#ㅤ𓆩✦𓆪 ㅤ: ㅤ❛ㅤ𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐄𝐘𝐕𝐀𝐓 / genshin i.

[viaetor]

@apocryphis ㅤ/ㅤ for lyney, based on our convos. ♡

ㅤㅤstars danced in a deadly fashion. when one extended their hand in a half-bow to another, it was a silent invitation to flirt with doom: their star cores would tug and pull against their chests, a gravity field creating a black hole under their feet as they waltzed elegantly with their chins up, offering no fear in their eyes or pressed mouths, for that was an affliction reserved only for the soft and mortal. in such custom, the starborn that held better strength and power would then choose to consume the weakest of the pair or wield them like their own weapon—a sadistic ritual to which every star paid close attention. dances were offered rarely, and they were denied even more sparsely. it was a matter of pride. arrogance, really. the caeling knew that first-hand. too many times had he been invited to dance by greedy gods and others of his kind, and too many times, he had consumed them or made himself their temporary sword. gruesome. to dance was to wage war. to become an instrument in another’s embrace… or so he thought until recently.

ㅤㅤlyney held him like he was no instrument or blade; on the contrary, he seemed to be holding something—someone—delicate. the way fair left hand rested on his waist, sheepishly rubbing his thumb along the curve of his torso when he thought aether wasn’t looking, how those lilacs stared at him with fondness, following his every tilt and step, and how his tone mellowed in celebration to finally be sharing a gala together. at first, the traveller almost thought about denying the invitation when they met in the busy ballroom. with too many eyes following their movements and, knowing the magician, the spotlight would soon be bathing their heads. a lazy excuse: he said he didn’t know how to waltz the way fontainians did. he had no sense of rhythm. he didn’t want to embarrass him in such an important event. he came only to watch, to admire how the suits and dresses twirled and touched the ground with grace. he was shut down every time, sharp fatui tongue always knowing what to say as a remedy to every poison posed; it was impossible not to be tangled by his charms. and aether was glad. for once, dancing felt…

ㅤㅤ“warm.” he declared out loud, almost as if expecting lyney to be able to read his thoughts. the traveller knew he couldn’t, but the thought made him smile anyway. he intertwined his gloved fingers with his o so eager dance partner, heeding every suggestion his body made, step after step, taking on his lead with worries flying away from his mind. “i never knew dancing could be like this.” intimate, tranquil, simply sensing the violins and piano that a passionate orchestra played from a baroque stage as the smell of rainbow roses in porcelain vases perfumed the dancing floor. the old morning star leaned closer, letting his scarred cheek brush against lyney’s soft one, purring in his ear: “what other tricks can you show me tonight?”

[viaetor]

ㅤㅤuneventful, yes, the trek was. pleasant? hardly. dragonspine had never felt pleasant. its howling winds were deafening; they prickled skin like tiny needles, and the air lay heavy on one’s shoulders and throat. the sun seemed to have abandoned such a place, and aether could understand why. well, almost, lenience and truth be given. there were still delights to be found in those cold-engulfed ruins — from the cave’s entrance echoed a sandy chuckle as the traveller nodded; “flattered, are we not?”

ㅤㅤ“it sounds like you missed me too, albedo.” he asked for no permission to come in, letting snow-capped cape and clothes slowly melt against the fire of torches and the alchemist’s zeal. old friends, especially those who bore such ancient souls, needn’t concern themselves with such formal etiquette, did they? at least that’s what aether thought as he lethargically walked through the cave laboratory, squinting at new potions, boards and notes, trying to make sense of a genius mind. a few seconds passed before his gaze met his and he wanted to say; it’s good to see you again — you, who is like me, but not quite. instead, a simple tilt of his head, delighted: “what are you experimenting on this time?”

❛ the trek was pleasantly uneventful, i hope? i have some goulash by the fire, if you’d like. ❜ dragonspine wasn’t well known for its wonderful company and accessible footpaths, after all — the worry was as much a constant as the chilling winds. even more so when the visit was unexpected, though it was primarily @viaetor who preferred such sudden appearances. ❛ have you stopped by mondstadt yet? everyone always looks forward to your visits. ❜ head tilts to the side in a rare show of emotion; a smile / a visual depiction of playfulness for their next sentence. ❛ or was i your first stop? ❜

[viaetor]

@apocryphis ㅤ/ㅤ based on our convos. ♡

ㅤㅤ“you’re planning something. with my hair, of all things.”

