#but the tsaritsa Knows its changed you and she hates it. she hates it but how does one destroy what is divine?

[lovesickeros]

☆ love; heretical and divine

{☆} characters tsaritsa {☆} notes cult au, yandere, drabble, gender neutral reader {☆} warnings blood {☆} word count 0.8k

To love a God is heretical. It is an act of blasphemy– it is to drag them down from their throne of hollow gold, to topple the pedestal the worshipers uphold on their shoulders like lambs at the herders heel. It is the act of forcing them to their knees and ripping that beating heart of glorious gold and beautiful, cruel divinity from their chest, so pure it burns.

To love a God is to make them sin. To make them painfully, horribly human.

To love a God is to sin.

The love of a worshiper is no love at all, brilliant in its raw purity, untainted by sin. It is fear and obedience masked by adoration so overpowering it corrupts. It makes the lamb so unquestioning in it's faith it will never question the knife that cuts, the teeth that rip, the claws that tear. If the Creator deemed them unworthy of the very life crafted by their hands, then they must have committed a sin so grave there lay no salvation for their horrid soul.

But she is no worshiper– her lips speak of heresy as easily as she breathes, her words nothing but lies, cold and cruel like the ice that crawls along her skin like webs.

She loves a God like a lover should.

A damned sinner reaching longingly for the heavens.

She loves a God in the subtle brush of their lips, their muffled voices behind closed doors as they indulge in curiosity untamed. She is a sinner through and through, but she feels herself fall further with every brush of her hand across their cheeks, every touch she bestows upon them like a lover. She memorizes the imperfections of their body like memorizing a map– every scar, every mark, every line drawn on their body like a canvas, her touch the brush that stains the pristine white.

No devoted lamb shall ever see the painting they create in these stolen moments– it is for the eyes of a heretic so vile it makes them shudder, their body dirtied by the love of a woman so vile even their divinity is obscured by the ice.

The lambs may be satisfied with fleeting glimpses of gold and empty words from lips that guide them to the jaws of the wolves, but she is not. Her hands crave them like a starving hound, aching to touch that imperfect skin hidden by the veil of gold that obscures the painfully human body beneath. She longs to free them from the golden cage that binds them– to see their wings blot out the sky, their divinity tainted by sin and making them all the more beautiful for it.

It is a longing that leaves a festering wound that cannot heal, will not heal. Even if it could, she would not let it.

For as much as she tries, deny it as she may, she is no better then the blind lambs following the herder who holds a blade in their hand, glittering like gold in the sun, stained by dull red.

She is a fool, and what a fool they make of her with the touch of their hands against her skin– so cold it leaves frost on their fingertips. Yet they do not fear the cold, mapping out every inch of her imperfections, carved into her body by her own hands.

She has always been a heretic, cursing the divine until she could speak no more, but if divinity can be found in them – in this love that consumes, that burns her hands and her lips – then she is a Saint, praying at the altar until her throat bled.

But in the end, she has and will always be a cold woman with hands stained with blood. Until it is all she can taste, until it is all she can smell, until it is all she can feel. These hands of hers, heretical and divine, will bleed the God from their veins– she will become the wolf to their lamb until the rivers of Teyvat run gold with their ichor, until the gold bleeds into red, the taste of their divinity on her tongue.

Until she drags a God from their lofty throne and makes of them a monster.

There is no greater triumph to the heretic then to love a God into sin. To make a God sin to love.

To love is to be human, and they are no God.

Even if she must tear the gold from their very being until all that's left is something human. Even if Teyvat crumbles and decays, even if it begins over and over again..

She will do it again and again, until the gold can bleed no longer. Until her sins grow too great for Teyvat to contain.

To love a God is to devour, and be devoured. An endless cycle of sin that dulls the glow of gold into something new– something horrifying and divine, in it's own right. Something just as horrid as her, just as divinely corrupted by the sins she carries on her shoulders like a trophy, as gold as the sun and as cold as ice.

Divinity, carved into something human by love all consuming, until it all bleeds away and they begin their dance anew, for as many cycles as it takes.

An eternity, if she must, of dooming this world of theirs to fire and decay for a glimpse of the being snared by their golden shackles.

[windcarvedlyre]

Thinking about Venti's role as an archon and how he might be doing his job- as Celestia intended- better than we think.

Archons, in Gnosticism, rule over the material realm and prevent souls from leaving it. Barbatos, in the Ars Goetia, "reconciles disputes between friends and those who hold power".

Everything we know about Venti implies that he hates Celestia and opposes all forms of tyranny, but if their goal is to keep humanity from advancing, realising the truth of the world and taking actions that could threaten the status quo...

...isn't the best way to prevent rebellions and slow progress to make the people you rule content with what they have?

Venti is all about making his people's lives leisurely and seemingly free (I'll get to that in a second). It's in his gemstone quote, the thing which summarises his approach as an archon:

"Still, the winds change direction. "Someday, they will blow towards a brighter future… "Take my blessings and live leisurely from this day onward."

We see this reflected in Mondstadt's culture and economy. There are still hardworking individuals in the Knights of Favonius, the Church of Favonius and the Adventurer's Guild, but this attitude isn't universal even within those organisations and the rest of Mondstadt's people generally have a slow, relaxed approach to life relative to other nations. They haven't produced any internationally notable industries outside of alcohol, and why would they? They have everything they need, graciously provided by the anemo archon himself*, so why strive for more?

This has already left them vulnerable to the whims of more powerful nations, incapable of meaningfully opposing the Fatui without inviting consequences they can't handle.

*Also see Jean's story quest for a scaled-down version of this. Mondstadt's general population relies on her hard work a bit too much and she enables them.

We also see Mondstadt have a softening effect on outsiders multiple times in-game. There are at least three cases of people questioning their life choices because its people and/or scenery are that nice. Two are branches of hangout events, one is a soon-to-be-ex treasure hoarder chilling on Cider Lake's coast. I've joked that Mond is a lotus eater hotel scaled up to a nation based on this, but what if that's somewhat intentional?

But why would he do this?

It could be an unintended side effect of efforts to improve people's quality of life. He was allegedly naive enough not to forsee the aristocracy situation, after all. But at the same time... he's a god of freedom and hope in a world where his people have no hope of freedom.

-Harmost's Notes (II), Remuria.

He knows what happens to human civilisations that advance too far and attempt to rebel against this world. He likely knows a god much like him, themed around music and desperate to free his people from fate, tried and failed horribly. He lives in the shadow of a celestial needle. The Cataclysm would only reinforce this perceived futility of resistance. He still hopes for a brighter future, but he may be pinning all of his hopes on a descender taking pity on Teyvat's people and choosing to help them. To quote the description of Mondstadt Statues of the Seven:

A monumental stone statue that watches over Mondstadt. Legends say that it was sculpted in the image of the Anemo Archon. "Seeds brought by the wind will grow over time." The statue silently anticipates the arrival of a noble soul to arrive, while thousand winds of time will soon unfold a new story...

Apart from that, what else can he do besides be passive and complacent? Besides make his people comfortable and hope they don't rock the boat too much before liberation is actually possible?

And the thing about resolving disputes with those in power worries me. It could just translate into his pacifism, but it could also mean he's less willing to act against Celestia than we'd hope. Why did the Tsaritsa, the only archon named after a saint and willing to take a stand against Celestia, fall out with him? He has reasons to be pissed at her methods but I suspect that won't be the only factor.

All we can do is wait and see.

[boundinparchment]

Spillways - X - FIN

Karina Alexandre, formerly of Fontaine, serves the Fatui after a series of events forces her hand and her Vision no longer glows bright. Unluckily for her, such circumstances are all too fascinating to the Second Harbinger. Prequel to ‘Tell Me Who You Wanna Be’. Hints at Il Dottore x Original Female Character. ArchiveOfOurOwn

Karina’s ears rang as she clasped hands automatically with Volkov upon arriving to the doors of the audience chamber. She’d forced herself to eat the food set out for her that morning and donned the black uniform left for her, a replacement for her now-ruined one from yesterday.

Volkov looked like death; his eyes bore dark circles and he noticeably limped. Distance spared her more brutal injuries but only just. As much as she hated to admit it, Dottore had been right; she was lucky to still have her arm after handling a gun of that size so freely. Karina otherwise only felt like she ran on a hamster wheel for weeks minus the agonizing tug of her shoulder.

Two squadrons all but decimated and she was a survivor both times?

It was beginning to get old.

Kneeling at the foot of the throne was a blur and she tried her best to focus on the words spoken to them. The last two of their entire training squadron, they had shown immense resilience and an understanding of one another’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Although both of you need a better understanding of risk assessment,” the Tsaritsa said, her eyebrows raised in disapproval. “You will be assigned to a Harbinger for your training but that does not mean you will permanently serve them; unless the need arises or a Harbinger asks, Wardens are typically needed for special field missions beyond the scope of the normal ranks. It should go without saying that rank trumps any questions of loyalty.”

They were expected not to think, to obey the hierarchy of rank; contrarily, one needed enough free will and critical thinking to know exactly how to handle a situation in the event they were the one with the highest rank in the room. Familiar territory.

Perhaps the Knave or the Dove, the Fontainian thought. The Knave at least was from Fontaine and it wouldn’t hurt to at least have one connection in a foreign land that loved no one at all. Hell, she would endure Tartaglia if she had to.

Fate had other plans. Naturally.

“Alexandre, you share a history with my Doctor that may, in fact, be far more beneficial to your role here,” the Archon said, her eyes glimmering as she dashed Karina’s silent pleas. The soldier’s head spun and she balled her hands to keep them from shaking. “Your previous skillsets lend themselves perfectly to a position with the quartermaster that needs to be filled; you’ll distribute weapons per written order and repair uniforms. It is the Doctor’s hope that you will understand the principles under which you must work.”

From there, she only caught snippets of Volkov, Pantalone, and something about horses. Given the two Harbingers were well acquainted, perhaps this would not be as lonely as a journey as she expected.

They were dismissed with little ceremony but Karina hesitated, not rising to her feet immediately. Whatever expectations she held for that morning, these were not considered, and when the Tsaritsa came to stand in front of her, she saw a different Archon than the one who wiped away her tears and apologized for her suffering.

For there was little left to feel now.

The Tsaritsa gestured for Karina to rise before she laid an icy hand on the human’s cheek.

“Remember what I told you: this world is cruel in its futility, in its cyclical nature. That is why, instead of fighting against the cycle itself, we seek to simply break the wheel. Fate changed for you when your Vision went dark. Make the most of it.”

A final dismissal that would not go unpunished this time.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty,” Karina said, bowing at the waist before she left the frozen throne room.

Volkov was nowhere to be found, much to Karina’s relief. She wasn’t in the right frame of mind for questions and for Volkov’s speculation. He was perceptive, at least based on the last few days’ events, and seemingly right more often than not.

Made for arrogance, made one think themselves infallible.

She would not make the same mistake twice.

The chevalière took little comfort in the sentiments from the Archon as she made her way down to Haeresys, as requested. If anything was cyclical, it was the journey back and forth to the depths of the Palace, as if she were a children’s toy on a string.

When she arrived, she was only directed with a stammer and two directions to another elevator, to the highest restriction section. Her shoulder throbbed with a pulse of its own and she tried to keep it still, find a position that didn’t cause pain. In hindsight, a sling probably would have been a good idea.

The main level disappeared behind a metal shutter and her stomach pitched at the jolt of the wires and pullies as she descended. The old dungeons and a fighting pit most were familiar with fashioned private cells and a testing arena; if one was fortunate, that was all they ever saw of Haeresys. The depths of the Palace and Dottore’s domain grew like an organism of its own cognition, built upon over the years (centuries, no doubt, Karina mused) as needs grew. The longer she had to traverse them, the more they felt like a maze, never ending and always trying to bring one to the center.

Newer stone, better lighting, cleaner environments.

All the more ominous for it.

Karina stepped out of the elevator and gave her name and identification not to a guard but a camera. It whirred as it zoomed in before the double doors ahead unlocked with a low buzz.

She followed the corridor, footsteps echoing along with the steady hum of energy from the large coils of wires along the floor, until the space opened up into a large, sunken, high-vaulted room. It was a neater version of the pit used in the first level high above, with clear delineated workspaces despite the open room. A desk with a large contraption atop it and various bookshelves in the center dominated the space but her eyes also caught on a half-assembled Ruin machine in a far corner along with what looked to be mechs from Fontaine.

They weren’t so much as missing parts as much as they were simply…disintegrated.

Not far from the pile of metal limbs, an examination table held a large mass underneath a white sheet. The fabric was stained with blood and a black residue that seemed to be eating away at the material. Through a hole in the covering, Karina swore a diamond eye blinked at her.

In the back, off to her right, she caught a sound and looked to see Dottore and one of his Segments, heads bowed in conspiracy. Karina’s eyes locked with a red-eyed glare from the man with shorter hair, the corner of his mouth curled into a snarl through the cutout of his mask. So many of them looked similar around a certain age but when he threw up a hand and stormed out, Karina had no doubt that Segment was the one she confronted all those years ago.

Bastard. Unhinged cackling hyena with no sense of moral propriety. All of those bodies, piled high and all he could do was laugh…

The only upside to Dottore himself was that he seemingly got better with age; or, rather, he knew precisely when to pull out the behavior he was so infamous for and put it on display. Perhaps that wasn’t necessarily a benefit at all, Karina realized. It only made him more unpredictable.

Without much direction, she approached the center of the room. The device, she realized, was not unlike the large sniper rifle she trained with. Bigger still, roughly the length of the desk, there was a distinct gap between two pieces of metal rather than a traditional barrel. No chamber, no lever, not even a seam for a magazine. Fascinating. Such guns were, on occasion, mounted to Fontaine’s ships but…

“It’s a prototype rail gun, still far from field testing. If you’re lucky, perhaps you’ll be able to dislocate your shoulder again to fire it one day,” the Harbinger said by way of greeting.

When had he approached? She hadn’t even heard him.

Karina straightened and rested her hands behind her back. Dottore didn’t so much as look at her as he scoured his desk for several sheets of paper, finding the folder he wanted beneath the barrel of the rail gun.

Wait, if the true Dottore could approach that silently, then…

“Don’t bother. We’re alone. You are not the only one displeased with the Tsaritsa’s arrangements, chevalière. Nothing the second half of today’s experiment won’t fix.”

“What’s the first, sir?”

The Harbinger’s head snapped up as he found a pen, his thumb releasing the cap with a resonating click that seemed far too loud. His jaw twitched, annoyed at such an obvious question.

“Ensuring your shoulder is operational enough for field training.”

As with any examination, it involved sitting on an examination table and having her back and shoulder prodded further. While he moved her shoulder and arm and pressed his fingers into the joint, Karina remained dutifully silent, stiff every time she felt his gloved hands touch her skin.

“If you tense up any further, I might snap your joint,” Dottore drawled. “Relax. I care not for what Evreux did to you nor to perpetuate his behavior. But your stiffness will not help identify if something is out of alignment.”

He almost sounded disgusted. How kind.

“The next few months are going to be fun,” he muttered to himself. Louder, as he rubbed his fingers beneath her shoulder blade, he asked, “Do you even know the full truth, Alexandre?”

“That my previous superior turned out to be wholly protected by his family’s legacy and used me as a scapegoat? That the only reason I’m even out of Fontaine was because the current class war suits Fatui interests? Or that, if I had simply agreed to the terms laid out, I’d at least have a family to write to?”

She didn’t want to think about this. If he was bitching about her being tense now, this conversation was not going to make things much better.

“What, precisely, do you remember, chevalière?” Dottore asked as he brought her arm out and moved it up slightly; she winced at the pain and the uncomfortable way he felt around the joint with his other hand. “From the beginning.”

Better than being told to forget about what happened and push through her nightmares, she supposed. But not by much.

“It was gradual. By the time I caught Sébastien’s attention, I was too enamored to consider anything suspicious. Exactly what they teach you not to do,” Karina said.

After a pause, she continued.

“He disliked my use of a Vision. I earned my promotions fair and square but what other conclusion were people meant to draw when I was top of my squadron but publicly courting my superior?”

“That you were actually capable at the profession you chose. But most people prefer to think the world is not that boring. Go on.”

She was about to remark that her question was rhetorical but when she felt additional pressure on her joint and winced, she realized that was the entire point.

Watch yourself, Karina thought.

She recounted the strange times when Sébastien was gone for days. How he always seemed to come back in a better mood with a different change of clothes. Things would be fine for years. Until rumors swirled and then articles began to tell of people missing. At first, it was children. Later, it became groups of the population that the perpetrator thought no one would miss.

Karina’s words were mechanical, an echo of the testimony she gave to the Court.

“All of the pieces lined up to fit the notion that the Fatui were taking advantage of the people forgotten by the Hydro Archon. It made sense.”

She didn’t miss Dottore’s scoff against her skin before he released her arm.

“You should gave the full range of motion back within the week. Get dressed.”

She did and Dottore stepped away to the side scribbled something down and then turned his attention back to her. That she couldn’t see his eyes was, in fact, almost soothing. His eyes unnerved her, or at least the Segment’s eyes did.

She blinked away the remnants of her nightmare from the previous evening.

Didn’t make being under his gaze any easier.

He reached for a tool from a nearby table before pulling a vial from his pocket. Its contents were dark purple pulsing and shimmering, never quite stabilizing. The Harbinger swirled the tiny container carefully before giving it a good shake, the two materials mingling as best they were capable of.

“What is that?” Karina asked, eyes narrowed.

“Without a Vision, without a Delusion, you will be severely disadvantaged. Consider this a...contingency.”

Too late, she realized what his other hand held as he drew the liquid into a syringe. Her mind raced in an attempt to put a name to the liquids and came up woefully short as Dottore grabbed her neck. A searing pain was localized in the curve of her neck at first until it began to crawl, carried by her own blood.

