#I've established he HATES fish from having to eat so much of it growing up

[sankatsuka]

Takagin Discussion: Story Romantic Parallels (Part 1)

I've been wanting to make a post talking about the romantic parallels Takagin have with other more established romantic pairings in Gintama. The direct parallel with Enshou destroyed me, then I started thinking if Hijikata and Gintoki are similar... how about Hijikata and Takasugi, then found way more parallels with Hijimitsu. Then I realized there was MORE with Umibouzu and Kouka. Then accidentally found some more with Matako (whose feelings I like to think are more familial).

Warning:

Personal interpretation bias as always. I am tackling this from the standpoint that there may have been some implied romance.

I talk about Umibouzu/Kouka, Hijimitsu, Enshou and Matako.

Edit (17/2/2024): I somehow mistook Shouyou's words 'a sword is to protect your soul' to simply being 'to protect'. This makes a HUGE difference, because it means Gintoki has been fighting to understand and find himself all this time. MAN, I feel downright horrible about this - I have revised it to fit this interpretation. But this does make the parallels stand in a much better way that makes Gintoki a far more genuine, free person as he should be. It only further strengthens how Gintoki is very much a loving person. Edits have been made in the parts marked with an asterisk (*)!

Gintoki and Kouka being born different from normal people and having to fight for their survival in a place surrounded by death.

Both bear a title that captures the life they had to live: Corpse-Eating Demon and Master of Kouan. Both are initially mistaken for monsters that turn out to be a cute child/pretty woman in a place full of death.

However, Gintoki was taken in by Shouyou early on, so he no longer had to fight for his survival. But that event also instilled the sense of obligation in Gintoki that Kouka has--

Gintoki and Kouka being trapped to a life of solitude for their obligations and birth circumstances.*

Kouka resolved to stay on Kouan to uphold her ancestors' pride who chose to endure the harsh planet, whereas Gintoki resolved to grow strong and protect his soul with a human sword as Shouyou had told him, to.

But for Kouka, this meant a life of solitude. For Gintoki, this also meant a life of solitude but in the psychological sense: to understand what it meant to protect your soul, he had to live facing the present and suppressing the true him frightened from the battlefield of corpses - the scared child who grew up in trauma. But that was much needed if he truly wanted to live, because monsters born from bloodshed can't live among humans.

This would explain the detachment both of them suffer from - which for Gintoki still shows until now while Kouka seems to recover from it after marrying Umibouzu - which is will be something I talk about later.

Then there's Kouka's inability to live away from Kouan, which could also be likened to Gintoki's inability to escape his emptiness from childhood: Kouka's bored eyes and Gintoki's dead-fish eyes, but the latter continuing on because the scared child within him is still living in solitude... because Gintoki hates talking about the past, not trying to do anything about it. Monsters can't live among humans, after all.

Takasugi and Hijikata's thorny path as children from not being able to meet the expectations of their families

Hijikata was thrown into the thorny thicket and became obsessed with strength from having witnessed the only older brother who loved him getting hurt because of him. Takasugi was already obsessed with strength from the get-go from not being able to live up to the standard bushido, and it led the two astray, not knowing what they actually wanted out of life.

They became lost to strength because Takasugi was not able to live up his family's expectation and Hijikata had a taste of the helplessness of being a burden to the only family member who loved him. In a way, both were made to feel like they only brought shame to their families, and it led them to trying to find a place elsewhere with strength alone, landing them in Shoka Sonjuku and Shinsengumi.

(Both of them are being judged by the people they want to call family, except Takasugi already seems used to it... Takasugi was also casted out long before Hijikata by his family beating him up and disowning him.)

Takasugi and Umibouzu's unexpected meeting with someone stronger than them and becoming entranced with them.

Takasugi's pursuit of strength led to a chance encounter with Gintoki, who becomes his life goal of beating. Umibouzu heavily implies that his instincts were telling him to keep away from Kouka for how dangerous and strong she was.

In a way, Umibouzu's instincts can be likened to Takasugi's pursuit for strength covering up the humanity inside him that just wants a place to call home. Especially when Umibouzu makes it a point that he has something he has to say to Kouka as himself. Takasugi's dialogue implies how he never got to be fully honest with Gintoki, even till the very end where he insists on seeing Gintoki as someone to beat. The only honesty he could express was how he didn't want to see Gintoki's disheartened face.

And furthermore, Gintoki later jokingly takes the title of the strongest from headbutting Umibouzu, when that was Kouka's title.

