#also omg i'm so mad at beta editor bc i accidentally press ctrl+z while writing this

[lunaetis]

@avaere asked :

There is a letter addressed to no one else than Eula Lawrence, her named written with such pristine caution, yet scribbled by the hand of someone whose writing has been neglected for the sake of weaponry;

"Dear Eula,

The lantern rite is growing near and i find myself far more occupied on these busy days. Swirling around in the street is various food, stalls pulling up, readying themselves to partake in Liyue's highlight. You would enjoy this, I am certain; maybe we could share drinks under the lanterns some day? To walk the pier of Liyue alongside you would do me well.

I miss you, and the days without you grow tedious.

In moments of solitude I find myself dreaming back to our heated moment in the moment. The memory of your lips against mine, hands on my chest, keep me warm on nights the cold prove bothersome; I have never felt such belonging as the one I found within our entangled hands, lusting bodies.

Next time I want to feel all of you, over and over again. I want your hands around my shoulders, your breath mixed with mine... even writing this makes my chest ache with desire, longing.

Would you meet me in Liyue for the lantern rite? For you I would make time, all the time you'd want and need. I would show you the beauty of the Land of Mora, even though it falls bleak in comparison to you, and we could wish together under the lanterns (I will show you how).

The way you uttered my name under your breath still rests with me on lonely nights... It keeps me company for the time being, making sure nightly hours go by faster.

I hope to see you,

I will wait for you in Liyue.

Yours truly,

Ajax."

LANTERN RITE ( unprompted. ) || always accepting

─「エウルア」─  heels clicked against the street lined with cobblestone, making a rather distinct sound as the KNIGHT CAPTAIN stepped out of the ordo favonius headquarter. the latest expedition and mission had been a success and with the report itself being given to the acting grandmaster, the lawrence heir paused her step for a moment, pondering her next move now that she was given a bit of a FREE TIME after a long mission. the knight had sent her team members back to their homes, knowing how their families would want every second they could give now that they were back in mondstadt. the night air was, in a way, quite comforting. dual-colored hues lifted upwards, only to take notice of something.

                a ... bird ? a HAWK ... no, a falcon was flying over her way. it took eula a few moments to realize that it indeed was heading towards her that she held out her arm, allowing the winged creature to land safely in a graceful perch. what caught her attention was an envelop tied to its leg. she could make out the front of it that addressed with her name.

                " you have something for me ? " the FALCON itself seemed friendly enough, as she carefully untie the envelop from its leg, walking over to the nearby bench and letting the winged hunter perch on the armrest while she focused her attention to the envelop at hand.

                at first glance, while she didn't immediately recognize the handwriting as someone she knew, the way her NAME was written in such care was more than enough to have her heart race a little. there was a sense of anticipation as she opened it, eyes scanning the content of the letter and absorbing each word carefully. she could feel her heart thumping louder the more she went on, the more she took in the written words filled with emotions as though she could hear his VOICE so close to her ears.

                gloved digits gently traced over the words written by a hand that was used to hold a WEAPON than a pen. archons ... she missed him. reading his hand-written letter like this, she wanted nothing more to see him once again. how it had been weeks ever since their last meeting. since when had she grown so impatient when it comes to their absence ? as it seemed, she wasn't the only one feeling that yearn after their night of intimacy. how she could still feel the warmth of his fingers against her skin, the words of love whispered so ardently under the foggy mountain and snowy landscape. how he held her so carefully, treating her like she was his TREASURE rather than a soul damned by the past like those around her would.

                " lantern rite ... " she remembered that, remembered the time dated back a year ago when she saw the floating lights in the distance while she stood upon THE TOP OF DRAGONSPINE, remembered the way his form stood right next to her and telling her about the festival celebrated in liyue. she still even recalled wondering why he was there by her side instead of celebrating it with those he knew in the land of contract itself. the question, of course, was never uttered even now. she only had a few guesses on her end.

                it was the first time she saw him smile a little differently from his blood-thirsted one.

                " had it already been a year ... ? " time sure flies. thinking back to their FIRST MEET, surely the aristocrat wouldn't have thought their relationship would take such a turn. many things changed during the year, and her lips couldn't help thinning as she gazed warmly over the yearnful words he conveyed through his handwriting.

                for you i would make time, all the time you'd want and need.

                aah ... her eyes were BURNING slightly when she read this. he was the only one who had made her priority, he was the only one who would treat her as though she was something special, as though she was his whole world and words were stuck in her throat as she inhaled sharply. how was it possible that everything he did was making her heart race like this ? the LAWRENCE HEIR could never explain it.

                but ...

                gloved digits came to caress over the crimson sigil she had been wearing on her person ever since the day he gifted it to her. he had always been the one who came to her. he RETURNED to her after a long journey back home to the land of winter, and he sought her out in the city of mondstadt itself when he couldn't find her in the snowy mountain. that was why ... she wanted to go to him.

                tenderly and carefully, she folded the letter and put it back into the envelop, gathering the WINTER FALCON perching next to her. she scratched the bird of prey's head gently as though to thank the creature for delivering this letter to her before heading back to her living quarter. she had a letter to write.

                the SNOW FALCON was once again seen flying through the sky of liyue after a successful delivery to the LAND OF FREEDOM. as it returned to its master, however, this time, carried with it was a unique envelop containing a specific sigil belonging to the SPINDRIFT KNIGHT. upon the front of the envelop itself was the name ajax written in blue ink, the very color of the lawrence heir as the content of the letter itself was unfolded to the eyes of the reader.

dearest ajax,

thank you for your letter. i have received it safely. such a wonderful companion you have there. winter falcons are said to be extremely difficult to tame and train, yet i am not surprised that you manage to do so.

your skills in taming wild animals aside, i have to admit that when i first plan to write a reply, i had thought of detailing my feelings for you and how your absence had been felt so dearly by me. how you had been occupying my thoughts, in wake and slumber, or how despite myself being accustomed to the cold weather, not feeling you here with me had affected me in ways i couldn't put into words.

that, and i hardly think that even having been educated and given various classes as to how should conduct oneself and express oneself through words and written form, i am certain there is no known vocabulary i possess within my knowledge could convey the ardent feeling i have for you. any words i could choose would pale in comparison to what i hold in my heart.

i want to show you the extent of my feeling in person, for you to see the way my eyes would glimmer just a little brighter as you had light up the world for me, the way my cheeks would rise in temperature when our hands made contact, or the way i'd have no control of my heart increasing in its rhythm in your presence. i want tell you the depth of my love for you that words cannot hope to capture.

the lantern i had seen with you last year upon the mountain of dragonspine, i want to see them with you again and make that wish together.

ajax ... my ajax ...

please wait for me.

this time, i will be the one to come to you.

eternally yours,

eula lawrence