Betrayed by her own body. Again.

“Subject has yet to dissolve, as others have with this same mixture. Promising. And yet contradictory, because Fontainians inherently...ah…unless that’s the common denominator…”

Dottore’s words melted away as whispers crept along her bones and nestled into the base of her skull. They grew louder and louder, her ears ringing even worse than before, their words never coherent and their suffering eternal. Karina whimpered as she caught sight of marks across her hands, traveling along her veins and dancing towards her fingertips and staining them black. She swallowed thickly and fought back a wave of nausea before she clutched her head and doubled over, falling off of the table and onto the floor in a heap.

She caught sight of her reflection in the shining leg of the table, her eyes no longer a familiar green but a glowing purple, and her skin sallow, sickly.

A hand gripped her hair and pulled her to her feet. Dottore kept her head angled, his face so close to hers that his mask’s beak pressed into her nose.

“Residue is already subsiding, irises are back to normal with no signs of permanent discoloration.”

He shoved her away and out of the examination section. She stumbled back, panting.

“...tenacious, as expected of an allogene with an Electro affinity,” he spat.

Dottore rolled his wrist and a large claymore materialized, floating faithfully nearby.

“Time to see what you’re made of, chevalière.”

Without a weapon, Karina had no choice but to put distance between them; being up close and personal with a claymore wielder was foolish, asking to be killed.

A bright flash of light and a familiar whistle ripped through the air and Karina whipped her head to see the other Segment from before. Above his shoulders, two needles, both primed for another shot.

Well, fuck.

The room itself was of no help. Or almost no help. Distance didn’t matter when those shots would take a limb clean off or worse. She grabbed a nearby tray and held it up to her head, covering herself just when another laser whizzed towards her.

“You never did thank me,” the Segment snarled. “For leaving the breadcrumb trail. Just a shame it was all a waste and I had to clean it up anyway.”

“Why would I thank you for essentially framing me? You worked with him! You and the Marionette ensured he would never be brought to justice by getting rid of the bodies!”

“You say that as if Focalors would have punished him to begin with,” Dottore, hand raised and claymore poised high over his head, laughed as he slowly flanked her. “Such a case would have created more indemnitium but it would have destabilized faith in the powers that be. And your Archon would never consider such a thing. You handed Evreux everything he needed on a silver platter, chevalière.”

Karina wove her way around the room, avoiding the Segments well-aimed shots and keeping an eye on Dottore proper. Neither seemed in any kind of hurry, especially the Harbinger himself. He was baiting her, corralling her. Like a wolf circling its prey.

“Sébastien Evreux made quite the mess of the plans in Fontaine. And he was–is–a loose thread. His sentiments towards allogenes, given his authority and ruling power, became quite violent and with enough attention, the nation could easily earn the ire of the Heavenly Principles...”

She grabbed a proper shield from the surviving mechs and dodged another shot as she continued to circle.

“They teach you to disarm and disengage as soon as possible. Why are you hiding?” Dottore goaded.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement and turned to meet the heavy blow, the claymore’s blade winking at her as she bolstered herself against the force.

“Our actions kept the peace so Fontaine would not be subject to Celestia’s autonomous wrath. Your comrades would have lived if not for your meddling.”

“But not my family.”

She long ago realized that they would have died, one way or another, no matter how she looked at it. The words felt like fire in her throat and she couldn’t help but spit them out reflexively, putting the rest of her willpower into holding against Dottore’s claymore.

A laser whizzed past her head, just near her ear, and took off a chunk of hair with it. It distracted her just enough and she lost her grip and fell when Dottore’s power won out and the claymore pushed her down.

“Your family was killed by rogue Fatui Agents who liked that Evreux’s money lined their pockets. The event is, actually, quite unrelated,” the Segment snickered.

“But you knew that,” Dottore continued. “It is unclear what would have become of you if you had, instead, returned to your superior first. Or if you had discovered the true story right then.”

“It’s not as complicated as you make it seem, Lord Harbinger,” Karina shot back. “Not really.”

She didn’t want to think about that. How she’d let herself be comforted by a man who slaughtered for fun, who targeted allogenes like they were a disease. Had she not had her moment of clarity, Karina was certain she would be begging for death by the time Evreux was through with her.

Dottore smirked. “The sad reality is that you are here, alive, and your family is gone. You yearned for more and you flew too close to the sun.”

He knelt down over her, his weapon hovering like an executioner’s blade above both of them.

“To have a Vision is to embrace one’s fate. One truth remains among everything else and it is that you were meant to die that day. You did not. Now get up and fight, chevalière.”

[admiral-mason]

You Reap What You Sow - Chapter 7

Genshin Impact SAGAU x Iron Harvest 1920+

Rekindled Knowledge

Warning: Mentions of Aether being the traveler.

You were walking with the Tsaritsa to the "Divine Archives" of this palace to learn more about yourself. Despite being the supposed 'divine creator,' you didn't really know much about yourself. You and the Tsaritsa were all alone, your rifthound and Sluga buddies playing with the Harbingers.

The archives had a different door compared to the other doors within the palace, which were all in different shades of light blue. The archive door, however, was a dark blue with various symbols correlating to you engraved on it. These symbols included the seven elements alongside the seven gnoses. There was also a hole which appeared to be in the shape of the Cryo gnosis.

"Here we are, your grace. The Divine Archives, where I have all the different scrolls and books focusing on you that I could find." She took out her gnosis and placed it in the hole before taking it out and opening up the double doors to them.

The room was large. Bookshelves and chandeliers of ice littered the place. Various pieces of furniture were also around the area. You looked over one of the images on the wall. It depicted you wearing a hood, overshadowed and mysterious. However, you also held out your arms in what seemed to be a hugging position, symbolizing your mystifying yet kind nature.

You took out a maroon-red book from its shelf, sat down on a soft chair, and opened it up. It depicted how you have created the world of Teyvat.

In the beginning, there were volatile masses of ever-changing matter.

In the midst of this nothingness, a singular, lone, but sentient light existed, wandering aimlessly around the world.

The light, feeling lonely, decided to create something using the matter of this dark realm.

They first created some stable chunks of matter, which are solids, liquids, and gases. They created seven starting elements: Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo.

As this light grew more advanced, they learned how to create life. They gave rise to the Seven Sovereigns, and later on the Primordial One. The Primordial One was a test to see how tough their newest creation, mankind, can get. They managed to defeat the Seven Sovereigns and shaped the Human Realm. The light then created a form for themselves, and it is here where they first have the formal title of "Divine One."

Over time, Humanity grew stronger, and Celestia rose to power. Khaenri'ah was also founded as a godless nation, something which the divine creator was impressed at. Then, Celestia gave seven seats to those who are strong and heroic enough to claim them. This led to the Archon War.

The Divine One hated this war. So many dead, so many lost. Finally, when the war was over, the creator watched as the new gods took their place. Only Barbatos and Morax of the original seven remained.

Finally, the world was at a shaky peace. Or was it?

The Cataclysm occurred, and the Divine One watched in lamentation once more at the sight of their creations fighting. While Khaenri'ah was a threat to the natural order of Teyvat, the creator couldn't help but feel empathy for the destruction of what could have been a wonderous, prospering nation.

Then, the Travelers arrived. The Divine One breathed life into these two siblings as a method to observe other potential worlds, and ultimately their final creation before the Divine One stored away their powers in order to rest. They unfortunately did not expect the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles to separate them from each other. The female was trapped in Teyvat and witnessed the Cataclysm, and the male lay dormant for 500 years. As the male traveler began their Journey in Mondstadt, the Divine One learned something atrocious from their acolytes.

Their acolytes had been punishing those who bore the same face as them. The Divine One looked at their hands as they witnessed a citizen of Mondstadt have their head chopped off through the eyes of the traveler, all because they had the same looks as the almighty one.

You closed the book right there and then, and the memories came washing back. The Archon War, the Cataclysm, everything. You internally panicked, remembering all of the chaos and destruction you saw. You further remembered the time that your own acolytes tried killing your own self. The Tsaritsa, sitting next to you, sensed your panic and tried to calm you down.

"Your grace, look at me, please." She softly said to you, before enveloping you in a slow and soft hug. "I am sorry for defiling your personal space, but I could sense that you were panicked."

"No- no, it's fine." You replied, reciprocating the hug.

You further read upon different subjects in the archives, such as further into on Khaenri'ah, the Fatui, etc. However, one golden-covered book caught your interest the most, and it was on the topic of your powers.

It turned out your powers were greater than you could imagine. You could create ANYTHING you wanted, whether it be a pink sheep or an indestructible chunk of rock, you could do so. However, since you were reborn, it would take a while before you could create totally anything. You had heavy restrictions placed on your current, more fragile form. Then, you reached the topic of revitalization, and the information it had to tell hit you.

The Divine One can revive chosen individuals, but they must be assisted by large amounts of an element during the process.

You drew a conclusion from this: in order to revive La Signora and Rostam, you just needed to supercharge yourself with TF-610 Baterijas from Tesla's Factory.

However, by the time you learned that information, you were growing tired as the drowsiness starts to hit you. "Hey, uhhhh... Tsaritsa? I think I'm done for the day."

The Tsaritsa smiled as she lead you outside of the Archives and to a bedroom dedicated to you. It was near the archives and away from other rooms so you could have a lot of privacy. It was also incredibly gorgeous, boasting a comfortable king-sized bed, lavish furnishing, and a decorated crystal chandelier. There was also an ocean-blue door which you would explore tomorrow. Oh, and your rifthound buddy was here alongside the Slugas. The whelp is sleeping, and the robots are powered down. You also found a changing room with some dark blue nightwear.

As you got settled in for the night in said nightwear, Columbina entered the room. "The Tsaritsa suggested to me that I should sing a lullaby to help you sleep." She said, smiling at you with her closed eyes. Childe may fear her, but you certainly don't.

"Alright then, Damselette. Go ahead." You replied as you closed your eyes.

Genshin Impact is owned by miHoYo. Iron Harvest 1920+ is owned by Jakub Różalski and KING Art Games.

[aconfusedkitten]

burn away the old world

---

don't imagine diluc sitting at the river behind dawn winery, childe by his side as they laugh and smile, making promises about their lives once all this is over, because they have time, and for now, it's just them and the stars above their heads.

don't imagine diluc holding childe close, saying it's unfair, because they were supposed to go home together, remember? he can't die like this, not in some freak accident (he knows its more than that. no accident can cause someone's vision and delusion to lose control like this), crying because it isn't fair.

don't imagine diluc keeping childe's mask and vision pinned next to his own, childe's delusion inside his pocket, because while it may have killed him, it was still his, and diluc won't let anyone else have it.

don't imagine diluc making his way across snezhnaya, wandering the nation he was forbidden from entering because he might not know where the palace is, but he knows that he needs to be there.

don't imagine diluc standing in front of the tsaritsa, red against the white of her palace, against the white of her clothes, red against the white of her country, childe's vision held tight in his hand as he says he tried, tried so damn hard to hate him, but never quite managed to.

don't imagine the tsaritsa wiping the tears from his face, because she was the goddess of love, once, before the cataclysm tore the world apart, she knows how it looks, even on a stranger's face.

don't imagine the tsaritsa pushing diluc's hands back to his chest, the dead vision against his heart, as she says burn away the old world for me, won't you? and diluc nods, because there's no way to bring childe back, not in this lifetime, and the gods are the ones who took him from him.

don't imagine the tsaritsa taking childe's mask in her hands, asking diluc to be her 11th, her vanguard, her tartaglia, because they might not be the same person, but she sees the same spark in their eyes, the same desire to world fall beneath their feet.

don't imagine diluc saying yes.

don't imagine, months, or maybe even years, later, the traveller coming to snezhnaya, and they haven't seen diluc in years, no one has, and the rumors say that the 11th has changed, almost impossibly so and-

don't imagine the traveller finding diluc amongst the snow, a harbinger's mask covering his face, his voice impossibly broken as he says isn't that what it means to love someone? that you'd burn down the world because someone stole them from you?

whatever you do, don't imagine chiluc as tragedy, like the ones childe was named for, because there are far too many ways for them to fall apart.

[justdaphne]

Reading rule of wolves was basically like:

- this is literally the first chapter wtf

- I feel so bad for Nina

- HELLO NIKOLAI

- are they seriously considering attempting that obisbaya again

- I have mixed feelings about ehri

- the prince of fjerda. Cool.

- TAMAR KNOWS WHATS UP

- thank the saints for you nina zenik

- more of that prince

- oh?

- he’s questionable

- oh yea I forgot he was back

- HANNE I LOVE YOU

- NINA NINA NINA NINA NINA

- PLS WTF- DUDE ALINA JUST HATES YOU ACCEPT THE FACT

- a wedding I see. But not with zoya? Aw :(

- ALINA STARKOV

- yea should’ve known.

- AWWW GENYA DAVID WEDDING✨✨✨

- SHIT

- SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT

- I don’t get it

- BYE I CANNOT TODAY I HATE THIS SM

- MY POOR GENYAAA

- THE NOTEBOOK. THE- BYE

- why does he even have a pov

- ooo is nikolai jealous

- AWWWWWWWWW

- “her son’s health is failing”

- ew.

- HIS FATHER?

- you and I are gonna change the world

- KETTERDAM? ARE THEY GONNA MEET THE CROWS

- zoya complaining about ketterdam is hilarious

- KAZ BREKKER KAZ BREKKER KAZ BREKKER KAZ BREKKER KAZ BREKKER

- no coz like they must be so confused. The boy is literally 18 lmaoo

- “INEJ? LOML? THE ONE I’D CRAWL TO? nope never heard of her” yes stfu kaz

- JESPER WYLAN JESPER WYLAN

- ITS FOR INEJJJJ

- *small heist-ish in session*

- OMG OMG OMG ZOYA. SULI.

- nikolai and Kaz -> falling for badass suli women

- ZOYA BACKSTORY

- HANNE X NINA

- SO IT WAS THAT LITTLE SHIT THAT KILLED MATTHIAS

- I’m about to get emotional

- ZOYALAI ZOYALAI ZOYALAI

- ISTG IS NIKOLAI BEING REJECTED, AGAIN? Understandable. But still hurts

- OMG PLS DO NOT GET CAUGHT

- OMG HER BROTHER.

- YES TAKE HER CROWN AWAY

- ew

- :( nikolai :(

- yo he has a sister?

- ZOYA NAZYALENSKY.

- lmao the fjerdans

- OMG ZOYA AND NINA

- OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD SHE TURNED INTO A DRAGON

- I AM THE MONSTER AND THE MONSTER IS ME.

- did the darkling literally call zoya sankta am I missing something here

- YES YES

- YES SANKTA

- SANKTA

- ZOYALAIII AT ITS FINEST

- THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN.

- LEIGH.

- NINA SUFFERED ENOUGH

- HE- HE

- IM SO HAPPY

- MOYA TSARITSA

- OMG. THEY FINALLY KISSED

- hah I knew it

- wait so that means- NINA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME QUEEN OF FJERDA

- yk all y’all darkling stans are now stanning a literal tree

- O M G

- ALL HAIL THE DRAGON QUEEN

- INEJ. GHAFA.

- you did not just leave it like that ms leigh Bardugo.

- I need six of crows 3 right now.

[mearcatsreturns]

Okay, so you KNOW I'm now inevitably forced to ask for the actual fic prompt of Ivan trying to give his boss romantic advice, casual-like. (No need to confine yourself to 100 words. I mean what.)

I thought I could just write a thousand words of jokes, but then all these fools came and had the audacity to put feelings up in here. *Ivan voice* Disgusting.

Initially I was going to have this all as one chapter, but it was getting crazy long and I wanted to publish it tonight, so you get chapter 1 of 2, with the rest to follow in the next day or two.

Without further ado, Ivan, Interrupted:

Looking back, he should have seen the signs. The Sun Summoner is trouble and has been from day one.

He called that one, at least.

It’s not his fault. How is he supposed to recognize the stupidity of heterosexuals? He and Fedyor fell in love as young teens and haven’t parted in anger since. They look out for each other and try to spoil each other in all the small ways the other enjoys.

The General and Alina Starkov are a different story.

&&&

Ivan is there when the oprichniki drag Alina into General Kirigan’s tent in Kribirsk. She looks all for the world like the otkazat’sya he’s fought near the border of Shu Han. He can’t hold it against her, though; he knows better than anyone that appearances can deceive.

What he can hold against her is her denial. Even after twice showing that she can indeed summon sunlight, the little fool somehow believes she’s not Grisha. General Kirigan, a human amplifier and probably the most powerful Grisha on the planet, touches her and confirms it, and she still clings to her past. Ivan can’t understand why someone would want to deny something so intrinsic.

More worryingly, he sees his commander’s face as he tries to figure out the Starkov girl. It’s not a look he’s ever seen on Kirigan’s face, and it fills him with dread. The bemusement at her reply to his questioning about what she is turns to something...joyous and darkly yearning, in the General’s understated way.

People consider Ivan stoic and difficult to read, but he learned from the best, and his boss is the best.

Ivan is very discomfited to see Kirigan showing signs of experiencing emotions.

&&&

His unease only grows when Kirigan commands him and Fedyor to escort the Sun Summoner to Os Alta.

“Ivan, I need you and Fedyor to accompany Miss Starkov to the Little Palace. Make haste, and use all your formidable talents to keep harm from coming to her.”

“But the mission to West Ravka—”

“Will have to wait. Everyone in a twenty-mile radius saw her light show, and that may well include some of Ravka’s enemies. She—this—is more important than anybody knows. Keep her safe, and I’ll keep you and Fedyor off the front lines for six months.”

Ivan clears his throat.

“Yes?” Kirigan asks with a lift of his brow.

“Will you be staying, or do you need me to send word ahead that you’ll be arriving as well, sir?”

