel sick. that’s what the redness in his cheeks and words caught in his throat meant, right?

scaramouche sighs, as if in defeat, frustration. he knows when it comes to you, there is no use trying to deny his actions. you can read him like a book no matter what.

“none of your business.” he tries. the wanderer had definitely intended for a harsh tone, yet he sounds more tired than anything.

the moment your head tilts in confusion, he knows you have figured it out.

“you always say that,” you chirp, taking a few steps closer to where he now stands. “i’m not going to force you, but, you know…” you hesitate for an instant, those violet eyes of his that harbor uncharted galaxies sending a shiver down your spine. why is that, you wonder? is it because of the same reason he makes your heart race? “letting things out… it can help every now and then.”

the wanderer regards you, as if considering his next move.

a gentle breeze blows by. the wind rises to whisper in his ear, “tell them”, it seems to say, “they are worthy of your trust”, the wind reassures.

scaramouche sighs heavily, his decision made.

“lesser lord kusanali is trying to make my life more fulfilling, somehow.” he says.

your brows rise slightly, an unspoken question about how that may be a bad thing; an indication for him to continue.

“she’s been trying to get me to check books at the akademiya, or attend some lectures…” he continues, mindlessly plucking a sumeru rose from the side road, fiddling with its lilac petals. “but being around others…” he stops, twirling the flower in between his fingers. “i mean, has she ever considered what an experience it is for others to meet me?” the wanderer finishes, his hold on the flower tightening, the stem bending under his hold.

you smile, albeit a little melancholic. for someone who claims others should bow before him, he doesn’t think that highly of himself, you’ve come to realize.

“if you ask me,” you begin, taking the rose from his tight grip, smoothing it. “a lovely experience.”

scaramouche stares at you in disbelief. he always thought you weren’t exactly right in the head (and that’s why he liked you), but did you really say meeting him is lovely? you’ve finally lost it.

you chuckle, his wide eyed expression is adorable, you have to say. it’s amusing, seeing him speechless, for once.

“sure, getting to know you takes time,” you tell him, your hand smoothing over the dark strands framing his face. “and effort, too. and you might make it difficult most of the time.”

“not helping.” the wanderer pouts.

“but what i mean to say is that it’s worth it. meeting you, getting to know you. it’s all worth the effort, kuni.”

that nickname, that damned nickname that makes his stomach feel like a million colorful butterflies dancing when you utter it.

scaramouche’s iris crimson-lined orbs focus on your face. his gaze is soft, gentle, even, and it makes you smile.

delicately, you place the rose behind his ear. you nod approvingly, it matches his eyes. the pink that spreads through his cheeks makes him look even prettier.

“happy birthday, kuni.” you whisper, in the small space that separates your lips.

then you close the distance.

your kiss is the only stars kunikuzushi wants to ever know, and the only ones that could never be a lie.

your fingers play with the midnight strands at his nape, his arms wrap around your waist. both of you, a wondrous, impossible constellation.

scaramouche’s lungs burn, you feel lightheaded, yet neither of you care; you drink the other in, as if trying to memorize every sensation and feeling. this moment, engraved in your heart and in his memories.

yeah, now he definitely thinks you’re unhinged.

he likes it.

he likes you.

you told him meeting him was a lovely experience. kunikuzushi believes lovely doesn’t even begin to describe what your kiss feels like, what you feel like.

he doesn’t know how to describe this sensation. it’s good, definitely good. really, really good.

he wants to try it again.

and he thinks he will.

you two have time, after all.

[moon-song]

are you forgetting something?

𓂅 genre: modern! childe, scaramouche, diluc, and xiao x gn! reader fluff

𓂅 warnings: none 

𓂅 summary: how they react when you forget to kiss them or say "i love you" back to them before you leave 

𓂅 notes: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONEE. here's some smol hcs to kick off 2023 hehe. i've never really written for scaramouche before so forgive me if his characterization is a little off for this fic :"D i'm trying to slowly get back into writing for genshin so i'm going with a classic, fluffy crack prompt that i've always felt like writing ^^ hope you guys enjoy and have a wonderful day ahead!! 

CHILDE

he's dropping you off at your friend's house for your little night out and your rushing to belatedly make yourself a little more presentable 

childe can't help but chuckle when you turn to him asking, "what do you think? do i look alright?" 

"you look beautiful as always, love. now go get in there before your late."

he leans his cheek closer to you, expecting a goodbye peck when you open the door to get out. "take care and call me when you need to get picked up, alright?" when you hum in response he adds, "love you!" 

"yup! see you, ajax!" you reply, getting out and shutting the door. at this, childe is offended, jaw dropping at the lack of a reply and a kiss. 

he thinks this is completely unacceptable. mans literally honks his horn aggressively until you come back to the car, brows furrowed in wordless confusion. 

"excuse me?" he questions you, rolling down the window with a faux pout on his lips as he crosses his arms over his chest. "are you forgetting something?" 

cheeky bastard taps his cheek with raised brows in part question and part demand. "i said i love you too, you know?" 

you can't help but laugh at his absurd behaviour, leaning into the window to finally plant a kiss on his awaiting cheek. his charming smile finally makes its way back onto his features when you accompany your gesture with a, "love you too." 

"mhm. now get in there and have fun. i'll see you later, love.". he can't help the slight blush that dusts his freckle filled cheeks when you peck him one last time, just for good measure, before heading inside the house. god he was so whipped for you. 

SCARAMOUCHE

when you're rushing to leave your shared apartment for a class you were running late for one day, scara is suffering on the couch with his laptop on, research document open and empty. 

he eyes you as you're rushing to gather all your bags and other belongings, making sure you don't trip or hurt yourself in a rush from a distance. 

once you finally have all your things, you turn to see scara, who is already glaring at the blank document on his laptop. 

in usual fashion, he hears you greet him a goodbye with, "i'm heading out now. see you later, kuni." 

in an unusual fashion however, he doesn't hear the familiar and cheerful "i love you!" that escapes your lips once you open the door. 

he coughs loudly and repeatedly when you put even a single foot out the door and levels you with a look that screams "are you stupid?" 

"what?" you ask him obliviously, rechecking all your bags and documents before also asking, "am i forgetting something?"

"yeah. a really important thing," he comments with an unreadably, deadpan face. when a confused silence is all he gets in reply, he sighs, narrowing his eyes at you with a light blush blooming across his cheeks.

"don't make me say it.". it's only then that you realize what you forgot, smiling and laughing lightheartedly with amusement. 

"you're cute kuni." his cheeks flush brighter at the statement. "i love you and take care!". he returns your greeting with an exasparated sigh and a light nod before you go rushing out the door, unable to witness the smallest smile that creeps onto his lips.

DILUC

it's a daily routine for you guys to get ready for school/work together and greet each other with a goodbye kiss once you part ways. 

on a particular day when you had a really important presentation, the walk to your usual parting point was enveloped in a comfortable silence. 

diluc simply held your hand and let you practice your presentation, muttering unintelligible words and phrases under your breath. 

when you finally get to parting ways, diluc takes a moment to encourage you for your presentation. 

"good luck with your speech today, darling. i know you can do it. i'll see you when i get home alright?"

you nod absentmindedly, smiling before routinely pecking diluc's cheek. "mhm. have a good day, luc." 

when you start to walk away, he grabs your wrist gently and unexpectedly, turning you to face him once more. 

"yes, luc?" you ask curiously, intertwining your fingers with his own gingerly. 

"you're forgetting something, love," he chuckles lightly, squeezing your intertwined hands gently. "i love you." 

a soft smile adorns both your features as you give diluc a lingering kiss before replying with your own "i love you", regrettingly parting ways afterwards. 

XIAO

both you and xiao are walking into the school's campus. after a mundane lunch, it was time for both of you to part ways and get to classes. 

he accompanies you to your class, walking with you hand in hand in the school's surprisingly free hallways.

the short stroll is accompanied by a comfortable silence, the lack of a crowd of students creating a peaceful atmosphere. 

it's only when you arrive at your lecture hall that xiao loosens his hold on your hand, gesturing for you to go inside. 

your friends are excitedly waving at you from the other side of the hall, thus you hurry to get to them.

