#emotional or otherwise because zhongli was so closed off
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
papiliotao · 2 years ago
Text
꒰ 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 ✩࿐
Tumblr media
pairings: alhaitham, diluc, kaeya, and zhongli x gn!reader (separate)
content: hurt/comfort, fluff, established relationship, arguments (unspecified reason), reader and character live together
summary: after a heated conflict with your boyfriend, you decide to sleep on the couch instead of together on your shared bed. how does he react?
a/n: shockingly, i'm not writing for any anemo boys this time. that's mainly because this is a gift for @spiritingawaytoanime for @favonius-library's gift exchange event! i hope you enjoy!
Tumblr media
The sound of the front door closing is the only sound that can be heard as ALHAITHAM steps into your living room. An ocean of pitch-blackness threatens to drown him. The space lacks illumination. Darkness floods into every crack and crevice of your home, invading an otherwise peaceful space.
He breathes out a sigh as he walks down the hallway of your shared apartment. Alhaitham doesn’t bother flicking on the lights. He knows you’re probably asleep already, and he’d rather not disturb you, especially since you were in a foul mood earlier. So unpleasant, in fact, that you got into a petty argument with him. However, Alhaitham isn’t really that worried. He knows that in the end, you’ll be able to sort out your differences.
But when he enters the bedroom, he immediately feels that something is off. The air feels colder than usual, biting his skin with the ferocity of a thousand cuts. It’s unsettling and especially disturbing to Alhaitham because such feelings don’t often overtake his frozen heart. It almost feels as though the atmosphere has the ability to thaw his emotions, awakening a sentimental side of himself that doesn’t often show beyond his rational demeanour.
When he approaches the side of your bed, he instantaneously realizes what’s wrong. You’re not here. You’re not here. An unfamiliar feeling drives pinpricks into his heart. The sensation is strange, irritating, and it won’t go away. He hasn’t ever felt this way before. Perhaps this is another emotion to add to the list of new feelings being with you has caused him to experience.
Alhaitham sighs. It’s not like he wasn’t expecting this outcome. He had been far too cold earlier while you had been far too emotional. Ice and fire would never coalesce into a single being.
The feelings that accompany the situation are all a complete mystery to him. Nonetheless, he buries his emotions so that he can focus on finding you, maintaining his logical front in the face of such a precarious situation.
As your lover, he knows you well, so he’s almost entirely sure he knows where you’ve gone. Alhaitham shakes his head. He should have checked right when he entered the house. After all, the couches were right by the door.
Once again, Alhaitham walks blindly through the darkness, taking it step-by-step without so much as a stumble in his gait as he makes his way down a hallway that has long engraved itself in his memories. It’s odd. Alhaitham doesn’t usually go out of his way to become involved in the affairs of others, much less memorize details about their lives. But with you, everything is different. He remembers every single intricate thread of information in the web that forms your identity.
And perhaps that’s why he feels a sense of calm wash over him like cerulean waves on a pristine summer day as he approaches your sleeping form. As he takes in the sight of your silhouette against the backdrop of night, he notices that you appear to be shivering slightly. You don’t have a blanket on.
“Typical [name],” he whispers under his breath. 
Although his words sound rather harsh and slanderous, he utters them with hints of a small smile gracing his face.
Quietly, Alhaitham walks over to a closet in which you keep a multitude of blankets. He takes his time selecting one — after all, he’s in no rush. Eventually, he settles on a velvety blanket that feels soft to the touch. Although Alhaitham can’t exactly picture it in the dark, he knows that it will be sufficient.
So with an insurmountable level of care, he drapes it onto your body. Even though he can be insensitive at times, Alhaitham knows that you most likely want some space for now, so with a gentle ghost of a kiss to your cheek, he leaves the room.
Tumblr media
The silence that fills the house rings in DILUC’s ears, shrieking in a manner reminiscent of thousands of crystal glasses shattering into pieces. It’s deafening. The space feels as though it is full of nothing but misery and doubt and yet it’s so, so empty at the same time.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The sound of a clock’s arms snapping into place in one second intervals is the only sign of life within the building. Every space on the canvas of night is blank as if awaiting wonderous stars to fill the nothingness with inquisitive light. However, the illumination doesn’t come. Tales of galaxies serendipitously brightening worlds are simply idealistic fantasies from the minds of children. In the real world, things seldom end so well without any intervention.
So he decides to slowly get out of bed, leaving the warmth under the covers — a heat that feels far too stifling without you — in order to search for you. But as the abyssal air of night brushes against Diluc’s skin, he feels a shiver run down his spine. Nothing feels right without you by his side. He needs you. Now.
Diluc knows you’re sleeping on the couch. He saw you there when he was going to bed, but at the time, pride and petty emotions whispered words of spite in the depths of his soul, phrases that prompted him to ignore you.
As he navigates the dimly-lit hallways of your shared home, a wave of regret washes over him. If only things hadn’t gotten so heated when you were still immersed in the waking world together. Now you’re asleep, and he’s lost any chance he has of making things right today. If he wants to apologize, then patience will be crucial.
However, at the same time, Diluc wants to check up on you. So when he finally makes his way through the doorway of the living room, his eyes immediately land on your figure, burning with the light of a thousand fires, almost as though they are casting a glow upon your silhouette. The moonlight illuminates you, caressing every strand of your hair and highlighting every dip and curve of your features to make you look absolutely ethereal.
As Diluc approaches you, he notices that you’re barely covered by a thin blanket, and despite the feeble layer of protection, the frigid atmosphere of night seems to permeate your soul. He shakes his head slightly, sighing as he stares at you. No matter how angry he was at you during the day, Diluc can’t just leave you here to freeze.
So with bated breath, he picks you up while you’re still immersed in a universe of dreamy fantasies and carries you to your room. He thanks all his years of training with a claymore for giving him the ability to lift you. Although you’re not on the best of terms, Diluc is sure that you’ll make up once morning comes, and thus, a vibrant new dawn will overlook the horizon for both of you.
Tumblr media
Shivers wrack KAEYA’s body as he tosses and turns restlessly in a bed that feels far too large and far too empty for his liking. It’s peculiar. The cold rarely bothers him, yet now, without you by his side, the frigidness of the night air is far too potent for his liking. Tendrils of night creep under the covers overtop him, wrapping around him with an icy fervor, and no matter how hard he tries to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he can’t.
It’s as though the brighter part of himself has faded away with the radiance of the sun, giving way to an indescribable melancholy that settles into every inch of his being, taking all that he has and becoming all that he is. The cold is so much more unbearable without your warmth, and it doesn’t take long before he realizes that he won’t be able to close his eyes peacefully and drift into a tranquil world full of glacial wonderlands. Instead, he’ll lie awake, alone in your freezing bed — a place that feels far too desolate without your presence.
Hours stretch on and on, twisting and turning in a way that morphs them into a neverending story. As time goes on, the unsettling embers that had once singed the pit of Kaeya’s stomach grow until they blaze brightly, morphing into a raging fire. It’s unbearable, and he knows that he has to do something or else his mind will continue nagging at him for the remainder of the evening.
With cautious movements, he sits up and climbs out of bed. It’s awfully quiet in the house. Usually, flirtatious remarks and passionate displays of affection fill the void within your home, transforming it into a utopia overflowing with wonders. However, at the moment, none of that exists. Perpetual darkness and transient flashes of anxiety are the only things present at the moment. However, he manages to carefully make his way down the hallway without much issue. The creaking of the floorboards is the only noise that cuts through the silence hanging in the air.
As Kaeya enters the living room, his eyes land on a figure lying on the couch. It’s you. He breathes out a sigh, approaching you. Kaeya can see the rising and falling of your chest, hear your gentle breaths, and feel you exhaling once he leans in to examine your face. You look as though you’re at peace — a stark contrast to your earlier demeanour, an act fueled by feelings of rage and spite.
A small smile tugs on the corners of his lips. You look ethereal, although slightly pitiful, your face tinted with the light of the moon. His heart breaks. You appear lonely without his arms wrapped around you. Kaeya feels the urge to pull you into his embrace, hold you tight, protect you from the unknown monsters of the night.
But instead of doing anything, he simply stands there. After your explosive argument, he’s still hesitant to touch you. However, upon closer examinations, Kaeya sees you shaking like a leaf in an intense gale. You’re freezing. And that’s the final straw.
Your boyfriend finally breaks under the weight of your needs and his desires. With steady movements and a fragile touch, he lifts your body just the slightest bit — barely enough for him to climb onto the couch under you. Gradually, he sets you down, laying your head down on his chest. His fingers graze over your features as he eyes you with a gaze full of admiration.
“Sweet dreams, babe. We’ll figure everything out once the sun rises.”
Tumblr media
ZHONGLI sighs as he settles atop the plush covers of your shared bed alone. It feels cold — far too frigid for his liking as darkness encroaches, and although he glances out the window in hopes of seeing a single shard of fragmented starlight, he is greeted with nothing more than the sight of an endless abyss devoid of radiance. 
A chill permeates every bone in his body, gnawing at him in a way that serves as a perpetual reminder that you’re not beside him right now. It’s strange. For once, Zhongli feels restless. He’s usually so calm, so composed. But at the moment, he can’t help but worry. 
You’re not here with him. Instead, you’re out in the living room, curled up alone on the couch. Zhongli can picture you in flawless detail — every dip and curve of your troubled face, the shadows that shroud you in a cloak fashioned from midnight, and the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe in and out. He feels a longing that he hasn’t felt in centuries. He wants to be beside you to trace your features, to prevent the glacial fingers of night from creeping down your back, and to feel your breath fanning his face.
However, he knows that no matter how hard he wishes, his hopes and dreams will have to be put on hold for now. In hindsight, it was a bad idea to let you escape into the land of slumber without trying to work things out with you first because now, Zhongli feels as though he won’t get a wink of sleep. At least, not without you by his side.
Eventually, he caves to all the thoughts running through his head; guilt threatens to swallow him whole. So instead of continuing to chase sleep, Zhongli gets out of bed, and although the night air sends a shiver down his spine, the sensation is nothing compared to his need for you. Quietly, he makes his way into your living room, trying to keep his footfalls light out of fear of waking you up. His eyes have long since adjusted to the darkness, so he navigates the house without any real trouble.
When he arrives at his destination, his gaze immediately zones in on a silhouette lying on one of the couches in the room. Although obscured by darkness, he knows that it’s you. Cautiously, he bends down to observe you. Zhongli raises his hand in order to caress your cheeks, his touch feather-light as if he’s afraid that you’ll shatter.
He wants nothing more than to wake you right now and talk things out, but he doesn’t want to disturb your slumber. You seem so peaceful despite everything that happened earlier, and besides, Zhongli is sure that with time, the two of you will make up. Your love for each other is much stronger than any form of false resentment fostered by petty arguments. After all, the illusions created by a deceptive heart are far too easy to dispel with feelings of everlasting passion and affection.
So instead of rousing you from the oneiric realm of dreams, Zhongli sits down on a couch beside the one you’re lying on. Although his mind has not completely settled yet, it feels less perturbed with you by his side. As a master of patience, he decides that he’ll wait for you to wake up. He’ll wait for the first rays of light to grace the face of the earth in order to greet you with a smile and an apology once you open your eyes.
Tumblr media
Thank you for reading!
4K notes · View notes
desafinado · 2 years ago
Text
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ confessing to them hcs
Tumblr media
i swear i’m stronger than these emotions, but they’re taking over me
°。⋆ alhaitham, kazuha, kaeya x reader
°。⋆ fluff, alhaitham a bit ooc bc i haven’t finished sumeru storyline, kaeya’s has a twinge of angst, overall very ouch (in a good way)
note: ahhhh kazuha’s is my favorite one in this batch… and ik alhaitham might be a bit very ooc, but i like the idea of him becoming more shy and moving delicately around your feelings once he notices he has that effect on you.
(diluc, zhongli, kaveh,) | (alhaitham, kazuha, kaeya)
Tumblr media
alhaitham ♡
how do you have the courage to jump off a cliff without any wings? that was basically how you summarised the conundrum of talking to alhaitham.
you only really saw him in passing, seeing him pass the corridors, eating in the cafeteria, out in port ormos. 
you never bothered to approach him other than for work, but despite some of the negative rumours about his attitude, your interactions with him were quite pleasant.
“you have my sincerest thanks for your insights. i trust you’ve been well?” “y-yes…” “and, you’re okay, right now…?” “a-ah, yes!”
over time you grew accustomed to his surprisingly amicable disposition towards you, but you could never quite be the first one to approach him.
it was weird, because you could interact with everyone else just fine. you were someone who took initiative amongst your peers, but also handled affairs with a gentle and understanding touch.
anyways, he continued watching out for you. in meetings he’d send a glance your way every now and then as if he was only talking to you, he’d also pass by your office after hours with some tea.
you put it off as him being good at his job, making sure everyone’s functioning and productive. hell, that was what drew you to him in the first place, why you were so scared to strike up a conversation with him.
you admired all his authority, hard work and efforts… i mean his genius was an amazing thing to witness.
so, it only made sense that you'd rather him perceive you as a meek background character than a bumbling flustered idiot.
that all changed, however, when he asked you for insights and advice regarding "emotions" and being a bit more cautious of others’ feelings.
you don't know why he asked you, and frankly you didn't really care. you just wanted to help him the best you could.
"how about this? your ideas are intriguing, but…" "ohh, good so far!" "they could desperately use some fine tuning." "just uh remove the desperately part, and you’ll be set."
to be honest, he doesn't even follow your suggestions half the time, but you being there instantly lightens the mood by 50%.
you saw him in a bit of a different light after then; he was still a genius, of course, but you saw parts of him you’d never expect to see otherwise, and you loved him much more for it. 
you hoped it wasn’t obvious in the way you shared a bit too much about your day with him or how you’d let your hand stay on the small of his back a little longer than necessary.
ironically enough, he was the one who got a bit more shy towards you, though much more present. instead of announcing his presence and letting himself into your office with some tea, you’d find him knocking quietly waiting for your affirmation.
he was acting a bit more soft and gentle, as if he had been defeated and something sent him running.
you were quick to catch up in this attitude change of his, as it was even seeping into his attitude with others (“that man…alhaitham… being soft???”). you knew nobody else was brave enough to ask, so you might as well do it yourself.
once again, a delicate knock played itself against the door to office. you looked up at your paperwork, an amused sigh escaping your lips. “come in, alhaitham.”
you heard some shuffling before the door opened to reveal the man, himself; his eyes weren’t completing darting around, but you definitely notice the way they almost restrained themself from looking at you. he closes the door before sitting before your desk; he sets a cup of tea in front of you.
“for you. i know you’ve been a bit more busy lately, the recent changes in the akademiya surely contributing to that.”
you chuckle softly, earning a raised eyebrow from him. “what’s funny?” his voice was firm and slightly rushed, like he needed you to answer right away. you shake your head and pick up the cup between your palms. “you say that as if you don’t bring me tea every day anyways.”
“i do, don’t i?” he looks down and mumbles faintly, rubbing the back of his neck. his bashful gesture only eggs you on further to ask what exactly is going on with him. you take a quick sip of your tea before probing him.
“so, you gonna tell me what’s been up with you lately?”
“ah, you’ve noticed.”
“of course, i think i’d be a bad friend if i didn’t notice.” you watch his embarrassed smile curve into a childish pout. you know it shouldn’t, but it only makes your cheshire smile grow wider. “by now, you should know you could never be such… anyways, if you’ve noticed the shift, i guess there’s no hiding it.” you put down your cup, bracing yourself for whatever revelation comes next.
“i guess i just wanted to accommodate you better. i know you were quite shy when talking to me initially, and you do seem much more comfortable around me now.”
you hum in acknowledgement, knowing he has a bit more to share. he was always like this, sharing only what he deemed necessary, but you always knew he had more, you just had to give him that space.
“you look better like this, spending more time with me. uh i mean, i like seeing you unafraid of my presence, being curt with me. i…”
he finally meets your eyes, and you’re entranced by that look. your head starts to feel dizzy as you focus on the vision of him to keep you grounded. “oh, alhaitham… you d-don’t need to dance around my feelings, i…” 
his eyes widen, and he quickly grabs your hand; you’re shocked by his touch, but you’re certainly not deterred by it. if anything, it’s only helping you process whatever is going on.
“i don’t want to lose you, dear, isn’t that obvious? i don’t care what those others think, as long as it means that you’re still standing by my side.”
“a-alhaitham, wait i–”
“you love me, correct?”
you freeze up, pondering if this was still reality; if alhaitham had really known and if you were really faced with the task of answering such a question. you suppose you should’ve known, nothing ever really gets past him.
“i didn’t know how to approach it, that’s why i— you already know i’m not best with those sorts of things. all i knew is that i couldn't lose you over it; i didn’t want to upset you, i didn’t want to overwhelm you. i couldn’t bear to watch your adoration turn into hatred and angst, especially when all my flaws became more apparent.”
your free hand caresses his cheek, trying to brush away his fears. “alhaitham… if you knew i loved you, you should’ve also known that i love you just the way you are. knowing you better, i only fell harder, and… if we’re being honest, i don’t think i could ever hate you.”
he looks up at you, the desperation is clear. “neither could i… i mean, i believe my feelings for you are obvious now, so would you like to give it a try? loving me, i mean. ” your eyes crinkle and smile from eye to eye. 
“let me love you, and i shall.”
Tumblr media
kazuha ♡
spring was always your favourite season, but kazuha’s presence made it all the better.
hanami: flower viewing, usually done during cherry blossom season.
hanami-zake: sake specifically for hanami; fallen cherry blossom/s are typically immersed in the sake.
you could listen to his mellow voice for days on end, short haikus and poems whispered amidst the pollen in the spring air.
you were friends for the longest time, and after a few cold years in inazuma, you had finally met again without any worries, care for time or need for secrecy.
before he had escaped away, you both hung around the same small group of friends.
one of your favourite memories was participating in hanami with them; perhaps it was the bare beauty of the flowers or the intoxicating hanami-zake, but you both especially enjoyed each other’s company far too much during this period.
tangents about how beautiful life and nature is, ramblings of small yet imaginative ideas you both, and simply basking in what the tomorrow could possibly bring.
this of course changed with the death of your mutual friend, and it seemed like you were the only one standing by and holding out hope for the kazuha. everyone else had left, either too scared, angry or hopeless.
you definitely did feel pity for his situation, but that wasn’t why you didn’t abandon him. 
you trusted him, his will, and his actions, and a big part of you wanted to believe that he would come back a hero to inazuma.
once he caught wind of this, he started exchanging letters with you, appreciative of your trust in him, and frankly, he could use a familiar friend.
while you both addressed the elephant in the room, you mostly talked about your feelings. you shared your sadness, anxieties, grievances, and small moments of happiness.
you could talk to him about anything, as he could; you quickly became a dear friend to him, a reminder that someone had seen all of him and still trusted him.
you didn’t fully understand it at the time, but you so painfully yearned to hold his hand and give him all the affection he deserved.
letters turned to secret meetings in the dock, and secret meetings eventually turned back into normal ones; his name being cleared and inazuma welcoming him with open arms.
the day he came back and you saw the most precious smile you could imagine to see, that was when you fell hard. a few other people got to him first, but you didn’t mind. the view of him getting the praise he deserved was delightful.