The General’s face smooths into its usual mask of power and calm. “No, I imagine I may well arrive before you all, as you’ll be taking my carriage.”

“As you say, General.”

Kirigan dismisses him, and he stomps off to find Fedyor so they can leave posthaste.

Ivan’s exasperation only grows when the Starkov tries, of all things, to stay and find some tracker friend of hers, tries to deny who she is. She even questions the General’s judgment, something not even Ivan dares to do.

(Privately, he agrees that this whole endeavor is a mistake. Alina Starkov is trouble, and he has an uncomfortable feeling that all their lives are about to change in ways no one can predict).

He hauls her into the carriage, plopping her on the seat across from the one he shares with Fedyor. Perhaps one of them ought to sit next to her to make sure she doesn’t get into any further foolishness, but Ivan’s crabby enough he wants to sit next to his husband.

Once they get out of Kribirsk and on the Vy, she settles down a bit, but she radiates nervous energy and it puts him on edge.

Fedyor, bless him, does his best to put the Sun Summoner at ease. But she’s resentful and afraid, and it irritates Ivan. He knows he should try to be understanding, but with all the fear and resentment he’s put up with from the otkazat’sya—his own family, even—he struggles to find the patience to explain why she should trust in the General and the Grisha. Nonetheless, he tries to soothe her the only way he knows how: by reminding her of the power she now holds.

Ivan’s thoughts drift to what might await them all in Os Alta, but his ruminations are interrupted by the shouts of the oprichniki warning them of a blockage in the road.

The dread he was feeling dissipates in the face of the familiar. He’s ready to fight against an ambush by Ravka’s enemies. He’s not ready to confront the existential questions Alina Starkov brings.

And fighting side-by-side with Fedyor never grows old. His blood sings, his heart pounds with the fierce excitement of a fight with his beloved at his side.

The fucking Fjerdans. Ivan hates the drüskelle for their hatred of the Grisha, and that fire burns hotter when Fedyor is hit in the leg. Fear twists in his belly as he examines Fedyor’s wound, though he claims it’s fine. Ivan, the most feared heartrender in Ravka, can’t concentrate enough to tell how many their enemies number, so he delegates it to Katya. He remembers the Summoner in the carriage, and issues a command for one of the other Grisha to protect her, but the screams fade into the background of his mind as he does his best to heal Fedyor.

Then he senses the shadows that accompany Kirigan—the reason the people mutter in fear, call him the Darkling—and the Fjerdans melt back into the wood. Shame mixes with his fear for Fedyor, and Ivan swears to himself when, after a few moments he hears the General speak to one of the Etherealki who’ve made it back to the carriage.

“Tend to the wounded. Then tell Ivan to make sure everyone gets back to Little Palace as quickly as possible and report to me. I’ll be waiting.”

“Yes, sir.”

Shit. He had one job, and she’s now riding off in the General’s arms.

Alina Starkov is definitely trouble.

&&&

They finally arrive back at the Little Palace late that night. Once everyone, the Grisha and the horses, are all seen to, Ivan makes his way to General Kirigan’s rooms. The oprichniki guarding the door nod at him and make way for him to knock. The General calls out in that even tone of his for Ivan to enter. He does so, anxiety and defiance mixing in his chest.

Nonetheless, Ivan is deferential. “Sir.”

Those dark eyes sweep over him from head to toe, and where there’s normally amusement or quiet affability, he’s unreadable as he is when meeting with the tsar and tsaritsa. “I see you’ve made it back. Are you well?”

“Yes, sir.” Ivan begins to sweat under the woollen collar of his kefta.

“And Fedyor?”

“Much better. He’s recovering.”

“Good,” the General says, pausing for a long, uncomfortable moment before continuing, “now, perhaps you could explain why you disregarded my clear, express orders to guard Alina.”

Alina, he notes. Not “Miss Starkov” or “the Sun Summoner.”

Ivan’s jaw tenses. “My apologies, moi soverennyi. Fedyor was shot while we were attempting to protect the carriage. I thought we’d be better able to protect her with both our powers.”

The Darkling—for that’s who he is at this moment—turns to face the windows. It’s black as pitch outside, but it wouldn’t surprise Ivan if Kirigan could see through the shadows of the night. “I don’t want excuses, Ivan. Had I not been nearby, Alina would have been lost, and Ravka would have lost its greatest hope in centuries.”

Ivan waits, knowing there’s little he can say.

Kirigan turns back. “See that it doesn’t happen again, or I will see to it that you and Fedyor are put on different assignments for the foreseeable future.”

Anger rises in his throat, but Ivan stomps it down. It will do him no favors to argue. The only thing he can do is go to bed, hold Fedyor close, and hope things settle soon. “Yes, General.”

&&&

The next day, a contingent of the Grisha accompany General Kirigan and Alina to the Big Palace. Ivan is used to walking by the General’s side, but Alina is there instead. With Fedyor still recovering in their rooms under the care of the healers, Ivan is alone, distant from the group. He feels a pang of melancholy so fierce it threatens to overwhelm him.

The Sun Summoner looks much better today than she had when he last saw her, and it seems Kirigan thinks so too. After he greets the King and Queen, he can hardly take his eyes off the girl, that same awed, wondering look in his eyes again.

Through the shadows his boss conjures, Ivan sees the way he looks at her, the way he leans over to whisper in his ear, the gesture nearly a caress. The Summoner lights up the darkness, and Ivan can’t take his eyes off the two of them. Alina Starkov smiles at Kirigan, and instead of the polite, unknowable smile he’d normally return to a courtier or even one of his rare mistresses, Kirigan looks back at her like she’s his every dream come true.

After the display is over, the King tries to bumble his way through negotiating over Alina’s training. And in front of the entire court and a good number of the Grisha,the General claims Alina. She will stay in the Little Palace with him, Kirigan states, his tone brooking no argument, not even from the sovereign ruler of Ravka.

Kirigan takes Alina’s hand and leads her away from the throne, and the two pause to speak in quiet tones. Ivan can’t hear them, but Alina’s eyes glow with admiration and the General is looking back at her with...warmth.

It’s not right, Ivan thinks, even as the General departs and the Grisha welcome Alina. This situation is getting more and more troublesome.

&&&

When Ivan arrives back in their room, he’s relieved to see Fedyor awake, though he’s lying in bed with a book. Fedyor sets the book on the bedside table and smiles at him, and Ivan feels some of the tension in his shoulders melt away.

“Why so grumpy, my love?”

“Not grumpy, Fedya. Worried.” He takes off his boots, middle of the day be damned, and climbs into the bed next to his husband.

Fedyor opens his arms, and Ivan goes to him, snuggling in and leaning his head against his shoulder. “About what, Vanya?”

He shrugs as best as he can while in his favorite person’s embrace. “The Sun Summoner is dangerous.”

“So are all of us Grisha, and even the otkazat’sya with training.”

“Not like that. I mean...I-I think General Kirigan has feelings.”

Fedyor had been running his hand through Ivan’s hair, but he pauses. “In general? Or for Alina?”

“For Alina. Fedyor, it was very strange. He looked warm and like he wanted to kiss her, in front of all those people. And then he held her hand.” The Darkling has had lovers, and Ivan is very aware of this, but he’s never seen him act this way around any of them.

With a huff that might be a laugh, Fedyor says, “He deserves a chance at love, too, especially after he’s been so good to us. He tried to help us when we were younger and more foolish.”

That’s true; Kirigan has been nothing but supportive of them when not everyone else has. He even tried to advise Ivan when he was sorting out his feelings for Fedya more than a decade ago. It hadn’t been good advice, but an attempt had been made, at least.

“He seems...lonely,” Fedyor continues.

Ivan nods. “There is no one like him, no one at his level, so who could stand beside him?”

“Maybe Alina.”

Fedyor seems to like the girl, but Ivan isn’t convinced. Is she strong enough to stand next to their leader who has done so much for not just the Grisha, but for Ivan and his beloved?

&&&

The next day, Ivan joins the rest of the Grisha for dinner. Kirigan is off doing something statecrafty and Ivan has the place of honor at his boss’ right hand, so he is ostensibly in charge of the gathering in the General’s absence.

Except he knows Alina was given the choice to sit in Kirigan’s seat in his absence, or to sit at his side were he here. Instead, the girl chose to sit with the other Etherealki. She’s there laughing with Marie and Nadia, indulging in this opulent meal provided for the Sun Summoner, because apparently their usual hearty peasant fare wasn’t good enough.

Resentment curdles in his stomach as he reads out the casualty list, staring down Alina the entire time. She looks stricken, but her concern seems to be more for the otkazat’sya than her fellow Grisha.

Something in him snaps. “Why are you here eating figs? Hmm? You should be training every waking moment to tear down the Fold.”

But when he sees her face, hurt and downcast, he feels a pang of regret for how he handled this.

Kirigan will not be pleased.

&&&

It turns out that Fedyor isn’t pleased either. He had accompanied the General to the dinner he’d gone to, as Fedyor is far more diplomatic than most of the senior Grisha. It’s because of that diplomacy and open friendliness that it takes him less than three hours to hear about Ivan’s outburst.

Ivan is sitting in his chair in front of the fire, doing his best to wind down after the day. Fedyor enters the room, closing the door behind him.

“How was dinner and politics?”

Fedyor scowls at him, and his heart sinks. “Don’t try to be cute and solicitous. I heard about what you did to that poor girl. Badly done, Vanya, badly done.”

“Can we go back to the part about me being cute, please?” Ivan rubs his hands over his face. He and Fedyor rarely disagree, so when they do…

“No. Alina Starkov just found out days ago she’s Grisha, and she’s been pulled away from the only life she’s known, from her friends and comrades. She’s fended off the volcra, almost been murdered by the drüskelle, and has had to get used to a new training regimen for skills she barely knew she had, to say nothing of the high stakes of her every move now.”

“She’s an orphan of Keramzin. How is this not better than anything she’s ever known?”

Fedyor stops pacing for a moment. “Ivan, that’s why we should be kind. She’s never known the love of a family beyond that of the First Army. And you know what they whisper about the Grisha. We were children when we got here, and our families sent us here out of love. It was easier for us to adjust. She’s grown up her whole life hearing the lies most of the otkazat’sya believe about us. She needs time and understanding.”

“But we don’t have that much time. Zlatan is agitating in West Ravka, Fjerda is worse than ever, and Shu Han is causing as many problems as ever. Why can’t she see that unless she is at her best and soon, Ravka is in danger? The Grisha are in danger?” Ivan is furious, but more than that, he’s exhausted.

At that, Fedyor softens. “Ah, my love. You carry a heavy burden. But she’ll have to bear an even heavier one soon,” he says, coming over and placing a warm hand on Ivan’s shoulder.

Ivan reaches up, placing his hand over Fedyor’s. “I just want her to be ready.”

“She will be.”

With a sigh, Ivan pulls Fedyor into his lap, nuzzling his neck. He’s ready to make up.

“Ivan?”

“Hmm?”

“You do realize that people also have to eat in order to be able to train, don’t you?”

&&&

He knows he should, but Ivan can’t bring himself to apologize to Alina. He does try, however, to be more understanding of the enormity of what she faces, the pressure on her to succeed. He tries to be kinder, less abrupt. But he can’t change who he is.

Fortunately, General Kirigan seems more amused than anything else at Ivan’s dinner outburst. It’s a week or so later, and Kirigan is ready to dismiss Ivan for his next couple of days off. “I would tell you to enjoy your time with Fedyor, but maybe you’ll be training instead, since that’s apparently what we all must be doing every waking moment.”

Ivan shoots him a panicked look, but calms down when he catches the amusement in the General’s eyes.

“Indeed. We will train ceaselessly and closely, moi soverennyi.” Somehow, he manages to keep a straight face.

Kirigan just snorts, and Ivan is extremely disgruntled when he mutters under his breath about needing some of that kind of training of his own.

[ghastigiggles]

tempest

ok so this is my first time writing for Genshin and while I can’t promise a constant outpour of Content for this fandom, I can promise Lee Venti because it’s all I think about when I’m not knee-deep in IDV. please talk to me about lee venti... asks in my askbox asks in my askbox -

Venti is my Main so I’ve been using him religiously in Inazuma, and I couldn’t help thinking about how at-odds he and Baal would be given that their alignments are kind of opposites... So ofc he would be a little scared about being on her turf, given that she’s not afraid to kill any who oppose her. Thus, this fic was born! o/

-

"Call on me anytime," he'd said. "I'm always up for an adventure," he'd said! And, oh, sure, Venti had meant it at the time, because then, Lumine was just exploring Liyue. Peaceful, neighbourly Liyue, with adorably stoic Xiao and patient and fatherly Zhongli. Venti knew the country well, and was not afraid to visit Liyue with Lumine and Paimon, to be a second guide or helping hand if either of them needed it.

What he didn't mean was "Take me to Inazuma, you know, that land with the Lightning Archon that hates anything that could threaten her idea of Eternity so much she started stealing visions from her own people and locked down the country. Yeah, bring the God of Freedom to the literal most dangerous and restrictive country in Teyvat, why not!"

That's not what he meant. Yet here he was.

He tried to put on a brave face, and it was convincing enough for Lumine's new friends - and he did like them. He did! Inazuma had its own charm, and Venti would've been delighted to spend a few months visiting now that he was without a Gnosis, meeting the people and exploring the culture.

But there was the fact that the Raiden Shogun was really freaking scary. About three times he'd conjured fake visions for himself, only for them to be snatched up by her little samurai clique or whatever they were called now. Yeah, have fun with those, Rai. Wasn't like they had any power, anyway; eventually, he'd given up entirely on conjuring more, deeming it a waste of energy and focusing instead on avoiding his use of wind as much as possible in public spaces.

Which, in and of itself, was already difficult, given that with one laugh the breeze would change directions, or with a sneeze a few of Raiden's clouds from the tempest would blow in towards shore and slam Ritou with some harsh rainstorms. Whoops.

All in all, Venti really wanted to avoid drawing her attention to himself, because without his Gnosis, he couldn't trust her intentions. He barely knew her, at least not in the same way he knew the other Gods, and while the Tsaritsa and her cronies had wanted his power, they didn't want his life. That much he was grateful for.

With Raiden, and her want with eternal power, peace, life, and stability for Inazuma, he couldn't trust that she wouldn't take what little he had left. He didn't want to leave Zhongli as the last of the original Seven, and - more importantly - he wasn't ready to die just yet.

So to say that he was stressed would be a massive understatement.

Lumine, observant as ever, had picked up on this, and cornered him in the teahouse after a lunch with Ayaka and Thoma.

"If you want to go home -"

"No! I mean - kind of, but - ugghhh."

Lumine shook her head as Paimon glanced between the two of them cluelessly.

"If it was too much to ask of you to come here -"

"Of course it wasn't! I like travelling, I like you, I like travelling with you -"

"Uh, this is all flying over Paimon's head a little… Where is this coming from?"

At the fairy's high-pitched voice, both of them paused to glance at her, then looked back at each other.

Lumine gathered another breath.

"... Venti's been tense and nervous since we brought him here."

"Really? Paimon hadn't noticed…"

That much brought a smug little grin to the bard's face, despite his current deliberation.

"But why is the Tone-Deaf Bard so stressed?"

"Because, if you'll remember, Raiden doesn't like the idea of anything unforeseen and unpredictable interrupting her plans for Eternity."

"Oh… Oh! Paimon gets it now! The Tone-Deaf Bard is scared Raiden might send the Tenryou Commission to arrest him! Is that right?"

Both of them stared at him expectantly, and once again, Venti felt a twinge of discomfort at having been read like a book. Still…

"If that's your final guess, my answer will be… Yes."

… He could get some contentment out of Paimon's irritated expression with his rhyme.

"And like I said," Lumine tried again, "I can take you back home if you want!"

"But I don't want to! I like seeing all this stuff - I'd never get to see it all on the mainland! I just…"

… Wow. He hated being speechless.

Lumine, for her part, crossed her arms and huffed, and Paimon mirrored her pose, bouncing in the air.

"It's not worth it if you're going to stress out this whole trip. So here's the deal; either you relax a little bit, and trust in our friends to keep you safe, or you get in the Serenitea Pot and I take you back to Monstadt."

Frustrated at her rationality, Venti whined.

"But Lumiiiiiineeeeee…"

"Alright, that's it."

Whoops. One button too many this time, huh?

For once, the bard didn't entirely anticipate her attack, shouting in surprise as she tackled him to the tatami floor of the teahouse and roughly dug into his sides with a vengeance, earning a quite unholy shriek and peal of laughter for her efforts.

"Wait - waHAHAIT - LumEHEEHeene -!!"

He barked out an extra laugh as Paimon latched onto his calf like a toddler, putting her tiny, evil little raccoon-like hands to work on the softer skin under his knee without remorse. Figures. One could never trust a shortie.

"Y'know," The Traveller remarked, "I seem to recall this having a relaxing effect on you back in Monstadt, with Lisa and the Ragnvindr brothers - you remember, right, Paimon?"

"Mhm! This time, Paimon does remember," The little fairy nodded; "Then again, it's hard to forget something like that when Master Diluc and Kaeya actually work together to do the tickling…"

At the reminder, almost comically, all three of them shuddered; Venti, a step ahead, tried a little harder to curl up, a new fear springing to mind.

"Plehease - plehehea -- the wihind, Lulu, I cahahan't…!"

"Oh yeaaaaah," Lumine reacted tauntingly, "Wind activity would be real bad for you, huh? Well, all the more reason to hop in the pot and go home…"

Venti tossed his head, scrunching up his face and struggling to rein it in - only for it all to go to shit when the Traveller latched her cruel hands on his hips and started kneading at the slight pudge there. He practically screamlaughed, partially in panic, as he felt his control slip, and tapped the floor rapidly.

"OHOKAHAHAY, PLEHE - RED, REHEHED, RED..!"