Gintoki and Mitsuba's unconditional acceptance of Takasugi and Hijikata

What made Takasugi fall in love anyway? His reasons are definitely closer to Hijikata, considering their similar living conditions and origins. Despite being reduced to a thorny thug and having strange tastes, even dragging her brother so brashly like that, Mitsuba still smiles and laughs at Hijikata in adoration - and Hijikata at some point fell in love with that innocence.

And Gintoki was the only who accepted, faced and wanted Takasugi's obsession with strength head-on, when that was all Takasugi knew as a child.

Both Hijikata and Takasugi were appreciated despite their circumstances by someone. It didn't feel like either of them had any bad intentions too, not when Gintoki and Mitsuba treated everyone the same and it was their standard behaviour. Even though Hijikata and Takasugi had been criticized for their unruly behaviour and were shames to their families, there was someone who didn't see them any differently from any other people. It isn't surprising Hijikata fell in love, and likely Takasugi too.

Gintoki and Mitsuba's love for people*

The reason Takasugi and Hijikata found such a person in the first place was because Gintoki and Mitsuba were both selfless, loving people from the start. Albeit Gintoki is definitely far more detached and distant than Mitsuba ever was (which are where his parallels with Kouka come in).

Gintoki's love for people has been a big theme of the story, even being the reason he turned down Sakamoto's invitation to space despite the tragic war. And just like Mitsuba, this love is more about wanting people to stay true to themselves and happy over their physical presence.

Gintoki chose to behead Shouyou, because it meant protecting what Shouyou truly wanted. Even though Gintoki loved Shouyou dearly, beheading him meant protecting his soul. Gintoki probably didn't hesitate ignoring his promise with Takasugi, because he could sense Shouyou's desire to protect his students far surpassed Takasugi's desire to protect Shouyou. That Takasugi probably just wanted to protect what Gintoki held precious. If that was really his intention, then what Gintoki held precious was the souls of his loved ones anyway, not their physical presence.

But it isn't easy. It's lonely, just as Mitsuba had her mixed feelings seeing Shinsengumi walk away, and Gintoki had shed tears at having to kill the father figure in his life for what he cherished.

But even so, both find a strong sense of joy in seeing the people they love staying true to themselves. If not, Mitsuba wouldn't have been such a good sister to Okita, and Gintoki probably wouldn't have been able to resign to just living peacefully after what he experienced as a child. Especially in Gintoki's case, when even Katsura had strayed from protecting others and himself as his very own grandmother taught him after everything he had seen on the battlefield.

Everyone wants to satiate their own ego and suffering somehow, but it seems the joy of just seeing people living the way they want overpowers that ego in both Mitsuba and Gintoki.

Gintoki and Kouka avoiding attachment to protect themselves, but end up warming up to people anyway.*

Gintoki is the very picture of detachment by living only through facing what's in front of him. Even his actions of casually throwing his textbook away contrasting Katsura and Takasugi shows how detached he is from the past too. Although he was probably the happiest back then, having been with family.

But he's also detached from the people around him. We see that in his childhood from how he reminisces looking at Katsura and Takasugi from afar, both surrounded by many children (and some official art even depicting him as distant from the others). And Gintoki is all alone, looking for another monster who is Shouyou.

Even now with Yorozuya, Shinpachi had been worrying about how Gintoki never wanted to do anything. All he wants to do is protect what's in front of him - as the theme is in the entire story. He loves people, but he never properly lets them in. Even though he still had so many regrets and pains from the past that he never looks back on, which ends up leaking out to influence his choice to find Shouyou after Utsuro's death and making Shinpachi and Kagura realize that it was the wish he never told anyone. No one can be fully happy if they don't come to peace with their past. Especially when it makes you feel like you will never truly belong anywhere.

It bears a resemblance to Kouka settling for what little happiness she had in Kouan to uphold her ancestor's pride and to keep living, and only being swayed when shown a greater happiness by Umibouzu. As for Gintoki, he didn't want to lose himself to the past and so has to keep avoiding it, back in Shoka Sonjuku and even now, even if it means having to settle for a present that isn't fully him. Even if he's actually an empty monster very much like Utsuro.

Both show an inclination to distance themselves from others, as seen by how Kouka remained indifferent throughout her conversations with Umibouzu and Gintoki never talking about himself. But they end up caring too much about the people they distance themselves from, which is what ends up entirely distracting Kouka from the way she initially intended to live whereas forcing Gintoki to carry even more burdens that would obviously make it harder for him to live with his soul intact.