“don’t forget about me, now that you’re a great hero…” “i… i could never!”
you were only teasing, but the moment his head turned to find you. he ran towards you and pulled you into the warmest of hugs, even raising you up.
it felt different, different from all the other times at least. it made your heart race, your face flush and your fingers tremble ever so slightly.
it was a few days into your catching up with one another, when you decided to bring up these strange, unnecessary, but almost enjoyable feelings.
“zuha?” 
he hummed in acknowledgement, gazing at the clouds,. your head lay on his lap as you both rested in the middle of a field. there were a few clouds, but the sun still shone bright upon you, the both of you.
“i have some… feelings i need to share.”
he looked back down, raising an eyebrow. you both never really shied away from talking about such in letters, so he was quick to note the uncertainty in your voice. “oh? share away.”
you swallowed a lump in your throat before speaking; it wasn’t as though you were revealing some scandalous secret, so you didn’t understand why your body was acting the way it did.
“i’ve been having some feelings for you recently.”
kazuha almost choked on his own saliva, hearing you be so straightforward. sure, he recognised the ambiguity in your voice, but he certainly did not expect this. he was a bit shy, but did want to express that he returned such feelings. “o-ooh! that-t’s… um…”
“it uh makes me uncomfortable.”
for the second time, the shock is more than apparent in his face. he’s horrified by your admissions and his own actions; he’s frozen in place, sputtering out apologies. “a-ah, i’m sorry! let me just get that and y-you can stand up and-”
“kazuha, wait a minute.” you chuckle, brushing the flower chain off your face and onto the grass below. you lightly take his hands, intertwining his finger in yours; your grip is firm, but not by any means, rough. he quickly realises you’re trying to calm him down, and he lets you do so.
“i didn’t mean it like that. i meant like… its as though i’m running a marathon whenever we hang out. it isn’t negative feeling, but it is a new one.”
you speak slowly, squeezing his hand at every other word. you’ve never seen him this way, a flustered and bumbling mess, but it is quite a cute sight; something you wouldn’t mind seeing again. fortunately for him, you do have enough courtesy to help him calm his heart.
“ah, i see.” his breath evens out, and he lets out a sigh of relief. for a moment there, he really thought you were revealing your annoyance and/or hatred for him. after processing your words, he has a good idea of what’s really going on. he gives you a kind smile and squeezes your hand in response.
“hmm… could you describe it further, darling?”
“ah.”
you let out a small squeak at his nickname; he’s called you it before in letters so you don’t know why you’re being so bashful about it. you feel a blush spread across and wish you simply fade into the wall.
“like right now, actually… i… when y-you call me such things, touch me in certain ways.” his gaze on you only softens as you continue speaking so timidly; on the other hand, you want to turn away, bury your face in the grace, but you want to get your point across. “t-the way you’re looking at me, right now.” your voice comes out a bit quieter, but all the same to kazuha.
“hmm… i think i understand how you’re feeling. just one more thing…”
he asks inches his face closer to yours, lips above yours, as though it was the sun’s light grazing the grass.
“would you perhaps want to kiss me right now, darling?”
you nod a little too excitedly, any self-restraint you had flying out into the sunset. you’ve never really considered it, but the mere mention of the idea seems really good. he lets out another quiet chuckle, you can feel it against your cheek.
“then i think what you’re feeling is love; love for me to be more specific. you need me to give you an example of my love for you?”
Tumblr media
kaeya ♡
it all started when you both ended it. you argued day and night about the smallest things; you suppose that the stress from work and transitioning into adulthood had taken its toll on you both.
since then, there was only one thing you both agreed on, and that was how you would be very much better off without each other.
you cried, a lot. it was a mix of sadness and frustration. 
sadness, because you genuinely did love him, you wanted to make him happy. frustration, because you never did make him happy, you knew he’d be better off without you.
if love was the only thing needed to sustain a relationship, maybe you wouldn’t be here, but life got in the way and you both had greater ambitions. under all that fighting, you knew that you just didn’t want to hold each other back.
you knew you couldn’t stay when that pain was so fresh, you needed to clear your head. you moved away for a bit, planning to return in two years time.
and those two years passed by quietly, until you found yourself being welcomed back to monstadt.
only, it seemed your feelings for kaeya had only grown more complicated as you watched him bloom.
he thrived without you, he had grown to be quite a noble captain, charming everyone from children to grandparents. he was someone the whole community could rely on, someone who strived to do good for the welfare of everyone.
because of this, it was pretty hard to miss him. whether it was his name being the subject of tavern gossip or your observant eyes spotting him in the shadows, you just couldn’t avoid him.
you’d scoff, roll your eyes, do anything to show you didn’t care, but it was clear that you cared enough to perk up when you heard his name.
you were so proud of him and the person he’d become. it was safe to say that you remembered why you’d fallen in the first place, that playful smile, moonlight blue eyes, and inviting familiar warmth.
your memory of meeting him was blurred by adrenaline, he had approached you noticing you were awfully quiet among everyone else. he made conversation with you, making you laugh within a minute. you opened up, he did the same. you trusted him as he did you.
right now though, you were falling harder this time around. you intended to deny it though, deny it until it broke you.
today, you were having a busy day, visiting old friends, seeing all the new sights you had missed out on, when you saw him approaching you.
you knew you weren’t equipped to handle whatever it was he had to say; you didn’t need to hear it.
you ran, letting the adrenaline take you far far away, and soon enough you found yourself by the monstadt lake. the wind was blowing as fiercely as your heartbeat.
you tried to squat down to catch your breath, but your tiredness got the best of you and misstepped.
bracing for a cold splash into the lake, you closed your eyes and let gravity take its course; only that coldness came in another form.
“you’re being dramatic, you know that?~”
he chuckled, arms around your waist quite snuggly. sure, you had been fantasising about him holding you like this, but it wasn’t welcomed at the moment. he pulled you back up to some even land before letting you go. you huffed and crossed your arms, not in the mood to deal with his cheekiness. your eyes never met his as you spoke up. “what do you want?”
he feigned hurt, dramatically placing a hand against his forehead. “so cold, dear. not even a thank you, how are you, or hello.”
you were quickly reaching your boiling point, so you decided to step away before things could escalate any further. before you could take another step, however, he gently grabbed your wrist; you looked up at him, eyes wide, and it seemed that he was surprised by his actions as well. his touch was as cold as the last time you met, but this coldness now felt much more like frostbite.
his eyes darted up into your eyes and back down to your wrist before he let you go, flinching away. a faint blush spread across his cheeks, one you certainly could not see under the moonlight. “sorry, i– you dropped this.”
he hastily fished out a key from his pocket; it was your house key. the moment you recognised it, you wanted to fall over in embarrassment; maybe you did deserve to be in the cold waters. he was right after all, and you were being dramatic. you looked down at his palm and hesitantly took it from his hands, as he explained further.
“you dropped it by ms. blanche’s shop.”
“thank you.” your voice was soft, almost inaudible; a stark contrast to your initial hostility. kaeya frowned, watching your timid movements. “do you hate me that much?”
your swiftly looked back up at him, the hurt in his expression was more than clear and genuine, at least from what you could tell. “no. i… i just–”
“after these past couple of years, i was excited to see you again, dear.” his voice falters as he tries to push through his own self-disappointment. “i-i didn’t realise i hurt you that much, that you didn’t want anything to do with me.” he sighs, finding the courage to look into your eyes; he’s a coward in that moment though and his fears and insecurities are eating him up.
you pity him, and you know you’re starting to succumb to defeat.  “you don’t scare me, kaeya. its… its my feelings for you that scare me.”
“is it that strong? you really fear you might hurt me or—”
“it’s not hatred, kaeya.”
that takes him by surprise, and his thoughts start running miles per minute. “sadness? disappointment? frustration? please, i need to know, please.” his voice is almost cracking at this point, eyes glassy. he gently takes your hands in an attempt to plead with you to set him free.
you never were the best at denying him, and you thought you’d set yourself free too.
“it’s love, kaeya, it’s… i still love you, and i’m afraid it’s striking me harder this time. look how far you’ve come without me.” at that fact, you find hot tears running down your cheek. “i’m happy to see you so happy, kaeya. it just hurts that i missed it.”
“i’m not. i’m…” he’s taken aback, but he tries to articulate himself. he takes your cheeks into his palms, gently guiding your gaze to his eyes. “i was lying earlier, you know? saying i was excited to see you was an understatement, dear. i missed you everyday, i wondered if you were doing fine without me,  and seeing you come back, having seemed to forget me i just…”
“kaeya…”
“can we start back just before things went wrong? can you give me… can you give us another chance?”
it’s that same desperate look as his touch softens and he waits for a response. despite your trembling from the rush of emotions, you feel that things can’t be clearer. you acted fast to meet his lips, giving him your decisive response. it was a simple truth that had never left you, even as you left him; you always loved kaeya alberich, and now, you knew he loved you just the same.
Tumblr media
requests are open!! please do not reposts on other sites.
736 notes · View notes
sylvctica · 1 year ago
Note
“...Sylvie.”
Their name, which often rolls off his tongue so naturally, felt heavy—poised hands settling down his tea which he has been taking long, tentative sips from. “May I suggest holding a funeral?”
Silence.
"..."
“For Foras…and you.”
He continued, straight to the point and leaving no room for doubt on what he meant. Sylvie is Foras, and yet in many ways…they’re not.
Not missing the way their eyes flicker with apprehension, fingers twitching in a cold sweat—he reaches to cup his hand over theirs. “...Forgive my forwardness, but this has been weighing on my mind for quite some time. Since the Rite of Parting, I've deeply pondered if I could offer the same to you.” The sincerity in his eyes was nothing short of good intention.
…of course at a glance, the deceased in question is still very much alive—talking and smiling as one does. But for those like the Archon who lived through countless millennia, he knew they were a dead God walking. Very few could recall them as Foras, God of Trees and Forests. Otherwise, little traces of them remained in the world. They bled into the casualties that were forgotten and buried in war. If people mourned and searched for them, they would not know it.
So as a consultant—but most importantly as their partner—there was no one better fit for this task than him. Though it is many years late, he believes every being has a right to be preserved in name and memory. Death by nature is cruel, but nothing is more cruel than a forgotten and silent death.
In addition, it would allow some closure for him as well...a time to properly mourn.
In the tides of war, where grief and vulnerability were not allowed, the weight of their death had not dawned on him until it was far too late. And though it all rests in the past now, feeling Sylvie’s essence slipping between his fingers, their own words assuring him in their time of peril ( oh, they were always so selfless, down to their last breath )…it still felt very much real when he thought back to it.
It wasn't hard to miss the weight behind his voice, though his body language long gave away that something was sitting heavy on his thoughts. Sylvie's smile flickered and faltered for a moment as their focus shifted towards him and their teacup came to a rest upon the table they sat at; it was rare for him to initiate serious conversations without prompt.
Although there was no way to predict what he was to ask—never would they expect him to bring up a funeral.
For them.
Tumblr media
Something cold spilled through their limbs, like ice sinking through their stomach and leaving an empty hole behind—and it was the gentle touch to their hand that brought some warmth back to the present, though their 'heart' was beating like a fearfully caged bird.
Their tongue nervously darted out to lick at dry lips, mind lost between racing and having absolutely no coherent thought, as if it were frozen.
They know Zhongli means well, it'd be stupid not to after knowing him for so long … so what was this fear within them? That part of their past—Foras—was long left behind, one they've stopped really associating themselves with since that day they woke up from their death, buried behind what was now 'Sylvie'.
So a funeral is thematically fitting, yes.
So why were they so scared?
Perhaps it was the finality of saying goodbye to 'Foras' that scared them more than holding a funeral for their own death. But they wanted that and have wanted to snip that past for a while, so why did it make them want to cry merely thinking about it?
Why did it feel like it was asking to tear themselves in two?
No easy answer came, just waves and waves of emotions that seemed to tear at the seams of their heart, torn between wanting to release, and wanting to hold 'Foras' closer (even if their eyes are closed).
(You wish to know why? It's because a funeral is a finality. An acknowledgement to let go of the memory of 'Foras' they've quietly carried for two-thousand years, buried between their ribcage. To acknowledge, 'Foras' is dead and forgotten to history.)
(A fear.)
(A fear.)
(A fear.)
But, this is not only about themselves.
They know this is for him as well; Zhongli has not had time to mourn, has not been able to afford to do so, not with Liyue on his shoulders. And as years passed, those opportunities dwindled as the feelings slowly eroded and washed away like rivers over stones, dulling them down into something they can shelve far, far behind.
Memories flicker, of the anguish and hurt on his face as he held their body within a dying dreamscape, of the apologizes spilling out amongst sobs they could never imagine leaving him, shaking his body, of the regrets he's had over so many years. When has he ever had time to mourn? For them? For lost friends and companions? For the people of Liyue who had died for him?
They cannot be selfish and hide in their fear, when this was for him too.
Wide eyes moved from staring a hole into the table, to slowly look towards the other god. Their lips parted, then closed as the words seemed to wither in their throat.
Tumblr media
"No it's ... I think it might be worth ... the um ... no, it's a good idea." Their voice was quiet, meek, lacking any of their confidence. "Please be slow with me, I ... I want to, but the idea scares me. Silly as ... I feel silly for being so scared of ... burying myself. I'm scared, but I trust you. I trust you."
They trust him to put Foras to rest; the glory of the God of Trees had long come to an end, and it was long overdue to say goodbye to what is now the past.
6 notes · View notes
grislyintentions · 1 year ago
Note
Day eighteen of being stuck in jail and boredom had once again given way to sleeplessness for Childe. Being cooped up had done nothing for his emotional state prior to his incarceration, but losing his freedom had made it substantially worse given the circumstances of why he was locked up to begin with. Laying on his back on the bed in his cell, Childe’s fingers idly grazed along the short strings splayed out on the mattress next to him.
He’d not yet actually used the token to try and contact his lover, mainly because up until last month written communication had been occurring as usual, but with his lack of access to the outside world a letter would not be arriving in Liyue for quite some time if they kept up at the current pace.
He wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon, so he might as well try it. Zhongli had explained to Childe how he was supposed to use the token to reach Zhongli’s adeptal space, but Childe being very much a mortal in comparison he wasn’t sure how easy or difficult a task it would be with no more than a simple desire to contact his lover and see him, even if it was merely in a dream plane and it technically wasn’t real.
Fingers grasped the knotted tassel firmly but not so much he could damage them, and Childe kept his breathing even to try and clear out his mind. Focusing in somehow moving outside of his literal prison and entering a plane he’d only had described to him by his lover. Childe didn’t know if the distance between Fontaine and Liyue was too great for any attempts to use the token for its intended purpose would reach the former Archon, but Childe is sure trying from sheer force of will.
He wanted to see Zhongli, hear his voice and hold him in his arms. Without powers it was hard to tell how the meditation was going, but several minutes in to it Childe was still laying on his back and trying to contact Zhongli.
Tumblr media
Being separated for months on end is hardly a deviation from the norm between the both of them, as far as Zhongli is aware. Childe has his own duties to tend to and he has his obligations with the Wangsheng funeral parlour to fulfill as well. Such reasons were what drove forth their arrangements of keeping in touch with letters in the first place. Even now, the pleasant delight that he experiences when he returns to find one addressed to him shows no signs of wearing off.
Hence, it is only the end of the second month mark that the former archon began to take notice of the lack of response from his end. Concern lingers- of course it does; why else would he not have received notice from the harbinger otherwise? That usually only happens in two likely scenarios: Either he has sustained yet another grave injury or there are circumstances forbidding him from being able to respond.
Zhongli is not quite certain which outcome is more concerning. Still, he waits. And thankfully, he does not have to wait too long to feel the pull once the knotted tassel is in Childe’s grasp. A distant rippling effect; much like an earthquake and its tremors. Entering his adeptal realm is a technique he has done time and again. It is not particularly difficult but for someone who has never been privy to the machinations behind adeptal arts…that can be quite disconcerting.
The former archon had been waiting for an opportunity to ease the other into it. But it appears life has other plans. Once situated within his space, he closes his eyes and reaches into the veil of consciousness.
A meditating childe would be met with a sense of disorientation as reality warps. When the harbinger opens his eyes next, he would be met with firm arms steadying him by his waist and amber eyes surveying him with a tender gaze. "Childe," Zhongli greets with a smile. "It has been a while."
@captivemuses
1 note · View note
morros-writing-blog · 3 years ago
Text
How long will you let it burn? [read the tags]
xiao finds out zhongli gave up liyue and he decides to take his anger out on the former archon
i didnt get everything i wanted to write down but thats fine, i can always add more or redo this later
the song that made me think of this: (please listen to it, itll do more to the story than what i could put in)
youtube
Xiao hadn’t been to the Harbor in what felt like ages. He typically stuck around the Inn, but the ‘death’ of Rex Lapis — and the summoning of Osial — drew him back. Although he wasn’t quite sure what it was, he knew something was wrong from the start. Something felt off and it was driving him crazy.
If only he had known back then it was because Rex Lapis wasn’t dead — he’d simply abandoned his own nation in its time of need. Thousands of people could have died because Zhongli was too tired? Even if part of him argued that the former Archon had every right to give up, he still felt the burn of anger and betrayal deep inside his chest, settling into his bones until he couldn’t take it anymore.
And so, Xiao quietly thanked Aether for the news — the traveler had come all the way to the Inn so he could update Xiao on what he’d missed after leaving — and vanished. He wasn’t about to let Rex get away without understanding the price of his actions. Serious harm could fall on Liyue without the protection of an Archon, especially now that the Fatui had settled themselves into the mountains as if it was their own home.