With those words, Lumine immediately stopped, and reached a hand back to get Paimon to lay off too. In the meantime, she gently rubbed the focal points of her attack, earning a few giggly twitches from Venti as he panted a little bit.

"So, what'll it be?"

"Ihi - hhah… I want to stay."

"So you'll chill out?"

"On one condition…"

Lumine cocked a brow, and Venti grinned up at her, already almost recovered.

"Take me into the pot with you and finish what you started. I can't possibly relax like this, now, can I?"

"... Oh, my God. You're adorable. Deal. Paimon, will you stay here and keep watch? Let Ayaka and Thoma know the whole deal with the Serenitea Pot, and tell them we'll be out soon."

"Aww," Paimon pouted, "but Paimon wants to get the Tone-Deaf Bard good, too!"

"And Paimon will have her day," Lumine assured, smiling at the gigglefit her friend's words sent Venti into; "but Ayaka might worry if we disappear without a trace. Someone needs to explain things to her."

"Hmph… Fine, but Paimon better be included next time!"

"Of course she will be."

Lumine shot the fairy an assuring smile as she fished out the Serenitea Pot from her bag, and set it gently on the table before looking down at the bard once more.

"Ready?"

Grinning back at her, Venti set a hand on the tea pot, briefly comforted when she covered his with her own.

"Do your worst, Traveller."

Maybe the trip wouldn't be so bad after all.

[wesimpforxiao]

Inception: Chapter 1

Author’s Note:  Welcome everyone to my Childe x Reader fanfiction! Decided to post the first (and only so far) chapter since I’m happy with it.  Hope you enjoy this sneak peek!!!

Now where did Mr. Zhongli run off to?  Wherever you'd end up, you'd miss the man by a hair.  Running errands for Hu Tao was practically the equivalent to a wild goose chase.  "Wait a second!"  A sudden realization stopped you in your tracks, and a few customers that were buying kites held startled expressions from your yelp.  "She's pranking me again, isn't she?!"

Zhongli was inspecting noticulous jade samples behind you when he heard a female voice yell to no one in particular.  He turned to see you, completely deflated for reasons unknown to him.  Shouldn't you be at the parlor overseeing your duties in the presence of Hu Tao?  What were you doing out here?  "What seems to be the matter, Reed?"

"ZHONGLI!"  Another yelp, and this time the customers nearby became more annoyed.  You spun on your heel and meet your coworker's gaze.  "I've been looking everywhere for you! Um, Hu Tao wanted me to give you these," you promptly handed a small stack of slightly crumpled documents to him.  "She said they were really important...?"

"Let me see..." Golden eyes turned their attention to the script with the utmost focus before he heaved a tiresome sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Is...something the matter?"  You could've sworn everything was in order...maybe it was possible that in your rush to find him, you had lost a paper or two without noticing?

"What is it exactly that Hu Tao instructed you to do?"  His voice held a tinge of exhaustion, but it went unnoticed by you.

"She just told me to find you and give you the documents, and that you'd know what to do with them.  And she also told me not to look at them.  Why?"

Another sigh, and the documents were handed back to you.  "I apologize, but it appears that you've fallen victim to her...childish antics yet again."  

He was right.  The documents were nothing more than a bunch of gibberish and what looked like to be a horrible attempt to draw Zhongli on one of the papers next to one scribble that was labelled 'doodoo.'  "You've got to be joking."  The scowl on your face was enough to get Zhongli to clear his throat in an effort to dissuade you from your anger.  You were an incredibly nice and patient person, but Zhongli's seen you angry once before.  It was not something he'd like to see again, and with every passing prank, you got closer and closer to snapping at your boss.

"My apologies," he sympathized.  He couldn't exactly keep up with the parlor director's childish ways either, after all.

That was three hours of my day.  You crumpled the papers in your hands before tossing them in the trash.  "Sorry to bother you Zhongli, I'll be heading back to the parlor now."

You took the long way back to the funeral parlor, making a point to walk across the docs that shouldered the sea.  It was well-deserved, you thought, since Hu Tao was constantly testing your patience and you had yet to snap.  If she really needed you today, she wouldn't have sent you on a needless hunt to deliver unnecessary documents.  So what if you showed up a little late now? It was her doing!

The docks were quiet with the occasional pigeons and seagulls cooing as they searched for their next meal--or their next pooping target.  A few pigeons scattered into the wind once you reached a railing that overlooked one of the merchant ships.  

It had been quite some time since your mother brought you across the sea to escape the influences of the Fatui in Snezhnaya--it had to be at least a decade by now, actually.  The Fatui that were stationed near your hometown were a reckless, malicious bunch, and weren't even kind to their own people despite their cohort existing to serve the people.

'To serve the people' was more like 'to serve the Tsaritsa.'  Neglect against her own people soon became a mutual feeling in your town.  She let her Fatui rats run about with no punishment for falling out of line...the audacity! A god is supposed to protect and nurture their people, not toss them aside or save them to be used.

The glimmering of the ocean below the deck only briefly dragged out out of your memories before you fell into them much like a wave washes over the beach.

You still remembered the day when your best friend went missing, and when he finally turned up ragged and dirty a few days later.  He never spoke of what happened, but it wouldn't surprise you if it had anything to do with the agents in your town.  He changed from a hesitant boy to a rambunctious, feisty kid--and the arrogance was insanely annoying.  But just as you tried to get closer to him, your mom decided his mysterious circumstances were what she needed to get herself and you out of Snezhnaya.

"I don't know what happened to you, Ajax, but I hope you're okay."

...........................................

Today's such a beautiful day!  You stretched your arms with content to get the aches of walking all morning out of your shoulders.  Slouching was a horrible habit of yours.  But no matter, it was time to celebrate! Hu Tao finally cut you loose from her list of unfortunate victims of her shenanigans, instead setting her sights on some exorcist that went by the name 'Chongyun.'  Since he wasn't related to the parlor's services--at least, not that you were aware--you didn't know him personally.

That poor soul has no idea what's coming to him, you think as you absently scan the papers in your hands that the parlor director had given you to give to Zhongli before the day's end--you had learned your lesson from last time, and inspected each stack she'd give you.  But as bad as I feel for him, I can't complain since I'm finally scot-free of her.

You made your way toward Liuli Pavilion, where Zhongli had informed you earlier this morning that he'd be conducting a meeting with one of the parlor's biggest funders.  There he is now! And...sitting alone?

"Mr. Zhongli?"  Your quiet interruption shifted his attention from the vivid storytelling of the storyteller to you.  "Did you have your meeting yet?"

"No, he should be arriving shortly," the consultant answered and placed his teacup down.  "What did you need me for?"

"Hu Tao sent me on another errand, er, a valid one this time.  I guess one of our customers was wondering what recommendations you had regarding these?"  A quick hand-off of the documents pertaining the names of precious stones, and Zhongli shut out the story of the ventures of Rex Lapis and his former companion, Azhdaha.

Your eyes left Zhongli for a moment and watched the storyteller's movements.  I've heard this one before.  Azhdaha was reprimanded for turning against humanity, wasn't he?  I wonder what that was like for our god.  To be betrayed by a close friend-

"I see.  Noticulous jade would be the best option considering it's vibrant purple tones, but the beauty of cor lapis when significantly refined to its utmost potential is a valid approach for the ceremony as well.  Why don't we purchase both?  You and I can inspect the nearby stores tomorrow morning."

Honestly, I don't know why I bother asking if his answer is always 'We'll take them all,' your lips twitched from restraining a laugh and you returned your sights on the consultant.  "Alright, let's do that."

"Mr. Zhongli! It's great to see you," an unfamiliar man approached the table with a friendly smile.  "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."  The confidence that radiated from his stride was enough to make you shrivel up on yourself.  That, and the afternoon light that bounced off of his bright gray clothes half-blinded you.

"Not at all.  Please take a seat.  Reed, why don't you join us?"  Zhongli was aware of your intense opinions of the Fatui, but then again, who in Liyue didn't have a problem with the organization at the moment? Especially after their most recent incident with Osial...and the issue himself was sitting right across the table.  Perhaps meeting such a dangerous individual would dissuade you from pursuing that nighttime hobby of yours...

"Oh, I don't want to intrude.  Isn't this a private meeting?"

"I don't mind," said the red-headed stranger.

Zhongli gestured toward the third chair at the table, and you hesitantly obeyed.  A few minutes couldn't hurt.  You used the moment to get you situated and check out the guy to your left.  He didn't seem familiar, but he had this air about him that was...distinct, if that made any sense.  Familiar yet unfamiliar.  For someone being labelled as one of the most prominent sponsors of the funeral parlor, he didn't button his jacket properly, and a portion of his abdomen was visible while a hydro vision sat comfortably attached to his beltloop.  Or perhaps that was the way the jacket was designed?

Why am I even contemplating this? You peeled your eyes away from his torso in a hurry, and they settled on your hands in your lap.  Way to make a first impression.

"Reed, I would like to introduce you to Ma-"

"Ajax!"  Childe's voice overtook Zhongli's introduction.  "I go by Ajax, it's nice to meet you."  He held out a gloved hand for you to shake.  He didn't think it would be possible to ever see you again, not after your mom took you across the sea, so he spat out a lie without thinking.  Then again, even as a child you hated the Fatui--rightfully so-- so it wouldn't have been a good idea to introduce himself as the very harbinger that almost drowned Liyue.  Childe thought he had recognized you by your hair and the way you walked, but it was so long ago, and the memory of you had long since faded into a blurry image.  But 'Reed'...It couldn't be some coincidence that he met you here.

And by your reaction, he could say his intuition served him right.  "A-Ajax?"  You sat up taller than before, not quite comprehending the situation at first.  The name, the face, those blue eyes--it had to be him.  "Ajax from Snezhnaya?"

"I would hope I'm the only Ajax you know."  Childe shot you a friendly smile, but some smidge of jealousy lie in the depths of his otherwise vacant gaze. Perhaps it could even be considered threatening, or possessive.  He was the only Ajax you knew, right?

"Oh thank the archons you're alright," you released the breath you didn't know you were holding in.  It was all you managed to get out before remembering that a certain party was sitting to your right.  "O-Oh! Zhongli! We knew each other before I emigrated to Liyue-"

"Childhood friends," the harbinger grinned slightly as he met the consultant's confused yet stern gaze.  Something deadly flashed in his eyes, daring Zhongli to speak up and correct his own introduction.

Zhongli wasn't anywhere near afraid or intimidated by Childe, but despite this he did not reveal Childe's true identity.  Perhaps there was a reason the harbinger was posing as his younger self, like he was protecting the image of the perfect older brother for you just as he did with Teucer.

That, and Zhongli had vowed not to meddle in these types of matters just as he neglected to tell Childe he was the geo archon.  It was not his business if Childe chose to deceive you just as he deceived Childe, but if the harbinger posed a threat to you or anyone in Liyue again...Let's just say the passive Zhongli would put his foot down.

"I see," said Zhongli with a thoughtful gaze as he picked up his half-full cup of tea.  "May I inquire as how you two met?"

"Well," you leaned back in your seat and stared at one of the passing clouds as you attempted to recollect old memories.  "I don't remember exactly, but we ran into each other at one of the local markets that stood between our hometowns.  You should've seen him back then Zhongli, he was a nervous reck!"

Childe visibly grimaced at your bluntness, but Zhongli let out a low chuckle.  "Is that so?"  This earned a glare from the harbinger.

"Yes!  He was always second-guessing himself.  I was always the one wearing the pants in the friendship whenever we got to see each other!  And then..."  Your expression darkened as you remembered his disappearance, and his concerning change of attitude when he returned.  But just as quickly as the distasteful memory showed on your face, it was tossed away with a shake of the head.  "You know, there was one time where he had gotten in trouble with one of the local fisherman because he--"

"Now, now!"  Childe interrupted with a slightly aggressive--no, embarrassed--tone.  "I don't think Mr. Zhongli would be interested in--"

"On the contrary, I would be more than delighted to hear of Ajax's childhood stories," Zhongli sipped away at his tea, making a point to emphasize the new name while staring straight Childe.

"Aw, you embarrassed?"  Childe wanted to wipe that smug grin off your face for noticing.  He thought he was great at hiding his emotions, but with your surprise appearance, he was a bit more than caught off guard.  You covered your mouth and leaned toward Zhongli while whispering, "I'll tell you later, promise!"

Childe let out something of a strangled chuckle that made the corner of Zhongli's lips twitch upward.  "So, what have you been up to all this time?"

"Well, I've been working at the funeral parlor with Zhongli for the past year or so," you leaned back with a thoughtful gaze.  "I live by myself now; mom died a few years ago.  Oh, I've been training since I got here, too.  You can't trust the Fatui anywhere in Teyvat.  That, and anyone that roams around late at night.  Better safe than sorry."

"So you fight?"  Childe's eyes lit up like a fire was lit, and you smile turned into a frown.

"Don't tell me you're still..."  But with his slightly oblivious tilt of the head, you couldn't bring yourself to bring up that portion of your history.  Not yet.  "If need be, yes."  The best option was to change the subject, especially to spare Zhongli of what could possibly turn into an argument.  "How did you find yourself in Liyue?"

"I..."  A glance was sent briefly in Zhongli's direction, but he purposely ignored it.  "I'm a toy seller these days."

"Augh--"  A sputtered cough came from Zhongli, and he dabbed at his lips with a handkerchief.  "Ahem...Apologies, it appears I choked on a bit of tea."

After an awkward laugh escaped Childe, you turned back to him.  "A toy seller?  You?"  Was it relief you felt, or a feeling of on-edge?  Perhaps it'd be better if he turned out nice enough to become a toy seller, but with the way you two left things in Snezhnaya, you'd thought it be more likely that he'd end up arrested.  Or join the Fatui.  Or just anything involving violence.  Not sure of what to make of his words, you snapped to Zhongli.  "Wait, I thought you had a meeting with one of the benefactors of the funeral parlor?  Why would a toy seller be involved with us?"

"Yes, I've wondered that myself," Zhongli set his empty teacup aside and faced Childe directly to bait him.  "You've never told me the story.  How did you find yourself involved with the parlor, Ajax?"

The hint of a smirk on the consultant's lips made the harbinger's blood boil even though he managed to keep his façade of a smile plastered on his face.  "Well, I wouldn't want to bore you with the details, it's an uninteresting story!"

"Tell me," you begged, eyes sparkling in anticipation.  "It might not be boring to us!"

"Yes, do tell," Zhongli encouraged.

You're enjoying this too much, Mr. Zhongli.  Childe did his best to hide his annoyance under his signature grin.

........................................

The sigh that escaped the harbinger once you left to finish your duties at the parlor prompted Zhongli to raise a brow at him.  "Shut up," Childe muttered without sparing a glance his way.  He knew you were hateful of the Fatui; that's most likely why he lied without a second thought, but as to why he'd bother doing so since you weren't close anymore was unknown.

At least, to Childe it was.  Zhongli had already figured it out by the lengthy conversation of Childe's extensive toy seller lie.  "You two were more than 'close' back in Snezhnaya, were you not?"  

"Don't overthink it Zhongli, we were only friends."

"And yet you wear your Harbinger status proudly on your sleeve."

"What're you implying?"  Childe, growing impatient and bored of the conversation, shifted in his seat.  You had left as their meals were served, so to his utmost horror, he now realized he was given chopsticks to use for his dish.  

"You also don't like deceiving others unlike your fellow harbingers."

A disgusted scoff left his lips as he lifted his chopsticks.  "...You think I, Tartaglia, am in love with a childhood friend?  My my my, Mr. Zhongli, it seems you've finally lost your marbles after living six thousand years. Perhaps living among humans has taken a toll on your wisdom."

"There are several reasons for which a person would lie."  Zhongli lowered his voice as the storyteller finished his monologue.  "The only one that would make sense after observing you for so long would be infatuation."

Childe had tuned him out by now, concentrating with furrowed brows on holding his dumplings correctly in-between his chopsticks.  But they were too heavy, what with his hand shaking the utensils, and they fell back on the plate with a wet plop.  Curse these stupid-  Childe nearly threw them at the building to his left, but restrained himself before he could lose to his frustrations.  Instead he used one chopstick to stab the dumpling and in an exasperated huff, shoved it into his mouth.

"So, what is the real reason you're back in Liyue?"  Zhongli set his third cup of tea aside after watching the pitiful struggle before him.  "It had sounded like you'd be in Snezhnaya for quite some time before returning, yet here you are only months after Osial."

"Oh," Childe sat up, only now remembering that what he had told you earlier was a drastic lie.  "I've been meaning to ask you about the matters I'm dealing with.  The Fatui here are fed-up with some...vigilante that interferes with their work here.  Whoever's at fault is clearly an amateur, but my subordinates here are apparently too incompetent to catch them.  They're stealing important documents from the Northland Bank, setting traps on the roadsides, and even breaking into our apartments to steal the agents' uniforms."

Zhongli cradled his chin in his hand while in deep thought.  He's heard of such a person; they often came to the parlor in the early morning hours to avoid getting caught since their living quarters were on the opposite side of town--he caught them more than once, out of breath, and dressed in black.

"--Basically the men are agitated at this point and threatening to leave their posts, and everyone's on edge because of another matter that may be related.  A few of our agents have gone missing with no trace, so I am here to locate them.  Whoever this vigilante is might know something; both occurrences started approximately three months ago."  Childe grabbed his last dumpling and ate it before leaning back in his seat.  "So, given that you are the wisest man in Liyue, I decided to come to you for advice.  Would you happen to know of anyone or anything involved?"

"Yes," Zhongli hummed, eyes downcast and settled on his folded hands.  "It's possible I hold information valuable to your search."

Childe's pupils lit up in delight.  "Oh?  Do enlighten me."

"But first, the vigilante is not related to your missing men," he took another sip of tea, lost in thought.  "And they are more or less an amateur seeking to disrupt Fatui operations, but they don't usually harm your agents--"

"That's inaccurate to say, Zhongli.  Last week three of my guys came back with broken noses or fractured arms."

