#hazelsevents

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hi 👋 Hazel can I have a pull for The Hermit, Temperance and The lovers with Diluc please. Thank you.

Temperance (confidence), The Hermit (isolation), The Lovers (true love), The Devil (insecurities) :: diluc x gn reader | destined fate

warning : sfw, fluff :  they/them pronouns, Diluc’s perspective, reader & character sit on a cliff at the edge of the winery (heights)

“Ah, so this is where you were.” Diluc’s voice cut through your thoughts. You twisted to look up at him, dirt shifting as you moved, small pebbles falling down the cliff side where your legs dangled. He wasn’t surprised to find you here, especially since he recounted had multiple conversations with you about the dangers of sitting in places like this, but the wildness in your spirit couldn’t keep you away. 

“Hi, there,” you hummed, eyes closing as you leaned back toward the safety of the ground. “You found me.” 

“I found you,” he repeated as he lovingly stared at your face. 

‘You know,’ Adelinde began, her hand drifting in and out of his view, ‘I’ve watched you grow up but I’ve never seen you with that expression.’ 

‘What do you mean?’ Diluc asked, confused. 

‘The way you look when you see them, or even when you think about them,’ she placed the plate and cup on her small tray but smiled at Diluc when he gazed up at her, cheeks already showing a hint of color in them, ‘it’s love.’ Adelinde commented before slipping out of the room and letting him have a private moment alone with his embarrassed realization.   

“So, what brings you here this evening?” he asked. You had already adjusted into a comfortable position. Hands pressed together between your legs, feet entering and fading from view. He debated whether or not to pull you away from the cliff, carefully considered hoisting you in his arms so he could carry you as far away as he could. If it were up to him, he’d never find you up here but then what kind of man would he be; to let his fears weigh down your wings. He swore to never be that kind of lover. 

“I wanted to feel the evening air.” 

“And you couldn’t have done that from the safety of the courtyard?” 

“Haha, nope.” 

“Ah,” Diluc crossed his arms and scanned the landscape below. The Dawn Winery sat almost in a bowl. Cliffs ran along it’s edge, stopping only at the large lake-like river than ran past it to the east. The evening was peaceful, a gentle wind danced across the grass and vineyards, it touched the lamps that swayed high in the air. He could see bodies moving around in the distance and, with a smirk on his lips, he inquired a little deeper into your reasoning. “It had nothing to do with the benefactor party we are hosting?” 

In the corner of his eyes he saw you flinch, bingo. “O-oh, was that happening?” 

“Yes.” 

Chuckling, you leaned back onto your hands, an appeasing smile growing on your lips, “Sorry,” you apologized, though it wasn’t the most honest one he’d heard from you. 

“It’s no matter,” he replied with a small laugh of his own. “I understand the difficulties of practicing in fake pleasantries.” Diluc had been a part of this world all his life. He knew the expectations, knew how the game was played. Placing someone in checkmate was easy when you knew all the moves but to ask that of someone whose upbringing was far less structured, it had to be a burden. 

“I’ll go back-” you began, already moving to lift yourself from the cliff but when Diluc began to descend toward you, you held steady. 

“We can rest a bit.” 

He felt his heart flutter at the impressed expression you flashed him. Like a teenager who was denying their parents calls, Diluc felt a youthful defiance rise in his chest. Perhaps he still could feel the carefree innocence of his childhood, even now. 

“Mr. Ragnvindr, I am shocked.” Your hand flew to your chest while his moved toward your back. “Skipping out on your own party, how devious.” 

“y/n ...” 

“I kid, I kid,” you joked and, like it was the most natural thing to do, you wrapped your arms around his before resting your head on his shoulder. “Mmm, you’re so warm.” Nuzzling against him, you moved until your thigh met his, until your chest pressed against his arm and even though he was no where around others the action still made him nervous, fluttering, happy. 

The two of you sat on the cliffs edge without saying much of anything. The quiet was nice, peaceful. Every once in a while there was an echo as bits of rock tumbled away from their holding. He had to admit that being up here and looking down over it all did bring an energy to him he rarely felt; or, perhaps, that was because of the person who hummed softly at his side. 

“Sometimes,” you finally spoke after countless minutes of silence, “I wonder if I’m good enough for you.” Diluc pulled back and twisted so he could see you but you didn’t return the gesture. Instead, you dropped your head and began to pick at the tassels on his shoulder. 

Good enough --- the words clattered around in his mind so quickly he thought he’d get whiplash but when he lifted your face so he could see you, when his thumb stroked your cheek and his eyes searched yours, there was no mistaking the worry that pulled at the corners of your mouth. 

Diluc whispered your name as he kissed your uncertain lips. No matter what you came across, no matter the danger or trial you faced, you did so with courage he admired but every time you thought about your standing with him, it was like you dipped yourself in uncertainties he couldn’t wash away.

“If there is anything I am certain of,” he confessed as he pulled back, “It’s that you are good enough.” 

“Even though I don’t like parties.” 

He chuckled and pushed away a tear that slipped down your cheek, “Especially because of that.” Diluc brought one of your hands to his lips and kissed them, he leaned over so he could press another to your cheek, he lingered over your lips that he touched with the pad of his thumb. “Do not doubt my affection for you.” 

You kissed his finger and he became jealous at the action, “I’ll try,” you whispered, eyes avoiding but glistening in the starlight. 

He pushed into the ground at your back, his arm becoming a support for you to lean on. for him to move closer to the one who held his heart, “No matter, I’ll remind you for eternity if I must.” He leaned in, his words barely a whisper, “This you have my word.” 

Diluc kissed you and as you accepted his affection, he understood why you loved it up here. It offered a boundless amount of courage. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology | i love him

[witch-hazels-musings]

this new event hazel omg!!! you always have such an interesting ideas i love you and your brain :((( it's so hard to choose... will it be okay to ask for the lovers (the fluff one), the tower and the fool for the scara? please <33

The Lovers (true love), The Fool (fear of losing something), The Tower (ruin) :: scaramouche x gn reader | tarnished fate 

warning: angst, scaramouche’s perspective* (scara watches reader sleep (wholesomely) 

Scaramouche sat up in bed. His eyes clouded with sleep, body moving slowly as he worked himself into alertness. Turning to the window he could see the day was going to be a dreary one; somehow it was perfect for what was meant to happen. With a sigh, he rubbed his face and turned to look at the figure who slept peacefully beside him. 

Safe and sound as he intended, you rested comfortably. The courage anyone would have to sneak in and disturb you would have impressed him, if he’d known anyone to be that bravely stupid. To harm what was his, to threaten their life, he wouldn’t forgive them. 

Scara watched you far longer than he intended. The steady rise and fall of your chest, the soft humming that vibrated in your throat, the relaxed facial expression tempting him to change its shape. He was transfixed by you, obsessed with you. It wasn’t something he ever expected to experience but, as it turned out, you were rather hard to vacate from his mind. Even in his dreams, and the moments he awoke, the first thing he thought of was you. 

His fingers brushed across your brow and you shifted onto your back. Your hand slipping under the pillow as you adjusted. Cool, unloving fingers trailed down your neck until they crossed your collarbone, drifted to your partially exposed sternum before finding their way to your neck again. Conflicted, he continued to caress your skin. It wasn’t his intention to wake you up but he wouldn’t have cared if you did. 

Though it would certainly make this morning more difficult. 

“You swore yourself to me,” he whispered into your hair, nose disappearing slightly in the uncombed locks. “do not break your fealty.” 

Scara moved away from you but, in his weakness, he lingered. You were everything to him. The morning, the evening, you were the air in his lungs and the pounding of his heart. He wasn’t sure why since no single thing brought him so much life than his own, but you changed him, altered his resolve.

This life he led was not meant for you. The orange haired harbinger warned him of such. Signora grew bitter at the idea. For a while he tried to ignore it until it consumed him. Filled him with a desire he couldn’t shake. Even if it meant destroying you, he had to know what it felt like to hold you close, to touch the skin that made him insatiable, to feel your lips against him. He had to know.