Zhongli was outside when Xiao managed to find him, leaning on the railing of a balcony and tracing his thumb across the top of a bottle. The Adeptus said nothing, only dropping from the roof beside the other man and grabbing ahold of his arm. When Zhongli turned his gaze to meet Xiao’s, he saw the other’s eyes alight with a burning fury, his face twisted in the sting of betrayal.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Xiao spat, his nails dug into Zhongli’s arm as he dragged the man back inside. Zhongli was quiet, giving Xiao the space to keep going. “I know who you are. I know what you did, and— what the fuck?!”
Xiao finally let go, spinning around on his heel to send Rex his best death glare. “Were you just going to watch Liyue fall? Did you plan to step in and help protect it, or were you trying to get thousands of your people killed?! I thought you were better than this!”
Zhongli only stared, infuriating Xiao more. As the Adeptus glared, his breathing coming a little heavier than intended due to his anger, Zhongli finally responded. With a single, soft sigh. He crossed his arms, his eyes meeting Xiao’s with an aura of calmness — and that only served to make Xiao feel worse.
“I presume Aether already told you the news?” Zhongli started, his eyes narrowing a fraction. He looked unbothered, but anyone who knew what they were doing could notice the tenseness of his shoulders and the effort he was putting into maintaining that mask.
“I need you to hear me out,” the former Archon continued, “for both our—”
Xiao let out a laugh, though it was far from a genuine one. The sound was sharp, sounding more forced than anything. As soon as he was done, he took a menacing step forwards in the direction of Zhongli.
“I’m not listening to you,” Xiao said, speaking slowly and bitterly as if that would get his message across stronger. “You’re listening to me. How long do you plan to keep this up, huh? What happens when Liyue finds out what you did? Are you just going to walk away from them again?”
“And giving your Gnosis away!” Xiao continued, utter disgust in that exclamation. “The Fatui already took Barbatos’, and I’m sure they’re after the other Seven as well! Surely you couldn’t have thought that was a good idea? Or were you just that tired, that you stopped caring about any mortal lives or even what happened to your own creation?”
Once more, Xiao’s yelling was met with an even, silent gaze. He gritted his teeth and looked away, mildly unsettled with the way Zhongli was looking at him. Part of him felt as if he was disrespecting the former Archon, as if he deserved to be punished for this somehow, but then he recalled something — it didn’t matter anyway.
“You broke your own contract,” Xiao said finally, not even caring anymore if Zhongli was listening. He turned his gaze back to the man, his voice softening until it was only a broken whisper. “You betrayed everyone because you were tired, when there were a million other options. You swore to me — to all of us, all the Adepti — that you would look to us for help.”
Zhongli’s eyes closed and he turned his head away from the yaksha, exhaling softly through his nose. He had hoped Xiao wouldn’t mention the contract they’d made, but part of him knew he would. And he was right too, he broke his own word, but he’d figured it was a good enough reason at first. He was exhausted after around 6000 years of living.
Sensing he wasn’t going to get a response from Zhongli anytime soon, Xiao let out a pained sigh. He ran a hand through his own hair, brushing it back and out of his eyes as he turned back towards the door they’d come in from. Although Zhongli had broken his word, Xiao wasn’t about to break his. Liyue needed protection even more now, after all.
“When we fail, and the Fatui succeed, I want you to remember this,” Xiao said finally, facing away from Zhongli and gazing at the floor. His hair had fallen back into his eyes, and his expression was unreadable from where the other man stood. “I want you to know that was because you abandoned us all.”
“Have a good life, Zhongli.”
And with that, Xiao was gone again, leaving the house in silence.
6 notes · View notes
cinnamonest · 3 years ago
Note
Kaeya is really touchy with his darling, right? So then,, what are the other Yan’s love languages?
NICE I love the love languages stuff! Sorry this was from April but I'm finally getting to it! Usually the two are similar, but sometimes people have different ways of expressing love versus how they want to receive it, so I'll elaborate on that as well. Enjoy my rareish semi-fluffy stuff, boys and which of the 5 love languages they are :3 Kazuha - quality time
Honestly, he's a simple boy. All he really needs to be happy and feel mutual love is sit with you close to him, arms wrapped around you, preferably with you returning the gesture. He has a lot of feelings and fears for the future, lots of emotions all bottled up, so someone to listen to him means a lot. Taking the time to listen to all he has to say makes him sheepish and embarrassed even, but as long as you assure him it's ok, he'll keep coming back for more of your listening ears.
Also, he likes to go on walks. These can be talking or not, sometimes he just likes walking in silence. Either way, accompanying him on said walks is a way to endear yourself to him and show him you love him. Sometimes it's just silently walking down beaches or pathways or in circles around the ship deck, sometimes it's him venting, sometimes it's him gushing about this or that... either way, basically providing him with an outlet for his emotions and spending time with him is what matters.
Zhongli -  gifts, quality time
Sugar daddy
But in all seriousness he's big on spoiling a darling. I mean let's be real it's probably someone else's money OR this is in an era where he could just make some, so he will literally get you anything you could ask for, hell, anything he sees you looking at, tons of things you have no use for but he just likes the way your eyes light up all the same. It makes you happy, and that's what love is about, right? Wanting to make people you love happy.
However, for himself, it's a quality time thing, similar to Kazuha's where it's a lot of listening. He has a lot to say sometimes and can get to rambling about details of this or that thing he somehow manages to be an expert on, and while he usually catches himself early on, sometimes he can REALLY go on a while. He knows you don't have any clue what he's talking about, and probably don't really care, but if you sudden bring up a detail that shows you were listening -- it makes him feel oddly warm inside, like you actually think what he talks about is important and care about it. It makes him chuckle a bit, pat your head. He tells you if you're bored you don't have to listen.... so if you insist on doing so anyway, well, that just makes him feel even better inside, oddly validated in a way.
Kaeya  -  words of affirmation, touch
Is sex a love language?
But in all seriousness, yes as per the opening of the ask, he's very touchy. By 'touch' in this case, that... does translate to sex about 90% of the time. Can you blame him?? It's because he loves you! If he didn't love you he wouldn't wanna get his dick in you so bad! It's love that makes him so handsy and touchy, always rubbing you and running the edges of his fingers under your shirts and skirts and shorts even in public, hands wrapping around your waist and hips, sneaking fondles here and there... and it's out of love that you get railed all the time. His peak happiness is just being balls deep inside you, bodies pressed up against each other, moving slow and gentle and gradually building up... and he wants you to feel like that's love, too. To be honest he gets genuinely sad if you don't see it that way, or if you don't understand it as an expression of love. It seems so natural and innate that being pressed up close together should invoke feelings of love, right?
As for how he understands love as a recipient, well, pretty much the same thing, any sign of eagerness or willingness or especially initiative to fuck sets his brain off. But also, he's weak to any attempts to boost his ego. Say anything positive about him and he'll get excited and let it go to his head, particularly if your words of choice make him feel strong or powerful or capable.
Also speaking of touch, surprisingly big on handholding, especially in public. Sure part of it is a "signaling to others to back off" sort of thing, but he just likes the warmth of your hand as well.
Diluc - touch
It might be a bit surprising, given the stoic nature but... just give this man a hug. Please.
Being inside you is very very nice of course, but he's also notably a cuddly person when you get past the rough exterior. He likes to just sit you in his lap and hold you, spoon you in bed at night, etc.
And as for giving, he doesn't really have knowledge of how to go about other things. He's not good with words at all, he doesn't really know what gifts to get, and despite his affection he's not really submissive enough of a person to go about acts of service, and he's very busy, so while he might get quality time, it's not too often. In the end he doesn't really know how to do anything else, so if he really wants to express affection, the only way he can really think of is just wrapping his arms around you and squeezing. Sometimes a little too hard, like sir I'm asphyxiating please
Also it takes him a while to work up to it. At first he's just too nervous and can barely touch you without retracting his hand back out of nervousness, but he gets used to it.
Razor - quality time, touch
The others are kind of foreign concepts, really. But touch and time is how his kind bond! It's what he's used to. Nuzzling his face into your shoulders and neck and wrapping arms around you and holding you tight. He will often just cling to you physically in some way, holding your wrist in his hand or reaching out to embrace you at random. Of course, sex is a part of it, gotta have that too, it means love to him because he gets the urge whenever he thinks about loving you! And not gonna lie, he tries to remember you don't really like it but, he'll lick you every now and then too. It just comes naturally because he gets excited 'cause he loves you so much!! Lick lick.
Quality time comes in many forms. Every second is quality time in its own way, but especially naps in the sun and walks through the woods. Fun fact: wolf mates go on little "walks" together occasionally, breaking off from the rest of the pack to get alone time. It's fun! You can run through the woods with him! The naps combine the two expressions of touch and time, getting to spend lots of quiet, valuable time, all while snuggled up close. It's nice.
He doesn't really understand if you try to communicate love otherwise, but he'll kind of grasp that it's nice. But really, in the end he wants touch and time too. It's the only form he really understands. The rest just leave him a bit "??" But a nuzzle and a nap in the sun are things he understands perfectly.
Xingqiu - gifts, words of affirmation
The first is more how he shows, the second how he receives. It's a rather selfish form of love, really, because it benefits him as well and it's not exactly difficult. He doesn't have to put a lot of work into gifting, since he can pretty much get anything he asks for out of his father, and even if he says no to something, well, father won't notice a few hundred thousand mora gone from the stash of money kept in his bedroom, right? And he loves giving you gifts because of your reaction! You smile and say thank you and it makes him feel all warm and fuzzy inside... and he likes to think that maybe you feel indebted to him, maybe you're awed and impressed by how he manages to find you such expensive and rare things, maybe it makes you look up to him and see him as superior a bit. Hopefully.
However, because he's got so much wealth already, so gifts don't really do much for him. He responds well to praise, though, especially if you compliment him on the things he cares about, like his sword skills, his writing, his vigilantism. Make him feel like the protagonist he is inside his head, and he'll be beaming with pride and happiness, it makes him feel important, which translates to feeling loved.
Chongyun - quality time, acts of service
In particular, he likes to have you around when he's training. You don't have to train yourself, just be by his side. It makes him more motivated, so he's noticed. Not to mention, he likes showing off if possible to impress you.
Also, he likes having someone to vent to. He's a sweet boy, but he has his stressors and frustrations. He's used to strict self-discipline and normally refrains from talking about his feelings too much, but if you make him feel like your presence is a safe place for him to come to, he will end up almost becoming dependent on getting to emotionally unload on you every day, recalling all the details of every bad thing that happened and waiting for your soft comfort.
Here, "acts of service" is more like... consideration. Little moments where he's reminded you remember his needs and care about them. You make food and note that you made it especially free of anything hot, just for him! Or you make his little popsicles when he forgets, you help him deal with the damage and destruction of his most recent episode. Little acts like that make him feel appreciated, loved and cared for.
Childe - acts of service
Similar to Kaeya and touch, acts of service is... yeah it's basically sex. It falls more into the category of acts of service because it's a little different in nature from Kaeya's -- he loves normal sex of course, and cuddles are nice too, but in his mind really loving him is about taking initiative and doing things to him... in other words, to translate that in simple terms... blow him. Please. It would make him the happiest man in the world. Or ride him. Just anything that feels like you taking some initiative and making him feel wanted. ...And making him feel worshipped is nice too, getting you down on your knees in front of him or any act of service and submission gives him a sort of high from the ego boost and masculine validation.
And he's similar with how he expresses it himself. Most likely candidate to eat you out against your will. One infuriating and potentially humiliating thing about him is he's one of the most insistent to ensure you cum every single time, if you don't cum from him fucking you he'll just force your legs open and eat you out or shove his fingers into you until you do. Because he loves you and orgasms equate to love in his mind.
Venti - acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts
It's more on the giving end for him -- specifically, he can be a very sappy individual when he's in love, to a point it's nauseating to the people around you, really. But he spends a lot of time writing you poems and songs. To him, song is one of the utmost powerful expressions of love. It sort of combines the service and words -- the writing itself is a labor of love, but the words are filled with praises. He genuinely spends a lot of time on it, though, and it's really important to him that you like the things he makes and plays for you, and will continuously modify his next pieces to what he perceives as your taste. He's a bit of a perfectionist on stuff like that.
Venti is actually rather shy when it comes to receiving love. He tends to be very no, you don't have to do that for me! And things like gifts can make him feel a bit guilty, so... you just have to give him stuff he likes so much he's too busy indulging to feel guilt. Namely alcohol. He gets a bit red in the face, but, deep down he likes words of affirmation and compliments too, even the lightest of sweet words he'll replay in his head over and over for days after you say them.
Bennett - acts of service
One of the quickest ways to endear yourself to him is the simple act of helping him. This can manifest in several ways, such as healing his wounds when he's all scraped up or just come back from an adventure, helping him patch up his clothes that get ripped so much, helping him find some thing he lost in the woods yet again, or following him on one of said adventures. People don't really have him in mind too often, he tends to get forgotten a lot and left to handle things all on his own, and as a result, someone who reaches out to help him has a significant impact on him, he finds himself unable to stop thinking about it and the warm feeling it gives him to know that someone cares.
As a result, he starts basically mimicking the same behaviors because it's all he really knows how to do. He wants to give you the same warm happiness that you give him, so he tries to help you out with the things you need, complete tasks he knows would be helpful to you. Unfortunately for him, this tends to backfire as something usually goes wrong and it turns into a mess that he fears will just make you hate him. Poor baby.
Albedo - quality time
He's one of those people that really loves to just spend time in the presence of the people he loves -- you don't have to be doing something together, or the same thing. Even if you're just reading a book or drawing or something on your own, he likes you to be nearby him. It's kinda cute how if you go wandering off or go into another room, he'll wait a minute, then silently kinda come peeking around the corner to check on you because?? Why did you leave? Did he do something to upset you? He's too proud to explicitly ask you to come back, but he might blatantly follow you to the room you're in, claiming it's just better lighting in here, or the other room was too cold, or some other excuse.
He still likes doing things with you, though, too. Another favorite is late night conversations, the kind you get into once you're already laying in bed in the dark, pressed against each other and mumbling little thoughts that occur to you before you drift off to sleep, questions about tomorrow, or a hey remind me to do this or that, that sort of thing. Little conversations you never really finish, your voices get softer and sleepier with each moment, you eventually close your eyes as you talk back and forth, until one of you eventually doesn't get a response, and then drifts off themselves.... and in the morning neither of you remember who was the last person to speak or what the conversation was even about in the end.
Xiao - touch
He just doesn't... get much else. Words are hard. He doesn't know whether this or that gift or gesture is considered appropriate to present to a human as  sign of love, and those kinds of things, words and gifts and stuff, embarrass him too much... and he doesn't every really know whether or not he's correct when interpreting your actions and words either. How does he know the gift isn't just because you wanted to be nice, or that the nice things you said were just meant mildly, and he's just indulging in wishful thinking when he thinks it means more? Ugh. It's too troublesome to have to deal with.
But touch... it's straightforward and easy and impossible to misunderstand. And it's also objectively the best, he thinks, even without the issues in understanding it's just what he feels the most natural urge towards. Why would anyone do any differently? Why do humans waste their time giving each other gifts and compliments and stuff when they could just do the thing that feels so much better than that other stuff? It confuses him. He doesn't want material goods, he just wants to cuddle you and put his dick in you. Yeah it... also translates to sex here, similar to Kaeya. Like, he likes it when you kiss his forehead and snuggle up close, but those things will inevitably result in wanting more. And he loves the rests you two take, half-asleep soundly wrapped up and bodies pressed close, spooning with his arms latched onto you. It's just that said rests/naps are almost always very much naked due to being after cumming in you a few times.
Scaramouche - acts of service, words of affirmation, touch
I mean, you're kinda forced into the acts of service thing, but the idea is that you start to perform said acts willingly, or without needing to be commanded. Eventually you get to where you do things on your own initiative, and he likes to think maybe you just want to (and not because you've been beaten into doing it so many times it's become instinctive, definitely not that). A lot of it is just tasks, but similar to Childe's acts of service, it's definitely a sex thing too, wants you to show initiative and do things on your own -- not that you won't likely get told not to do shit like that without permission, but he still does like it, internally.
Words of praise are similar. Say anything nice about him and he'll probably accuse you of lying or trying to manipulate him/get something, but deep down he kinda thrives on anything positive you have to say or think about him. Not that you'd ever know.
As for how he actually shows love, well... does... he...? Yes actually, primarily it's a touch thing. Not always pleasant touches, but touches. It's similar to how other yans equate different things with love, like Childe sees orgasms as a form of love, to him possession is the utmost expression of "love" in the sense that he perceives it. Possession, to own a thing completely and entirely, to have full power over something... that sort of connection is incredibly intimate, when you think about it. It's a connection on a deep level, it's loving. So anything that expresses possession -- pleasant or unpleasant for you -- is thus an expression of love.
407 notes · View notes
lavendermin · 4 years ago
Text
from sea of flowers, garden of eternity | xiao
pairing | xiao/reader
word count | 2k
genre | pwp, fluff, light angst, brief smut
note | glaze lily spirit reader, you are also in perpetual pain I’m sorry
“Xiao…” he hears your voice meekly call.
The adeptus is already on his feet before you can fully enter the room, his eyes quickly focused on you. He scans your body language diligently, looking for signs of pain or discomfort. It’s become a routine by now.
“Are you…?” His voice trails off when you shake your head apologetically. The slight strain in your smile doesn’t go unnoticed by him.
“I’m alright for now. The pains haven’t started yet. I think I’m set for another few hours, a day if I’m lucky,” you reassure him. “I just— wanted to check on you.”
Xiao gives you a blank look, one you recognize as confusion. “Check… on me…?”
“Just to see how you’re doing,” you clarify with a shy smile. As you make your way to sit on the bed, you gently pat the space next to you.
There’s a slight red upon his cheeks as he chooses to take up your invitation. The bed dips under his weight, and words do not need to be spoken to know both your minds drift briefly to past trysts that took place where you sit.
“I’m heading out to patrol the area in an hour. If you need anything at all, speak my name,” Xiao announces quietly. It’s a brief awkward silence as he rigidly sits next to you—tense almost. You answer him with a simple nod, hands absentmindedly rubbing little circles on your legs to ease the tingles of pain that slowly resurfaced.
Conversation was scarce the past few months you were placed into his watchful guard. The relationship you both harbored was a blurred line you tried not to think about too much for fear of over-complicating it.