"i'll see you later, okay?" you squeeze his hand reassuringly before looking at your friends with a glimmer of excitement. "bye, xiao!" 

the moment you let go of his hand without your usual goodbye kiss or at least an 'i love you', his hand subconsciously reaches out for yours once again. 

thankfully, you take notice of his action and turn to him once more with a quizzical look on your face. "is something wrong?" you ask him.

he wants to say something about you forgetting to give him a kiss but the thought of saying something so sappy makes his face heat up in embarrassment. you can tell he wants to say something by the unsure look in his eyes, but he holds himself back, shaking his head. "nothing. you should head to class." 

the blush gives him off entirely because you can read him like an open book. his heart skips multiple beats when you lean in and plant a brief kiss on his cheek with a wide smile. "there. love you, and see you later, okay?". his cheeks flare up even more as he replies, "mhm. love you too…"

© withloveajaxx 2023. please do not copy, plagarize, or translate in any way.

[moon-song]

would they choose you over the world?

aether (traveler), dainsleif, scaramouche, raiden ei, lumine (abyss), venti, xiao x gn!reader

AETHER thinks he can save both, no, he knows he can. The powers of this world rests at the tips of his fingers. He’s faced monsters and gods and come out alive and better than he was before. There’s no reason to hesitate, none whatsoever to consider his decision but—but. He has never been made to choose before. There was always another way, another choice, another something he could rely on. It’s a moral dilemma, like the situation with the train where you either save five people and kill one person, or kill five people to save one person. It’s easy enough to answer when it was simply that—a moral dilemma created to confuse him, not a world ending decision that lies on his shoulders. To choose one is to doom the other. Most people would choose the world, but while Aether is called a hero and the savior of nations, he is also a person. He looks at your resigned smile, like you already know which one he’ll choose, and he decides to prove you wrong.

DAINSLEIF clings to loss like a dying man does to the edge of a cliff. The inevitability of death and your mortality rests on his shoulders much like weight of his entire nation’s death. He wonders what it says about him that he’d rather have you safe and sound than have the world be saved. Five hundred years of aimless wandering, fighting against the remnants of his fallen nation and watching the world move on while he remains untouched by time, the ghost of a past that can never be returned to. Dainsleif isn’t a hero, he’s tired. All that’s left of him are fading memories of a time gone by and moments with you that he clings to like a lifeline. What has this world ever done for him except cause him pain and needless grief? What has it done to deserve his sacrifice? Nothing. And so he rests, hand in hand with you on withering grass and waits for the world to end. At least, this time, he won’t be alone in watching the heavens descend.

SCARAMOUCHE laughs, and laughs, and laughs until he’s sure even the gods that reside in Celestia has heard the scorn and mockery in his voice. It is so laughably easy to choose you and denounce the world. Let it be turned to ash and dust, let his body dance on top of a desolate world, let him pull you in an embrace and delight in the fact that no sun and no light (for none of these exist anymore) would ever outmatch the brightness in your eyes, the smile on your face, the tinkling sound of your laughter amidst the remains of a world that once threatened to snuff your life like a candle left in the dark. He is like a flame and you, the spark. There’s a tsunami gathering on the horizon, threatening to drown everything in its wake, but instead of preventing it, he revels in the ruin it will bring. It is either your death alone or yours and everyone else, and if you have to die either way, then he will die with you and drag the rest of the world along in his self-appointed destruction. You taught him what it felt to no longer be alone, so he will make sure you’re never lonely, even in death.

EI feels weightless, like a leaf adrift in the wind. It feels like she is back to that moment five hundred (a thousand) years ago, a dilemma, a decision, a choice—follow Makoto to Khaenri’ah, or defend her people from the monsters ravaging the lands? There was uncertainty there, a small seedling of hope that she would arrive not far from Makoto and see her sister alive and waiting, and so she had made the decision to stay—but this? Faced with an ultimatum, the world or your death, Ei finds that the decision is much more difficult, much more devastating but no less heartbreaking. Had it been before, in her lonesome at the Plane of Euthymia, the choice would have been easy, barely a thought in her mind, but everything has changed and Ei wants, in a way she has never wanted before, to be with you. You with your smiles and your laughs and the warmth you induce in her frigid heart—and she finds that she cannot make a choice… so you do it for her. For the greater good.

LUMINE doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t even flinch before she turns her back to the world and takes your hand. What good is the world if you’re not there in it? She won’t just stand by and watch as everything she holds dear is destroyed in front of her—not anymore. There is you, there is her, and there is the world burning, and Lumine finds that she can hardly care. Her heart has no place for faceless people, no love left for a world that has done nothing but spurn and trample on everything she had offered. Let it burn if it means having one more second, one more minute, one more lifetime with you. A choice isn’t truly a choice if the other option was never considered, and she will never consider a world without you. There are millions, billions, countless other worlds out there she could take you to. Damn this place, damn the heavens, and damn the consequences. Her brother would understand, he always has, and when Lumine meets him again in a new world, she’ll make sure to introduce you to him.

VENTI wants, like Icarus yearning for the Sun, but Venti is Venti, and Barbatos is Barbatos. Right now, he cannot afford to be that carefree bard who spun tales of your lovely hair and lovelier still lips (cannot be Icarus who flew too close to the sun and fell). Venti wants—but Barbatos knows the best option, the best choice, the least devastating one but the most heart-wrenching one. The situation is funny, laughable, hilarious, really, the kind that makes his stomach ache and brings tears to his eyes that drip down his cheeks and onto the ground and—oh, he’s crying. He’s crying and holding you close and apologizing, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, and he doesn’t deserve your forgiveness, doesn’t deserve the hand carding through his hair and the soft press of your lips on his forehead as you murmur, don’t cry, it’s alright, you’re doing the best you can. But the best means not doing this at all, the best means not having to make a choice at all, the means means not having to say goodbye. It’s okay, you tell him, I forgive you. But he never forgives himself.

XIAO thinks there must be another way, there has to be another way. He won’t accept this, won’t allow himself to choose between losing you or losing everything, because he knows, deep down, that the choice has already been made and it is not the the one he wants. But he knows better than most that doing what he wants isn’t always what is needed, that certain sacrifices must be made despite his unwillingness, despite his entire body protesting against it. Rex Lapis once told him that being a god means making difficult decisions. If this is what it means to be a god, then he will accept a life of service, a life of war and fighting and breathing like every second is his last—because pain and suffering are infinitely better than having to wake everyday without your voice by his ear, giggling about how you finally caught him asleep. A world without your light, without your presence, without you is a desolate one. There must be another way, another sacrifice to be made that doesn’t involve you. Just—anything, anyone but you. Even if it has to be him.

[moon-song]

flowers and unplanned proposals

xiao x gn!reader

if someone gifts an adeptus with flowers, it means you are proposing to them, and if they take it, it means they accept the proposal. unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who you ask), you weren’t aware of such a custom. or — xiao thinks you’re married, but you just thought flowers would look nice on him.

fluff. comedy-ish. accidental malewife acquisition. featuring reader being clueless, xiao being hopeless, and lumine and hu tao being your biggest supporters

It started with a walk on the road as an acquaintance accompanied you.

There’d been a wild flower by the side, with white and lilac petals that you’d thought, rather presumptuously, would suit the dour faced adeptus beside you. So, you plucked it and impulsively handed it to him, a smile on your face and a shocked one on his.

His fingers closed around the flower’s stem, the stern lines of his face softening as he gazed at the tiny petals that glittered in the sun.

You’ve never been rid of him since.

Your friend Xiao could be described as protective at best and possessive at worst. It’s not a bad thing, of course! Caring for a friend is always a good thing in your books, but sometimes, you think he takes the word ‘caring’ to an almost extreme degree.

Take, for instance, now.

“Xiao?”

He hums from his spot on the sill of your window, not even sitting, no, he’s crouched on it, balanced on the thin ledge at the tips of his toes and keeping his eyes (which oddly glowed like a cat’s) peeled for any danger. Like this, he almost looks like a bird perched on a branch.

You let out an awkward laugh. “You know, I appreciate you doing this for me, keeping me safe and all, but I think I can spend the night on my own safely.”

