#anyway. i love nahida and so should you

[lemonduckisnowawake]

Yeah, I wrote a Nahida fanfic because my friends are mean and made Sumeru rather than my beloved Fontaine stick in my brain. It's not too long, just kinda wordy.

But happy late birthday, Nahida! (Does contain her recent event spoilers)

Also, ignore the typos. I wrote this on my phone

_

It was her birthday again.

Like the national holiday it was, they had prepared a flower carriage for her. There was candy and music and food, and all of Sumeru was decorated with a pastel theme for their Dendro god's autumn birthday.

It's time to exit the Sanctuary of Surasthana, as her Knight of Flowers is waiting for her.

For this birthday, however, she hesitates.

The dome where she usually meditates feels too big. Not even the wall of pictures she'd taken throughout her rule as a free god can fill up that empty space this time.

Her focus is on a particular picture.

It's her, surrounded by people who love her. Those seated nearest to her are an architect with a radiant smile, a legendary being born from the remnants of a friend's gift, a traveler from afar and her companion, one of her most devoted followers and friends, a dancer who had reminded her of distant memories of a goddess surrounded by beautiful flowers.

There are more people. Next to the architect sits a scholar whose lack of a smile belies his own contentment. There's a general whose origins were of the desert holding a card and another desert man next to him sighing at the other's antics. Next to her devoted follower is another desert dweller, one who had fought for her right to be as free as she was once upon a time. And standing over to her left is a leader of a village in that desert, one that had given refuge to scholars corrupted by divine knowledge. A scholar once trapped in ruins waves above her, and a Forest Watcher and his apprentice sit to her far right, smiling like they're happy they're there with her.

"Staring at them like that isn't going to bring them back," a voice, both sharp and soft, interrupts her musings.

She turns, unsurprised, to see this year's Knight of Flowers decked in the usual costume for the role. Only this one is wearing a large Inazuman-style kasa hat - decorated with flowers against a soft green rather than a familiar gold and blue - that isn't generally part of the costume.

She had insisted on it, though, feeling that he looked quite underdressed without some form of hatwear.

"I know," she sighs, pulling the lingering bits of her attention back to her and focusing them all on this year's Knight of Flowers. "But I had to see them one last time, I suppose. It's the first year since that day that I'll celebrate my birthday without any of them."

And she remembers the scholar who had been trapped in ruins for a century telling her just last year, "Ah, I know I'm well past dying age but I do hope I can make it to your 600th birthday. That's the very least Madame Faruzan could do for her god, I think."

But the winds of the next life had called that scholar away just a few months later. The inevitability of fate could be so cruel when coupled with the certainty of death.

Her Knight of Flowers exhales softly.

Once that may have been out of pretended irritation or resigned sympathy.

But today, it just sounds like a soft sigh.

"I miss them, too, I suppose," he agrees with the unspoken words hanging in the air. "But such is the nature of humanity, transient."

Shr laughs at the words. "Yes, that is indeed the nature of human beings, and I'm content I can feel this...grief that humans do when faced with loss. Still, I'm a little rueful at the fact that when I analyze my own feelings, I do feel a small sense of betrayal. I ask myself why at least not one of them could have lived long enough to see the beginning of my 6th century, and I realize that I finally understand your feelings from way back when."

Her Knight of Flowers looks away. "I think you understood me just fine."

"Maybe. But I don't think I understood the extent of how human you were, either. How human it is to miss someone and yet feel betrayed by their death...how curious, and how heartbreaking."

It reminds her of that feeling she had when she'd returned from healing Irminsul, giving up her past self and all its precious memories to restore the present. That weight of heavy loss, abandonment, and regret.

In the silence of this sanctuary is where she discovered that even gods can cry.

She doesn't even know she's been shedding tears until a gentle tug pulls her towards the Knight of Flowers.

"You can't keep crying forever when there's so many people out there waiting to see you," he sighs, though he holds her tighter. "It doesn't concern me that much, so take whatever time you need. But I think you'll still enjoy this year's festival regardless."

That's all he says before lapsing into a warm silence.

The moment seems to stretch on but she knows that it has been but a few minutes since this year's Knight of Flowers entered. And they have a few more before people really do start getting worried.

He didn't even wait for me to come out at the proper time, Nahida laughs internally to herself.

She pulls away, then smiles at her Knight of Flowers. It's still a marvel to her that she can now meet his eyes without straining her neck upward.

"Shall we, then?"

The Knight of Flowers snorts. "I'll go wait for you outside."

_

When she opens her eyes, Nahida finds herself in a flower carriage.

The sun shines down on her as she puts on what she feels is both a genuine and false smile.

It's her birthday today.

She rides the flower carriage, and she hums quietly as it takes her on a ride down to Treasure's Street. The ride is smooth, and in it Nahida spots a plaque that was not there before.

"Happy Birthday, Nahida," it reads in an ancient language written in code. An interesting little puzzle to pass the time. "I hope this carriage will serve you for many birthdays to come. I mean, of course it will, given that I built it with Kaveh's help! With love, Madame Faruzan."

And then the carriage nears the entrance to the crowd.

There he is, her Knight of Flowers floating down and extending a hand, his mouth quirked in half a smirk and half a fond and soft smile reserved for those he has deemed family.

"Finally, there you are, Archon," he says, going off script immediately. "Come on out," he continues, sweeping through the openings of the carriage and swooping her up to the sky with him.

"Everyone's been dying to see you!" he says, showing her off as he dangles her over the air above everyone.

"Seriously," her Knight of Flowers sighs in a much lower tone. "You were less than a minute late and the sages were all over me in panic. Also, I'm not doing this for you next year. You're too heavy for this now."

Nahida just laughs. "Perhaps you're just getting old, Kasacchi."

Her friend simply huffs and brings her down in a loop-de-loop, freeing a yell of delight from Nahida on the way down.

The carriage finally catches up to them, and then she sees the bird come crashing down and -

"Oh..."

She inhales sharply, recognizing that design.

The exploding bird was one of the Sabzeru Festival's newer traditions. Every year, the design and mechanics for it had gotten more and more ridiculous, according to Kasacchi.

But this...

The fireworks from the bursting sculpture explode, letting loose candy and lights.

Nahida's strangely watery eyes are drawn to those lights as they color the sky.

They hang there for a brief moment, but a moment long enough to read out, "Happy birthday, Nahida! Collei, Dehya, Dunyarzad, and Kaveh wish you a happy birthday!"

Collei, Dehya, and Dunyarzad's first design for the bird that Kaveh had spent nights on trying to mechanize for the festival.

Her tears don't come pouring out, but the emotions that fill her heart suddenly spill over.

They were here, Nahida realizes.

And she glances briefly at Kasacchi to catch him studying her with a self-satisfied smile. As if he's telling her, "See? I knew you'd like this birthday."

And she does, as she dances with the Pari and finds Nilou's unique dances in their steps. As she finds Sethos in the decorative jewelry and carvings that tell her no part of her - even the her she cannot remember - will be forgotten. As the Aranara burst into the city and throw out flowers that remind her of Tighnari's careful choices of Sumeru roses and Nilotpala lotuses that decorated her birthday all those years ago. As the musicians burst into a song that Candace had composed for her. As the festival ends and she finds Kasacchi giving her Cyno's cards to play with. As the merchants from Dori's trade empire dish out the food. As she's handed a neatly written letter from Alhaitham where the first line is, "I thought something more direct would suffice than any subtle yet ostentatious gesture after my passing." As she reads on and finds Layla on there too, adding a simple, "We didn't know each other very well, Lord Kusanali, but the stars tell me you will be loved for many birthdays to come."

They're here.

They were here to say goodbye, but they were here.

"You know, as long as I'm around, I'll make sure we don't forget them, even if the people of Sumeru forget where the extra stuff for the Sabzeru Festival came from," Kasacchi tells her later that night when all has been wrapped up. "That was their last request of me, and even I'm not heartless enough to refuse something that came from all of them."

Nahida laughs, then throws her arms around her Knight of Flowers - back to his blue and white and gold - on impulse.

"Thank you, Kasacchi," she exhales. "This might be the..." She pauses and giggles for a bit. "...second best birthday I ever had. A remembrance birthday was what I needed. To know that the world can't forget them...or me."

Kasacchi hums a noncommittal noise but returns her embrace. "Mhmm. Just remember that it's important to move on, as you've told me before."

"As you discovered for yourself, you mean," Nahida retorts, pulling away and feeling herself grin impishly. "And I think I will, too. So again. Thank you, Kasacchi."

Kasacchi rolls his eyes but still smiles.

"All right, then. Happy birthday, Nahida."

[aeb-art]

my birthday is also my genshin anniversary, so i doodled myself with some favs 💕 happy four years, my beloveds

also looking at the cake lineup in my inventory makes me so happy ehehehe (also the xiao lanterns)

[ixiot-ghostrebel]

Hi! Finally able to request. I really enjoy your work!

