#edgeray.reblogs

[edgeray]

@chucapybara I love you, these are amazing. Stop making me want to write this.

Imagine that streamer arle! And streamer! Reader are in a pre-established relationship. Whenever one walks into the other's stream, the camera angle is too low to see their face, but they suspiciously sound like that one streamer...

(They both completely forgot to mention that the other are their partner.)

Reader doesn't stream the same games that Arlecchino does, so they don't stream together a lot at first (and by stream together, they're in the same discord call, but not in the same room because one of them hasn't moved in to the other's house.)

But as both of their channels grow they start streaming with each other more, and people definetely start shipping them at this point. The two are indirectly flirting with each other over stream and people definetely notice.

(They watch these compilations and laugh at them. One time they're chatting and somehow some ship art or ship fic is brought up and they look at it, and laugh at it.) Reader tweets after the stream for any links of ship fics or x Reader fics

Arlecchino says nothing about their relationship because she doesn't care. Reader says nothing because they think it's funny.

Arlecchino and reader confirm their relationship after nearly a year of being together when Arlecchino forgets to end the stream when she asks over call 'Wendy's or Chipotle for tomorrow's date?' Safe to say Twitter (I refuse to use X but it's a stupid name) lost their shit.

Whenever they're playing with anyone else, Arlecchino and Reader will always be together. They started embracing their own ship name as their duo name.

Arlecchino is blatantly nicer to Reader than anyone else.

While I see Arlecchino as the type of person to own a tarantula, alternatively I think she could also own a bunch of jumping spiders. Jumping spiders are really easy to take care of (since they're so small) and come in a lot of different variations (they also have personalities).

I too think that Arlecchino would be really good at horror games (she finds them boring since they're not scary to her), though they're not her favorite. Her favorite types of games (I think, I can't really think of any others she'd like) is FPS games like COD, Apex, Ultrakill, or Valorant maybe. I'm not too well-versed in FPS games but she seems like she'd like something skill-based with strategy and fast-paced/action-packed. Movement shooters, if I wanted to get specific.

I don't remember if I said this, but I will out of pure indulgence. She sucks at sandbox games or sim games. Get her into a Minecraft world and she'll be questioning why she can't mine diamonds with a stone pickaxe or why she's dying (because she's starving to death, drowning, or suffocating). Arlecchino can be a girlfailure sometimes, but Reader still loves her for it.

Anyways if you like these or want more thoughts feel free to send asks :) or asks regarding other works of mine is cool too.

Ik the cringey Gen Z in me is literally trying to claw through the bars of my mind because why the fuck do I want to write a video game streamer! Arlecchino. These are very incoherent and nonsensical thoughts bc I am tired.

Bro, in the most deadpan voice after getting destroyed by some kid: "Well. That's not very skibidi of you 😐"

Her fanbase only has two sides: thirsty for her, or is desperately clinging onto every paternal advice and praise that Arlecchino didn't even know she had said

"Chat, why do you keep calling me a dilf. What is that."

Has children. She does not know of it, even when CatMagacianBoi sends her a donation message saying "I think I failed my math test :(" and she starts on a whole rant about how failures is okay, and it's one step closer to success and that your setbacks will never define you. Has paused stream to teach someone how to tie their tie.

Wears fucking cat ear headphones. Until someone gifts her a custom made headphones with rabbit ears

Is actually really good at games when she tries. Is also terrible at sandbox games. (I can go on a whole rant of how I think Arlecchino will be like in Minecraft).

Another streamer colleague (Tartaglia) suggested she streams herself reading fanfictions of herself. (Never again. Ever seen a grown woman get traumatized over stream?) "What does the tag 'x Reader' mean?"

Does lots of charity streams, especially for orphanages.

Guys I'm actually in need of some crack ideas, I'm going insane.

(Maybe Arlecchino x streamer! Reader 🥺 fic? Mayhaps a slow burn where they basically unknowingly stream their e-dates?)

[edgeray]

(That reminds me, I've always thought about it, but would you guys like a post where I recommend my favorite Arlecchino fics from other authors for you starving simps ^^?)

About this yes sure!

Arlecchino x Reader Fic Recommendations (From Tumblr Writers)

by the way, these fics are in no particular order of what I like the most, these are all just my favorites that I wanted to share (and of course, none of them from me). This will include series, oneshots, headcanons, blurbs, drabbles, etc. most of these come from my tag #edgeray.reblogs. All of these are SFWs, but I could do a NSFW rec list too if someone wants it.

I forgot to add @chucapybara in my last reommendation post of writers T^T, so forgive me. chucapybara does not accept requests either, so do not request from her! For this reason, I'm going to put her works here first. She has a few more works besides the two listed below, but those are my favorites from her <33. Check her out, her writing is so gorg 😍

monsters

soft mornings with arlecchino [f!reader]

Now to the other recommendations. The writers which I recommended in the prior post will be put first out of convenience, and only from writers that do have a fair amount of works (it's hard to pick one favorite out from a few works ^^, hence why).

bring me the sun by @servalisms | short, fluff

phantom!arle (fem! reader) by @megistusdiary | short

fathers day arlecchino by @knavesflames | oneshot, fluff

hanahaki!reader x arlecchino pt. 1 | pt. 2 by @aetherdoesthings | oneshot series, hurt/comfort

bassist! arle and photographer!reader by @liliewrites | oneshot, fluff

Red Sky at Night, Shepherd's Delight by @jessamine-rose | headcanons

heart-to-heart by @vulpe-fox | headcanon(?)/oneshot, emotional rollercoaster

affections by @abros1an | short, hurt/comfort

Buried angels and that odd wish to live. pt. 1 | pt.2 by @deathbxnny | oneshot series, hurt/comfort

hollow by @kana-de | oneshot, angst

Arlecchino being comforted by her s/o by @eluxcastar | oneshot, hurt/comfort

One of Repetition by @eluxcastar | oneshot, angst

and her heart is a bird on a spit in her chest masterlist by @thecoffeelovingfreak | oneshot series, emotional rollercoaster

possessive arlecchino w suggestive fluff by @queenphanessa | short, suggestive

umm hopefully that was enough because this took me a few hours to compile lol. enjoy some of my faves.

[edgeray]

👹 Gimme hugs sev

Y'all are amazing. Reblog to hug the person you’re reblogging from.

[edgeray]

I'm not gonna list y'all but all of you have axolotl chomps now.

reblog to bite your mutuals

[edgeray]

I just know when she comes out, I have to write a series of oneshots immediately. It's inevitable. Lord have mercy on my soul because I won't have any on Arlecchino.

Solitary Balemoon in a Sky of Fading Stars

"Fate grants favors to no one. Only those who would fight it with every ounce of their being may earn the right to challenge it."

— Pierro, "The Jester"

◆ Name: Arlecchino

◆ Title: Dire Balemoon

◆ Head of the House of the Hearth

◆ Vision: Pyro

◆ Constellation: Ignis Purgatorius

To this day, Arlecchino still recalls that night when she was first appointed as a Harbinger.

Up the stairs and down the long gallery, with naught to see through the windows but a world of ice and snow without end.

The biting wind wailed loudly, now as mirthful laughter, now as somber farewell—

With a start, Arlecchino came to, the hallucinations of her memory mingling with the sounds of real-life conversation that surrounded her.

The hearthfire burned with vigor, its gentle warmth pervading the room, and its red light glowed on the children's faces, lighting up their innocent, unaffected smiles. If some uninformed passerby were to stumble in at this precise moment, they would surely mistake the scene before them for that of an ordinary, happy family.

But just as Arlecchino raised her steaming cup to take a sip of scalding-hot black tea, the clock began to chime — and within an instant, the laughter and cheer that filled the room were banished. The flames flickered so that for a moment the light faltered, the faces of all present cast in somber expression.

Placing her cup back down, Arlecchino stood up, and in a calm, measured tone, called out several names:

"Chapleau, you're with Lyney. Retrieve the required intelligence. Foltz, you and Filliol are on guard duty. Stay back and tend to the Hearth..."

"Yes, 'Father.'"

Without a redundant syllable, nor a hint of hesitation, they answered as one.

Not long after, the fire had dwindled and the house fallen utterly silent, with nothing to be seen but a single shaft of infiltrating moonlight, peeking through a gap in the curtains upon a cup of gradually cooling tea.

[edgeray]

Alba you did an amazing job on this and I love it. Please feed the Arle Nation more angst, and thanks for your entry :). I love this idea so much I almost wish I wrote this myself. Guys, go read it before reading this.

I think there's something fascinating with grieving and the effect that death has around people. However, in my interpretation/take on this prompt of Arlecchino dying to Lyney's hand in order for him to succeed, I think you would be furious. Also, some of my personal interpretation of Arlecchino's character/backstory sprinkled in.

Arlecchino has most definitely planned for her death, in fact, I think she prepared Lyney for this. I'm not saying this is what's going to happen in canon, but just to entertain this fic's concept. When you plan for your own death, the logical, rational thing is to cut off any more attachments. Arlecchino likely has been planning her death for years, maybe since the very beginning of her Harbinger career. She's purposely put on this facade, of a 'cold, unfeeling' Father so as to not be like the former Knave (who pretended to care for her children, only to send them to their deaths.)

From her story quest, it's obvious that Arlecchino is aware that the children in the House of the Hearth are not safe (not safe from being sent on missions and possibly dying while doing so), but at the very least, they have one another, and they have the freedom to leave if they so choose. Between choosing to lose your memories or possibly dying, those choices are still better than having a mother who you thought loved you dearly only to force you to fight your siblings until death, sent away onto missions which you more than surely will die, or be thrown away to be used as a lab rat. Sure, they may have a better quality of living, but their fates are not that much better--they're still only fodder for the Tsaritsa.

Her children are not safe, even under her care. And I think she's internalized this since she first became 'Father.' It would only hurt them more if they grew attached to the very person that was enabling or forcing them in these circumstances. Arlecchino has no qualms with dying to Lyney because she knows (or at least, she thinks she knows) her children will not mourn her, will not grieve her. That is another part as to why she is a 'cold, unfeeling Father.'

So then, it'd be selfish to be committed to a relationship when your death has been planned from the very beginning. You know that Arlecchino is a meticulous person--everything that Arlecchino can control must fit in the way that she wants them. Arlecchino is not emotionally unaware enough to believe that ypu will not be hurt by her death, and yet she goes ahead. I highly doubt that Arlecchino will tell of this to you, with the knowledge that you would stop her.

They were finances. They were going to be married, they were going to love each other until 'death do them part.' Arlecchino agreed to a lifetime relationship, with the knowledge that her life will end soon, and it'd be at no one's fault but hers. She decided when her life will end, but still acts as if she had plenty of time left.

Time left to be with you. Despite all her selfishness, maybe she *did* want more time with you even with her planned death. Maybe she wanted--selfishly, selfishly--wanted to imprint some parts of her on you, and wanted some parts of you on her when she passed. Because despite how short of her life it is, despite you being only in a small fraction of her life, she wanted to take some of you with her, even beyond death.