His head whips to you so fast you almost feared he’d get neck cramps, an expression of surprise and… hurt? on his face.

“You… don’t want me here?”

You’ve never backtracked so fast in your life. “No! I mean, yes—but not in the way you’re thinking!”

He looks forlorn now, stepping down the windowsill and shoulders hunched in a similar manner to that of a cat pulling its ears down its head. “Is this what the Traveler meant by sleeping on the couch?”

You’re not sure what to do, but it seems like he wants to sleep on the couch? Puzzled, you smile encouragingly even though you don’t quite understand his words. “Er, if you want to sleep on the couch, you’re welcome to do so?”

His face falls.

-

“And, I don’t know, he just became all—sad? Just, I felt so bad for basically kicking him out of my room, and now that I’m thinking more on it, I should’ve just offered to let him sleep beside me. Like a, um, a sleepover!”

There’s a distinctly bashful look on your face and, oh god, you’re drawing little circles on the table with your finger, an almost dreamy glint in your eyes.

Sweet Jesus that doesn’t exist in this world, Lumine is going to barf.

She slams her hands on the table, startling you in the process as she leans down and says with an exasperated face, “Have you considered that maybe you actually like him and he—”

“What?!” you squawk, mouth open in disbelief and a mortified look contorting your features. “That’s—don’t say such things, Lumi!”

She drops back down her chair, leveling you with a look that basically said, are you for real right now?

“It’s written all over your face—”

You quickly slap both hands on your cheeks, turning your head away. “I don’t like him! How could I ever… he’s an adeptus and I…”

“And you made an adeptus sleep on your couch,” Lumine deadpans.

She can feel the way your face burned at the reminder. You slump over the table, burying your head in your arms and bemoaning your decision. “I didn’t mean to disrespect him…”

“Oh, I’m sure disrespect was the farthest thing you did to him,” she mutters beneath her breath. Broke his heart, shattered his hopes and dreams, devastated him—Lumine can name a few more.

But then, you suddenly straighten up, determination lining your face. There’s a look in your eyes that tells Lumine she should probably stop you from doing whatever idiotic thing—however in good faith it might be—that you’re about to do.

“I should give him some flowers as an apology. He always gets so… not exactly happy but—warm, that’s it. He feels warmer whenever I give him flowers.” You smile, reminiscing on whatever moments you had with him. You stand up, looking down at the empty plates all over the table before looking at her apologetically. “I’m sorry, could you foot the bill this time?”

Lumine sighs. She’s still got money from the last commission Ningguang made her do, so she supposes she can do it. Just this once. “Fine, but you’re paying for our next outing!”

You beam, thanking her before running to the nearest flower shop or wherever it is you’re going to be getting those flowers from.

“Make sure to let him sleep on your bed next time!” Lumine yells to your retreating back, ignoring the strange, almost scandalized, looks from nearby patrons.

-

You find him at your house, completely ignoring how strange it is that a friend has complete access to your house including a spare key and extra clothes on the closet just for him. It’s simply become the norm, is all. And he’s a good—you don’t quite know what to call him, roommate? you’ll settle for friend—friend, helping you with the chores and often accompanying you to the market when you need new groceries—but only during the early mornings, of course. You know how much he dislikes crowds.

“I’m home!”

The response comes immediate and, judging by the direction, it came from the kitchen, “Welcome home.”

The large bouquet of glaze lilies interspersed with roses and qingxin flowers is heavy on your arms as you walked to the kitchen. Xiao is there, a broom in hand which he sets aside once he sees you and what you’re carrying.

“Here!” You grin, extending the bouquet forward and into his arms.

He accepts it, a flush to his cheeks and looking distinctly flustered by the gift. “I… thank you.”

“It’s an apology.”

His eyes snap to yours, iridescent gold piercing through you. There’s something almost vulnerable in the way he’s gazing at you, hands tightening around the flowers.

You fiddle with your fingers. “Well, I wanted to say sorry for making you sleep on the couch. If you’d like, you can sleep beside me tonight.”

Something in him relaxes, tension bleeding out of his posture as he smiles, small and near unnoticeable to anyone who didn’t know him so well.

For some reason, the sight of it makes your heart leap.

Lumine’s words repeat in your mind.

Have you considered that maybe you actually like him?

No, you think with dread, absolutely not.

-

“Yes,” Hu Tao crows in delight, “You’re absolutely in love!”

“See, that’s what I tried to say yesterday, but nooo. Oh, Lumi, Xiao is just a friend,” Lumine grouches, imitating your voice and utterly failing because while she may be strong enough to fight monsters and gods, that girl has absolutely no talent when it comes to mimicking.

Your palms cover your face that feels warm to touch. “I do not sound like that. And it’s true, we really are just friends!”

“Of course, because friends do things like living together and sleeping on the same bed and holding hands—” You open your mouth to protest, but Hu Tao doesn’t let you interrupt, “—don’t deny it! I saw you last week near Liuli Pavilion, and he was holding your hand and carrying a bag of food!”

“He’s just really helpful! He’s an adeptus,” you argue, though it sounds weak even to your own ears.

“And do all adepti live with a human, do they sleep with them—”

“You make it sound so lewd, Lumi!”

“—do they hold their hands and go grocery shopping at five in the morning with them?” Lumine pierces you with those honey gold eyes of hers. “Did you know I barely have anything to do in the Adventurer’s Guild here in Liyue besides babysitting and errands because someone—namely, an adeptus who coincidentally goes by the name Xiao—keeps killing all the monsters within the area?”

Hu Tao cackles. “He always asks about you whenever I encounter him at Wuwang Hill.”

You level her with an incredulous look. “What were you even doing there?”

“Hiding bodies, duh!” At your horrified look, she winks. “Just kidding!”

You shake off Hu Tao’s laughter and pinch your lips together. “Look, it’s—we’re just friends. That’s all there is to it.”

Lumine huffs, “Yeah, sure, because friends like you two give each other flowers everyday. How does your house still have space in it for more?”

You would’ve refuted her words, would’ve argued that no, you don’t give each other flowers everyday, just on a regular basis—but Hu Tao’s sudden silence concerned you more than what Lumine said. The funeral director turns her head to you with wide eyes.

“You gave him flowers?” she asks, an odd tone to her voice.

Your brows furrow at her uncharacteristic seriousness. “Um, yes? I do it all the time.”

She leapt forward, grabbing your shoulders and lips twitching into something you could almost call glee. “And he accepted it?”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

Hu Tao lets go of your shoulders to tilt her head back and laugh. Not the nice little giggles she does after a successful prank, no, this is more manic. The kind that wouldn’t make you think, oh how sweet, but instead makes you think, oh this girl belongs in a facility.

Even Lumine seems confused at her reaction, joining you in watching her like she’s just grown two heads. Hu Tao takes one look at both of your expressions and dissolves into another fit of laughter.

“Oh, dear. And you don’t even know what it means!” she says in between laughs.

Lumine, having had enough of being in the dark, grabs Hu Tao’s face with both hands and forces her to look at her in the eye. “What does it mean?”

Hu Tao grins, gaze darting to you. “When you give an adeptus flowers, it means you’re proposing to them.”

You and Lumine gape, understanding dawning on your heads, though there’s horror on your part at what it could mean.

But Hu Tao doesn’t stop there, “And if they take it…”

You await her next words with bated breath, Lumine seemingly on the edge of her seat as well.

“…It means they accept your proposal.”

Lumine’s screech of delight at this newfound information drowns out the metaphorical sound of your world falling apart and being built anew.

-

You come home in a daze, eyes blankly staring ahead and unaware of your surroundings until you blink, and suddenly, you’re sitting at the dining table, a plate of steaming shrimp balls being placed in front of you.

Xiao crouches by your chair, examining your face with worried eyes. “Are you well?”

Your throat shrivels up. All the words and arguments you’d been planning to say earlier dying on your tongue. So, instead, you nod. He doesn’t outwardly look relieved, but the softness in his touch belies his care as he places a single stemmed qingxin flower on your palm.

It’s still fresh, you notice, dew gathering on the petals and the scent still present.

Xiao sits on the chair opposite yours, looking at anything and anywhere but your eyes. “I plucked it from the highest mountains of Jueyun Karst, blessed by Cloud Retainer and said to ward away unwanted dreams.”