Can you try a creator who use their power through music (like singing or playing instrument) in an Imposter-AU with the Archons? (The voice of the Creator is heard as the sound of nature like wind or water, though. No one knows their true voice)

Thank you so much.

🎄Merry Christmas🎄

Welcome @peaceindreams ! I'll see what I can do with Your Request :D

Also VERY LATE Merry Christmas—I'm writing this a few days after Christmas.

Archons Realize Reader is a MUSICIAN WOAHHH

To be honest, you were kinda just minding your business when the Archons found you and your ever-singing glory.

They SHOOKETH so good job! Let's nitpick at their reactions! >:)

(Warning: Might be OOC!)

Venti

Wisp boi HELLA SHOOKETH. But he also happi boi so good job!

Wants to hear your voice sing and not the wind just continues to gently smack his face. Don't get him wrong, he's probably the only one who can actually listen and understand and compute with what you're singing, but like he really wants to hear your actual voice. He thinks it'll be such a treat!

"Your Graceee...Is there a way to let these humble gods hear your voice? Pleaseee? This bard will make a ballad about it and the world shall start spewing about it right after!~ Hehe, it'll be a big hit, one as grand as your visage!"

He really wants to hear you sing now. Good luck explaining that you got no control over dis :)

Zhongli

GRANDPA ABSOLUTELY SHOOKETH. But he finds it pleasant to see that you're having fun and enjoying your time in Teyvat.

Unlike the airhead beside him, he cannot understand what you are singing, and he feels kinda disappointed that he can't enjoy it too. He would share the memory—

Ahem, anyways. Loves it, 100%. Bro's a huge supporter even though he legit has, like, zero comprehension of the situation. He's also giving Venti some bombasic side-eyes.

"Your Grace, please do not be pressured by this wind god. While it would be a stunning blessing, do NOT feel like you owe us anything." You know those memes where like, one person is forcing someone's head to bow while they bow to apologize to whoever got offended? Yeah, it's that one meme except it's Zhongli making Venti bow for his idiocy.

Grandpa wants to hear your voice fr this time, but bro's not gonna force it upon you. Grandpa will, nevertheless, share the memory over osmanthus wine, because "Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I—"

Ei

Raiden Ei, Raiden Ei...I honestly think she feels like she doesn't DESERVE to hear you sing. Like, she feels like she just intruded on your personal space and she crossed some sort of line.

But the wind's pleasant and all of the surrounding area is practically glowing as you sing. Your voice practically carries throughout the place, becoming the nature, the water, the wind, everything.

"Your Grace, you need not heed to the request at all. We are more blessed to be in your presence enough." As much as she's getting more and more used to the present times of Teyvat, she's still kinda stuck in her ways a little. She still thinks of you highly and does not let her beliefs falter.

She really doesn't think she deserves to hear your voice, but she is also very curious. Never wants to push though because she's old-school.

Puppet Shogun looking at this and going "This will be forever engraved in eternity" as Ei is shaking the Puppet Shogun by the shoulders like "NO, WE SHOULD NOT BE HEARING THIS WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM ARE YOU ON I DID NOT PROGRAM YOU LIKE THIS—"

All in all? Mental crisis! :D

Nahida

Cute god loves you! She loves how the flowers bloom, how the wind flows, how the water speaks—not even analogies can describe the amazingness of it all!

She's grinning so wide with such wholesome-wide eyes, like an actual child discovering music for the first time or smth ykwim? IT'S ADORABLE IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

"Your Grace...is it possible if we could see this more? You don't have to, of course, but this is really amazing!" She's practically GLOWING with excitement and nervousness. While Nahida wants to hear you sing and see you enjoying your time, she doesn't want to push boundaries!

Safe to say, she'll support whatever your answer will be!

Furina

Girl's flabbergasted. She thinks she might have been sent to both celestia and hell because it was hard to compute whether she was trespassing or if she was being blessed.

Furina is utterly speechless to how your voice alone commands presence and power without even needing to try so hard. Anyone, absolutely anyone, can tell you are truly the Almighty Creator.

Though she's retired from being the Hydro Archon, she still has the slight dramatic flare she has had for 500 years. And she's got to say, she absolutely loved your performance!

"Your Grace, if I could humbly suggest a request on the behest of the follow archons beside me." Furina dramatically bows a little. "May we be humbled by your presence, and continue to gaze upon our unfathomed eyes of what a real god can truly do in the likes of the world? I'm sure this will bring many beautiful pieces of art—be it music, visual arts, dramatic arts, and so on!" Girlie doesn't realize she made a beautiful monologue about your singing on the spot, but one thing's for sure—she loves you and you singing, even if her ears can't understand it. It was still a beautiful piece.

After all, she was the All-Powerful Hydro Archon before she retired. She knows power and art when she sees it, and you bypass all forms of mortal concepts. You're practically her favorite musician!

Please grace her—I mean them—with your singing! It's too beautiful to miss!

Ghost Rebel Side Notes: I am SAD I couldn't finish this when it was still AROUND CHRISTMAS SOBBING, but I hope y'all like this post, though! Hopefully my next post won't take too long—but I'm not gonna say anything because rn I'm EATING those words up like it's for breakfast lol—I'll see you all next time :)

✦ Check out The Ghost Rebel’s Blog Description & Info Page to See if Their Mailbox is Open! ✦

[tinartss]

some of tin's fav haikavetham fics (fic rec list!)🍓🍓

hello all i've always wanted to make a fic rec list and i feel like i've collected enough hkvh fics to make one now LOL most definitely i am forgetting to include a lot but here are a few of my faves!

notes:

check tags before reading👍

most if not all are sfw bc that is my vibe

sorted from least recent -> most recent

was gonna add little comments to each but i'm now realizing that would take up a huge amt of space so. just know that all of these changed the trajectory of my life. thank u fic authors for all u do🫶

then who? by heartslogos (T, 27k)

“Let me,” Kaveh would say with his eyes, his head, his hands. Let him what? Let him in, let him speak, let him stay, let him touch and see and listen — All of the above. Has it not always been so, the two of them like this, Kaveh and Al-Haitham? Kaveh: not quite asking, not quite taking. Al-Haitham: not quite answering, not quite offering. - Al-Haitham has been confined to bed-rest for a month. Kaveh assists. Al-Haitham recovers, they both do.

Asked and Answered by heartslogos (T, 55k)

It begins in the House of Daena, or at least, Kaveh thinks that that’s where it should begin. If one were to trace the flow of events backwards, it would lead to this moment. If Kaveh were Al-Haitham, he would insist on going further back. Further. Further. Further. All the way back, to the literal beginning of all of time and creation, possibly. But Kaveh’s brain only has enough room for so many creations at any given moment, and the works of others — while inspiring — historically don’t get students passing grades. Or even grades at all. When thinking about one’s relationship with their soulmate, it seems natural to think to a first meeting. A first introduction. Well. This can be said for any relationship. It all begins with that first brush — a name, given; a silhouette, glanced; a voice, heard.

the truest forms of love by heartslogos (T, 29k)

“Nahida said that the moment you touch the seeds is the moment you must stop speaking,” the Traveler says to him, standing between Al-Haitham and the door of the simple, small hut that is to become his and Kaveh’s for the foreseeable future. “Is there anything else you want to say?” The beak of the swan is foreign, cool and strange. Al-Haitham struggles not to flinch away from it as it slides along the side of his jaw, his cheek — imploring and fretful. One last and ineffective plea. Al-Haitham feels the warm weight of solid muscle around his neck, his shoulders — the fidget of wings, the beat of a heart. Al-Haitham’s fingers sink into soft feathers and the bones and muscles of a bird shift against his hands as he holds Kaveh close. What is there to say? Why bother to say something to someone who cannot say anything back? “Stand aside,” Al-Haitham says, slowly lowering Kaveh to the ground. “The sooner I begin, the sooner it ends.” - A story loosely based on the fairy tale of "The Six Swans".

house of cards by luminvies (T, 21k)

There is a scrap of parchment he'd created and abandoned all the way back when the two had been attending the Akademiya together. Sometime between then and the first month he has to move in with Al-Haitham, the list gets crossed out, scribbled over, crumpled up, carefully unfolded again, and revised. The working title for his tireless troubles: Ten Reasons You Cannot, Under Any Circumstances, Fall In Love With Al-Haitham.

…And how Kaveh falls anyway.

through the grapevine by katarasvevo (G, 3.8k)

Theories are passed around in the form of whispers: Professor Alhaitham probably said something that angered Professor Kaveh. Professor Kaveh, unable to let the insult slide, decided to take revenge by interrupting his precious class time. A prediction goes around that in less than ten seconds, Professor Alhaitham will proceed to offend Professor Kaveh even more with a tactless comment, which will lead to Professor Kaveh and Professor Alhaitham murdering each other. The whole class will walk out today without needing to write the test, having been traumatized by the tragic demise of the two professors. It is not a very pleasant line of thought, but it is sadly the only logical outcome.