And with your entire being, you could say you came to the unfortunate doom of falling in love with him. The emotional distance he kept oftentimes only confused you as much as your own emotions left him puzzled and a little flustered.
He kept you alive. That was the simplicity of the details Xiao was given. Perhaps it was a favor he was doing you, but he diligently carried it out with all the steadfastness of a contract bestowed onto him by the former Lord of Geo.
“I’m sure you are aware of the situation near Qingce Village,” Zhongli had brought up upon summoning Xiao several moons after the stirrings of a slumbering god.
Though the situation was previously dire, all was settled—Xiao knew this as a fact, for he was the one that swiftly took care of the aftermath of a dormant god’s power seeping through the earth. So, the battle hadn’t ended then…
“I was careless—“
Zhongli cut him off, carefully setting down his cup in its saucer. “On the contrary, this was in no way able to be foreseen by you. The world has a way of ending and raising new questions, just as easily as it provides answers to those who seek them.”
On the small garden table, Zhongli’s eyes trail to the glaze lily that sits in a small decorative vase. Unlike most, this lone flower is fully bloomed despite the time of day. It glows ever so slightly—weakly almost.
“You are aware that glaze lilies grow in the Qingce area, and there are a few wild outcroppings that shy away from prying eyes,” Zhongli starts.
His gloved finger reaches out to tenderly graze the petals, and at once the flower closes up. The petals take on a dullness, and visibly they start to wilt in small patches.
“The reasons are uncertain, but rumor spread around the village of a wandering ghost that followed the moon aimlessly. A spirit born of glaze lilies appeared after the battle that took place near there. It seems the power seeped deep into cracked earth among the flowerbeds.”
The young adeptus remained quiet, taking in the information. What exactly did this have to do with him, he wondered?
With a hint of apprehension, Xiao asks, “This spirit—has it taken on a malevolent nature?”
Instead of answering straight away, Zhongli wordlessly stands and makes his way back indoors. Xiao obediently follows, curious of the nature of this spirit.
“Nothing of the sort. However, these glaze lilies fell victim to the corruption of your karmic debt and at the same time were nurtured by immense adeptal power. There is a wavering balance that must be kept, for her body is as fragile as a flower’s and cannot withstand the depletion and shifts of adeptal energy.” With graceful steps, Zhongli stops before a door. “No other adeptus has successfully remained compatible with the energy she needs. So far it has only brought excruciating pain for her, and I fear she may die at this rate.”
With a silent nod, Xiao processes this information. His gloved hand is unmoving on the door handle.
“What are the terms of this contract,” Xiao silently asks, amber eyes trained on the door in front of him.
“My time has long passed to give you a new contract, Adeptus Xiao.” Zhongli chuckles fondly at the serious habits of the adeptus before him. “This is a choice I am giving you. It may take centuries for her body to adjust to the adeptal power she now harbors. If she is compatible with you, it is up to you to decide whether you supply her with your adeptal energy, otherwise she may not make it past next week.”
Xiao remains quiet for a brief moment before speaking softly, “Her body is tearing itself apart…”
“Correct.”
There’s something in that fact that stirs feelings Xiao isn’t used to in his chest. He accepts, and the first memory of you that adorns his mind is one that clenches his heart in a way he rarely experiences. The pain that twists and contorts your face as you desperately heave, body seemingly tearing itself apart in a way the naked eye cannot see.
You’re a beautiful tragedy born of moonlight and sweet soil. And in that moment when your eyes meet his, a single tear rolls down your cheek. He cannot fathom the thought of letting your life end as quickly as it began.
The door behind him clicks shut, and he takes your fragile life into his hands.
The lights of the house are dim—a subtle golden glow against a comforting darkness in the blanket of night. A meadow of glaze lilies surrounds the little cottage in a sea of fragrance. A prominent mark of your abode.
The little house defended by mountains is secluded, one which Zhongli sent to be made for you while your body stabilizes.
And though the exterior is tranquil, within its walls come soft pants and gasps. Xiao’s brows are knit together in concentration as he ruts against you.
“Please—Ah…nnh a–again,” you beg against your trembling body’s protests.
And he wordlessly complies, folding your legs until your knees are practically at the sides of your head. His hips pick up the pace and his thrusts become desperate, bodies covered in a sheen of sweat. The moans you let out are loud—obscene as he fills you up until you’re overflowing. The pains have long subsided, and you choose to let him overcompensate in giving you the energy that will get you by another few days.
In the serene calm of night, the tranquility is drowned out by the squelching sounds of your bodies meeting each other through desperate thrusts as both of you are sent over the edge. His name falls from your lips in a melody Xiao has grown addicted to. For the nth time that night you come undone beneath him, your essence stabilized.
There’s a swelling warmth in your chest that blooms like spring meadows as Xiao buries his face in the crook of your neck. The tips of his ears are a bright scarlet and though he tries to control it, he is still left a breathless mess as he rides out his orgasm.
“Is it…enough?” Xiao asks between pants, his cock still buried deep within you.
He’s still twitching within you and your entire body shudders with delight at the feeling.
“You… haah—can keep… going if you want,” you offer weakly. There’s a dazed look in your half-lidded eyes that makes Xiao’s chest squeeze. “‘M full but you’re still…”
Hard.
You glance down to where you two are still joined together, the view of his come leaking out of you shamelessly sending heat between your legs again. The tips of Xiao’s ears turn bright red though he tries to remain composed.
“I’ll be fine. You should get some rest to preserve the energy longer.”
He pulls out and ignores the way your eyes look away dejectedly. Before he can stand to go, your hand gently tugs him back down. Xiao allows himself to be pulled against you, his head resting in the valley of your naked chest.
“Stay with me for a bit?”
Xiao doesn’t answer right away, and your heart leaps when he lets out a little sigh and agrees.
“Alright.”
The minutes tick by in tranquil silence. Both tired bodies ignore the sticky feeling of sweat and sex. It’s a feeling you’re both quite used to by now.
“Xiao?” you start quietly after a while. He hums in response, your fingers running through his dark hair soothingly. “Can I kiss you?”
The question is soft, self-conscious almost with the fear of rejection. But you were beyond a breaking point. The feelings were welling up in your chest like a high tide as you felt him tense up at your question.
Sex was common—quite often as a means of easily transferring adeptal energy to you. And because it was a painful process to take in, you found that this method dulled the pain through the twisted pleasures and mixed sensations.
But that’s all it was— a means to keep you alive. You could never say there was a time Xiao kissed you and he always showed restraint in touching your body more than necessary. His bodily needs were never foremost on his mind and he would never tell you how his hands ached to roam your body, how this arrangement became an illusion of a different reality he couldn’t have. And so he locked away his emotions for his own sake.
Xiao lifted his face from your chest, his golden eyes wide with momentary confusion—perhaps even shock. And your face… those wonderful sparkling eyes that glistened with glossy tears on the brink of rolling down your face. He wished he wasn’t the reason you were crying.
In an instant he propped himself up on his forearms, feeling you lightly tremble beneath him from holding back the urge to cry. A quiet hiccup left you as you were overwhelmed by bottled up feelings all at once, his thumb gently brushing your tears away.
“Why?” was all he asked.
Though it was a genuine question, his actions remained tender and calmed the anxiety that gripped your naive heart.
“Because I love you—because I think I love you.”
Quietly you hiccuped beneath him and Xiao gently rested his forehead against yours, eyes closed.
“Then love me if it makes you happy,” he responds softly. The tears that twinkle down your face like falling stars are gently kissed away by his soft lips. “I’m with you until the day I die, and if loving me makes living less painful for you then use me as an anchor to reality.”
Your soft crying is hushed as Xiao presses a tender kiss to your lips. It’s short and just enough to bloom your heart with newfound emotions you had yet to experience. Perhaps you reminded the adeptus of himself in a simpler time—naive, innocent. For that, he took pity on you, and also fell deeply in love with you though he would not know it for a long time.
Simply put, he wouldn’t allow himself to know it.
The flowers that surround the small house glow and dance in the night breeze. They bloom with your newfound knowledge—heartache.
484 notes · View notes
imjeralee · 4 years ago
Note
Genshin men,,,, hcs,,, what would they be like as boyfriends pls deliver
Thanks for sending over anon! I’ve chosen Kaeya, Zhongli, Diluc and Childe for time being (and in no particular order). you can let me know if you wanna read about anyone else. 
Childe:
It’s known that he can be doting so no surprises here, this man will spoil you rotten. He is your number one fan.
Playful, affectionate and straightforward. He is not only your bf but also your best friend in the entire world
He also isn’t shy to steal kisses from you every now and then or hug you all over, even in public. All in all, expect to be showered with lots of cuddles and kisses whenever you’re together. 
He will also do everything you ask of him with a fond smile
He’s like a puppy that keeps following you everywhere, because he’s so in love
He likes the hustle and bustle, so you will most likely do a lot of exciting things together where there are lots of people and also he likes experiencing adrenaline rush so be prepared to go through all sorts of crazy stuff such as extreme cliff-diving or even skinny dipping 
Since he doesn’t like to show his weakness/vulnerability, you cannot always tell when he’s upset etc because he’s so good at feigning it or not letting you see this side to him. That being said, you wish he would be able to show this side to you. 
If you do find him looking a bit rundown, sit down with him and let him lean on you or rest his head on your shoulder for a while and have a quiet moment together
Diluc:
He is generally expressionless whenever you talk with him, so you may have a hard time ascertaining his true emotions 
But his actions tell you otherwise, this man is a very loyal man and will be true to you until the very end
Very protective. He’s pretty much silently sworn to himself that he will and shall protect you at all cost from anyone and anything
Since he’s insanely wealthy, he will and can buy you anything you want
Little to none PDA, but that’s okay because behind closed doors, whoo boy our uncrowned king of mondstadt can be very passionate. When you hug, he hugs you pretty damn tight against his chest
Psst he secretly likes it when you thread your fingers through his hair when he’s trying to sleep
Prefers to spend time with you in isolated, quiet places. 
He’s the kind to do little gestures behind the scenes, like placing a blanket over you if he finds you asleep at your desk for example
He’s a workaholic so you may not see him as often as you would like to
Zhongli:
Remembers everything about you. EVERYTHING.
It’s very impressive
He also absolutely adores you.
Your parents will love him. He is polite, articulate, well-presented, respected, humble and sophisticated and he also has fantastic posture!!! Your parents will sob, grovel at his feet and beg him to marry you
Calls you ‘my dear’, ‘my darling’ or ‘little one’ with much affection and endearment
Will have deep and meaningful conversations with you on a regular basis
You will go on plenty of dinner dates and also visit museums, libraries, or places with ancient history or significance and architecture and he’s the kind who enjoys reading the entire info plaque or listening to the entire tour guide’s speeches and listening/nodding along intently and then telling you about it and commenting and so forth
He’s a romantic who will think about you quite often and will spend a lot of time dwelling on what gifts to give you and how to spend time wisely together
Likes kissing your forehead and his kisses are very slow but deep 
Sometimes you feel like he puts you on a high pedestal and you must maintain this perfect image he has of you but all you need to do is keep being yourself
Kaeya:
Very flirty with you 24/7. He was flirty and playful when you first met and even when you’re dating he will still tease you
Likes to call you a kitten or kitty cat or other pet name and whisper sweet nothings in your ear when you’re together
He very much enjoys having you sit in his lap or cornering you against walls before leaning in for a kiss
He also likes to take your things and play with them. For example if you wear glasses he’ll scoop them off and bite the frame with a smirk on his face 
Likes listening to your problems over some wine and would like you to vent it all out. He will listen to your problems (and later deal with whoever is making you so pissed off)
Enjoys making you blush and giggle, caressing and holding your hand tightly in his when you walk around Mondstadt together… he’s perfectly fine with PDA. He especially likes brushing any loose hair from your eyes and tucking it behind your ear. 
He also likes it if you touch and caress him too
In fact, the more people who know you’re dating, the better. He likes to brag about you to others
Kaeya is a very complex character. He may be outwardly friendly and looks cheerful all the time but sometimes you can’t help but wonder what he is truly capable of should you ever make him mad
587 notes · View notes
aminiatureworld · 4 years ago
Text
Injury II
Characters: Kaeya, Ningguang, Xiao, Zhongli, gn!reader
Word Count: 5,650
Warnings: Various injuries, blood, burns, minor villain death
Premise: Sometimes the pain of others can hurt even more than one’s own. In which the reader is injured.
Author’s Note: Okay so after the mind numbing fear of my computer almost dying and now maybe emitting a weird smell I’m five seconds away from pure panic. But the show much go on! Even if my word document keeps blacking out.
This is my first time writing for Ningguang! I hope I do my girl justice, she’s voiced by my fav VA, she’s a total powerhouse, I love her so much. 
I tried to make all of the injuries personal to each character in some way. Funny enough Zhongli’s was the hardest to figure out. I eventually settled upon the act of you being injured causing Zhongli’s personal angst, rather than the cause of the injury. I hope it came out well!
Kaeya
Kaeya didn’t often let himself fall into fear. Not since he’d been young did he feel that he could indulge in such a sentiment. True to his vision he’d frozen that part of himself, and now when panic seized him he could feel nothing but stone cold determination, and the need to continue forward without hesitation. Fear was hardly alien to him, he could conjure up the emotion all too well, but it had been dulled and replaced by cynicism and coldness. And occasionally guilt.
Looking back on it Kaeya wasn’t even sure why the two of you had strayed so close to Dragonspine, so close snowflakes were congregating in your hair.
You’d called him a winter fairy in jest at the time, wondering if he wasn’t truly the ruler of that mountain of frost. He’d laughed then, before threatening to take you away to his fairy court. “That would be quite an easy task.” You’d replied. “You’ve already captured my heart after all.”
The two of you were strolling on the rocks that lined the river which separated Dragonspine from the greater Monstadt area. Although adventurers usually roamed the area in the daytime it was now evening, and the lack of people certainly made up for the cold in Kaeya’s mind. He could only be his true self around you after all. Otherwise it was the charming and slick Cavalry Captain, a man who always knew what to say and never harbored any doubts in his mind. Not that he wasn’t still charming around you, he loved seeing you blush from his effusive praise, loved the way you buried your head in his shoulder if the flirting and the teasing ramped up enough. But there was a sincerity to his words that one couldn’t find normally in Kaeya, and he loved to show you bits and pieces of his soul, relieved to finally have someone to talk to.
“Watch your step.” You warned, grabbing onto Kaeya’s hand as he slid a little ways along a rock.
“Thank you darling, although I daresay I’m more worried about you. After all who’s the snow fairy here and who’s the wind sprite, liable to blow away at any moment?”
“So cheesy.” You mumbled, shaking your head, though Kaeya could’ve sworn your cheeks were slightly redder than they were a few moments ago. Laughing he wrapped his arm around your waist. You snuggled into his fur lined coat. “Cold.” You murmured, though you made no move to disconnect yourself. Kaeya smiled and brought his other hand around you in a soft embrace.
“Sorry my dearest, but you’re in love with an icicle.”
“Only terms of magic.” You shot back. “Otherwise you’re a nice warm fire. And don’t you forget that.”
The two of you headed a little ways down, closer to the river. A small group of frost flowers had made it to this side of the banks, and you were adamant on picking some. “They’re so beautiful!” You explained to Kaeya. “And incredibly strong, I can’t believe they managed to grow in that permafrost. They’re simply lovely.”
“Just be careful.” Kaeya commented, standing a little ways back. He didn’t like getting near the river, a river so cold it was always at nearly freezing at the bottom. Cold water and a vision of Cryo didn’t mix well.
“I’ll be fine.” You hopped to your feet, a bouquet of pale blue in your hand. You were smiling from your victory, face full of light and happiness.
It was an expression that changed swiftly as you lost your balance and plummeted into the freezing waters.
Immediately Kaeya leapt down from the rocks he was standing on, kneeling near where you were standing a moment ago. The river wasn’t very fast, bogged down by its width and how far it was away from the waterfalls in the warmer parts of Monstadt. Still it cut off very quickly, having barely the semblance of a beach before opening into a deep chasm, and anyone who fell in it would quickly fall into cold shock. Already your limbs had started seizing, and you were hyperventilating hard. Your arms felt like dead weight, and every second that passed your head dipped lower into the freezing water.
Kaeya gingerly put his hand out to make a platform of ice for him to stand on. Whatever happened he couldn’t fall in as well, it would mean the death of you two. Fear had reared its ugly head again and Kaeya twisted those feelings into action. No matter what he had to act fast and sure. Hesitation was fatal.
Plunging his hand into the water, sucking in a deep breath as the ice that still coated his palms and fingers made contact with the freezing river Kaeya hauled you up onto the icy platform. Taking off his coat he wrapped you up. Removing your gloves so the frozen water wouldn’t be in contact with your already freezing skin Kaeya cursed as he ran towards Springvale, the nearest place he could think of. He’d lugged you onto his back, and could feel the freezing water through his shirt. As he ran he kept up a stream of slightly shaky conversation, rattling off what little he knew of hypothermia.
“It’ll be alright darling, I promise it’ll be alright. You’re just going through shock right now, okay? You’ll be alright, I promise. Just stay awake a little while longer. I know you must be tired from all that excitement, but just stay awake a little longer, just a little longer and then you’ll be nice and warm, just stay awake right now okay?” His voice became more and more desperate as his fear started to tumble out of his grasp, but he kept moving. He wouldn’t lose control of himself now, not until you were safe.
Finally he arrived at Springvale and you’d been rushed to the village doctor. Kaeya was told to go and wait somewhere else, and preferably change out of his freezing cold shirt, but you’d grabbed his hand as he turned to leave and after that he refused to budge, instead borrowing a shirt from the village. He’d reimburse the people who let you two borrow their clothes later.
The entire process was a terrifying one, as you were slowly brought back to warmth. Kaeya took the opportunity to learn as much as he could, noting that you shouldn’t massage limbs back to warmth for fear of heart attack and – much to his chagrin he later joked when the situation was far enough in the past – alcohol was too much of a depressant on your system and could lead to death. All throughout he kept talking to you, even though there were times you didn’t seem to hear, times when he thought his heart would split in two.
Still it was evident you were going to survive and when you’d finally finished being warmed up Kaeya thought he could cry in relief, if only he’d been numbed from such an act for so many years. You’d run into some sort of rock in the water, and the long gash down the side of your leg was later determined by the doctor to reveal torn muscle. It’d take about a month and a half for you to recover. Kaeya thought he should’ve felt worse about it, but in the moment he felt nothing but relief, utter relief in the knowledge you were going to be fine. Utter relief that came with having almost lost you.