You stare down at it, at the white petals that feel soft against the pads of your fingers, heart beating out of your chest and hands clammy and breaths labored, a pleasant twist to your gut as you realized that he’d gone out of his way to climb a mountain and have it blessed by an adeptus just to give it to you. There’s being friends, handing each other flowers they saw on the road or bought at a shop, and then, there’s this.

Your mouth feels dry, your chest feels full, and there’s something on the tip of your tongue begging to be let out.

“Xiao,” you start, finally gaining the courage to look up and meet his eyes. “What are we?”

His lips part, eyes widening the slightest amount that tells you he’s unsure what brought this question on and how to answer it.

You shake your head. “Never mind. Just tell me this—are we… engaged?”

At this, Xiao seems to relax. “No.”

You barely have the chance to feel a mix of relief and disappointment, though why you’d feel disappointment at having proof that you and Xiao really are just friends—

He smiles, a small one but no less brighter for it. “We are married, aren’t we?”

And oh.

Oh.

It’s not until now, with the confirmation of everything you dreaded (everything you’d hoped and wanted and yearned for desperately) that you realize how much you’ve longed for something more with him—how much you’ve longed for him.

“Xiao,” you say, eyes crinkling at the corners and cheeks aching with the intensity of your smile, “I love you.”

He startles, blinking up at you with wide eyes, red creeping up his cheeks, but before he can say anything you know he’s not quite prepared to say yet, you continue, still a little indignant at discovering you’d been married without a clue.

“But I demand a proper wedding ceremony!”

word count: 2.2k

[moon-song]

a birthday wish

traveling companion!wanderer x gn!reader

genre: fluff

warnings: none

word count: 3211

a/n: it's finally his birthday aaaa i love him sm (real). scaranation we gotta come together and make sure he gets everything he could ever want and more!! .:☆*:･'(*⌒―⌒*) enjoy!

something has changed.

over time, the wanderer has gotten used to the unusual things you do. it’s typically no cause for concern when you do strange things here and there, but this time it’s different. he can’t figure out why, but you’ve been giving him these quick thoughtful glances all week that are starting to get on his nerves. 

“if you’re going to look so shamelessly,” he had said in a bored voice a few days into this new habit of yours when he caught you in the act and you averted your gaze. “you may as well just keep staring since you’re not very subtle about it to begin with.”

you had given him an unimpressed glower in response and then closed your eyes as if to prove a point, but he still caught you looking again less than an hour after that, searching his face like you might find an answer there. an answer to what? he doesn’t know - and he’s not too sure he’s ready to find out either. maybe it would be better not to know.

the heavy weight of your gaze became such a common occurrence that he noticed right away when you stopped doing it. as much as he wanted to deny it, it bothered him that you’d suddenly lost interest in whatever it was that kept drawing your attention before. did you get tired of looking at him? did you finally find whatever it was that you were looking for? do you no longer find him interesting? are you going to leave?

he refuses to voice these thoughts, unwilling to acknowledge that he might be a bit clingy despite himself and has resorted to simply trying to bring your gaze back to him in any way possible. 

however, if you’ve noticed how much more effort he’s put into fighting enemies and carrying out the small menial tasks for you that he usually complains about, you stay silent about it and carry on as per usual, eyes never staying on him for longer than a few seconds at a time. 

then finally, on a day that he expects to be as normal as the rest, you stomp over to his side and drop a wicker basket down on the table in front of him with a thud. “we’re going on a picnic.” you state cheerily.

he feels his heart jump into his throat for a split second before he realizes, no, there’s no way you would know. he hasn’t mentioned it once. for you to somehow have figured out today is his birthday is impossible, so surely this is just one of your spontaneous ideas that you like to spring on him without warning. the fact that he allowed himself to think like that, even for the quickest moment, has him curling his hands into fists under the table. he doesn’t deserve anything from you, especially not on a day like this.

“do i even have a say in the matter?” he grumbles, already pushing himself up from his seat. the wanderer moves to reach for the handle of the basket with the intent of opening the lid and finding out what's inside, but you react faster than him and swipe it right out from under his prying hands.

he raises a suspicious brow at the basket that’s now hidden behind your back. “what did you pack? it’s not a bunch of sweets, is it?”

a knowing smile finds its way to your lips that makes his blood run cold and burn hot through his veins at the same time. “you’ll see when we get there.” 

“and where might that be?” the wanderer asks impatiently while crossing his arms over his chest. “oh wait, let me guess,” he follows up sarcastically, trying to ignore the fond look of exasperation on your face. “i’ll find out when we get there?”

you make a small affirmative sound through your soft giggles and start leading him in the direction of this mysterious destination. he follows you without resistance and makes sure to walk at the same speed as you so he remains directly at your left side. 

it’s nearing late afternoon as the two of you weave down winding paths that lead to varying parts of the rain forest, and the warm light that blankets everything in its reach paired with your presence next to him brings him the same happy contented feeling that being near you always draws out of him. 

it’s a feeling he still struggles to accept, to convince himself he can allow himself to have. the burden of the things he’s done in a past life of his and the instinct to shut out anything that threatens to break through his resolve always make themselves known at the worst times; hanging thickly in the air and trailing slowly behind him like they’re waiting for him to turn around and fall back into his old beliefs. 

but when he looks over to see you walking closer to him than necessary but still making sure to give him his personal space, clearly wanting to be near him but still respecting his boundaries all the same, the wanderer finds that it has become much easier to ignore the part of himself that still craves self destruction. 

the wicker basket swings back and forth in your hand and your eyes are fixed on your feet as you walk, trying to mirror your traveling companions’ pace step by step. a small determined smile rests at your lips while you try not to mess up the timing of each movement. 

eventually, the path you’re on splits and tapers off into a smaller trail that you both merge on to. a bit farther ahead where the trees give way to a clearing, a lush green field that sits on a small hill comes into view. the grass is strewn with wildflowers of all sorts, dancing gently in the wind that sweeps through the delicate blades. 

he comes to a halt next to you when you stop abruptly at the bottom of the hill. “we’re here,” you announce proudly, squinting a bit against the sun. “it’s nice, right?”

the wanderer hums indifferently, secretly admiring the vast stretch of greenery that glows golden under the setting sun while you dig a small blanket out of the basket and unfold it to sit on. he joins you a bit too eagerly, kneeling to lower himself down on his knees right across from you on the fabric. 

it’s almost unfair how enchanting you look against the backdrop of vibrant flowers with the orange sun framing you from behind like a halo, and he can’t help but be grateful that he doesn’t have to breathe in the first place because he surely would’ve passed out from a lack of oxygen by now with how often you take his breath away. 

far too distracted by these thoughts, he fails to realize how long he’s been admiring you until you suddenly speak up. 

“now who’s the one with the staring problem?” you tease with amusement evident in your voice. he doesn’t miss the sly glance you give him and scoffs to cover up his embarrassment. 

“i wasn’t staring,” he starts to refute, but quickly forgets to finish his sentence when he sees the things you finally start unpacking from the picnic basket one by one. four perfectly made cat shaped onigiri lined up on a rectangular platter are placed in the middle of the blanket, followed by two servings of cold soba noodles in hand painted porcelain bowls and a small roll of bird egg sushi. 

a very rare positive moment of nostalgia and longing for his home region swirls through his chest at the sight of dishes that he’s sure he hasn’t had in at least two hundred years. “it’s…” the wanderer trails off, unable to stop the frown that weighs down his eyebrows. 

“traditional inazuman dishes!” you finish for him, unaware of the confusion brewing up a storm in his head. it’s blatantly obvious you did all of this with him in mind, but he just can’t figure out why. he knows for absolute certainty that he has never mentioned the date of his creation, but what kind of coincidence is this? if he didn’t know any better, especially with all of the staring you had been doing recently, he’d probably assume you’re a mind reader, but he knows that isn’t possible so what on earth-

“do you… like it?” you ask quietly, sounding almost unsure. the wanderer realizes with a start that he’s been sitting here scowling at the food for the last few moments and the proud expression on your face had at some point morphed into one of nervousness. he internally chastises himself before nodding in response to your question. 