In which everyone is convinced Professor Alhaitham and Professor Kaveh are sworn enemies, unaware that their relationship isn’t at all what it seems.

the kübler-ross model on romance by luminvies (T, 10.8k)

Kaveh smiles up at the stranger. "Sorry, he's right! I am taken. By him. But he doesn't know it yet." What. "Wait, what did you mean by that?" Al-Haitham asks faintly. "Oh, that?" Kaveh scoffs. "You're a little dense. Obviously, I meant exactly what I said. I wouldn't want to be kept by anybody but you." "But we are—" Al-Haitham trips over his words, trailing behind Kaveh as he walks purposefully through the city. "We aren't. Together. Neither of us has confirmed anything of the sort." Kaveh gives him a derisory look. "And what, we don't act like it? Some things don't have to be put into words to be understood. Ah, I forgot. Haravatat. You probably wouldn't accept anything else any other way." "It is not logical to make assumptions without empirical evidence." "You scholarly types," Kaveh mutters. "Always so particular."

So. Al-Haitham is in love with Kaveh. This has got to be somebody's fault.

Cue the five stages of grief.

The Fall by heartslogos (M, 131k)

In the third generation of Lord Sangemah Bays when all is but a dream, Lord Kusanali, from their divine seat in the Sanctuary of Surasthana stirs and reaches their hands to the sky. They arrange their fingers to capture a square of sky, humming and singing to themselves as they put the patch of star and moon and cloud through the divine calculus before they translate it into the tongues of men to be made knowable, and perhaps even understandable — and with great fortune, actionable. “Summon the court,” Lord Kusanali says, “The Third Face of God has spoken. Hear the Word through me and make your peace. For the God Kings only ever speak thrice on any given subject.” The court of Sumeru crowds the Sanctuary of Surasthana. “That which waits in the Palace of Alcazarzaray can only be absolved through a union of souls and an exchange of hearts, a lifelong journey that ends only in death.” Lord Kusanali translates. And then, beatific, “What you need is a wedding.”

set alight by celestialfics (T, 2.3k)

Since he was young, Alhaitham has followed a self-imposed, unspoken rule not to touch other people unless strictly necessary. Over the years, there have been two exceptions. One was his grandmother, whose side he would cling to as she read him books on the living room couch. She would pet his hair, and he’d lean into the touch, not unlike a kitten blissfully being groomed by its mother. The other exception was an Akademiya upperclassman named Kaveh.

transparent night by kurigohan_to_kamehameha (G, 9.4k)

“Sir, kindly do not obstruct us,” says the matra sharply. “We are in the midst of carrying out an arrest.” “An arrest?” repeats Kaveh, incredulously. “You’re arresting him? You’re arresting him? Why, what in Teyvat has he done?” The Archon Rescue Operation is going as smoothly as it possibly can — that is, until Kaveh returns prematurely from his desert trip, and runs into Alhaitham at the absolute worst possible moment. Of course he would.

this is what happens in the absence of small-talk by pencanze (T, 17k)

Haitham and Kaveh, whose travels are leading them in opposite directions, meet as strangers in a caravanserai—a travelers’ guest house. Because even opposite directions have a point of intersection or overlap, don’t they? Some might even call that point a headfirst collision. And another thing about opposite directions: they still run in parallel, even long after they’ve crossed.

trishna by kurigohan_to_kamehameha (T, 8.2k)

Down the seventh-floor passage in Vahumana, past the statue of the sage Zolfikar, and behind the third door from the left; inside a small, abandoned seminar room in the Sumeru Akademiya is a mirror cursed to show the viewer their heart’s deepest desire. Kaveh’s father smiles at him, slowly, so Kaveh can see it happen; the corners of his mouth quirk upwards and his eyes twinkle. He’s moving, alive. Kaveh hasn’t seen his father smile – not the expression itself, preserved in an old Kamera shot he kept in his sketchbook, but the very action of smiling – in almost ten years. An Alhaitham/Kaveh X Mirror of Erised AU

if they ask my gain from this world’s harvest by patchy (T, 16k)

In the silence that follows, Alhaitham seems to interpret the end of the conversation. He takes a step back into his bedroom and starts to shut the door. “I’ll pay you tomorrow,” Kaveh forces out, his voice cracking embarrassingly. The door pauses in its trajectory. Kaveh takes a deep breath. “But this is the last time,” he continues in a lower voice. “I’ll be out of your space by the end of the month.” Alhaitham pushes open the door.

The House, The Home, You and Me by sonotfine (G, 11.9k)

Alhaitham's books-hoarding situation continued to grow out of control. Kaveh magnanimously decided to offer to build a new house for him, with enough space for his ego and the books too. This was fine by Alhaitham. And, of course, he wanted it to be a house for two. -- On moving out of the old, moving on to the new, and moving forward together.

what it means to point true by luminvies (T, 9.8k)

It is biologically impossible for a man to replicate technological functions. As much as Kaveh (and colleagues) like calling Al-Haitham an index of niche and generally insignificant information on legs, he will never quite live up to the title. Here's a novel one: people must have taken to thinking of him as a human compass because they always seem to come to him when they're looking for Kaveh.

is that what I look like? by kurigohan_to_kamehameha (T, 3,8k)

Alhaitham grows a beard. Why? Who knows.

Three or Four (Or Possibly Five) Easy Steps to Living Harmoniously With Your Roommate by Bgtea (T, 28.7k)

The truth of the matter is, Kaveh has no idea how to read Alhaitham. He prides himself on being an expert at understanding people, his empathetic heart lending him the capacity to relate deeply with those around him (oftentimes to his detriment). But with Alhaitham, there is nothing for him to read; no clues from his cool expression for him to grasp. The man appears stoic all the time even during their petty bickering. Honestly, when was the last time Kaveh has seen the man do anything except smirk or frown? Does Alhaitham feel happiness? Has he ever seen the man laugh? Kaveh's mind is drawing a blank on the latter and it...bothers him deeply. -- Kaveh devises a plan to get Alhaitham to smile by being aggressively nice to the man (and also maybe if he makes Alhaitham happy, he can score a discount on his rent or something). Alhaitham thinks Kaveh ate some mind-altering mushrooms and is, understandably, confused and mildly afraid.

in weal and in woe by kurigohan_to_kamehameha (G, 26.7k)

“Oh, right – Alhaitham.” Kaveh claps a hand to his forehead. “Cyno, if you see him at the Akademiya tomorrow, don’t mention this to him, would you? I haven’t told him yet.”

“Told him?” Cyno asks slowly, a wary glint in his eye. “What exactly haven’t you told him?” “That I’m getting married,” Kaveh grimaces. “I wanted to tell him myself – I suppose I do want him at the wedding after all, you know – but I didn’t get a chance yet. You know what it’s like, trying to have a conversation with him.” It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. Kaveh is a single man. That's about it, really. or: the one in which Kaveh gets married, but not to whom you think.

the hypothetical shore by heartslogos (T, 10k)

When Al-Haitham was still a student in the Akademiya he wore his hair long. As long as Kaveh’s is now, perhaps a little longer than that, even. But unlike Kaveh's, Al-Haitham’s hair was just as quiet as he was, just as cool — like a stream of silver water, fresh from the mountain pass. To this day Kaveh remembers the exact moment he thought he might be falling in love with Al-Haitham and that, perhaps, it might not be such a terrible thing.

de insomniis by liyuen (M, 32k)

Kaveh and Alhaitham live together. Nothing ever happens. Nothing ever hurts. But sometimes, when Kaveh watches Nahida idly finish her homework, he gets the feeling that he’s forgetting something important.

Kaveh must have fallen asleep at his desk again, the morning light hitting his eyes like a slap. He blinked at the soft green blanket over his shoulders. When he stumbled into the hall, Alhaitham was sitting in the living quarters with his back to him, soundproof earpieces alit. He had a stupid moment where he wanted to call out to Alhaitham. What would he even say? ‘I’m having some trouble.’ ‘Is the blanket yours?’ ‘You were right, I’m in over my head.’ ‘Can you hear me out?’ ‘Help me. Please, help me.’ Stupid. He yawned and went to stumble his way to the kitchen. From his periphery, he thought he saw Alhaitham turn towards him with a look like he wanted to say something. But that, too, surely was just a very nice dream.

The Importance of Interruption by theSealby (T, 8.6k)

Years. It has been years, yet it could’ve been yesterday they were sitting side by side, thigh to thigh, eye to eye, filled with a contentment that their future selves have lost. Maybe it would be enough to have that again. Maybe correctness has no place here—has never been the ultimate goal between them—and Alhaitham finds himself asking a very different question than intended. “How would you like to come home?” ✥ Alhaitham loathes interruptions. (All except one).

To Dream in Shades of Green by Intensely_Reading (T, 55k)

“There are three suitors who you can romance in this game. You must complete all your requirements with one of them." “Who are the three potential suitors?” Kaveh asks warily. “Your three suitors are Tighnari, the blunt Palace Chamberlain; Cyno, the standoffish Captain of the Royal Guard; and Al-Haitham, the acerbic Duke of Vultur Volans.” There's a new invention from the Yae Publishing House that turns a user's dreams into light novel stories. Kaveh has the (un)fortunate pleasure of being one of its first users. Too bad it dumped him in a romance game.

