#🍒 - longfic

[cherry-colored-petals]

" Bloody Mary. "

A little songfic that's inspired by the same name, featuring Albedo... Or is it him?

Synopsis: Maybe you shouldn't have caught his attention... Or investigated what he meant from the cryptic story he told you.

C.W.: Spoilers to Albedo's second Dragonspine event, death and being trapped. If you squint, you can see yandere vibes here (gender neutral pronouns for reader <3!)

You shouldn't have came to Dragonspine.

You should have thought better when Albedo warned you not to come back to Dragonspine again, and especially after all that had happened during the impostor situation.

You should have thought better when he told you about his story with the previous creations like him in the guise of it being three roses being differentiated by a gardener.

You should have thought better when you saw that look on his face that it wouldn't do any good if you investigated, and even down to the lack of the star on his neck.

And yet you still came to Dragonspine.

It feels like a curse when you decided to come back here again, you noted. Although the place hadn't changed much from it reminding you of a snowy wonderland, you noted that the atmosphere is tense. The stillness of this place was the one you caught on when you came— unlike the atmosphere that you were used to like the ones in the Chasm or even in Inazuma, Dragonspine felt the eerie chill when it comes to its surroundings.

And it unnerved you to no end.

As you trudged on to the Frostbearing Tree, you couldn't help but notice the lack of hilichurls and lawachurls around the place. You would've caught sight of them here usually, but seeing no one around was concerning.

Maybe they were killed by one of the adventurers...?

Or maybe it was something worse than that?

When you were sure you'd be warm enough to travel onwards, you left the tree be and continued on the path, taking note of the absence of the Fatui soldiers and the treasure hoarders. It's strange, seeing that they aren't present in such a hostile environment, though you chalked it up to them having business elsewhere.

You knew the Fatui members were still around somewhere. It's not like they'd c̸̛̮̥̫͕̻̯̝̻̝̻̘̻̈́̄̋̈́͆̔̾̅̈́͑̐͜͝͝e̶̢̻̱̪̦̬͇̗͈̱̒͑̎̎͒͐̃͘ą̴̛̯͙͕̼̼̯̟̼̞̀̿̈́̐͐͋̇̕̕͝s̴͇̬̬̄͊̓́̔͒͂̌͌̎͝͝͠ȩ̸̭͔̱̅̐̌̃͑̈́ ̴͚͙̫̓́̈̇͠ţ̶̡̧̢̨͇̪̱̱͈̬̟̦̩̯̀ơ̷̧̬̤͍̩̦̝̺͛̉̓͋̇̏̃̽̄͜ ̵̨̳̜̓̿̂̽̊͒ͅè̶̟̈́͜x̶̛̪̼̬͓́̄̂͋͒̍̈́͝i̶͔͉̠̱̮̜̜͍̗̥̾̋̑̃̂͊̀̈́̒̆̀̓ş̴̡̣̖̫͓͙̭̝̘̬̒́͑̐͊̋͠t̵̡̨͎͎̤̹̞̦̭͇͍͎̯́̽̔͛̄̈́͜ leave such a place, right? Right.

Heading up to the bridge, you noticed the fallen machinery on the side and you felt like your gut is telling you to leave. The atmosphere had gotten tenser and tenser upon seeing that they looked dismantled; broken and ripped apart into multiple pieces. You couldn't help but shiver, but you don't know if its from the cold or something else.

What happened here, exactly?

The trek upward took a bit longer than you expected as you kept an eye on what goes on around you. The sight of the absence of the enemies, the broken machinery, and the increased chill you've felt the higher you went...

It didn't help that the statues you saw of Barbatos seem... Snowed in. You couldn't even go up to it to pray for its blessings, for it felt like ice when you dare to touch it— and you had to pull your hand away when you felt it.

Something is definitely wrong here, and you don't know what to make of it.

The only plausible option you have left was to get to Albedo at this point. You had no options left, and in your mind, you had to consult the alchemist about what is happening and the changes you've seen here.

And so you went off, not knowing the fate that will soon befall you.

The journey took a long, long while for you to overcome.

You had to take note of everything that had happened in this place: the lack of enemies around you, the abandoned campsites with journals left for you to read what had happened to them, and even strays of evidence that would lead you to new areas that you never got to before.

Even after you reached Albedo's camp, you would find that it was deserted. Save for how it looked like it was the same as you saw it before, the man of the hour is not present.

And that's what makes it worrying.

You did spot a note that was left on the desk, though— placed on top of the warming potions and an unfinished sketch on the paper. Walking over, you took the note and began to read what it says.

[ I must set things right.

I need to clear out the scene and see to it that he won't appear again. ]

And... That was it.

You couldn't help but contemplate what he wrote. What did he mean he had to set it right? Did he thought that the impostor would return and needed to make sure he was gone? Was he aware of what is happening here?

You have so much to ask of him, of what he truly meant, but... Perhaps you should look for him.

Judging by what he wrote, you had a clear idea on where he'd go. It was the only place you knew by heart that he'd go first— after all, it was where they confronted the impostor and fought him.

All you had to do was be prepared for the worst when you get there.

... Which comes down to where you are today.

You could feel your limbs stuck in place as the ice began to gnaw at it, and try as you might, you wouldn't be able to free yourself from it.

You could feel the ice and snow nipping at your limbs as the man you sought out for walk closer and closer to you. His blade was coated in blood, glowing a bright purple with the eye gazing at you with intentions best left unknown. Though, the biggest shock you have was the sight of the alchemist.

...

And especially the lack of the star on his neck.

Upon seeing that you noticed it, he couldn't help but smile and walk over, sheathing the sword aside to crouch down to your level. You felt your body quiver and shake when he raised his hand to hold your chin.

Ç̵̫̣̪̪̰̫̤̩̏̑̈̈́̄͛̽̈̓̓u̶̡͎̻̜̩͕͚͓͓̲̥͍̫͉̔̑t̴͙͎͍̱̹͗͑̆̓̂̂̓̏͐̃̔͛̈́̾̕��͇̬ͅȩ̴͎̞̗̻͈̘̖̟̉́͜ͅ.̸̧̢̱̙͓̬̤̘̲̟̻̫̱͉̀̿̒͑̽̇̓̈́̓͌̅̽̀͜͝

"A- Albedo—" you muttered, your arms trying to move to get away from the trap you were in. Please, I have to get out. I have to get to somewhere safe and away—

"Please— let me go, I- I'm freezing here."

"Let you go?" the alchemist repeated, his smile widening even more as he kept a tight grip on your chin. "I'm afraid I can't— no, I won't help you, my dearest."

He... Won't?

"Who's to say you'll leave me when you get out, hm? It'd be a shame if I lose you now," he continued, his other hand simply moving over to brush to strands of your hair and gently sifting through it. "And I refuse to believe that you wouldn't tell the others about this."

... Ah. Touche.

"Although, seeing you like this... I suppose I pity you for how you look before me," he concluded, his eyes glowing as he tightened his grip once more. "Even if you knew not to find him."

...

Wait-

"Haha~ you just noticed now, hm?" 'Albedo'— no, Subject 2— asked, his tone mocking as he drank in the look of shock on your face. "All this time, the man that you thought you were going to meet isn't even there anymore. I thought you of all people would notice, but it seems that you hadn't. Such a shame."