Now, he had to break all his bones in order to keep you safe from the monster he was and the evil which stood at his back.  

He reminisced while his thumb ran across your bottom lip. How sinful it was to desire this luxury. “I will never love another,” Scara swore as he closed his eyes, removed himself from the bed and slipped onto the cold floor. 

--

The birds were the first thing to wake you. Their lively chatter a humorous alarm to your long rest. It wasn’t new for you to sleep in, nor was it unusual for Scaramouche to allow you this sin. You didn’t understand why other thought he was so cruel. 

Sitting up, you stretched in the late morning sunlight. Your shirt fell down your arm but you did nothing to fix it. Instead, you looked around the room only to have a strange unease settle in the pit of your stomach. Something was amiss, but you couldn’t place your finger on it. 

Concerned, you pulled the covers away but before your feet touched the ground, you noticed a letter sitting on the bedside table. It was sealed by none-other than your love. Eagerly you reached for it, the seal snapping free of the parchment with ease, fingers slipping under the paper to unfold what secrets he left inside.

When it was fully opened, a golden band fell onto your lap. Shocked, confused, you reached for it but as you came to understand what it was your heart sunk and your trembling hands held the letter for your watering eyes. 

You read it again and again, over and over, flipped it on it’s back, turned it upside down. This wasn’t true, this couldn’t be true. Standing suddenly, you turned toward the door but the sound of ringing metal caught your attention as you watched the wedding band Scara wore spin until it came to a stop in front of you. 

Crumbling to the floor, you became entangled in the sheets while your outstretched hand covered the abandoned ring, and through your wretched sobbing, you closed your eyes against the glinting promise tainted with lies that  wrapped around your ring finger. 

“y/n ... 

It is a terrible thing to be blinded by ignorance, and yet, the both of us found ourselves living it every day. I’ve let it consume me no longer.

I’ve taken leave and shall not return. Forget every notion you once had. Laughably, It was your mistake to have fallen into this a ridiculous idea of love. A Harbinger cannot be possessed by the feeling and yet you let yourself be swayed by the lie. 

You were nothing more than a passing moment, albeit a forgotten one. Do not come crawling back to me. 

I never loved you 

Sc--

-- 

Scara turned away from the shrinking shoreline, face scrunching against the soft rain that fell against his cheeks. Every inch of himself suffered; twisted, pained, rattled. He seethed, rolled in fury as he walked across the main deck. The crewmembers hid from his view and he admired their intelligence. 

“How long?” Scara asked behind the helmsman, his sudden question causing them to jump. 

“At this pace sir, less than a weak.” 

“Excellent,” he turned and headed down the steps and toward the captains quarters, arms hanging dead at his side. “Let’s kill an Archon, shall we.” 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hi Hazel!!! For your event, can I have a reading of the Emporer, the Lovers, and the Hermit with Diluc, please? Thank you!!!!

The Emperor (comfort), The Hermit (loneliness), The Lovers (true love) :: diluc x gn reader | tarnished fate 

warnings: angst -> comfort (character missing, inferred death but not true) term used: *widowhood (apparently this is the GN term for ‘one who loses a spouse’ and I hate it - why isn’t widow just a gn term, dumb)

You perked up at the sound of his name. Switched to full attention when you swore his voice drifted down the hall, but each time you ran to investigate he wasn’t there. He was never there. 

Holding onto hope was starting to wear on you. Every morning, right when you woke up, you could feel him beside you. Hear his light chuckle and raspy ‘good morning’ but when you turned to reply he was nothing but a figment of your desperate imagination. 

Diluc Ragnvindr was gone, and he wasn’t coming back. 

At least that’s what everyone said under careful whispers, behind closed doors, and in sad laments as you passed by. They all seemed to know something you refused too accept; it was infuriating. This had happened before, him leaving to handle something like this. It was dangerous so he begged you not to ask to go and, in your weakness, you allowed him to leave your side. You knew he’d come back but ... 

This time though it felt different, stranger, darker. It had been months since his last communication with you. The letters you’d kept safe were stacked neatly on the end table. Perfectly placed on top of his shirt. Once, a maid came in to tidy up and thought moving your personal shrine would help ease your pain but it only exasperated it as you crumbled to the floor and sobbed for your missing items. The maids were far more careful after that. 

There was a worry in the back of your mind that he had left you alone, abandoned in a house full of broken promises. You pushed those aside as quickly as you could. You trusted him more than anyone in all of Teyvat. He swore upon his return and you believed him to keep that vow. 

Half a year went by and you slipped into a numbing routine. Spring turned to summer but the heat of the day felt cold to you. Flowers had no beauty, the vineyards flourished but you could hardly accept them. You offered apathetic kindness to those still employed, those who felt pity for the sorrowful widowhood who refused to accept the title. 

You moved through the world like a ghost and on the morning of a harsh rain, you swore you saw a real one walking down the path toward the Dawn Winery. 

-- 

“y/n.” Adelinde called to you again. Slowly, you turned away from the window with a quizzical look as you gazed down at the reports in her hands. “Are you approving these?” she pushed the documents forward but you already knew what they were. It seemed work was the only thing keeping you remotely together lately. With a quick nod she began to prepare them on the desk while you returned to gaze out the window. 

“I still see him ...” you whispered, hand moving to rub the bridge of your nose at the oncoming headache. 

“I know. Sometimes I do too.” she reassured you, her face worn and tired as if the emotions she so easily accepted from others were finally tearing at her skin. Adelinde was beyond patient, beyond empathetic, and you felt your life was stealing more from her each and every day. 

“I hate it. Sometimes he’s so vivid.” You glanced out the window and saw the image of Diluc stumbling down the worn path. The mirage acted strangely, you let it go. 

Adelinde looked up from the paper she was neatly folding. She could tell you were fixated on the window; an image of the lonely lover waiting for their partner to come home. She sighed and made her way toward you as her hand reached for the curtains. “Why don’t you take a rest.” 

“Maybe I should.” Lethargically, you turned from the window only to finally notice the building commotion just outside the study door. Confused, you moved to ask what was happening when Adelinde pulled at your clothes. Her body was trembling, hand cupped around her mouth, tears running down her eyes as she gazed out the window. “Master Diluc,” she whispered and you bolted from the study while she wept. 

The doors to the winery were already open, attendants were rushing to and fro but you didn’t stop, you couldn’t stop. Like an animal released from it’s cage, you burst through the threshold of the winery and made your way toward him. 

The ground was wet so you slipped. Knee colliding with the damp dirt and staining your clothes, hands collecting mud, but you pushed forward. Continuing on screaming legs, crying out with a miserable voice and staring at the man you loved through a torrent of tears. “DILUC!” you yelled as your body collided against his and you finally, for the first time in months, felt warm again. 

He spoke your name, apologized for his state, his lateness, but you could hardly hear it over the sound of your muffled cries. Anger, irritation, joy, relief washed through you all at once. You couldn’t stop yourself from breaking apart against him, while being held in the arms you longed for. He was back, he came back, and you swore you’d never let him go. 

“I knew -- I knew you’d come back.” Your blubbering words warmed his shoulder, your hands pulled at his jacket in a desperate attempt to get closer. “I knew it.” You cried and he held you tighter while the whole of Dawn Winery rushed out to greet their master and cry at the site of the both of you. 

“I’d fight all of Teyvat to return to you.” he whispered against the side of your head, body trembling, and he covered his face to hide the tears of relief and joy that followed his truth. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hello! Is it alright if I could request for The hermit, The emperor, with Ayato please?

Thank you!!

The Hermit (isolation), The Emperor (support), The Lovers (true love) :: ayato x gn reader | neutral fate 

warning: sfw : fluff : Ayato pulls reader into lap, sitting on lap (Ayato being mischievous), mildly spicy at the end (reader feeds Ayato, kissing fingers)

Kamisato Ayato was always working. There wasn’t a day that went by where you didn’t see him holed up, alone in his office. Small moments or flashes would tell you he was still alive but, other than that, it was hard pressed to see him anywhere other than his desk. 