This teaches them both that happiness in the present can only be found from letting people in. Because of this, both change their minds: Kouka decides to leave Kouan, and Gintoki decides to take on the burden of letting more people in when he had already decided he could no longer doing so. This leaves Kouka doomed to die, and Gintoki to have to fight an even harder battle to not lose himself to the past.

But this was still a far better happiness than choosing to live alone to protect yourself.

Gintoki's words that end up saving Kamui from his despair sound very much like the basis for Kouka's words to Kagura about family - you just need someone who'll stay with you, no matter how idiotic they are.

Life isn't about living up to some name to feel good enough and capable to do what you want to do, which Kamui was trying to do to protect his family. This is something Kouka herself was trying to do, but learned that it didn't matter after Umibouzu kept insisting to reach her and Orochi celebrated her departure instead of punishing her.

Gintoki knew this from the get-go because he learned from Shouyou early on that it was about your soul, to not give in to the what the world around you decided for you and truly find yourself. So this stops him from losing himself to the name of the Corpse-Eating Demon, and allows him to wander lost to find the answer within the people around him, including Edo. Edo to Gintoki became what her family was to Kouka.

But unlike Kouka, a piece of Gintoki still stays alone in the past because of this very same mindset of how the present matters. Because his past isn't a commonly shared experience, he can't just share his past with people and expect to be be understood and still be treated as a normal human. Only someone who is determined to understand him like Umibouzu was with Kouka could truly drag him to the present (spoiler: Takasugi obviously).

The realization that the present is most important, not what you are outside of that, is the reason why Kouka allowed Umibouzu to be part of her life, even if it meant her physical death. And Kamui was put at ease by such values, like sleeping on his mother's lap who had once struggled like him.

(I just wanna say--Kamui is such a good example of what it's like to blame yourself hard for not being able to protect family. If Takasugi's main goal was truly Shouyou, then his choices and dialogue should've been more similar to Kamui, methinks.)

Takasugi and Hijikata not feeling suited to making the person they love happy, and so instead protect their happiness from afar.

This whole discussion is already delusional enough but this is by far the most delusional and based on pure inference. But this makes most sense to explain why Takasugi thinks so much about Gintoki's suffering without telling him straight up. This what I think Takasugi's obsession with Shouyou was all about, a way to protect Gintoki's happiness.

Takasugi's actions with Tendoshuu intersects with Hijikata's actions with Tenkaiya. Both went on a suicide mission on their own against them without the people who they know would want to fight alongside with them no matter what (Kiheitai and Shinsengumi). Hijikata would kill the fiance of a dying woman out of revenge and anger at him for not making her happy, Takasugi would let the world Gintoki loves get destroyed if it meant they could go back to the past and Gintoki could be happy with Shouyou again.

Of course there is still Takasugi's love and appreciation for Shouyou accepting him and teaching him his way of life - but it really feels only to a similar extent as Katsura. Not when he didn't say a single word about suffering without Shouyou in his clash against Gintoki to come to terms with his suffering. You can even interpret his gaze and smile upon Shouyou as feeling like he's finally made amends for his guilt at the very end--

In part 2, we talk about post-Shouyou execution Takasugi where more of the Enshou and Umibouzu parallels come in!! How his guilt towards Shouyou may be similar to one Enshou felt towards his brother.

[victorluvsalice]

Day 3 of the Van Dorts starts off with -- more domestic cuteness! Also fishing, because fishing is fun. And necessary for Victor’s aspiration -- Good Vampires need to make three plasma packs from fish or frogs, and since he and Alice have a lake just beyond their backyard. . . A very productive one too -- he caught some beautiful trout, a cichlid, and a tilipia! A shame they all had to end up in the plasma packs, but what can one do? Besides, Victor kind of needs the nutrition over any mounted trophies.

At any rate, the rest of the morning was largely standard Van Dort-Liddell family stuff. Alice worked on her latest book and chatted with the cat; Emma had breakfast and got to know her sister better; Eliza got a bath and learned shapes with Daddy. Just your typical family Sunday. . .

[qierxing]

Obligations

Yan! Zhongli x Reader

Word Count: 2,837

How long can a man talk before he runs out of air?

Scratch that. How long can this man talk before you decide to strangle him?

"...as such, the rivers, plains, and mountains that are said to have been the remains of what is left of the dead gods remains…."