Maybe there was a reason why she always kept the engagement ring on her.

How could you not be angry with her? That she pretended everything was fine? That she pretended she wasn't counting the days of her death? That she promised a lifetime, and cut it short without another regard to you? She left you behind with no consolation, just an empty throne in her place.

In the end, she died with not a single word to you. You left the House one day, with no knowledge of her impending fate, and returned, your fiancée dead. She died alone, as she had always dreamed of, but you're alone, as you had always feared for.

Selfish Arlecchino. Selfish Peruere. For allowing you to fall in love with her.

I know if I’m haunting you, you must be

haunting me.

pairing: Ghost!Arlecchino x fem!reader

context: past regrets lead you back to a place you believed to be long abandoned

cw: major character death, doomed yuri, angst with comfort….??? No idea, grief, depression, reader is referred to as Mother by the HotH

This is part of @edgeray ‘s Halloween Special which I’m super honored to be part of! Make sure to check out all the other amazing works from all the lovely people also participating <3

They say everyone grieves in a different way.

That every single method to process the sudden change in your life is a valid one.

It has been exactly five months, one week and six days.

You noticed the pitying and sad looks you‘d get from the children and even subordinates ever since.

Noticed how they whispered behind your back.

„They were just about to get married…“

„Killed by her own child… but that was expected from the Hearth.“

Killed…

Own child…

They needn’t know the truth. That Arlecchino pressured him into a fight on that evening. That the poor boy was forced to make a choice.

Either the House. Or his own life.

When the news reaches you it was already too late.

Her blood was long ago soaked up by the carpet. Her usual hot skin was freezed to the bone.

If it weren’t for the arrow piercing her heart, you’d almost mistaken her for a sleeping beauty.

Lyney was already taken by the Fatui to the HQ.

And Arlecchino was dead.

Peruere Snezhevna was dead.

And your spark died with her.

Today was February 2nd.

Father’s birthday.

You knew it wasn’t his fault. That the guilt must be consuming him. He was always a child of empathy and righteousness but you just couldn’t look him in the eyes anymore without your eyes watering. Without the images of your dead fiancé swimming back up. Without imagining that deadly arrow being released by his own hands.

You just couldn’t. Just as you couldn’t continue to live in that cursed house you used to share. Everything reminded you of her.

That toothbrush next to yours.

Her perfume still consuming the bedroom air.

The untouched side of the bed.

Even the moon reminded you of her.

You moved out in the same week of her death, the building got abandoned only short after.

And still nothing changed for you. You couldn’t handle not being woken up by her soft lips caressing your neck. Not being able to look into those crimson x‘s for one last time.

The sheer thought of the wedding that will never happen in this lifetime was enough to send you into a mental breakdown. No. No you’re not processing her death well.

The children noticed. They always did. Attentive to their Mother, are they not? How you barely ate anything or almost never left the darkness of your new bedroom where you‘d bury yourself in the blankets, wearing one of your old love‘s shirts.

Lyney ordered a doctor to look after you from time to time. That poor child. He missed his mother. And he hated himself for how your situation was nothing more than his fault. He wanted to talk to you. To throw himself in your arms and apologize, over and over. The new responsibilities bestowed upon him weren’t easy for him and without neither of his parents guidance… Self hatred wasn’t enough to describe how he was feeling about his new life.

The doctor or rather the therapist he called for you released after his third visit.

Depression?

Moving on?

You were mourning for fucks sake.

Instead of a doctor now it was Childe. He always came by on Thursdays, maybe even Tuesdays. He got along well with your beloved and as it turned out, is really good at talking you an ear off. He’d take you out to walks mostly, always walking a slightly different route, never repeating your steps. He never once asked you how you’re processing the recent events, but what he did was nag you about his colleagues, mostly Pantalone.

What you didn’t know was that a great part of Arlecchino‘s will was dedicated to you. And how Childe needs to look after you. Along with a whole lot other things such as that you’re status in the Hearth must never be changed. You still got say in important matters. You were still to being addressed by mother.

Today was a Thursday. But Childe couldn’t make it last minute, an important mission in Liyue, they said. But that didn’t stop you from putting on your boots and jacket and go on a walk by yourself.

For the first time in almost half a year.

Spring was just about to begin, the birds slowly returning. It wasn’t necessarily bad weather but also not exceptionally good either. The sun hid behind a bunch of clouds and the wind ruined the hair you put up so neatly.

You didn’t have a certain destination. You just walked. Walked and walked until you came to halt in front of a building you never wanted to see again.

With no one to look after it, the vines slowly started creeping up the walls. A big lock hanging around the handles of the entrance doors… well a broken one. Did bandits already break in to try and rob it of its last memories?

Didn’t seem like it once you pushed the creaky mahogany open. It looked just the way you left it. But dustier.

Usually when you used to walk through here, Arlecchino would already be awaiting you, taking the coat off of your shoulders and place a lovely kiss on the top of your head.

„I hope your day was better than mine, my love.“

It often was. Now every single one was filled with nothing but emptiness and sorrow.

You navigated through the hallways, which were usually filled with children chasing each other, giggling and laughing.

Now there were one or two rats scurrying around on the floor. Lovely.

The house was mostly cleared of anything valuable when the Hearth moved but something seemed off… it was quiet. Not the quiet you‘d expect when walking into an abandoned building. As soon as you stepped over the threshold, the wind ceased to exist outside the manor. The multiple candles lighting up once you passed them also didn’t slip your mind.

Normally, it would scare the living daylights out of you. But now it felt like coming home. It felt familiar.

It felt like her.

Passing through the living room felt like being catapulted right back to that fateful day. The bloodied carpets were already disposed of but the dark stain on the wooden floor was still left.

This is were you found her.

Cold.

And still so utterly beautiful.

Suddenly the engagement ring felt all too heavy on your hand. Almost burning. That’s when you noticed the two teacups on a single table next to it. With brewing hot tea.

„I was wondering how long it will take you to find your way back here.“

Your heart stopped at the familiar voice suddenly behind you. Now you were completely loosing it.

When you whipped around, expecting the empty look into a dead hallway, it almost knocked the air out of your lungs.

They say ghosts are created when the dying soul has regrets so big and powerful that they defy death themselves.

„Now, now… Not even a single „Hello“ from you and you’re at the brink of tears… is that really a way to greet me?“, Arlecchino‘s hand reached over to brush off the salty tears from your cheek, only to reach right through you.

„Ah… I forgot…“

„…What kind of joke is this…?“, analyzing her features, you noticed how she was drenched in a faint, blue light and even transparent. But she was still as gorgeous as ever. If it weren’t for the gaping hole in her chest.

„One I‘d certainly scold the children for. I was surely surprised once I realized my current predicament… I don’t know what is worse. That I’m stuck here between the living and the dead world… or that I left you alone.“, her eyes softened like they always did when they landed on you.

You couldn’t stop the tears anymore. This all felt like a bad nightmare you couldn’t wake up from. Maybe it was. But your heart hoped otherwise.

Goodness, you couldn’t stop crying.

„My sweet dove… how often did I tell you that tears don’t suit your beautiful face? Come on, give me one of those smiles I loved so dearly…“, in between sobs and tears you somehow managed to pull up the corner of your lips into the slightest of smiles. It felt so weird. You forgot the last time you truly, genuinely smiled.

„There we go… My beautiful girl…“, but Arle‘s smile quickly faltered at the sight of the ring of your finger. „Still wearing it, are we…?“

The sobs still escaping your lips made it impossible to form a sentence so you just nodded.

„…“

„I‘m sorry. For leaving you alone in this world. For not fulfilling the promise I’ve given you… I truly regret nothing more than leaving your side…“

Never once in your time together did you hear her so devastated. Never.

Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe it was your brain playing a prank on you.

It probably was when you took a big inhale of oxygen into your lungs as you sat up right in your bed. Drenched in sweat and tears. The weight of the ring on your finger so unbearable that you pulled it right off your hand and threw it against the nearest wall.

What a cruel dream. What a cruel world this was without her.

The love of your life was dead and there was nothing to be done that would bring her back.

[edgeray]

No like this is really cuteeee do I think some (dottore) are ooc? Yes but who cares? It's cute and I love it. I'd like to see arlecchino herself with reader :)) good work 👏

FAMILY (OF SORTS) — Platonic Fatui Harbingers & reader.

i. SUMMARY: The Fatui Harbingers have a soft spot for Arlecchino's child. ii. CONTENT WARNINGS: None! iii. NOTES: STRICTLY PLATONIC, headcanons, fluff, parent!arlecchino, house of the hearth!reader, all of the harbingers are reader's weird aunts and uncles, gn!reader, they/them pronouns used, 1.6k words. iv. A/N: the fatui are just a dysfunctional found family and i will die on this hill. shoutout to @romaritimeharbor for listening to my rambles about this idea 🫶🫶 also pierro and pulcinella aren't here because i could not think of anything to write for them :')

All of the harbingers knew about Arlecchino’s child; the one that appeared in Fatui Headquarters stuck to her side, eyes cast to the floor. They all saw the way that Arlecchino had held a soft grip on their shoulder, guiding them through the halls with the gentle touch of a parent from the gentle hands of a monster.

The Knave always swore she didn’t play favourites, but from an outside view it was clear that they held a special place separate from the rest. Anyone could see the way they appeared so much more frequently by her side. They were permitted to sit in on meetings, following her like a shadow. Some of the Harbingers guessed that she had picked them to be her successor; that their frequent shadowing was training them to take over once she was gone. Others joked about Arlecchino’s apparent soft side taking over. Whatever the reason, time went on, and the Fatui saw more and more of them.

All of them varied in their opinions of them—some indifferent, some fond—but the Harbingers all cared for them in their own ways.

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Columbina simply adores them. They’re just so small and cute, so tiny and fragile! Admittedly, her idea of ‘tiny’ is rather skewed—applying to anyone she deems weaker than her (notably, this label also gets given to Capitano and Tartaglia, despite their larger size and physical strength. The Damselette is truly an enigma.)

Whenever Arlecchino allows her to watch over them, she is delighted. She has a penchant for pet names, so ‘angel’, ‘my sweet’, and ‘lovely’ are all more commonly used than their name. Sometimes there’s a ‘baby’ or ‘bub’ if she’s feeling particularly affectionate, but no matter the name, it is always dripping with sweetness. She’ll sing to them too, to calm them down or get them to sleep. Her voice is gentle, laced with as much love as she would show her own child.

Some Fatui believe Columbina is a woman formed from hollow sweetness; that behind the lazy smile and soft voice, lies a callous and unfeeling heart, but her insistence on singing them to sleep comes from a place of genuine affection.

When they have to return home, she’ll kiss their cheeks and sweep them into a hug, making them promise to visit her soon.