You still tried to struggle as he continued to speak, though that was only met with the ice gnawing more and more on their body. He couldn't help but let out a laugh, seeing how desperate you are.

Pathetic, isn't it?

"Relax, dear. I don't plan on prolonging my torment onto you," he said, leaning closer to eye the condition you're in. "On the contrary, I plan to keep you here... At least, frozen in time."

"W... What do you mean?"

For a moment, the latter paused, before chuckling.

"What do I mean? My dear, you fascinate me. I believe what I mean is that you... Have my interest."

His gloved finger simply traced your chin before it raised up to cup your cheek. His eyes seem to soften watching you, almost... Pondering over something with the state you were in.

"It is, admittedly, my first to have someone catch my eye. You are one of the few I can say that isn't... Tedious to be with, even after all that we've endured. That I endured."

As he spoke, his smile fell to a snarl, clearly displeased.

"It took me so, so long to be able to get you fair and square... If it wasn't for him, I would've got you long ago with less lethal methods," he continued, huffing. "Although, I suppose I understood why he never gave in and let you go from his clutches. In its own right, we are all flawed with how we were made."

To prove his point, he lowered his hand and simply placed it on your arms. Although it had been stuck due to the ice, he still traced it like he can still feel the skin under the cold.

"We may be gifted with the knowledge of alchemy, but we are not as fortunate to learn about the concepts of love. We had not even experienced how it truly feels to be loved unconditionally, and especially romantically."

... Oh. Now you can understand what he meant. Although...

"But I suppose I will take this for what it is," he concluded, the ice slowly gnawing and reaching up more and more to your body. "After all, you would surely reject me if I were to let you go now. I should have expected this."

As the subject stood up, he looked into your eyes with a blank look on his face. Although, it didn't took long until a smile stretched his lips.

And the next thing you felt was something cold and sharp hitting your back.

...

Cough. Cough.

Blood.

Blood is the next thing your blurry vision can see.

You can feel your body shiver more as the ice shard from behind seem to dig into your body more and more, the chilliness of the abandoned mountain being amplified by ten the longer you were stuck there.

And in a fleeting moment, you opened your lips to speak one more time.

"Please... Let me go..."

And for a single moment, he leaned back to seal his lips with yours in a fleeting kiss of goodbye...

... As the ice simply ate your form alive, now forever keeping you stuck in place and showing the face you have made in your death.

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

[missoblaine]

hehehe okay here we go!!! 🍓🍒🍊🍋🍈

(so basically all of them oops sorry not sorry I wanna know)

Hey Eva omg I literally just saw this ask this week 😅 here are my answers!

🍓 - Maybe because it's my newest fic and fresh in my mind but I would always welcome more love on green lights 💚 But I totally get that 1st person POV plus poetry is not everyone's thing! This fic is just so very special and personal to me (as you know) and I feel like writing it stretched me creatively in such a satisfying way. It almost feels like a landmark in my own personal writing journey and my life in general honestly.

🍒 - As someone who pretty much only writes for one pairing, I feel like my favourite dynamic is just ✨SNS✨ and all that they encompass (equals, rivals/enemies, best friends, idiots in love, sun and moon). I love that they can be simultaneously dramatic and abrasive and quiet and romantic. There is an element of unconventionality to their relationship that resonates with me.

🍊 - As I have discovered answering the above, I feel like I am very singularly focused when it comes to the characters I write about (99.9% just SNS 😂) but as you already know, I am having an immense amount of fun writing Obito/Tobi in my upcoming SNS longfic (👀) so maybe I should write some more about him! (or just continually have him appear in my SNS fics as a chaotic side character)

🍋 - omg you know my answer to this is blowjobs hehe 🤭 I love writing blowjobs so much, there's so much rich and indulgent description to work with there. That applies to all smut really (it's why I love it sm) but I feel like with blowjobs you can really make it 'in your face' (literally lol), that combination of taste and texture with that zoomed in lens is just👌

🍈 - I feel like I repeat a lot of headcanons across my fics now that I think about it 😅 Sasuke has been an ex-dancer in two of my fics haha. Even if he doesn't have a dance background I hc that he's just a naturally good dancer, like, ugh, he moves so elegantly he's beautiful 😭 And Naruto's been an artist in three of my fics and a creative writing student in both of my poetry fics! I just feel like Naruto is so perfect for creative careers/hobbies, he's got so much to express. You can definitely see my personal bias in those lol.

Thanks for playing with me! (and being just an awesome friend always 💜)

[sehodreams]

A SEUNGHAN LONGFIC??? I WONT SURVIVE!!!

-🍒

I'm trying to see if I can survive it too HAHAHAHAHAHA 💀💀💀

[wordsofwilderness]

🍉🍒!

Hi anon, thank you for the questions :D

🍉 Do you prefer to write short fics or long fics? Multichaptered works or single ones? Why?

Longfics! Mutichapter! Yes yes yes!!! I love the feeling of leaving little hints and setting things up that's only gonna be relevant many many chapters down the line. So often I'll be writing while giggling like a little evil gremlin thinking of how the readers are going to react

🍒 What’s your favorite character dynamic to write? (Can be romantic or platonic, specific or general!)

Idk if I have a favorite, I mostly just go with whatever fic idea my brain has decided to obsess over. There is very little actual decision making involved. But I do usually end up writing quite a lot of mutual pining in the they both think they have no hope and have made peace with that sense (chaos ensues ofc)

fruit emoji ask game for fic writers

[italoniponic]

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭

| Notes: Hi, @diavolosbaby and dear readers~ This is the part finale of my Idia’s scenario, “Winter Melts Into Spring”, and our 50th and last request for the Cherry’s Harvesting event. As I said, this fic got so looong, that I had to split it into two parts.

Curiosity: the title of this fic is inspired by a track from Fruits Basket’s (2019) soundtrack, the original name being “Snow Melts Into Spring” and its alt and longer version, “Spring Will Come When the Snow Melts Away” (here so you can listen to if you’re curious). For those who don't know, the myth of Persephone and Hades is what explains the change of seasons and that’s why this theme is so heavily implied here, just as other videogame references (tho I’m not much of a gamer myself… ik Idia, shame on me).

Hope you like the part finale and I really hope I did justice to Idia’s character, I tried the best I could. I needed to condense most of the story or this would be a longfic and not a one-shot. And it’s already a hell of a long one-shot (for my normal amount of writing, at least). Now, grab a hot beverage, a blanket if its cold where you are (its here for me) and hope its a good read.

Thanks for the request <3 |

Idia Shroud x gender neutral reader / scenario / part 1 (here)- part 2 (3550k words) / mentions of breakup with Vil Schoenheit / angst, hurt and comfort, fluff / seasons and greek mythology references / minor chapter 6 mentions and references / use of “you” pronouns

Cherry’s Harvesting 🍒 Masterlist

Winter Melts Into Spring

{𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐈, “𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐬”}

        You quickly turned to him, waking up from your incessant thoughts. It was another game night and you were sitting side by side in his bed, cellphones in hand. As your game was over, you became a bit dispersed.

        “Have you listened to Euterpe-ram’s new playlist?,” Idia shyly showed you his phone, your surprised and intense gaze had taken him by surprise at that moment.