--that I know of."  A pointed glare just made the harbinger lean forward against the table.

"You know who I'm searching for."

"Perhaps."

"Then spill."

"Am I really obligated to tell you based on your earlier behavior?"

"Mr. Zhongli, this person poses a serious threat to the health of my men, and potentially their lives.  Do you not care that human lives are at stake because of this...this...killer?"

Says the man who tried to drown my country.  "As usual, you are making brash assumptions.  They are not a killer, and they are not dangerous unless backed into a corner."

Childe was growing sick of beating around the bush, so he deadpanned.  "Zhongli."

The former archon let out a low sigh before meeting his gaze.  "As long as you remember what I just said, then I suppose I'll let you know.  The person you're searching for is the same person you lied to at this table."

[thatphatoven]

The Little Mechanic

Childe x female mechanic reader

Prologue

A mechanic from Snezhnaya reunites with a childhood friend.

AN; The prologue is a bit confusing since two stories were told at the same time; I did that to make it more interesting and wanted a flashback with your fellow companion. Also, this is my first story that I'm playing around with, so some parts might change, but that really depends.

word count; 1,328

Unedited 

The cold misty morning nipped your skin as the sound of chirping played their familiar melody. Huffing, you leaned forward, gripping the straps of the hefty leather backpack. On the right side of your hip, dangling proud, was the purple electro vision swaying back and forth with your steps. Liyue ruins were bizarrely calm at this hour, with the lack of destruction from the Fatui or the abyss order itching to kill whoever was there. Only nature at its finest reclaiming territory. Grinning, you leaped the last couple of steps; to be greeted by the vast land of mountains as the wind dance around you.

Liyue was definitely different from Snezhnaya.

Instead of the endless snow from Tsaritsa, Rex Lapis gifted Liyue with beautiful forms of rocks, along with historical battles hidden deep in these ruin lands. Anyone greedy for riches only dares to explore these areas, but not you. The badge of a hammer stitched on your newspaper cap tells a different story. You were just a nameless mechanic shooting your shot in a bustling nation. Though not everything comes cheap. Living accommodations were hard enough to pay, but haggling for overpriced supplies was another finance. Besides, why waste time on that when the remains of an old society are available for you to seize.

"Must we walk all this way?" Wheezing, a little blue mage pushed himself to the last step. Leaning forward, the wand in his hand carried half of his weight as he pants in exhaustion. "Sorry, but you know how badly I want to see the view," you spoke. Unclasping your bag from your back, you handed him a bottle of water. "stay hydrated, midget" "I can't have you dying on me now, or I'll have to drag you back to the inn. "

"I hate you."

You smiled at his words as he chugged the remaining drops of water. Meeting Gever was an accidental blessing. Aside from being a full-time mechanic, once in a while, you did some odd commissions from the adventures guild to earn a quick buck, like Lan's request to locate the unseen razor or typically clear out a hilichurl camp. After a yet failed attempt searching for the sword, you witness a hoard of abyss mages hovering over a chest. Doing their usual chants, and rituals one particular was chanting away from the group. How odd.

What was more abnormal was that it didn't have a shield to protect itself. His steps were also off from everyone else; somehow, though, he manages to keep up. Deciding it was time to leave, a blonde-headed girl trek towards them while catching their attention. Startled, they all pointed their wands in her direction, preparing her demise. Throwing shards of ice and water at her, she began her attacks with boulders of rocks as her protection. That abnormal abyss mage watched from its spot. Its body trembles at the sight of its comrades meeting their faith. Suddenly he ran, his little legs pushed forward to your direction, not knowing another human was there, instantly slamming into you.

"Stay back, or I'll hurt you" it pointed the end of its wand at you.

"Hey, greasy! You lost your hearing?" snapping out of your daze; you looked at your companion approaching. "Seriously though, it would be better leaving me back in the inn so that I can be safe from everyone," Gever complained. "If I did, then who else can help me carry all of the chaos circuits?" "Maybe that Guhan nerd?" he grumbled, kicking a pebble out of annoyance.

"He'll bother me with questions and bring that exorcist with him; I can't add more baggage when you fill the entire bag." "And beside the inn will probably send me to the millelith for hosting a little fugitive." "Let's just get this over and done with." sighing, he trek ahead of you, with his shoulder sagging. You followed behind, shaking your head at his actions.

"Hurt me?" crossing your arms; you stared at the abyss mage with boredom. "Don't take this as a joke, you-you stubborn weakling!!!" the mage stomped his feet on the ground, gripping tightly on the staff. "If I remember correctly? I'm not the one who ran away from battle" "Well, uh, because I'm not prepared to fight" "Alright."

You shrugged and turned around from the harmless being and began your journey back to Liyue. "W-wait!" he cried. Dropping on his knees, he wailed, "I know I shouldn't trust a stranger, but also a human. I'm just weak and extremely terrified of being alone." "If you can tell, I can't create a shield, and my chants are weak against a slime nevertheless a magicless civilian." staring back at the field of destruction, the young adventurer stood triumph looting the chest the mages possessively guarded. The fight was an exciting show, especially how a visionless traveler was able to use the power of Geo, but it was the way she played with bladed caught your attention. It wasn't the skill she controls that scared you. Instead, it was the locked-up memories from the past that resurfaced.

The afternoon fell on you and Gever, and the entire time, the little mage complained.

"My feet hurt" "I'm not carrying you."

"Can we take a five-minute break?" "We had one a minute ago."

"Just to let you know, I can't use any cool spells to protect us" "Yes, you told me this before we left."

Shaded under a sunsettia tree, both of you were sitting outside the abandoned laboratory munching on the fruit. The ruins in front of you were notorious for their scrapes and the abandoned research lab for the eleventh harbinger Dottore. The fluid of a sunsettia landed on your blue overalls as you stared at the entrance. Something wasn't right. Signs of other lives indicated you and Gever wouldn't be exploring alone. The path had fresh shoe prints of not only two adults but also a child. If you also look close to the doorway, it was slightly ajar.

"let's go," adjusting the backpack on your shoulders. You helped Gever on his feet as he started his new list of complaints. "Are you sure I should go in? What if a ruin guard squishes me?" "Then I'll replace you with Xingqui" "You are a cruel mechanic." He stuck to your legs as you entered the domain. Whoever was here definitely assist you in lighting the area. Vines covered the walls, with the occasional branches hampering your path. Sounds of the machinery moved in beat, stopping every second only to start again. Once in a while, you pause to loot crates digging for good resources. It was the sound of laughter that made you froze. "We're gonna die!!" Gever, he exclaimed in a whisper. His grasp on your leg tightens much more, frantically searching for the source. "Ignore that; maybe it's just a ruin guard oil that needs to be replaced." You went back to your mini raid. More on edge, the little mage closed his eyes and began his count to ten.

"Teucer!"

The chaos circuit once in your hand fell, now laid on the ground. Your eyes widen at that voice; it held so much mischief and love—Ocen blue eyes. Yes, those innocent pupils that carry the world just for you and him. Shuddering, you grabbed Gever arm and pulled him back to your arrival. If he was here, then more pain will emerge. The mage appeared to be more relieved at your sudden decision. Why was he here? The Fatui long gone don't roam this area mainly for there are way too many active ruin guards alive. The entrance was close, bits of lights shone beneath the door.

"Big sister (Y/N)!"

A cheerful tone paralyzed you. Suddenly more footsteps joined the young boy, a small gasp escape the male behind his brother. Turning around, your eyes met with the same baby blue eyes from all those childhood years ago.

[otverzhennyy]

Are the Fatui really the Evil™ organisation ? (Viktor edition.)

The answer : YES ! They really are the evil side and not our dark academia fantasy ! I know it sucks I hate it too !

The Fatui are the token villains of Genshin Impact. In every region, the second something even remotely evil could happen and anyone could have done so, the Fatui are thrown in there to be like “Oh so those characters were not evil IT WAS JUST THE FATUI !”. Whenever a quest plot is gonna be too boring because it is just gonna be exposition, JUST PUT AN EVIL FATUI IN THERE.

And that is not me complaining, absolutely not. It is just the way I personally see it. And I love it. Like Team Rocket, like Slytherins, they’re so damn entertaining. One can talk all they want about, oh, how the Tsaritsa’s great plan is to change the world and that she must be morally grey but ultimately chose an evil path for her ambitions, that the Harbingers have this tragic backstory, but... really, the average Fatui is petty, villainous, stupid, dense, one-dimensional and just a downright bully. With Childe, who is written as a literal anti-villain, the only exception... to the attitude, but in terms of actions, he’s definitely in the worst. They are the easy antagonists to an anime game aimed at children and teenagers (and adult otakus so basically hairier children and teenagers) in a narrative which is just an excuse to play cool anime characters in very cool fantasy zones to explore and solve sudoku puzzles.

With their dark and punk (really cool and hot) type of clothing, Fatui can easily be taken as like. Cunning, opportunistic and ambitious, but the reality is that they are all either bigoted preps or simplistic jocks (and honestly the jocks are just muscular preps, skirmishers and all). Including the Harbingers. And any nuance comes from reading too much between the lines or pure headcanon territory.

The very few times Fatui characters are sympathetic are when you do not know anything else about them but this one thing you know of them or are in a situational moment that is as small as do you open the door to someone who is behind you going in the same building or not and don’t represent any deeper morals in critical situations and more like common decency or sense.

Viktor is no exception to this case. Because, as the latest weekly boss drop mentions in its description, the Fatui leave their name and face behind when enrolling to become one, reinforcing the concept that they lose all sense of individuality. Fatui are most likely formed to have that specific evilious mindset (and/or are recruited when showing signs of it) and wouldn’t pass the training if they were to break out of that mindset (aka “omg we’re the bad guys”, just from Viktor and Childe’s dialogues, they are fully aware that they are “bad guys”).

Viktor’s actions in quests just show that he is less gratuitous into posing actions that are seen as villainous. He is still very rude towards, well, anyone, until they are proven useful to him (aka the Traveler with who he has a “healthy” transactional relationship), Lily being a sweet kid being the only exception.

Why is Lily an exception ? Viktor says that “ [the other agents are] probably spinning their wheels here, just like [him]”, meaning that he doesn’t speak to the others or are close to any of them. Viktor is extremely homesick and away from any contact that is not hostile from the locals. As the days become weeks, weeks become months and towards a full year, this weighs incredibly on his psyche. And as he is only human, a warm presence like Lilly was able to slip through the cracks of Viktor’s “shady Fatooey” behaviour.

Viktor is still a Fatui through and through. Only he might sounds less devious than others. This would probably come from the fact that Viktor has no ambition whatsoever, making his point of view, let’s say, more grounded (read : possibly cynical) than the most ambitious Fatui who puts the whole organisation on a way higher, idealized pedestal. Whereas Viktor still acknowledges the incredible power of the Harbingers and the Tsaritsa, he still describes them relatively as individuals and, ultimately, his bosses and just, his nation leaders who are individuals just like him in the end.

Just like his peers, Viktor derives pleasure from the suffering of others in general, entertainment from them struggling, is greedy, proud, arrogant and mainly focused on his self gain above all else atop of taking advantage of the diplomatic immunity and Fatui military pressure to just be an asshole in general with no tangible repercussions. I do think that unlike certain characters in the Fatui, Viktor is one who is not inherently evil at his core, but not a good person either, with the way the organisation is having either genuinely malicious individuals or those on the darker side of the greyer area. He is very flawed and inconsiderate. With most of how people see as “positive” interaction is him actually being dismissive and passive aggressive due to him just not finding the effort to speak up his WHOLE mind of how much you’re a nuisance worth it. He is a bored, tired man who enjoys the path of least resistance.

[kwamiwayzz]

inazuma botw au???

so i was thinking of this botw-like au for the inazuma archon quest and basically this is just a rip off of the rip off 

instead of the traveler fixing everything it would end up being Ei and the rest of my ideas and brain dumping down below (idk where im going with this but i couldnt stop thinking about it) 

also i haven’t played the inazuma archon quest yet, im slow and i feel like by the time i get to inazuma everyone will be in sumeru asifjsapdofk

after the khaenriah war and makoto’s death, ei still creates the shogun and goes out of her way to shape inazuma in the ideal eternity she hopes for (unchanging, no one suffers from loss) 

instead of the fatui tricking the shogun into enacting the vision hunt decree, Ei is the one who ultimately comes to the conclusion that without visions, no one would be driven to a degree of ambition that leads to loss

this continues for a few hundred years and inazuma is at a complete standstill, there is no progress, so therefore no changes to the country’s wealth, status, advancements, etc. they are ultimately the only country that is way behind from every other country in Teyvat, especially Snezynha or however you spell it 

Ei still placed her consciousness in the sword and has a bit more control of the Shogun’s decisions compared to what is written in the inazuma archon quest, but the tsaritsa is already on her quest to “destroy the old world”

the tsaritsa feels that there is no need for gods and after hearing of the mess going on in inazuma it gives her more reason to pursue destroying the old world since she believes there is no need for gods in Teyvat anymore (idk if this is what she actually thinks since we know little to nothing on the tsaritsa but we’ll go with it)

when she tries to eliminate the shogun, the tsaritsa finds out that the true archon, Ei has been hiding in the sword that the Shogun hides in a small pocket dimension in her chest 

something something magic, the tsaritsa puts Ei’s consciousness in a stasis so she no longer has control of the shogun and ends up throwing the musou no hitotachi sword into the ocean 

A couple hundred years pass and Inazuma is almost a desolate-like wasteland, there are still people and a few villagers around, but the population is very sparse 

reasons for this is due to the damage from the vision hunt decree, and the tsaritsa’s forces taking over to try and “help” sneznaya but was met with resistance from some of the inazumans 

the traveler finds ends up going to Inazuma and is tasked by Yae Miko to find an old sword before she can help the traveler find their sibling 

(or maybe the traveler finds it first then yae finds out and then traveler does some more other world magic to revive Ei’s consciousness and physical form into the mortal realm) 

After the Traveler revives Ei’s consciousness and physical form, Yae finds that the damage that the tsaritsa caused led to Ei losing her memories but somehow hasn’t suffered from the more damaging effects of erosion 

Yae tells Traveler they probably won’t find any information on their sibling in Inazuma so she tells them to head straight to Sumeru

meanwhile by the time Ei wakes up from her comatose like state, Yae tells her how she fucked up and has to fix everything in Inazuma since there’s still some parts of the islands that can still be salvaged 

while Ei is super confused on what’s going on, she does her best to figure out what’s happened to inazuma and picks up clues along the way of her memories back when her friends and sister were still alive 

added angst :) all her friends Saiguu, Sasayuri, and Chiyo never technically died but were corrupted and in order to eliminate the added threat in Inazuma Ei has to kill them to put them to rest once and for all 

extra added angst :))) Makoto’s soul was also corrupted and Ei has to kill her too 

oh and the people of Inazuma hate her because of the whole vision hunt decree business that plunged the country to its sorry state which Ei is even more confused (yet hurt) on bc she can’t remember anything 

idk what im doing with this lmao but I kept imagining this scenario with Ei’s orignal kagemusha clothing while Yae is hovering around giving her clues on what to do next and what happened and all 

oops ioasdjfaosidjf i didnt put much eimiko in here but maybe when im not running low on brain power i can add more later

[ship-ambrosia]

Chilumi Week Day 3 - Diamond Dust (Snezhnaya)

Summary: Lumine arrives in Snezhnaya earlier than he had planned for.

   It’s snowing.

   Not like snow is any rarity in Snezhnaya, the land of eternal winter. But it’s the first one since he’s been back in his homeland that isn’t a blizzard. Childe liked blizzards more than most - that dangerous way the snow piles on top of you, losing every since of direction while your body grows colder - but it’s been almost nonstop the last few days. The weather drifting now is soft, snowflakes waltzing through the air. In the morning sun they glimmer, like some is shaking dust made of diamonds from the clouds.

   This is the Snezhnaya he wanted Lumine to see.

   Up until now all she has heard is bad things. He had once told her he loved snow because it was the perfect backdrop for bloodshed - he’d seen the look in her eyes. She didn’t like the idea of Snezhnayan snow. But his homeland was beautiful, and he knew as soon as she stepped her foot off the boat, she’d be in love too.

   With Snezhnaya.

   The familiar set of nerves begins to sink in, as it did whenever he thinks about Lumine. He had left Liyue almost immediately after the Lantern Festival; and yet, as long as he’s been back in Snezhnaya, he’d been in Zapolyarny Palace, or the occasional mission for her Majesty. His family didn’t know he was home. They probably thought he was still in Liyue. The next time he saw them, he’d have Lumine with him.

   Their plan had made a lot of sense, actually. The Tsaritsa’s Festival would be soon, which was the only time of year where boats were constantly docking in the city’s port. No one would suspect one more; in fact, the very trustworthy captain Childe had paid to transport his guest in secret was probably bringing people from Liyue here to enjoy the city of snow themselves. Ekaterina was returning on the very boat. No one would expect the Traveler.

   Lumine had thought that catching the Tsaritsa off guard would be the best way to get any information the Archon might know out of her, and he was unfortunately inclined to agree. So not only was he smuggling her into Snezhnaya, but he would be smuggling her into the Palace - right to his Queen. Surely, his actions would be scrutinized, likely punished, but he knew Lumine wouldn’t hurt the Tsaritsa. As much as he hated to admit it - so he didn’t think about it too much - any hostility was likely to come from the Cryo Archon herself.

   He wasn’t expecting the boat for another week. He had preparations to make, plans on how he was going to get her through Snezhnaya without anyone in the Fatui noticing her, one of the Fatui’s most highly ranked enemies. He had just been stretching his legs, taking a walk through the palace, when he’d overheard them, two Fatui agents talking in the halls.