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

The fact that Arlecchino would tear out his throat with her bare hands if he dared to look at them the wrong way is the only thing stopping Dottore from roping [Name] into one of his experiments. Even then, he can’t help but investigate them a bit. Nothing extreme—please put the knife down, Knave—just some simple trials to see how they work. A quick strength assessment, a test of their reflexes, enough to judge the effectiveness of the House of the Hearth’s training.

The segments all had different opinions of them, varying from Prime’s general indifference to some of the younger segments fondness towards them. The latter were less likely to try to trick them into the lab—not that Arlecchino would allow them anywhere near it without strict supervision—and instead focused their efforts on convincing them to help mess with the rest of the Dottores. They proved to be an excellent partner in crime to thoroughly ruin the older segment’s day.

Despite his assertion that he won’t harm them, Dottore tends to be the one Arlecchino trusts least around her child. His unwillingness to get on her bad side doesn’t stop her from insisting Columbina or herself accompany them whenever they visit his lab.

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Tartaglia loves them. The days he gets to see his siblings are few and far between, so he’s always eager to play the older brother for them, and for any other House of the Heath kids that stop by. In fact, whenever any of the children visit, he makes sure to buy them plenty of sugary treats and candies before quickly sending them back to their Father.

(Arlecchino was not happy the first time this happened. It didn’t stop him from doing it every time, though.)

He was the first to convince them to call him Uncle, a feat that he bragged about to the rest of the Harbingers. This small incident would inadvertently lead to a petty competition to see who their favourite is, an event that would quickly spiral out of control with bribery and promises coming from all sides.

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Sandrone is very particular with who she allows in her workshop. When the rare guest was allowed inside, they had to follow three simple rules: do not touch anything, do not move unless I tell you to, and do not talk to me while I work. When [Name] first stumbled into the room, she was prepared to discourteously shoo them out the way she did whenever Tartaglia poked his head in to see what she was working on. But after some extensive begging, she relented and sat them down in a corner to watch her work. 

Even if she is far less fond of them as some of the other Harbingers, she still audibly squeaked the first time she was called Aunt Sandrone. This was covered up with a cough, but nothing could stop the warmth blooming in her chest. It was the first time a living creature had addressed her with such a familial title; some of her synthetic creations had a habit of calling her Mother, but this was a living, breathing person.

After they started calling her that, she quietly told them they were free to visit when she was working—provided they did not interfere with anything. 

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

As much as he denies it, Scaramouche has a big soft spot for kids. He’ll swear up and down that he doesn’t care for them at all, but he treats them noticeably gentler than he treats any other member of the Fatui. Arlecchino once caught them huddled against him, using his wide-brimmed hat to shelter from the rain. She never let him forget that moment—the fearsome Balladeer, who notoriously never let anyone close enough to touch him, allowing her child to use him as an umbrella.

They remind him a little too much of the young boy he once considered his family. Whenever he spends time with them, there is something inside that both urges him to protect them in the way he couldn’t protect that child, and warns keep them at arm’s length before they betray him too. But his endearment towards them prevailed, and he begrudgingly allowed them a place in his heart.

Unlike Columbina’s affectionate pet names, the only nicknames Scaramouche gives them are ‘kid’ and ‘brat’, depending on his mood. On good days, they might even get called by their name, though it is a rarity. He cares for them, truly. In his own, strange way.

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Capitano is the best at giving advice out of all the harbingers. He is much more down to earth than Columbina and Dottore, and far less cynical than Scaramouche and Sandrone. He’ll let them ramble about their frustrations freely before offering gentle suggestions on what they should do to help. Even if they aren’t looking for a solution, he’s patient enough to hear out their thoughts, however jumbled and incoherent they may be.

He also likes teaching them skills he deems important for a young person to know. These include cooking—Tartaglia is not allowed to join them in these lessons after he almost burnt down the kitchen trying to ‘help’—as well as sewing and mending clothes.  

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Pantalone never would describe himself as parental. He never cared too much for kids; he hadn’t enough patience to deal with constantly crying babies or needy toddlers. Arlecchino’s child was thankfully far above that age, so they were less unbearable to deal with.

He was quite happy to spoil them with extravagant gifts and treats to win their favour, but the most effective way he does so is simply spending time with them. Trips to luxurious restaurants for lunch, allowing them to shadow him while he works. He also likes to give them advice—completely unasked for—about life, and relationships. Unlike Capitano however, his advice is of a much less helpful; he has a habit of advocating for blackmail for solving problems.

In exchange for a box of the most expensive pastries in Teyvat, he got them to call him their favourite uncle in front of Tartaglia. The miniscule dent in his funds was worth the look of betrayal on the younger Harbinger’s face.

⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Signora easily took the longest to warm up to them. When she first met them, it was easy enough to label them as Arlecchino’s brat and move them from her mind. But they kept appearing, in and around the headquarters. At first they were always glued to the Knave’s side, but eventually Signora began to see them wandering alone through the halls. She took note of them—not out of any attachment to them, only out of self-preservation knowing that if Arlecchino found out her child landed themself into trouble while she was close by, it would be her funeral soon.

The sense of obligation faltered when she started to grow fond of them. They were irritatingly innocent, a rarity within the Fatui. Something about the spark in their eyes reminded her of when she was young—when she still had warmth in her heart and blood in her veins. For the first time in centuries, her frozen heart began to thaw with care towards another person, and begrudgingly, she began to accept that they were not as unpleasant as she once believed.

reblogs and comments are appreciated! ♡

[edgeray]

Lord, I am so gay. Need an Arlecchino in my life, please and thank you 😩, I swear I'll never ask for anything else. Call me a bull cuz I'm charging at that red flag.

"Good girl" Please. I'm on my knees.

No thoughts head empty except for the inherit sexuality of putting on a fancy dress and struggling to zip it, and arle just has to come over and help you out, her hands gently gliding over your back to zip it

-🎭, down bad as always

wait, you're cooking‼️‼️💯💯

i NEED this so bad. except the zipper would go right back down 🤭

let me write a little something since it's been a hot minute because i've been drained 🫠﹒

i think i made her a little manipulative, but...come on. it's arlecchino.

⪩⪨﹒arlecchino thoughts﹒⪩⪨

warnings: fem reader, suggestive themes

"what's taking so long, doll?" arlecchino nudges your door wide open, leaning on the frame. she's been ready, punctual as always, eyes slightly narrowed as she watches you slowly turn to face her.

you're standing in front of the ornate mirror of your shared bedroom, one hand holding up the back of your dress from slipping right off of you. "i'll be right there, i promise-" your voice is muffled as you turn over your shoulder.

she can see you clearly struggling to catch the zipper, reaching back clumsily. her lips quirk up the tiniest bit, something only you would ever catch. her heels click on the floor as she walks towards you, idly fidgeting with her cufflinks.

she leans over your shoulder, lips brushing the shell of your ear. she makes eye-contact with you using the mirror, leaning closer so you can only see one of her deep red eyes.

"such a clumsy girl," she playfully tuts, leaning back up to move your hand, skillfully catching the dress fabric. her other hand slides down your back, a sharp nail lightly dragging itself down your bare skin.

she teases you further, sliding it over the band of your panties before pulling it away and zipping the dress up ever so slowly. once the zipper reaches the top, she finishes buttoning the fabric, relishing in the way your skin radiates heat from the suggestive touches.

"hurry now, or we'll be late. you wouldn't want to make me steal some other unfortunate couple's reservation, would you?" her voice is low and calculated in your ear. there are hints of tenderness hidden beneath, and you shiver.

you turn to look over your shoulder at her, eyes flicking between her eyes and lips. "of course not."

she rewards you with a chaste kiss, your lipstick leaving a soft cast on her lips. "good girl. i'll be in the car."

[edgeray]

FR. Until I found Robin, all the people I simped for were anime men. Then I learned of Robin and I've never had a straight thought since. Women are so much better anyways, frankly, I can't imagine how I liked men before when women were right there. /hj.

Damn the signs were really there I just couldn't see them until recently huh

[edgeray]

Suddenly remembered this specific post a while back needed to find it lol

Number 13 and 14 with Arlecchino

Arlecchino being comforted by her s/o

── ୨୧：arlecchino x reader

୨୧﹑synopsis :: arlecchino comfort drabbles yesyes

୨୧﹑genre :: sort of fluff

୨୧﹑content :: gn reader, possibly ooc because it was written pre fontaine quest, not very proofread, arlecchino is implied to have issues with self-image/perception

୨୧﹑words :: 2.2k

"I could see the worst parts of you and still think you are the most beautiful person I've met." "I'm going to ask you how you are and I would like you to answer me honestly."

IT'S HERE you guys always spoil me 13 is my favourite prompt and you are the first of two to request it. completely unrelated but this is so familiar to what Kae said a few days ago (months now omg 😭) when we were talking about One of Repetition and it fits those two so well 😭��️

to the anon who requested furina it'll take me a minute to figure out how to write her because I haven't played the archon quest but I'll watch some cutscenes and do my best for you

I'll also be using this because I got it in the middle of writing this and thought it fit the idea I had going super well 🙏 that makes three Arlecchino requests with prompt 13 😭 also second anon you're fine dw you guys are free to do with your requests with these prompts as you like, mix them together, add extra descriptions and rambles it makes it more fun 👍 thank you btw 😭❤ feel free to give yourself a name for future requests if you want ❤️ I love having new anons

prompt list

It is not often that Arlecchino shows her doubt, maintaining that half-pleasant façade to hide it all. If all people see is a ruthless woman with no regard for loyalty, then the details don't matter. There's no need to question, no need to dwell. She is one thing and nothing more, and she much prefers for nobody to notice the hesitancy in her drastic decisions, the thin-veiled regret as she watches the children she witnessed grow up go on to become valiant children of the Tsaritsa.

If there is anything more, it is disregarded as her unpredictability. She is a roach in the eyes of others, and perhaps she's ok with that…mostly.

To hear someone say "I love you" is strange to her, though it shouldn't be by now.

It shouldn't be unusual to wake up tangled in the sheets with you by her side or the struggle it ends up being to leave that mess as you try to convince her to spend five more minutes with you. It shouldn't be odd to discover that you've gone ahead and made her tea in anticipation of the time she will wake up or to have you remind her every morning that you hung her coat up to dry after she dumped it over the back of a chair the night before or to see you wandering around going about your own job.

But those events all feel surreal to her, even though she has watched you walk your patrol path a thousand times now, and she has seen you slack off where she sits by the window of Zapolyarny when you think nobody is looking.

You are very real, there's no doubt about that.

The things you do never click with her, however.

Perhaps you are real, but she made up these fantasies after watching you loiter by that one spot in the garden a little too long.

Yet every evening, you meet her in her office after you're officially let off for the day, and you usually bring snacks. You are most definitely there, then, as she watches you struggle to get through the door without damaging whatever you found for her to try, usually only small, a pastry you managed to get that you absolutely mustn't knock from your hands.