        Without paying much mind, you read the title, the number of songs and the cover image, things that made you sigh. Then, almost in auto mode, you said:

        “It took me a hell of a lot of work to find that image…”

        Panic hit your senses as you turned your gaze to Idia and he looked as painfully surprised as you. You tried to think of something to say but he quickly realized what was going on.

        “Are you Euterpe-ram?!,” Idia exclaimed. You see his brain cells going short-circuit. “W-when? Come again? Ah! What you said... about what I thought… the playlist…? You wanted my opinion? Is that why?! I had no idea!”

        Idia held back a little as he noticed that you had cringed in your place, a little shaky from the quick way he was speaking. You knew that Idia spoke like that when he was agitated and although you had been amused by this little quirk on other occasions, at that moment you felt as if you had dropped a bomb.

        Well, was it a secret worth hiding? Actually, everything that happened was just an omission of information. 

        As you regained your composure, Idia looked back at his phone and remembered the playlist he was listening to when you walked into his room that night. Songs to listen to when you're heartbroken but don’t want to admit it. 

        When he found that title, he thought it was a strange coincidence to find something that could express so well what he was feeling at the moment — and Idia already had a bad opinion about coincidences. 

        There are no such things. Everything happens for a reason. And he was right in part. Idia didn't have to ask why you had created that melancholic playlist about love. Given your situation, there was no other reason.

        Mindlessly, Idia went to Euterpe-ram’s profile — your profile — on magify and found the playlist he wanted to review with you. This one, with a completely different theme, was pretty much the opposite of its playlist-sister. A playlist of positive love songs and some hesitant, longing ones. Again, you two were in sync yet by pure coincidence. How was that possible?

        “This playlist... is cool,” Idia said suddenly. You nodded silently, not knowing what to say.

        He had noticed that you were slowly returning to your usual “you” along the weeks, going back to being the endearing spring that captivated him so much. The choice of those songs seemed a manifestation of that. 

        “Are you in love?,” this question slipped away unintentionally, and Idia’s heart failed for a second. “S-sorry! I shouldn't meddle in these things!”

        “Nice move, Idia! Go there, spoil these good times you have been having!” He wanted to hide somewhere, but he was already in his own room. There weren't many places to run at the moment.

        “It’s alright... I think that would be inevitable to talk about,” you replied. You were completely turned to him but your gaze was caught in the zipper of his coat, an easy point to stare at as you talked about these complicated feelings. “A fantastic thing happened to me…”

        Idia felt as if he had stepped into a bath with cold water, disappointment already taking over his heart. He already had an idea of what was going to happen. You’d say who you were in love with at this time, he would inevitably be the Protagonist’s Friend once again — an improved version, he tried to convince himself to be — and you two would have a long, awkward conversation about love.

        “What happened?,” he asked in a low tone, since you had paused the sentence in the middle.

        “You.”

        At that, you looked up and bravely, faced Idia’s eyes. You were like a mythological hero facing the depths of Hades, ready to throw yourself into an epic adventure of life and death with no regrets. On the other hand, Idia felt like you had slapped him.

        “W-wha-what?,” he didn't even know what to say. How to talk. How to put words together. How to form a coherent sentence. His hair seemed to fry his neurons again, pink crackling at the ends.

        “It's a long story... but at first, I was always curious about you. It's hard not to notice you, to be honest,” you tried to laugh a little to relieve tension. “The more I talked to you, this curiosity increased and I really wanted to be your friend. I have met many nice people all these months and you are all special to me... well, I admit that you and Vil have had a certain prominence.”

        You sighed, like a flower after a strong breeze shakes it in the field but doesn’t get taken from from its roots.

         “Perhaps I’m a very aesthetic person and never noticed it, but Vil’ beauty captivated me. Just like you. But in different ways. And at first, I thought my admiration for Vil had become strong enough to be a passion. Epic love like in the movies, you know? Two hours of film for a splendid and satisfying ending. But it was… not so. It wasn't love. It was something good, positive, full of empathy... but not love.”

        It was the first time Idia noticed a bit of winter in your eyes, as if a snowflake had landed on one of your petals. Your gaze had dropped a little, you were still playing with his coat’s zipper — you liked to stare at that little skull for some reason. 

        Idia bit his tongue, trying to stop himself from saying something, but he couldn't help but ask:

        “When you talked about your breakup with the Vil... well, it always bothered me a little,” having said that, your gaze returned directly to him. “There's something very vague, you know? Something you didn't say. What was it?”

        He felt a bit stupid asking that. Truth be told, he was afraid of this conversation and what could happen. Still, he wanted to understand the situation better. Vil and you seemed like the perfect couple — so, what went wrong? 

        You talked about incompatibility but it only seemed like half of the truth. Something that had happened, however, wasn't the main reason. Something you wanted to say but didn't. Part of Idia wanted to know what it was, meanwhile the other wanted to be consumed in flames and simply disappear from there. 

        For a moment, you hesitated about giving him an answer. Quick flashbacks of some of your conversations with Vil flashed through your mind. During the time you spent together, you talked about a lot of things — especially after his overblot. But most subjects ended up stopping at a specific topic.

        “When we broke up, we talked about some problems between us. Things that happened but we didn't know how to solve them. Vil said that I was talking a lot about you. More than anyone else,” you revealed, feeling your heart tremble for a second. It was as if something burned inside, taking away the cold from before.

        “Because of what happened to me...?,” Idia risked saying.

        “No,” your answer was immediate. “Before that. I asked what you were like, if you were always so reclusive, if there was a way I could talk to you, if you two were in the same class. A lot of stuff. I said, you make me very curious.”

        “And I don't know why.”

        It had been a grumble that Idia let slip and fastly, he covered his mouth, looking away from you. You already anticipated such a reaction from him and, contrary to what Idia thought was going to happen, you smiled at him.

        “You're more interesting than you think, Idia,” you giggled as you watched him try to hide inside his coat, but the pink ends of his hair didn’t lie. “You can deny it all you want but you are someone very intriguing. Your way of acting, of dealing with the world... I want to understand and know all this.”

         From the depths of Idia’s hood, his eyes began to stare at you as if you were the weird one there. You leaned more into your pillow, your head tilted and looking at him the way someone stares at their favorite packet of snacks they haven’t found on the shelf in months — and finally Sam had stocked up on them again. 

        Were you trying to kill Idia?! Was this your evil plan? Not you, the sweet deity of spring, being a character with a secret sadistic side underneath your gentle smile and gaze sweet as honey and ambrosia. 

        “Maybe I should have been honest with Vil from the beginning. Maybe if I had better understood what I was doing... my own feelings,” you sighed. 

        “Did you really talk about me that much?,” Idia asked, still incredulous. 

        To his great surprise, it was your turn to take an embarrassment hit with medium damage. It was a little dark inside his coat and the lights weren’t extremely bright — even if it managed to illuminate the room well — but even so, Idia had the strange impression that your face was tense and flustered. 

        “Maybe... enough to make Vil a little jealous…”

        “WHAT?!,” Idia exploded out of his hood. “In what universe is this possible?! What kind of scenario is this? Vil Schoenheit envy me? Under what circumstances? Does he have to act like a socially awkward guy who doesn't go out in the Sun and has dark circles under his eyes and he, at the must of perfectionism, hates the fact that his makeup doesn't give as realistic an impression as my appearance? Never!”