You’d grown accustomed to his work ethic, admired him for how diligent he was in everything he did but you wished he would take a rest. A moment away from it all to be, to exist, instead of trying to carry the weight of his expectations on his shoulders. You offered him your respect, your understanding, your support as much as you could. A refreshing drink here, a boosting snack there, removal of disturbances before they even became a nuisance. Decisions couldn’t be made by anyone other than Kamisato Ayato, but at least you could work in the background to ensure he had what he needed to make them. 

-- 

You bowed politely to the attendants in the hall. Their focused attention and respectful smiles a stable of the Kamisato estate. At first you found them strange but now you understood why their expressions were all the same: respect. 

To ignore the standing they pushed on you was no easy feat. It caused quiet the commotion when you entered the kitchen to prepare something to eat, the attendants debated on whether to let you continue or to chase you out of the room when you tried to help them clean. It wasn’t proper, you knew that, but you refused to laze about when there was work to be done. Perhaps that’s why you and Ayato got along so well. 

Eventually, and with the reassurance of the Chief Retainer, Thoma, they backed off and allowed you to do as you pleased. Though there were certain compromises you had to make, at least they didn’t restrict you anymore from providing support in the way you liked to. 

The hallways had grown emptier and emptier the closer you got to Ayato’s office. Voices drifted down the hall and into the open garden at your side, they grew louder as you drew neared to the door. Paper screens only blocked so much noise.

You waited for a natural pause, took a step back, and bowed politely to the occupants who drifted past you. Stern looking men with brows so large you could cook an egg on them made their way down the wooden walkway until they disappeared around a corner. It was hard to tell if they were happy or not, but based on the swiftness of their exit, something interesting was definitely afoot. 

Adjusting the tray in your hand, you entered the room. Palm flush against the door as you let it close silently to buy time before another interruption. The room was dimly lit, a single source of light spilled from behind a folding partition wall. You couldn’t see through it but you knew just beyond would be a man hunched over his desk writing with feverish intention. 

Just as you expected, Ayato sat on the other side an elegant, low desk. His legs were certainly crossed just out of view, below him a pillow or too would be there to offer him reprieve from the hard tatami matt. He leaned forward, eyes focused on his work as he dipped his quill into the well before scribbling a few notes on the parchment in front of him. You waited patiently, a secret desire to take in the scene until the weight of the tray called you to move. 

Kneeling at the side of the desk, you set the tray on the floor before moving a few items out of your way so you could replace them with the tray of food and the pot of tea. Ayato continued his work while you finished yours. He didn’t speak until you began to pour a glass of steaming tea into a jade cup. 

“So, I see you’ve come to wait on my beck and call?” he hummed as you placed the cup in front of him. 

You chuckled at his comment. It was surprising how spoiled he could be while also demonstrating an incredible amount of philanthropy. Dealing with the livelihoods of others as well as corruption never once tarnished the goodness in his heart. 

“I’ve come to bring you something to eat, yes,” slowly, you poured another cup for yourself. The tea created a beautiful aroma that mixed in with the burning incense behind the commissioner. “Thoma needs a break from your wills every now and then.” 

“Interesting, has he expressed this to you?” 

“No, of course not,” you teased with a wink before pushing the plate of sakura mochi toward him. “Anyway, you should eat.” 

“Hmm, interesting. Is this a command or a request?” There was a hint of intrigue in his eyes, a devious smile hiding behind the rim of the tea cup as he spoke. Ayato was many things, a man of competence, of diligence and intelligence, but one of unbelievable mischievous. There was certainly more in his comment than he let on. 

“It’s a request, of course,” you replied and set your cup on the saucer you placed moments before. “As are all my desires when it comes to you.” 

“I see.” Ayato smiled against his cup as he took a sip. Eyes closed, fingers holding the drink steady. The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a while. The ticking clock signaling the passage of time while birds sang just outside the windows he refused to open. When you finished your cup, you placed it on the tray, brushed your hands against your clothes, and began to lift yourself up from the ground. 

“I’ll let you continue to work, so, please ea-ah!” Ayato’s hand shot out to your wrist and though you tumbled wildly into his lap, your actions disturbed nothing else in the room. It was as if he calculated the right time and angle to capture you. 

“Not yet,” his voice sent a shiver down your spine, the closeness of his breath against your ear made you tighten your grip on the arm he stretched in front of you. Nervously, you glanced at the door while he tugged at your collar but never let his finger touch your skin. 

“Ayato --” 

“Feed me.” 

“W-Wha-” 

His eyes flashed to the plate of food, you understood him the first time even if you needed him to repeat it to make sure you hadn’t made it up. “You’ve come here to ensure I eat, so, am I not giving you that chance?” His smirk made your skin burn, your heart flutter, your breath hitch. 

Nervously, you lifted the snack with your fingers. You did your best to offer it to him without shaking but couldn’t. So, he assisted you by holding onto your wrist, which, honestly, only made it worse. Clenching your jaw was the only way you could make it through as he bit into the spongy food. His lips made contact with your fingers and if he wasn’t holding you upright you certainly would have passed out. 

No matter how confident you were when it came to him, he always managed to bring out your timidness. 

“Mm, yes, very nice,” he cooed, eyes piercing, watching as you held onto the mochi with trembling fingers. Embarrassment ran through you like a flash flood and since you knew you couldn’t get away from him, all you had left was covering your face with your opposite hand while he kissed your fingers ever so gently.  

“You’re teasing me too much,” you quivered, face covered and pushing against his shoulder.  

He chuckled, you bit back a squeal, “It’s not everyday I get to see you; should I not enjoy my time?” Ayato kissed the edge of the hand he refused to let go while you tried your best to hold onto the sanity he was taking from you bit but delicious bit. “Especially,” he began again, voice richer, deeper, more devious, “when my spouse is so adorable?” That’s when his snack fell from your hand and onto the legs that rested in his lap. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology | @dustofthedailylife 

[witch-hazels-musings]

i swear the designs are so divine 😭💖. tarots are such an interesting concept to be made as an event so im pretty much hyped for the event—

and for that matter, the cards I have pulled seems to be the emperor, and kaeya managed to get the hermit. I wonder how you make off with this reading 👀, do take your time wise tarot reader

The Emperor (support), The Magician (healing), The Hermit (loneliness) :: kaeya x gn reader | destined fate

warning: angst -> comfort : from kaeya’s perspective : injury (kaeya), near death experience (kaeya), slight spoilers for Kaeya’s past (abandonment, lonlieness), 

a-n: this made me cry

Everything hurt. Breathing was torturous but there was not stopping the action. Even though every time his chest rose he swore it would kill him. His limbs twitched only to slowly grow numb as the seconds ticked by. The warmth he usually felt in his chest began to fade as he gazed up at the blurry sky.

How long had he been laying in the dirt? How long had the painful tears fallen down his cheeks and soaked into his grimy hair? How long had he been on his own? 

Kaeya heard someone call his name but his stupid, heavy fingers couldn’t lift toward answer. Everything hurt and darkness overcame him. 

--

“Where are you?” a frightened voice called out in the darkness. Childish hands extended toward the void that stretched endlessly in front of teary eyes. There was a quiver when he spoke, and uncertainty as he stumbled forward only to fall on his knees over and over again. “Someone ... anyone ...” 

He trembled, sniffed, cried out but no one heard him, no one came. There was nothing around him. No comforting arms to hold him close, no loving kiss to press against his cheek, no reassurance from someone he knew. A guiding light didn’t shine for him; somewhere in his mind he knew he wouldn’t be worthy of it even if it did. 

“I-I’m scared ...” he blubbered but no one answered. He wrapped his arms around his legs, buried his face against his exposed knees while his fingers pulled on the shorts someone who once loved him gave to him. 

Cold slipped up his spine, it wrapped around him tightly as if to pry him from the comfort his found by folding in on himself. His timid voice cried out in fear, bunched up even more until his knuckles turned as white as snow. A shadow loomed above him but he dared not look until he felt its oppressive weight swallow him whole as he pleaded one last time for someone to rescue him until the darkness took his voice. 