ㅤㅤlyney was a trickster; that much aether knew—he had been on both receiving ends of his schemes. thankfully for the magician, star-borne beings had a somewhat forgiving memory, for the raised brow on aether’s visage came not from dissatisfaction or disapproval but from genuine interest. a verdict, yes, but also an underlying question. 

ㅤㅤthey had spent their day checking in on poisson’s structure, delivering some merchandise and playing diplomatic roles. working together felt… a bit odd sometimes, but not for the reasons one might think. truth be told, the traveller immensely enjoyed lyney’s company: his sweetened words were pleasant to listen to, the street card acts he put on to cheer up a few children stole grins from within, and he enjoyed how lyney would catch him up on the latest occurrences in fontaine and with his siblings. virtually, there was no tension between the two anymore. it was something else that made aether inquisitive. at first, the traveller wondered if he was imagining things. he was not.

ㅤㅤlingering eyes on how golden locks moved during their stroll, sneaky caresses on the edges of his braid, body movements that leaned closer as if looking for something hidden within. he had turned to face his companion and ask of probably unimportant matters, but whatever the matter was, the caeling soon forgot once he caught the “criminal” in the act. lyney held golden wavy hair like someone would have admired a precious cloth or curtain before buying it. aether’s frown deepened, and he tilted his head, sizing him up and down, trying to understand what was happening. what could interest him in something so mundane? “lyney”, the sound of his name carried a promise: he wasn’t mad. just extremely confused. “what is it?”

[viaetor]

@maquiscursed / kazuha ♡ aether : plotted starter!

ㅤㅤtaking baths in rivers and lakes wasn’t something uncommon for a traveller that traversed through the lands of teyvat by foot or ship. it was better (and less expensive) than paying for inns to use their showers. the sensation of liyue’s midday sun kissing his skin was welcoming in itself—he loved how refreshing yet warm it all felt, the breeze, the weather, the water. what was definitely not usual, however, was being accompanied in such scenarios. his pixie guide, after all, always stayed inside the serenitea teapot to give the traveller some privacy. that, of course… and having his hair caressed and touched as if it was a relic never before seen by men was also new.

ㅤㅤpeeking from his shoulder, aether held in a chuckle at how bewildered his samurai companion looked, bandaged hands holding his now-loose strands of blond hair as if it was his first time meeting golden colours. maybe kazuha was admiring just how long his hair was when not kept in a braid? he knew that when bathing his hair flowed on the water as lengthy sunrays did; so much so that, once, paimon thought his hair was actually really big snakes. her shriek still made him laugh to this day. he decided to tease him, just a bit. “are you having fun back there, kaedehara?”

[viaetor]

ㅤㅤ“am i doing this right?” despite the concerned doubt erupting from his throat, the traveller’s hands kept at work. he brushes the brownish tail with loosened movements, careful with the silverish comb’s harshness to not tangle in rebel hairs. all in all, fontaine’s imported cream does prove to be worthy of its title (hair/fur conditioner maximum softness 3.0+). still… it was hard to not get distracted by how adorable it was whenever gorou wagged his tail unconsciously. luckily, the general wouldn’t notice how hard aether was containing his own smile and cuteness overload. luckily. “fluffy…”

@sasoukenㅤ/ㅤsurprise starter for gorou based on our talks. ♡

[viaetor]

ㅤㅤa gloved hand is extended to his friend-made-opponent in between sweat, huffs and a smile. ventus’ speediness was certainly hard to keep up with—especially from dawn ‘till nightfall. “good fight—you almost had me there.” he’s pretty sure ventus was the swiftest person he’s got the chance to spar with. that guy had to have wings on his feet! but he isn’t complaining. well, if you don’t consider his grumbling when the traveller finally sits down after helping his companion up, that is. okay, maybe he’s complaining a little bit. it comes with suppressed laughter, though, when he thinks that lumine would be cursing his friend for being so fast and hard to hit. and to think aether was the most agile between the two… teyvat really changed him.

ㅤㅤ“are you sure you aren’t a knight of favonius?”