"I tried to get something that wouldn't make a big mess all over your stuff," you usually say, sometimes hacking on a 6guilty little "But~ these just looked so good…" to try and excuse you for bringing something that would cover her desk in crumbs.

Arlecchino doesn't mind because you went to the trouble of getting her something.

She got you a special chair to pull up and everything, and anyone else who uses it can deal with the death glare they get or find a different one.

But perhaps she made that up too, conjuring the image of someone fumbling their way through her office door to greet her with a smile, sometimes with jam on your mouth from taste-testing the gifts that she'll point out to you that you hurriedly wipe on your sleeve and pretend it was never there.

Maybe she put that chair there for nothing, and it never really moves, and each time she thinks this, she is sure this fantasy will all disappear.

However, every evening, without fail, as the sun begins to set out the window and the room is dyed an orange hue, the door opens, and there you are again. Delusions can't possibly be that persistent, and you would've scowled at her when she approached you in the hallways if you weren't aware of this relationship.

So it must be real, which she's well and truly aware of. There must be a person out there who sees what she cannot, someone who, by some miracle, manages to see past the things that block out all of the good. How can a person see anything but someone unworthy of their love?

What else is there to see? 

The idea of a person who deserves to be loved beneath bloodshed has become unthinkable.

For a person who has been exposed to Arlecchino's worst sins, who has seen everything, and whose worst offence in life is a little laziness on the job, how is it possible to look at her and smile?

Arlecchino often wonders as she watches you. She how you go through your routine of placing your things down, whether on the desk or beside them, then all too happily mosey on off to get your chair and drag it over to sit across from her. She doesn't know why it's this particular day that she asks. Perhaps the fact it was weighing on her mind after a recent mission had her list of redeeming qualities shrinking further and further. It is in her job description, and there are plenty of worse people in this world.

But do you deserve to be stuck with one of them?

"Did you ever feel pressured into accepting my feelings for you?" Arlecchino asks the question so suddenly as you're halfway through walking back with your chair that she sees the exact point you register what she said, freezing in place from the shock. "Whether through status or power," she adds.

You blink a few times before all the motion in your world resumes to greet you with the image of her staring you down from the other side of her desk, patient and waiting for your response. "Sorry?" You let the chair go to return alone to her, standing in the place where you always put it. "I don't, uh…follow? I'm sorry, I just— I'm not sure what you mean?"

She hesitates, momentarily glancing down before her age returns to you and your uncharacteristic expression riddled with worry. She must've made you upset again.

"You want to be in this relationship? With me, that is…" Arlecchino struggles to think of the words, saying them as soon as they appear in her mind. "Even though you know the kind of person I am, you still want that?" 

She studies your face as carefully as she can, watching the way you react as you absorb everything you just heard and assumedly try to put a response together in your head. Arlecchino has noticed before how you take longer to speak than her sometimes, but it tends to make everything you say more thought out, though you may end it like you're unsure.

"Well, I mean…if I didn't, wouldn't I just—" you pause for only a second— "break up with you?" There's silence after you finish. She doesn't say or do anything. To Arlecchino, that strangely almost makes sense, but you must be far too bold to admit that to a Harbinger. "It's not that I want to! I'm a little--…well, I think I'm just a little bit confused where that's coming from."

"I was thinking about it." You frown when she admits that. "Some of the things you have seen of me are…" Is there even a word to encompass that? "unbecoming of a lover."

Is that the right way to phrase it?

Again, you pause, and the telltale signs of consideration cross your face. An intense focus that barely lasts, and Arlecchino waits through it all to allow you your chance to answer, intent on allowing you that much. A few seconds more, and your features relax, looking back at Arlecchino with a tender gaze. "There's not really one 'right way', is there?" Your question, though rhetorical, strikes a chord with the many impulsive responses that flood her mind, all of which she keeps to herself. "You just kind of...try your best. Things might work out, or maybe they don't— the point is that you mean well and put in the work."

"That's not enough," she argues, "you deserve better."

"I deserve what I want." Your rebuttal makes sense in theory, but what do you want? She struggles to make sense of that part, the answer muddled by all of her thoughts and lost in her doubts. 

You could ask anything of her, and she would do it. Any material possession, every feeling, more love than you know what to do with in any form you desire—physical, emotional, intimate—and yet you never do. You accept her awkward hugs, that it takes her time to relax when you lay your head on her chest, the fact she sometimes snores, that her clothes may very well be covered in bloodstains when she comes home depending on uncontrollable circumstances.

You never ask for the things she has plenty of power to give you in return for those flaws.

She shakes her head, "but surely you want more."

"I don't."

"There is a lot wrong that you deserve compensation for." 

Arlecchino clenches the pen in her hand tightly, feeling the slight distress of pressure around it. She can't articulate what, not in the way she understands it; flaws is too broad of a term to use. You would instantly know and understand what she meant in a perfect world, but the world is not so generous.

"Like what?" you question. You feel that it’s obvious that nothing Arlecchino will struggle to say will shake you. She opens her mouth, prepared to refute it, headstrong and frankly stubborn as ever, but nothing comes out.

There is silence for a moment, and no one rebuts what you say. Nobody can. The only other person in the room fights with herself to yield and give in to your unwavering loyalty. In your mind, she is everything you want. There is nothing else you can ask of her than to simply accept that you wish to remain with her if only she will allow you to through her own emotional turmoil.

"Are you listening to what I’m saying?" you ask, frown creeping back onto your face as it tugs the corner of your lips down, seemingly against your will, "I could see the worst parts of you and still think you are the most beautiful person I’ve met."

Another chord is struck, her heart beating so loud it thrums in her ears like suddenly becoming aware it’s been threatening to beat out of her chest the entire conversation. She breathes, shaky and caught up in her own surprise. Somehow, she didn’t expect you to be so sweet in your words or throw her off guard so abruptly. She finds it hard to believe them. Arlecchino’s worries haven’t disappeared, only dwindled. It helps, if not completely. There is a reprieve in listening to you.

You have seen the worst of her, every crease she hasn’t ironed out, her sometimes rotten personality, her stained clothes, the weapons she cleans in your home. You have seen her walk to greet you covered in blood and gore from a savage fight, kneel before you and hold your hand with the same hands she uses to kill vagrants and petty criminals, kiss your skin with those lips that spill the vilest of curses against her enemies.

Before she realises what she’s saying, she blurts out a question, "Do you really believe that?" 

It is quiet, reminiscent of how gently you looked at her earlier as her voice barely breaks a whisper, and she can’t bring herself to break eye contact with you once she finds the courage to make it.

"I do." 

You smile at her, hoping she will smile back. A faint smile graces Arlecchino’s lips, ever the handsome picture. Her sincerity is comforting after such a scare. You still worry, and perhaps you will never stop with the way her mind likes to trick her. How long had she thought you secretly looked at her with disgust this time? You fear you won’t have an answer again, though you desperately wish for one. As much as you notice her awkwardness, dismissing some of it and observing other parts with more scrutiny, it is hard to make her talk to you at times.

"Thank you." It is all Arlecchino can think to say in response as she forgets what else she was going to challenge you on. It will return eventually, and she will face it again, but for now, it settles. Arlecchino can reasonably bury her doubt for a time.

"Can we keep talking?" you ask. 

"About anything," she confirms with a nod.

You turn away, walking across the room in pursuit of retrieving your chair from its designated spot by the wall. You pull it along, dragging it over the floor, and set it down across from her on the other side of the desk you’ve been talking across. Your seat welcomes you as it always does as you settle into place, now comfortably at eye level with her.

"In that case," you begin, taking the pen she holds and wriggling it from her hands. She relinquishes it without much of a fight, allowing you to place it off to the side out of the way. "I’m going to ask you how you are, and I would like you to answer me honestly."

"Anything for you, my love."

[edgeray]

Ooooh I love arle angst 😍 this hurt so good

cold nights

husband!arlecchino x wife!reader wlw sfw angst

tw : angst, slight comfort, arle makes reader cry, reader is sad, arle doesnt know what to do, arle is bad at comforting but shes doing her best :(

sorry for being gone for ages, not proofread

arlecchino being a fatui harbinger meant that she would often always come home late after you, her 'dear' wife, had fell asleep. she prioritised work over everything and forget the plans you two would make. she often ends up neglecting you, it had been a while since she actually gave you affection, physically, or any words of affirmation.

more recently, arlecchino had been more distant than ever, you two barely talked or even saw each other. especially since she was always in and out the house and taking on unusual working hours. you knew her work was stressful and you understood that, but she would never take your advice to take breaks. you would usually bicker over these subjects over and over again, constantly.

even when today was your 2 year anniversary, today was no different to any other.

you woke up in the morning, alone as usual. the light rain hitting against the window reflected your state of mind. as your hold on the covers tighten, you just silently, really hoped she had stayed in bed for just a while longer. you got out of bed, the living room was cold, the heater was broken. you'd have to make a mental note to get it repaired.

knowing it was your 2 year anniversary, you had gone out and spent time to buy her a pretty silver ring and an beautiful boquet of flowers. her favourite of course, lumidouce bells. you had spent the whole day waiting for her to come home from work. you laid out your gifts for her on a table in your shared room. even now at midnight, you were still waiting.

an gnawing feeling of disappointment and doubt was clawing at your heart. you had already cried a few times today. you had received messages from arlecchino's colleagues that she had been seen around a girl from her workplace alot more recently. they thought it was only right to tell you.

you felt like tearing up all again. thoughts of arlecchino forgetting your 2 year anniversary and having an affair plagued your mind. you start doubting yourself as you look in the mirror. all you see are your puffy eyes and tearstained cheeks, glossy from the moonlight casted upon your shared bedroom.

you take a good look at yourself, wondering if you were ever even good enough for the infamous, unfeeling harbinger. you no longer felt like you were even relevant to her anymore.

arlecchino had already entered your home and walked into your shared room. you didnt even notice her presence especially since you so distraught. the second she walked in arlecchino noticed the gift box and bouquet of flowers.

it wasn't until she noticed then, that the realisation had actually set in that it was your anniversary today. the intoxicating smell of lumidouse bells filled the air. she felt her heart heavy with guilt. her chest tighten slightly.

she saw you looking at yourself in the mirror, not noticing her. quietly she walks behind you. as she gets closer to you, she sees your teary eyes. she already knew this was all her fault. she felt remose drown out all her feelings, but she didn't show it, of course.

being too lost in your own thoughts, you didnt notice her until her arms wrapped around your waist. you was hit by the smell of her cologne. you flinched a little after being pulled out of your thoughts. you only just remembered you looked like a mess right now.