Warmth. 

It was the first thing he felt. Something soft touched every side of him and, somehow, he realized he wasn’t wearing much. Pain was such a distant thought he wondered if he’d actually felt it but, when he tried to move, he found his body insubordinate.

“Mmm,” groaning, Kaeya lifted his head only to let it fall back down on a plush pillow. The scent that plumed from the action wasn’t familiar and it caused his heartrate to increase. Where am I?

A gentle hand touched his forehead. He felt it caress his brow, flow across his cheek. It was familiar, recognizable but somehow he couldn’t place it. “Hey there,” the voice spoke and he knew the owner of it instantly. 

His eyes opened, his mind collected itself as your figure came into view. The radiance of your glow, the compassionate smile you showed him, glistening eyes reflecting back their relief. Kaeya took them all in but it was like everything moved in slow motion; like he was floating in a pool of warm light but unsure how to swim to its source. 

“You’ve been through a lot,” the voice explained, “get some rest.” 

Kaeya breathed, blinked, but when his eyes opened again the light was gone and the creeping cold shot out from his spine. 

Kaeya bolted upright, his body screaming at the sudden movement. Desperately, he searched for what was missing as his head snapped in every direction. His heart pounded wildly, his lungs clenched, his back burned in searing pain. Disoriented, he tried to leave the bed but was stopped by a pair of hands. 

Hands that were everything, hands that were home, they were --- 

“Kaeya, what’s wrong?” He lifted his gaze to meet your eyes and when your name slipped from his confused lips he realized what was missing. 

In one fluid movement, like a child latching onto the leg of their parent, he captured you in his arms and refused to let go.

Love. 

It consumed him. Your hands against his back, body flush against him. He was incapable of slowing it’s takeover just as much as he was incapable of stopping the tears that poured from his eyes. He held the back of your head as if it were the most important thing in his life, Kaeya pulled you against him as if it was the blanket he needed to rest. He trembled but couldn’t stop himself. 

“Is this real?” he asked, desperate for an answer, for your voice to tell him the truth.

“It’s real,” you replied in strained emotion, hands pushing more against him. 

Kaeya nuzzled into the crook of your neck but pulled away at the sudden darkness that clouded his sight. His body shook, quivered, became hysterical at the pitch black emptiness and he compensated by sliding his other hand into your hair; his lifeline. Kaeya kept the world in his view but most of all, he kept you right where he could see you. 

“Don’t go ... ” | “I’m right here.” | “Don’t go ...” | “I won’t.” 

He pleaded, stumbled on the words over and over again, but, no matter how many times they fell from him, you responded with the reassurance he needed like it was the one thing that could bring him back from the dead. 

a child trembled in the shadows, soft whimpers spreading in ripples underneath him. He was alone, lost, in need

a single ripple shimmered, bounced off a blinding light and came ricocheting back toward him at immense speed 

arms filled with love pierced the shade and scooped him up. they spoke their name and held on tight ... 

Kaeya looked up while you 

you shattered the darkness; you brought him the light

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology | @not-a-cheese​

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hi this is bout to be so weird cuz it’s my first time doing this can I do this in anonymous phoned not thats alright as well you can ignore it then :) no hard feelings butt can I have a reading of fate with kazuha pls

Thank you (and it’s very much ok if you choose not to answer this) anddd have a good day / night

Wheel of Fortune (new beginnings), Lovers (true love), Emperor (rev) (misunderstandings) :: kazuha x gn reader | Destined Fate

warnings: enemies to lovers, chasing, pinned to ground (reader), kissing (consensual)

“Stop right there!” You shouted through the turbulent wind. It had picked up so suddenly but you knew why without question. There was only one vision user who could manipulate the wind as easy as the leaf falls from the tree. 

Your legs had grown heavier in the chase but you couldn’t stop. Not until you captured what continuously eluded you. So, as you were trained to do, you squinted against the intensity of the sun and pushed further, faster, harder until your bounty came into sight. 

“KAEDEHARA KAZUHA!” The sound of your voice echoed across the cliff side, it spilled into the sea as your feet kicked up the sand beneath you. The samurai glanced your way, a devilish grin on his face. The sight of it made your heart pound, made your throat tighten, your chest constrict. He leapt over a pile of driftwood and you watched him float back down with ease. He was by far the most graceful person you’d ever met but instead of using his skills for a valuable purpose, he was on the opposite side. A side that ignored your sworn loyalty, a side against you. 

Suddenly, a gust of wind came hurtling toward you, slowing you down. You dropped to your knee and shielded your face with your arms. Pellets of stand stung your skin but you paid them no mind because as soon as the onslaught dissipated you were dashing forward with more determination than before. 

A flash or red caught your attention. It slipped behind an abandoned fishing shack just by the waters edge. Obviously the little stunt Kazuha pulled was to give him enough time to disappear from your sight but you were far to skilled to be bested by something as trivial as sand. You came to a steady jog, then a quick step until you pulled out your weapon and began to investigate. It was quiet, save for the push and pull of the waves and the irregular call of the birds flying above you. Today you would win, today you’d capture the elusive wind. 

Where are you ... You wondered as you peered around the edge of the shack, as you looked in the windows only to find sea creatures capable of making their way on land crawl around inside. Squinting, you turned to look out across the empty beach. There must be tracks somewhere, but knowing Kazuha he erased those with a wave of his hand. 

With a heavy huff, you jumped off the side of the deck, your feet sinking into the ground below. In the shade you found reprieve but you couldn’t rest until you finished your ---

Wind, sand, weight hit you all at once until you found yourself laying on the mixing warm and cold sand and your eyes came into contact with the man you were trying to find. 

“Hello there.” Kazuha’s voice spilled around you like a sweet perfume. It wrapped you up, trapped you, and kept you hostage. It didn’t help that his hands had found your wrists and were holding them steady, or that his weight kept you beneath him exactly as he planned. You fell for his trap, as you had many many times before. 

“Kazuha --” You glared at him, shifted under him but he simply laughed at your pitiful attempts.

“As it seems, I have bested you yet again, yoriki.” The title slipped from his lips and made you grimace. It was common for citizens to refer to you that way, but when he used it, it was like a poison. A reminder of the sides the two of you stood on. 

“You played dirty.” 

“How is that?” 

“I had you earlier but you weren’t honorable in my win. So this doesn’t count.” 

“Enlighten me, how was I so dishonorable?” Kazuha leaned down and you felt the heat from the sun spill over your chest. His face inching closer and closer to your own while your heart began to beat so wildly you thought it would pound straight through your ribcage. 

“You ...”

“I ...” You could practically feel his breath on your lips with how close he’d become. This was exactly like before and it wasn’t fair how easily he could manipulate you with just this much. 

“... cheating ...” 

“Is that what you call it?” Kazuha whispered before he pressed his lips to yours. The feeling sent a shockwave through you and although you struggled against him it was only so you could wrap your arms around his neck and pull him closer. To feel even more attached to the man who had captured your heart. 

When he finally pulled away you were floating like driftwood on the sea and with every additional, tender, affection he pressed to your face, you moved further away from solid ground. 

“What if someone sees?” You hummed as he kissed your jaw. His hand sliding down your arm while yours finally reached his chest. 

“Why do you think I had you chase me all the way out here?”

“I thought you were finally showing me your true colors.” 

“For you, I’d paint my shade any that would compliment your own.” 

Your fingers pulled as his robes, your heels dug further into the sand and you felt the tethers of your vow to the shogun loosen. “Are you always so poetic?”

“To express how one feels through prose, is there no other way to share what the heart already knows?” 

“I hate you.” 

“Tell me the ways.” He mused as his arms slipped into the sand and his lips came into contact with yours for the hundredth time. 