@destinywovenㅤ/ㅤsurprise starter for ventus based on our plots. ♡

[viaetor]

❝ you’re one of the best chapters in the book of my life. ❞

ARABIC POETRY INSPIRED MEMES / accepting! / @aalberich

ㅤㅤwhen the traveller had caught wind of what was going on at angel’s share, he nearly didn’t believe his ears. it was only when he saw a crowd forming at the entrance—much to charles and patton’s collective dismay—that the rumours were truly starting to sink in. someone bit more than they could chew. or rather, drank. the usual subdued, almost melancholic environment that veiled the outside tables and its patrons was no more; adventurers, knights, fishermen, merchants and drunkards raised their cups in ecstasy to loose chatter and even sloppier hums of songs, tapping their feet as if windblume was knocking on their doors to invite them over for a dance. hooray, hooray! perhaps it was, in a way. their faces were all so red that it could be compared to spring fevers;  aether was sure that any moment poor jack would drown in his hiccups, trying to keep up the pace with cyrus… and kaeya.

ㅤㅤeveryone knew the cavalry captain enjoyed more than a drink or two during his spare hours—he could almost hear kaeya’s silky voice defending the idea that a good burning liquid was the medicine to clear any man’s foggy mind. poetically mysterious yet tragic, that one was. but in all his time in mondstadt, or rather, in teyvat, the traveller had never seen or heard of him exaggerate that way. until that night. two round tables were covered to the brim with cups of beer and glasses of wine, and right in the middle, sat the one single cryo user, chuckling about ‘getting caught by the legendary hero’. aether crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. then, he sighed, slowly shaking his head.

ㅤㅤno words were much exchanged at first; aether had offered him his arm to hold onto so they could both walk to the favonius’ headquarters without drawing much attention. but then, kaeya had hugged him from behind; whispering in a voice far too warm for the outsider to grasp if it was due to the alcohol or if it came from a long-unspoken truth in his throat.

ㅤㅤyou’re one of the best chapters in the book of my life.

ㅤㅤone of his endless teasings, perhaps? or a flirting technique? or was that one of the famous mortal confessions that that o so potent beverage could provoke? he wasn’t sure, and he much preferred not to dwell further on speculations. not now, at least. jean had been the one to ask him to check on kaeya and he better return to tell her everything was fine quickly, lest the poor woman had a premature heart attack with all her caring. so he once again shook his head, minding not that his blond strands tickled against the other’s face when he did that.

ㅤㅤ“and you’re really drunk—sir kaeya,” he taunted the formality with a grin, “should i bridal carry you home?”

[viaetor]

❝ how long will this memory of ours last? ❞ (from shenhe!)

ARABIC POETRY INSPIRED MEMES / no longer accepting! / @maquiscursed

ㅤㅤthat night, as they climbed the steep stairs that led patient souls to the peaks of mt. aocang, with crickets piping in the distance and the haze under their feet growing denser, resembling clouds, shenhe’s voice echoed through the mountains, cutting the atmosphere like a sharp spear. aether turned back to her, his misty breathing being swollen dry mid-sentence with wide eyes. his usual smile, which he was wearing o so effortlessly while he uncharacteristically chippered about his adventures with paimon to the cryo user, was no longer there. 

ㅤㅤhe knew what she was talking about. today had been a happy anomaly—one that they delighted themselves in together ever since morning dew’s first fragrance. there were no monsters or dangers to fend off, no hustle for commissions, requests or deadlines to fulfil. instead, they bumped into one another, a simple mathematical coincidence like that, and went shopping for supplies, chatted with some of their friends, petted some cats, played with some children at the pier, walked around for hours, went sight-seeing as if it was their first time in liyue, explored some ruins as aether wrote some unreadable notes about them on his trusty adventurer’s handbook, and here they were. climbing some mountains, longing for a high enough peak for the perfect spot to watch the full moon and her lovely diamonds. they did nothing all day. yet they did everything. there was no purpose for them to be together all day long—but they just were. this was new, this was welcomed… and this was, is and will be rare for them.

ㅤㅤaether was a traveller by nature. as silence reigned for eternal seconds between them, that realisation sank deeper and deeper within their chests. tomorrow, he’d be requested to go somewhere else, hit the road and not look back for gods know how long. he’d keep looking for his sister, even if she didn’t want to be found. and when the stars called for them to rejoice, they’d leave behind bittersweet memories as trails of their journey. it was their—his—fate. one that he’d never dared to question, even more so admit out loud. it hurt.

ㅤㅤhow long will this memory of ours last?

ㅤㅤher question really was: how long until you have to go and our memories of each other fade due to time and distance?

ㅤㅤagain, he knew what she was talking about. however, it didn’t mean they had to rush the steps to the answer. so he stepped a stair down, and his right gloved hand (the same that he used to hold his sword fiercely, now so delicately, so patiently looking for another’s touch), tried to intertwine with her fingers through the fabric. and once they did, a grin returned to light his face.