        Idia had heard of stories of a goddess of love being jealous of some very beautiful mortal women — but in those stories, there was the implication that she had a pretty good reason to envy them. Would anyone, under any circumstances, envy Idia Shroud? 

        “Idia, your hair!,” you warned him.

        The flames of his hair were in an interesting gradient of blue, orange and pink, mixing all his emotions at once. Idia took a deep breath and tapped his long locks back to its usual blue. Was he still angry? Yes. Embarrassed? Extremely. Confused? Even more every second.

        However, his agitation has yet to be overcome. In the heat of the moment, Idia held you by the shoulders for you to face him directly. His grip was firm but weak enough for you to let go of him if that were your desire. He felt like someone who hurriedly picked up a large handful of wheat in the field to run and protect it from the heavy rain.

        Your cellphones lie forgotten somewhere between the bedsheets, unaware of the emotion-filled moment between their owners that would make tragedy plays and shojo anime envious. 

        “Please, just explain to me why you are so obsessed with me,” Idia asked, desperate. He could no longer endure such uncertainty and confusion. “You’ve finally met me! There you go! Game over. It takes no more than a day to understand how I act, how I eat and my habitat. I’m the lamest kind of lab mouse there is! How can you have fun with me?! Either you’re too bored...!”

        “Idia, you don’t understand! What I feel for you isn’t an obsession.”

        “Hyperfixation?,” he tried to correct it.

        “It's love, Idia.”

        On the Isle of Lamentation, the only grasp of vegetation is a series of large shrubs around the entire island to keep oxygen levels regulated and healthy. Nevertheless, there weren’t many flowers — or anything Idia had ever been interested in planting and observing. But he wondered if the opening of a flower bud was equal to your eyes blinking in his direction.

        “Love?!,” Idia’s blood boiled and exploded again. His hair rose in a big, hot pink blaze.

        You weren't shaken by his reaction this time. On the contrary, his heart beat fast in continual captivation — and a certain amusement too. 

        Idia was this big papyrus that was easy to open, even if it was hard to read at times. But you could understand him perfectly. Maybe it was a gift, maybe you just were very similar to him or there was some other reason. What mattered, deep down, was that his mannerisms endeared you in a way that not even the fairest of them all could. 

        You didn’t bother to ask how this was possible. 

        You already entertained yourself with the possibilities of the Underworld by facing the place from afar. When Ortho — your petite Charon — took you there, a poor sorrowful soul, you let yourself be led like someone who had no choice. Dying is never a fully realized wish, there is always some sort of regret and fear. For you, for others.

        Yet, the lord of the dead received you in his realm even in your deplorable state and let you wander there, no longer as a soul but as an equal. Someone who could belong there and make your own pomegranate garden.

        “These last times have been the best. I’m grateful for your kindness and your patience with me. This whole time you have been acting like yourself around me,” you said. “While most people here are walking on eggshells about it and another part doesn’t really care, you managed to balance the two things perfectly.” 

        Your friends sought to avoid talking about Vil. Your more distant colleagues couldn’t be less shaken about any of this. Ortho wanted to cheer you up because he had the purest of youthful hearts. And Idia just stretched out a game control for you and listened to a playlist beside you — your own pain, whether spoken, whether chosen musically.

        He didn’t have a heart of stone. He cared about you and, in his own way, he made things easier. If it was someone else, you wouldn’t have recovered so quickly. This conditioning made you feel self-doubt about what you felt. 

        But doubts aren’t such a powerful titan that cannot be overcome sooner or later. 

        “To tell you the truth, getting to know you better has only made me realize that it is you who gives me the biggest comfort to be who I am. Here there are no worries, pressure, challenges. I'm just me... and you're just you. Every day, I discover something new about you, Idia, and it's valuable. Genuine. Feel right.” 

        The more layers you peeled off of Vil, you found that he covered himself with others. He didn't want to worry you beyond what was necessary. His heart was a castle with a trapdoor, dungeons and endless catacombs, things he didn’t want you to explore in any circumstance. He wasn’t ready yet.

        One day in the future, he would find someone who could understand him better and would have more persistence in uncovering the shadows and wrinkles he strove every day to disguise and get rid of. Someone who could convince him that this ugliness is natural and not a terrible punishment. A person who Vil would listen to. 

        That someone wasn’t you. Even as a friend, your words grew on him in a sufficiently deep and, at the same time, superficial way. Beautiful roses in the first days, dried and yellowed petals at the weekend — flowers that needed to be changed in the vase every week. 

        It wasn’t what Vil or you needed. You weren’t meant to be the Hercules of his story. Your fate was connected with someone else’s.

        “I won’t delude myself and think that I know everything about you. Or that you won’t have parts of yourself that you obviously won't want to show me. But...,” Idia’s figure, with his huge golden eyes, staring at you seemed to blur suddenly. “...I’m so glad to be with you. Every day, every night. Grim sometimes needs to come here to take me off, because otherwise I won't go back to Ramshackle. But it’s not because I want to avoid memories anymore!”

        There were tears that flowed down from your eyes, just like light rain in a field of daffodils. You stood up on top of the bed, arms outstretched gesticulating energetically to everything around you two. 

        “I love this place! This dorm, this room, these sweaty sheets, bright screens at midnight, opening a Goblin can with you and toast for one more victory, smell of snacks each week. I want to convince Grim to be here too because everything about this place is wonderful. Can’t you see? We are like the gods of this cosmos...!”

        Idia held your hand suddenly and you interrupted your stately monologue to look at him --- and also take a moment to wipe some tears from your face. Idia had his eyes fixed on you, the ends of his hair crackling the same hot pink as before. 

        Your words touched him deeply, making it seem for a moment that you were talking about Elysium and not Inferno. It didn't have to have such impressive glory. He was entirely satisfied with his humble piece of Underworld. Still, you filled that morbid, dark place with flowers and fruits, finding fertility in even the dustiest graves.

        Why were you like that? Why did it make his insides crawl with shame and embarrassment at the same intensity that his heart was pounding fast? Completely unfair! 

        “Damn it, you look like an anime protagonist talking. It gets on my nerves,” Idia lowered his head so you wouldn’t see his pale face heat with color. “Ah... I love you too much to bully you about these things…”

        If you were drinking something, you would have choked. Or spilled it. It would be more mess than what was already.

        “Idia?,” you knelt there, trying to make him face you again. “Do you love me?”

        “I-I’m not saying it again.”

        “Idia, with a thousand hydra heads, put something in your stove of a head!”

        In what he wanted to run away from his bed, you held his face and stood close enough that your noses crushed together.

        “I love you. Not out of pity, not out of simple curiosity. I want to know more about you just so I can love you more. The good, the bad, the neutral parts. Everything.”

        What was that sound in your head? Your heart? Epic music?

        “You’ll be that precious game that I will play infinitely because it’s my favorite and never fails to bring me a smile on my face!”

        “Please stop talking like that. You drive me crazy,” Idia also held your face, a little harder this time, and pulled you a little away from him.

        Idia’s hands were cold as mausoleum stones. His long, pale fingers gripping the entire outline of your face. Despite the cold hands, his face was warm. 

        Your words were like gasoline to him. He was only stopping you from going on because one more intense speech about how much you loved him — unbelievable, you really hit rock bottom, huh? — would have him have a heart attack right there.

