#I could listen to that man talk about osmanthus wine all day in that voice

[artemisjpotter]

I know Genshin is full of pretty characters, but who gave that design to Zhongli’s character? And, more importantly, WHO GAVE KEITH SILVERSTEIN THE RIGHT TO SOUND THAT SEXY???

[albeducks]

WHO'S THE LALALA AND THE OKOKOK IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP ★

WANDERER

he's an okokok and don't you dare disagree with me

i think he could be a lalala too but he prefers hearing you talk and rant about your day

voice kink?? question mark??

no matter what situation, hearing your voice just makes him melt

he's giggling, kicking his feet, going feral, running a marathon, screaming, creaming, crying, whimpering when you're in his sight

"and then she just-" you talked and talked, flinging your arms around exaggeratingly, making the conversation more dramatic and of course, fun to hear.

by conversation, you mean you rambling about your day while he stays silent, occasionally humming and chuckling

when your hold on his hand slightly faltered, he was quick to turn to you, hoping you didn't take his silence for annoyance.

but those thoughts were swept away as quickly as they came when he saw your eyes glowing from the dim lights, lips nonstop moving as you go on about the girl in your class.

he enjoys these moments, where you're comfortaby talking and he's comfortably listening.

ZHONGLI

SUCH a lalala, ugh

this old man may take time to warm up and chat alot, but over time he's sure to talk your ears off

if you're a lalala too, then you will definitely have a good time with him.

if you're an okokok, then you will also have a good time.

he doesn't mind leading the conversation, as long as you're accompanying him.

"osmanthus wine tastes the same as i remember, but where are those who share the memory?" he questions, even though it's not exactly directed at you.

he places the cup down, clearing his throat before continuing his opinion on, well... political things. cough archons cough

you look down at your full cup, his short talk about the wine and the people he drank with spooking you a bit.

what a lonely old man.

a talkative one, at that.

but after many years, having someone who doesn't mind your quiet self is rather nice.

maybe you should visit him more often.

AL HAITHAM

an okokok

yuh

he looks like he's reading his book and not listening to the bs ur saying but don't u dare stop talking

cuz he's listening

and he's enjoying it

cutie frfr

"then it just exploded out of nowhere-" you rambled and rambled about the explosion in your science class, while al haitham is leaning back on the chair, eyes focused on the book he's reading.

"and all of us were like-" your eyes passed al haitham for a split second, but they settled back onto him when you catched a very concentrated al haitham, eyes boring into the thick paper.

your shoulders tensed for a moment and you sighed, looking up at the ceiling.

5 seconds went by.

8.

10.

"why'd you stop talking?" his stern voice surprises you, and when you look at him, his face expression is a mix of confusion and concern.

"mm. nothing."

"and what happened after the class just erupted into flames?" he asked, placing his book down onto the table.

your eyes widened for a second, and you had to blink a few times but you slowly grinned.

with him, you shouldn't worry about not being heard.

[scarletwritesshit]

🎵 Genshin RNG: Melodic 🎵 The Wind Sings Songs of the Memories of You

The first fic i wrote for @bycmykae's Genshin RNG Zine: Melodic.

The voice of the wind and droplets of light flowed over Lumine as she dozed beneath the tree. She had been traversing Teyvat for quite some time now, seeking even the slightest hint as to the whereabouts of her brother, unfortunately to no avail. Drained from countless months of never-ending conflict and mundane problem solving, Lumine made her return to where she recalled the start of this seemingly eternal nonsense: Mondstadt. She hoped that the city of wind and song could sing her a tune to once again carry her determined spirit along with the breeze, with the sole purpose of seeking out her brother.

She softly closed her eyes, listening for the wind to begin its solo performance through the blades of grass and luscious foliage. As the wind hummed by, however, Lumine listened closely and realized that it was singing a song not out of longing for her brother, but as an ode to the many friends she had made along the way. None of these bonds were foreseen along her path, and many had slipped her mind, but the wind carried the melody of their voices making sure that Lumine never completely forgot the words that they had shared.

Lumine looked up at the former Archon who was crossing his arms.

"I will never forget your gentle smile and eyes hidden in sorrow.

Zhongli."

"Hm?"

"Do you regret what you did?"

"I assume you refer to my decision to leave Liyue under the leadership of its own people?" In that case, I wouldn’t say so, as I can see that it has been left in capable hands."

"You must be talking about the adepti watching over them."

"Not exactly. I am referring more to the humans themselves who populate the region, people like you standing up for what they believe in."

"To be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to do it if it weren’t for you."

"Whatever do you mean? You are the hero of Liyue."

"You gave me the courage to wish, even when it hurts, and to fight, so I could go on. Truthfully, if you were not around to guide me, I wouldn’t have been driven to face Osial where we stood, and Teyvat would’ve sunken beneath the ocean."