If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear everything you’d worked for, all that you knew, the path you thought was chosen for you, was undoubtedly being changed at the behest of Kaedehara Kazuha and a twist of destined fate. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

random fluff w/ itto please!! i adore how you write him :D

The Sun (protection), The Emperor (support), The Chariot (accomplishments) :: itto x gn reader | destined fate 

warning: sfw, fluff (appearances: arataki itto gang members, traveler, paimon)

You’d never been to a wedding before, or one you remembered anyway. There was a time when you were dressed up to go to a party but it wasn’t fun so you blocked out most of it. However, as you stood here, memories surfaced, floated in your mind as you walked into the venue. So, perhaps the statement wasn’t ‘I’ve never been to a wedding,’ and instead was ‘I’ve never been to one I cared about.’ 

To be honest, you didn’t really know much about the couple, but the festivities were hard to pass up and your company wouldn’t have taken no for an answer if you tried. 

“Oh maaaan, look at all this food!” Itto drooled as he eyed the piles of food littering table after table. You’d never seen so much decadence before. Wealthy people really know how to put on an event, you mused as you walked past a tray of delicious looking food. The smell was intoxicating but you fought against your desires, for now at least. 

“Itto, focus please.” You begged, anxiously tapping his arm while you looked for familiar faces. The gang said they’d all be here but no one was sticking out of the crowd. At least you knew you’d find Itto easy enough. If it weren’t he large, red horns or white hair, it was his height that make him stick out like a sore thumb. Not to mention he was still hardly wearing clothes, even after all your begging. 

“y/n, this is so unfair. I can’t just let this go to waste. AH! What if someone knocks into the table and it all ... falls to the floor.” He looked pitiful as his imagination crafted his worst fear. Poor puppy dog eyes gazing at you while you tried to figure out if it was appropriate or not to eat.

“Just a little.” You whispered.

Itto took your approval with great pride as he picked up a leg of meat and began chewing it eagerly. It was almost impressive how fast he ate but you didn’t bat an eye at the skeptical. Instead, you searched the crowd again until you found a friendly face. 

“Paimon!” You waved, relief spreading through you at the floating girl hovering above the crowd. Her face lit up and you made your way toward her while she pulled on her companions hair. “I didn’t expect to see you all here.” 

“We couldn’t miss out on the festivities!” 

“Paimon wouldn’t stop talking about the food.” The traveler corrected, a smug smile on their face. 

“Hey!” She stomped her foot in the air, fists hitting her hips as she puffed out her cheeks and gave her friend a stern look. 

“It’s alight, I have one of those too.” You pointed behind you at the lumbering oni who had scared most of the other patrons away while he chowed down. You sighed but didn’t try to stop him. 

“Oh, Itto’s here too!” Paimon beamed but you wondered if it was because of the Arataki gang leader or if it was the food he stood by. “It would be -- ahem -- rude not to say hello.” 

The traveler rolled their eyes and shook their head, “Go on.” They said and Paimon eagerly floated over to the table, hands clapping in delight. 

--

The four of you spent some time together. Your odd pairing a sight to see, but what soon was a simple ‘drawing of attentions,’ had turned into a ‘turning heads’ sort of affair when the other members of the Arataki gang showed up. It was far livelier than you had expected. After a while you began to feel a overwhelmed at the groups energy. So, quickly, you made your way free of them. 

You disappeared without any fuss and made your way to a small overlook. The decorations stretched all the way out here as every wooden beam was covered with lovely flowers. The best part about it though was its emptiness, its quietness, both were just what you needed. As you let out a sigh, you looked out across the sea of people. The wedding party was making their way through the crowd, hands waving to those who shouted congratulations to them, smiles bright and full of joy. You wondered what it was like to be that happy, to know you found your forever person. 

If that time would come for you - it would only be a dream. 

“Aha, found you.” Itto practically jumped in your field of view. For someone so large he managed to sneak up on you frequently. Perhaps he did it on purpose or maybe you were always so lost in your fantasies you blocked out the world. 

“Hello.” You giggled, arms crossed as you turned to face him. He was leaning toward you, lumbering hands resting on his knees to support his weight. Itto was always so bright, so lively, you wondered how he accomplished it all. 

“Why’d you run off, the party’s still rockin’.” 

“I needed a breather.” You explained, feeling a bit embarrassed. This was one other reason you didn’t go to parties much, they wore you out. 

“Well if this ain’t the best place to do that. It smells like candy over here.” He explained with a deep breath, chest expanding as he stood to his full height.

Itto always brought a peace to you no matter what he did. Perhaps it was because he promised to protect you, Celestia knows he could. Or maybe it was because he always knew how to make you smile, how to remind you of the good around everything. He was a ray of sunshine in a world full of clouds. 

“Are you having fun?” You asked, eyes watching his every movement. 

“Of course! But it’s not over yet!” 

“Um, yeah. What do you me-ah!” Itto pulled you to him and suddenly started to dance. His legs moved but you felt like he was dragging you more than leading you. With steps as large as fence posts you had to leap in order to keep up. “Itto!” You yelled but pulled your volume back in when strangers turned your way. “Sl-slow dooooown.” He pulled you closer and spun you around. The force knocked your thoughts from your head while you desperately tried to hold on to the straps of his clothes. 

“Open your eyes!” He shouted and you did only to find yourself directly below the pergolas decorated in rich, delicate flowers. You were transfixed, stunned, and felt lighter than you had all evening. The world below you faded away and above you was a heavenly display. 

As you reached your hand toward the flowers, Itto slowed until you could feel the petals grace your fingertips with their silk. The feeling grounded you, Itto held you. It was perfect. 

“Now you’re having fun.” Itto grinned, a laugh slipping between his teeth when you looked at him. Suddenly, he snapped his neck to the side and while you found the ground rather quickly, he made sure you were steady before letting you go. “Don’t move!” 

“O-okay.” You replied as he dashed away from the patio. Your focus drifted back to the flowers above you and you regretfully you didn’t take a flower as a keepsake.

There was a loud cry, a cacophony of voices riled up and spreading across the crowd. Confused, you made your way toward it until you saw a bumbling oni pushing through with something in his hand. He held it high and yelled something incomprehensible to the reaching hands who tried to touch his prize. 

“Itto?” 

“Haha! Sorry, I had to get it. Couldn’t let someone else take it now could I?” 

“What are you talking about?” You asked with a nervous chuckle, peering behind his broad chest to see what he hid from you. 

You jumped when he shoved a bouquet of flowers in your face. They were stunning, perfectly arranged - except for the small damage they took on their way to you. You had a feeling these held a different meaning than the other bouquets resting on the tables based on the way the party goers reacted. How their eyes shifted between defeated and proud, how the Traveler and Paimon pulled at each other as they watched you, and how the gang started crying, or worse, fainting at it all. 

“A-are these for me?” You asked, confused, but took the flowers in your hand.

“Of course, who else would they go too?” He seemed embarrassed but you didn’t know why.  “So um, my um -- pal -- no.” Itto twisted toward the group and you saw them wave him on. “Will you ... accept these ... from me?” He thrust his thumb as his chest and waited for your reply. 

“Yes, of course I will. How could I say no?” 

Itto was in shock but his astonishment shifted into pure joy and though you didn’t fully understand his meaning, you felt like had an idea as soon as he lifted you in the air and shouted, “YOU SAID YES!” 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hazeeelll ❤️❤️❤️ I hope you’re having a wonderful day! This event is so cute aaa. May I ask for The Lovers, The Star, and Justice with Scaramouche? My Tarot loving heart is swooning~

Lovers (true love), Star (destiny), Justice (truth), The Fool (fear or losing something) :: Scara x gn reader | neutral fate

Warnings: sfw - mildly possessive themes, Scaramouche personality vibes  (combined requests)* 

The shaper of fate, the sculptor of his future. Scaramouche didn’t believe in the predetermined destiny others prayed to, others worshiped and led their lives by. He had alternative plans the day he was abandoned to the world. Tossed aside like a book the owner didn’t even skim through. For years he told himself he would make the world in his name and that was the destiny he vowed to forge. 