ㅤㅤ“for as long as we can remember, shenhe.” he came closer, foreheads ghosting each other’s warmth. “so let’s make a promise—here.” he intertwined their pinkies together, squeezing them into one another. “if you forget, then i’ll remind you. and if i forget, then it’s your turn to remember. that way, our memories will live on.” and, as if to seal their pact, he placed a warm kiss on the intersection of their oath.but the truth was she needn’t worry. he’d tell the stars about her. that way, maybe, just maybe, they could rewrite and reread this as many times as they wanted.

[viaetor]

How exactly the letter has managed to reach Aether and Paimon is nothing short of a miracle - a miracle of organisation and information tracking, that only a few people in this world should be able to boast about. Perhaps the neat and crisp handwriting on the letter explains it all; who better than Sumeru's scribe to be privy to the comings and goings of the country's most celebrated outlander?

"Dear Aether,

By the time this letter finds you, I shall have resigned from my position as Acting Grand Sage - thus finally granting me the time to pursue more personal interests such as resuming correspondence, and returning to my delayed reading. I'm afraid this job has not left me much time to make progress on the books you and I discussed the last time you were in Sumeru City, and cannot express enough my satisfaction at relinquishing those responsibilities onto others. “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors" - now that Lord Kusanali has secured a new council of sages, more competent than the last, I am content to withdraw from the world of politics. My work here is done.

I am, of course, not writing to you for the sole pleasure of bragging about my newfound freedom, but to draw your attention to a recent publication from the Haravatat Darshan on ancient Khaenri'ahn. I know your knowledge of the language far surpasses that of most of my colleagues, but I do think this particular paper introduces a new and interesting nuance to some concepts related to the stars that may prove fruitful in your own quest for your sister. If not, at least it should make for an interesting conversation when you next return. Do let me know when you'll next be in Sumeru City or Port Ormos; I'll make sure to join you for dinner.

-- Alhaitham."

ㅤㅤ @maquiscursedㅤㅤ/ㅤㅤUNPROMPTEDㅤㅤ/ㅤㅤalways accepting!

ㅤㅤas if to contrast the adroitly written letter of rich paper and impeccable envelope, the reply the traveller sent back appeared a bit underwhelming to short-sighted readers, especially with how late it came in the mail. al-haitham, however, was sure to see through the seemingly initial sour disorganisation. for starters, the casing to precious penned contents was nonexistent, the only thing tying up all those different-looking papers together were a few rough strings that were clearly meant for camping structures and not delicate scripting. it also had far too many pages for what seemed like a simple response. was it because of the scribe’s friend’s untrained calligraphy? hmm, curious. aether had undoubtedly written alfresco, just after settling for the night, but right before his last meal. this could be attested by candle wax droplets that decorated some of the crumpled pages alongside some stains of sunsettia fruits. it was one of his very scarce free hours throughout his harrowing routine. even so, the outlander had made sure to try his best to keep his handwriting as concise as possible, despite his quill’s faint ink and his clearly exaggerated vowels and estrangement to regular spaces. it read:

ㅤㅤ“i hope this letter finds you well, al-haitham.

ㅤㅤyou must be happy to finally have a breather; the akademiya can be intense. but i think the work that you did was phenomenal. lesser lord kusanali couldn’t have chosen a better sage. she speaks very highly of you. thank you for everything you’ve done, you aided me in your own way, too. 

ㅤㅤas you can see, i think i made some progress with my handwriting. it’s still a little stiff and hard to read, i know, but your tutoring helped me. i find languages without punctuation and spaces much easier to read and write. but turtle baby steps. anyway, hopefully later we can discuss more of the books we talked about. me and paimon just finished reading a tale called moonlit bamboo forest. well, more me than her, really. she kept falling asleep whenever i’d read a sentence or two. have you ever heard of it? it’s not a scientific piece, but i think you’d enjoy the narrative. regarding your recommendation, i’ll be sure to get my hands on that paper as soon as possible. if not, would you mind saving a copy? dinner’s on me.

ㅤㅤi visited some ruins last week. sorry for not writing back sooner. but i took some pictures from some inscriptions and devices we encountered. i thought maybe they could interest you and your optics research. they seem to be ancient windows that function according to elements, but i’m not too sure. i also included some notes on the region’s terrain and monsters, alongside a minimap. i’d love to hear what you think.

ㅤㅤwhen you receive this letter, i’ll already be on my way to sumeru. let’s meet.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ— a.”