"my apologies, my dear.." she whispered lowly to you into your ear as she looks at you through the mirror.

arlecchino was warm. a warmth you hadn't felt for a while. you missed the days where she would cuddle up with you in bed, showering you with words of affirmation and just.. talk again. the thought of it made you tear up once more.

you lowered your head, pulling away from her. arlecchinos eyes narrowed with an hint of sadness. she was pained. you didn't want to be mad at her, but you both knew sorry wouldn't suffice.

"you always forget.." you whispered out. you really hoped your voice wasnt too hoarse for her to notice.

she grabbed your hand, gently pulling you in once more. her eyes peered into yours. she could see the disappointment on your face, the puffy red eyes and your tear stained cheeks up close. she ran her fingers through your hair, her gaze narrowing. she really wanted to fix things between you two, but she didn't know how to.

"i really am sorry... i got caught up in work-" she mused before getting cut off by you pulling away again from her touch. her fingers that were moving to caress your cheeks fell by her side immediately again. you denied her touch, she felt something stab her heart in a way she hasn't felt before. she didn't like it.

you didnt want to be angry at her. you was just disappointed that she had forgot about your anniversary. such an important date.. the day you two got married.. she had forgotten like she did all your dates. you turned away from her.

"you say that all the time..." you replied quietly. your voice was shaky despite how much you tried to stabilise it. you felt your throat closing up. that feeling of despair was bubbling in your stomach. you faced the balcony, away from her with your head hung low. you felt your eyes blur from the tears pooling in your eyes. you were a mess.

guilt consumed arlecchino as she watched you turn away from her, your words like a sharp dagger to her heart. she stepped closer towards you. her blackened hands firmly holding your shoulders in hopes of being able to get her words across to you.

"i mean it. please, look at me." she asked you with an subtle sigh of exhaustion.

you shook your head. you felt tears run down your cheek. you tighten your grip your clothes as your let our a breath you didn't know you was holding. arlecchino's lips pushed together subtly. she wanted to say so much, but she was never good at expressing herself. she didn't want people to know she was weak. especially not to you, since she was your husband after all.

"your friends told me that you have been around this girl at work, for the past few weeks.. is she better than me? is that why you always come home late now?" you murmur, quietly with your voice cracking at the end.

your emotions were running wild all over the place. you were unable to control your feelings of anger and disappointment in her right now. arlecchino's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. her front cracking ever so slightly. you couldn't tell but from the inside she was getting panicky. she knows who your talking about.

unfortunately for arlecchino, she just had to work with this stupid new recruit who wouldn't get off her ass no matter how many times she had told her to. she quickly shook her head after being pulled out her thoughts.

"no. that's not it at all. i promise you." she paused, taking a moment to say the right words.

"yes, i have been working a lot more lately, and with that girl, but its not what you think. i swear" she felt her heart sink deeper as the conversation dragged on.

she really hoped you didn't get the wrong idea. she should of known better. she should of just gotten rid of that shameless girl when she didn't obey arlecchino's commands to leave her alone.

your teeth gritted together at her words. it was so stupid. you felt like she was just feeding you lies just for the sake of it. you took a shaky breath.

"don't lie to me! you remembered her birthday yesterday and not our anniversary!" you raised your voice at her in anger as you turned to face her.

you could hear how held back your voice was. your teary gaze met her stoic ones.

arlecchino stood there speechless, the realization sinking in. her eyebrows furrowed slightly, she had indeed remembered her colleague's birthday but not your anniversary. it was only because the girl kept nagging arlecchino about it, it was certainly an careless and insensitive mistake on her part.

she shouldn't of listened to anything the pathetic girl had said. seeing you in such pain made her heart ache with guilt. she took a step closer, her expression filled with remorse.

"my dear, i'm so sorry. i didn't mean to forget. i've just been so busy with work. please believe me, it's not about her-"

"i'm sure it is all about her! i know you were out late with her having dinner on her birthday! am i just a backup to you? is that all i am to you!?" you cry out. you felt your chest tighten.

arlecchino's heart clenched at your words. she was practically dragged into having dinner with her, but she had no romantic interest in the girl. her eyes narrowed in subtle remorse and guilt.

"no, no, no. dear, your not a backup. not at all. your my priority, you know that already.."

she reached out, firmly holding your shoulders before you pushed her hands off you.

"dont touch me!" you sobbed out, your voice hoarse.

"if you want to remember everything related to her and nothing about us, then fine! i dont want to see you right now!" you shouted at her. leaving the room, shutting the door with an small bang.

arlecchino took a few steps to go after you before stoping immediately. she nodded with an sigh as she processed your words. you pushed her away. pain etched across her face. the sound of your sobbed voice cut through her heart. she wanted to reach out, to explain, but she knew she had hurt you deeply.

she knew she had did wrong. arlecchino was angry at herself for letting things get this bad. more sadness that she had caused you so much pain. arlecchino knew you preferred time alone to calm down. she knew it was only right to not see each other for now. she had to think of how to make everything all better. she could hear her brain berating herself with insults and comments on how bad of an husband she is to you.

time ticked by slowly for arlecchino. the guilt and worry gnawed at her insides as she waited for you to come upstairs. she knew you needed time to cool down, but the silence was deafening. she replayed the argument in her head over and over, regretting every careless mistake she had made. her eyes drifted to the gifts you got the. the fresh bouquet of her favourite flowers and the pretty ring you got her. she gently slide the ring onto her finger. she felt more guilt consume her.

arlecchino knew she had taken you for granted, neglecting your needs and your relationship. she felt a deep sense of regret and remorse for letting things get this bad. after two long, agonising hours, she couldn't bear it any longer. she walked out of your shared room and slowly made her way downstairs.

arlecchino quietly opened the living room door. she let out a shaky breath, feeling the coldness of the room. her eyes widened as she saw you asleep on the couch, clutching the plushie she had gifted you no long ago in your arms. the room was dark, and she could see the gleam of fresh tears on your cheeks in the moonlight. the sight of you, alone and sleeping in the cold room, broke her heart.

once again, she felt a wave of guilt wash over her, knowing that the room was cold due to the broken heater. arlecchino silently cursed herself for not providing you with the comfort and warmth you deserved.

arlecchino carefully walked closer to you, her footsteps almost inaudible. her eyebrows furrowed at the sight of your shivering form and the tears rolling down your cheeks, even in your sleep. she could only imagine that your dreams were plagued by negative thoughts, likely centered around her and the argument you two earlier tonight. the despair consumed at her heart, knowing she was responsible for your tears.

gently, she knelt down beside the couch, carefully avoiding creaking the floorboard. her hand instinctively reached out to wipe the tears from your cheek, her touch feather-light. she let out a shaky breath, it really was cold here. it was only then she had realised it had been weeks since she had been this close to you. the realization of her neglect only fueled her guilt. she gently brushed a strand of hair away from your face, her fingers lingering on your skin for a moment longer than necessary.

she silently cursed herself once again. she really had to make up for everything, tenfold.

arlecchino thought it was only right to start showing she did care. she was never good with her words, just her actions.

carefully, she lifted you into her arms, grateful for your subconscious compliance as she carried you out of the cold room. her narrowed eyes softened slightly as she looked at your tear-streaked face, still asleep from exhaustion.

quietly, she stepped into your shared bedroom and gently laid you down on the soft, warm bed. ensuring not to rouse you from your sleep. as she tucked you under the warm covers, her heart swelled with love and guilt. arlecchino wanted to sleep with you. hug you and whisper sweet things into your ears. make it all up to you.

but not just yet. she knew she had no right to be near you just yet, especially not after all the pain she has caused you the past weeks. she had to respect you and give you space, for now. she thought it was only right if she got a taste of her own medicine. to atone to her mistakes.

she left the warm shared bedroom, closing the door with a soft click. arlecchino stood in the hallway for a moment, looking at the closed bedroom door. she took a deep breath, steeling herself for the cold night ahead. she slowly walked down the stairs and settled back onto the cold coach in the living room.

as she sat there in the chill, she felt a pang of guilt for leaving you alone so often, especially in the cold. the couch was uncomfortable and cold, but she knew the night tonight was not as cold as the nights you had to endure without her.

she would take the week off for you. she will make sure to shower you with love and apologise to you. she will make sure to make up for forgetting the anniversary.

she may not always be the most expressive, but she wants to make sure you know she cares. you were the only spark in her life and she never wanted you to blow out.

she silently vowed to show you the care you deserved, starting from this moment forward.

tbh i only thought of this bc my radiator was broken 😭

[edgeray]

I love Father

AURORA. — Arlecchino's child has never seen the aurora in Snezhnaya before.

— trigger & content warnings. none applicable!

— pairings & notes. fluff. arlecchino & reader. reader is a member of the house of the hearth, is at least around 15 but is otherwise ambiguous in age, and is implied to be arlecchino's chosen successor. reader is gender neutral (they/them pronouns used). arlecchino is suggested to be taller than the reader by quite a bit. 0.8k words.

— author's thoughts. arlecchino my beloved RAHHH she is literally the best fatui harbinger imo. i love you arle no. 4 of the fatui harbingers 🗣🗣❗️❗️❗️ i am surprised by the lack of platonic arlecchino fics!??!?! she is literally called father guys please /lh

       "Father..."

       Shadowing under the Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers during one of her trips to Snezhnaya was, no doubt, nervewracking and tiring despite them never needing to do anything other than follow her around; Arlecchino simply wouldn't allow some of her coworkers to even look in their direction, let alone try to speak to them. Some, like Tartaglia, however, were momentarily permitted to; Childe had talked their ear off while Arlecchino was occupied with the Regrator and the Rooster, though they could only wordlessly nod in response to the never-ending chatter about his siblings. 'You should come by sometime,' he had said. 'You kids from the Hearth are a good lot, and my family would be more than happy to have visitors.'

       Nevertheless, really, they hadn't done much at all... but perhaps the anxiety of dipping their toes into their Harbinger's responsibilities—the ones that they may very well inherit one day—was a valid enough reason to be so mentally tired.

       Standing close behind her, listening to her speak with her coworkers (it was quite amusing to see the glare and scowl fixed on her face when she needed to speak to the Doctor—she never looked at them or any of their siblings like that—though the sheer terror his presence induced was enough to drown that amusement out), seeing the details of her responsibilities that others could not...

       They were certain that they must've said a mere one or two words during the whole visit—a "Yes, Father" or a "No, Father," directed at none other than their Harbinger and her alone.

       Exhaustion and cold seeped into their bones, but nonetheless, they had stopped trailing after her and stared up in wonderment.

       Arlecchino stopped shortly after they did, turning back to them. "What is it?"

       Colors danced freely in the nighttime Snezhnayan sky. Despite the chill permeating their flesh (they were reminded that they probably should have dressed a bit more warmly, but they weren't familiar with the Motherland, and therefore didn't anticipate how cold the night would get), they felt no compulsion to rush.

       "Look. The aurora," they murmured, eyes wide with awe and wonder.

       The Knave's heels clicked on the tiled terrace at the front of the Winter Palace as she paced back over to them, following their gaze upwards. "Have you never seen it before?"