Everything was laid out as it should be. His subordinates were hand-selected, and molded into his desires as tools just like him. There was no empathy in him, no compassion. He didn’t have a need for them. He ruled with fear and power, manipulation and corruption and, as long as you stayed out of his way, you too could walk in his shadow. 

Scaramouche had a future, one he’d piece together until it all laid out perfectly before him. He left no spot for his heart, until you. 

It started slowly. You caught his eye when you passed by, like a fluttering butterfly, a lightning bug you drew his attention and although you didn’t know why you rose through the ranks so quickly, you did your best not to complain. Soon, and without fully knowing how, you were at the harbingers side. 

The closer you became the more fearful he was at having you pried from his grip. There were moments he felt suffocated by Teyvat itself when you weren’t near, he felt trapped, claustrophobic when you left the room. Hours would go by and he would be distracted until you returned and his eyes settled on your smile, your delicate bow. He only knew peace when you spoke. Only knew tranquility when moved.

One day, you’d commit to him and he’d finally have the answers to the elusive questions that plagued his heart.  

--

“Are you finished with these, sir?” You asked him, fingers touching the parchment resting on the edge of his desk. He glanced at you from under his bangs but didn’t lift his head. 

“Take them.” Scara dipped his pen back in the well before scribbling a note irritatingly on another document. It would be a good day when he didn’t receive incompetent news from those under him; how hard was it to find an archon, people literally worshiped them. With a sigh, he folded the paper just enough to slip into the envelope. When he was finished, your hand was already extended to take it from him. 

He would have said something if he hadn’t gotten distracted by the looseness of your clothes when you bowed in appreciation. If you hadn’t drawn near enough for the wind to capture your sent and bring it to his senses. He would have spoken louder than a mumble at your preparedness if he wasn’t so annoyed at how embarrassed you made him for absolutely no reason. 

“Master Harbinger.” A voice called to him from the hallway but didn’t enter until he waved them in. It was a good decision on their part since he was half tempted at electrocuting them for interrupting his obsessing over you.

“What is it.” 

“I have word from Snezhnaya.” 

“Bring it.” Scara watched the informant stumble over themselves, with an irked click of his tongue, he demanded they move faster. The informant shakily handed the document to him before making an unbalanced bow and exiting from the room as swiftly as they could. Scara chuckled to himself, pleased how much they were intimdated by him. “So ... what is this ...” The letter described his next target but the crypticness of it gave him a headache. “Sumeru, huh.” 

“Is that where you are headed next, Master Scara?” Your question caught him off guard. The rise of it made his heart flutter so he coughed to settle it down again. 

“Yes,” He began, lifting out of his chair to head toward the fireplace. “Though I don’t know why I’m always the one being carted around place to place.” He huffed and tossed the letter in the fire before heading to the open window. Something about the room made his head spin. 

“When will you leave?” You asked somewhere behind him. He didn’t look and instead focused on the twinkling stars in the sky. 

“Within three days.” 

“Mmm, not much time to prepare.” Suddenly, you appeared at his side. He bit his cheek and dug his nails into his arms as he watched you steadily pour a cup of tea and place it on the open windowsill. It brought a lovely aroma to his nose but he had half a mind to think you were the cause and not the tea. “Is there anything you’d like me to prepare for you journey?” 

Scara reached for the teacup but stalled his movements. Practicality called for any number of items to be added to the list but irrationality called for only one. “You.” He voiced and swore a tree would catch on fire from the electricity in his veins at the look on your face. 

“Me?” 

“Is that not what I said?” His stubbornness slipped into his voice but he tried to play it off by resting his hip against the sill. It dug into his bone but felt grounding considering the situation. 

You wrung your hands and fussed with your hair. It dawned on him in this moment that you behaved this way only when you were with him. The thought made him unbelievably happy. “Sir, I’m just an attendant.” 

“You’re far more than that.” He whispered, before taking a sip of tea and his fingers lifted to brush away the strands of your hair that touched where he couldn’t.

Others were always so anxious around him but you, you were different and, right now as he watched you shyly look anywhere but at him, he discovered a truth he’d never allowed himself to accept. 

He loved you and, by the looks of it, you loved him too.

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology | @teyvattales​

[witch-hazels-musings]

I seem to have pulled the Emperor, the Wheel of Fortune, and the Fool while visiting your shop with Zhongli, Miss Hazel... may I inquire what that may illustrate in the future?

The Lovers (true love), Wheel of Fortune (new beginnings), The Fool (fear of losing something), The Hierophant (learning), The Emperor (guidance) :: zhongli x gn reader | destined fate | combined requests 

warning: sfw, fluff : mention of visions

“Hold out your hand,” he requested and you did without question. His fingers curled around your own, their strength gentle even though you knew what they were capable of. Zhongli shared with you months ago his past; who and what he was were secrets you didn’t expect but you vowed to keep them until your dying breath. 

The evening air blew through your hair, it rustled your clothes but no matter how much it togged or pulled at you, you kept your eyes on him. 

It was two summers ago when you met Zhongli. It was strange that you’d never seen him around before but it was likely you weren’t paying that much attention anyway. 

With your face always in a book, buried deep in some search for a bit of knowledge they’d provide, you often didn’t notice even the most catastrophic of things from happening. The only time you could remember intently being involved in your surroundings was the day Morax fell, a day you’d never forget. 

Still, you hadn’t expected to bump into someone as prestigious as he. Or, at least as prestigious as you thought he was. A man dressed as eloquently as he was had to have come from a world vastly different than your own - if only you knew. 

He was polite, calm, considerate. Especially since he allowed you to take a book that he had had already purchased. He offered it to you with a bow and a smile, your fingers brushed against each other at the exchange. You’d never felt your heart flutter more. 

--

Weeks went by and you began to notice him in places you were. The spoken plays held at regular intervals on the balconies above the city. The hard to find antique shops where only historians or eclectics would find themselves on any random afternoon. The harbor where ships of all kinds brought unique commodities for trade. You enjoyed being there first to peruse the wares but you swore you never saw another soul there until him. 

Zhongli, you’d found out his name after the fourth time, was always active in something and though you swore he wasn’t following you, there was something intriguing about his presence. 

--

Months later, you ran into him in some strange circumstances. You’d heard about a troublesome natural disaster that impacted a small town beyond the city. You’d always been drawn to helping others when you could, and after discussing it with your employer you headed to offer any aid you could. 

It was difficult work, heartbreaking work as you helped with the families whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Yet it never shocked you to see how resilient the people of Liyue were. It was like they were all made from the hardest stones because no matter how far they were knocked down, they lifted themselves back up time and time again. 

“Are you alright?” you asked an elderly gentleman who hobbled across the debris filled street. His hand pressed against his back as he leaned heavily on the cane you hoped wouldn’t shatter under his weight. He reassured you with a smile but it didn’t stop you from offering your support. 

When you managed to get him to one of the small shelters set up for aid, you saw a familiar man standing beside a small, rather eerie looking girl. Later you found out it was the Director of the Funeral Parlor and that she had dragged her primary consultant with her to the aftermath. There was something odd about her energy in the destruction and you felt you weren’t alone in that thought.

-- 

Not long after that, the more the two of you crossed paths, the more you grew to know the other. You shared your interests with him, he with you. Your fondness of him grew until it nearly consumed you. Like kindred sprits you found one another and like tied strings your bonds tightened. 

Courting was a slow process but when you found out he had been doing so for the past many, many months you were relieved to find out waiting was a small fraction of the time he waited for you. 

Now, after years of falling madly in love, he brought you to a place you’d never been all so he could give you something you never thought you’d receive. 

“I have lived many thousands of years,” he began while his thumb ran over your wrist. “I have witnessed the shifting of sand and sea, the rise and fall of the world. Death and rebirth are as constant as the sun, yet I cannot compare this feeling to any I have ever felt.” 

You took a step closer, heart beating so fast in your chest you thought it would make you pass out. Zhongli smiled at your reaction and closed his eyes. He seemed so regal even in his unease. The two of you closed the distance between each other and found rest against the others forehead. 