“it looks nice,” he says honestly, picking up one of the feline shaped onigiri and inspecting the carefully molded rice that resembles two pointed ears. the seaweed wrapping is cut into small shapes to form whiskers and eyes and a smiling mouth. 

he’s reluctant to admit it but they’re… cute. adorable, even. it’s safe to say in all the time he’s been around he has yet to see such innocently crafted rice balls, and he isn’t even aware of the small grin on his face as he looks at it against his palm. 

“you made all of this?” the wanderer asks despite already knowing the answer. he reveres in the way you shrug proudly and nod at his question, eyes sparkling excitedly as you hand him a pair of chopsticks from the basket. 

“mhm!” you confirm while carefully lifting a piece of sushi from the platter. “i found some recipes in an old cookbook and wanted to see if i could do it. try it!”

at your insistence, he finally takes a bite of the onigiri and hums appreciatively at the tuna filling in the center when he chews. the portions are perfect, the rice to filling ratio was obviously measured carefully, and the mental image of you in the kitchen putting so much care into these dishes makes his chest swell with so much fondness that the wanderer has to start digging into the other items to keep his cool. 

everything you made is delicious. there is certainly room for improvement, but to say the wanderer is impressed is nearly an understatement. he’s sure there’s no way you got it this perfect on the first try so there must have been multiple failed attempts before this, and plenty of trial and error. it doesn’t take long to finish everything between the two of you, and thinking about how much effort you put into this food from his place of origin on this conveniently timed picnic in a field surrounded by his favorite flowers has him seconds away from giving in and asking if you somehow knew, but he doesn’t get the chance when you reach into the basket and present two empty glass jars. 

he quirks a questioning brow and at the same time takes notice of the fact that the sun has already descended into the horizon and the sky has taken on a cool blue and orange ombré that draws out tiny flickering fireflies with every passing minute. they look like miniature floating stars against the darkening field of wildflowers, and when he looks back at you he can see them reflecting off of your eyes in an enchanting light show that carries with it a million unspoken words. 

“well,” you say while handing him one of the jars. “lets catch some fireflies, shall we?”

he takes it from you and stands up to entertain your plan, but still grumbles out a, “this is so childish.” just loud enough for you to hear. the melodic ring of your laughter fills the cool dusk air with an ever so comforting familiarity. 

amidst the dimming and glowing sea of lightning bugs, the wanderer watches in awe as you gleefully uncap your jar and start trying to usher them inside. he can’t take his eyes off of you as you skip after them, as graceful and carefree as a leaf fluttering in the wind. 

pretty, he thinks to himself amidst the field of flowers. though he had expected nothing from today, this turn of events is undeniably better than he’d like to admit. 

while he wasn’t looking, a single firefly had found its way into the jar in his hand and rested lazily at the bottom, almost as if it was tired from flying. like living up to its own purpose had taken everything out of it, and in a last attempt to be useful it let itself settle into the hands of the enemy. he watches the firefly glow weakly with a complicated expression, finding himself feeling strangely empathetic for the pitiful thing.  

unbeknownst to him, you had managed to catch a handful of fireflies in your own jar where they flew around leisurely and bumped into the sides of the glass every now and then. you return to his side without saying a word and uncap your jar, tilting it over the opening of his and letting one of the fireflies in your jar find its way into his before securing the lids on both of them. 

the firefly you had given him immediately makes its way to the bottom of the jar where the other one sits idly, and within seconds the once pitiful lightning bug starts flapping its wings and joins the second one in a speckled yellow dance near the top. when he looks over at you, you’re already staring at him, and the depth of the emotion swirling around in your e/c eyes sends a spark of muffled electricity down his spine. 

“make a wish,” you whisper towards him through the approaching dark. the wanderer quirks a brow at this, trying to figure out what wishes have to do with fireflies. 

“a wish? why?”

“just do it.” you reiterate, gesturing to his hand holding the cool glass. the wanderer huffs and glances down at the jar in his hands where the two fireflies hover around each other and then looks back up to you, watching with eagerness written clear all over your face.

wishes are such arbitrary things, nothing more than useless sentiment that sets someone up for disappointment when it doesn’t come true, but it’s hard not to indulge you when you’re practically vibrating with anticipation in front of him.

“you first.” he demands, leaving no room for negotiation. 

“fine,” you relent and groan lightheartedly. a soft yellow glow illuminates your face as you lift the jar to rest against your forehead and close your eyes. when you open them again, you lower it and meet his gaze steadily.

“my wish is to spend many more birthdays with you.” you announce with a sincere smile. “happy birthday, wanderer.”

all he can do is stare in mild shock for a few moments, and when your words fully register the wanderer’s eyes widen almost comically. “wait- how did you-“

your own eyes squint shut with a delighted giggle. “a little birdie told me this very important day was coming up soon,” you explain slyly, clearly pleased that he hadn’t figured it out yet. “so i wanted to do something for you.”

though your words are vague, he catches on almost immediately and fights the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose at the realization. 

lesser lord kusanali, he sighs inwardly. i should’ve known.

“you shouldn’t have done all of this for me,” the wanderer mutters, trying his best to keep his voice even. he’s annoyingly touched by everything and swallows back a lump in his throat as tears threaten to prick his eyes. through the countless decades of birthdays that have passed by him without notice, nobody would have even considered doing such a thing for him, not even if they knew.

you’re so kind to him, always including him and going out of your way to do things for him even though he’s the last person in teyvat to deserve such a thing. it stirs the part of him that wants to claw its way out and reject this, to roar with rage at how ridiculous it is to waste your time on somebody like him. but all he can do is stare at you in wonder, burning under the warmth of your attention. 

“well i wanted to, so i did.” you shrug unapologetically. “if you hadn’t been created today all that time ago we never would’ve met, so of course it should be celebrated.”

he’s beyond grateful for the low light right now because he knows you can’t see the deep flush on his cheeks at how boldly you’re able to say such a thing. the confirmation that everything today - and all of the staring and planning leading up to it - was indeed all for him, has him at a momentary loss for words.  

“you mean you really…”

“i want to stay by your side.” there’s so much honesty and confidence behind your statement that his jaw opens and closes like a fish a few times before he can decide on how to respond. 

“how foolish,” he says sharply but a bit shakily. “what if you regret it?”

“and what if i don’t?” you counter without missing a beat. “the future is whatever it will be, and right now i’m choosing this.”

you’re right, and he knows it. he knows firsthand that there is no changing the path of fate, that the wisest thing one can do is to live in the moment and go wherever life takes them. he swore he would never care for another being, would never again play the part of a human or allow himself to feel as one - but when you stare right through his eyes and into his soul like this, he can’t ignore the way he yearns to live a life that allows him to be with you every day. 

with that said, you turn on your heel and skip back out to the middle of the field again, emptying your jar with a gleeful laugh. the glittering bugs in the air look like moving constellations around you. you, the burning sun at the center of a universe that sustains the cold, lonely planet that once orbited alone in the dark for so long.

“c’mon!” you call out to him cheerfully. “if you can’t catch more than me you’ll have to make two wishes!”

gazing down meaningfully at the two lightning bugs flying together in his jar, the wanderer makes his first one into the night under his breath, so quietly that not even the moon would be able to overhear. it’s plain and not at all what he expects to say, but it escapes his lips in a soft admission of the truth.

“if your wish is to stay by my side, then my wish is only you.”

the wanderer opens the jar and watches them flutter away, with the little buzzing stars reflecting in his eyes and the sound of your laughter gracing his ears. 

maybe over time he would learn to enjoy his birthdays, as long as he gets to have them with you.

[moon-song]

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

New Years.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

characters; Albedo, Kaeya, Kazuha, Scaramouche, Tighnari, Xiao, gn reader

cw/tw; very small hints of angst in Kaeya’s, kisses for new year, very fluffy, surprise in Kazuha’s :)

word count; 3.4k

notes; Happy new year !! Kazuha’s part is dedicated to my dearest friend @kazuily, with that said, I hope the next year for you is filled with happiness !! Enjoy !!

Please reblog if you like this!!

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Albedo

“Try to stay still, darling.” The blonde's voice came muffled from behind his canvas, earning a chuckle from his partner - you.