       "No. I... I've never been to Snezhnaya before now," they admitted, "so I have never seen the aurora. I've heard about it, but—"

       "I understand. It is more magnificent than even the most vivid descriptions."

       Suddenly, the heavy weight of the Knave's coat fell onto their shoulders. They gingerly clasped the edges, pulling it closer to their body as to fend off the biting chill in the air. Lavender and a vague twinge of smoke filled their lungs. To some, it may have been an unpleasant combination—perhaps others would find the smoke too stinging and bitter or the lavender too sickening, as some do. To them, however, it was simply... Father's scent. It was hard to dislike when the person they associated it with was so important to their life.

       It was equally hard to feel cold with her coat draped over their body.

       Father's particular scent made a comforting warmth stir in their chest—perhaps she was not really their Father, but it was times such as this that made them feel that she was—and her coat ensured that their exterior did not freeze.

       In fact, it was quite impossible to feel cold now.

       "...Let us stay for a while longer, then," she mused, one of her hands finding its place on their upper back. "The aurora is a sight to behold, and there are no urgent matters to attend to at home."

       Momentarily, their gaze broke away from the sky and shifted to the Harbinger instead. Though they did appreciate the gesture of giving them her coat... "Won't you get cold, Father?"

       Their concern was not unwarranted, but indeed unecessary.

       "Worry not," the Fourth replied smoothly, reaching over to adjust the coat somewhat; it was too big for them and threatened to slip off of their body if their already gentle hold were to loosen even slightly. Arlecchino absently mused to herself about how utterly unintimidating they were, drowning in the fluff of her coat and head just barely able to peek out from the top. It was cute, though she dared not say admit such a thing out loud. "I have long since grown used to this weather. You have not."

       'You need that coat far more than I do.'

       That was what she wanted to say, or rather what she was implying; she would speak her mind if she so truly desired to or felt the need to. They'd grown quite used to her enigmatic nature and quite skilled in reading between the lines, picking apart her words at the seams to uncover what she truly meant to say.

       Suddenly, under the flickering purples, greens, and blues of the night sky, it was no longer cold.

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[edgeray]

Ooooooh :((((( reader my poor pookie. I love this sm tho!!!!!

hanahaki!reader x arlecchino part 2

forethoughts: i'm aetherdoesthings, of course i don't stick to my schedule. anyways, apologies if the timing of this fic seems wonky. i had specific scenarios in my head when i was planning this, with each stage of filming, which i have no clue about because that is not the path i took, so yeah :]. enjoy early upload!

notes: alocohol mentioned!!! drinking is in this!!! reader does drink!! don't be like reader this was just for plot drink responsibly guys!!! modern setting, arlecchino and reader are actresses, fem!reader, hanahaki au

“So, how’s everything? Still coughing up a storm?” You choked on your coffee when you heard that familiar voice, echoing in your head like a broken stereo. 

“I guess you still are. Wow, an entire year?” Arlecchino chuckled, pressing a few buttons on the coffee machine. “So what did the doctor say? Just a cough? Cold? Colds don’t last for a year. Doesn’t look like a fever.”

“R-Right, u-um, just a cough. Y-Yeah.” You nodded your head, mustering up a smile.

Damn it, Y/N, you’re an actress. Act. You scolded yourself on your performance. 

“Alright then.” Arlecchino gazed at your smile, one finding its way onto hers. “I hope you’ll be okay; tomorrow is all about shooting promotion videos and the day after traveling from studio to studio to do interviews.”

Your face instantly paled at Arlecchino’s words. Shit. Promo week. No rest, non stop smiling, repeating the same phrase over and over again on different networks and platforms. The worst part was that Arlecchino was right by your side the entire time during the shoot, acting all lovey dovey towards you to sell to the audience that the two of you were playing a pair of couples. Then again, you would be lying if you said you weren’t excited to read comments after comments of netizens shipping the two of you together. Your heart fluttered at the thought, the child inside you kicking their feet in the air as you held back a grin. Well, you held the grin back, but not the cough.

Your left hand shot up to your mouth, your body already letting the cough take place, letting the petal travel up your esophagus and into your palm. You didn’t like how your body was already used to the feeling of having a part of a flower regurgitate out of you, muscles immediately jumping into action and making way for the disease in your lungs. Your stomach churned as Arlecchino rubbed her hand on your back, trying to comfort you and make you feel better.

“Oh, Y/N…” Arlecchino’s hand took the hand that was on your mouth, holding it in hers as she made you look at her. It took every single willpower inside you to not blush or let any sort of heat course through your body, biting down a whine as her fingers found its way to your chin. Your bones turned into toothpicks, joints threatening to disappear. 

“Are you sure you are going to be alright? You don’t need to power through all those interviews if you physically cannot-”

“I can.” A surge of stubbornness and pride overpowered your senses. Arlecchino didn’t know you were in love with her, and Arlecchino certainly did not need to know you were in love with her, and that you were a weak little coward that let a disease run your life.

“I can.” You repeated yourself, nodding your head. “I’ll power through. I promise.”

You felt like you were telling yourself that more than you were telling Arlecchino. 

Arlecchino stared at you, those crimson eyes giving you no clue into what she felt. Arlecchino pursed her lips, before removing herself from you. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, darling.”

And just like that, Arlecchino left the room, her hands leaving your body. You let out a gasp at the missing touch, confused and baffled by her actions, cheeks flaring red at her nickname for you. All alarms in your brain all went off at once, your stomach doing a backflip and your vertical toothpicks turning horizontal. You looked at your left hand, noticing the empty palm. That’s strange. A flower petal was always there after your skin turned red and you got lightheaded. Your mind flashed back to Arlecchino’s hand around yours, how you thought her act of intertwining your fingers was supposed to be an effort to comfort you. 

Oh, how naïve you were.

Arlecchino had the petal.

Arlecchino knew.

Arlecchino was going to have the evidence she needed to confirm her suspicions.

How would she even know-

You always coughed whenever she got close or when you talked to her, you idiot, and she’s a fucking genius, so she’ll piece everything together! Your brain quarreled with each other, your body leaving the room as you stood there like a soldier made of stone, palm open and empty.

Maybe there wasn’t a petal this time. One side argued.

There always is one. 

But maybe there wasn’t.

You leaned onto that sentence, clinging onto it as if it was your lifeline. Maybe there wasn’t a petal this time when you coughed. Maybe it really was just a cough. It wasn’t a cough from your stupid crush on the beautiful, intelligent-

She definitely knows.

You stared at the bread knife on the table, stabbed into a piece of baguette. If only that baguette was your heart, perhaps you wouldn’t have to deal with the constant yes or no that battled in your head, no side willing to raise the white flag yet. 

This was Arlecchino. Hollywood star with a hundred million followers. Everybody knew her name. No haters, no drama, just an absolute queen living among peasants. And… you were one of those peasants. 

As if Arlecchino would ever love you back.

As if Arlecchino would ever want to spend time with you, a total D tier so-called actress.

But maybe there wasn’t a petal this time.

Maybe. How that word was able to make hope fill your heart and shatter it into tiny pieces.

Furina was giving a speech. You were amongst the crowd of both cast and crew, a glass of wine in your damp grip. Your finger drummed against your pants, waiting for her monologue to end so you could ditch the party. 

Somehow, you managed to survive through the whole filming process, despite having to cough up petals every day. Yes, people turned their eyes towards you, then towards the other normal people to talk about the freak you were. Coughing and disrupting every other scene where Arlecchino’s character had to be in close proximity with you. The minute Furina ended her speech, you snatched a full bottle of wine from one of the serves, disappearing into the blank hallways before anyone could start a conservation with you. You ducked into a nearby broom closet, the walls managing to drown out most of the sound of laughter and conversations. You closed the door behind you, sinking down to your knees as a sigh of relief passed through your lips instead of a petal. With the bottle of wine already opened, you wrapped your lips around the front, chugging all the wine down your throat, hoping that’ll be enough to make you forget your situation, even better end your predicament for you. If the disease wasn’t going to kill you, alcohol will. And you were a much bigger fan of the latter.

The noise did not die down for the rest of your time you spent in the closet, your head resting against the wood. Maybe no one will find you here, and leave you here to rot. Yeah. No one paid attention to you, even though you were supposed to be the co-star of the movie. After all, it was Arlecchino you were working with. Arlecchino. Everyone loved her, everyone wanted a picture with her. You? You were just there to hold her bags. That was all you were worth.

“Oh, Arlecchino.” You laughed into the darkness, head rolling against the door. “Why must you be like this?”

You despised the feeling of helplessness and dependency on another person.

You never intended to fall in love with Arlecchino. The constant need to see her and hear her voice was never desired.

And now there was a damn disease you were plagued with that forced you to confront something you wish never existed.

There were two options to get rid of hanahaki forever. Either you confess your love to Arlecchino and she says yes, or you confess your love to Arlecchino and get rejected. 

“Like she’ll ever love me back.” You laughed, bringing the glass to your mouth, even though it was empty.

Suddenly, the door swung open, causing you to fall onto the wooden ground, drunken eyes readjusting to the harsh lights, a crimson and white figure partially blocking your sight.

“Hmn. So this is what people stricken by hanahaki is like? They drink themselves out of their misery and hide in a broom closet?” Arlecchino’s voice echoed in your head, that signature snarkiness and mockery in her voice. Though there was a tint of warmth and concern in her voice as well, or maybe you were just hallucinating again. 

Yep, you’re done for.

[edgeray]

Dude (gender-neutral). this sounds like an amazing fic and au. I love this idea. I want to read this so badly. Are you considering adding the penacony girls too?

more about hsr spiderverse au! (seen the spiderverse movie on netflix recently so there’s so much brain rot rn. i’m thinking about expanding this to a small smut series like the genshin racer! au idea )

info that is possibly mild spoilers if you haven’t watched the movie

in the across the spiderverse movie, the spider-hq is mainly there to protect the multiverse. the spideys mostly group up to go on missions to prevent any threat from emerging in the multiverse! in order to do that, they gotta have gizmos! it’s basically a watch that allows them to travel through universes without consequence. it can be taken away if miguel decides you’re liability or sum like that.

if you seen the previous post about the spiderverse au, (i’ll pop it right here if you haven’t) the hsr spider women discovered that an identical spidey version of you exists! best believe that some of them are gonna try and befriend you right on the spot while the awkward ones will avoid you (eventually they’ll warm up & try to interact with you. they are gonna be forced to interact with you because there’s missions anyways).

duo missions are very common amongst the spidey hq so expect to be duo’d up with the girlies often times than not.

since you’re fairly new to spidey society, your first three duo missions will be with kafka! behind himeko and jingliu, she’s one of the oldest members in the hsr group who’s been in spidey society so she’s the perfect preceptor for you! though, she’s awfully flirty with you (due to obvious reasons) at first but as you get to know her, she mellows out after a while. kafka is still flirty AND protective over you but she’s chill. one thing you do start to notice is the melancholy tone in her raspy yet soft voice when she talks to you. keep in mind, she never really talks about herself besides the brief story about how she became spider-woman so you’re curious about her actual backstory. and also, you haven’t seen her face yet but her voice sounds REALLY familiar.

this is all i got for now but this will be a slow burn smut series if (i def will) i go through with it. first kafka and then the others!!! ( I’ll also have an excuse to include funny interactions with outside spideys like the main huncho bbl miguel o’hara, peter b parker, etc!! )

[edgeray]

Banger work, I love Arlecchino angst. There should be more, tbh. I like that I got to read the thoughts of both of them. 🤧

hollow.