The intonation of Mr. Zhongli's voice nearly puts you to sleep at the ornate dining table, and if it weren't for the fact that you were at an esteemed establishment (even if you two were in a private room), you surely would've face planted and fallen asleep right there on the mahogany wood. But you don't, because it would be an insult to the very man (and the food) who invited you on this outing.

Mr. Zhongli is a respectable man and apparently, a good friend in your family's circles. Even though you've never met the man till now, even you're aware of his shining reputation; aunties giggling on how he's so charming and polite, cousins admiring his knowledge and strength, and other relatives likewise praising him to high Celestia and above.

And he is, you suppose, very handsome. His face is beautiful; high, defined cheekbones, molten amber eyes that glow warmly, pretty curved pink lips and nose to match. A good face, your auntie would say if she was here. An auspicious face.

“And that is how the geography of Liyue came to be...”

You're sure anyone in your position would be swooning over how his voice flowed like the trickling rivers that ran through Guili plains, but you just wished he would shut up at some point. Not even the delicious spread of food at the glass carousel wheel could distract from his tirade, and that was saying something.

Speaking of, why did he order so much food for only the two of you?

'In Liyue, you can always eat till you drop!' A saying that always echoed among the locals, and still holds true today. But even then, the intricately painted línglóng porcelain holding the remnants of steamed egg soup, roasted duck, squirrel fish, and more and more food, are way too excessive, even if he wanted to impress you.

You idly push around the Tianshu meat on your plate as he continues to drone on, wondering when you can politely excuse yourself without being rude.

-

"So, how was the dinner?" You internally groan as your mom's barely concealed excitement in her voice shows.

"Mama, we just sat there and talked." Well, Zhongli was the one doing most of the talking. But you weren't about to say that, not when you know a lecture awaits that answer.

"Isn't he a very handsome man?" Your mother's eyes gleam dangerously and a resigned sigh leaves your lips as she barrels on confidently. "Doesn't he seem like the perfect husband?!"

"Mama, it's ten in the morning…" What you wouldn’t give to eat your congee in peace.

"He is a respectable man, and quite knowledgeable to boot."

"Not you too, Baba!"

Your father merely chuckles as he continues reading the daily newspaper, and you roll your eyes as he continues chuckling behind the printed pages. Your mother swats at him to finish his porridge, turning to you with a frown on her wrinkled face. You brace yourself, knowing exactly what is coming next.

"[First Name], you're already of marriageable age, you should be looking for your future spouse! Your parents are growing old and when we die-"

"I will be perfectly fine without a husband." You cut her off, rubbing at your forehead. It was too early in the morning for this talk.

"Aiya, I don't want our only child to be by themselves! We will never know peace once we pass away, so much worry-"

You tune the rest of the lecture out, not even having the energy to refute her worries.

When you leave the house to take a walk, you meet the infamous Mr. Zhongli again.

"What a coincidence, I am also taking a walk to clear the mind. Would you perhaps like to join me?" And trapped by societal politeness, and the fact that this man did order you a three course meal the previous night, you agree.

So it's to your surprise that he does not immediately initiate dialogue as the both of you stroll leisurely through the stone gardens in Yunjin terrace, and a comfortable silence falls.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind." You turn to meet his gaze, and then away. Your frustration burns at you in the remainder of the morning's argument, but it dissipates at his concerned face. It is not his fault, you reason, that your mother wants you to court him for a possibility. For fortune. Despite the man's shortcomings, he is nothing but a gentleman.

"I don't want to pry but...I have heard that talking about your thoughts might ease your mind?"

You pause for a long time, breathing out your nose as you close your eyes.

"My parents want me to marry you." You've never been one to mince words, much to your mother's dismay at trying to teach you etiquette. "They think that you're a good match. And they're paranoid about me becoming a spinster."

There's silence for a moment and you open your eyes to not a face of disgust or shock, but rather one of musing.

"And you, [First Name]? What do you think?"

You turn your gaze to the water.

"Honestly? I don't know. I don't know you well enough to make that judgement. I know my parents are worried, but I don't want to get married for the sake of not being alone. I think it's rather selfish, to wish that solely for your partner."

The words tumble out of your mouth, one after another and you wonder how it is that it's easier to confess this to an acquaintance than your own parents.

"I was under the impression that people often like to pursue lasting romance in their lives. It's interesting to see this is not always true." Zhongli hums, hand coming to stroke his chin thoughtfully.