“I ask nothing more of you than what you have already given me,” he explained and you swore your hands were growing warmer with every word he uttered, “y/n.” 

“Yes.” 

“To know that you have given your heart to me is a gift I will forever treasure. So I too must provide something of equal value.” Your palm warmed unpleasantly but when you opened your eyes you squinted at the brilliant light that shined there. 

Zhongli pulled back but kept your hands in his while you finally realized what he had given you. You stared, gawked, and blinked through tears as you saw, resting in the palm of your hands, a vision that shined more brilliantly than melting gold. 

“I vow to protect you in this life. Whether I am near or far, to know you will be safe will put my mind at ease and, if you will accept it, I hope it will be a tool for you.” 

“Z-Zhongli --” your voice cracked, fingers wrapped around the throbbing, beating vision in your palm until it came to rest against your chest. It pulsed, resonated and set your heart aflame. A gift from an archon, a gift from your lover, a gift you would cherish all the days of your life. 

“Will you accept me?” he asked, eyes waiting, hoping and when you responded with a resounding yes as your arms wrapped around his neck, he called upon the beauty of this world to craft another gift that would rest around your ring finger; a memento of your everlasting love. 

ALT

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology | @nimko​ | @bubnix​

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hi Hazel! This is my first ask for one of your events 🥺❤️ Can I have a reading of Temperance, Magician, and Emperor (reverse) with Dainsleif? Thank you, I’m looking forward what you’ll make from this reading

The Magician (transformation), Temperance (confidence), The Star (destiny), The Emperor (rev) (misunderstandings) :: dainslief x Khaenri'ah !gn reader | destined fate

warnings: Khaenri'ah spoilers, dain holds knife to readers throat (misunderstandings), higher wordcount (1.5k) | terms: breastplate (chest piece), gardbrace (shoulder armor) 

The hallways echoed with every footfall. Your armor clattering, ringing, alerting any who might be just around the corner. Annoyed, you shifted under its weight before catching a glimpse of someone familiar leaving one of the barred rooms you weren’t authorized to enter. Your breastplate rattled as you pressed yourself to the wall, hands curling around the hallway corner, eyes piercing to ensure the figure was who you thought it was. 

Dainsleif turned slowly, head bowing to the occupants inside the room. He waited for so long. Head tilted forward, spine bending to show proper respect. Whoever he was conversing with must have been high ranking for a display like this. Eventually, he lifted himself, stared at the presumably closed door, and made his way further down the hallway. 

He turned the corner but before you could take a step after him, the air behind you vibrated and a voice caused you to jump. 

“Spying again I see.” 

Twisting as fast as you could, you straightened out to meet the extraordinarily tall man who you were just creeping on. His face as radiant as ever, lush, blue eyes piercing as you stumbled into a stable position. “N-No, I just --” you pointed toward the hallway behind you but didn’t know how to finish. It didn’t matter much since the smile rising on his lips told you he didn’t really care. “Ugh, Dain, If you keep messing with me I’m going to have a heart attack.” 

“If you aren’t vigilant about where your eyes and ears lie, there won’t be any use for them when needed.” 

Dainsleif turned around as silent as the shadows that stretched across the floor and you followed him with every rattle and clank possible in your bulky, uncomfortable suit of armor. “That’s an eerie threat.” 

“Truths often are,” Dainsleif glanced at you but you tried not to notice. “That looks terrible on you.” 

“HEY!” 

He laughed, the back of his hand moving to cover his lips but, in an instant, he was back to his normal self as a noble turned to head down the hall the both of you occupied. Like the well trained knight of the guard he was, he closed his eyes, stepped aside and bowed at their passing. You did too of course, just not as gracefully. 

When they were beyond earshot, he positioned himself near your side but slightly ahead so he could fuss with a bit of your armor you didn’t even know was there. “This won’t do. A proper knight must have attire that fits lest they be defeated too soon.” 

“I know, but this was all they had.” 

“I’ll see about that,” he hummed, fingers sliding under the loose gardbrace. The action made you chuckle involuntary which you wished you’d brought your helmet to hide behind. “Let us be off then. Wouldn’t want to be late.” 

You watched him move down the hall with ease, his elegance pulling you in. After a moments distraction, you followed as quickly at you could. 

It had been hundreds of years since the fall of Khaenri'ah. A lost civilization no one remembered or, if they did, dared to recall. A taboo of a city resting on in the ashes of divine intervention; you knew the risks of brining it up but still you sought for answers, dug for information, and fought back against those who wished to silence you. 

There were mornings you’d wake up in a fright as you painfully relieved the destruction. The screams, the fear, the confusion and the pitiful efforts your fellow knights put up against the power of the Archons. It was horrible and no matter how hard you tried to forget in once the morning came, the scent of the atrocity lingered in your memory. 

Most people loved the Archons but you hated them, and for good reason. They took everything from you and for what, all because your people didn’t worship them. What spiteful beings they turned out to be. 

Now, you found yourself just outside of the city of freedom, a bitter taste rising in your mouth. You held it in because just beyond the gates you’d finally get a taste of the revenge you desperately needed. 

--

It took you no time at all to pick the brains of the citizens. They seemed more than willing to offer you information about their Archon but, as you listened, you started to hear other rumors. Rumors of a dark figure who kept the city safe - how childish, you thought - whispers of strange happenings, stories of great dragons threatening their livelihood, but one stood out as the most intriguing. 

“There’s been this strange sort around lately,” one of the citizens shared with you, brows furrowing over their drink. “He’sa’ quiet fella, often sits by -imself but that’s not the strangest bit about him. He’s been asking the same typn questions as you -- odd bunch that is.” 

Confused, you pressured the man further just to see if there was anything else he might be able to share with you. It was a chore to pull clear answers from the growing drunk but when he stumbled out the name of the stranger you felt the food in your stomach turn. 

--Dainsleif--

--

That night you stalked the tavern the gentleman mentioned. Waiting had become a common thing for you, a pastime you were rather comfortable with. Right now though you felt like bugs were crawling under your skin. The sensation was irritating but you blocked it out as best you could.

It wasn’t possible that Dainsleif survived. No way you’d ever see him walking without a worry into an establishment like this but, if there was even a small chance ... 

Just then, the doors opened. You held your breath as a man stepped through the threshold. Blond hair, dark black and rich royal blue garbs decorating him. A strange eye patch covering half his face but when he turned toward the tables you knew. There was no mistaking the color of those eyes: Dainsleif was alive. 

Your throat dried up at the sight of him. Your heart felt like it would explode, your stomach twisted and writhed. It was hard enough to take in a real breath let alone stop the urge to vomit. This couldn’t be true, it wasn’t possible. Dain was alive. He was alive. 

Suddenly, as if he could feel your gaze, he turned to you. It was like being hit with an arrow because as soon as his eyes locked onto yours, the chair you were sitting in toppled to the ground as you ran for the back door. 

“How stupid!” you berated yourself when the cool air of the night hit you. “Way to be inconspicuous.” 

With haste, you made your way down the steps and toward the docks in a desperate attempt to get away but, just as you passed through the archway, the air around you crackled and a cold, dangerous blade touched your throat. 

“Who are you?” their voice rattled your bones, sent a chill down your spine. It was unlike anything you’d ever heard before but, then again, you’d never heard the sound of a ghost in your life. 

“N-No one.” 

“Do not lie to me.” 

There was no way he’d remember you. Out of all the soldiers he helped train, all the knights he oversaw, you were just one of thousands. Even if you did tell the truth he would hardly have a reason to believe you. Still, you knew Dainsleif, you knew how he felt about lies. So, you told him the truth. “I’m-I’m from Khaenri'ah.” 

“This falsehood will cost you your life.” 

“Truths often do,” you whispered, the words falling from your mouth before you realized their significance. It was painful to have the man you trusted holding a knife against you, torturous to have him forget you and the time you spent together. Even if you considered him a friend, or, in your wildest dreams more, he had moved on. Did the Archons take that from him too?