“Sorry, bedo! The snow just tickles.” Your nose scrunched up adorably as you spoke, another quiet noise of amusement escaping your blue tinted lips.

The alchemist smiled, unable to become frustrated when you looked so cute like that. He was nearly done anyway, so no harm done. His brush moved quick, eager to finish so he could get you nice and warm inside of his camp. He was not blind to the way you trembled under the harsh, icy wind. Then, he signed his name at the corner of the masterpiece, nodding in satisfaction.

“I believe I’m done. Would you like to see?” Of course, but that went unsaid as you hurried to his side.

“Oh, bedo! You made me look so pretty!”

“I’m only capturing what I see.” The words fell from his lips easily, blunt despite the soft undertone of his reply. His pale cheeks started to beam bright when he felt your frozen lips press to his temple. Twice, he counted idly.

“I love it, thank you so much!” His lips curled upwards, his cerulean eyes slipping shut for a moment.

“You’re freezing, dear. Let’s head back.” The prince stood, taking your own hand in one while the painting stayed in the other. He settled the picture on the easel in his workshop, brushing snowflakes carefully off your captured expression. He admired it quietly, faintly aware of the way you were shuffling about the surroundings, no doubt trying to find two empty mugs for the hot cocoa you’d just prepared. It wasn’t quite as perfect as you were, but now he could remember the moment, and see how ethereal you looked dancing amongst the snowflakes.

“Do we have marshmallows?” Your voice broke him out of his trance, bringing him back to a sight just as glorious as his imagination. You - truly a masterpiece.

“Let me get them.”

The pair of you sat next to one another, warm drinks in hand, eyes cast towards the fresh snow falling outside of your makeshift shelter.

“It’s New Year’s Day soon, isn’t it?” Albedo questioned, receiving a nod from you, your lips busy nursing the chocolatey liquid.

“Hm.” He hummed, lowering down his mug then carefully setting his hand down on yours to lower your own. You both stared at each other for a moment. No words needed to be exchanged. Then, the two you leaned forwards, drawn to one another like the powerful push and pull of gravity itself, your souls merging as one in this small gesture of love.

“Happy new year.” Both of your hushed voices whisper, before joining together once again.

Kaeya

A quiet moment was rare for the cavalry captain, especially when the drinks were flowing freely just underneath him. The man sips his drink silently, languid, taking his time to savour the taste. It would be the last one of the year, after all. And of course, he was alone. He didn’t count Diluc tending to the bar, refusing to acknowledge the constant glances the red head was giving him.

“Mind if I sit here?” He knew that voice.

His one eye, slightly glazed over thanks to the alcohol in his system, slides up to meet your face. Your features were contorted with nervousness, teeth sinking into the flesh of your lower lip. If he was feeling anything other than melancholic, he might’ve seen the sight as less endearing and more… Suggestive.

“You? Why, you don’t even need to ask.” The sultry voice of the knight chuckled, gesturing to the empty chair next to him. Hesitantly, you sat down.

The atmosphere is tense.

He’s wondering why you even bothered to waste your time with him, waste the last precious moments of this year with someone like him. You weren’t even talking. Was this out of some sort of pity?

“Kaeya, I…” Finally you spoke, but you immediately trailed off.

“Hm?”

“I was wondering if… If you…”

He shifted closer, trying his best to hear you over the lively hustle of the tavern.

“I was wondering if you could be my New Year's kiss!”

You spoke so quickly he had to blink a few times to register if what you just asked was something he had imagined.

“Perhaps I’m more intoxicated than I thought. Did I just hear you wanted a kiss from me?” The man asked, a playful smirk tugging on his lips. Your head nodded, once. Well then. That answered his question.

“I’d be delighted, sweetheart.” He chuckled, his hand moving to cup your cheek clumsily. This might not have been real, but he didn’t think his mind could conjure up such alluring thoughts - of you no less. Your eyes closed, expectant and willing. Your cheeks were warm, had you been drinking too or was it your fluster?

His thumb caresses your skin lightly, savouring it just as he had for the wine before. And then his mind wonders, would you regret it if only you knew how much of a monster he really was?

“Are you okay?” You mumbled softly, eyes half open to look at him. He swallows. He had always thought there was a certain something about you, but now the sight before him was captivating like no other.

“Just… Just couldn’t stop looking at you. That’s all.” His voice is slightly slurred, but it’s more from nerves than the ingested alcohol. You hum lightly, but the sound is cut off by Kaeya’s lips locking with your own. The cheering underneath the two of you should’ve made him pull away, but he continues to press kisses against your lips, one after the other.

“Almost forgot - Happy new year.” Then, he resumes, indulging himself in the finest intoxicant - your lips.

Kazuha

He didn’t think he’d be back here.

He supposed it was fitting, returning now. With you. Truly, he was just grateful these were more cheerful circumstances, and not a fight for survival.

Yes. He was in no battle, and yet his heart would not calm, beating violently in his chest as if he was on the other end of a foe's blade. Perhaps that would’ve been easier to handle, he knew how to wield a weapon and manipulate a fight to be in his favour with ease. This, however…

Kazuha swallowed quietly as he gazed upon you, a small smile spreading across his face. How unaware you were.

You hummed in delight at the sweet treat you had just bitten into, your eyes crinkling closed at the pleasant flavour. “Ish sho good! Love, don’t you want to try?” As you spoke, you offered the stick of tri-colored dango towards him. He pauses for a moment, the bandages on his hand feeling tight as his fist clenched. Thankfully, you hadn’t noticed how strange he was acting tonight, or if you did you didn’t point it out - which he was incredibly thankful for.

He leaned over and took a small bite, nodding in agreement. “Not bad, but not as sweet as you.” Before you had time to react, he had already pressed a kiss to your heating cheek, a chuckle bubbling up when you tried to stutter out a response.

Your voice was quietened when his hand gently took your own. “There’s somewhere I want to take you. Will you come with me, dove?” His voice was soft, matching the look on his face, his smile widening when you nodded.

The walk was quiet, but comfortable. His fingers were intertwined with yours, occasionally squeezing your hand, just to let you know he was there - and to perhaps remind himself that you were still there too. Every time the two of you caught each other’s eye, the ronin jerked his head away from your curious gaze.

“Kazu?” You inquired quietly, but he simply stopped walking, turning away from the pathway.

“Here we are.” He smiled, before continuing. “I just thought you’d want a better view of the fireworks.”

You seated yourself carefully beside him once he got comfortable, his arm immediately wrapped around your waist. While your eyes were trained on the fantastical displays of vibrant colours in the sky, his were on you. Your eyes, the way your lips curled up and parted in awe, your face illuminated by the lights above - he wanted this to be committed permanently into his memory. How he wished he was a talented artist, or a photographer - but even if he was, no amount of brush strokes, or clicks of a camera, could ever capture just how beautiful you were in his eyes.

“My love, there’s something I wish to ask.”

“Yes?” Your reply was immediate, and it only made his heart beat all the more faster. He takes a deep breath, grabbing your hand in his own. You were expecting him to speak, but something else made you finally look over to him. A coolness against your skin that’s not unpleasant, almost as if it was meant to be there. Your eyes drop down to the ring on your finger, a ruby maple leaf in the middle of a silver band.

“I want to make you happy, dove. Not just this year, but the year after that too, and all the years to come until the end of time. To be with you for eternity would be a dream come true.” The wandering prince finally raises his gaze to lock his crimson orbs with yours.

“I love you, dearest. Please make this new year a happy one, and be mine.”

Scaramouche

“We’re lost.”

You felt your eye twitch in irritation at the blunt voice behind you, one of your hands curling into a loose fist.

“I know! I know we’re lost! I thought I was going the right way, but you were right and I was wrong, are you happy now?!”

Your chest heaved, and your body trembled in fury.

Hours. It had been hours of just aimless travelling, your efforts futile to find an inn for you and your wandering companion. The sky was clear, bathed in the warmth of the powerful sun when you had started your venture, now it was littered with dazzling stars, the silvery light of the moon illuminating your frustrated features. Still, to the man behind you, you had never looked more beautiful.