        Idia would die of embarrassment in your arms. And, for Hades’s curved chin, you would have the audacity to mourn his death with more shameful oaths of love.

        Idia was determined to be strong. For about five minutes, at least. With you there, it was as if he could hold the whole universe in his hands. It was such a scary realization, but also amazing.

        “Briger of death. Ramshackle muse. Spring deity...,” he tried to list titles for you, beautiful words that could express what he felt. But he needed a serious backup for this. “Ugh, I wasn’t made for these types of dialogue! To be honest, you make me look so normal!”

        “Thanks.”

        “Consider that I am the basis of comparison. This is not a compliment.” 

        “It is. For me, it is.”

        You gave a big smile that almost broke Idia. You really had no compassion. At the end of the day, maybe you weren’t a perfect deity. You were just a weirdo like Idia, probably more. But he liked it — without realizing it, he smiled too. 

        In your romantic playlist, Idia had found a song to call his favorite. It had no lyrics, just a melody. “Snow that melts into spring”. It was how he felt with you right there in front of him. You two could really be who you were together. Both gods and mere mortals. 

        Idia wasn’t the Protagonist’s Friend. He was just Idia Shroud. In its pathos, in its awesomeness, in its card SSR level and in its simplicity of R card. And you loved him all despite this. 

        “You’re so weird...,” Idia brought your faces closer to each other again and like a key stuck on the keyboard, he continued. “...and I love this in you.”

        Winter might be over but you felt vividly what a kiss of snow was. Frosty, gently melting into warm lips of spring petals. Love can be so lively.

| Special notes: Euterpe is the name of the Muse of Music. "Ram" is the acronym for "random-access memory" (is a form of computer memory) + Ramshackle. I forgot to explain this when I posted in case someone didn't understood the whole thing behind Reader's magify username... yes, magify, I made it |

[leorizanzel]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖 🍒

omg thank you for the ask!

I would recommend like four of my stories, so this should be short and sweet.

No Glory in the West - By the numbers, my most popular story. It's the first longfic I've ever completed (hopefully won't be the last!), and it's the one that I poured a ton of love into. If you love High Romance in a Western setting, this is the story for you!

Mornings of Gold, Valentine Evenings - My Winter Olympics AU oneshot. It's got milkshakes, Kate Bush, a love triangle, and hockey banter for days.

The Once and Future King - This is an ongoing WIP, but I'm very proud of the way this one's shaping up so far and I'm very excited about what's coming up for this in the future. If you love Arthuriana and courtly love space operas with fights, heists, Eldritch beings, and ghosts - we've got that here and more!

Burn With Me, Heaven's On Fire - It's a love story, with lots of glitter. My ode to the hard-working performers of the stage and pole.

[strangesmallbard]

🍒 please!

🍒 favorite sweet quote from a wip

from my untitled cabenson longfic wip (not many sweet things have happened yet, but they’ll get there!)

Without warning, Alex turned back to the window and took a deep breath until her ghostly reflection appeared neutral. In cordial words devoid of anything even resembling sarcasm, she gave that Marcus guy instructions for how to reach her own secretary, then hung up.

“Hi,” Alex said. The handset was still pressed against her shoulder.

“Hey,” Olivia said, softly. “Everything okay?”

Alex angled her body to face Olivia again and dropped the handset back in its dock. Her pink lipstick from earlier was mostly gone, aside from a ring around her top lip, accentuating the cupid’s bow. She smiled again wryly, more relaxed than before. “Never get a family lawyer.”

[cherry-colored-petals]

“Think of Me. ”

Synopsis: There's many things that catch your attention when it comes to Albedo, and you can't help but let your eyes wander when you're both together. However, you aren't the only one who keeps thinking of him.

C.W.: Nothing! Just tooth-rotting fluff, both you and Albedo are absolute idiots /aff, gender pronouns unspecified because we love no specific gender~ (if you squint, you see bits of crack and reader being a simp).

How much can one take when admiring someone they love?

That is the question no one knows the answer to- or, well, to you at least.

You've always admired the prince a lot, perhaps much more than anyone would ever think. The way he looks was one thing, and although you were aware that he looked beautiful just as is, you had seen more sides of him that he hides from others.

Just from his body language and behavior, all the way down to his mannerisms and speech... He became the apple of your eye.

A fleeting interest that had developed into something more.

The one thing that had you mesmerized the most was his eyes, though.

The way his eyes would sparkle when he saw something interest, how it would dim when he has to face with matters that he was less pleased on, and even down to how it would show bits of his emotions and soften when looking at things he adore, like Klee...

You would always catch yourself staring at his eyes, studying them like you would for a test. His eyes were so interesting to look at stare at, and certainly pretty for that matter.

How unfair. You have to stop yourself from literally telling the man he looks so, so gorgeous with it alone. Many times, of course.

His hair was another thing you always watched- it looked so pleasing, even if it was tousled and messy in some days. When you get to work with him at the earliest hours of the morning, you would sometimes catch sight of Albedo with his hair down and not in its usual braid.

You couldn't help but laugh when he asked you for help, adding that he didn't had the will to do it himself as he had many other things to get to.

It was the few times you had to sift through his locks, and Gods, it felt nice.

You can tell he took care of it himself, with how it looks healthy under a trained eye. The way it would also frame his face perfectly and the locks looking natural in it's own state, with some poking out of it's braid during the day...

You truly, truly are so down bad for this man. It's a crime.

Albeit he has been teased by others for his height, he seems to mask it with his nonchalant behavior. He would always carry the aura of professionalism when during work hours, and when you catch sight of multiple people coming by, he seem to act differently.

It's always fun to watch when he sees Kaeya, or even Klee. Those two received different forms of treatment from the alchemist, and you swore that- for a mere moment- the Cavalry Captain had all but pissed him enough to be treated so coldly.

But to those like Jean and even the traveler, his mannerisms were more different. It's mostly evident to the latter, as they would often talk in private about things that seem serious- sometimes it can be outside of alchemy and to the realms of travelling, while in other times, it can even be about commissions.

That's when you truly see Albedo loosen up the professionalism and act more composed, maybe even careless in his own way. It made you smile sometimes when you see it.

He needed someone to break his shell, anyhow.

Though, amidst all that, you knew he had secrets from you and everyone. He kept them hidden, despite the way the distance between you two doesn't seem to be as big as most people.

You don't ignore the way that he seems to act when it comes to privy subjects, and even down to the past of the mountain and the fables of the dragon.

You don't ignore the way his eyes would shift and show a glimpse of solemn, or even a small hint of regret in those eyes- even down to how he would change the topic after entertaining such questions.

You can tell it pained him, but you didn't say it. It must be private, you thought.

Although, unbeknownst to you, you never seem to catch on Albedo's eyes watching and focusing on you when you're with him.

It was an impulsive thing at first- he would only seek you out if he needed your help on something he's focused on or even your inquiry on an experiment. Little things that the alchemist chalked up to being normal.

After all, what was so unnatural about asking a fellow alchemist for their inquiry?

Though, it simply developed more than just a simple impulsive decision. He began to take note of you more: your mannerisms, little ticks, speech, and even down to your little habits and things you enjoy.

Again, it was those little things that he thought once were normal that became more and more than what it seems.

