#;;These blue eyes caged in steel were born into a rotten world. My heart was growing cold under the grey skies. [Alchemy Stars Verse]

[pearlofshenzhou]

@pseudomonacarriea​ asked:

When she would come back from her duties, a lavish display of food and wine decorates the table. For him, she deserved only the best that he could come to acquire, no matter the price. Even if... that left his wallet a little more shallow than Hua would have liked it to be.

Dressed in a formal Longzhou garb, Zhongli extends his hand toward the surprised Hua.

"You're wearing the dress I asked you to don."

He couldn't be happier. Pieces of his plan were coming together smoothly. Gloved fingers gently take hers into his own, guiding her towards an open spot in the room that he cleared.

"Wait here a moment."

Soft footsteps move to the record player in the back. A gift from Kaeya with something about playing it to enjoy the music of Astra. Or was it -- ah, right. It came from Childe after he went on a shopping spree with Aedre and got an extra. He figured the brunette could use it. The sound of a soft record scratch as he put the needle down against the vinyl, and a soft tune began to play. Orchestrated to play softly, Zhongli makes his way back to where Fu Hua was standing.

"May I have this dance, and this evening with you?"

For this was one the many of gifts he had to give her.

Happy Birthday, Hua.

Happy Birthday, Fu Hua! || Not Accepting

In all honesty, she was quite startled that he had remembered to keep his Nightium on hand rather than to have the Lins foot the bill for him. Perhaps he was now better in remembering that the Guild was already hard enough on times that they could no longer manage such a thing? Regardless, there’s a faint smile tracing her lips as the appetizing aroma of the myriad of traditional Longzhou dishes wafts through the air. Crystal shrimp, savory gān guō with generous helpings of meat and fish, xiao long bao, and phoenix buns--Zhongli had truly outdone himself this time.

Today was the day that she had graduated from avian form to one that was much more human, even if there were remnants of her time as a phoenix evident in her features at times, namely when utilizing her Luminatics. The feathers normally adopted a color more akin to her general hair color, a dark azure that contrasted the expensive, cream-colored silk adorned with blue and gold qipao that she had been gifted a long while ago.

“You went through the trouble of having something so elaborate made for me, how could I not?”

There is no accusation in the Fiendling’s voice, merely matter-of-fact--This dress was quite important to her, enough that she seldom wore it unless requested or a particularly formal event had come about that required her presence. As if by second nature, she accepts his hand, fingers delicately resting atop his until they are forced to part for a time once she is personally escorted into a more open space. 

As the unmistakable sound of a pipa being gently plucked at before the singer’s voice gradually joins, Zhongli extending his hand out to her after making that request leaves her surprised for a moment.

“...!”

There is but a small pause, before she once again accepts his hand with a soft shake of her head in disbelief, but a gentle, soft smile brimming with emotion.

“ ....Dāngrán, xiǎo huàidàn.“

Xièxiè ni, Zhongli.

[aschalone]

The Day You Vanished With the Stars

They said the color of your eyes is blue. A sky caged in steel and born into this rotten world. I never know what color that is, but I believe it suits you best. When you get older. plainer, saner, will you remember all the danger we came from? Will you remember us burning like embers, longing for the days of surrender? Will you remember holding me like you never lost your patience?

As much as I hate that woman for dragging me, I must thank her for delivering me to where I belong, that is by your side, even if it will kill us in the end. So, tonight, let me strip you bare with teeth gnashing on your fingers and neck, with each lick around your fingers. Ironic, don’t you think? For someone whose pride soaring as high as heaven itself to tumble down into the earth where the ground belongs? For someone who said don’t seek me anymore to fall into your embrace and no longer feel the need to peel myself off from you? From someone who barked stay away to someone who begged endlessly don’t stop, give me more of you.

So, tonight when we were both high, let’s grind onto each other and leave our legacy on each other’s bodies. Let’s live our best life until we die. I’d swallow the moon and stars to follow the beat of your heart, and dare you to burn this onto your mind when I’m no longer here.

Burn this memory of me calling your name over and over again akin to heretic begging for salvation, drill everything of me to your presence. So you’ll know, you won’t find anyone like me ever again. That I am your one and only.

I hope you’ll never forget the touch of my fingers unraveling each inch of your body. Smear you with everything I own, and burn the memories of me begging for more with back arched high and body pinned under your mercy. If my sin is pride, then I will see you swallowed by greed.

The greed of wanting to conquer a ghost.

My time’s up when the morning star rose from its slumber, and I’ve realized how much of a fool we were. I held your head close to my chest and planted one last kiss on your lips. When I first met you, I knew we’re never meant to be together. At least, right here, right now, I can rest well in your presence. For once in forever, I have finally understood what it means to be free.

“Ezeriah, you’ve brought me to your abyss. Rejoice, it’s your win.”