"And I am eternally grateful for your actions."

"I couldn’t just leave Liyue to deal with this on their own. The sadness in the Archon’s eyes haunted me every day and every night. In my dreams, even when I woke up, I knew I would see you again. And I was right. I couldn’t let you down, no matter what happened."

"Forevermore, I am thankful. Despite my decision to step down, Liyue does retain a lot of sentimental value to me. I sing, with a distant memory in my heart, odes to those who can recall sharing the taste of osmanthus wine with me."

"Are they still with you today?"

"...Hardly, which is why I must emphasize my utmost gratitude to you. As for our...friendship...well, I hope it may still remain even after you have found your brother."

"...Thank you, Mr. Zhongli. I must make my leave soon to find him."

"I insist that you take some time to recharge here in Liyue."

"Really. I’ve overstayed my welcome here."

"You defended this fragile and fleeting world with your hands. So please, fold your wings and rest. I would like to share osmanthus wine with someone else dear to me, at least one more time."

"Much obliged, Zhongli."

Lumine opened her eyes. The lyrics the wind uttered in her ears… it was as if it was beckoning for her to make yet another trip to the land of Geo. The tune it sang was sorrowful, reminding her of the many adepti that had come and gone, as well as her goodbye to the former Archon she had grown so fond of so quickly. Despite her and Morax’s absence, she was confident that Liyue was safe from further peril. The people were sheltered by peace, love through all eternity.

However, she was far less confident in leaving behind a man she had met back in Sumeru.

 Lumine looked in disbelief as the pained architect chugged down yet another full glass of wine.

"Kaveh, don’t you think you’ve had enough wine for the day?"

"I dunno. I think I’m fine."

"I think you look like you’re halfway to Celestia. Any more and Alhaitham is going to find you asleep on the floor."

"Who cares about him! Or anything that isn’t this stupid project, for that matter!"

"...I feel like at this rate, if you don’t accidentally bump your head into the wall, you’re going to knock yourself unconscious on purpose."

"I’m completely fine. See...ow!"

Kaveh tumbled to the ground as he attempted to crawl out of his chair. Lumine got up and sat down beside him, placing his dazed head into her lap.

"Your legs don’t even work right. Rest now in my arms as I watch over you."

"What are you even on about? Doesn’t Buer’s sage have better things to do other than wasting her time on some forgettable architect?"

"I can’t forget you all that easily. It’s practically impossible for me to after all that I’ve been through during my time here. As I recall your joy, your sorrow, and your rage, I will remember you always, until my life is exhausted."

"You’re just making up this stuff on the spot, aren’t you? My name is cursed to obscurity after I lost everything on that palace."

"At an intersection, when I hear a voice similar to yours, I look up and turn around, hoping that it’s you, with a spark in your step and a smile on your face.

"Eeehhh???"

"I do hope you get that studio of your own someday. A man of your caliber and skill deserves it."

"Ah...your kindness is most appreciated. Oughh, do my eyes feel heavy."

"Close your eyes. I’ll watch over you until Alhaitham returns, as I must be making my leave in due time."

That night, she was able to safely hand off Kaveh to Alhaitham, and she could only hope that he gave him a stern talking to about wine consumption. She turned to look up at the sky, forcing back sudden tears. Lumine could only hope that Kaveh would eventually find at least some light in his life. Archons forbid the stress of life kept wearing away at him, leading Kaveh down the same tragic path as his father.

On this journey into the future, Lumine continued to walk alone, aimlessly, believing that she will see him again tomorrow...someday.

As much as she was worried about him, Kaveh shouldn’t remain the main concern of her journey. Through countless rainy nights, and sunny days, she waited for her brother. Snapping her out of her thoughts, she heard the wind sing a ballad of glory for her victory in Fontaine, though the leftover sorrow from Sumeru that still plagued her memory.

Wriothesley and Lumine looked down at a sea-soaked Fontaine, miraculously left with minimal signs of disturbance.

"Wriothesley, are you sure that those doors will be able to hold the sea back?"

"I’m sure that we that don’t have to worry about Fontaine going underwater now that whatever great flood causing-maniac has had their fill."

"I’ll never forget that dark night, but we made it through."

"Tell me about it. I thought the entire population and then some was going to be drowned and dissolved. For a minute, I was almost convinced that I would be counting my days."

"That blindingly brilliant moment when we were all together, even though my initial goal was to seek out my brother, even though I was from far outside of Fontaine, those were precious times that I didn’t realize I should cherish."

"Did you worry that you were too much of an outsider? Of course we’d welcome you to Fontaine with open arms."

"Being tried in court then tossed into jail in a hell of a welcome."

"Haha, only the most special of greetings for the legendary Traveler."