[viaetor]

❛ come back to bed. ❜ 🤭

ㅤㅤ @ayahimesㅤㅤ/ㅤㅤDIALOGUE PROMPTSㅤㅤ/ㅤㅤaccepting!

ㅤㅤmornings in inazuma tickled the skin. its half-cold, half-warm embrace made anyone feel butterflies waltzing through their stomachs, invading the veins of fools with freshly-picked nectar—from his abdomen to his chest, to his neck, to his mouth, it caressed him in the shrivelling fever of a lover. mornings in inazuma also had a special taste to them. deliciously peachy they were, soft and sweet, like the well-kempt petals of the trees in the garden just outside their bedroom’s fusuma. it impregnated his clothes for days, like lipstick marks that he didn’t want to wash off. mornings in inazuma also had an intoxicating perfume to them. as daybreak’s dew from a cold night settled, smelling like promises untold by the gentle wind of hope, it seemed to incite the imagination of past and upcoming nights. he always knew when his shoulders could relax whenever that aroma purged his senses from any and every worry. but what he loved the most about the mornings in the land of thunder was how peaceful everything felt through blueish imprints of pink. or at least, those were his mornings. and he loved them. her, that is.

ㅤㅤif only for a day, he wished that mornings could last longer, stretch themselves for a few hours or more. but the sun had long risen through the heavenly veil and songbirds were starting to wake people for their duties. his ship would soon sail for sumeru, too. so he had moved from the sheets, leaving an empty space in their shared bed, but trying to compensate for it with a kiss on her forehead. it seemed to work for a while—a low grumble followed by a smile, and she turned her naked back away to hug her pillow instead. cute… was ayaka always this touchy and needy? and was it wrong of him to enjoy it that much? he leaned on to kiss her shoulder while buttoning up his pants, careful as to not touch with his lips a region that he had bitten ‘til it turned purple. apologies were long due, that was for certain—but he’d have to make up for her another time. for that and all the “little marks” he had left on her thighs and breasts, caring not for how deep his fangs drilled. oops? at least she seemed to like it.

ㅤㅤcome back to bed.

ㅤㅤit was when he was just done dressing himself up, scarf already covering ayaka’s playground on his neck from last night, that he heard her calling. hoarse and loving, as if she was asking for a drink to alleviate herself. hair still loose, the traveller chuckled, shaking his head. this was dangerous—why is it that his body moved on its own, gravitating towards her as he knelt in front of the futon? was it because her words as a princess held power? or was he simply seduced by her tongue and very being? a bit of everything—some poets would claim that the shirasagi himegimi had conquered the heart of the traveller from the stars, grounding him to that land. they wouldn’t be wrong, but he was too busy guiding his gloved palms through her inner thigh, spreading them apart so he could kiss her just above her knee with a sheepish grin. he could go lower, his eyes confessed, but not yet. a bite. this was supposed to be a warning. well, kind of. “if i go back to bed, it won’t be so we can sleep more.”

ㅤㅤ“but why do i get the impression that you wouldn’t mind that? or making me late again, for that matter?” perhaps mornings could stretch themselves longer, after all. he just had to keep kissing ayaka and time would freeze. he was meant to leave two days ago, after all.

[viaetor]

¥ (gently tossing kazuha and shenhe back at you, or either one if you'd rather do just one <3)

SEND ME ¥ AND MY MUSE WILL RATE YOURS / accepting! / @maquiscursed

(KAZUHA) looks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 personality: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 attraction: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 would they date them: yes | no | maybe favourite thing about them: ❛ his gentleness as a warrior. ❜   his confession comes easily, matter-of-factly as his gaze seems lost in shared memories and thoughts. although kazuha could be hard to follow in his semantics sometimes, that was what made him so outstanding in the traveller’s eyes. devoid of a great sense of arts, comprehending the intricate complexities of nature and humanities still came as a hard task to the caeling—yet when he saw how the samurai calmly rested against the sun, meditating and connecting to the world, he thought he understood it better. life was meant to be like him, wasn’t it? freeing. it was as if kazuha was the planet itself—tranquil, loving, mature, bewitching, welcoming. when he held his sword, there was not an ounce of unnecessary hostility or hatred, only faith. his spirit was clean, sincerity bathing it whole. could a lover be a fighter? kazuha’s existence seemed to point positively.   ❛ it’s hard to find people like him, i could hear him talking for hours… ❜   and get a bit too lost in his own thoughts, it seemed. forgive him.least favourite thing about them: ❛ hmm… ❜   moving his weight from one foot to another, the traveller’s pupils travelled between invisible lines only he could see as if he was trying to read between the lines of fate. perhaps, in his own way, he truly was. he crossed his arms.   ❛ he’s a wanderer like me, but sometimes i wonder if he’s running away from something. from having a home again. i know it can… hurt—not feeling at home anymore. but i hope we can find it again. ❜   he placed a hand on his heart,   ❛ my least favourite thing about kazuha is that he sometimes doesn’t seem to notice how loved he is. but maybe i’m being too pretentious…? ❜   or perhaps they shared such a trait as well.