   “Dock schedule for today?”

   “Oh, you should let her Majesty know... we received word that the Tide’s Breath, carrying passengers from Liyue, is arriving ahead of schedule this morning.”

   “Ahead, you say? How early is it?”

   “About a week.”

   Childe stopped dead in his tracks. He replayed the conversation over and over in his head. That was the ship she was on. That was its original arrival plans. Which meant that Lumine was instead arriving today.

   He left the castle before anyone could ask the Eleventh Harbinger where he was going.

~

   Snezhnaya’s port was smaller, less busy than Liyue’s. Where people milled about just to see what they could see in Liyue, only the dock workers were present. Currently, they were letting passengers off a large, beautiful ship, all curves and ornate carvings, marking the vessel of Liyue origins. The Tide’s Breath.

   Childe quickly made his way through the disembarking crowd, too focused on making it up the ramp to care about who he had to push out of the way. He was supposed to be onboard before the passengers were let off. That was his plan. He felt anger welling up inside him. Every minute counted. Every minute he wasted was another one that the Fatui could find their way on the ship, find their way to where Lumine was. Another minute that she could be dead the next.

   Not spotting the captain anywhere on deck, Childe made his way toward the rooms below. Sure enough, he could hear laughter from the room with double doors, two people in conversation. The light giggles that seemed to dance through the air, he knew those. Relief flooded his veins. She was fine.

   Pausing for a moment to compose himself, Childe gave a quick scan of the boat around him before stretching out his hands and pushing the doors to the room open. He stopped just in time to prevent the blade that was pointed at him from burying into his chest. All three of them froze, but Childe had a smile on his face. The doors swung closed behind him.

   “Well, I appreciate the warm welcome, girlie,” he spoke first, eyes glimmering with delight. He loved the way she made his heart race. Every damn time.

   He watched Lumine’s expression change from a tempered ferocity, to surprise, to relief. Her sword magically disappeared once again, and Lumine put her hands on her hips. Her expression changed again to one he was very familiar with - annoyance.

   “Did you really have to barge in here without knocking? I could’ve killed you.”

   “When have I ever let that stop me from doing anything?” He asked her, seriously.

   She shook her head - and then shocked him by moving forward and pulling him into a hug as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. He was so much taller than her that the top of her head barely crested his shoulders; which meant that when he looked down, he could clearly see all of her. Part of him wasn’t sure it was real. He felt the adrenaline kick in, his heart started to race - but it was in an entirely different way than usual.

   “I’m so glad to see you again,” Lumine told him as she untangled her arms from around him. The young man from Snezhnaya found himself cold after she broke away.

   He looked toward her, this girl who he had tricked, tried to kill, and then sent an evil god to attack the harbor she was staying in, and thought about what she had just said. “Me too.”

   Clearing his throat, clearly to remind the two of them he was still there, the captain stepped over to them and clasped a hand on Lumine’s shoulder. “She was a delight to have on board, Tartaglia. Sorry about the early arrival. We had to get creative when your Fatui friend nearly came upon Miss Lumine. So the lass used her Anemo Vision to speed us up a bit. I thought it’d be suspicious if we didn’t dock even though we had arrived.”

   Childe cursed under his breath. He had known the risk he posed by putting Ekaterina on the same boat as Lumine. But he’d also hoped the Fatui would pay attention to her arrival, and use it to explain Childe’s interest in the boat. “Lumine, I’m sorry.”

   “Don’t be,” she answered softly. “You still got me here.”

   “We’ve got another problem though,” the captain said, and Childe immediately tensed. Had someone discovered her anyway? Who was he going to have to silence? He was thrown off guard though, when the captain yanked his coat off Childe’s shoulders.

   “Your lady friend here didn’t bring any warm clothes for Snezhnaya!” He exclaimed, draping Childe’s coat over her shoulders. “You oughta go buy her some.”

   “You didn’t buy any coats when you knew you were coming here?” He stared at Lumine in surprise.

   “I didn’t think about it... that it’s not like an expedition in Dragonspine,” she admitted. “Sorry.”

   He chuckled a bit. She was the savior of every city she found herself in, a skilled swordsman, a master investigator... and yet she had forgotten to buy a coat to go to the land of the Cryo Goddess. Childe turned to the captain, dropping a small pouch with the last of the payment he owed him inside. Clasping his own hand on Lumine’s shoulder, he grinned at her. “I’ve never taken a lady shopping before.”

~

   “Your family knows I’m coming right?” She asked as they were perusing the selection of a clothing store in Snezhnaya. Just as Childe had predicted, the moment they had exited the docks and entered the city, he had watched Lumine’s eyes light up. Snezhnaya had surprised her. He was still holding on to that warm feeling that had spread through his chest when he looked at her, that brilliant smile, framed by the diamond dust around her, like the embers of a fire that refused to burn out.

   Now he found it kind of funny, the two of them hiding in the back of a store from the eyes of the Fatui. The lone shopkeep had no idea that two of the strongest fighters in all of Teyvat were shopping for coats in his store right now.

   “Yes, but not until next week,” he pursed his mouth, looking at a navy and black coat. Maybe it was stupid, but he didn’t think Lumine would want to wear dark clothes. “I’m still figuring out what we’re going to do.”

   “Next week? Why don’t you just tell them my boat arrived early? That’s what happened,” she pointed out, and Childe realized he had neglected to tell her parts of his own plan.

   “Girlie I’m uh... not staying with my family, currently,” he stopped looking at the clothes, and turned to her. “I’ve been staying in the Tsaritsa’s palace. My family doesn’t know I’m in Snezhnaya yet.”

   She crossed her arms. “Well what are we going to do for a week? I don’t think I can stay in Zapolyarny Palace.”

   Despite their dilemma, he chuckled at the ridiculous idea. Right, the place he was going to smuggle her into on the last night of the Tsaritsa’s Festival. Probably not good to try and hide her there for not one week, but two.

   “I’ll think of something. See any coats you like?” He asked, handing a bundle to her. “Nothing like a genuine coat from the land of snow itself. Maybe this was your plan all along.”

   She rolled her eyes, and reached for one to begin trying them on, the coat a baby blue color. “I think a coat from Liyue probably would have been cheaper.”

   “Hey, I’m paying so it’s fine,” he turned back to the hangers to look for more in her size.

   “A week!” She mumbled to herself from behind him. “Sometimes when Paimon and I were out exploring, we’d lose track of time and be out there camping for three weeks! And now we don’t know what to do for one!”

   His hands stopped. “Girlie, I think you just solved our problem.”

   Realizing what Childe meant, he heard her rustling stop, too. “I’ve never been to Snezhnaya. There’s probably dozens of ruins and monsters out in the mountains.”

   “There is,” a grin found its way onto his face at the thought of seeing her in action again. He whipped around to face her. “And I, the Eleventh Harbinger, can be your-“

   The words died in his throat. It turns out the rustling hadn’t stopped because she was thinking, but because she had slipped a second coat on. He didn’t even remember pulling a white coat from the store, but she stood before him, white fur from the hood brushing her cheeks. That warmth spread through him again - but this time it was less gradual, less soft, and more like the bright burst of pain from being stabbed. Petals in his chest unfurled with a furious speed. He knew why. He knew it was because she looked absolutely beautiful; and the coat reminded him she was here, she was in Snezhnaya. She was with him, just the two of them.

   “Is something wrong?” She asked.

   “I think we should get that one,” he answered quickly, marching over to the shopkeeper and throwing down his bag of mora on the counter. Lumine followed him, he could practically hear her confusion in her breathing. Childe, for his part, refused to look at her. He knew he had to look ridiculous.

   He was quiet as they excited the shop, too, alert and aware of everyone around them as he led Lumine through the streets toward an inn. He knew he could keep her hidden there, amongst the crowds of ordinary people, for at least a night or two.

   “Childe,” she slipped her hand into his and tugged, stopping him.

   “What are you doing? We can’t stop in the middle of the street?” He knew he was blushing this time. Damn it, he was supposed to be the bloodthirsty, warrior of the Harbingers. He wasn’t supposed to just blush.

   But when he looked at Lumine, her eyes were sparkling, a smile across her face. And the damn snow. The snow made her look even more beautiful. And he thought that no sane person could resist something like that.

   “Back in the store... were you going to say you wanted to come with me?”

   “A week with you out in the Snezhnayan wilderness, fighting monsters and finding treasure?” He couldn’t hide the excitement in his voice, either. “Well, someone’s gotta make sure you don’t get lost out there, and Paimon’s not here.”

   She seemed to consider his words for a moment, before moving so that she was walking beside him, rather than behind. She didn’t untangle from him this time - she kept her hand firmly grasping his. “We have a deal.”

   He continued with her to the inn, as the snow continued to drift around him, and Childe was pretty sure he’d be able to get a week off from the Fatui to explore with her.

[sakuratragedy]

Emperors Consort | Chapter 2

Fandom: Genshin Impact Pairing: Zhongli / Childe, #Zhongchi Tags: R18, A/B/O Dynamics, Royalty AU Summary: aka "Emperor's consort doesn't know the difference between being a concubine and being a consort" Tsaritsa wants her child to have a good life after serving her on the battlefield for so long, so she makes a deal with an old friend. In exchange for her military might, he will marry her son. Childe who has no formal omega training has to do his best to cover up the fact he has no idea what he's doing. Do your best to be a good omega Childe!

He remembers the familiar ache in his back and knot in his shoulders from the last time he travelled from the mother country to Liyue. The arrival at the harbour was busy per usual. The sounds of Liutian and foreigners alike moving around the harbour, the voices that speak of trades and exchange greetings merge together creating a mess of noise. His fellow Fatui agents unloading the luggage they brought (limited to a single case per person), dressed in their fatui garb ready to split ways after unloading and receiving orders from the youngest Harbinger.

Tartaglia dressed in his civilian clothing and did a quick scan of the harbour. It didn’t look like much had changed much over the years he had been away. He had been wearing his Harbinger uniform up until he could see the outline of the harbour from the ship, before remembering he was not there for a quick mission.

He was there to potentially get mated (and possibly married).

“I’m sure you know what to do.” Childe says without having to turn to look at his agents, but he knows they were listening. “Independent action until necessary, don’t cause any trouble that I can’t get you out of.” He glanced over his shoulder to watch his agents nod at him. Usually they would disappear by now, going their own separate directions but they stood there behind him. Childe raised his brow when he still felt their presence behind him and fully turned to them.

“Speak.”

“Sir, are you truly going to become the emperor’s omega?” He recalls her name, Ekaterina, who was there during his last stay in Liyue years ago.

“It’s part of Tsaritsa's deal with the emperor. Who am I to disobey her?”

“What about your position as a Harbinger, sir?” a skirmisher asks, timidly rubbing the back of his head for speaking so boldly to his superior. Childe gave a half-glare at the taller male before he rolled his eyes.

“I’m still a Harbinger. This ‘mating with the emperor’ shit isn’t solid.” He does air quotations with his fingers. “What is important right now is the mission. If you find out what the emperor's big dilemma is before I do, please relay it back to me.” His agents clung to every word he uttered as if he spoke the gospel, memorising it down to each syllable to avoid missing anything and honestly, he loved it.

Surely this ‘mating and marriage’ could turn optional if he finishes the mission earlier than intended. Childe starts running through various possibilities that could happen to him when he finally starts living at the palace to prepare himself from being caught off guard. If he revealed himself to be a Harbinger right away, the emperor would put him to work immediately. They would solve the problem faster than usual. -

‘Because I’m talented and strong, it would be done in no time.’ Childe thinks to himself.

And in the end the emperor would have to mate and marry him to uphold the Tsaritsa’s end of the bargain. But… if he pretended he was just a useless omega prince, would the emperor be more willing to let him go?

He smirks at the idea before turning to his agents.

“Do not tell anyone that I’m a Harbinger.” He watches them nod once at his command.

“Dismissed.” He smiles and they disappear in the blink of an eye.

‘This could be fun.’ he thinks, his smile stretching holding more mischief from his clever plan. ‘I’ll be back home in no time.’

“You’re the Tsaritsa’s son.” a voice snapped him out of his devious thoughts. He turned to his left, seeing no one. A little cough in the direction he was looking at made him glance down meeting eyes with a small girl, much shorter than himself that she had to tilt her head upwards to meet his eyes. Her mouth was curled into a distasteful pout, likely irritated at the obvious height difference.

Childe couldn’t hold back the smile that grew on his face. She was so tiny. The girl might have mistaken Childe’s smile as a mocking one and grew more irritated, her brows furrowing together.

‘She’s a fighter.’ he thinks as his eyes travel further down, intrigued by the sword attached at her hip decorated with extravagant carvings. The guard was shaped like a lion's head, beautiful listening gold in the afternoon light and the little eyes seemed to glow fiercely with amber gems. Analysing her figure, he realizes could probably beat her if they fought. He should be nice to her, since fighting weaker people did not bring any pleasure.

“I’m speaking to you.” She doesn’t mask the irritation in her voice when she glares at him. He continues to watch her with curious eyes, eyebrow raised as she moves her light purple hair behind her shoulder in one elegant toss of her hand before crossing her arms at her chest. Without having to look for too long, he knows this confident girl that came to pick him up at the harbour must be associated with the Liyue Qixing from the elegant air that she carries.

“Yes, I heard you.” Childe responds. The corner of his lip turns upward again when she rolls her eyes openly at him before turning her face away. Never in his life had he seen someone so openly irritated at him. This girl did not care the slightest that she was in the presence of one of Snezhnaya’s ruthless fighters, let alone foreign royalty.

“We’re leaving for the palace now. Follow me.” she says quickly before turning on her heels and walking away. She seemed to be in a rush to leave Childe behind, but her plan did not go about the way she planned as Childe has longer legs. He took a few big strides and caught up to her walking pace, which seemed to irritate her further. Either way, it was not hard to keep up with her.

He glanced down at his walking partner, seeing her bite her lip and her gloved hands are little balls at her sides as she walked made him chuckle.

“I hope you know I already don’t like you.” She says as she turns on her heel to open the door to the carriage. While different from Snezhnaya carriages that were fully covered and the cushioning surrounded by velvet to keep the warm, he found it cute how Liyue carriages were open, fancy carvings on the wood let air through the carriage. He traced the red wood, admiring it for a bit too long before the girl behind him made noise.

“Just get in already!” He laughed again when he climbed into the carriage, tears brimming his eyes from the way his stomach hurt.

“You’ve amused me like no other. What is your name, young lady?” Childe smiled bright and wide, feeling actual excitement of having someone openly hate him. He reached out to shake her hand, while his other hand wiped away the stray tear at the corner of his eye.

The girl huffed, her cheeks turning pink from either the humid air or his constant teasing. Her gloved hand grabbed his own.  

“Keqing.”

-

“Good morning Taru…” He sat up from his canopy bed decorated with gorgeous red and gold silks stretching his arms over his head.

His room was heavily decorated in exquisite furnishings such as porcelain vases detailed in gold and little statues of long dragons with clouds surrounding them made of marble would decorate the tables. Soft and expensive furs and fabrics draped on his bed. A single round window made of wood with intricate circle and square motive carvings framed all four sides of the window placed just a little further from the door that led out onto his huge balcony beside his bedroom.

“Good morning Qiqi!” Childe smiled at his attendant. He holds his hand out, waiting for Qiqi to give him the item that she was holding. He felt his heart melt when the little girl approached him at his bed and shyly placed a small purple flower in his palm. Childe pauses to look at the delicate plant in his hands.

“What is this?” He asks curiously. The small flower looked a little rough around its edges, but he can tell from the way Qiqi protectively held it before passing it to him that she tried her very best to be gentle.

“Violetgrass…” She fiddles with the hem of her dress, swaying her body from left to right waiting for him to accept the present she had given him.

“I love it. Thank you Qiqi.” He gently sets the violetgrass by his side before he carefully moves out of bed. He kneels in front of her to hug the smaller girl, which she happily hugs back. He feels her little hands grab the back of his silk pajamas, not being able to fully circle around him just yet.

“Let’s start the day, shall we?” Childe pulls away gently from the hug. Qiqi nods in agreement before she leaves him to find the ladies that will prepare his clothing and accessories for the day. As several sets of hands roam his body, brushing his hair and tying robes onto his clothing, another lady reads aloud the schedule that has been fixed for him by Keqing. He shuts his eyes, feeling his head tilt in one direction as a maid brushes his untamable hair. He can feel her frustration as she brushes before deciding it would be best to place little decorative pins in the shape of beautiful flowers into his hair to compensate for the mess underneath. She clips small flowers into the curls of his hair, twisting as they were little branches for the acrylic flowers to sit upon.

The first three days of Childe’s life in the Liyue Palace were very similar, a blur . Qiqi’s presence was the only consistent thing that happened during his time at the palace. Every morning when Qiqi wakes him up, she would bring something small and interesting she thinks that he would like.

The Qixing (Keqing, specifically) had presented him with Qiqi as his personal attendant while he stayed in the palace. He had discovered through the smaller girl that she works part time for Baizhu, picking herbs for hours on end occasionally never coming back to the palace for three days. But since she now waits on the foreign prince, her herb picking hours have been reduced from twilight till the sun broke through the clouds the next morning.

“Don’t you need sleep?” He asks the first day he met her. She was such a small and young girl, how could anyone make her work her bones off from dusk till dawn. Keqing stands further back from them, letting them introduce themselves before she has to haul him elsewhere.

“Qiqi is okay. Adepti are okay.” Childe didn’t know what that meant and he believed her, but it didn’t stop him from feeling a little guilty. Small kids should be getting proper rest and not scaling the side of dangerous cliffs for herbs that the doctor was capable of getting for himself.

He didn’t think that he had to make a complete 180 change from the last time he was in Liyue. Ever since Childe stepped foot on that harbour three days ago, he hadn’t touched his belongings he brought with him from Snezhnaya. He hadn’t worn any of the clothes he brought, as the attendants would dress him in Liyue’s traditional clothes specifically made for Liutian omegas.