He would sometimes find himself taking note of those things, and although he'd try and brush it off, he found himself struggling to brush off the thought of you on his mind. It even came down to him struggling to stay focused on his research, since you run on his mind so often.

It was, for the lack of better word, driving him mad.

But maybe it wasn't a bad thing, Albedo concluded, his eyes drifting to you when you were busy talking to the traveler. Watching your lips curl to a smile made his heart flutter, and he couldn't help but grab his corkboard with his pencil.

With a smile, he turned his gaze to the page and began to draw.

He wanted to savor this moment forever, and for once, all he could mutter were the words.

"Think of me, for I shall think of you, too."

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

[cherry-colored-petals]

masterlist ☆ next >

Each story begins with some form of call, doesn’t it?

That was what I expected. A call from the unknown, the one that would have guided me in the matters of this journey like the others. It was something that you may think that everyone would expect, as if you were chosen, you would expect something to tell you you were.

I was one of those people. Though, I soon came to realize that the assumption I made was entirely false. Bogus. Not true.

Why, if it was, things would have gone differently. And maybe, I had wished it did, if it meant that I would be able to save face from what had happened since the beginning.

It was one of the most recent patch when we received an update to the story on Genshin, which was all about the continuation of the twins’ quest. Everyone was hyped and talked about it in great lengths, some even mentioned that it had opened so many possibilities for the twin that was taken, but to what avail? We wouldn’t know.

And thanks to the leakers saying that the story was going to be much more than we had all anticipated, everyone was already up in arms on updating the game, and I was one of them. It was already interesting from what we learned on the events, but hearing about the outlander we were playing more and more was something I was more keen to learn about.

While the update was still running in the background, I began to scroll through one of the servers that I joined, already seeing people’s reactions to it all with what they found out about the quest. One of my closest friends were already talking about how big of a deal it was, and how it had confirmed one of the growing theories that was made within the 1.0 - 2.0 era.

Although, some of them had piqued my curiosity.

“Wait, we’re going to see what?”

One of them had mentioned a character I forgot in the past, mostly because he wasn’t so involved at the time. In that regard, hearing about him appearing was a feat in and of itself, and especially with what happened last time back at the Chasm.

Holy shit, Dainsleif’s coming? I thought he was dealing with that in the Chasm, so how—

Wait. I had to pause.

Dainsleif must be relevant. He is usually when it comes to the abyss twin. But then what does he have to do this time? Is it about Khaenri’ah?

It wasn’t as though I hated Dainsleif. He was a good character, and it was something I myself wouldn’t deny. After all, if he wasn’t, I would most likely speak ill of him. But because of this, it presented another thing that I wouldn’t want to admit in fear that people who like him may end up saying that I didn’t understand the game.

… I was one of those that genuinely thought he was some plot device to push along the narrative, and that without him, things wouldn’t have changed.

Hey, some thought the same way I did, didn’t they? They mentioned that some were rather redundant in the story and perhaps even annoying, while others said that they only did 1 action only and didn’t deserve to be in the story. But to me, if Dainsleif wasn’t present, the story would have stayed how it is.

…

Hah, not like they’d think that way. They’ll think I don’t like Dainsleif, just like those lore maniacs and Dain simps.

When the update managed to get through, I set down my phone and turned it off before proceeding to click ‘START’ on the screen. It’s fine if there are additional things to download – I think it’s better to get it started now.

Seeing the game load in, my eyes drifted to the resources being downloaded, though it left once it was validated and shown me the familiar screen.

Welcome back, [name]@gmail.com.

Checking the server, I clicked yes and waited in anticipation for the game to load. Seeing the loading screen go by slowly for a moment, only to speed up until the door at the end of the hallway was built, I held no hesitation and clicked to enter the game.

Time for dailies, I mused with a huff. I’ll check the events once I’m done and see what’s up.

The update wasn’t that great.

It was hard to tell considering most of it was catered to the lore, sure, but it made things confusing for me. The revelations had made my head ache, and even more so when the quest in and of itself opened more questions than answers. Dainsleif coming in was one thing I didn’t expect, but I had to take a break on it after enduring headaches on being with an NPC I can hardly care about.

It was much like the Chasm event with Yelan and the gang, but if only this catered specifically to the NPC and NPC alone. And Gods, did my brain ached.

Maybe tonight isn’t it for me. I had been busy with other pressing matters to focus on the game, I thought to myself as I closed Genshin. I’ll just pick it up again when I feel ready. It is an archon quest, so technically, it won’t be as urgent like the events that I have to finish them.

It was a little bit of a bummer, but I tried to keep myself from thinking about it by going through the server. But even after I aired my own grievances to a few close friends of mine, it didn’t made me feel better. If anything, it made me feel worse, considering their replies to me.

Complex? I scoffed. Yeah, right. Like they aren’t on some power trip.

…

…

I saw them type.

And stop.

And type again.

And stop.

And finally…

Ping!

I checked the message, and I found a message from Mae herself.

… Well deserved.

Before I can reply to her to stop her, the last message I saw her was:

… And try as I might, I got blocked from sending messages to her.

I knew that Mae was just throwing a fit. She’s always like this, and it’s always her that reaches out to me. It’s like she can’t have Nyx speak to me like a normal person.

She always has to be the one to act as her savior. It’s disgusting.

It wasn’t like Nyx was entirely not at fault with what he did back then. Back then, he had done things and pushed Mae to feel like she was walking on eggshells. It was mostly out of guilt-tripping, but after getting professional help and a break from the Internet, he had returned and became a better person.

Mae and Nyx had a talk about what happened, and from what I can recall, they decided to try again. From his end, it was revealed that he didn’t know and saw her as someone he could rely on and depend on more for her help. However, as time went on, it was clear that it felt unbalanced. And perhaps even more so… One-sided.

… Still, it never ceased to make me feel like the two are just tied together all because of a sunken investment. An investment that I personally think is pointless.

As I clicked off the server and decided to turn my status off to invisible to avoid the duo, I grabbed my phone and earphones and plugged it in, soon moving to lie down on the mattress with a creak. Switching to a playlist on Spotify, I lied down, but I can still feel the edge from before.

Gods, those two make me pissed. It's almost like I can't catch a break with them.

I let out a scoff and just focused on the music, taking a deep breath before I closed my eyes shut. I didn't focus on anything but the song in and of itself, letting the melody take me further and further away.

… Further and further from the place I was familiar with, and to the place I want to be in.

I made sure to have my heart set onto going there. Onto Teyvat. It was silly, sure, but I know shifting works. I have reached many, many close calls when I shifted previously, and I knew tonight was the night I will be able to get there.

All I have to do was just focus on the melody of the song and let it take me away. Nothing more, nothing less.

After all, it was the only thing that I can truly focus without being angry at something else interrupting me. And while I stayed in the position I was in, I can feel the song merge together in its rhythms and tunes and drift off bit by bit into the comfortable white noise.

… And the feeling of warmth spreads on my body as I slowly feel the effects occurring, up until I can visualize the place I want to be in. The situation and even down to who I'm seeing right now.

The one whose eyes shone like gold greeted my imagination as the last notes of the music in my playlist grows quiet.

@haliyamori

@naraven

(feel free to send an ask if you'd like to join on the taglist!)