(SHENHE) looks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 personality: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 attraction: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 would they date them: yes | no | maybe favourite thing about them: ❛ shenhe loves like no other. the way she cares for those around her, how she uses her strength to protect what matters… i admire her a lot. ❜ he nodded to his own words, finding that he was able to express himself well. though he realised he wasn’t exactly satisfied with his statement. there was still something that he couldn’t quite grasp, that he couldn’t quite put into words, no matter how many idioms and metaphors he tried to find in his mind. how could he convey that her power came not from her suffering, but from her belief in others? that she bloomed not because of the bloodshed that rained down on her, but in spite of it? how could he even begin to express that her claws and fangs became caring, calloused hands? that she did not let the monster of yore win, becoming its tamer? that she embraced the world, despite how many thorns and spikes it barred at her? that in all his immortal years, he wasn’t able to be as brave as her? what could possibly begin to describe how wonderful she was? ah…   ❛ i love how humane she is. ❜   perhaps this was why he adored her so profoundly.least favourite thing about them: ❛ i wish she could understand she can’t hurt me. ❜   although there’s a hint of sorrow on his visage, he remains relaxed in his posture, putting a strand of hair behind the shell of his ear.   ❛ sometimes it’s as if she’s holding herself back with me… ❜   sure, he understood well the principle of having a ghoulish god inside oneself, that was scary, but couldn’t she see that she was much stronger than said deity already? and that no matter what she did, she would have her friends and loved ones right by her side to ground her and show her the way?   ❛ i trust her. so if she could only let me be there for her… ❜   a sigh. letting go of self-made cages was a hard process. but no matter, he would wait for when she was ready.

[viaetor]

¥ Thoma :)

SEND ME ¥ AND MY MUSE WILL RATE YOURS / accepting! / @delusionaid

LOOKS: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10  PERSONALITY: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10  ATTRACTION: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10  WOULD THEY DATE THEM: yes | no | maybe

FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THEM:   “i know i should probably thank thoma for his kindness, but—” there’s a shift of weight on the traveller’s feet as his eyes trail to the floor in reminiscence, colourful golds focused on sights only he could see. it was only fair that he should favour thoma for his golden spirit; ever so adoring for all those around him, the housekeeper was the definition of caring without asking for anything back. if it wasn’t for him, who knows how aether would’ve managed in inazuma? the fixer, the helper, the carer. all pointed towards his ability to look out for people. it was the first thing that came to mind—but not what made his chest lighten whenever he met the pyro user. “what i admire the most about him is his courage.” a man who threw a spear at a god, seconds after almost being punished by her. a man who, as a housekeeper, chose to use every weapon and tool he had to keep the ones he thought safe, without thinking twice. a man who was far away from home, missing it dearly, yet chose to fulfil his duties and never back down. if thoma’s heart shined so brightly, certainly some of it must be because he had fought every shadow trying to hold him down. what a warm feeling… “i hope to tell him that someday, he’s one of the bravest people i know.”LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THEM:   tricky question. was there even something to complain about thoma, even if so slightly? he was kind, brave, strong, well-spoken, easy to be around… there was nothing that would come to mind of the caeling as he hummed softly in thought. quite honestly, he seemed to try to shape himself into an epitome of perfection. ah… maybe that was his problem? he never saw thoma allowing himself to be vulnerable, to let his guard down or to rest, always striving to offer the best for those around him. “i’m afraid he might overwork himself”, the traveller finally expressed, shaking his head. that tends to happen, right? humans would sometimes deem their fire inextinguishable, their hunger for more would deepen their stomachs, yet their backs would grow tired of the burdens they collected for themselves and their minds would turn hazy from half-dreamt visions. “and for a selfless person like him, that’s really dangerous. i wish he’d rely more on people around him.”