The Theorem of Narrow Interests by lumielle (M, 36k)

Kaveh clicks his tongue. “Well, I hope you are also aware that with all these requirements, you don’t get a set (A+B), or even (A+B+C). Yours is a set comprised of the entire Sumerian alphabet!” Kaveh has had enough of Alhaitham always loitering around the house. In an attempt to get Alhaitham to go out more often, he jokingly tells him to start dating someone. Much to Kaveh’s shock, Alhaitham agrees—and promptly assigns him as his personal matchmaker. And even though Alhaitham’s requirements for his ideal partner are annoyingly specific, Kaveh refuses to back down from a good challenge. He’s confident in his abilities—that is, until his own feelings start getting in the way…

Precipice by viiparyas (M, 37k)

Lately, his heart staggers at a precipice, just one breath from toppling over. Into what, he doesn’t know. After everything, after everything… He can’t help but melt easily into the intimacy between them, whether it’s by his design or not.

Kaveh has won fame and renown through Sumeru, witnessed the dissolution of a corrupt government, traveled from the trenches of homelessness to the pinnacles of a fairytale paradise. And yet something deep between his ribs screams, more, more, more.

or, Kaveh discovering what he truly wants and finally reaching for it. (Spoiler alert: it's Alhaitham)

nazar by pencanze (T, 13k)

It’s like they’re in a globed world of their own, trapped within a glazed bead. Shatterproof, soundproof, impregnable and unbreakable to anyone else—anyone besides themselves. (On superstitions, friendships, and other things that shatter.)

case study of the scribe by Jazer (T, 25.5k)

"The consequences of obtaining knowledge is the overwhelming feeling of loneliness. "

In which Alhaitham realizes that a peaceful existence does not have to mean a lonely one.

People keep coming to Al-Haitham when they want to know where Kaveh is. Al-Haitham would be lying if he said he didn't know why.

silviculture by sunsmasher (T, 13k)

Kaveh’s face is bright, young, flushed, freckled, happy. He’s wearing an Akademiya uniform and is as tall as the last time Alhaitham saw him (fifteen minutes ago) which means he’s an inch or two shorter than the last time Alhaitham saw him, because the uniform boots are heeled. He’s staring at Alhaitham with the aforementioned flush spreading like dye over the silk of his cheeks. “Kaveh,” Alhaitham says. “Don’t freak out. I believe I’ve been displaced in time.”

spitefully yours by luminvies (T, 6k)

Dear Al-Haitham, I propose that we meet this Friday at sundown on the southeast edge of the city bordering Avidya Forest. This is a marital engagement. Please come prepared with your sword at the ready. With spite, Kaveh Al-Haitham sets down the letter, letting out a long sigh. After all, isn’t the answer to dealing with domestic disputes not marriage? Isn’t that entirely contradictory to the issue?

Kaveh sends Al-Haitham martial summons to sort out their issues. Unfortunately, he makes a small error in the letter.

The Art of Misunderstanding by Anonymous (M, 7k)

"Kaveh didn't consider himself to be vain. Yet he was becoming increasingly, upsettingly aware that most associates would disagree. Vanity, by definition, refers to an inflated sense of self-importance and pride in oneself. A vain person may believe themselves to be the best in the room. They may find it absurd that all eyes do not fall on them the instant they make themselves known. A vain person may put themselves on a pedestal, believing themselves objectively skilled in their field. And though Kaveh had trust and confidence in himself as an artist, he was caught entirely off-guard to hear that others thought of him as vain." ------ AKA, Kaveh misunderstands when he overhears an upsetting conversation between old classmates. His assumption is that they are attacking his character and commenting on his personality. In reality, they're talking about his looks. Everyone picks up on it, save for Kaveh himself.

Illness, Drowning, and Other Minor Inconveniences by EulerIHKH (G, 11k)

Faced with a uniquely difficult client, Kaveh is reluctantly forced to look for help in the one architect he considers more capable than himself: his mother. But soon enough, the turmoil of Kaveh's personal life begins to seep into their professional correspondence, forcing him to reevaluate his career, relationships, and identity.

love haitham and kaveh....love these fics....so many talented writers...thank you authors <33 def missing a bunch bc my organization on ao3 is horrendous but i can update this or make another list at some point....also i would highly appreciate any recs tyy🙏

( + bonus not rec but self promo of a hkvh fic i tried my hand at writing last summer but never shared oops. here she is if you're intrigued

a comedy of errors (T, 6.7k) )

[catscidr]

I come with more brain rot that occurred to me during my shift.

Xiao being so so nervous to hold your hand with his gloves off. Please kiss the emos hands. He's so scared he's gonna hurt you, but he also wants to make you happy. I personally thing he has sharper canines so the look like fangs, kisses when he mentions them are maditory. He might Telenor away the first few times but after that he might pick up and try and get more kisses.

Scaramouche doesn't know how to complement people. His Kazuha voice line is proof of that. He will try so hard, bur they just come out so wrong. Please teach him how, or ask Nahida to help him. He does love you he's just gotta figure out how to say it.

sharper canines Yes but also xiao with longer and sharper nails…. xiao-with-more-birdlike-design-characteristics my beloved ueueghghh..... anyways moving on

start by taking off his gauntlets first n then kiss his gloved hands to get him used to it! help him get less nervous about handling you by doing small things like that, interlocking your fingers together (still without the gauntlet) and, when he’s finally almost to the point where he’s comfortable ditching his gloves, suggest wearing his gloves in his stead!

there’s still going to be a barrier between your skin and his, so, using his logic, it should be fine! plus the added intimacy points because you’re wearing his gloves….. they might not quite fit but it’s the thought that counts anyways

ooh and when he gives you the green light to hold hands without any gloves… give him so many smooches he’ll forget why he was nervous in the first place ♡ and it opens up a whole buncha new things you can do together! like now you can do each other’s nails! (or just his, if you’re not the biggest fan of manicures)— either way, he’ll still come to you to file his talons nails

he could do it himself by either using the nail file you got him, or by going out to clear some monster camps without the help of his spear, but he prefers the gentle way you handle him instead ♡

scaramouche my beloved. my awkward, maladroit, clumsy, beloved. he knows what he wants to say, and he's so sure of himself that he can say it, but as soon as he opens his mouth it’s like he just…. short circuits.

it's something he never wants to admit, but when he notices that you stopped smiling as much as before when he started... trying to compliment you? because he just ends up confusing you, and eventually frustrating you with the strange "insults" he ends up throwing your way? he can't stand it

but you catch on easily (because he's easy to read once you get used to his attitude), and gradually just play up the act of being hurt whenever he tries to compliment you

he eventually drags his feet to nahida for help, but she already knows why he's scoffing more than usual because you went to her for advice. but she still helps him and pretends she doesn't know why he's asking her "how to compliment people without making their smile droop immediately"; and when he goes to use his newfound skills, you beat him to the punch by complimenting him instead

needless to say, he knows how to compliment you now ( ͡º ꒳ ͡º) will he do it? ehhh, give him some time and eventually he will ♡

[evelynpr]

Genshin Official Relationships and Status

Something to take note off in character relationships is what their "official and known" relationships are. So, I decided to try to make a chart of one with the playable cast and some extras.

This is a draft though. If you have criticisms and comments, absolutely please do leave them because I don't think my interpretations of these government systems are that accurate.

Anyways, here they are! The higher the placement, the higher the authority. Distance does not apply, and the legend is in each of the pictures.

Mondstadt: That's a lotta knights

They can be split between the Church and Knights, but the Church is still under the Grand Master as far as I know.

Power is surprisingly concentrated to 1/2 individuals only for a nation of freedom...Mond you gotta work on that...

Jean, Diluc, Kaeya, and Lisa are arranged the way they are in reference to the Klee summer event where they passed on who was looking after Mond.

Diluc still retains his high position because he has so many high credentials and connections (The Darknight Hero, Mond's richest man, high status in an intelligence network), despite being the Ex-Cavalry Captain.

Rosaria is an official recognized nun, but her vigilante works are by her own accord, hence the colors.

I am not sure whatsoever where Jean and Barbara's father, the Cardinal, should really be placed, or if he even still holds the position.

Poor Noelle does so much more Mond, but is lowest in status...please just make her a knight already T__T

Liyue: Zhongli and his powerful lesbians

I really am not sure if Ningguang is who Liyue's closest "leader", but that is how I felt during most of Liyues events

I'm assuming that the adepti now have a lesser status in Liyue because of the shift in power to the humans during the archon quest

How high Beidou's status is is, completely informal. She's right beside Ningguang because they do find each other to be equal competitors in their own way.