⭒ summary: arlecchino comes to your lands in hope of getting your gnosis non-violently. having hidden feelings for the harbinger, you offer a bargain, which she ends up accepting. it hurts both of you in the end.

⭑ cw: suggestive (no nsfw). angst. a lot of angst. angst no comfort (i warned you). hidden feelings. archon!reader. reader and arle both feel, and i mean feel.

⭒ wc: 3.4k.

⭑ a/n: oh wow. hi. this is like, the first fic i've written that was so long. ended up beta reading it with grammarly for two straight days. also tried improving my writing style, hope it looks like it lol. please like and reblog !!

"so, lady arlecchino," you started. your gaze remained cold but calm despite the inner hesitation you were feeling while facing the harbinger. "what business do you have in my lands?"

an unexpexted visit of the fatui delegation along with the fourth harbinger visiting her homeland was quite the news to you this morning. having no other choice than to face them, and you knew precisely why she would visit, hearing the news from the archons of other regions from last months.

it scared you, in some way. but you were expecting they would eventually reach you.

arlecchino slowly lowered herself into her own comfortable chair opposite of you before looking at you again. her face became expressionless again.

"It's a pleasure to see you too, miss [name]," she retorted in the same calm manner, despite her words clearly having a mocking undertone somewhere deep down. her eyes studied you as she continued, hearing you not reacting to her words.

you didn't change much from the last time she saw you. she didn't want you to, anyway. the same eyes, hair, accessories, manners... so on. she remembered every little detail.

"miss [name], do you really think you can rule this region on your own for the rest of eternity?" arlecchino suddenly asked, crossing her legs and arms simultaneously as she leaned back in her seat, seemingly making herself very much comfortable.

you blinked in confusion, head tilting the slightest bit. the woman had the dignity to let a corner of her lips raise upward at your reaction. she knew this "start" of the conversation wasn't what you expected.

"...i'm sorry?" you asked, not quite getting the meaning of the question.

"i'm sure you've already guessed what i'm here for. what i'm getting at is..."

arlecchino leaned forward in her chair, her eyes studying you. her face became expressionless once again, but a dark half-smile was painted on it. her voice became slightly threatening, nearly causing goosebumps to run across your skin. she knew your exterior wouldn't be cracked so easily - you're tough; much tougher than many people she's met in her life. but this was a start.

"...what do you want in exchange for your gnosis?" the question was almost a demand. she simply voiced her intentions - get your gnosis, and it wasn't an invitation of any sort.

your eyes narrowed, eyeing arlecchino. what is this? a negotiation? it does sound like one. but is that really it?

"and when did i mention something about giving up my gnosis, lady arlecchino?" you asked calmly.

"don't pretend you don't understand."

arlecchino's voice now held the slightest hint of threat to it, but her face became a little kinder and she continued in a more calm and friendly tone. or she only intended for it to sound friendly. uh, these diplomat things.

"i think we both know perfectly well what I want to hear from you; a clear answer. why don't we come to an agreeable conclusion and you'll give up your gnosis to me? certainly with no harm, you have my promise," she said, her voice getting a more expectant undertone as she spoke the last words, then looked at you in anticipation of the answer.

you leaned back in your seat, unsure of what to make of this whole 'visit'. it was suspicious, you couldn't deny it, but the pull towards the forbidden was finally getting to you, and your bottled-up for centuries-on-end feeling might be getting outside right at this moment.

this is an opportunity you have once in a life, your heart screamed at you. use it.

despite floating somewhere deep in your thoughts, you could easily feel as if arlecchino kept trying to burn a hole in you. and her eyes - especially the shape and color of her pupils - weren't helping either. she did look intimidating like this, but nonetheless, she was willing to wait. at least for now.

you weren't the type to risk, but...

so, an opportunity.

"now, what was that you said about getting something in exchange?" you inquired, exhaling a soft, quiet breath as you got out of your mind. shouldn't have entered it in the first place, you thought. too much of everything.

arlecchino smiled and her eyes gleamed a strange glint you couldn't quite decipher what meant.

"oh, it's good that you're interested," her voice became inviting again, almost soothing, but behind the façade was clearly a not-so-hidden intention. "i wouldn't want to use force against you if this escalated any more."

"of course i wouldn't just take your gnosis from you. i am a woman of honor and deal, miss [name]. if you'll give your gnosis to me i will, of course, give you something in return," she leaned back in her chair and stared straight into your eyes.

"would you like to hear what i would offer you?"

"no," you instantly replied, dismissing the woman. "i already have something i want to ask of you. but first..." you looked around the room, noticing a few fatui soldiers standing here and there. you didn't need extra ears from here anymore. "i need them to leave us alone."

arlecchino's lips curled slightly upward, resembling a smile.

"i see no problem in that. if you're planning on saying something personal, they don't need to witness this conversation."

she glanced at her soldiers and then turned her gaze back to you. the fatui left the room instantly, with no further words said.

"and now to the important part: what can i offer you in exchange for the gnosis, miss [name]?"

you kept silent for at least a minute. you licked your lips, then let your teeth bite down into her lower lip as you thought. arlecchino already seemed to notice one thing that stood out the most - you hesitated.

a deep inhale and the same deep exhale.

"my offer is..." you started slowly, eyes drawn to the table. you simply just couldn't bring yourself to look the woman in the eyes when saying what you were going to say. "we spend the night. together," you said, knowing that she clearly understands what you're talking about.

"and in the morning, i will grant you my gnosis, and we won't have any more business together after that."

silence.

this was precisely what arlecchino was hoping to hear from you.

she raised an eyebrow after a few moments of processing your words, expecting something like this, but still surprised by such a straightforward proposition. however, she quickly regained her composure, leaning back in her seat.

she knew where you were getting with this. she knew you craved this since you both ever saw each other. this was seemingly what you and her needed, but it was so much more complicated than just that.

she also knew that you would hurt so much the next morning, after giving up that gnosis, if she accepted this deal.

for the first time in a while, arlecchino felt torn by the thought of someone being hurt. surprisingly, it's you she was thinking about at that moment.

"my, my... i must admit such a proposal from you is a shock to me. so bold of you to assume that i would accept your deal so easily," she gave you a look, which held the tiniest bit of sympathy and compassion. she had mixed feelings about this.

"however, i'm indeed sure that you mean no harm, especially to me. so, i'll accept your offer on one condition."

she accepted it, immediately flashed in your mind. she accepted it almost instantly. your heart seemed to take a leap, no, a thousand of those as your eyes widened at the realization.

what was going on between the two of you?

you finally found the courage to look up at the woman. hearing no further elaboration, but wanting to hear it right now, you pried further, "that condition being..?"

arlecchino's eyes found yours, as if trying to read you from the outside, and she leaned in closer to the table separating the two of you.

"we keep this a secret," she said, eyes narrowing slightly and voice becoming nearly a whisper. "from the fatui and from everyone else."

"do we have a deal?"

you nodded. "i thought it's only logical that we keep it a secret. so, of course," you continued, eyes focusing on the woman. you didn't want to look away from her for a second, afraid she might disappear. "we have a deal."

a small smile played on arlecchino's lips as she gave a slight nod of satisfaction in response to the fact that you agreed so eagerly. her voice became slightly louder now, as if to not cause any suspicion if someone were to listen from the outside.

"very well. i accept your terms. and i give you my word to keep this... arrangement, a secret from everyone else," she said. her piercing gaze met yours, but the smile on her lips did not disappear.

"where would you like to meet, miss [name]?"

—

you didn't know how you both made it to your room, but the second the front door was closed and secured with a 'click' of the lock, arlecchino's lips crashed onto yours, as well as you found your back to quickly meet the wall.

there were lips biting one another, hands everywhere, tongues intertwining, your own heartbeat loud in your ears as you kissed, your hand shooting up to grab the back of arlecchino's neck... and you were hoping to forget about the gnosis just for this night. just for the duration of these hours.

just for one night. and then it'll all be over in her morning.

arlecchino's lips felt soft and warm as they pressed against your own. her tongue gently licked your lower lip, teeth tugging at it slightly as her hands roamed all over you. she didn't seem to want to pressure you into something, but she wanted to show you how much she wanted this, too. she then broke the kiss to catch her breath, eyes gleaming with hunger for more, despite the softness in them.

her fingers tangled in your hair as she looked deep into your eyes, "you're even more beautiful than i imagined."

with those words arlecchino pulled you closer, pressing herself against you, as her lips found their way to your neck, kissing her way down to your cleavage, before finding her way back onto your lips.

you felt like you were suffocating; suffocating in arlecchino. in her touch, lips, breath, and in your own sensations of all of the above.

"not here," you managed to whisper out breathily, already panting. you were sure your lips were already red and swollen from all of this. "left door."

arlecchino's lips came back to trailing kisses down your neck, biting softly in some places, but she seemed to obey you. her hands seemed to settle on your waist as she led you to the said left door.

"are you sure?" she whispered in your ear, her lips brushing against the skin there, and you immediately felt shivers crawling down your spine.

"are you sure you want this?"

"are you?" you asked in return, words barely a whisper, brows furrowed a small bit as if you yourself contemplated your choice.

you didn't. not for a single second.

"i am."

with that, arlecchino pulled you closer to herself again and claimed your lips once again. it was a hungry kiss, filled with passion and desire and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of longing.

"i want you," she whispered against your lips before kissing them again. the sound of your heartbeat was so loud that you were sure the woman could almost hear it in her own ears. her hands wandered over to your shoulders, pushing you through the door and into your bedroom, and she pushed the door with her leg to close it.

"all of you... i want all of you," arlecchino murmured, letting her lips detach from yours for a split second, eyes finally meeting yours, seeing all the need and yearning in yours.

she craved this a lot, but she knew you craved it more.

"then have all of me," you whispered in reply, ignoring the fact that the loud pounding of your heart in your ribcage seemed to reach the limit of its loudness, almost drowning out all other sounds. you pulled her along with you, your back falling onto the bed with a soft thud, leaving the woman to settle on your hips and watch you from above.

if arlecchino was sure, then you were also sure. you knew it wasn't how that worked, but you could let yourself forget that just for tonight.

arlecchino seemed like she was about to pounce on you, the hunger and lust in her eyes increasing rapidly as she watched the rise and fall of your chest; the way your breath would increase as she looked in your direction. her eyes wandered over your body, taking in every curve, every muscle, and every movement you made. her own breathing became slightly more ragged and she licked her lips.