-

“Why do I have to wear a dress?” Childe asks as he looks himself in the mirror, the silks and cotton flowy against his skin. The light blue robes detailed in a darker shade of navy blue and gold stitching complimented his eye colour. Several attendants were surrounding him, taking his measurements not missing out a single inch of his body as Keqing stood before him. She monitored the way the ladies moved gracefully about him as if they were in a dance, fleeting touches not more than 2 seconds, a stretch of tape here and there, a little tug of his clothes once in a while before the touches leave him. He watches the redhead in the mirror through the floor to ceiling mirror, the one that looked like him but he could not recognise from the gorgeous silks and cottons that decorated his imposter.

“All omegas, especially those from noble lines wear hanfus.” Keqing explains as she pulls the skirt down. Golden accessories such as clips and small delicate chains started to decorate his hair, neck and ears, Keqing was presented with different silks by the same attendants. He doesn’t say anything when she holds it up against his face, before giving the fabric back and nodding in approval.

“Plus, it’s pretty. Alphas love pretty omegas.” A beautiful woman walks in wearing her own white and golden hanfu, carrying herself like she was a goddess walking amongst men. The way her skirt flowed as she walked towards the two, the slim and elegant smile on her lips as she walked over to them. She gave a little twirl, her gorgeous skirt flaring out like a dream of silk and cotton as she arrived before the foreign prince and blushing noble.

“Don’t you agree?” She asks, leaning a little towards Keqing.  Keqing took a step back, face colouring as she looked away in embarrassment. Childe watched as the omega teased the purple haired alpha by inching closer as the other backed away. Gorgeous amber eyes gleaming with mirth, her smile hidden behind her paper fan as she basically teased the alpha. She carries a similar paper fan in her hand, wearing a similarly fashioned hanfu and yet, they couldn’t be any more different.

“Yes. You are very pretty.” her voice barely an audible gasp could be heard, but it was a sufficient response for the fair lady.

From the way her presence alone can suffocate a room, begging its attention to be turned to her and the way comfortably glides around the palace. It was safe to assume that this was the emperor's regina.

“I am Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. It’s nice to meet you.” She gives a little bow of respect that Childe awkwardly returns back. Those titles that came after her name did not hold any meaning to Childe as he didn’t understand what that meant, it was possible he would forget after this meeting.

“You look pretty as well. I think this colour suits you wonderfully.” Ningguang says as she pulls lightly on the baby blue fabric the attendants had put around his arms not for any particular purpose other than decoration, but Childe being who he is naturally assumed he could turn it into a weapon and strangle someone with it if he was given the chance.

‘No, that’s a bad Ajax.’ He thought to himself. ‘No thinking about strangling.’ The voice in his head speaks in a firm tone as if he were speaking to a naughty child. His face sulks a little. When the attendants pulled away after what felt like hours, he was greeted with a sight he had never seen before. He was dressed in beautiful silks and cottons that could give him the illusion of being beautiful.

The style of hanfu was very similar to the long flowing one Ningguang wore, except the colours of his hanfu were softer in comparison to the dramatic whites, bright reds and golds the other omega wore. He didn’t catch himself in time, accidentally openly gawking at how well the attendants had dressed him. When he caught himself and shut his mouth, his eyes met with the Tianquan. She smiled at him, looking genuinely excited that he looked decent in those clothes. He can’t help but feel out of place. The attendants presented a variety of earrings carefully placed on a tray to Ningguang. She hums and carefully picks up one that she thinks would suit Childe best. A single red gem hanging from slim golden chains, smaller red flowers littering the chain in delicate placements.

“Why do you not wear your pheromones?” She asks as she assists Childe by putting on the earring. “You seem to have many scent blockers upon your neck.” She reaches for them, but with Childe’s fast reflexes, he’s immediately off the chair and covering the back of his neck with his hand. He leans against the vanity, trying not to look as uncomfortable as he feels and tries to steel his rapidly beating heart.

Ningguang blinked.

She didn’t even see him move.

“The Tsaritsa said not to take them off.” He says quickly followed by a forced laugh and smile, hoping that she would not press any further concerning the three scent blockers covering every inch of the scent glands on his neck, preventing any pheromones from accidentally leaking.

She was silent, hands still in the air from where she was holding Childe’s other earring.

“Alright.” Ningguang put the other earring down on the tray that the attendant held. “I suppose she would only want you to take them off during your heat.”

Childe nervously laughs and agrees with her.

-

Presented with portions more than Childe had ever seen, he had been eating a lot of food since he arrived at the palace compared to his home life in Snezhnaya. Childe had never been one to eat for pleasure, as he was the type of prince who found pleasure in pain and fighting, challenges and battle scars.

If Childe was to eat any more food, he felt as if his stomach would simply burst open and a flow of various ingredients would stream from it. But being the kind prince he is, he smiles and opens his mouth, consuming the food that was given to him.

It was an unusual sight for sure. He sat amongst the chefs at their designated dining table in the kitchen of the palace. Their sturdy wooden table plated at least three different kinds of chicken meals featuring different parts, cooked several different ways. He was seated on their wooden bench that could fit five people per side and ate from delicate porcelain wares and golden spoons and forks.

‘Why so spicy?’ Childe holds in the scream he wants to let out, his cheeks glowing a peachy red hue as he chews slowly, the burning sensation in his mouth moving further down his throat as he swallows. He can’t be anything less than regal as a foreign prince, carrying his image by sitting upright with his elbows off the table, but in that moment he feels helpless to the spice. His mouth opened slightly, pink lips huffing out hot air attempting to ventilate the scorching sensation.

“ He’s so thin. Xiangling is there anything else to eat?” A woman much older than him sat to his right, watching him as he steadily ate the steamed chicken dish in front of him cooked with chilies, thinly sliced gingers, and soft wolfberries. A man to his left took away his bowl of rice when he brought the spoon of chicken and rice to his mouth, filling the bowl with more soft fluffy rice before setting it back down before him.

“ I can make chicken feet with dark sauce! ” A young girl says as she rushes around the large kitchen holding a cleaver in her hand. The other chefs laugh fondly when ingredients start flying about the kitchen, some entering pots and nearly missing the pans. The cheery girl hums an upbeat tune while the cleaver cuts fast against the wooden board.

“ His face is red! ” One chef says to another.

“ Youths are so cute. ” The woman decides to fondly pinch his cheek, making him turn to her, rosy blush dusting his face. Childe couldn’t concentrate on the actions of the chefs in the kitchen, too busy blinking away the tears that stinged his eyes from the intensity of the chili.

“ Should eat more though. Get fatter and bear healthy kids.” The same woman wraps her hand around Childe’s slim wrist, seeing how she could easily wrap her thumb and index finger around it.

He exhaled a breath through his slightly parted mouth, the heat never leaving him. While his eyes were clenched closed, the young girl dropped a large bowl of soup beside the spicy chicken he had yet to clean off his plate.

“Eat up!” She says in a language he could understand since he had arrived in this kitchen an hour ago and beams a bright smile at him. He weakly smiles back with as much politeness he could muster in that moment, knowing he couldn’t get out of the situation he was currently in.

-

The end of Childe’s three busy days had been the most exhilarating despite the slow start. From the moment he woke up, the ladies had brushed his hair and dressed him per usual but this time under the watchful eye of the tiny purple haired Qixing. When he was dressed, she extended her hand towards him accompanied by her sharp glare. He didn’t think much of the gesture, placing his hand on top of hers before the alpha escorted the two of them through the maze of open aired hallways leading to the emperor’s palace in silence.

“Stand here and don’t move. Don’t go anywhere.” Keqing said when they had reached the altar, removing her hand from under his. He took a look at her and nodded in understanding. She nodded back, turning away to take a seat just behind him. From the sound of a drag of the chair against the floor, he can tell she pulled a seat closer to her own in that moment he wasn’t looking.

He had stood before the entire Liyue Qixing, seven heads of noble lines seated behind him as he stood what looked like an altar, listening to a man speaking in pure liyuan before him. From the dramatic gestures to his loud booming voice that echoed the hall, he could guess the man was a preacher of some sort. Occasionally he would jolt awake from the way the preacher’s voice would boom.

“ In the consort’s next heat, may the archons bless that an adepti child be born. ” Childe’s polite smile is beginning to fade into a more awkward and strained one. He feels like he had been standing there for ages from the way his back began to hurt from how straight he stood, combined with the heavy weight of the seven pairs of eyes staring holes into his back.

“ The emperor. ” The loud man gestured to the large double door he had entered through, but all Childe could do was stare in confusion. The man spoke such pure liyuan it was difficult for him (someone who only ever heard informal liyuan from his one year stay) it was as if he was trying to process the thick accent along with the pure pronunciations. He tried to interpret the preacher's words with the minimum amount of liyuan he learned during his one year post at Liyue Harbour when he was 21.

‘It’s too fluent.’ Childe furrows his brows in frustration. ‘I don’t understand.’ While he was trying to deconstruct the words the preacher was saying so he could get a hold of what he was on about, he failed to notice two pairs of footsteps that entered the room. One pair had stopped walking just behind him while the other walked up beside him.

“ Two worlds will collide in a united front, to unite two countries, two perspectives, two worlds. ” The preacher made a particularly big gesture before intertwining his fingers together and locking them.

‘Honestly, I should have thought about getting a tutor 3 years ago.’ He tried his best not to show such a confused expression, but failed when he heard a chuckle beside him.

“He said ‘two worlds colliding in a united front’.”

“Ah, thank you.” Childe turned his head to thank the figure beside him before looking away in fear of getting scolded by Keqing, and looking back because fuck getting scolded by Keqing.

‘This man is so handsome !’ Childe practically screamed in his mind, so loud that he was afraid the other man could hear him. He was scared the whole hallway could possibly hear him from how loud his thought was. He didn’t care that he was openly staring with eyes as large as dinner plates at this point.

The prince was suddenly very aware of the taller man standing beside him on the altar.

‘He’s taller than me. No one is ever taller than me.’ Childe snuck another sideways glance, trying to hold back the embarrassment from showing on his face. He clearly was embarrassed, he himself knew it and is accepting of the fact. He tried to steady his breathing when he felt his heart hammer at his chest. He did not prepare himself for the possibility of the emperor being (hot) his type.

‘His jawline is so sharp. He’s so tall. Is it because he’s an alpha? He’s got such pretty eyes.’ Childe’s mind was busy collecting as much information as he could get from simply looking at the emperor, he didn’t realise something slipped from his mouth.

“Pardon?” He turns his head to fully look at Childe, watching as the prince’s fair cheeks bloom a bright red when he realizes some thoughts may have slipped out as real words.

“My apologies, it’s nothing.”

Throughout the ceremony, Childe kept sneaking glances at him. Well, he couldn’t help himself no matter how disciplined he was. This man was so much eye candy he had to openly stare. When the other man noticed him staring and when he caught his eyes, Childe whipped his head to look away.

“Are you nervous?” he hears a soft voice beside him. He looks up to see him glancing with a gentle expression. Childe felt himself blush. The emperor is so handsome, you would never believe he was 40 years old.

“Yes, a little. I can’t really understand what he’s saying.” Childe admits truthfully before he felt him blush rise to his ears. Why did he admit that? Was his face really able to let down his guard?

The emperor chuckles a little before he smiles and looks forward at the officiater. “We’ll get you a tutor. It is an easy language to grasp once you figured out the basics.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s not a problem.” He smiled.

‘Fangs!’ Childe’s mind shouted in glee when he saw the sharp teeth but his face kept a calm appearance. He realises he’s been too jumpy during the ceremony and not concentrating at all. He takes a deep breath to calm himself down. ‘Of course the man has fangs, he’s an alpha.’ He nods, thinking logically and completely missing the side glance followed by a fleeting smirk the other man gave him.

The preacher hands Childe and the emperor a small cup each filled with fragrant rice wine.

‘Do I drink this?’ He looks at the clear liquid in the goblet before looking up at Zhongli, meeting his eyes for the first time in the hour they had been standing beside each other. Zhongli’s eyes never tear away from him as he slowly puts his own cup to his lips, waiting for him to do the same.

Luckily Childe catches on and drinks the wine, Zhongli doing the same.

-

“ Congratulations on getting married. ” Ningguang says in pure liyuan dialect, bowing at Childe and the emperor. Her voice carried a smoother tone when she spoke in liyuan compared to when she spoke to Childe a few days ago. He snuck another glance at Zhongli without fully turning his head, trying not to seem too interested in the man.

‘Well, if he hears my thoughts I’d be doomed.’ Childe fully regained his composure after being let go by the preacher, some of the Qixing nobles leaving the hall as soon as it was done with the exception of Ningguang and Keqing, who stood further back towards the door waiting for them to finish their conversation with the emperor. He stood beside the emperor, waiting for him to finish his exchange with his regina before introducing himself, but while that was happening he was running through his mind figuring out how to make a good first impression.

“ Be quiet. ” He says, but the smile that graced his face when he faced her was gentle, yet it held some mirth. The smiles they exchanged held deeper meaning, as if it holds years of bonding that could not be overwritten by the involvement of a second love. Childe feels envious somehow.

Zhongli fully turns to him, with that handsome smile still on his face and Childe finds himself being entranced. He could finally get a good look at the well dressed man who wore layers upon layers from his dress shirt to his vest and his outer coat, this man was covered from head to toe leaving not an inch of skin exposed for imagination to run wild.

“Childe, this is Zhongli.” Ningguang introduces them before Zhongli could open his mouth to speak. “Call him xiansheng.” Zhongli turned to her with disbelief on his face while she giggled mischievously behind her gloved hand.

“You don’t have to call me - “

“Xiansheng?” He feels shy when he attempts to copy Ningguang’s pronunciation. He was rewarded with a thumbs up from the fair lady, but he noticed Zhongli take a step back from him.

“That is good pronunciation, Childe.” Zhongli says.

“My real name is Ajax.” He blurts out, feeling his cheeks get hot from how well this man could play him without having to do anything. He hasn’t actually said his original name for years, not since he had been adopted by the Tsaritsa. He felt as if he could have gone a lifetime without hearing that name again.

“Ajax.” And yet, he wants to hear his name on this man's lips more, drink it up like it was wine and honey. The smile that comes after the syllables of his name were addictive. He feels high, overwhelmed even, as if he had not been breathing oxygen up until he hears his name uttered from this man's lips.

If he could look at that smile for the rest of his life.

“There’s plenty of time for you both to get to know each other,” Ningguang says, but the holes that Keqing had been staring into her head had increased in intensity since earlier. “But not right now.” She smiles, a little nervous about the purple haired noble that was clicking the heel of her shoe against the carpeted floor.

Unfortunately, Ningguang went unheard by the two males. Zhongli looks at Childe like he is the only person in the hall, and Childe looks at him like he was the only person in the universe as they spoke, low and quiet unwanting others to hear their meek conversation.

“Are you really 40 years old?”

“No, that might be an exaggeration.”

“I knew my siblings were joking - “ “I’m 57.”

Childe blinked, his hand moving away from his mouth, to look at the emperor with disbelief. He shook his head, feeling whiplash from the information. The corners of the emperor's lips quirk upwards, amused as he watches the ginger process the information.

“You’re older than the Tsaritsa.”

“Indeed. I’ve known her for a very long time, we are good friends.”

“Ahem.” A loud noise was made, finally attracting the attention of the prince and the emperor. They turned to look at the smaller girl, her fist at her mouth before she crossed her arms. Ningguang stood a little behind her, averting her gaze. She did try to warn them, they couldn’t blame her for their scolding.

“Childe has to meet his tutor and Lady Ningguang and I have a meeting to tend to.” Keqing says bluntly. It seems her clear dislike was not hidden from anyone, not even with the exception of the emperor.

“Oh? I thought we were going on a date?” Ningguang piped up, making the purple haired girl go red in the face, but keeping her usual stoic demeanor. Keqing had her hands balled up in fists when the lady teased her, but couldn’t deny that it had embarrassed her in a good way. Zhongli raised a curious brow at his Qixing before nodding.

“I understand. You may go.” He says to Keqing and Ningguang. They both bow at their direction, before taking off. Childe was in the midst of turning away to follow them but was stopped by a gentle touch of a hand on his wrist. The touch was so gentle, it made his heart flutter. He looked at the gloved hand that caught him, before looking up at the emperor’s face.

“Xiansheng?” He says curiously. Zhongli hesitates, so the both of them were simply studying each other's faces. He looked like he had a lot to say to him, his mouth opening slightly before closing, and opening again and biting his lower lip.

“Till we meet again.” He finally says. Zhongli looked the way that Childe felt, shy. Childe couldn’t suppress the twinkle in his eyes and the smile that crept upon his face.

“Till next time, xiansheng.”

-

“In Liyue customs, an empress is bred from young, training from a youth until a young adult to be able to take the responsibilities that come with being the empress. Among these responsibilities are overseeing the imperial charity, funding for - '' The words blur and jumble into a ball of sounds as Childe stares at the pen and blank paper in front of him.

Why did he have to learn about the empress anyway? Couldn’t he skip to the parts that he didn’t need to learn since he was a meer concubine to the emperor? He twirls the fountain pen between his fingers, careful to not fling ink out and spray it all over the parchment.

“Childe, are you listening?” He looks up at his tutor. The blue haired boy much much younger than him is sitting at the end of his desk with a thick book placed on his lap.

“Yes, Xingqiu, I’m listening.”

“Good. How many years must an empress candidate undergo training before she can become the official regina?” He places his elbow on his knee, leaning his head on his hands as he watches the foreign prince in amusement. The prince clearly hadn’t been listening to him, instead choosing to spend his time concentrating on not spilling the ink from his pen as he twirled it between his fingers like a baton.