"Perhaps? I don't know. I've always been content with my friends." Shrugging your shoulders, you sigh. "Who knows? Maybe I have yet to meet the right person."

Zhongli hums again in response, seemingly in deep thought with a small frown pulling at his lips. A silence falls once again, and an awkward atmosphere falls upon the both of you.

"Oh yes, I never did thank you for the delicious dinner last night." You note offhandedly, half distracted by the swimming carp in the clear pond water. The water trails are hypnotic, and they help take your mind off the stressful morning you had.

"It was nothing. For my friend's precious child, that was the least I could do." He modestly replies, and you deadpan. It was nothing? A three course meal at Xinyue Pavillion, nothing? You know that squirrel fish did not have a low price tag.

"Regardless, I'm very thankful for your generosity." After all, not many tolerated your blunt, forthright personality, least of all the potential suitors your mother always brought before you. The memory makes you feel guilty at the irritation you had back then at the dinner. "The next time, I insist we have dinner at Wanmin--I've heard their black back perch stew is to die for. My treat."

He hums, and turns to you with a heartbreaking smile, a far cry from his previous countenance. "Is that a promise?"

You raise your eyebrow, "What are you, Morax? Yes, it's a promise, unless you hate fish, I guess."

His amused chuckles are soft but light a warm hearth in your heart.

-

Your mother is growing more daring than you remember.

She shoves you out the door as if you're some kind of fancy wrapped gift to offer to Mr. Zhongli, and there's a manic glee in her eyes as she eyes you and him standing together like a couple.

"[First Name] has been looking forward to this, haven't you, sweetie?"

The Liyuen hanfu she forced you into were a different cut than the modern cheongsam dresses of the current trends. Archaic, if you dare call it that. While some traditionalists still donned hanfu, it was not as common to see it in the streets. When she was shoving you in the under robes, she muttered about how it was something passed down in the family. Which explained a lot. These days, hanfu like this were something of a rich antiquity.

You sigh deeply, tugging your translucent pibo around you tighter as you decide to humor her, if only to get her to stop embarrassing yourselves and leave faster.

"Yes, quite."

Zhongli hums, and when you turn to face him, you're almost unnerved at how his eyes sharpen and scan over you, pupils slit like a dragon's. The moment is gone in a flash and he merely smiles at you gently before taking your hand in his gloved one.

"In that case, shall we get going?"

The nightlife of Liyue is in full swing and Zhongli tugs you closer, and there's something intimate in the way he presses you firmly into his side, the warmth he exudes sending pleasurable tingles down your body.

"Do forgive me for being so bold, [First Name]," He addresses you so tenderly, that you blush when you look back up from your joined hands, "You look absolutely radiant tonight."

How is it this man manages to say such an embarrassing thing so smoothly? What is his secret? He doesn’t seem like the playboys that often loiter around the downtown area of the harbor. You look away, unable to meet his eyes that reflect the lanterns and make his pupils glow.

"T-Thank you, Zhongli, you're too kind."

His eyes never seem to leave you, even when taking in the lovely scenery of Liyue at night. For the bright lanterns glitter and glow on the ocean waves, but his own pupils are glued to your being when you look in your peripheral.

“Is there something on my face?” Tearing your eyes away from the street in front of you, you turn to meet his gaze straight on.

He merely smiles.

“No.” He pushes a stray strand of hair behind your ear, the gesture innocuous, but leaving a burning trail where his finger tips touch your skin. “I believe we have arrived.”

Thankfully you can excuse the burning in your cheeks and neck away with the spices that the Li cuisine favors. If anyone asks, it was the black back parch stew making you look flushed and out of sorts. Never mind the fact that Chef Mao looks quite amused at the fact you’re sputtering in response to his cheeky questions about you showing up with a man to your favored restaurant.

When you look up from checking to make sure your hanfu didn’t get any stains, Zhongli is uncorking a white bottle and pouring it into your cups. At your questioning look, he replies, “Dàqūjiǔ. The Li technique ferments wheat for about two to three months. This one in particular, has a fine aroma after being fermented for a while.”

“Hoh…” You chuckle at his explanation, “You really do know everything.”

“Hardly. I cannot say I know as much as the regular scholar…nonetheless, to good fortune!”

Echoing his cheer, you raise your cup and drink.

The alcohol burns your throat, and you’re reminded of your low alcohol tolerance. Yet, your fellow friend refills your cup just as easily, and who are you to refuse him? By the time you’re on your fourth cup, your world is spinning and you’ve developed a headache.