"Special is one way to put it. Was nice when I was just a lone girl looking for her brother. Now after all of these people I have met on my journey, trying to get it over with at first, all I can do is remember, and I will embrace the feeling."

"Even though the fangs of the law care not who they bite, I still knew that the renowned Traveler was more than meets the eye. So I gave you a chance."

"I must be some kind of oddity, considering how I keep getting roped into these situations when I don’t even know much about myself at this rate."

"And coming out in one piece, nonetheless. Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows."

"I’d say it’s some pretty good luck to stay on your good side. Especially since you could’ve had me bound in shackles at your pleasure."

"I know for a fact, you were the one by my side. You could’ve chosen to leave Meropide and Fontaine behind to drown in the sea."

"And I didn’t, because I didn’t want to drown myself."

"Is that so? You were always, always, always there, smiling. Hell, I could even argue that you were enjoying your time on the front lines."

"I guess I may have gotten a bit carried away fighting alongside the lord of the fortress and a dragon sovereign."

"For being one little girl, you’ve done so much for us. As thanks, I have an offer for you."

"Hm?

"The full support of Meropide and my underlings. If I ever lose you, I will find you, and never leave you. Some of these rats may be troublemakers but I can guarantee their undying obedience for a meal and the right price."

"Thanks, but I don’t think most regions will appreciate me dragging prisoners into their territory."

"Offer stands for both Fontaine and the rest of Teyvat. You defended this fragile and fleeting world with your hands, so please fold your wings and rest. Our Traveler has done more than enough, so I believe you deserve to have a bit of weight lifted off of your shoulders."

Under Wriothesley and Sovereign Neuvillette, Lumine could trust in Fontaine to be sheltered by eternal peace and love through all of eternity. Their watchful eyes covered the territory of both above sea level and what was hidden from plain sight below. No more prophecies would be of their concern within their lifetime and throughout many more to come after them.

It had become expected of Lumine to get tangled up in whatever affairs each region had brewing beneath the surface. Bad for her, who just wanted to see her brother again, good for those slowly crumbling under hidden desperation. At least it wasn’t for naught, as the Mondstadt wind carried the songs of her triumph all through Teyvat, even through Natlan and Snezhnaya, regions she had yet to conquer, longed for their blonde savoir to relieve them of their turmoil. Lumine dreaded the inevitable conflict, so when she couldn’t find rest in Sumeru, she returned to Liyue where at least this time, the conflicts were far less... personal to her, and thankfully on a less grandiose scale.

Lumine watched as Ga'ming ran back towards his father.

"You’ve worked hard towards your goals this entire time, my boy. I should apologize wholeheartedly. Rest now in my arms as I watch over you from here on out, cheering on your every milestone no matter how big or small."

"You really didn’t have to-"

"As I recall your joy, your sorrow, and your rage, it makes me wonder why I haven’t supported my son from the very beginning, and I regret not lending an ear. Your performances are unlike any other that I have seen."

Lumine wanted to say something, but she felt like she shouldn’t interrupt this moment.

“I will remember you always, until my life is exhausted, my son."

"I hope you’ll be willing to come see more of my dances, father."

"If it means supporting your aspirations, I…can put the business aside to see you proudly and happily dance for the Liyue people."

"Ah… I’ll…I’ll keep dancing, and dancing, and dancing, just for you!"

"That blindingly brilliant moment when we were all together, with you dancing from afar; those were precious times I didn't realize I should cherish. So please, keep going."

Now all I can do is remember, embrace the feeling, Lumine thought. She was almost regretful that she wasn’t as involved with Ga'ming’s story, and she did the bare minimum to allow him to work out his own conflicts. All’s well that ends well, though, and Ga'ming and his family seem to have repaired and even strengthened their bonds.

If only solving a nationwide conflict was as easy as watching from the sidelines.

But if she wasn’t roped into saving the world, she wouldn’t have met the people she had.

Who else would have a chance to meet a former archon, a renowned architect, a prison administrator, and a lion dancer, all within a mortal’s lifetime?

She closed her eyes once again, as the wind hummed a lullaby for an exhausted traveler.

Zhongli. Wriothesley.

I know for a fact, you were there by my side.

Ga'ming.

You were always, always, always there, smiling.

Kaveh.

If ever I lose you, I will find you, I will never leave you.

[test-tube]

Satisfied

Authors Note: THIS IS ALL @starfell-traveler​ ‘s fauLT for giving me this idea but here Zhongli angst inspired by the song Satisfied by Lin Manuel-Miranda lmao Word Count: 995 Pairings: ZhonglixGN!Reader, ChildexGN!Reader TW: None

“Alright, alright. That’s what I’m talkin’ about! Now everyone give it up for the best man!”