[viaetor]

ㅤㅤthough pale, those delicate fingers rested warmly atop his gloved hands. aether could feel their softness even through the blackened fabric; these were hands accustomed to picking apples and grapes when they were ripe and caressing dandelions’ thin petals when they danced towards his direction. soothing. airy, almost. prideful as he naturally was, the caeling suddenly realised that he wouldn’t mind being a puppet for some of venti’s songs himself, having his body guided precisely where it needed to be. perhaps at that moment, he was already being played just like the strings on the lyre.

ㅤㅤwith easy motions, but not too slow, music whispered in his ears in the shape of notes: the nightingale has a lyre of gold. the archon now nested his head on the traveller’s shoulder, and each twist of his fingers echoed a siren’s melody; all aether had to do was follow. thus, he did, unquestioningly, over and over, repeating the same section of a musical sheet he could not see nor read, but he could feel it through venti and the wind. and before he knew better, his companion’s hands were no longer touching nor hovering over his. he was playing by himself, and an awed grin followed. music! from excitement or something else, the moment didn’t last long, however: a sudden harsh striking of the chords tore away part of the lyre again. aether sighed and turned to face the bard beloved by the seven breezes: “it seems i will need more music lessons if i want to play this piece.” he tilted his head, feeling their cheeks brushing against one another as he did so, but seemed not to mind the proximity, save for a raised eyebrow. “do you get this close to all your students?”

@viaetor asked: a grumble followed a deepened frown, and the traveller adjusted his weight from one foot to another as if that could change the imminent results: playing the lyre felt strange on his hands, even with a teacher so dexterous as venti. in life, there were kings, poets and soldiers. aether was the latter, designed to hold a sword from the moment stars sculpted him. not a musical instrument with so many delicacies and strings he could break. such is the case. pouting and puffing his cheeks, he looked at venti, half-expecting a tease or snicker. “i thought you wanted to show me a new ballad.” he tried fidgeting his fingers along the lyre; the sound that came from his hands was dreadful. and to think he had gotten so excited a few minutes ago, believing he could hear the famous bard playing and singing. now, he had a broken piece in his hands and a damaged ego. “why don’t you play it?”

playing an instrument does not come easy to all, venti knows this. especially those who are more accustomed to wielding a weapon. of course, this is not always true, but it seems to be the case for the traveler. a soft smile adorns the archon's features as he meets aether's gaze.

"i do," he says with a chuckle, head canting slightly to the right. hands had been locked together behind his back, watching him intently. he steps forward, now, placing his hands over aether's as he looks up at him. "i will, soon. but first, i want you to learn it." his gaze falls to their hands and he begins to adjust the other's hands over the strings that have miraculously fixed themselves as if they had never been broken. "here, you have to be delicate. take your time, okay?" fingers brush over his in demonstration.

"don't worry about trying to master it right away. think of it as an extension of yourself, the way you would a sword." he raises his gaze to meet aether's once more. "even a sword, as strong as it may be, can be broken if handled improperly, right? the same can be said about the lyre, or any other instrument. let's try again, shall we? follow my lead." he closes his eyes and begins to hum, setting up the rhythm for aether to follow.

[viaetor]

¥ !

SEND ME ¥ AND MY MUSE WILL RATE YOURS / accepting! / @aalberich

looks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 personality: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 attraction: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 would they date them: yes | no | maybe favourite thing about them:  ❛ it’s easy to lose track of time when you’re with kaeya. ❜   perhaps this should be a reprehension, right? the cryo user was mondstadt’s cavalry captain, after all. yet there was nothing but amusement in how the traveller spoke, remembering the stories kaeya shared by their campfire, the way he teased and poked when they went out together—a sly jester, that one was. he could alleviate anything with his sweet words… including the hurting of too-deep wounds.   ❛ his voice is really pleasant, but he might tease me if he heard me admitting it. ❜   scratching his cheek, he nervously looked to the side as he mumbled under his breath, lost in his thoughts.   ❛ he’s surprisingly reliable, too… ❜   huh, more qualities than he had first thought. best not to dwell on so loosely, though. least favourite thing about them:  answering that should come easily to the honorary knight; kaeya’s secrecy and mysterious aura were occasionally off-putting. but it didn’t feel fair—it wasn’t as if aether was an open book himself to set an example, and he could understand wanting to keep things private, especially when those matters were too much to bear. still… if only he could… if only they could—turning his palms into fists, the traveller swallowed dryly.   ❛ he’s an awful liar. ❜   did aether mean it literally or in the sense that kaeya was good at his job? probably both; however that worked.   ❛ i hate that. ❜   always acting as if he didn’t need anyone, as if he had everything under control, as if there was no sorrow storming inside of him—it’s true what they said about people who hated each other for having too much in common.