Kaeya had carried you back to Monstadt, much to your consternation. All the ways back you mumbled about how his penchant for drama seemed to have increased tenfold. Kaeya simply shook his head, not bothering to ask how you would’ve gotten back otherwise with your leg in the shape it was. Still it was a relief to both of you to see the city walls. Even more of a relief when you finally arrived home, safe and sound.
“I’m so glad you were there.” You confessed as Kaeya sat you down on the couch, propping up your leg and pulling a chair up next to you. “I don’t know what I would’ve done had I fallen and you weren’t there.”
“You probably wouldn’t have been there in the first place.” Kaeya remarked, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice. You brought your hand up to his cheek and he leaned into it slightly, grateful for the contact between you two. It’d been hours but the panic that he’d felt still tugged at his consciousness, as if any moment you might slip away again and leave him panicked and alone.
“Were you afraid?” You asked.
“Of course I was afraid.” Kaeya’s reply came swift and sure. “I was terrified, terrified in a way that I haven’t been in years.” Kaeya’s eyes clouded over, as if reaching deep into his memories. He brought your hand up to his lips, kissing your knuckles and then your palm. “I thought that you might die, and in that moment I was ready to curse the world all over again.”
“But I didn’t die.” You said solemnly.
“No, you didn’t.”
“And that’s because of you. Because you reacted quickly, because you had the magic with which to do so, and most of all because you never hesitated. And because of that I’m alive and well now. Injuries aside I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Kaeya knew you were right. You were alive. You weren’t going to go where he couldn’t follow. The fear coiling in his stomach began to subside. He’d been so afraid, yes, and in that fear he’d managed to find the strength and determination to save you. But now you were safe and he no longer needed to rely on that strength; he could give into his relief. Realizing this, realizing how frightened he’d been and how that was now part of a past he could move forward from, could truly forget, Kaeya could only marvel at his relief. Only then did the tears begin to fall.
 Ningguang
If there was one thing Ningguang wasn’t expecting out of today it was your leg collapsing and her winding up in the waiting room of the Liyue hospital, mind replaying the last week or so, wondering where she might’ve realized something was wrong.
It seemed like the kind of thing Keqing would make a joke about. Here Ningguang was, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, the most powerful woman in the trade capital of Liyue; here she was, her world completely gone awry, completely shattered by your injury.
A stress fracture, the doctor had said. It was the kind of injury that developed slowly and came about after weeks instead of in moments. The initial strain was usually something mundane, a sprain, a bruise, maybe you’d walked on your foot for too long. But after sometimes weeks of ignoring pain and swelling your body couldn’t take it any longer. Ten weeks, that’s how long you would be laid up. And Ningguang couldn’t help but feel every one of those ten weeks was her fault.
She should’ve noticed it. That train of thought continued all throughout the process of you being treated at, and eventually discharged from, the hospital. You weren’t just one of the people she worked with daily, weren’t just her closest colleague. You were the person that Ningguang loved more than anything in this world. How could she possibly not have noticed the signs?
Ningguang found herself obsessively trying to connect the warning signs that must’ve been there. She knew that your foot had been aching for some time, but though she’d been vaguely concerned she’d said nothing other than a simple “be careful”. She’d never thought to check after you later, sure that it was nothing. Now she felt nothing but shame, both that of a personal and of a greater kind. How could she manage looking after all of Liyue if she couldn’t even look after you?
You noticed Ningguang’s silence as you two made your way out of the hospital and towards the apartment you shared. Although Ningguang was perhaps seen as a reticent individual you’d found her surprisingly open, always ready to discuss things that were of interest either to you or to her. She wasn’t the kind of person to walk along in silence; not when she was around those that she cared for, not unless she was thinking about something important, not unless…
Finally you two arrived home. You collapsed on the couch, tired and ready to either read or nap. Ningguang was preparing some tea and a various array of fruit, not that there was much food in the lavish apartment you two shared. Considering the workload between the both of you it was perhaps unsurprising that there was nothing much to eat. That would have to change, Ningguang noted; she’d make sure that you were recovering in the most comfortable way possible. It was the least she could do.
“Are you feeling well?” Ningguang asked, placing the food and tea on the table in your room. You nodded.
“I feel fine, although I’m not looking forward to the walk to the Qixing headquarters. I have to admit dear this might be the only time I’m a bit glad that I don’t have to make my way to the Jade Chamber every day.” Ningguang smiled at that, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She sat silently, sipping her tea slowly. Your expression clouded over. “Hey, can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Oh it’s nothing my love.” Ningguang spoke up quickly, leaning over and kissing you on the cheek. “I’m just sorry to see you like this.”
“Well you can’t blame yourself. You know that, right?”
Ningguang found she couldn’t bring herself to lie to you. Your gaze, though soft, seemed to pierce right through all her excuses and all her bluffing. She sighed softly. Maybe it would be better to be upfront about it, clear and concise, how one should always be. At least then she could apologize properly.
“In truth I do blame myself. I can’t believe I was so neglectful of your health, so blind to your pain.” She shook her head, staring at the hand that was holding yours. A disconnected part of her thought of how well the two fit together, fingers intertwined softly, your palm warm and comforting.
“If you were blind to this then so was I.” You spoke softly but firmly, refusing to sugar coat your words. Ningguang admired you for it, even if she didn’t believe you, something painfully clear in the expression on her face. “You cannot blame yourself.” You continued, “I won’t let you. I don’t want you beating yourself up for something that neither of us predicted. If you feel the need to blame yourself for this you must also blame me; I was the one walking on the injury without paying enough attention.”
“But – ” Ningguang paused, realizing the truth behind your words, slouching slightly she sat in deep thought. “I… I realize there’s not a lot of logic behind my thinking.”
“Well feelings are hardly logical.” You pointed out, squeezing her hand. “And because they’re illogical they don’t go away quickly. But I at least want you to try and combat your guilt with what I’ve told you. Because just like you hate seeing me in this cast I hate seeing you in pain.”
Ningguang nodded, heart filled with a deep sense of love and tenderness. Leaning over to give you a kiss she smiled softly. You did too. For a moment you two basked in each other’s presence and happiness, before you smile turned mischievous.
“Although… I won’t object to a little pampering.” Ningguang chuckled, shaking her head. But her smile was real this time, and you wouldn’t ask for anything more.
“You’re lucky I love you so much.”
“I know I am.” You replied. “And you’re lucky I adore you.”
“I am.” Ningguang’s reply was just as sure, was full of quiet but strong emotion. She was lucky. And she would never take you or your love for granted. No matter what.
 Xiao
By the time he’d met you Xiao had long come to the conclusion that he’d never find it in him to like humans.
Humans were dirty, they were untrustworthy and full of darkness, they broke things without thinking about it, mangled their own people, their own families and friends and countrymen. Humans slaughtered one another without thinking of how it might stain them, and when they weren’t killing they were stealing and lying and ruining the land around them. How could he, a being designed solely to destroy the darkness in the world, ever find in himself the will or the ability to look past all that?
When he’d met you and had fallen in love in earnest this view had still changed ultimately very little. But even if you’d admitted that what he said was mostly true, you’d found that you still wanted him to learn to care at least a little bit about humanity. I mean you were ultimately one of them at your core. It didn’t feel right to prop yourself up as the one great exception, not when there were other people who were certainly like you in mind and in morality. Xiao silently disagreed with this analysis; to him there never was and never would be someone like you, in all of Teyvat. Still, he felt compelled to try, though  more for your sake than for his, and as the weeks had gone on he’d begun to look at humanity not with any sort of respect or hope but with a sort of begrudging curiosity, and an admittance that maybe, just maybe, there was a bit of that light you saw in it.
What a fool he’d been.
Although Xiao was aware of the growing threat of treasure hoarders across Liyue – so widespread that they’d even managed to eat away at the tranquil lands surrounding Jueyen Karst – he’d never considered them a serious threat. So when the two of you accidentally ran into a group of them while exploring some of the older Liyue ruins Xiao didn’t bother to do much more than wrap an arm around your waist, sure that even the most idiotic of treasure hoarders wouldn’t be so foolish as to pick a fight with either an adeptus or their beloved. You seemed unfazed at any rate, explaining that the two of you were simply passing by and had no desire to pick a fight; if they’d be so kind the two of you would be on your way.
Perhaps the treasure hoarders were well aware of the fact that you could report them to the Liyue Qixing. Perhaps they were simply in a bad mood. Either way your words apparently did nothing. Xiao was becoming tenser and tenser, feeling as if something catastrophic was about to happen. That moment came to pass when one of the treasure hoarders pulled out a knife and threw it, lodging itself with deadly accuracy into your torso.
At that point Xiao felt himself overcome with a supernatural sort of calm, a calm which raced to cover up the anguish and rage that was coursing through him, threatening to burn him from the inside out. He only paused to make sure you didn’t hit the ground hard, before summoning his spear. Ignoring the cries of the treasure hoarders he made quick work of disposing of them, for what was a measly human, a piece of trash, when compared to that which had slayed countless demons? A small part of him cried out against the act, pointing out the fact that every time he wielded his polearm to kill it might bring him closer to the precipice, the fact that you were hurt mattered more than revenge, the fact that he was going to regret killing in front of you. He ignored it. At that moment there was nothing in his mind, it was as empty and staid as a clear pool of water. The only ripple in it was the way you’d jolted back in surprised, and the way you’d let out a cry before crumpling.
Xiao didn’t look back to see the havoc he’d wreaked. Instead he ran to your side. Peeling off his gloves, worried that they might bring infection, he pressed his bare hands to your wound, desperately trying to staunch the blood that was spilling out, ignoring the shocks that jolted through his hands, the result of the dagger somehow being infused with electro. The feeling of blood, your blood, beneath his fingers was nauseating, and for a moment Xiao felt his head filling with static as the pure panic that he’d felt began to overcome the initial rush of adrenaline. Snapping out of it when you let out a groan of pain Xiao looked into your eyes. They were clouded, and for a moment the adeptus was afraid you might be on the verge of passing out – had you really lost so much blood? Holding you tightly, one hand never leaving your wound, Xiao summoned a burst of air. His thoughts were still too chaotic to be processed, there was only one thing connecting them all. Let them live. If there’s any justice in this world, please let them live.
Verr Goldet had grasped the situation as soon as she saw Xiao appear on the balcony, face contorted in fear. Taking you to her room, she’d instructed Xiao to get one of the doctors from Liyue while she and the resident apothecary took care of you. Xiao did the task without thinking, and once he’d arrived with the doctor he refused to leave your side. Xiao knew death better than most adepti, certainly more than most humans. It was cold and unfeeling, and had a nasty habit of leaping onto people when they least expected it. It didn’t matter to him that all three, Goldet, the apothecary, and the doctor, said that you would be fine; Xiao was going to be there the entire time.
Eventually you managed to rouse yourself from the pain induced stupor, and when you did you saw Xiao first, eyes wide with fear and relief, tears threatening to spill down his face.
In the end you’d been lucky. Although the dagger had ruptured your spleen Xiao had acted quickly enough to avert catastrophe. You were going to survive, though it’d be 12 weeks most likely until you were completely recovered. The moment of crisis having passed the two of you were finally given a moment alone.
“Are you alright?” Xiao immediately asked. You didn’t make a move to answer, instead cupping Xiao’s cheek before moving to take his hand. At that moment how Xiao remembered. Oh; the blood. Quickly moving away he ran to the nearest basin of water, scrubbing furiously. As the water turned red a faint smell of iron filled the air; it was the most disgusting thing Xiao had ever smelt, and he scrubbed even harder. You waited silently as he finished cleaning his hands and disposing of the water. Finally he came back to sit next to you, still hesitating a moment before placing his palm in yours.
“I… I don’t understand how you could ever like humans.” That was the first thing Xiao could think of. “They betrayed you. Without even blinking. That man, all those men and women, they would’ve ended your life without even thinking about it. They would’ve killed you and lived without ever having such a thing weigh on their conscience. Humans never think about the weight of their sins. They just keep committing atrocities.”
“And what about you, Xiao. Will their deaths weigh on you?”
“As much as all the others.” Xiao wished he could be matter of fact about it, but he found that trait of his had somehow disappeared. Instead an emotion washed over him, so unfamiliar and unexplainable it seemed to choke him. “Perhaps more.” He managed to get out, before beginning to cry in earnest.
You would’ve died. If he hadn’t been there you would’ve died. For you he gladly shouldered the weight of human life, would do so again and again if only to ensure your safety. And yet it was such a heavy weight, and no matter how many Xiao killed it wouldn’t heal you.
“I’m sorry.” He choked out. You shook your head.
“Xiao I always knew that you weren’t going to be able to see humans as I see them immediately. And I know that you have a relationship with death and killing that most humans, most beings, will never have. I’m not going to blame you, nor will I turn on you. I cannot pretend that what happened didn’t make me angry. In retrospect it made me incredibly angry. It’s also true that – had you not been there – I would’ve raised my own weapon in self-defense. But now I’m going to ask you for one thing, and one thing only.”
“What?”
“Help me recover. Help me recover and let me help you recover. If there’s one thing I don’t want to happen now it’s for you to turn away from me and from everyone else, to let yourself be consumed. I want you to have somewhere you can let your feelings exist, and I want somewhere I can feel happy and comfortable as myself. You make me feel that way, so even if it’s selfish I don’t want you to turn away. And I don’t want you to grieve for me. Injured as I may be I’m not dead.” There was a pause as you let yourself catch your breath, having gotten more and more excited as you went on. “I realize that’s more than one thing.” You concluded, a bit sheepish.
Xiao said nothing for a while before leaning towards you. “May I?” He whispered. You nodded and Xiao pressed his lips to yours. The kiss wasn’t one of fire or passion. It was different, defined within the parameters of fear and relief, there seemed to be a sort of desperation in it, yet it was surprisingly sedate. Pulling away Xiao buried his face in your neck, careful to make sure he wasn’t touching where you’d been stabbed.
“I will. I promise.” He whispered. You nodded, smiling softly. But Xiao couldn’t bring himself to smile, not just yet.
Xiao couldn’t understand humans. They were dirty and cruel and lived without fear of consequences. Their actions haunted him and he found them easier to hate than to understand. But for you he’d try, because to him there was one thing strong than all, strong than fear, stronger than mistrust, stronger than hatred.
And that was the love he held for you.
 Zhongli
If there was one thing Zhongli hadn’t been prepared for when it came to falling in love with humans it was their combination of fragility and utter ignorance to said fragility.
One of Zhongli’s favorite things to do was to simply sit and listen to you talk about your life. Humans fascinated Zhongli, it was one of the reasons he’d ultimately given up his place as Rex Lapis; inside him lived a desire to interact with humanity in a more intimate way, to know what made people behave as they did and to perhaps grow closer to them in the process.
But despite all that he still wasn’t ready for the utter fear he felt when listening to the stories of you getting hurt. You’d laughed off scrapes and bruises and fractures. The time you’d accidentally ripped off your nail was a painful yet funny anecdote, and the fact that you’d fractured your kneecap as a child was something you now looked back on with an odd sense of nostalgia.
Zhongli didn’t understand why these stories frightened him on such a visceral level. Such injuries were nothing to gods and adepti. Although the idea of a broken bone was certainly an irritation there was nothing more in it, and the kind of injuries that could easily kill humans would to Zhongli be the kind of thing that would be unpleasant for its novelty, not for its potential fatality.
He didn’t bring up these thoughts to you, feeling as if they’d somehow place an undue burden on you, or perhaps he was afraid you’d stop telling him about yourself. Still it lurked at the back of his mind, the fear of what might happen to you.
The fears that Zhongli harbored were proven in the most mundane, and thus most poignant, way. The two of you had been preparing a meal when suddenly you’d stumbled on an uneven part of the floor. Reaching your hands out to steady yourself your arm had landed flat on the hot stove, the stove which had been heating up for the past fifteen or so minutes. The scream that you let out sent a shock through Zhongli which shook him to his core. It rang through his ears incessantly, a terrifying reminder of how breakable humans were.
You’d immediately yanked your arm off from the stove but the sight that met both his and your eyes was a ghastly one. The skin on your arm was charred various colors, white blisters mixed with black flaky skin, all outlined in a terrible circle of red. You were shaking, and you face had turned a frightful ashen color. Springing into action Zhongli wracked his brain for all he could remember about burns. If the burn is serious enough go to the hospital. Never try to treat intense burns yourself as the burning has gone deeper than the initial layer of skin, raise your burn above your heart. Go to the hospital. Slinging your arm around his shoulder so that it was raised, whisper soft words of reassurance as you let out a shriek of pain, Zhongli half walked half carried you to the hospital, all while the same thought was running through his head.
How fragile humans are.
The doctors had insisted you stay overnight. Apparently the burn was bad enough to require surgery. Zhongli’s stomach had dropped as he was told that, but he managed to nod in response. Walking back home Zhongli felt all in a daze. He barely made it in the door before he collapsed, fear having seeped the energy out of him. The world pressed down on him, heavier than it’d ever been before. At least you’d be okay, he reminded himself. If he had anything to cling to at least he had that.
Zhongli was the first visitor to arrive at the hospital, having given Hu Tao the run of the funeral home as he spent as much time as possible with you. You were well enough, although a bit bogged down from the painkillers you’d been given. You’d once offhandedly commented that although magic infused medicine tended to be safer for the patient – more successful and less addictive – it was also more powerful; now Zhongli could see you weren’t kidding.
Your burn was wrapped up carefully, the doctors had managed to take the charred skin of, you’d explain, but now the burn had to be treated with the utmost care until the surgery later in the afternoon, infection was no joke.
“Well this’ll certainly be an interesting anecdote.” You let out half a laugh. “Not that I’m happy this happened, but at least this will shut up the next person who complains about how cardio was the most painful thing they’ve experienced.”
“I don’t know how you can be so cavalier about it.” Zhongli replied, tone soft and introspective. “It seems to terrifying to me, how easily humans are hurt.”
“Hey, I’ll be fine.” You assured him, voice soft but firm. “I understand how to adepti and archons and gods this might be terrifying. I’d be the first to admit we can’t really keep up with you in terms of pure healing and resistance to injury. But we’ve continued on this far haven’t we?” You smiled softly. “I promise I’m not about to die from something like a kitchen accident.”