The words brought Zhongli back down to earth. He watched you beam at him, Childe flashing his signature grin.

“A toast to the groom! To the bride!” Everyone raised their Osmanthus wine. “From your closest friend, who will always be by your side.”

Zhongli took one last look at you. “May you always be satisfied.” He tore his eyes away, the whiplash of memories hit him like a cart.

He remembered the starry night he met you. Your bright eyes, your airy spirit. It had been raining and he stood in a field of silk flowers, enjoying the scenery of Liyue. You had come rushing in, being chased by a horde of hilichurls. A couple of slashes left the group in shreds, and you had graciously thanked him. That’s when he caught a look of your beautiful face.

“Thank you sir, I could’ve fought them off, but they ambushed me.” You bowed repeatedly. “Sorry for bothering you.”

“It’s quite alright. I’d help anyone in need.” He promised.

You nodded. “Well, I’d better get back before they send a search party.”

As quickly as you entered his life you disappeared, but the impact was certainly permanent. He regretted not trying to take up a conversation, of asking where you were from, who you were. All he had was the memory of you.

Days passed, Liyue was ever crowded yet he scanned the packs of people for you, every day he was disappointed.

Then one day you appeared. Your eyes lit up and you smiled. “It’s nice to see you again sir!”

He couldn’t remember his own name. His chest erupted with heat, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. “It’s pleasant to see you again too.” Was all he was able to manage.

You opened your mouth to say something, but someone else’s voice sounded.

“Zhongli!”

He turned to see a redhead walking towards him. “Ah, Childe.”

Tartaglia turned, looked at you for a moment, then back at Zhongli. “I’m here to discuss…business.” He said.

Zhongli nodded and turned to you. “Apologies.”

“No no, it’s fine! Maybe I can talk to you later?”

There it was again. That pang in his chest. He nodded and turned away.

“My my, I didn’t think you were the lovebird.” Childe teased. “Who’s the lucky citizen?”

“It’s no one of your concern, now what about the business?”

You received a letter in the mail, an invitation to talk. You graciously accepted it and met Zhongli in the field you had first met him.

“Mr. Zhongli!” You called.

“Ah, [Name].” He smiled. “I’ve prepared tea if you’d like some.”

You accepted the beverage as you sat down. “So, what have you been up to?”

“Me? Nothing important. What about you?”

“I joined the Adventurer’s Guild!” You spent a few minutes going on and on about the adventures you had gone on. Zhongli loved listening to each word. He understood the tales of fighting these creatures, of fighting in general. The way you described it was one he related to.

So, this is what it feels like to match wits, with someone at your level! What the hell is the catch? It’s the feeling of freedom, of seein’ the light-

The conversation lasted two minutes, maybe three minutes everything we said in total agreement, it’s a dream and it’s a bit of a dance a bit of a posture, it’s a bit of a stance.

The day slowly turned to night and the two of you returned to Liyue. On the road the two of you ran into a bunch of hilichurls but you insisted on taking them out yourself.

Childe was making his way towards Zhongli when he saw you in action. His face lit up as well, a face of excitement. Zhongli knew that look.

Helpless…

And I know he is…

Helpless…

And his eyes are just…

Helpless…

Zhongli understood the situation. You returned and sheathed your sword. Childe was still staring at you, so Zhongli took the liberty to introduce him. “This is my acquaintance, Childe.”

That seemed to snap the Harbinger out of his trance. “It’s great to finally meet you. Zhongli’s actually-“

“Hush.”

“Alright, alright.” Childe bowed and shook your hand, his grip firm. “That was quite a strategy you used back there. Maybe one day you could show me.”

(Zhongli: 🤏this close to smacking him)

Zhongli took a deep breath. Three things stopped him, and he had to come to terms with it.

Number one!

He’s an archon. He’d live forever, you however were mortal. He didn’t want to put you through it, deep down he didn’t want to put himself through it.

“I’m [Name]. Maybe I could~” You scrunched your nose at Childe’s expression.

He gave Zhongli a knowing look before turning back to you.

Number two!

You probably wouldn’t even like him back. The two of you have had two conversations, who’s to say you felt the same. Fear added itself to the regret in his chest.

“Thank you for all your service,” Childe smiled.

“It was nothing.” You shrugged. “It’s good practice!”

“I’ll leave you to it, I’ve got work to do.” Zhongli excused himself, not wanting to ruin the conversation.

Number three!

He knew Childe, his playful nature. The two of you were like peas in a pod. Childe was a competitive spirit. If Zhongli told him he loved you he’d make it a challenge. He’d get to you first. Better to resign now than feel an even more bitter end.

But when I fantasize at night it’s [Name’s] eyes as I romanticize what might have been if I hadn’t sized you up so quickly

At least I keep your eyes in my life…