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

[cherry-colored-petals]

“Nothing Ever Changes. ”

Synopsis: After Sumeru, the traveler seem to have a moment to think for themselves after what they have witnessed— this time, without their companion, Paimon, to bother them.

C.W.: Angst no comfort— the traveler (unnamed, could be Aether or Lumine) is sick of everyone's shit, retrospective/experimental in nature, and overall teetering to spoilers on Sumeru's main story arc and everyone else's. Also yes, this was inspired by the song "Nothing Ever Changes".

Also, as a disclaimer, the traveler is OOC here. Don't go after me if you think the traveler shouldn't act in a certain way— this is experimental for a good reason, and I am very aware of the canon lore. However, if you read this, please be very aware that the traveler is OOC and I just want to write them having a villain arc. Okay? Okay.

It had been a week when the party was over in Sumeru, and one of many nights where the traveler was up and needed a moment for themselves. Their mind was full of thoughts, both good and bad, and they wanted a place where they can let it out in peace.

But now… They did seem a little lost being alone. At least without someone they're with usually.

Raising their head, they gazed out into the starry sky, the night still passing by as normal. They couldn't help but think of the many issues this world had, and one of them being the key component of those issues.

The archons have abandoned their duties, hadn't they?

Their eyes narrowed at the thought. They had made sure Paimon wouldn't catch on to their actual feelings when she was up, considering this could be a little… Risky for them to deal with in the current state of their journey.

However, what happened with Nahida and everything…

… Why do all archons give their power away? Only one tried to fight for it, and he got his snatched by force, they mulled over, their lips thinning to a line. It's almost like a pattern with these archons.

All 4 archons had shown how they act with a gnosis: Venti fought for it and gotten his taken without any compliance, Zhongli traded his because of a contract (which, to them, is a little... Disheartening), Ei had Yae keep it and Yae traded it for their life, and Nahida had traded it to get information (to which, when they were told, was actually understandable- at least, without her knowing what they knew).

All of them had— in some way or another— traded their gnosis despite all the things they could've done to the ones that caused the issue in the first place.

What, do they not even care of the efforts they've both done for the sake of Teyvat?

How tiring.

They let out a scoff at the thought of it. Of course they wouldn't. Why should an archon care for it's power? It's not like their efforts were needed, but it seems that for each and every archon, they needed some form of person to knock some sense into them.

… At least, more or less.

Looking away from the sky, they stared at the scenery, their eyes clouded with many feelings. However, one stood out from the rest.

They looked tired in their gaze. And quite so.

Is it even worth it to protect the archons and their people when they give out the gnosis anyway?

The traveler lifted a hand to go through their hair, sighing. It's almost as though each and every archon broke their expectation, and not in a good way. Sure, exploring each nation is fun, and meeting new people more so…

However…

They wished the archons CARED for what they had. Not give it away because they didn't need it nor wanted the power from such a thing.

Although Celestia isn't the greatest place in the world, some part of them wanted to say otherwise until they see it. But they kept that to themselves because they didn't want to piss the archons.

Ah… Morals. They suck, don't they?

One day, I'll grow tired trying to help people when all they do is fall, they thought bitterly, closing their eyes right after. One day, people will stop expecting for me to help. I don't want to continue entertaining others because they can't do it themselves.

However long it may be, the outlander didn't want to feel like they're being used as a tool for their own leisure.

They just wanted their sibling and leave this place.

One day, these archons will stop using us like some disposable pawns and actually deal with the state of Teyvat and the Tsaritsa. Other than Nahida, that may be the least they can do for not having the information they needed to redeem themselves.

But for now... They will stay idle. God knows whatever else will happen in their future. After all, one's sight may interpret them and see them as heroes, while the others see them as villains.

So all they can do is stay put and wait to see what their journey may be led to next.

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

[cherry-colored-petals]

“False God. ”

Synopsis: Although Scaramouche had done his part in retrieving the gnosis from the Electro Archon, Dottore had thought of fulfilling what the Sumeru researchers wished for... Which is a God.

C.W.: Hurt no comfort, I put Scara through pain, Dottore is a sadistic asshole, and pain. Loads and loads of pain and emotional damage. Also, this is my interpretation of how Scara became a God and is spoilers to Sumeru's arc + boss fight.

The sound of the mechanical chains echoed as tubes upon tubes began to connect to the puppet, though the people working on it moved around to tend to their new God. Feeding him knowledge capsules and letting him absorb the knowledge from within, they even gave him sacred ones that made normal people insane, though some even had them made through the Samsara.

Although to them, this was for the best in Sumeru as Nahida was but an abomination of a God since Greater Rukkhavata's death. However, to the Balladeer, this was something he was conflicted with.

As he was set up with tubes, he could only stare blankly at the mechanical mess that was made and instructed by Dottore's will and authority, though he didn't knew why he was to become a new God. He was not the person- rather, object suited for this thing, is he not? He wanted to be free and use the gnosis, but the fatui caught up to him much sooner than he had predicted.

And under Dottore's 'care', all he could do was sit in the cage that he (metaphorically) made, his body shiver as sparks of electro and liquid transferred to his body. Knowledge was still being ingested by his mind through the capsules, but he felt his head splitting apart the more he looked and open those capsules that the scientists gave him that were 'useful'.

History of Teyvat, the truth beyond the world they live in, the ugly secrets the gnosis had and why some archons had chose to give their up so easily…

He found it to be repulsive. Absolutely abhorrent. If anything, he spites learning about everything that he knows.

However, to everyone, hey think that he simply resents the resistance that was forming in Sumeru. They wouldn't be wrong, of course- he hated the traveler for messing with his plans, but-

"Thinking hard again, hm, Kunikuzushi?"

… That voice again, Scaramouche mused, feeling his spine tingle in shivers as a gloved hand traced up to his spine where the tubes weren't set. He could feel his fingers trace up towards his neck, before ever so slightly, going down towards his shoulder and-

"-gah!"

He hissed in pain as the Doctor turned him around with an unimaginable force, his violet eyes squinting at the latter as he raised a syringe with a smile on his face.

"I asked you a question, Balladeer."

"And?" he scoffed, sneering at the other harbinger. "I don't need to answer that when you know, smartass."

The other harbinger laughed, though this one was more cruel and cold. Without a sense of shame, his other hand reached out to the tubes behind Scaramouche, and mercilessly tugged it off with all of his strength.

Scaramouche's eyes widened as he felt his chest heave for air, collapsing right after as he saw one of the tubes off. That was his life support, dammit- why did he-?!

"Well, I also don't need to continue giving you strength, God of Calamity," the harbinger said with a laugh, but this one sounds more like a maniac's. "I could just leave you here, gasping and begging for just mere relief of what we provide for you."

The Balladeer tried to push himself up but coughed up blood when Dottore raised his foot and slammed it down onto his side. To add insult to injury, he dug his foot there and gave the latter pressure, which didn't took long for him to start screaming in agony.

This hurts this hurts this hurts-

"I- I didn't ask to be a God-" he said between coughs, his body convulsing the more he felt the pressure. "I didn't ask to be used again!"

Dottore laughed louder as he heard him beg, but cut short as he stepped back from him. Crouching down, he grabbed his chin and pulled him up so the latter could face the grinning doctor.

Tugging his mask off, his red eyes face the latter with a wide grin on his face.