"you're so beautiful," came out as a soft whisper, arlecchino's eyes now resembling a newfound tenderness that wasn't there before.

she leaned in closer, warm breath caressing your neck, her scent filling the air around you as her palms settled on your cheeks and jaw, thumbs caressing the skin mindlessly.

"may i?"

gods, she still asked for consent.

you exhaled shakily while realizing that; that she didn't want it to be just a decision in the heat of the moment. it warmed your heart, even if a little bit.

"anything."

arlecchino suddenly felt loved and wanted, and it was almost the same feeling that she always wanted to feel from no one but you.

you were giving herself up to her for one night, and she was going to make it count.

she kissed you like it was the last kiss of her life. she kissed you deeply, heartfeltly, lovingly, and with such intensity that it was like you two were the only people in the world, and both your and her touch screamed please, don't let me go.

—

you awoke just as the sun had begun to rise, the light from it shining through the curtains and onto the bed. the woman beside you shifted, too, seemingly being already awake for a little while.

arlecchino had watched you for a little bit while you slept. it was a sight she couldn't tear her eyes from away even if she wanted to. duties and titles long forgotten, this was what she wanted to see every day.

you blinked as the light found your eyes, rubbing them for a few seconds before focusing your gaze on the woman on the other side of the bed. neither of you spoke, for now.

you sat up on the bed, having the blanket cover up your naked, marked, loved body. arlecchino followed your every move, eyes only once wandering down to your back and back up to your face.

your heart hurt at the realization that it was already morning.

the night had ended.

you didn't want it to be over so fast.

looking down at the woman, you averted your eyes, feeling the need to blink away the sting of tears threatening to find their way out. one of your hands moved up, palm facing upwards. your fingers trembled as you exhaled shakily.

you got lost in your thoughts for a few moments. what if arlecchino won't take the gnosis? was that even possible in a situation like this?

certainly not, you must be daydreaming of some kind of hope.

glowing a soft light, floating up and down over your hand was your gnosis.

you stared at it, not blinking, then stared a little more, and then your hand shifted and offered the gnosis to arlecchino.

it was over. as simple as that.

arlecchino's breath hitched as she sat up to have a look at the small, glimmering chess piece. her hand slowly reached out and she took the gnosis from your hand, her fingers closing around it. she examined it closely, as if making sure it was real. to you, she looked satisfied with your deal.

"thank you very much, miss [name]."

you immediately noticed the change in tone. it became professional in just a few moments, leaving you confused.

she then stood up from the bed and started to put on her clothes. it was the sign that the deal was over and that her mission was complete. she didn't even look back at you, you thought. oh.

"well then... i guess my work here is done."

"...i guess it is," you could only reply quietly, eyes rooted to the woman's back as she got dressed.

you noticed the change in the woman's attitude, in her voice, and your heart basically shattered. it was like there were no kisses shared between you two just hours before, no compliments whispered, no intimate connections made. like the night before never existed.

you were just another mission.

of course it would be like this, you thought. you were the first to suggest that you both will never see each other again after this, and you were the one to fall for all of this.

but it still stung.

"you never meant it," you whispered in the end, realizing those words spoken and whispered so intimately were, apparently, just in a haze of situation. how predictable. you fell for that yet again.

arlecchino paused for a moment before she picked up her remaining clothes and turned to face you. her gaze was cold and emotionless, but she hesitated, before her expression purposefully changed into a more serious expression.

she needed to make you feel like she didn't have any feelings for you. it would be better for both of you. no bonds. no strings attached. she never wanted you to pine for her, as she was certainly not the one you needed to have beside her.

an archon and a harbinger. comical.

"i was agitated," arlecchino replied, voice turning back to previous hardness and flatness, zipping up her pants.

she hated saying the next words.

"you were just a means to an end."

pause.

your chest hurt. your eyes stung.

you wished you'd never heard any of this. you weren't ready to hear any of this. but now, these words will surely be engraved into your memory.

you didn't reply, and thus, there was silence. a loud one at that.

arlecchino felt the said silence like no other. she knew she'd achieved what she wanted just by witnessing your reaction.

you didn't stop looking in the direction where the woman was getting ready. neither did you react, just blinking away the tears from her eyes, preventing them from appearing.

your chest suddenly felt hollow, and not because of the gnosis that was no longer there.

arlecchino finished getting dressed quickly, since the silence in the room was getting more and more uncomfortable. it was a sign of your defeat, and she hated the realization of that.

she wanted to say something. wanted to take it back. to hug you. to kiss you again. to make love to you again. she wanted to tell you that she had fallen in love with you and that she wished everything was different.

but she knew that she would only end up hurting you more if she did so.

"i will be taking my leave."

you bit your lip hard enough to draw blood just trying to hold back your tears. your emotions. you weren't allowed to feel, but you felt, and it was suffocating you, dragging you towards the bottom.

"good job," you could only mutter, voice barely a whisper, gaze shifting back to the blanket.

arlecchino felt so much guilt for the words she had said. she knew how much pain those words were causing you, but she couldn't take them back even if she wanted to. the hurt was necessary.

she wanted nothing more than to go over to you, pull you into her arms, comfort you, and whisper how much she loves and cares for you. she wanted to apologize to you; wanted to tell you how sorry she was for hurting you.

but she didn't. she couldn't, because no one could know about the true feelings she had for you.

not even you.

so she just got dressed in silence, the weight of your gnosis in her pocket feeling heavier with every moment that passed. it's not like she could do anything other than that.

you heard arlecchino's hand placing itself on the door handle, and the woman paused momentarily, eyed wandering over to your form on the bed, scenes of the previous night flashing in front of her eyes as she looked at you.

the door clicked open, and she took one step outside your room before speaking her last words to you.

"it was a pleasure doing business with you, miss [name]."

the door closed.

[edgeray]

You did not need to hurt me with the Water 7 part. That was just uncalled for. But thank you for the angst :)))

THIS WAS AMAZING TY ILY 😍 YOUR WRITING IS BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING AS ALWAYS IT WAS SO SCRUMPTIOUS RAHHHH I love the connection between drowning and falling in love, especially with the ocean being her weakness as a devil fruit user. That was not only ingenious but just perfection. Your Robin is the best Robin is so perfectly written aughhhhh

drowning (nico robin x reader)

nico robin masterlist

@edgeray said pining but make it nico robin's pov

cw: gn!reader, drowning and falling in love are pretty much the same thing

The Devil’s Fruit has always been a trade off. Even so, between land and sea, the risk of drowning has always seemed more pleasant than the cruelty of people. Warm looks that once welcomed her with open arms turn cold and menacing the moment they find out who she was, and what her existence entails. Betrayals and exploitation time and time again has served to reinforce one thing - there is no safety for her, land or sea. Exiled is she, in every part of the world, every sense of the word.

———————————————

The Going Merry had left the shores of Arabasta a couple weeks ago.

Leaning against the taffrails of the ship, Robin couldn’t keep her eyes away from the horizon line where the sea meets the night sky. The cool sea breeze blowing through her hair felt unfamiliar. After all, 4 years in Arabasta had left her accustomed to the endless stretches of sand and warm prickly heat on her skin.

“Do you prefer being on land or out at sea?” You had asked her, attempting to make small talk in the midst of guard duty. When she didn’t reply, you continued, “Your weakness to the sea and you staying in a literal desert makes me think you prefer the land more.”

Turning to face you, eyebrows arched in amusement, Robin hummed softly as she shook her head, “Fair guess, but the land has nothing left for me.”

She had a faraway look in her eyes as she turned towards the sea again. You didn’t feel the need to press her further for an explanation, content to busk in the comfortable silence of her presence.

———————————————

What was the sea to Nico Robin?

She had learnt from the moment she took a bite of the Devil’s Fruit that it was a place she shouldn’t venture out to. For a long time, it marked the edges of her world - one step too far and she may sink into the depths, ceasing to exist. Still, she enjoys walking along the shores, soaking her feet in the shallows, as if playfully testing fate.

The sea wasn’t all bad, though, because the sea brought Saul to her. The waves carrying him safely to the shores of Ohara, presenting him like a gift to her - her very first friend. It drifted him into her life at a time where she needed a companion the most.

The sea is a giver, she thought.

No, she corrected herself almost immediately, it gives and it takes.

———————————————

An oasis in the desert.

You were her oasis in the desert, and in your presence, she felt free. Free from the fear that has haunted her since she left Ohara, free from the guilt that has continued to stick to her like a shadow.

Even so, she knew that she had to keep a distance. It is an inevitable fact of life. The storm and rain will pour relentlessly on the people she holds dear.

She couldn’t risk it happening to her oasis.

The time will come eventually for her to leave. She knows this all too well. For the first time in her life, she sent a silent prayer upwards. If she could be so selfish to make a request, then she would ask for just another week, just another day.

———————————————

The moment you’d kissed her was the moment it dawned upon her.

You weren’t an oasis, you were the ocean itself.

When your lips pressed against her in a sweet, fumbling attempt at a confession, she felt like she was drowning. Granted, Nico Robin had never drowned before but if she ever had, she’s sure it would feel like that.

Palpitating heart. Breathlessness. Her chest hurts. Eyes shut tight. The background noises muffled out. All she could feel were your soft lips on hers - an overwhelming sensation. She felt like her soul was being sucked out of her body.

It felt like drowning, but she didn’t hate it.

In fact, if this was drowning, she’d risk her life over and over again for another taste.

When you pulled away, she pulled you right back, her lips crashing against yours messily.

Again, and again, and again.

Like the ocean, you were sapping away at her strength and will to leave. She knows your kisses are bad for her, she knows your kisses will make the eventual goodbyes sting even more.

For once in her life, she indulges herself, and kisses you over and over again until you’re both breathless, gasping for air.

Drowning in you feels like home, she thought.

———————————————

Nico Robin was practiced in the art of saying goodbye. In her experience, the easiest goodbyes are the ones where you simply leave without a word, erasing your entire existence. After all, a single glance at the look of disappointment and hurt on your face might sway her enough to stay, and if she stayed, what would CP9 do to you and the rest of the Strawhats?

She gently touches her lips with her fingers, remembering your kisses from the previous nights - kisses that continue to linger on her lips like a promise. Kisses that will continue to be the source of her nightmares for many years to come.

She wonders if you’ll hate her, and if you’ll ever understand why she made the choice she did. She knows her decision will shatter you, leaving you ruined and wondering if you’d done something wrong. She wishes she could tell you that she didn’t have a choice. She wonders if you’ll blame her for leaving so abruptly. More importantly, she wonders if you would ever regret kissing her that night.

She hoped not.

After all, it was drowning that showed her what being alive truly meant.