“But what if next time it’s not your arm?” Zhongli replied. “What if it’s your neck or your chest? What if you cut yourself too deeply, what if your cut becomes infected. There are so many things I haven’t thought about until now, so many things that could hurt you. It frightens me terribly.”
“I’m very grateful that you’re worrying for me like this. But Zhongli?” You waited for his eyes to meet yours, smiling once more when he faced you. “You cannot be consumed by your anxiety. Believe me humans worry about these kinds of things. What if I tripped and fell and broke my neck, what if I scratched myself and developed and infection, what if I choked on an apple? These fears live with us, sometimes constantly, but we cannot let them consume us. As much as I’m flattered and glad you care for my wellbeing so much, I also don’t want you consumed by it, nor do I want to be treated like glass.”
“I cannot understand how you’re so resilient.” Zhongli replied after a short pause. You shrugged.
“We are because we must be.”
Zhongli knew in his heart that these fears he harbored weren’t going to go away. He knew that they were going to become more and more apparent through the month of your initial recovery, and through the longer period too as scar tissue formed and subsided.
Humans were indeed fragile. But if there was one thing stronger than said fragility it was their even greater determination to supersede it. Humans may be fragile in body, but they were stronger in spirit even than the gods.
That was something Zhongli wasn’t going to forget. Not for a very long time.
952 notes · View notes
bitbrumal · 2 years ago
Text
Tumblr media
HEADCANON ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ █ ▌▌▌kaeya alberich.              emotional damage magpie.
absolutely steals bits & pieces from the lives of the people he wants to feel close to. they’re as personal as they are mundane; truly just a piece of their day to day — but one kept on their person unless he’s still in the process of acquiring one like that :eyes: yes he will tide himself over with Lesser Treasures - which are most likely to be returned as soon as the other is in his possession.           see: kaeya attempting to keep the hairtie(?) he’s stolen straight out of @galactia​ zhongli’s hair without blushing. no he will never mention the thing again. yes zhongli knows he did it there was no hiding it whatsoever.
diluc’s vision was a part of that collection in a more complicated way, of course, but he has luc’s favourite pajamas tucked away in his own drawers. among his own, so as to not appear to be the treasure it is to any fellow thieves going through his belongings.
he also definitely prefers to steal it off them within plain sight ( diluc’s jammies he nicked when the man had left ofc but then, he’d fear ReTRibuTIoN otherwise )—because it makes it all the sweeter when they inevitably surrender it to his dogged refusal to let go of the ball.         c:
rosaria called him the fuck out on exactly what he was doing, but hasn’t demanded he return the remainder of her smushed, misshapen, partially singed tin of cigarettes - just that he buy her a fresh one. which he did c: hers is a permanent fixture in that one kitchen drawer with all the miscellaneous items.        in his shoddy kitchen cabinet sits a mug with the dregs of jean’s favourite coffee; this one gets swapped out fairly regularly to avoid mould & the like lmao. jean doesn’t really give a shit especially since he returns it clean.        amber will have to remake her fiery ribbon- this one is, ah, harder to explain away. kaeya does not keep a drawer of trophies from conquests, but for the sake of this keepsake he’ll suffer the appearance of one. he does have one of the pairs of @bunnyshot​’s panties that he cut up for easy access tho, lmao. but it’s kept somewhere a lil more private- like his pocket during working hours to bully her with glimpses at it�� c: completely private. invisible to all the world.         lisa tried to give him a preserved rose & like thanks ma’am but we nabbed a satchel of your fave self-made tea outta ur skirt too haha bye- nyoom to avoid the zippyzaps.
NOTE: that you’re extremely unlikely to catch him toting these things unless it is to keep the items looking replaceable. if you do catch him with them separate from this situation... he is supremely, supremely miserable. it soothes the lonely, obviously. he’ll curl up in bed in the middle of his few treasures it’s actually so miserable in like an endearing way but holy shit he’s pathetic like that. anyway-
anyone he actually has a bond with he Will thieve from so good luck with that hope you know how to replace your mementos. bitch seriously wants smth that’s jean’s keepsake re: barbara, but thankfully he knew to draw the line welllll before that point.       :c mean tho. give him ur precious treasures. gib! show himb he has ur heart in his palm.......... :puppy_eyes:
9 notes · View notes
that-foul-legacy-lover · 3 years ago
Note
Screaming crying all over the carpet—
I’ve started a new story called “If We were Mortals” and then went “Childe AU” so here I am.
Synopsis of WWM is that this semi-mortal was once a god’s lover in their pass life but doesn’t remember. Obviously, the dude died. But in their present life they HATE the god with a burning passion. Why? Bc the adoration the gods gave them transferred into the current life but went sideways and gave them a HORRID god complex. The god is really the only person stopping them from achieving godhood.
So… imagine Reader takes the place of the god. They’re known as the Guider of Souls or the Spider Lilied [insert gender term here]. In his first life, Childe was known as “Ajax.” Everyone adored the god-favored man and stories about him and Reader would spread across the land. They were always paired together in stories, paintings, and even in the shrines…
But when Ajax had died the world slowly forgot. Stories of the Guider of Souls with a lover was lost to time like sand grains in a sandstorm. Everyone forgot about Ajax. Everyone but Reader.
“Even if you’ve faded to nothing but a memory, I will always love you.”
And Reader would always sit beside his grave with a gentle smile. You would talk as if still talking to him and leave his favorite food beside his grave. There’d be a few stories of a person dressed in red w spider lilies and qingxin flowers would visit this large tree that looks over Liyue. No one knows who the grave is but some elders would smile and faintly recall an old love story…
And then Childe steps in. Tartagalia, the 11th harbinger of the Fatui. In a weird twist of fate, he gained a gnosis and suddenly dipped from the world of the Fatui. The realization that he could protect what he holds dear and the realization that things could be set straight comes to him… because if he was god, who’d say otherwise? With how lucky he’s been…
He minds as well start his path to become one!
And he’s off trying to attain godhood. He’s accumulated some followers. People say to never join the cults or to never follow him. But he treats those who feed his ego with great care… like someone who had done it to him before. But who??
Then you step in. And you’re chewing on your lip as you hold a sword out to him. You softly tell him that he cannot attain godhood— that he cannot simply choose it. But he rolls his eyes and spreads his arms out and says “But I’m practically one already.”
And your heart wrenches with pain as he activates his vision. He has the face and the voice of Ajax but he isn’t your Ajax. He isn’t the Ajax who would pop into your home with this bright smile and laugh. He isn’t the Ajax who would frantically call your name out and show you the crystal fly that chose him as it’s perch.
He isn’t the Ajax you fell for.
And you are not the god who he wants.
The only thing he wants from you is your blood staining his hands.
And, oh, how it pains you. The way your sword clashes against his weapons. And he hates how your veiled hat hides your identity from him.
Who are you?
And he would yell it. Who are you? Why are you stopping him?
But all you do is remain silent and bite back the tears each time you encounter one another. He’d spout out how he hates you— how dare you stop him from his goal! How dare you stop him from being the god his followers deserve! How fucking dare you.
And all you can do is remain silent and clash. All you do is explain to him in the same gentle voice you’d use in his previous life. All you can do is just keep him at bay.
Because he can achieve godhood. He almost did!
It’s just…
You cant lose him again— even if he hates you.
“Because if I loved him before, I can love him again,” your hands fiddle with the stem of the spider lily. “If..”
Your throat closes up as tears cascade down your cheeks. Zhongli rests a hand on your arm as you try to steady your emotions and words. He’s seen you ride and fall. He’s seen you smile through pains of finding lost souls and hearing their stories.
You were there when Guizhong had past and comforted him. You were there when Baal lost her sister. You were there when Venti’s friend had died.
You were there for it all.
And now, as your friend and as someone who’s experience loss, he’ll be here for you.
“If we were mortals… would we have died together? Or are we meant to be forever stuck in this waltz of pain?”
Ajax— no… Childe, greets others with the same smile you’re seen in his past life. And his joyous laughter makes you lose composure, sobbing into your hand.
The veiled hat sits to your side.
And you don’t see the way a look of confused and pained recognition flickers across Childe’s face as you breakdown in your friend’s comfort.
“If we were mortals, would we be together now?”
- 🍄
HELLO????
🍄 ANON I DID NOT ASK TO CRY ON THIS CLOUDY NIGHT HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME /J
ok but,,,,, you finding comfort in Zhongli's arms as he guides you away from everyone. he's been with you, the both of you standing by each other's sides as you experienced grief and pain on both ends, consoling each other and being a shoulder to cry on. his goal right now isn't to try and mend your relationship with this new Childe, it's to help you move on and forget, because that's what's best for you. you told him once that you'd rather exchange interludes of happiness and great sadness for one long period of stability, and that's exactly what he's going to help make happen.
your veil is forgotten to the side, cast off until a hand scoops it up, handling it like glass. Childe stares at it, tempted to rip it to shreds for causing him such pain, but he knows the pain is his fault. he realized it the minute he saw your face, your pained, tear-streaked face. it's all his fault; he thinks about how much he wished to break and tear you apart before, and his heart breaks, because now he remembers you, and Archons...
he misses you.
20 notes · View notes
pastaimpact · 4 years ago
Note
Since ur a catboy and maid simp 👀👀👀👀
Catboy maid headcanons for xiao, scaramouche, zhongli, kaeya and diluc?
Like, they lost a bet and have to drink a potion from albedo that turns them into catboy maid or smth pls?
-mac bulli anon
if u see me rotting, no u didnt
Tumblr media
Xiao’s displeased by the transformation, but he has better things to do than to get worked up by a small thorn in his side. He has evil spirits to get rid off, and archons be damned if he’s going to let a pair of furry ears and a tail get in the way of his duty. It’s an odd sight, seeing him swing around his jade spear with his mask on, only to be moe-fied by his ears.
He insists on carrying out his own duties, saying that your selfish desires to have him as your maid won’t overrule his original contract to Rex Lapis. Chances are, you won’t even get him into the maid outfit before he goes running off to dispel some spirits. It can’t be helped: Xiao is someone who values Liyue’s peace before he values anything else, although he does feel a bit fuzzy inside when he sees how ecstatic you are over how cute he looks.
If he does find a moment of reprieve, that’s your best chance to capitalize on his transformation. Xiao claims that he needs no attention or extra love from you, that he’s a yaksha who works alone out of fear of harming you, but he’s still someone who craves for the gentle touch of a fellow being. Tell him that he’s done a good job and that you’re proud of him while cupping his face, and next thing you know, he’ll have slotted himself against your body and tell you that this isn’t necessary, all while his tail wags around happily. Archons forbid that anyone tries to interrupt your cuddling session, because he’ll start hissing like an actual cat the moment your attention is turned away from him.
Tumblr media
Xiao purred against your skin, his head resting on the area in between your shoulder and neck. He was always cat-like to begin with: coy, distance, but still gentle and affectionate at the right times. You fondled his ears the way he liked them, and his tail curled up in satisfaction.
“What a pretty kittycat you are,” you cooed, your voice low and calm, like the careful trills of a lullaby. “Always working so hard... Always caring for someone other than yourself... What a good boy.”
“...Keep going,” he murmured, scooting closer to you when you stopped petting him for a second. You let a smile grace your lips as you stroked his soft fur again, enjoying the way the catboy immediately relaxed against you. 
How adorable.
Tumblr media
Scaramouche is livid, to say the least, by this change. He’s a Fatui Harbinger, and someone who demands nothing short of utmost respect and authority from those around him. Being demoted to not only a servant, but not even a human one at that, is a stain against his spotless, untouchable command.
The entire time he’s placed under your care, he grumbles and snaps at everything that comes his way. He mutters that you should be grateful he’s even putting up with this, and he might just flat-out refuse to do the things you ask of him—until you tell him that you’ll ask someone else, like Signora or Childe. Only then does he come scrambling back to you with a pout on his face and his ears pressed against his head to scold you and say that he could do a better job than any of those sloppy Harbingers could.
He also threatens you, saying that you owe him for humiliating him like this, but he also forgets all about being mean to you the moment you start petting his ears and scratching behind them. Scaramouche swears on his life that he hates being treated like this, but the way he clings to you and purrs loudly clearly says otherwise. He’ll get huffy and frown if you stop petting him, so be prepared for him to completely monopolize your time.
Tumblr media
“I hate you for this,” he hissed, practically bristling in your lap. You bit back a laugh, feeling the way he wrapped his arms tightly around your torso, pulling himself as close as he could to your chest. “You’re terrible.”
“It’s ‘You’re terrible, Master’ to you,” you teased, burying your fingers in his hair to tease his ears. The Harbinger opened his mouth as if to snap back at you with a haughty remark, but he immediately melted into your touch instead, giving soft mewls and twisting his head against your skin so that he could feel more of your touch.
“I-I still hate you,” he grumbled, forcing himself to frown at you and huff. He dug his nails into your clothes, settling his chin on your shoulder so that you couldn’t see the blush rising to his cheeks. “Master.”
Tumblr media
Zhongli has seen his fair share of oddities, being an archon and all, so he’s grown to get used to whatever life throws at him all while honoring his own approach to life and any traditions he upholds. While being transformed into a cat and a maid, for that matter, is surprising, it’s probably nothing more than a mild inconvenience to a god that once held the ability to shift into a variety of different forms.
He’s a skilled and knowledgeable man, so he’s more than willing to assist you in a variety of topics. His one condition while being placed under your care is that you treat him with the same respect you would show him at any other time. While he may be relatively polite and mild-mannered, he still was a very potent and feared God of War at one point in his life. He doesn’t expect much from you; just drop any funny business around him, and he’ll entertain you for hours with his knowledge about politics, arts, and other fine subjects.
Zhongli is good about keeping his emotions in check, and even with cat ears and a tail, it’s still fairly difficult to gauge how he truly feels. Of course, his new body does betray him every now and then: a flick of his tail to signify intrigue, ears pressed against his head for annoyance, a twitch of his nose for interest. It’s best not to tease him or pry into how he feels whenever he does make an odd movement, but it wouldn’t hurt to present yourself appropriately depending on whatever mood he’s in based off of his little actions. Besides, it’s not everyday that you can see someone as respected and feared as Zhongli in a cute maid dress with his tail swishing excitedly behind him.
Tumblr media
His entrance was quiet, and the only thing that even signaled his presence in the room was the rustle of fabric as he walked towards you. His tail was still, and his ears perked up like it had been for the day, ever since he downed the transformation potion. “I brought you tea.”
You looked up from your paperwork, smiling softly at the former archon. You pulled a stray chair close to where you were seated, inviting him to sit down as he set the teacup down in front of you. “You shouldn’t have!”
He shook his head, his ears twitching with the slightest hint of satisfaction as he sat down. “It was about time you took a break. I thought I would remind you not to push yourself too far by bringing you something to relax with. Do drink up; I brewed it myself with prized leaves.”
Tumblr media
Kaeya’s all about staying a step ahead of the game, and the moment fluffy cat ears and a tail sprout up on his body, there’s a good chance that he’s already found loads of ways to capitalize on his features to get what he wants. The best way to get information from anyone is to get them to let their guard down, and it’s hard to be intimidated by someone who looks like a stuffed animal.
Which is exactly what he does. There’s a good chance that Kaeya’s been observing you for a while, for whatever reasons he might have (be it personal or for the Knights of Favonius), so he’ll definitely use his cat features to his advantage. He’ll snuggle up to you and let you relax by teasing you with his tail and his ears, and he’ll let his silvery tongue do the rest as he extracts bits and pieces of information from you like he was extracting honey from a beehive.
Kaeya rocks the whole maid concept better than anyone else. Flexibility and adaptability are just a few of his many strong suits, and he might even go along with playing pretend with you just out of the goodwill of his heart. He’s extorted you already for loads of intel, so the least he can do to get you to keep staying so lax around him is to humor you just a bit. It’s also a good chance to see you smiling and laughing as you bury your head into his hair, and it sure doesn’t hurt to hear you gush over how much of a majestic catboy he is.
Tumblr media
You felt his fluffy tail slink against your arms, Kaeya splayed out across your lap with the most smug smile you’ve ever seen from him. “Awwww, your tail is so cute! I wish I could just hold it and fall asleep! It feels just like a cloud!”
“Does it now, Master?” Kaeya purred, batting his eyeslashes. It had only been about fifteen minutes since he barged into your room to show off his cat features, and he had already gotten enough info about you to entertain him for weeks. “You can pet me more, if you’d like.”
You lit up, completely oblivious to the fact that Kaeya had you wrapped around his little finger. You were far too innocent, too careless even, and Kaeya found it amusing. “Oh, Kaeya! You’re the best!”
Tumblr media
Diluc’s also fairly annoyed by this mess, but he isn’t one to viciously fight against what’s already happened. It is rather irritating to have to put all of his responsibilities aside for another day, but he’s capable businessman who’s used to having to adapt to all sorts of situations. Being turned into the catmaid is by far not the worst of his problems, but it’s enough of a change to actually make him think about how he presents himself not only to you but the people of Mondstadt as well.
He has maids around his winery, so he mimics his ow behavior with what he wants of them. Of course, you don’t make him cook or clean or anything like that, and similarly to Zhongli, he makes sure to treat you with respect as long as you do the same. Diluc’s a very pragmatic man, and he simply takes his duty as a maid to keep you out of trouble, accompanying you whenever you need to head out to protect you from stray monsters or helping you with any finances that you might have to sort out.
His only request is that he doesn’t let anyone outside of his immediate circle know about his current affliction. The last thing he needs is his reputation as a respectable tycoon tarnished, and he sure as hell doesn’t need Kaeya strolling around to mess with him. If it incentivizes you to keep the whole temporary catmaid thing under wraps, he’ll tell you that it can be a little secret between the two of you. It’s best that you give him your word, lest you end up on the wrong side of his stoic mannerisms.
Tumblr media
“Good work today,” you remarked, offering up a meek smile to the Dawn Winery owner. “It must have been a lot of work. You know, having to deal with the whole transformation thing while running a business.”
Diluc glanced momentarily you, his ears pressing against his head. You wasn’t sure if it was out of annoyance or shyness, but you decided that it was the latter, as Diluc hadn’t walked away from you just yet. “It’s fine. Albedo said it should wear off any day now.”
“Mmm. But still, if you ever need help from me, let me know, okay? I know I’m your ‘master’ temporarily, but we’re still friends,” You laughed. The corners of Diluc’s mouth twitched as he turned away.
“Goodnight then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Tumblr media
297 notes · View notes
kasuna-kotonoha · 3 years ago
Text
 Part three of my Genshin Modern AU. Today we have Albedo.