"This is my domain, puppet. And you are- and always will be- my test subject. And I will use you until you break."

With those words, he stood up and gestured for the others to tend to him before leaving. Scaramouche can only watch as he slips into the realm of unconsciousness, slowly realizing that perhaps….

He can never escape his fate of being used once again. Especially those that are the likes of him.

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

[cherry-colored-petals]

Synopsis: Aren't all chosen ones supposed to be blessed? If so, you always wonder how it feels more like a curse.

C.W.: Angst, major character death, subverting the chosen one and SAGAU troupes, slow burn romance (hurt no comfort at first but turns to hurt with comfort with romance on the side)

ACT 1 - Curse in Disguise

1 : The Beginning

2 : The Talk

TBA

@haliyamori

@naraven

(feel free to send an ask if you'd like to join on the taglist!)

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

[cherry-colored-petals]

“Sealed. ”

Synopsis: Returning to Celestia, the Heavenly Principles was about to face the twins before noticing a familiar figure that was once locked away in a cage of ice and snow...

C.W.: Hurt no comfort, Aether and Lumine are in pain, reader is seen as a traveler like them but can be interpreted as something else (cause we love ambiguous roles), this is also how I interpret how we get to Celestia to face Heavenly Principles w/ all the elements so it's p much vague wwww, also I am not sorry for how short it is and how painful it is if you like the traveler/s :>

Reaching up the last nation, the twins seem to talk amongst themselves on what they need to do. Although Lumine didn't want to push it yet with how things can get horribly wrong, Aether had convinced her that with strength from them, the elements, and with another, they'd be fine.

It was not like they're going to be hindered again and be separated, wouldn't they? Surely not. It's not like they're going to be apart the second time with the archons on their side.

Reaching the land of Celestia, the twins clearly swept the floor when the beings stopped the twins from reaching the same stage where they faced the Heavenly Principles. Some even tried to mimic the people they've met and helped in their journey, while others began to try and help them get through it quicker.

It was only when they reached the very top that the Heavenly Principles revealed herself, stepping out of the rift she had created like before. Both twins raised their weapons, and she merely looked unamused at the sight.

However, she did notice something… Odd.

"… Well, well, well," she began, humming with a smile. "It seems that the one I've sealed has broke free."

She seem focused onto the spirit materializing behind the twins, who seem to look over in shock. The traveler they were with that tagged along seem to phase in and out of their own 'body', but it seems it's actual appearance is now materializing fully and revealing it's shape and appearance.

"… I'm here to set things right, Heavenly Principles," the third spoke, raising their spear and letting the blade face in front of them. "I don't want this timeline to be erased like the others, and you and I know that. So I'd like to settle this."

"Hm… Amusing," the God said with a laugh, clearly knowing that they wouldn't stand a chance. "And how would you do that? Clearly the only option is to simply erase yourself from this world's existence. Are you willing to do that?"

The twins seem to stare at the third, eyes wide. Aether, in particular, went pale. He knew what the God meant, and in some twisted way, he hoped that they wouldn't take it.

But like many others, the third didn't back down to the offer. Even if, to everyone, they will be erased. Permanently.

"Yes. I've already ruined the world enough as is with how I've interfered. I'd like to at least make one major event go smoothly."

The God's eyes gleamed at the sight, and Aether's yells fell on deaf ears.

"Good."

And before anyone could have ever expected, blocks of black and red appeared and formed into shards— multiple of them, flying through and effectively stabbing the third.

Again and again and again.

Up until they began to grow more and more, engulfing their body, and soon broke into pieces.

And so, their memory being recorded of this world faded away too, and the timeline in and of itself broke apart— only being rebuild anew with only the Unknown God remembering…

… And the unfortunate twins who had witnessed the death and erasure of the other for the sake of giving them both a second chance.

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

[cherry-colored-petals]

"The Truth"

Synopsis: In the cold expanse of Dragonspine, the two unlikely duo seem to reside in the camp. Navina had a few things to do when they came there, and one of them pertained to investigating who the chief alchemist really is.

C.W.: not proofread at all lmfao I'm not sorry, Dorian is a conniving bastard but we already knew that, major character death is mentioned

"… You know, it's strange that your mark is missing."

Navina brought up randomly while they were resting on their seat, their eye drifting towards his neck. Noticing the absence of the star, they squinted at the sight before looking up at the blues of the alchemist's own eyes.

"… Did you mask it with makeup or something?"

He was perplexed by their question, since he had thought that they hadn't realized his true nature, or had any idea that he was a fake. And besides, the star was hardly noticeable to the human eye…

… He needed to make an excuse. And fast.

"Yes, I masked it with makeup," the alchemist said, his body tense as he noticed the stare from the observer and the silence coming from them.

Ah, not good.

"But if I may ask, why are you so interested in my mark?"

…

They were silent.

Shit. He screwed up.

"… You always had it on your neck- a sign of how you were created, from what you told me in the past," they said, looking more and more suspicious of him. "I remember you telling me that it was a mark of imperfection: that you were created by human hands, but you weren't bothered by it."

They leaned forward, their eye glaring at the latter now.

"The real Albedo would have no shame on revealing his star to anyone, and especially to me. So, I ask you this. Who are you?"

And after that… All went still.

Dorian's face become cold, and his body rigid. After he finally stood up, he turned to look at the observer in the eye, with little emotion. The expression was almost unsettling, as if he was about to do something terrible to them.

And in the silence… The alchemist finally spoke.

"My actual name is Dorian."

The observer's eye narrowed as he introduced himself.

"And yes… I hid my star because I am not the real Albedo."

Navina was quiet as he answered their question, standing up to face him more properly. Though, they didn't dare raise their weapon against him just yet.

They wanted to know where Albedo was. And they knew he had the answer to that.

"… Where is Albedo, Dorian?"

"Albedo is dead."

The reply made them quiet. The way he replied so nonchalantly had them pause, their lips pursed together while noticing the way he eyed the latter out of caution. In that regard, he looked… Prepared- almost like he was defending himself should Navina attacked him.

And yet, their next reply caught him by surprise.

"I suppose us fighting will be pointless, then," Navina answered, crossing their arms as they eyed Dorian. Although they did nothing to try and harm him, he could tell they were cautious of his next move.

It made him smile.

"Considering Albedo is dead and you took his place."

He chuckled at their reply, speaking, "I would prefer to call it an… Inheritance of a role rather than taking it, observer."

He raised a hand as he spoke about it, eyes glinting in the light as he simply continued- his tone much more confident than before.

"I suppose that you had a hunch about this, and I respect your ability to figure it out without harming me."

Although he said such a thing to praise them, the pinkette seem more tense than before as they sat down, crossing their arms whilst watching him.

"I suppose that's a more positive way to look at things," Navina muttered, closing their eye for a moment to put together the thoughts they wish to tell him.

"It wasn't that hard to figure it out, though. After all, it's my job as an observer… And as an informant of this world."

…

Dorian looked over at Navina as they stopped speaking, looking… Confused.

"Informant of this world?" he repeated, which made the pinkette nod.

"Yes. I'm the informant of this world- the one that the Heavenly Principles assigned by force."

© ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏ-ᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ-ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟs : 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 ♡ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ sᴛᴇᴀʟ/ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ♡ ʀᴇʙʟᴏɢs, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋs ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