“Sixteen years.” Childe answers effortlessly, avoiding eye contact with his smug tutor. Xingqiu’s head lifted from his hand, a little shocked that the prince actually was paying attention to him.

“Good. We can move on to the inner workings of the emperors palace and its hierarchy.” He clasps the book shut with both hands, placing it onto the ever growing pile behind him before picking up another heavy volume with gold engravings on the spine. The red head looked at the book before his gaze trailed up to his teachers face. There is no way this boy was older than sixteen, and yet he’s sitting on the corner of his desk acting like his boss. According to Keqing who assigned Xingqiu as his tutor, the boy comes from a long line of nobles that had been famed to teach Liyue etiquette to both the descendants of emperors and empresses.

“A summary of the hierarchy would be Emperor Zhongli of course, followed by his son Xiao - “

“His son?” Childe asks, curiosity getting the best of him. ‘I didn’t know Zhongli was married.’ He put a finger to his chin and leaned back into his chair, hiding his troubled expression behind his hand.

“Yes, the sole prince of Liyue and only son of the emperor, Xiao. He is twenty this year, but isn’t taking the throne.” the blue haired boy shrugs as if the information was not anything special before flipping to another page of the thick book. Childe still lost in thought was thinking about the possibilities of Zhongli’s wife and himself having a child together, but still allowing the emperor to take a concubine for the sake of his country.

“He’s the current head of the Liutian army.” His tutor realises that he was no longer paying attention and raises a brow. He figures the prince must have some troubling thoughts to forgo listening to him altogether.

“He’s adopted.” Xingqiu says. He wants to burst out laughing when the information clearly did not reach Childe’s ears, but chooses to muffle his giggle behind his hand. He watches the prince's furrowed brows and smiles gently. Might as well continue reading from the book if the prince was not going to pay attention to his detailed explanations. “After the prince would be the eight heads of the Liyue Qixing starting with the Tianquan, who oversees the law and governance.” Xingqiu continues, the sun setting through the window behind him colouring the room in an orange hue.

- ‘The emperor has a son, which means he has a wife’ was the one thing Childe really took away from his first tutoring lesson with the young noble. He lies down on his bed staring at the ceiling above him, feeling the air gently blow through his open window surrounding him in comforting cold winds. It felt nowhere near as cold as Snezhnaya, but it would have to do for the night. The prince tended to do his thinking in the dead of night while the wind rustled through his fluffy hair.

‘The previous Tsar before mother had over eight omegas as concubines, but mother has never taken a husband.’ He thought, rolling onto his side and propping his head up onto his arm. Through his window, he could see the gorgeous garden filled with trees and white stone walls that sat between the emperor's palace and the palace he currently resides in. Deciding to get off his bed, he walked over to the window letting his long robes drag across the floor, tucking the long fabric under his legs while he situated himself on the bench beside the window.

‘Maybe mom is right? Would I actually have to work hard to impress the emperor?’ He furrows his brow in thought which he found himself doing very often since he had arrived at the palace. Childe thought himself to be the adaptable type, able to mold himself into any situation and conquer the harshest of conditions.

And yet, being treated like a soft and gentle omega was the strangest thing he had ever experienced in his lifetime.

‘Are soft and gentle someone Zhongli likes?’ Childe gets off his bench to walk over to the floor to ceiling mirror in the corner of his room. He looks at himself in the mirror with the robes wrapped tightly around his waist, and yet it was still loose enough to slip off slightly. He wasn’t very much the image of an ‘omega’, having more sharp angles than soft curves, and he is tall nearly the same height as the emperor. Overall in comparison to other omegas he had seen around the palace they had been the exact opposite of him.

Small, soft types with curves and usually very pretty with large doe eyes.

‘I’m more handsome than pretty.’ Childe thinks as he grabs his hip bones with both hands. ‘Sharp.’ He continues to pat his body, feeling the toned muscle and bone on him from years of working for the Tsaritsa. His hands trail to his toned stomach and rubs it in circles with the palm of his hand. He had always thought the best feature of his Harbinger uniform was that it had normally exposed his stomach, which was a part of him that he was proud of. It was sexy to say the least and it aided him agility wise on the battlefield, but now he wasn’t sure. Were omegas supposed to expose themselves like that?

‘I could make the effort. Zhongli is kinda handsome, I guess.’ He rolls his eyes, as if he had now been openly gawking the first time he met the emperor. ‘And helping the Tsaritsa is my priority.’

“Damn, I’ve never been this body conscious in my life.” He walks away from the mirror, but turns to look back at himself, eyes directly dropping to the shape of his ass in the mirror. He laughs a little pathetically before running a hand through his hair.

“This guy doesn’t know me, so it wouldn’t be too hard to hide the fact I was practically a tyrant back home!” With full confidence, he turned to face the mirror and crossed his arms, beaming at his prettier doppelganger in the mirror. He met his eyes, smile falling a little. Who was he kidding, he felt so out of place.

“Right?”

[lanzhans]

Zoya fidgets with the necklace at her collar, a thin gold chain that is all she has left of her mother. It is less of a nervous gesture, more anticipation, and it has been years since she has set foot in this old town. It has changed a bit but not to the point of unrecognition. The cobblestoned path remains the same however, and Zoya is pulled into a reminiscence from her high school days, walking down this same path to the coffee shop on Main Street. Her caffeine addiction still remains but she doubts the coffee from the city is nearly as good as the one from here.

Her breath puffs out into a cloud of moisture and Zoya watches it dissipate. She cannot say she has missed the biting cold of this town but she has grown accustomed to it, something she hasn’t lost even though she hasn’t set foot here in years. It is nostalgic, and it brings a soft smile to her face.

It’s been close to ten years but the high school is still the same. A massive red brick building, covered in spray paint from what the school board had deemed “vandalists''.  Zoya thinks the paint is nice, however, unlike the board, who believe it has marred the school’s exterior, when really it is really quite beautiful. There is a mural of a piano and notes flowing from its keys, and one of a locked heart seeped in darkness. It keeps the school alive, in her very respectable opinion. 

She hears a crackling of leaves behind her and turns to meet a very smug grin, one that she has not expected to meet, one she hasn’t seen in years. “Didn’t expect to see you here, Nazyalensky.”

Nikolai Lantsov.

She does not reply, instead glares at him, mustering all of her get-the-hell-out-of-here energy she has. Zoya has not seen her former next-door neighbor since she went to college and she would have very much liked to keep it that way. But Lantsov shows no notion of leaving, instead he leans against the giant oak tree in the courtyard. “I’m hurt, Nazyalensky,” he continues, mock-wounded. The hurt in his voice is so exaggerated it is comical, fitting to his personality. “You come all the way out here and don’t even visit?” 

“And why on Earth would I do that, Lantsov?” She lifts an eyebrow. She hates that she has to look up to him, given that he was very, very tall and Zoya was, well, not short per se, but tiny by comparison.

His hand very dramatically flies to his heart, and she remembers their high school production of Hamlet, starring none other than the blonde-headed idiot in front of her. It is a pity that the death scene had only been an act. “I’m wounded, tsaritsa.”

And there it is- his childhood nickname for her, a name that she has been called over swing sets and over family dinners pretending to be civil. Zoya suppresses the urge to laugh, but Nikolai picks up on it anyway and gives her a grin that would have melted the heart of any other person. It does not melt hers (she has to deny that there was a corner of her heart that twinges in something akin to endearment seeing the look upon his face). She rolls her eyes, and he picks himself off the ground, brushing dirt that has gotten on his trousers. “Why are you so dressed up?” she asks wryly, finally taking note of his gray suit. 

His all-too-familiar smirk reappears. “Why, only for you, Nazyalensky.”

·☾·

Zoya rummages through her suitcase, silently cursing Genya for telling her to wear something “pretty”. The redhead herself is lounging on Zoya’s bed, red-varnished nails glinting in the afternoon sunlight and her large wire-rimmed glasses sitting atop her playfully messy curls. To anyone who didn’t know her, the look would be casual but Zoya knows that every aspect has been carefully done, though the glasses were likely going to go before they met Genya’s fiance David. 

“Why don’t you pick something yourself?” she asks drily. Genya lifts her head to look at her with appraised eyebrows. 

She adjusts her glasses so they are now framing her deep amber eyes perfectly and joins Zoya to look at her suitcase in distaste. “Well, clearly it seems you are unable to function without my help. How ever do you live without me?” Genya huffs playfully. Zoya resists the urge to make a face at her.

“Luckily, that is a circumstance I will never meet,” she says primly instead. 

“You should be grateful for it, my darling Zoya.” Zoya will never admit it, hell, she’ll deny it a thousand times, but she silently agrees. 

·☾·

Zoya has nearly forgotten the taste of good food, food that is not merely edible but food that is enjoying to eat. It is one of the (now that she thinks about it, many) downsides of living in a large city. Perhaps it is the homesickness she has always denied herself, mixed with a little bit of nostalgia, but it feels like the best dinner she has ever eaten. 

They are sitting in the dining room of Lantsov’s house (though it really can’t be called a house, it is so large that Zoya, despite having visited it countless times, still gets lost. She, Genya, and David have dubbed it “The Little Palace”), and the affair is a mix of casual and formal. It serves as an early high school reunion of sorts, although most of the people present have kept in touch. They mingle regardless, and Zoya can hear laughter and the voices blend all into each other until they are nothing but white noise, fading away...away…

And then they are back again, blaring at full volume and it is too loud, too, too loud and her pulse is racing even though she hasn’t exerted herself. The transition is jarring. Her head suddenly feels like it is splitting apart, cracked down the middle and she is having one of the worst headaches of her life. She fumbles for her purse before realizing that she has borrowed one of Genyas’ for tonight, and none of her medication is in it. 

She curses vehemently. 

A part of her manages to pull together, however, and she is able to make it to the porch and sit on the swing hanging from it. A dry part of her notices that even the swing is fancy. Quite expectant of the Lantsovs, having everything in top quality. It was what they were known for, after all, being the richest people in the town. Though perhaps money didn’t buy everything, considering their relationship with Lantsov. 

Her headache, which had previously dulled a bit, is back in full force and distracts her from her thoughts of the Lantsovs. The pain is splitting, and once again the world feels like too much to handle. Voices from the front yard are rattling in her head like pennies in a glass jar, and quite unfortunately, Zoya’s head is the glass jar. She buries her head in her hands to try and dim the sheer volume of it all but it only helps so much.

Then there is a gentle tapping on her shoulder, and she believes the person is also attempting to speak to her but her head is such a mess she does not register the words. Zoya lifts her head and she is met with a pair of wide hazel eyes reflecting a lit chandelier. “Lantsov,” she attempts to grumble but the words are lost in the noise. He seems to understand what she is attempting to say, however, as he grins at her, that same grin she has seen a thousand times before, but it is somewhat charming in the moonlight. She blames it on her state of mind and not in any part on Lantsov himself. 

He sits what is an awkward distance away from her, clearly attempting to give her space while still being able to be there to check up on her. Zoya grudgingly gives him points for the matter. She looks at him, too tired to speak. Lantsov must be feeling exceptionally perceptive today because he understands her once more and gestures towards the Mercedes parked in the exceptionally large driveway. She nods, and he helps her up, albeit a little awkwardly. 

Her head is still fairly hazy but she seems to have recovered most of her senses. Lantsov lets her choose the music (which wins him more points though Zoya refuses to admit it) and his lips quirk up into an amused smile when he hears the heavy metal. “I didn’t think you’d be into this kind of stuff, tsaritsa.” It is the first thing he has said to her tonight and it is lighthearted, teasing. 

She studies him quizzically. “Why wouldn’t I be?” He shrugs, and Zoya arches her eyebrows. 

Lantsov very suddenly starts laughing. His hazel eyes are alight with mirth, and his laughter turns into very high-pitched wheezing. Zoya mutters a very colorful curse. 

“Lantsov for saints’ sake stop laughing, you're going to get us killed! What on Earth is so funny-”

“I just realized….I don’t…..know…..where to….drop you off……” is what he manages to get out in between bursts of laughter. At this, her lips twitch into the barest hint of a smile, and she is holding back inane laughter of her own. 

“Why didn’t you just ask, idiot?” Zoya’s voice is shaky, amusement and a hint of endearment evident in her tone. Lantsov gives her no answer, but a sheepish grin spreads across his face. She shakes her head mock-exasperatedly. “I’m staying at Genya’s.” It is an address familiar to both of them, so many high school days have been spent there. 

With the heavy metal blaring in the background, she lets her mind wander to other things, but her thoughts seem to always circle back to the idiot driving next to her. It is strange, she has not seen him in years yet he remains unchanged, the same irritating person she has grown up with. Though perhaps he has lost a little bit of what made him so irritating because looking at him now, she is feeling a little fond. Zoya can remember when they were children, he could always be found at her aunt’s house because he hated staying at home. She’d barely given him the time of day back then, but most of her childhood had been spent with him nonetheless. 

Reminiscing sends a pang of homesickness through heart even though she is here. Zoya is reminded of how much she loves this town. She wishes she had visited more often, and promises herself that she will visit whenever she can. 

The car stops in the driveway of Genya’s house. The headlights illuminate the door in stark contrast to the pitch-black darkness of the night. Zoya steps out of the car, and before she has the time to really think the invitation to come inside tumbles from her mouth in a breathless rush. “Would you like to come inside for coffee?” 

He grins. “Why, of course I’ll join you, Nazyalensky.” 

Genya, of course, is still at the Lantsov manor so it is just the two of them in the house. The first thing Zoya reaches for after slipping off her jacket is the coffee machine, which she shouldn’t considering that it is so late but it has become habit for her. “I see your caffeine addiction hasn’t left you,” Lantsov remarks, a smile in his voice though she doesn’t look up to check.

She doesn’t reply, being too busy with her coffee so he continues. “You know, I think you single-handedly kept the coffee shop running for two years. Half of what I was paid came from your orders.” To this, Zoya huffs, mock-offended, but she is smiling. 

She brings a cup for him too. It is red, with a small fox painted in gold. He takes it from her gingerly and winces slightly when his fingers come in contact with the surface of the hot mug. Lantsov takes a whiff and his nose wrinkles in distaste. “How on Earth do you drink this stuff?”

Zoya gives him a scathing look, and he recoils in mock fear. “Don’t you dare disrespect the coffee.”

Lantsov sighs dramatically. “Only for you, tsaritsa, only for you.” He takes a deep breath, plugs his nose (a gesture which Zoya does not appreciate and she glares daggers at him but he only winks in response) and drains it all in one gulp. Which is a mistake since the coffee is burning hot. 

“Idiot,” Zoya mutters but makes no move to help him. He has dragged himself into this situation after all, and she does not clean up the messes of irritating blonde imbeciles. 

His face does, eventually, return to a color that is not as red as the plastic cherries that the bakeries in the city place on their cakes. She has since then finished her own cup, but unlike him, through careful sips that she somehow does not choke on despite the overwhelming urge to burst out laughing. 

He stays longer than he should but neither he nor Zoya entertain the fact that it is very, very late. Hours have slipped away, spent reminiscing. It is nice to just sit here and talk and listen. There are an endless number of things that they talk about, ranging from old memories to their respective jobs. 

Zoya will deny it to her grave but she realizes she has missed him. 

She eventually tires, and when she wakes up, she is met with a Genya’s appraised eyebrows. She realizes that she has been sleeping on Lantsov’s shoulder. He has fallen asleep as well but she makes no motion to wake him.

Genya’s eyes gleam in triumph. “David owes me so much money.”

[badbookopinions]

Deathless - Catherynne M. Valente

A : love me some Russian fantasy. Love me some modern fairy tales.

The young Marya Morevna transforms from a clever child of the Russian revolution, to Koschei the Deathless’ beautiful bride, to his eventual undoing. Along the way there are Stalinist house elves, magical quests, secrecy and bureaucracy, and games of lust and power. (adapted from the Goodreads page)

LOVE me some modern fairy tales. The way so much of this story happens in threes, and parallels itself over and over again, because it’s a cycle, because it’s a reinterpretation of a story meant for reading aloud. I’ve decided no fairy tale retellings are allowed to leave the oral tradition they were based on, because it’s so much better when they stick to it.

I loved seeing the ways Russian history and Leningrad blended with Russian mythology. The house elves and rusalka and wood sprites also agreeing wholeheartedly with the revolution. The way Marya’s own story weaves its way through her country’s history.

And Marya is such a protagonist. We see her grow and change so much. Even when she is monstrous - and she is often monstrous, and towards the end we are rarely fond of her - we know her.

Plot: good. It reads like several fairy tales in sequential order - a new set of 3 with each part, a new development in Marya’s life. 

Characters: Valente puts poetry into them and I love her for it. I am not immune to someone being described in the most poetic terms possible! All Valente has to say is “Perhaps all a Tsaritsa is is a beautiful cold girl in the snow, looking down at someone wretched, and not yielding.“ and I go oh PERHAPS! 

Setting: the vibes were immaculate. I had such a clear feeling my head of everywhere Valente takes us that I was surprised to realize I wasn’t quite sure what the country of life looked like, or how accurate my own picture was to the book. And it’s tied into the history so well - especially towards the end, during WWII.

Prose: such bangers. SUCH bangers.  “But if you must be clever, then be clever. Be brave. Sleep with fists closed and shoot straight.”  / “Remember this when you are queen,” he whispered hoarsely. “I moved the earth and the water for you.” /  “You are going to break your promise. I understand. And I hold my hands over the ears of my heart, so that I will not hate you.” /  “You will always fall in love, and it will always be like having your throat cut, just that fast.” /  “You will live as you live anywhere. With difficulty, and grief. Yes, you are dead. And I and my family and everyone, always, forever. All dead, like stones. But what does it matter? You still have to go to work in the morning. You still have to live.” You’ve seen half of these floating around this website, and I didn’t mention half of them.

Diversity report: well-written women.