“Relax. It’s not a big deal.” If you didn’t look so enraged, he might’ve made a snide comment that yes, he was happy that you finally admit that he was right all along when he told you to follow the river. However, the day had been long enough. Even he was starting to feel an ache in his artificial legs, he couldn’t imagine what kind of pain your mortal body was experiencing. “Let’s just find a cave for the night-“

“No!” You cut him off, whipping around to face him. “I wanted to find somewhere nice for once so we could-“

He raised an eyebrow, waiting for you to finish, but your words never came.

“Well? Spit it out.” His tone feigned annoyance, his eyes rolling playfully at you.

“Do you know what day it is?” You asked quietly as you shuffled towards him, all anger melting out of your body, turning into shy meekness. He shook his head, his indigo hair framing his vibrant eyes.

“It’s the last night of the year. I wanted to…” All you wanted to do was spend the final moments of this year with him. It was silent for a moment before he turned his back on you, motioning with his head to the path up ahead as he spoke.

“Come with me.” You didn’t need to be told twice. You’d follow him to the ends of the earth, if he let you. His slender fingers gripped the edge of his hat and pulled it down to further obscure his face when the short walk uphill got you to your destination. There, you had a clear view of the magnificent scenery surrounding you, the vast sea of trees and winding rivers reflecting the starry sky above you. It felt as if you were floating, the world beneath your feet as you basked in the high heavens.

“This scenery should be quite breathtaking.” The wanderer beside you decided to speak up, after seating himself on a nearby rock. Carefully, you shuffled backwards until you too were sitting down.

“It is…” You whispered, letting your weary head rest against his shoulder. He stiffens, his synthetic heart halting in his hollow chest, his pale cheeks matching that of the crimson liner framing those doe eyes of his.

“We didn’t find a village, but is this enough?” He asks, quiet and timid, so unlike him. You simply nod with that smile, that damned smile, he adored so much. You’d be the death of him, he idly thinks to himself as his arm comes to rest around your waist. And in a moment of weakness for you (only you), the puppet pressed his lips against your own, letting them rest there when you didn’t pull away, murmuring gently,

“Happy new year.” A new day, a new life. He would make good of his own words, but his new life with you started now.

Tighnari

“I knew I’d find you here.”

The fox’s head perked up from the paper he was focusing on, the sound of your voice all too familiar to him.

There you were, arms crossed over your chest as you leaned against the doorway, a fond smile on your face. He let out a quiet chuckle, placing his quill back in its place carefully before making his way over to you, mimicking your pose as his arms crossed over his own chest.

“Didn’t feel like celebrating, master?” You teased, grinning when you saw the roll of his viridian eyes.

“We’re in the same rank now, there’s no need for you to call me that anymore.” The man groaned in feigned annoyance, and you couldn’t help but laugh quietly. You missed the way the head ranger's eyes sparkled at the melodic sound.

“Sorry, sorry! I was just wondering why you weren’t at the party - everyone’s waiting for you.” Ah. That’s why you decided to show up. Even though your presence was always cherished, you usually didn’t come to him without reason.

“I still have some work to finish up, so I decided to not go.” He was dedicated to his craft, but this much? No, you didn’t think so. You stared expectantly, causing his ear to twitch, one of his hands coming up to scratch at the back of it - a nervous habit of his. “Besides I… Don’t really like parties.”

“Too loud?” You summarised , and he nodded slowly. He could never hide anything from you, after all.

“I’d much rather stay here and not have to put up with completely wasted rangers trying to get touchy feely with me, just because they feel braver with alcohol in their system.” There was only one person he’d ever let do that, and they were right in front of him. A party wasn’t necessary. The thought of your hands running through the fur on his ears made his tail sway with delight, so much so it was thumping against the floor. It seemed to always do that with you - he tried everything to get it to stop, but it was just one of those unconditional things you brought out in him.

“Fair. Still…” You let out a quiet sigh. “I wish you were there. I want to go into the new year with you, after all.”

The fennec's ears stood straight up in surprise, his reddening cheeks thankfully hidden by the dim lit room, the only light coming from silver slivers of moonlight from his half-open door.

“Well- Uh- Ah- You’re-“ When did Tighnari of all people stumble over his words? A clear of his throat.

“You’re here now.” He finished, finally, quietly. You smiled softly, eyes locking with his own iridescent ones. A moment passes, with just the two of you staring at one another, gentle grins on your faces.

“There’s one tradition that I didn’t want to miss out on, though…” He finally broke the silence, his voice still quiet.

“What’s that, then?” You asked, just as quiet.

He waits for another moment, before one of his hands makes its way to rest against your cheek.

“This.”

Tighnari leans forward slowly and finally closes the gap between you, just as the muffled cheers of your colleagues in the distance began to grow louder. He only pulls away to mumble, “Happy new year,” before locking lips with you once more.

Xiao

A solitary adeptus gazes down at the bright lights of Liyue Harbour, his features relaxed, a look of serene calmness.

Peace. Something rare, and precious, for the vigilant yaksha. But with the promise of another year with you by his side, he had little to worry about for once. The dark miasma permeating his body was at ease at last.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” The beauty sitting next to him exclaimed, reaching inside of one of their pockets, intriguing the teal haired man next to them. You flashed a gentle smile as your hand retracted, revealing a small, neatly wrapped package. “I have something for you.” You chuckled softly, placing it in Xiao’s half open palm. Curious, golden orbs shifted down towards the tiny present, his head gently tilting to the side.

“It’s a New Year's present.” You whispered playfully after the moment of silence that followed, your smile too bright and radiant to look at - he was undeserving to look at such a pure sight. Carefully, his lithe fingers undid the perfect bow, then tore at the packaging with precision. He gave you one last look, just to make sure this was okay - was this gift really for him? One nod from you soothed his doubts. He takes a quiet breath before properly opening it.

There, laid delicately on the silk lined insides, sat a clear crystal brooch in the shape of a crystal fly. Stunned, he stared in awe as it glistened in the dim lit night, shining so bright it almost looked as if it was a fallen star from the blackened sky above.

“I remember once, you told me that I reminded you of one. So now, when we’re not together, you’ll always have me with you.” As you spoke, you had taken the small piece of jewellery from its casing and was presently pinning it to his chest, right above where his heart was. Still, the man said nothing, eyes blown wide as he continued to stare at it.

You were starting to get worried. Did he not like it? Maybe it was too much, or maybe he thought it was pointless, or even-

“Thank you.” He whispered, finally, his hand coming to close around the small, precious ornament. “But…” Oh no. Your chest constricted at the thought of him not being satisfied with something you spent hours thinking of, hoping and praying he would at least appreciate it.

The yaksha let out a quiet sigh, head lowering in… embarrassment? Your eyebrows raised as his hand tightened protectively around what he was holding. “I wasn’t aware of the tradition of gift giving… So I…” His eyes shifted towards the side, his lips pursing slightly. Even though the night hid most things in its murky darkness, it could not hide the glorious sight of Xiao’s rosy cheeks. “I didn’t get anything for you.”

“Oh, is that what you were worried about?” Both in relief and amusement, you exhaled a quiet chuckle at the shy behaviour displayed by the mighty adeptus. “If you feel that bad about it, I suppose there is something you could do for me…”

Xiao’s unwavering gaze moved back to you, silently awaiting your command. The smile spreading across your lips made something in his chest tighten, his breath catching in his throat as you leaned in close, so close.

“My gift… A kiss.” He didn’t hesitate, following orders was something of second nature for him, but never had any of the acts he had committed for his previous masters ever felt so good. His lips moved softly against your own, the hand not clutching the brooch coming up to run lightly through your hair. Sweet, like the purest dreams, the taste addicting. You pulled away, his lips chasing yours but stopping himself before they connected again to hear what you had to say.

“Happy new year, my love.”

[moon-song]

❛ 12:07 with wanderer  ❜ 

wanderer x gn!reader 

no warnings , ambiguous relationship , reader is an enigma , dialogue heavy

happy birthday hat man

today was a special day, and no one was aware but you, it seemed. you weren’t even sure he himself remembered, the one today was reserved for. the world had turned its back on his existence but allowed you to share the memory, and you would make sure you kept it. if keeping it meant dragging him up to see the world in its most perfect state—the closest you could get to actually giving it to him—then so be it.