[viaetor]

¥ Puts my hand your shoulder. Listen...

SEND ME ¥ AND MY MUSE WILL RATE YOURS / accepting! / @vohunara

looks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 personality: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 attraction: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 would they date them: yes | no favourite thing about them:  ❛ i like how much of a sensible soul kaveh is. ❜   there’s tranquillity in how the traveller speaks, almost as if his words are feather-light and ticklish. as if they’re carrying gentle memories of flower fields, cosy clouds and the smell of caffeinated beverages. art always soothed a warrior’s aching, after all.   ❛ he can find beauty and sense in anything—i wonder if it’s because he’s an architect? ❜   with crossed arms, he taps his gloved fingers on his chin, considering his hypothesis for a while.   ❛ hmm, no. i think it’s just who he is… ah! ❜   he snaps his fingers, a wider grin drawing on his expression.   ❛ i know; my favourite thing about him is that he loves life. it’s like you can see the world shining in his eyes. ❜   for an outsider, sometimes that was all you needed. a little bit of wonder. it filled him with hope.   ❛ he’s a romantic. ❜ least favourite thing about them:  ❛ i’ve heard he’s a workaholic and that he can be really stubborn… well, according to other stubborn people, anyway. ❜   quickly, a chuckle bubbles from his throat to muffle down any type of roughness his previous statement may have held.   ❛ but… ❜   aether lets out a heavy sigh, turning his cheek.   ❛ he does seem like the type to work a lot to prove himself. i hope it isn’t out of guilt… i don’t like how sad he looks when he talks about dreams and visions. ❜

[viaetor]

❝ i feel like i’ve known you from my dreams. ❞ (from mr 'i can only speak in poetry or i'll perish' kazuha)

ARABIC POETRY INSPIRED MEMES / accepting! / @maquiscursed

ㅤㅤwhat a childish, innocent thing it is, to play tag in a field of high grass, where ladybugs and crickets nest. what a silly, wondrous thing it is, to laugh while being chased by another, as if there is nothing worth worrying about in the rest of the world. what a crazy, heart-warming thought it is, to guess this all started because the traveller ruffled the samurai’s white hair while he was lost in thought, gaping at the invisible colourful secrets of the wind. all of this is because the captain of the crux had made a bet with aether and paimon. do you think kazuha ever gets mad when he’s interrupted from his solitary moments? / he seems like the type. / does he, really? / why don’t we try figuring it out? without annoying him too much, of course. / let’s make a bet. well, messing with the ronin’s hair and then running off was clearly off the table to stress his nerves, lest the boyish smirk on his peachy mouth was to be deceiving.

ㅤㅤthey kept running until the sky tasted not of salt and high noon against their backs, but instead, it felt tender and pinkish to the senses, thorax starting to complain as the sweat made bangs glue on their foreheads. they kept running, giggling to empty threats and light teases, and if only for a moment, they belonged there. in that world, in that moment, together. alive. that was the perfect word to describe it, right? alive. he peeked back from his shoulder, noticing that paimon had long tired of trying to keep up with their pace… and that kazuha was getting close. too close, actually.

ㅤㅤgrabbed by the waist, his pulse quickened, and he fell on laughing, being tickled by agile yet carefully bandaged hands. he’d be lying if he said that he understood what kazuha was first telling him while being short for breath himself, too busy hearing the ringing of adrenaline in his ears, the drums of his chest and laughing like he hadn’t before in years. what a childish, silly, crazy thing. but o so innocent, o so wondrous, o so heart-warming it was nonetheless. then, when their lungs were no longer burning, they lazily stared at one another through high-raised cheeks. oh… aether realised it was the first time that he saw the other without his usual ponytail. the modest pearly cascade against gentle reds almost looked like the sango delicacies on watatsumi island. he almost wanted to run his fingers through it, to compare its texture to the real gemstone of his adventures. almost. best not to invade kazuha’s space more than he already had. then, he heard it.

ㅤㅤi feel like i’ve known you from my dreams.

ㅤㅤaether blinked twice as if processing what was just said. ever so mysterious, ever so lyrical, ever so humane—a poet before a soldier, truly, while the traveller was the opposite. it was hard for him to imagine what he was thinking through the puzzles of his words. so he tilted his head against the grass, offering him a smile. “and what were we, in those dreams?” he paused, only to mess with kazuha’s hair yet again, unafraid of possible repercussions. “did i play with your hair in them, too?”