Those directly connected to Zhongli are those I assumed to have taken direct orders from him, hence why Beidou and Keqing are not included although they do respect him as their archon (Keqing in her own way)

I feel like I'm missing people here, compared to Mond, so uh, help me out here-

Inazuma: They just had a civil war...woops

I am reallyyy unsure how to label Sangonomiya island's status. Are they under the shogun? Are they their own separate territory?

Otherwise, Inazuma is pretty straightforward with its 3 factions and families

Sumeru: The whole government was just overthrown

Are there like, genuinely so sages right now, or replacement Grand Sage??? Nahida you need to do something asap-

Scara doesn't exactly have equal status to Alhaitham as Acting Grand Sage, but I felt it was more important to show that Scara is working directly under Nahida

Speaking of which, the title "shadow" is used because it's the same role that Ei served to Makoto, which I find poetic. If there is an official or better title tho, I'd love to hear it.

Hopefully, as time passes, there will be more representatives from the desert with high status. Poor Candace is carrying the desert's status on her back-

Should I have included the Corps of Thirty even if there are no playable characters...?

Fontaine: Fancy Schmancy Titles

I honestly reallyyyy wished that Neuv and Wrio were on equal standing, but in the eyes of Fontaine, that probably just isn't true.

Even so, absolute do not underestimate how important Wrio's role is in Fontaine's justice system, because without the Fortress functioning as it is, so much of Fontaine's justice would fall apart.

Despite Furina's death penalty and retirement, I still believe she deserves the title of archon with the highest status. No matter what happens, she is still Fontaine's idol and savior. (Besides, if she wanted/needed anything, Neuv would give it to her.)

How high Navia, Clorinde, and Chevy's statuses are in relation to each other in reality is...not explicit?

Really, Clorinde is just another employee under Fontaine's justice system, and isn't a head in anyway, while Chevy and Navia are actual leaders. But, Clorinde is the best Champion Duelist, so does that make them cancel out...?

Anyways that's all from me! It's pretty interesting to me just how much of the cast are part of their respective nation's government, which only makes sense given the kind of ruckus the traveler causes. Have a good day!

[jennifer-jeong]

Fluff + Angst | Wanderer x GN!Reader Human

SUMMARY You make him feel human.

CONTENT Angst to fluff, mentions of Wanderer's trauma, mentions of suicidal ideation, he's kinda mean to you at first, CHARACTERS ARE 18+

AUTHOUR'S NOTE THIS IS WAS INSPIRED BY YOU MY POOKIE @thepurestgirll TY FOR BEING SO SWEET ESP BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MANY MOOTS JFKDS;LAJ I love your fics and aesthetic and I hope to continue to see your content because I will always be here to love and support it >:)

WORD COUNT: 854

Quiet sobs rack through the empty metal chamber. In the middle sits a man puppet of a man. Clutching the electro gnosis to his chest as his tears pelt the cold floor. Wasn’t this all he ever wanted? He finally has a “heart,” he should feel human, loved, and fit in now, right? But why is he crying? Why does he still feel hollow? Why does he want to give it all up to just be a normal human? Why did his mother create him this way just to throw him aside and make him suffer even more? Why not just have killed him long ago? Should he do it himself? Be free of this wretched body? Be free of all the earthly pain?

So many questions swirled in his mind. His gentle soul has been beat and battered to the point where he doesn’t know the meaning of peace anymore. He’s been alive for so long, chasing the same answer, the same goal. Yet, here he is. So many questions and not a single fucking answer.

Even after all that extra bullshit with Nahida, the traveler, and Irminsul, he only got bits and pieces of answers he needed. He was still lost and hurting, not that he’d ever admit that. So naturally he’s a complete ass to you when all you’re trying to do is help. You’re another adventurer and you often help the traveler when needed. You witnessed a good amount of Wanderer’s tragic journey in Sumeru and afterwards asked Nahida (his mom) if it would be a good idea to try to talk to him. She said yes but that it’d be quite… difficult.

You persevered, though. Through every insult thrown your way, all the times he ignored you, and even the times his attitude almost got you hurt when adventuring. After weeks of it, he found himself here, crying, but this time, in your arms.

He was yelling at you like he usually does but this time it was because you almost got crushed by debris while you two were out on combat commissions. He was telling you how stupid you were, how it would’ve gotten you killed, and how he… couldn’t let it happen. You smiled at him, hearing him say something caring for the first time since you started this whole mission of yours. You walk towards him slowly as he continues to insult you.

“You stupid humans, you never think before you act. Imagine what would’ve happened if I didn’t call out to you to warn you. You-… You’d be dead! I’d spite you because of it! You and your human body, so fucking fragile. Why did I ever want to be like your kind anyways?”

As you close the distance, he gets panicked and confused, shouting at you.

“Why are you even still here anyways?! Isn’t all this too much for you? Why would you want to help someone like me? Don’t you know I’m not human? Why would you want me here? Why would you want to stay? W-why…”

You reach out your arms to slowly envelop him in a hug as his tears well in his eyes. He puts his hands on your shoulders to push you back lightly as if he didn’t want the contact, but he was barely putting up a fight. You both knew that if he didn’t want you to touch him, you wouldn’t even be able to.

“Why… do you even care about me,” he croaked out as his voice started to crack.

“Because I see all the good in you, and I want you to let others see it as well,” you say gently as you pull him close, arms around his waist.

He feels his emotions finally boil over as waves of sadness wash over him. His legs fail under him and you lower the two of you to the grass. He buries his head into your shoulder, sobbing harder as your warmth permeates his body that has only known the cold for so so many years. His arms clutch your head as he stains your shoulder with tears.

You feel so warm. You feel so human. It makes him feel human.

You’ve been taking such good care of him and he doesn’t think he deserves it, but he doesn’t voice it to you, at least not now. You let him cry it out while patting his back. You imagine he hasn’t ever been comforted while crying before and it’s what’s making him cry harder.

You two end the afternoon with him exhausted and you offer to let him rest his head on your legs. You pat his hair as he drifts into sleep, feeling safe for the first time in a long while. The sun warms both your bodies and you bask in it.

You two probably have a lot to talk about when he wakes up. But you stay silent for now. Enjoying the peace that he rarely gets to have. It’s a long healing journey ahead of you two but this puppet man knows that he wouldn’t rather embark on it with anyone else.

|| MASTERLIST ♡ || Thank you for reading! ||

[yourheart-inmyhands]

my favorite vision is hydro soo I like water and stay in water what would the archons reaction to this and getting a hydro vison

i included all archons for you and since it was so many characters i tried to keep it shorter, and ofc as per usual, Nahida was excluded from this post :]

Warning: this post contains yandere-themes, including being held against will, having vision taken away, being locked in a room, delusional behaviors, and other potential topics. Please read at your own risk!

Yandere!Venti would make a face of disgust at the vision in your hands, sneering as he confiscates it from you. You don’t need a vision, it’s useless in the face of an Archon like him. Everyone knows that anemo is the best elemental type to have anyways. If you tried to use it against him before he took it, he’d lock you in your bedroom for days, leaving you isolated from the world and himself until you cried and begged to be let out.

Yandere!Zhongli would look unamused, turning the vision over and over in his hand as he inspected it. For a moment, he considers keeping it, but he overrules his own thoughts and returns it to you. Should you try to use it against him in any way, he will take it away permanently. Visions are not toys.

Yandere!Raiden would be furious! She believes that as the God of Eternity, that you as her partner should only ever wield the powers of electro. She’ll take away your lousy hydro vision, giving you a shiny new electro one instead. Any attempts to reclaim your vision will be met with punishment, and refusal to use the electro vision will result in the same thing.

Yandere!Furina would be overjoyed! It seems a little silly for her to be excited, seeing as she gave it to you, but she thinks it's sweet to see you so happy! She’s so glad her partner loves water as much as she does. Don’t get it wrong though, any step out of line or misuse of the hydro vision will have you getting it taken away, being made to earn it back through a series of demands from the Archon.

[zushikiss]

voicelines about you

summary ; self explanatory title, their voicelines about you

warnings ; reader is implied to be non-mortal/adepti in xiao's, reader is not traveller, use of petnames [ dearest, annoying insect 😭 ]

pairings ; xiao, ayato, scaramouche

notes ; i've been seeing this a lot and i can't sleep so why not try :D 3 for scara cause i love my baby boy

─ XIAO

about relationship ;

"..traveller what makes you ask a question like that? curious about my personal life? tch you should worry about yours instead of trying to find out about mine, but if you really must know. i'm married."

about y/n ;

"seriously traveller? now where did you hear about this? zhongli..? ah, i forgot he goes by that name now- anyways, y/n is my spouse, for 500 years now. she resides with zhongli in liyue harbor.. why? i want them to be safe while i protect liyue."

─ AYATO

about evening walks ;

"good evening, traveller. care to join me for a walk? hm? of course i have time, traveller. my partner is quite fond of the evening breeze and so i always leave an hour free of my schedule every night to accompany my dearest in their nightly walks."

about y/n ;

"well aren't you a curious one? y/n is my significant other, they always remind me to take care of myself and most the time they take care of me when i'm too emerged in my paperworks, they make sure i always eat on time and that i have proper hygiene, i treasure them, traveller. exactly why i have plans on being wed to them.. what? you didn't hear anything."