“it’s beautiful up here, isn’t it?” “you still haven’t told me why we’re here.” “does there have to be a reason?” “you’re not as shrewd as you think.” the wanderer faces you, a serene expression painting his features so beautifully it makes you grateful you get to see it. it’s different from his usual scowl or smirk. he looks beautiful when he’s at peace, you wish you could tell him that. “happy birthday.” his serene expression sours, and he sits up a little straighter. “what?” “it’s your birthday today.” “you…aren’t supposed to remember that. you aren’t supposed to know that at all.” smiling, you turn back to the scenery, watching as the setting sun paints the sky in hues of red, preparing to welcome the moon back into its inky abode. “that’s not the reaction i expected from someone who’s birthday is today.” the wanderer stills, brows furrowed, deep in thought. 

“today..is not a joyous day.” you frown. “i beg to differ. i, for one, am glad you’re alive. stay that way.” there is silence for a moment before the wanderer snorts, you turn just in time to see him try and stifle a smile. “what a strange way to say ‘happy birthday.” “well, you’re a strange guy.” you continue, “besides, i need to spend your birthday with someone, and i’d rather that someone be you.” the words felt right, as disguised as they were, and something inside the puppet clicks upon hearing them. how did it feel to be asked to stay for the first time in his life? to be needed? it felt wonderful, you were wonderful, he wasn’t going to say that, though. he wouldn’t say anything, in fear he’d say something he couldn’t take back. he didn’t believe he could be that honest with himself yet. “here,” you pulled out a calla lily brooch, carved out of precious rock, with pearls inside the flower and gems along its stems. he looked at it curiously, as if he wasn’t supposed to touch it. “what is it?” “it’s a brooch, and your present.” you made the move for him, fixing it on his scarf. “it’s a calla lily, it means rebirth.” smoothing it out, you pulled away, admiring it. “i think it suits you.” he lifts a hand to run over it. “i didn’t need anything from you.” “but you deserve it. you deserve good things, you always have.”

what a strange way to say i love you.

reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated!

[moon-song]

100+ NOTES HELLO??? I WAS NOT EXPECTING MY DILUC BRAINROT TO GO THAT FAR TYSM

[moon-song]

Diluc headcanons !

彡 Warnings: cute shit and maybe a little bit of sad things up ahead? Only SFW !!

First off, he has tanned skin because of how much he works. He obviously works with fire so it does contribute to it! Plus he has a claymore so he more than likely has to work out to keep his balance with it in check

Oh and he has a stubble just like his father, makes him seem more mature so he keeps it plus it reminds him of his father

If he were to like someone, it wouldn’t be a crush like thing, he would LOVE the person. His desire for others is very serious so if his S/O were to think that he is having an affair he would loose his mind.

He would definitely wants kids, doesn’t look like the type to want them but would die to look after some. He remembers how his father took care of both Kaeya and him so he wants to set that image for others.

Whenever the kid trio of Mondstat (Fischl, Bennett, and Razor) are late into their adventuring Diluc lets them stay over the night at the winery if they’re close. He doesn’t want to see other young people of this nation see anything bad or even deal with anything that could cause them harm.

He’s not squinting because he’s annoyed, he’s squinting because he can’t see that well

Sleep talking is one of them, he only has it whenever he works later than he should

Used to be a heavy sleeper and not a morning person before his father’s death, now he deals with waking up over the smallest sound

Would try to bake small things for his S/O even though he’s horrible at it, would settle for tea instead since it’s what he likes best other than grape juice

Has thick thighs and arms, WOO WEE🫡‼️

Scars on his body ofc, all of that fighting can cause injuries

Has long, thick lashes; he never noticed until you brought them up

Favorite gemstone are Rubies!

Will definitely accompany you on commissions, wants to get rid of these commissions quick so he can spend time with you

Shakes his bangs out of his face sometimes, TELL ME IM WRONG

Since he’s the most handsome man in Mondstat, people try to ask him out more than they should and he usually just replies in short responses “No” “Sorry” “Let me be”, and his favorite: “My lover is calling me.”

Whenever he sees the way Bennett acts he sees his younger self which aches his heart

Would actually try to impress you with his skills, surprising I know! Learning new moves to catch your attention is the reason as to why he can do a bunch of tricks

I wanna add more but I can’t think of anything else ughhh

[moon-song]

ha?

every single person who reblogs this

every

single

person

will get “doot doot” in their ask box

[moon-song]

btw it is ok if your fav has no ass. You don’t have to pretend that they have an ass. It is ok. It is ok to find someone with no ass attractive.

[moon-song]

❛ 8:37 with diluc ragnivindr  ❜ 

diluc ragnivindr x gn!reader 

no warnings , author is in love with diluc

dilucis a blushing, pathetic, lovesick fool. it’s obvious from the way he tenses when you fall asleep on his shoulder, a subtle show of your trust in him he doesn’t believe he deserves. but he knows if you were awake, you’d say the opposite. he does his best to believe you. slowly, carefully, diluc relaxes, allowing himself peace in your presence. you must’ve been tired to have fallen asleep so suddenly, he would scold you about it when you woke up (hypocrite), but you looked so peaceful…his battered heart lets out a beautiful ache at the thought of you finding peace in him as well. he’d been so enchanted by how much he felt for you, it had slipped from his mind that you must also feel the same. a crooked smile breaks out on his face, one of few, one of many more to come. just this once, he doesn’t envy your peaceful slumber, he doesn’t wish to be dreaming with you. is this moment not a dream on its own? archons, he hopes not. for once, he is satisfied. he doesn’t need to wake you, or to rush to engrave this memory before it fades. the moment is beautiful because it is fleeting, so he sits and watches it pass, as the rise and fall of your chest marks the seconds. slowly, surely, diluc leans down and presses a chaste yet pining kiss to the crown of your head, lingering a second more before he pulls away to admire you. you smile in your sleep and press further up against him. diluc feels his heart ache again. he is flaws and jagged edges and deeply imperfect, but you worry not about the scrapes, and trust him in this way anyway. one day, he'll repay it to you and become someone worth loving. for now, he only hopes you’ll continue to lay on his shoulder, he only hopes your dreams are sweet.

reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated!

[moon-song]

❛ 8:58 with shinichiro manjiro  ❜ 

shinichiro manjiro x gn!reader 

smoking, cursing

you sent a quick prayer to whoever was listening – hoping they’d protect your lungs – before you took a long drag from the cigarette you held in between your fingers, handing it to shinichiro after so he could do the same. a satisfied sigh left your lips as you blew out smoke, watching it blend in with the afternoon air and disappearing completely. immediately, you felt yourself become more relaxed, turning to your boyfriend beside you to shoot him a lopsided smile. he caught sight of it and chuckled, wrapping an arm around your shoulders to pull you closer to his chest. “it’s gorgeous up here, isn't it?” nodding, you scanned the view, from the cloudless gray sky, to the busy streets, and the tiny people that roamed the ground below you, each one with a different life, a different future, a different story to tell. you found it fascinating. the world felt so free from the roof, almost enough for you to pretend there was nothing wrong, and your problems didn’t exist from the start. “hey, shin?” he hummed, still facing the view, but you knew he was listening. you followed his gaze, kicking your legs slightly from where they dangled over the edge of the roof, feeling weightless for a moment. “you think we’ll ever be free? like..without expectations, or worries, or any of that shit?” you questioned, not really expecting an answer, but throwing thoughts into the air anyways. shinichiro brought the cigarette to your lips and you opened your mouth to take another drag. when he pulled it away, you exhaled the smoke in your lungs. “i dunno, but it’s nice to think about, a life without worries with you.” leaning further into shinichiro, you finished your thought, relishing in his warmth. “i’d like that.” he answered finally, turning to you with a soft grin and a gleam in his eyes. “and one of these days i’ll make it happen.” you took in his words for a moment before breaking into a smile. “i will, and then we can do whatever we want, without a care in the world. i want to give that to you, at least.” “promise?” you jutted out your pinkie towards him. shinichiro obliged, interlocking your fingers and placing a kiss to the top of your head, holding you there. 

“i promise,”he said.

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