-He’s a junior at Mondstadt High School.
-However, he’s as good, or even better, as pretty much all the seniors.
-He carries a sketchbook with him everywhere he goes, along with a pencil case for art supplies. This is separate from his normal pencil case.
-He took all honors/advanced/AP/CIS classes for core courses.
-Because he was so ahead, he was also able to take various art classes.
-He actually quite enjoyed his sculpting class. He took it for the experience and didn’t expect to like it so much.
-Plans to major in some science field when he gets to college in a couple years. He’s still deciding what field he wants to go into.
-He could have decided to go to college already, but both he and Alice agreed that he should see high school through. 
-He’s glad of this, because he wouldn’t have met Sucrose, is best friend, otherwise.
-They were lab partners in their sophomore science class, and just sort of hit it off.
-Albedo was actually an easy target for bullies for a while in elementary and middle school. 
-Luckily, it wasn’t anything too serious, and once he reached high school, people started respecting him for his intelligence.
-He was diagnosed with autism in late elementary school, which explained a lot. It also explained part of why bullies like to pick on him.
-He doesn’t have a ton of accommodations, but he still has a case manager.
-He finds Sucrose a frequent subject of his sketches, which she thankfully doesn’t mind. He would stop if she did, of course.
-He’s the sort of person most people know of, but not many are actually friends with him.
-Albedo doesn’t have clear memories from before he was adopted by Alice, mother of his half sister, Klee.
-This has to do with the trauma he experienced before Alice became his mom.
-Alice told him when he turned 12, and he wasn’t all that surprised. 
-But she never did tell him what, exactly, happened, and what events caused him to land with Alice and Klee, or who was behind it. (It was Rhinedottir)
-When memories started surfacing, Alice immediately sent him to a therapist. 
-Klee gets very sad when he has nightmares. Seeing him sad makes her sad.
-Makes dark humor jokes relatively frequently.
-He had a health scare at the start of his junior year. There was concerns for a terminal illness.
-He is someone you shouldn’t under any circumstances make angry. Because you have no idea what he might do. Will he punch you? Put something in your food? Prank you? Sic someone on you? No one knows, and you never know when it’s going to happen either, and that’s the most terrifiying part. 
-He absolutely adores Klee. They’re very close, and he’s looking into colleges closer to their house because he just knows she’s going to cry once he goes to college.
-He’s also considering the commuting option, if his school is close enough,
(Additional headcanons for Zhongli and Venti
-He has a tendancy to say “I will have order” when his students get too rowdy
-The textbook he threw at Venti the one time almost broke a school window.
-Venti lost his sibling to gun violence.
-No, he will not talk about it.
-He and Zhongli are kind of allergic to eMoTiOns, what do you expect?)
53 notes · View notes
exphhoria · 4 years ago
Note
Hello!! I love your blog sm and thank you for all the venti stuff you wrote <33 but i saw that there weren't any for Xiao and was wondering if i could request a scenario of Xiao telling other adepti or Zhongli how he feels when the reader (who is also an adeptus) is around but he doesn't know what that emotion is?? I hope this makes sense but hes in love and doesn't know it >~<
When He’s Clueless
Character(s): Xiao
Format: Headcanon and Drabble
Genre: Fluff
Word Count: 645
Note: Pls I love Xiao so much but I just have been writing other characters. Here, have this food to feed your needs, also idk if I did him justice but hey, at least I tried?
Another Note: Self-edited because I wrote this at 2-3am and my editor is asleep
Tumblr media
Xiao has always been a closed off person. Even to Zhongli, he rarely opened up. However, it was different with you.
Maybe it was because you had known each other for thousands of years. Maybe it the way that your eyes shined whenever you spoke about your interests. Or perhaps it was the way you greeted him with a kind smile and a hug whenever you saw him.
Nonetheless, the adeptus loved spending time with you and was always delighted to speak to you. You were one of the rare few that he engaged in conversation in with while at Wangshu Inn. He may only make a few short comments here and there but, you could tell he cared.
Xiao always felt... odd when you were around. There was a certain fluttering sensation in his chest he felt whenever he spoke to you. Just looking at you caused a smile to tug at his lips. He always found himself sneaking quick glances at you from across the room and when your arm brushed against his, he felt his cheeks burn in the slightest. It was a jumble of new feelings that he didn't quite understand and he wanted to know what they meant.
So, of course, he consulted Zhongli.
"What I believe you're experiencing is the mortal emotion known as 'love.'" the archon stated.
"L-love?" Xiao uttered, baffled.
Zhongli nodded as he put down his cup of tea. It was Huangshan Maofeng tea, a variety of green tea. The scent was intoxicating, the sweet aroma of orchids wafting its way through the air.
Xiao scoffed, muttering, "I do not feel such foolish emotions as love."
The Geo user in turn responded with, "The speed of your heartbeat increases when you're around them, yes?" The Yaksha mumbled a soft 'yes' before letting his superior continue. "Your face also reddens when you interact from what I have observed. These are symptoms of love. What you choose to do with this information is up to you however, I suggest you tell them."
Xiao nodded and in the blink of an eye, disappeared. Zhongli chuckled, looking up at the clear sky as a flock of cranes flew by. He wasn't quite surprised that the young adeptus finally found someone he loved but, it was unexpected in a way.
≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪
You were sitting on the railing of the highest balcony of Wangshu Inn, leaning forwards. You were waiting for Xiao as you have almost everyday around sunset. The view yonder was breathtaking, scarlet painting the sky as the sun gradually disappeared on the horizon. Next to you on the wooden fencing was a delicately arranged plate of almond tofu, intricate decorations and seasoning adorning the white dish.
Sensing Xiao appear at your rear, you smiled, "Today looks lovely, don't you agree?"
He silently made his way over to you until you could see his agile form in the corner of your eyes. The way his hair fell perfectly on his face mesmerized you. How his slim figure could be so lean yet also perfectly built was enchanting.
A/N: This paragraph is just me simping but wHo gAvE hiM tHe riGhT tO bE sO pErFeCt LiKe dAnG- also, Xiao's smol waist is literally perfect for hugging, convince me otherwise
"I have... something I wish to share with you," the emo adeptus piped up. Curious, you turned to look at him, urging him to continue.
"... I believe what I feel for you is what mortals call... love," he admitted.
Your cheeks heated up, red dusting your face as you were reduced to a blushing mess. After about half a minute, you finally gathered your bearings and asked, "Are you sure...?"
He nodded, holding your flustered gaze. His own eyes reflected determination and sincerity. Understanding he was sure, you grinned and said, "I love you too,” then giving him a peck on the cheek.
305 notes · View notes
thatringboy · 3 years ago
Note
Xiaoven idol au? 👀 (no angst please ahah)
okay it may seem a tiny bit angsty at the beginning but i prommy it turns into kisses and cuteness as it goes on
We're Doing It Together
Warnings: Xiao being dumb as rocks and oblivious as hell to everything
Characters: Xiao, Venti
Ships: Xiaoven
Word Count: 1,774
Summary: Idol!Xiao finds out that his close friend Venti wants to join a new troupe after the two of them being solo for a while
The cold night air bit at the young man’s nose as he pulled his forest green hood down over his eyes. He could see his breath float away in the air as he sighed and checked his watch.
He’s late.
The sound of sneakers smacking the pavement got louder in his ears until someone ran up to him out of breath. “Xiao! I’m so sorry! Practice ran long and then Kaeya started an argument with Lisa and then--”
Xiao put a hand to silence him and returned his gaze to the frozen river under the bridge. “It’s fine. Must be nice to have a group like that.”
The new arrival laughed lightly and nudged him. “You make it sound like I’m on stage preforming with them!”
“It’s not like Jean won’t let you.”
He put his hands behind his head, his teal braids blowing gently in the wind. “Eh, my time has come and gone for this business.”
Xiao glared at him. “You make us sound old!”
It was true, the two young men no longer preformed with their original groups. Xiao’s group “Yaksha 5” had disbanded as the other four members all left the idol business and his new band “Adepti” only met once a month to write songs. No more live performances. The other young man, Venti, used to preform under the stagename “Barbatos” with the famous idol group “Celestia”, but he and the other remaining senior member - a tall man who went by the stagename “Morax” - had left a while ago. Now, Morax went by Zhongli and occasionally wrote songs with Adepti while Venti became a choreographer with a popular rookie troupe named “Favonius”.
The two stood there in silence watching the lights of streetlamps dance off of falling snowflakes before them. Venti tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and sighed. “I got an offer from a new group of guys who want me on stage with them. They say they want me on soprano.”
Xiao gave him a sideways look. “And? I thought you swore off preforming or something when you left Celestia.”
Venti balled his hands into fists inside his pocket and didn’t meet his eyes. “I think… I met the center of this group; he’s a really nice guy. They’ve got a manager already and apparently have done some music with Jean. She’s the one who got me in contact with them.”
“So you’re gonna join them?” His voice sounded distant, lonely. There weren’t many solo performers in the idol world. Xiao and Venti had been riding their residual fame from their past groups for years and hadn’t really signed contracts with a single troupe from how sourly they left their past groups. Xiao thought they were special in that way… but Venti was the one still getting new offers for shows while Xiao had to almost beg to be an opening.
Venti looked him in the eyes. “I haven’t agreed to yet.”
“Really?” Xiao scoffed. “And here I thought you would be all over the chance to start a new group.”
The shorter man squinted his eyes. “I told them I’m only joining up if my conditions are met!”
Xiao’s eyebrows shot up. “You have standards?”
“Of course! And very high ones at that!” Venti pouted. “How else do you think I put up with you?”
Xiao felt warm in the face at that remark, he only prayed that the darkness of the night hid this from Venti.
Suddenly, Venti’s volume dropped to a whisper and he began to fidget with his fingers. “My conditions were that you had to join the group as well. They want to call the group ‘4NEMO’ and they were still searching for a fourth guy so I figured…”
He trailed off as he caught Xiao staring at him with a bewildered expression. Venti began to panic. Did he just hurt Xiao’s pride? He knew that the taller man didn’t like to accept help from others, but for some reason he thought this time would be different.
Venti was yanked from his thoughts as Xiao closed the distance between them and engulfed him in a hug. “My my, what a sudden show of affection!”
Xiao had did it to keep Venti from seeing the red on his cheek. Truth be told, he was deeply touched by Venti turning down a chance to play more shows if he couldn’t be by his side, but he was too inexperienced at returning kindness. A hug seemed to suffice, right?
“Thank you, Venti, that means the world to me.”
“Does it really?” The words spilled from his mouth before he even finished thinking them. He didn’t want Xiao to agree to something as serious as starting a new idol group with strangers just to appease him.
Xiao pulled away just to lean down and press the softest of kisses to Venti’s lips. The shorter of the two thought his heart was going to explode. Sure, the two had danced around each other for as long as they knew each other and Venti would have been a fool to not notice Xiao’s attractiveness during that time. But they had never been more than friends-who-flirt-with-each-other.
The taller pulled away with a red face as he searched Venti’s eyes. “Does that convince you?”
Venti nodded briskly, his brain not exactly processing what had just happened. It seemed Xiao’s brain was only just then catching up to his actions because he suddenly stepped back and covered his mouth with his hands, his eyes widening to a horrified expression.
“I didn’t--I mean--I--Sorry!” He blurted out from behind his hands.
Venti touched his own lips and blinked a few times before thinking of what to say. “So you really want to be in a group with me, huh?”
Xiao pulled his hands down and while his face was contorted into a snarl, his cheeks still burned red. “And? So what?! Don’t let it go to your head, I just need the money!”
The shorter man giggled and grabbed Xiao’s hand, lacing their fingers together without any resistance. “Sure, whatever you say~”
Despite his harsh tone, Xiao pressed the side of his body next to Venti’s to b closer to him. “So, who are the guys in this group?”
Venti hummed. “Well, the center is this blonde guy named Aether who’s new in town. I heard he’s done some work for Favonius in the past and that he’s friends with the girls in Qixing. The other guy is named Kazuha. He ran with Beidou’s crew for a bit to get away from the whole Tenryou Doxxing drama and now he’s teaming up with Aether to form 4NEMO. I think the manager is Sucrose. You know, Albedo’s manager? She’s picking up the job for this group too.”
“Hmm, impressive. Sounds like a good group. I think I’ll like it.” Xiao looked out to the distance.
Venti beamed. “Wait, you mean it?”
Xiao felt himself turning red again. “Ah, yeah, sure. I know Aether, we did so collab work once, I trust him.”
Venti reached up and poked his cheek. “And because you’ll be dancing with me?”
Xiao grabbed his hand and leaned down again. “I wouldn’t mind getting back into the idol drama if you were by my side. Maybe I just want you.”
The shorter man went red in the face and tried to laugh that last statement off. “Wow, that’s some confession, huh? It’s a good thing I feel the same way, otherwise I’d tease you to death over this.”
Xiao let go and his face dropped into a shocked expression. “You’re serious? You feel the same?”
Venti laughed out loud, hugging his sides. “Yes, dummy! Otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered with all of this! I thought all of that was clear when you kissed me! Gods you are slow!”
Xiao frowned and crossed him arms. “I was just… you’re very hard to read!”
Venti stopped laughing and grabbed the sides of Xiao’s hood, pulling him down to eye level. “And you are like an open book. It’s funny to watch you, Xiao. You can be very suave and smooth with your words, but other times you get all flustered and you close up. It’s cute!”
“I’m not cute.” He didn’t pull away, just adverted his eyes.
Venti made a disagreeing noise and closed the distance between them. This time the kiss was softer, smoother and had much more passion behind it. Venti made a happy noise when he felt Xiao wrap his arms around his back and moved to place his own arms around Xiao’s neck.
Xiao found himself sinking more and more into Venti’s embrace. The taste of cheap wine on his breath, the way his mouth molded to hold him and the way his hands gently caressed the back of his head was all too much for him to handle. His anxieties melted away as he pulled Venti’s smaller frame flush against his own. For just how long had he been waiting to do this? Ever since they met, Venti had always been flirty and open about his emotions, but Xiao had quickly deduced that it was all a mask he put on to keep himself from being hurt by those around him. Xiao was similar in that sense, always acting aloof and angry to keep people from getting too close to him. But when he was with Venti… none of that mattered. When he was with Venti, he didn’t care how badly things ended with Yaksha 5, he didn’t notice the way his ratings dropped, he didn’t pay attention to the social media slandering.
Venti was like some sort of wind spirit: always floating from one place to the other without a concern. Xiao wanted to learn more, to be more like him. And to him, joining this new 4NEMO group was the fastest way to do that.
When they pulled away, Venti did not fail to notice the glimmer of love in Xiao’s gaze. He brought his hands down to Xiao’s waist and hugged him close with a giggle. “You are cute.”
“No I’m not.” Xiao hugged him back with a pout.”
“Yes you are~”
“No I’m not.”
“Yes-s-s-s you are Gao-Xiao!” Venti bit his lip to keep from laughing.
Xiao let go and tried to push him away. “I am going to throw you over the side of this bridge if you call me cute one more time.”
Venti let him go with a smile, a hand fishing into his pocket for his phone. “Then I’ll call Aether and tell him you’re in?”
Xiao’s face went back to the loving smile from before. “Sure thing.”
32 notes · View notes
cinnamonest · 4 years ago
Text
Kaeya Alberich - Yandere Profile
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
YES I love my eyepatch boy!! I really like him as a yandere, because he's definitely got several traits and behaviors that would make him a very unconventional/different yet absolutely terrifying one to have. Him or Diluc as your yandere is basically like playing a game on maximum difficulty. He's so arrogant dammit why does he have to make it hot
More importantly, someone take the ability to write n/sfw away from me I s2g... I go from trying to make serious content to nasty weird kinks and completely feral in .002 seconds the moment I add that readmore
tws: gaslighting, manipulation, yandere, mentions of mutilation
tws (below cut): noncon, a good deal of sadism, mentions of an*l
-----------------
What are they generally like? Lucid, aware? Obsessive? How do they behave?
He's actually one of the worst yanderes you could have in almost every regard, for two very simple reasons: his crippling psychological issues, and his intense selfishness. The first manifests as severe abandonment issues. It's the origin of his unhealthy feelings, most likely. Kaeya doesn't like the instability of people - based on his backstory, people always leave, or die, and even if they don't intend to, somehow it feels like abandonment, and he resents it. People leave him all alone and afraid and uncertain. That's generally all he knows, and despite the smug exterior, he's actually pushed people away quite a bit, keeps everyone at arm's length to ensure they can't become someone too important for him to accept their sudden absence. He can't care about someone, because that someone is fated to inevitably leave him, no matter who it may be.
That's why, once you manage to worm your way into his feelings and heart despite his best efforts, once he finally caves to acknowledging the feeling, he's aware. Painfully aware, because be can't stop worrying every waking moment about you, your well-being, your location. It reaches a point where he can't go about his job because he's simply too consumed with his worry.
The solution that kept him safest in the past was to avoid developing emotional attachments, but when he does, he's terrified of both your safety AND you intentionally abandoning him. Really, the latter would hurt worse, since he can't fault you for dying, but to abandon him? It would break him.
And, to some extent, he's developed a lot of  prideful anger about it, deep, deep down. He feels that he doesn't deserve to be abandoned, doesn't deserve to just be left behind under the guise of some greater purpose, and he'll be damned if he just lets you toss him aside like he feels others did. Even if you reject him, he won't accept it. You don't get to reject him. He won't allow that. What has he ever done to deserve everything that's happened to him? Nothing. You're the one person who has stayed with him, and you're going to continue to be with him. Forever.
That being said, he's still somewhat confident because he's got that arrogance about him. He doesn't perceive rejection, because he's always gotten a lot of attention for his looks, even if he's never actually followed through on anyone else's attention out of those same fears. He'll write off any perceived rejection as being for some other reason, something besides an actual rejection, and he'll seek to eliminate whatever he feels is keeping you from just accepting him.
Honestly, one of the most likely to have a full blown, classic-yandere-style psychotic breakdown. He can be driven to a snapping point, if there's enough stress or obstacles, and in case of that, he'll be a lot more willing to kill, and a lot more willing to hurt you, but it's a point that would still take a lot to reach.