─ SCARAMOUCHE

about art - painting ;

"painting is nothing but another hobby nahida is forcing me onto, that's it. do i like it? i guess it's more tolerable than the other things she asks me to do, though i often find myself painting the same thing over and over again. what? i often paint my lover, of course."

about y/n - first move ;

"not only are you asking about my personal life, you want specific answers as well? ugh you are being insufferable, slowly. well y/n made the first move, talking to me at the akademiya and always checking up on me, i found it.. what's the word? endearing, i always feel a strange feeling around them, how weird.."

about y/n - relationship ;

"...i guess i could entertain your question if you promise to keep your mouth shut. as you already know, y/n approached me first and they reminded me of an annoying insect, at first! but that annoying insect won't leave. but i grew to soon love that annoying insect, now it's my job to make sure the annoying insect won't leave."

[m1d-45]

Literally a lurker on your blog since ur early days but too shy to slide into ur ask box, hiii!!! I keep seeing cryo anon and teddy anon's brainrots and asks,,,, and like, regarding post impostor AU hehe

imagine after the hunt when your fave character/vessel begs you for forgiveness the most, practically turning their voice hoarse from their pleas to share just a bit of your mercy....

(you never showed your face to them, even when they were your most favored. how selfish of them, wanting more than they could ever deserve. but they can't help it. if you wanted them to die a thousand times over to repent, they would. just please, look at them again.)

post imposter au always tickles an itch in my brain I've never known existed. angry creator? boiling hot rage creator for their acolytes killing them when they've shown nothing but love and kindness for this world?? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP LORD

I wanna see guilt. And I mean GUILT. it's probably cause I'm petty asf and if I would be killed over and over and over again only for them to realize I'm not the fake I would literally lock myself up in whatever tower they built for me and never talk again. Creator's trust? Shattered, irreparable. Followers? Wallowing in the despair.

Thank u and goodbye heh. If it's not too much, can I be called Marcotte anon? Hehe fontaine reference hhhh,, anyways have a good day ily and ur fics <3

post-hunt can be incredibly good, entirely agree

the love you felt for the world is so strong already, and it only grows as you finally get to teyvat. being here, feeling the elemental energy, feeling the world greet you as you return after your rest.. what hate is more powerful than a love turned rotten?

you hid behind your veil, uncertain if you’re protecting yourself or them. it hurts to see their eyes tearing up as they plead, but what else are you to do? your hands shake when they draw close, and you can’t erase your own memory.

(you’d know. you asked nahida about it, but she’d only shaken her head. all she could do was clear the memories of teyvat, but not yours. it hurt, but was probably for the best.)

(despite it being a failure, that day was the calmest you’d felt in weeks. she was easy to talk to, and made lovely tea. perhaps you should visit again, if only to take a break from… everything.)

your solitude is comfortable, most of the time. a few of the hunters are a bit too comfortable with their sin, and are the ones tasked with bringing you food and other necessities. it’s not much better, though, since you can still see the guilt sinking in their eyes.

it’s a lose-lose all around. you want to see them, you want to see the world, but every leaf and branch is stained with the memories of the past, what used to be your favorite retreat now something else to hide from.

part of you is angry. furious at how easily they were tricked. it’s hard to stay mad at those you love, though, so you end up sitting in your window and watching the wind blow safely behind glass. your tea is from inazuma, this time, the faint edge of bitterness keeping you from sinking too far into much of anything.

leaves dance in the breeze. you won’t be seen again until they’ve long turned brown.

[cupiohearts]

HOT MALE NURSES ?! - seeing your boyfriend put on a sexy nurse costume for you

CHILDE was actually having fun with this. you watched in horror as he strided across the floor with a tray in hand. he held a grin as he proudly pointed out how he was gonna fix you right up

you groaned into your pillow, awakening to the bright light and with your fever reaching an all time high. it was hot inside of your room and so you swung off the covers and went to the kitchen to pick up water.

now you were someone who had an obnoxious boyfriend, frankly too obnoxious but you still love him.

"-i'm reconsidering our relationship right now childe" you stood at the doorframe not even a step outside when you see childe with him fixing his nurse hat "what the fuck are you doing here".

childe widened his eyes before jumping straight into position. he grabbed a syringe and posed on the couch. "i heard you needed a doctor" he said (with roses and a pink background appearing behind somehow).

you both stared at each other for a long time until he broke the silence by answering your question. "ok fine- you should really stop leaving the key in the potted plants outside."

"so you broke in?"

"you were sick!"

you pinched your nosebridge and just gave up on the topic while childe kept pestering you about your needs.

"do you need anything to eat? i can get you ice with that water!" he constsntly loomed over your shoulder until you asked for something and that was only until hours later.

"childe can you get out of my housr"

"... no"

you were not gonna lie when you said KAEYA had made your face even hotter. it seems as though he deliberately unbottoned the top part of the nurse uniform, and put on the fishnet stockings.

"KAEYA?!" you shouted with your jaw dropping. it was morning and the first thing you wake up was to kaeya ginormous boobs in your face.

"oh~ are you finally awake" kaeya had given his girl crushing eye smiles and you just kept your jaw open.

the blue haired man smiled while he poured your medicine into a small cup holding a glass of water. "open up" kaeya asked while you complied.

perhaps its the fact that his outfit had overloaded your brain adding ontop of his incredibly good looks or it mightve been the fact you were sick and therefore incapable of thinking clearly but you did it anyways.

not even the bitter taste of medicine pulled you out of your trance. kaeya continued to treat you. he even sung you a lullaby and tucked you into sleep.

he pulled up right next to you, of course he noticed how your face got hotter every time he touched you of course he would. but it was fun teasing you.

"your expressions are so cute"

you did not how anybody had convinced SCARAMOUCHE of all people to do this. perhaps it was nahida or perhaps it was his own accord (.00001% possibility) but you werent gonna complain especially not when he ended up being so fun to tease.

"STOP TAKING PHOTOS OF ME!" your boyfriend had loudly shouted at you. he was currently washing your dishes while you laid on your couch taking photos of him. "but you look so good in that!"

"yeah i know..." he mumbled under his breath, you didn't hear exactly what he said and didnt care. when you were finally done taking photos you zoomed in on them.

"maybe i should get sick more often if you do this for me!" you giggled. you kept looking at the photos until the phone was swiped out of your hands.

"wh- hey!" you stared at scaramouche who had held your phone in his hand and placed it in a cupboard "i needed that!"

scaramouche stuck his tongue to you and blew a raspberry. "bleh! deal with it! you just wanted to take more photos of me" he crossed his arms.

"yeah i needed that. give me my phone back!"

"get rid of this fever and then you get it back" scaramouche promptly stated. picking up all the trash you had left around while you slumped over your couch.

"i hate you!"

"no you dont"

scaramouche might be outta character but uh anyways

my first genshin post !!

[vxnus-seraph]

STARS ALIGN — weekly selfship appreciation post ! ✦︎ a self ship service featuring a random id registered under us every monday, making them the star of the week! if you wish to be featured, register today!

🏻 the stars of teyvat have aligned to shower light on @puppetgearing!

. . . AIR THICK WITH INCENSE REMINISCENT OF JASMINES AND ROSES, heat comes in sweltering waves of varying frequencies; easier under the moon's watch at night, but taking on a vibrant and dangerous intensity by morning. it reached its peak along with the sun, becoming almost health-threatening by twelve in the afternoon.

at this hour of the day, the bazaar seemed more a mourning ground than its usual lively self. even nilou and sethos, who were known for their bubbly natures and notable presence in the bazaar's lively atmosphere, contributing well to its charm, turned towards the coolness of their homes at these hours; choosing instead not to challenge the elements and seek polite respite from the summer heat.

it is not very surprising, thus, when nahida desires to refresh herself with perhaps coconut water, cucumber or even a fresh fruit but it is certainly surprising when wanderer himself chooses to 'execute the task' as he prefers calling it, repeatedly citing his promise to serve the dendro archon; highlighting his purpose in this new life, and entirely refusing to accept it as anything else at all, especially not care for the goddess.

it is also not very surprising when a foreigner, quick-eyed, with a robotic contraption by his side, irascible by nature and intensely troubled by the extreme heat passes through the bazaar in the desolate atmosphere, with nothing to entertain the eyes except for the architecture, a few vegetable and fruit vendors and the calls of toy-sellers with their vibrant flutes and balloons.

'sire, you look troubled! why not buy a coconut to relieve your thirst?'

niko's eyes still on the vendor, scanning the coconuts lined neatly on his cart before his companion spoke. 'indeed you must niko! they look rather refreshing. sumeruans love these in the summers!'

if niko noticed the way his robotic companion's voice cracked suggesting malfunction, he chose to ignore it for the sake of his own sanity, not finding any motivation to gather the energy to check what was up.