“Ahaha…wow...everything...is...moving…” You slur incomprehensibly and slump onto the bamboo table.

“Oh dear, we best get you back. In this condition, you’re too vulnerable.”

“No way...if I go back with you...my mom….she won’t let me…!” You raise your head from the cool table, but the effort of doing that makes you groan.

Zhongli all too easily picks you up bridal style, and after bidding goodbye to Chef Mao with a hefty bag of mora, he walks down the now empty streets of Liyue.

“Won’t let you what, dear heart?” He hums, stroking your face gently with the pad of his thumb.

“Won’t let me...let...us...ugh…”

“[First Name], do you like me?”

“Mmh...yeah…” Is all he gets, but the stilted, jagged answer is enough for him. The content smile that breaks his face belies the haunting glow of his molten eyes.

-

When you step out of the door of your bedroom, you're accosted by your sobbing mother.

"Ma-Mama?! What's the matter?" You frantically ask, pushing at her shoulders.

"Oh my sweet child, oh I'm so happy for you! When were you going to tell me, you brat?!"

"Tell you what?!"

"That you're marrying Zhongli, sweetie! Oh, this is such a momentous occasion--"

You're too shell shocked that you do not hear her next words. What? Marry? Zhongli? What on Teyvat was going on--

"--Hurry up, he's waiting for you in the living room!" You're snapped out of your daze when you're ushered hastily into the room, casual robes and all, right in front of the very person you had so many questions for.

The door shutting behind you does not muffle the excited chatter from your parents and you wince when you hear your mother excitedly bantering with your father. Turning and meeting an intense gaze, you feel like you’ve stepped into an arena with a monster.

"Zhongli, why are my parents under the impression we're marrying?"

His golden eyes crinkle in delight at your blunt words, "Because we are, my dear heart."

D-Dear heart?!

"I don't understand."

"What is there not to understand?" You step back as he rises from the cozy armchair he was given. It only just occurs to you how ridiculously tall this man is, and he towers over you, like a mountain.

"I believe we share a mutual attraction. After all, last night only proved it." He leans over and you flinch as he gently cups your face with a small smile.

"We've only known each other for a couple days!" You protest, leaning your face out of his hands. His smile dips into a displeased frown, hands falling to his sides.

"Why need more time to prove what is already there?" He tilts his head. “If this is a matter about your dowry, I’m sure I can help--”

“This isn’t about mora! Zhongli, this is moving way too fast--”

“Is that so? If I’m correct, I believe that your family’s come upon some hard times, no?” And you’re left breathless, struck silent. “Not down to the pits, but just one little slip and...well, your father’s business is already taking loans, isn’t it?”

Your teeth are grinding so hard against each other to the point where it echoes in your head.

“Marry me, [First Name], and you won’t have to worry about any of that. After all, I’ve always had enough good fortune to share. Are you so willing to crush your parent’s hopes and dreams for their child?”

“I-” Your mother’s tears on her weathered face come to mind, wrinkles from stress deeply indented in her skin. Your father, weary, veiny hands covered in scars from hard manual labor, shoulders slumped from his strength sapping. And you realize with a bone chilling fear that this man, this man was threatening to destroy the very foundation of your life.

He smiles upon seeing your uncertain visage, gritted teeth, clenched fists and trembling body.

"You'll look beautiful in red and gold."

-

How numb you feel!

Having to sit there while being dressed, being fawned over by your cousins, cried over by your mother and aunties, and your father and uncles chuckling over your good fortune. All the while, you cannot bring yourself to bring even the fakest smile to your face, only being able to muster up a sheepish smile, but it is of no concern, as everyone seems to mistake it for a shy front for a person about to marry their true love.

At least that’s how your mother is spinning it to your giggling aunties. And even when the festivities are over, you know that this is not the end.

Bare fingers trace your cheeks and lift your veil as a chaste kiss is placed on your lips.

This was supposed to be a day of joy.

Said fingers begin to trail down your body, and more sobs begin to shake your body. When you think about it, this might be the first time you felt his skin touch your own. Zhongli has always dressed conservatively, even covering his hands with his gloves. Thinking about it longer makes your skin crawl.

This was supposed to be--

Zhongli hums appreciatively into your collarbone as he slips your wedding garb off your shoulders, your world collapses and dims, with only a haunting amber light as your guide.