But what's really terrifying about Kaeya is his delusions, primarily his ability to mentally justify everything he does without hesitation. Even most delusional yanderes struggle - they feel like it's wrong, they know it is deep down, and they take time to convince themselves of their delusions, tell themselves it's ok over and over, beg for reassurance, and get defensive when called out because they know they're in the wrong. The same isn't true for Kaeya. He automatically justifies his actions by default, and has absolutely zero doubt or hesitation to do so. He doesn't even need a complex reason for justification - it's a simple one. He deserves what he wants. Anything necessary to achieve that is fair.
How likely are they to kidnap their darling? How quickly will they do so?
Highly likely and very quickly, right up there with Diluc and Razor. And he's absolutely remorseless about it. It ties back into his delusional state and ability to justify anything he does - this is what's best for you. If you don't get that, that's your problem, not his.
He's another one to not want to pull some barbaric move like knocking you out, rather, he'd rather just trick you into walking right into your new home. He gets that you'll be upset about it, but to him, that's just part of the process. Not that he'll tolerate it for too long. 12, maybe 24 hours is enough time for you to reasonably be upset, but if you're still trying to fight him on this after that, he's going to get snappy about it, thinking you should already be over that by now.
How difficult is it to escape from them? How do they keep you restrained? How do they deal with attempted escape? 
You're not leaving.
It's not worth trying, really. How he manages to do it is a mystery to you, but he'll manage to keep you locked in right there at the headquarters with him. How Jean and Lisa haven't found out about you being there, how he convinced all of his guards to be on his side of things, you have no idea. Realistically, if you get out, he's likely to make you out to be some kind of criminal that needs to be found -- just not to hurt you in any way, so goes the order, and the knights know better than to question why.
He has eyes and ears everywhere, it won't take them anytime at all to find you. He's so confident in that, and combined with his pride, he doesn't feel the need to go get you himself. No, it's a lot more satisfying to sit back and watch as they drag you through the doors of the headquarters, slowly pull you to the end of the room and drop you down at his feet, where he can look down on you with that closed-eyed, artificially wide smile that tells you that you have seriously fucked up.
Escape attempts aren't going to be met with a single shred of mercy, really. The thing about Kaeya is he's ultimately a selfish, selfish bastard with a lot of deep-seeded, highly repressed emotional issues, and he has absolutely no problem with keeping you bound hand and foot, or maybe even make some permanent modifications to your body if that's what it takes to keep you. It's not a wise idea to even try unless you're absolutely certain to succeed, otherwise you may find yourself never getting the opportunity again. You don't really need those Achilles tendons intact, you know. And your ankle bones are just so fragile, they'll snap with just a little twist. Actually, that wouldn't be too bad, giving you more reasons to be grateful when he's doing everything for you.
He's not one to just let it go, either. No, escape attempts are the one unforgivable thing for him, the one thing that will make him totally and completely snap. You don't get to do that. You're the one thing that doesn't get to just disappear out of his life in a flash. Half the reason he sends the knights to get you rather than going himself is to give him some time to let the rage settle down, otherwise he knows he might not be able to control himself and might end up hurting you even worse than he intends to. He's not going to buy any excuses and won't go any lighter on you if you beg and grovel or anything. But you will apologize -- you get to choose how hard it is. You can apologize the easy way, or, if you don't want to, there are many ways to force it out. But by the end, he'll get an apology, and a promise to never try again, out of you, no matter what that takes. It's by far the worst state you'll ever see him in, and really, once is enough to dissuade you from trying again.
How easy are they to trick, deceive, or manipulate?
You'd have to try pretty hard. He doesn't have the sheer amount of years of life experience like Venti or Zhongli, but he's not the captain for no reason - he's perceptive, and highly intelligent.
Rather than simply mastering reading human voice and facial expressions for telltale signs of deceit, he's good at learning individuals in particular - memorizing the patterns of thought and action of a particular individual, and predicting how they will act. He can do it with everyone else with ease, how much more, then, with the object of an obsession? If you're trying to formulate some plan to trick him, he'll already predict what you'll do, if you lie, he already knows. It's creepier than the others, really, because it's not just that he can tell when you're lying, but rather he already knows you're going to lie or try some scheme before you do it. It feels so tailored and personalized to your thought patterns, it almost feels like an invasion of the privacy of your mind, which, really, is the one privacy you thought you had left.
He's great at gaslighting himself, too. He's a very good liar, and can make you believe anything he wants. He'll target your fears and paranoias, make you believe you're going crazy, and he'll do it all so perfectly you'll never suspect a thing. You'll end up coming to him for protection and guidance, exactly as planned.
How lenient are they? What privileges can you have, and what will you be denied?
Pretty strict. He doesn't let you have any outside contact, and you're limited on what you can do when he's gone. He'll bring you some books, maybe something to draw on -- no sharp writing utensils, though. In his mind, that should be enough to occupy you.
You won't get outside walks or visits. It's just too risky for him, and he really doesn't like seeing other people look at you. If you really, really beg, and you've been on amazing behavior, and you're well into your relationship, maybe a few months or so, there's a chance he'll take you out at nighttime, or sunrise, but at the slightest sign of intentions he doesn't like, you'll be dragged back, and you won't see the sun for a long time.
You'll have a very limited wardrobe, he doesn't see why you even need to wear anything, but if you're going to be stubborn, he can get you something simple, like an old shirt and some underwear, but that's about all you can have. Any requests for actual clothing are going to be denied. It's ridiculous for him to spend money on something you don't need, and besides, he prefers it this way, y'know?
What kind of rules do they have? What kind of punishment would they use?
Generally, it's a simple one: obey. You do what he tells you to do, and you don't do something if he tells you not to. This stems to similar rules that develop: be submissive, don't be argumentative, don't be defiant. Follow those, and you can both be happy, and that's what you want, isn't it? It had better be - he's not very lenient, and will harshly punish even small offenses. As for that punishment... most of it isn't going to be sfw. That's just how he is.
What he will do is emotionally manipulate you, and he's rather good at it. You wanted to escape? Ok. He'll let you have your way, let you be alone. All alone. All by yourself, in a little room, with no one at all, which is exactly how you would have left him, had you succeeded. He knows very well how that kind of loneliness bites. He's not totally cruel, though, and he won't withhold affection from you by the time he returns -- he doesn't need to, you'll already be crying and apologizing, which is exactly what he hoped for. Not that he won't briefly mock you for it.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're crying like that because you actually missed me. Oh, you did? Being all alone isn't particularly fun, now is it? I'm sure you understand that now."
How do they deal with rivals, or perceived rivals? Will they get rid of them? Will they kill them themselves, or find another way?
Kaeya's an insanely jealous person. It doesn't show on his face, but it eats at him internally. It doesn't matter if it's a love interest, a platonic friend, even a family member. It's all the same -- people who want to take your attention away from him, people who you smile at that aren't him, people you love that aren't him. He's not one to delude himself into thinking everyone secretly loves you romantically, rather, it doesn't matter. Romantic interests are the worst threat, sure, but friends and family aren't much better.
He sees himself as above killing, though. He has people to do that for him, and he likes knowing that he has that much power. He's not going to dirty his hands with it, and frankly, they're not even worthy of his time and effort to kill them. Knights and other connections can take care of it just as well.
How easy is it to make them mad? What does their anger look like?
As somewhat previously discussed, the primary form of making him mad is attempting an escape. That's on a whole new level of anger because it strikes at a very deep, wounding insecurity. On a normal day, though, he's more easily exasperated than angry. He gets frustrated somewhat easily, especially if you're trying exceptionally hard to be a brat. He has very clear warning signs. His signature little smirk drops, he gets quiet, he balls his hands into fists and digs his fingernails into his palms. At that stage, he's irritable and might snap at you, but won't get too angry until you ignore those signs and push it.
If you do push him, though, he gets genuinely mad, which is a very quiet anger at first -- he doesn't talk much when he's mad. He acts. You'll know he's snapped when he puts down whatever he's doing, and just silently stomps over to you, face completely empty and flat, looking down at you with a cold expression. It's enough to put fear in you, but at that point, even if you apologize, you're not getting out of whatever he's planned.
So they see you as above them, beneath them, or equal to them?
Strongly in the "below" camp, a rather unusual stance for a yandere. Like many things with him, there's an inexplicable duality going on there.  You would think that if you loved someone so strongly you'd kidnap them, kill for them, and potentially suffer consequences just to have them, that you would really think highly of them. On the flip side, you would think that if you really saw someone as lowly, you wouldn't care for them, you'd see them as disposable.
But neither is true for Kaeya, no, he balances both obsessive love and complete narcissism regarding you. You're not disposable, no, he can't live without you, he needs you. But at the same time, you're not gonna be on any kind of pedestal. No, if anything, he sees himself on one, more like a throne, and you on the floor before him, how things should be.
He has a similar mindset to Zhongli or Albedo - you're fragile, you're dumb, you're incapable, and you need someone to care for you, protect you, guide you, someone who knows what's best for you, since you clearly don't. However, he's lacking in the attitude those other two have -- there's no seeing you as an angel here. There's no viewing himself as being absolutely honored to take care of you, or viewing protecting and caring for you as some kind of privilege that they're blessed to do, the way those two do.
No, as much as he loves those things, he'll never admit it, not even to himself really. Rather, his mentality is that you should be grateful. Here he is, a very highly respected, accomplished, capable person, and you...? You have what to offer, exactly? That's right, nothing, really, only cuteness and obedience, the latter of which you refuse to give him even though you really ought to. He's taking on the burden of making sure you don't get yourself killed, and how do you repay him? By getting mad about it, throwing a fit like some little kid? He puts up with your tantrums, which are really undeserved, by the way. He puts up with your disobedience and repeated rule violations, your sheer determination to defy him when he's going out of his way to do what's best for you.
One day, he thinks, you'll mature a little bit and understand why he does what he does, and when you do, you'll come groveling and sniffling about how sorry you are, how you'll never defy him again, how you'll be good and obedient from now on, and he'll love every second of it. He looks forward to that day quite a bit.
"Sigh... you know, you're pretty lucky I love you so much. You could stand to show me a little thanks, don't you think?"
How determined are they for you to love them? How hard will they try to make it happen? Or are they content just having you?
He's strongly determined, and yet... doesn't do much to try. It goes back to his mindset that really, you're the one who should be grateful for him, and eventually, you will love him. He's not gonna grovel to you or try different ways of making you love him, no, he's far too proud for that. But he's a smart man. He knows the effects that complete and total isolation other than one other person can have on someone. He's just going to sit back and wait for that effect to kick in, and slowly watch your fragile little mind deteriorate until you're desperate for affection. At which point, well, he can use it against you.
"You were so mean to me before, weren't you? You fought me every step of the way, and now you're just going to turn around and act like that didn't happen...? Well, if you're really sorry, I'll forgive you. But how am I supposed to believe you really are...? Maybe you can think of a way to prove it, hm?"
Bonus: Is there anything that makes them unique, in comparison to other yanderes?
Probably the severity of his degradation. As aforementioned, most yanderes, even the more confident or cocky individuals, either worship the ground their beloved walks on and sees themselves as beneath them, OR sees their darling as some sort of fragile, angelic being, and they are simply a protector or caretaker to that being.
It's a bit different with him, ever the narcissist. It's a strange duality born out of a rare mix of neediness, obsession, and pride. You're more like a toy, or a pet - an invaluable pet that he could never part with, but a pet nonetheless. He certainly looks down on you more than the average yandere - he mentally associates you as naive, fragile, even dumb like a lot of the aforementioned protector/caretaker types, but without the reverence to make up for it.
It's a bizarre duality that not even he fully understands - don't think for a moment that that means he'll ever tire of you, or view you as disposable. No, he's actually one of the most obsessive ones, yet very demanding of attention and praise, rather than giving it.
He frequently tests you - things like leaving the door unlocked, waiting outside just to see if you'll try it. Seeing you open that door, watching your face go from ecstatic excitement and drop to wide-eyed terror, it's priceless.
"My, my, you didn't waste any time at all, did you? Why do you look so surprised...? You should know I wouldn't slip up that badly."
Pet names, but in the most infuriatingly condescending way, and uses them more often when he's mad and trying to warn you that you're pushing his limits. Particularly fond of "sweetheart," especially with a low warning tone and clenched teeth.
General perverseness: how sexual of a person are they? What’s their drive like? How touchy do they get? Do they have any reservations about sexuality?
Horny fucker, all the way. The man has a lot of stress and frustration in his life already, that much more if you're... less than compliant with your new lifestyle. Sex, especially rough and hard, is a fantastic stress reliever.
Very little reservation. He's not crude about it, but he tends to make subtle innuendos very frequently, and laughs at your embarrassed reactions. Definitely the type to pull the whole shtick in which he says something with a blatant sexual undertone, then elaborates in a way to make it sound like having meant something else, follows with that smirk and says, "Why? What did you think I meant?" It's something he really enjoys doing, and loves to get embarrassed reactions out of people, particularly yourself.
"Touchy" doesn't begin to describe it. Pretty much from the moment you meet him, he's got his hands somewhere on your person. He grabs your shoulders when he stands behind you, he wraps an arm around you from the side when he walks up to you, he's always pressing his hands on your back and sides whenever you're navigating the streets, walking through doorways, wraps an arm around your waist when sitting next to you. It's highly uncomfortable, but really, he's just got something very subtly, but very strongly intimidating about him. You almost don't want to confront him on it. If you do, he'll laugh it off, and stop -- for maybe 48 hours or so, and then he'll be right back at it.
To the surprise of, well, everyone who's ever met him, he doesn't actually live up to the rumors of having been around the block, so to speak. His experience is actually little to none - that kinda happens when you push everyone around you away. Not that he'd ever let you know that, of course, and will probably lie if asked, but you can gleam a little bit of truth from slightly awkward movements and a bit of noticeable shakiness.
How forceful are they? Do they care about your willingness?
Kind of like Razor, the issue is that he loves you, and what better way is there of expressing love? He's not much for gift-giving or words of affirmation - no, he's a lot better with words of degradation, it comes more naturally to him. And he's certainly not one to enjoy acts of service -- well, not doing them, he'll gladly take them as a sign of your love, though. No, he expresses love through touch. It's like how, when you hug someone you really love, someone you missed, you squeeze them extra tight - the love manifests as a physical urge for some strong expression. Humans are physical about their emotions -- we punch walls when we're mad, we jump up and down when we're happy, and when you love someone, sometimes you just really, really want to pound them into a mattress as hard as physically possible. That's normal. That, and really, he's got his vices. He's actually fairly weak when it comes to resisting temptations, and prone to give in to urges for physical sensations like drunkenness and sex.
Is another one to be convinced that, with time, you'll come around. And is absolutely the top candidate to be one for using your own body against you - if you get wet, if you whimper, if you cum, that's just proof that you really do want this, that you're just being difficult because you enjoy being a brat, and he'll be sure to tell you that.
What sort of kinks or fetishes do they have, or would they fill?
This is nearly indistinguishable from punishment, sadistic bastard
D/S dynamics
Arrogant fucker wants to be served and worshipped, you could see it coming from a mile away. Anything that puts you beneath him is going to make him happy - anything where you're where you're supposed to be. There's a lot of options, but it doesn't really matter, as long as he feels like he's in control and ownership of you in some way, and as long as you act accordingly.
He wants it to be something that’s not just for sex, but rather, he’ll end up carrying it over into normal life, whether you like it or not. If you just went along with it in hopes of getting it over with once he cums, you’re going to be in for a treat when it starts to carry over. He gets a little too used to being worshipped, and decides he likes that submissive attitude on you enough to want to see it all the time.
Petplay/Collaring
It really helps that he sees you as something of a pet already, but really, the collar is the selling point. Even if you never go outside, there's something unbearably hot about the possessiveness of it all - really, it's there to remind you of your status as property. He wants to own you, and for you to be forced to acknowledge that he owns you, and there's really no better way to do that than something with his name on it. It's even better with a leash, one he can pull on when he's fucking you to pull you back onto him over, and over, and over, hearing it choke you the more he shortens it.
But really, having you crawl towards him on all fours and obey little commands so simple they're humiliating is pretty nice, too.
Impact pain/painplay
There's really nothing quite so powerful feeling as watching you cry and squirm from it, y'know? He's another one that just likes the marks his hands, belts, or anything else can leave all over the skin of your ass and the back of your legs. The thing with him, though, is it's not even always a punishment, he just does it for fun, and that makes it unpredictable. Will definitely make you count, it's a sadistic torture for your mind and body.
Throatfucking
May be used as a punishment measure, may just be because he's craving it, either way, even if you have a gag reflex, you won't for very long. He'll train it out of you gradually, grabbing the back of your head and just slamming all the way down into your throat, holding you there, making you choke - it's a beautiful sound, really, listening to you gag, all while your throat spasms around him, it's the best feeling, really, and will definitely be used as a threat if you need incentives to behave.
Choking
Ties into the dynamics, but really, there’s not much to say on this one. He likes the power trip from having his hands wrapped around your throat, seeing you struggle, watching your face go red, hearing those little choking noises. It puts power over you into his hands, and if you get pleasure from it against your own will, that’s even better.
How do they feel about pregnancy or babies? Do they want them?
Absolutely one of the ones to use it as a tool. If you have a baby, you'll be so much more bound to him. You'll need him more, you'll want him around more, you'll be much less likely to leave, and in a way it feels a little bit like a sign of ownership over you.
That being said, he's also acutely aware of his jealous tendencies, and realizes he would also be very likely to become jealous if he felt like you loved a baby more than him, or gave it more attention and affection than you do him. He doesn't like the thought.
So ultimately, the latter side prevents him from willingly trying, but if you really, really have defiance issues even after he's tried everything he can to break you help you adjust, he might consider it.
What kind of (nsfw) punishments would they use?
If it's mild enough, he can just take the route of extremely rough fucking - it gets rid of the frustration, he likes hearing you whimper and squeal, and he can leave lots of little bruises as reminders of what not to do in the future.
But, again, he already gets off to putting you in pain - it'll be that much worse when you've done something to deserve it. Harder hits, no mercy whatsoever, and he just loves all your little cries, wiping away your tears and smiling at you, right before bringing down whatever instrument of pain he's chosen again. If you really, really make him mad, and he really wants to make you cry, he's not above fucking your ass, either, watching you cry and beg, but you'll learn with time that begging doesn't ever get you out of anything.
What body parts of their darling do they like the most?
Definitely an ass man. Likes fucking you in doggy, seeing the ripple every time you bounce back off of him, pulling your hair or arms to add some force. He likes seeing all the little red marks that his hands and belts and anything else will leave on the skin, views it like marks of possession. Grabbing, beating, fucking, it's all good.
862 notes · View notes