💐which was a mistake, by the way. wanderer, from the background: stop foreshadowing! 💐🍒🌟 (collectively): 🤨😒 ( s i m p )

at the suggestion, niko moves towards the cart, beginning a bargain with the vendor.

'it should be 50 mora, at most. 100 is too much!'

'nothing is too much for a refreshing drink in the summer!'

'100 mora is. and whether or not it is refreshing is up to me—'

another vendor chimed in from the side- 'oh ho! why not calculate the cost using the weight of the coconut—?'

and then niko fought, and the coconut vendor fought, and the fruit vendor chimed in; and both niko and the man decided that the fruit vendor was too much, and both thought collectively: 'holy lord, if this man says another word i'm going to throw the balance into his face.'

but both missed the loud robotic chiming over their collective shouting, aggressive bargaining and glares. eventually the chimes became louder, slowly taking on an aggressive beep and—

'mister can you please stop that thing—'

and for various reasons all at once, perhaps the heat, the foreign sounding 'mister' which meant the vendor was treating him as a careless foreigner, and his referring to his companion as a 'thing', niko suddenly exploded, pointing an accusative finger—

'why mister, so you think i am but a mere fool from outlands but i must remind you that i, nikolas dumont, am—'

bang!

a loud crash followed, drowning wanderer with smoke leaving him hanging in the middle of the air as he glared—with whatever little remained in his sight after the robot covered his face, anyway—at niko, gaze unamused and carrying patronization.

'i realize that it was a great mistake from my side to not have installed heat-resistant software to my companion, archon of dendro but i greatly regret—'

nahida's voice carried both worry and comfort, coming gently yet with an air of worry. 'it's alright niko, mistakes happen you could not have known. i'm sure wanderer has forgiven you as well, haven't you wan—'

both turn towards him, wanderer retaining his aura and glaring harshly at niko, appearing more like an injured cat than 'menacing' in any way. nahida smiled awkwardly, 'of course, it'll take some time but i'm sure he'll come around...'

but under the shade, dying sunlight filtering through the window as it illuminated both of their features with a warm glow, they wonder with yearning if the other was truly as luminous as they appeared, or if it was simply a trick of the dying sun and of the sweltering heat messing up their minds.

[celestemona]

GUESS WHO'S BACK❓❓❓❓🗣️🗣️🗣️

HII BEA MY LOVELY AND BEAUTIFUL DIVA!!!

HOW ARE YOU???💓💓💓

Since I've been gone for a long time....(ALSO FORGIVE ME FOR THIS QUEEN😿) I would like to ask some questions, some related to other questions i saw, some of them my own Questions lol

Anyways:

-WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF HEIZOU CHILDREN????????

-Did Scaramouce finally talk to his family about everything??

-Anyways what is the relationship between Fazuran with Zahra And Kaveh's wife(Since Fazuran is like Kaveh's grandmother LMAO)

-Are any of the parents planning to have more children?????

-Furina is close to Neuvilette's family or Éveline's godmother

-Did Childe have kids?? (If so I think he would be a guy with quite a few kids lol poor Mama!reader)

-IS AYANO FINALLY OFFICIALLY IN THE AU???

Well, that was all!!!! I hope your life is going well and that your Christmas and New Year's Eve are wonderful, Bebe!!!💓💓💓

See you next time :D

Look what the cat dragged in!!! ❤️❤️❤️

HI CREATIVE MY BELOVED <3 I'm doing great ty for asking. How about u? Enjoying your last 2024' days?

Tbh, there's not too much you should catch up with, but sure! I'll answer your questions in the same sequence you've made them.

Shikanoin Ren and Chiyo respectively. Ren is seven years older than his sister.

A time ago, it was during Nahida's birthday event if my mind isn't tricking me, I came up with a prompt where Scara met his wife and Kimi at the Sabzeruz Festival but they didn't recognize him (ofc). Pretty angst but it wasn't angsty enough for me so I gave up on it, left it on my drafts, and moved on hehe. So idk when I'm gonna make the three of them reunite again. . .

I think Faruzan's relationship with Zahra (or any other Sumeru kids) isn't too much different from what we usually see. She likes to act like a grandma, being respected and treated as an adult figure known for her great acknowledgment and wisdom, and because she has this mentality where everyone is way too young than her (which they are) she loves to pamper the new generation like a grandma would do <3

BAKERY IS CLOSED! Kidding... I don't know. I mean- Papas wouldn't mind having another one or two pairs of tiny feet running around their house. But as far as I know: the bakery is closed. Sorry ahahaha

Yeah! Furina and Navia have a close bond with Éveline (so does Clorinde). None of them is her godmother though.

Childe does have kids, everyone!!! I thought about three of them but he's so big family-coded that it'd take me a while to build their profile and what their dynamic would be like. So unfortunately I won't be prioritizing him so soon.

About Ayato is quite funny because I had ZERO intentions to add him to this au. But suddenly one day, I caught myself opening my drafts and building his family profile because I wanted Kazumi to have a close bond with someone else besides his own family or Ren. The very moment when Kamisato Hayato was born I fell in love with him 💖💖💖

TRIVIA: I wouldn't say Ayato himself is inserted in the au already. It's more likely just Hayato doing appearances and maybe, in the future, his older sisters will do too. I'll work on it though and try to expand the ideas.

Hope I've cleared all your doubts ahahaha 💓

I might be a bit late but I hope you had a great Christmas party and I wish you a great reveillon!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[lyss-sketchbox]

how do u feel about the symbolism with rizzly and the gate as Cerberus and the gates of hell

I FEEL VERY STRONGY I LOVE IT SM IM INSANE FOR IT

I've always been a sucker for religious symbolisms this man is like a treasure trove of symbolisms. Rizzley being cerberus, the guardian of hell's door in a matter of not only the fortress of meropide but also the sluice gate is so JFJDHDJDJDJDJDJJDJKK

Also unrelated but ive recently picked up Ultrakill (should check it out its GREAT). It takes place in hell and one of the early levels before you decent to hell is called Cerberus. And you cant tell me these has similar 'mechanical hell' vibes.

Anyways more symbolisms i think wrio might have [Spoilers for 4.1 Archon Quest below] :

Hes also building an ark. My first thought was obviously Noah's Ark, ya know the flood God created to wash away the corrupted human society, kinda familiar huh. AND WHAT DOES THAT IMPLY FOR WRIO? Was he the 'one righteous man' selected by god? Or is he not fontanian therefore he would technically be the only human to survive the primordial sea? This is all so farfetched forgive me im so insane for this man.

Secondly my thoughts went to the River Styx and Charon, its ferryman. I noticed that Wrio despite being a logical man, indulges in euphemisms, same vibes as Nahida. Like idk i would not expect a logical guy who lives in a relatively modern society like fontaine to use euphemisms alot. He refers to the inmates as sinners and that the fortress is a place of rebirth, but he and the fortress inhabitants refer to the fortress also as the Underworld. The River Styx was a place that seperates the living and the dead (KINDA LIKE THE GATE OF HELL) and Charon's job was to ferry sinners into the underworld (HMMM KINDA FAMILIAR HUH).

Are you seeing my vision????

God i love hell symbolisms

[toomanyideasandfandoms]

HI! FIRST TIME SAYING MY BRAINROTS SOOO

Ima get straight, there's too much SAGAU that the creator is either fully adult or pre-adult, I mean sureeee that's oki but I wanna see their reaction if the person they have been hunting is literally CHILD like idc be it like a 6 year old(I've seen a genshin fan that is a 6 year I think) or a local 12-13

LIKE WHAT WOULD THEIR REACTION BE???? I want them to feel guilty, to feel like they are the worse human or the worse thing that ever existed for hunting down a CHILD that didn't even know what they are doing

What I wanna see the reaction is literally Nahida, Neuvillette, Venti, or just anyone that LOVES or WANTS to protect children and they failed to protect one because they were tasked to kill it. Literally been searching for a story about it but it's... Meh.

Anyways EHE

Honestly, in my personal opinion, there is a reason why most wouldn't want to write a child into these kinds of situations. For me I just don't...want to think about child murder? Especially as someone who takes care of a little one.

Also another main reason is because these are mainly self insert fics. Sure some use ocs instead of actual inserts but for most they want to put themselves in that scenario (like not in a "Oh I wish that was me" but more so "oh shit how would I react or do in this situation?" Kind of way). And most of us are adults, especially those who actually play the game. It may be safe for kids (debatable due to gacha), but it's main market is the adults who have money.

Plus based on my own interpretations of the characters, unless the creator was mentioned to be a child like deity I honestly don't see it in a realistic way how or why a whole nation would kill a child. Not even the craziest of aus like my own Death Seeking would go to such lengths. After all, the creator would more than likely be depicted as an adult like most creation myths in our world. So why would someone confuse a child, who is still growing and may look completely different when grown, for the creator?

Though don't let me saying this make you feel like I'm talking down to you or anything! I'm just giving reasons as to why most wouldn't be comfortable writing such things or how it may not fully work. Though the idea is very interesting actually!!

I do love it for the character side since those who have a soft spot for children would have a harder time dealing with a hunt over a child. The inner turmoil would be very delicious to read! Honestly you should at least try to write it yourself! It doesn't have to be a full fic! You can just dump snippets of your idea like I do! I'm sure others who want to see it like yourself would come flock towards your posts and have a great time talking about it!

[hulhudhonado]

The Souvenir Dilemma

Note: Honestly I have been so busy and I have so many posts on the back burner, but I had this one in my thoughts so much I had to put it out before the feeling went. Basically a continuation of "The Clone Thesis" so read that before reading this. This might be a bit shorter than that one though. Enjoy.

CW: Angst, clones, experiments, drugs, Mention of self poisoning and harm, death of character, mild cursing

HC: Reader is gender-neutral, does not have a vision. Clones go by it pronouns.

Characters: Dottore, Dottore Clones, Mentions of Balladeer, Nahida (Buer) and Traveller

It was like a slideshow for Dottore, watching your memories from when you were a baby to your first dissection. He scrolled through them like they were a PowerPoint presentation he needed to get through before an exam that was starting in less than an hour.

Acquiring your memories was quite an easy task for him. He had his little trip to Sumeru to get both of the gnosis and not only did he get them but he was also able to mess around with the old tech he used back in the day for the fun of it. However, the trip was exhausting. Not only did he have to sacrifice his clones but he also had to build a robot for a puppet. It was almost comedic when you think about it. Either way, he believed he should have gotten a souvenir from the trip.

That was where your memories had come in. While the Traveller and Buer were busy messing around with a husk controlling a mecha, he was easily able to meet the tree and extract what he needed. Buer wouldn't mind, would she? Of course, she wouldn't, she wouldn't even notice it was missing. Buer only knew about his clones anyway, she never mentioned getting rid of any other clones that he had created.

Now here he was, watching your memories. All he needed to do now was program it into the clone's system, and you would be back in his life as if nothing happened. It was that simple, however, he remained unmoved. He couldn't believe himself, he doesn't like wasting time but here he was, replaying your memories front to back. What was holding him back? He had some theories but he didn't like the sound of any of them.

First, it was what you currently were. Right now you were completely reborn, everything is a new experience to you and shockingly Dottore himself had become one of your experiences of first love it seems. It was his mistake of creating a clone of you so hastily without all of your components in order. So right now you were madly in love with him. It wouldn't have been an issue, he could have just reset you or made another you. The problem was that he enjoyed the current you too much to do either.

The way you were so hopelessly obsessed with him and how you would melt just by the touch of his hands. Just to make sure you continued this way he made sure to program the rest of his clones to detest you so you would only have your eyes on him.

This led to the second issue, you detested clones, even though you were technically the one who first suggested the cloning thesis. Again another fault on his part for not taking into account the consequences of his unplanned actions. He programmed the clones too well. When he got back the excitement in your voice, talking about the clones being gone almost made him cringe. Putting your memories in now would mean you would know what you had become and he wasn't sure how you would react to it, since the current you were already smashing lab equipment daily.

The last issue was the previous you. While scrolling through the memories he always seemed to stop at one point. It was the only part he would let play through without skipping. The usually sped-up memory turned back to a normal pace and he watched as you looked up from the ground to face an annoyed-looking version of himself when he was younger. It was the first day you had met him.

---

Dottore, otherwise known as Zandik, at the time, was sneaking behind the Akademiya's nose to mess around with the ruin hunters in the mountain. Specifically, the giant abandoned one at Devantaka. He assumed he was being secretive enough. That was until he saw your face down on the ground writhing in pain.

He planned to sneak past you and continue his journey. That was until you grabbed onto his leg, murmuring about a cure in your bag. Unable to shake you off, begrudgingly Dottore helped you reach your bag where you shot down two bottles of unknown substances.

"Zandik right? The guy who got suspended for messing with ruin hunters? " You slurred out, chugging another one of the bottles. You reeked of chemicals and for once Dottore was disgusted by the smell of something so strong. "Since you're alive I am going to go on my way." Dottore ignored you, brushed himself off, trying not to express his disgust before turning away from you.

"Uhh wait hold on!" You say, finally being steady enough to get up and follow behind him. "I want to hear about your discoveries!" You excitedly shout out. Dottore sighed heavily. "Why? So you can report it to the Akademiya? Piss off, weirdo." He grumbled, still refusing to face you.

You rush forward to block his path, sticking a hand out to him. "You can call me whatever, I do not care, but I do care about knowledge and research, especially the forbidden ones. " Dottore looked down at your extended hand, which you wiggled a bit. "It's called a handshake. You take my hand with yours and then you shake it." You say, a grin on your face. Dottore could only scoff, slapping your hand away from him.

"I do not have time for this. I got better things to do." Dottore tried to go past you. "Oh I know, I see what you do almost every day." He stopped in his tracks, finally looking you properly in the eyes with a scowl. "What?" He hissed. He hated your face, still smiling like an idiot. "That's right, I see you almost every day going the same path, entering the ruin hunter, messing around with its system to activate its canon. I see it all. I, however, do not know what you are doing to keep it up and running and that's what I want to ask about. " Within seconds Dottore had pushed you against a tree, a knife to your neck.

"Oof! Hey don't be so rough!" You groan. Dottore wondered if you were drunk because of all of those chemicals you had consumed, either way, he had better things to worry about. He wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty to upkeep his research, he wasn't going to let anyone get in the way of it. "Why are you following me? Are you one of those stupid spies they have to keep students in check?"

Imagine his surprise when you burst into giggles which slowly turned into full belly roaring laughter. The grip he had on you with the knife to your neck was not getting looser but you still kept laughing. He watched a slight cut graze on your neck because of it. 'Great, a crazy drunk knows about my project. Fucking great.' He groaned to himself.

"Don't worry don't worry! I ain't like that…" You settled your laughter, looking him in the eyes. He felt something click when you did, your eyes were not malicious or scared. You were excited, your eyes were shining in awe. Only someone insane would dare to look at him like that and it seemed the archons finally decided today was the day he would meet one. You continued speaking.

"…Actually, I'm also doing some illegal research." You grinned at him. His grip loosened on you due to curiosity, which let you drop down to go through the things in your backpack. You pulled out a notebook and more of the unusual bottles from it. "The area here is full of toxic mushrooms and fungi, almost all of them banned by the forest rangers to interact with and this rule was extended to the Akademiya. However I wasn't going to let them have all the fun for themselves, so I have been experimenting with it by myself and making cures for it."

You extended a bottle to Dottore, which he took. He swirled the bottle, watching the liquid glisten inside. Even without taking out the cork, he could smell the distinguishable chemical smell seeping out of it. No wonder you were on the floor when he first saw you, you were poisoning yourself. He looked back at you as you smiled at him. "If I continue this, I might make one that will make me immortal, which again is considered illegal under the Akademiya rules."

Dottore hummed in response, now intrigued. You stood up once more, brushing yourself off and once again extending a hand towards him. "Now, let's start over. Zandik, would you please tell me about the ruin hunters you have been activating?"

---

Dottore began to speed up the memories once more, he didn't plan on reliving his past. He already knew what was in store after that. How you guys almost blew up the Akademiya, how you guys sneaked into the forbidden records all the time and the first time you showed him your Cloning thesis. It was history for him which he refused to re-live.

However that was the issue, you in the memories even though you did insane things alongside him, slowly began to change. He left the Akademiya, you didn't. Your morals remained the same as before but you always refused to experiment on others, which lead to you being the one that dealt with all the experiments you wanted to do.

Dottore was certain that would be the cause of your death. Imagine his surprise when he found you had died in an accident during a storm in the desert. At that point, he was already in the Fatui and you both were slowly drifting apart, your motives too different from one another. He was certain your death would not effect him but something inside him just snapped when he found out, which lead to this entire mess.

If he put these same memories into you now, he didn't know what you would do or how you would react. You wouldn't be the doe-eyed person in love with him and for some reason, he couldn't handle that thought. So here he was once again, flipping through the memories one by one before stopping at the memory of how you both met, continuing the cycle almost like a mantra but in this situation, it was not calming him down or make him think rationally.

For once, he has stuck in making a decision and he would have continued to stay in that trance, that was until he heard footsteps nearby. He shut off the memories being displayed, reverting it into an orb, almost the size of a tablet, and putting it into his coat.

You stuck your head into the room, beaming when you see him inside. You make your way in, enveloping him in a hug which he responded with a pat on your head. "You alright? You don't look so good." You say, looking at his face. All Dottore could do was sigh. "It's just my face." He patted you once more as you continued to hug him with no plans of letting go.

He decided he was going to deal with this another day. Until then, he tried to enjoy the cold embraces you gave. He just wished for once it was as warm as the handshake you had given him in the past.