The knife slipped away from your neck but you didn’t move, not until he spoke and called out a name no one had said in five hundred years; your name.  

You turned slowly, eyes stinging and heart pounding. When your gaze fell on him you saw hints of the old Dain hiding behind the mask. Time had not stolen the beauty of him but it had made his gaze distant and face weary. You could tell he’d seen far more than you. Of course, that was to be expected from someone of his skill. 

Pained by what you saw, you wondered just how much pressure weighed on his shoulders. Did he carry the burden of Kahaenri’ha himself?

“Just what have you been through, Bough Keeper?” you whispered, hand moving on it’s own to touch his covered cheek. 

He was stunned, confused, shocked, but so were you and as soon as your fingers touched his skin the knife in his hand fell to the dewy grass at your feet. His vacant eyes filled with memories as he gazed at a face he didn’t expect to see ever again.

--

You swore destiny cursed you to live a life of immortality but, as you stood gazing up at the man who once meant the world to you, you wondered if the fates had brought you a blessing instead.

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hiya Hazel, could I please get a reading of the devil, temperance, and the emperor, with Zhongli please? OwO thanks in advance! PS: love your work, your writing is amazing!

The Devil (insecurities), Temperance (evolution), Emperor (comfort, support) :: Zhongli x nobility!gn reader  | neutral fate

Warnings: sfw - slight angst to comfort, mention of insecurities - social anxiety (negative self talk) 

“A pleasure.” He said with a bow before slipping back into the crowd and leaving you on your own. Part of you found it a relief, a relaxation from the pressures of a society you never really grew accustomed too. It was the expectation of your family that you were present at events like these. Ones where you were forced to stand in attire that was suffocating, to nod and hold polite conversation with people who were insufferable. How, in all of Teyvat, was this an enjoyable experience. You’d much rather be away from the crowd than stuck in it, especially in a crowd with eyes that knew only judgement. 

You smiled and took a sip of your drink but noticed how the other guests glanced your way. A deep breath here, an adjustment there. It was all to ease the growing worry building in your chest that they, just like you, knew how much you didn’t belong here. Some pretty young thing fluttered past you with a delighted wave and you replied with a tight nodded smile. 

Look at them compared to you, what a fake.

You took another swig of your drink before making your way through unimportant conversations and practically dashing to the open air balcony. It was like you were holding in your breath because as soon as the nighttime air hit your skin you inhaled to the point of pain. 

A disappointment, that’s all you’ll ever be to them. 

Tight fingers curled around the railing as you lifted yourself just enough to feel like you were leaping free from the party raging on inside. You recalled your younger days when the kids would tempt each other to fly on their gliders, to dash down the hill and leap like they didn’t have any worries, any tethers. How you wished you could be like them but, instead, you could only watch while you fiddled with your antiquated expectations. 

“It’s lovely out, wouldn’t you agree?” A voice startled you just enough that you slipped on your straining toes. Twisting around, you spied a familiar face, someone who had grown rather popular around these events, someone who was in another league entirely, someone who stole your heart. 

“Mr. Zhongli.” You bowed politely, fixing your clothes and state of dress as quickly as you could.

“Formalities are not my strong suit. Please, just Zhongli will do.”

“Of course, Z-Zhongli.” You felt your cheeks warm at the sudden informality of your address. “What brings you to the balcony?” 

“A bit of fresh air does the mind wonders.” He said with a deep, intoxicating breath. Eyes closed, head slightly lifted and you swore he resembled that of a god in the way he held himself. 

Chuckling, you turned back toward the city. Even though you weren’t fond of high class parties, you had to admit they always held the best view. “It seems we are both in the same mind then.” 

“As it would seem.” He reiterated and stepped next to you, hands clasped behind his back as he looked across the landscape. 

There was a comfortable silence that settled over the balcony. The ease and relaxation on the wind mixed with the soft, radiant colors of the city seemed to push aside the worries you had felt in the stuffy ballroom. Your mind drifted, swayed like the expansive ocean, and you smiled at the comfort. 

“You look wonderful tonight.” Zhongli’s voice drew you back to reality. If you weren’t standing right next to him, if you hadn’t looked at him, you would’ve sworn he hadn’t said a thing. There was no mistaking the kindness in his eyes as he gazed at you and for the first time in your life you felt seen. 

“Th-That’s kind of you to say but ...” Your insecurities swelled in your chest, rose in your throat faster than you could think to stop them. “I’m really nothing that spectacular.” You laughed out the end to pass it off as nothing. You’d gotten good at diminishing yourself over the years. 

“Does a star know of it’s radiance, a river know of it’s power, or a mountain it’s majesty?” 

“I -- no ...?” 

Zhongli laughed at your confusion. The sound reminded you of an ancient bell at a temple whose chime could be heard rolling across the grassy hills. It resonated in your bones, making you shiver. So, you crossed your arms. “Indeed, they cannot know of what they show, but it doesn’t stop them from being what they are.” Zhongli turned slightly, hands still resting against his back but his golden eyes flashed in the light of the moon and made you falter. “This too doesn’t stop you from being what you are. Even if you cannot comprehend it for yourself, it does not change the fact that you are radiant.” 

His words his you straight in your chest. It was as if his words stole your breath, stung your eyes, clenched your heart; to be seen by someone like him ... 

Trembling, you lifted your hand over your eyes and twisted until you could hide away. “Isn’t it ungentlemanly to make someone cry at a party?”

“Ah, perhaps you are right. Then,” He began, and you heard him move, felt his warmth near your back, “Shall we take our time until the evening wind clears our minds?” 

“---okay.” You sniffled, but even as you let the warm tears roll down your cheeks, with Zhongli standing at your back, you found yourself standing a bit taller than you ever had before.  

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology | 

[witch-hazels-musings]

ahh thank you for explaining!! the magician and lovers cards with Albedo would be cool :D

thank you again :3 <4

The Magician (healing), The Lovers (true love) :: albedo x gn reader | destined fate 

warning: sick albedo (descriptions of illness: fever, coughing, uncomfortableness)

“You have to rest.” You explained, again, to the wandering alchemist who abandoned the bed for the tenth time. It was easy to help him back since he weighed so little and could hardly push you away even if he wanted too. The whole thing would have made you laugh if you weren’t distracted by the burning touch of his skin when your fingers came into contact with it. 

The bedroom had accumulated every little thing he managed to steal on his expeditions through the house. He was like a little bird collecting shiny objects to decorate his nest but, in this case, it was research materials, drawing items, and books his weak and delirious brain couldn’t understand anyway. You pushed aside a rather large encyclopedia before helping him back under the covers. 

“Please, stay here.” You begged, taking the paint brushes he picked up somewhere and setting them on the bedside table. Albedo was sweating and mumbling something to you but it was impossible to make out. You would have been worried if Jean and Barbara hadn’t already stopped by earlier to check in on him. They were just around the corner, you told yourself and took an easing, deep breath. 

Pitifully, his head lulled to the side while you organized the stacks of loose paper, books, and other utensils around him. When you were finished, you placed the back of your hand on his forehead and grimaced at his temperature before making your way to the bathroom.

The cool water drenched the towel while you caught him laying in bed, miserably, through the reflection of the bathroom mirror.

It wasn’t common for Albedo to get sick, in fact, this might be the first time you’ve really seen him sick-sick. There were a few times he acted oddly or became less alert, but after a quick sleep he was back to normal. You found him lucky to be so healthy - if only you knew the reason why.

After wringing out the excess water, you made your way back into the bedroom. He had kicked the covers away from him, now sitting up like he was going to wander off. 

Kneeling before him, you brushed his unbound hair from his face. He leaned into your touch and you smiled at how adorable he was. “Where are you going, mister?” He glanced at the door and you chuckled. “Being sick isn’t fun, trust me, but you can’t ignore just ignore it.” The soft blond locks you fussed with slipped perfectly behind his ear. His cheeks were flushed a rich pink and the light of the bedroom illuminated him so well it was annoying. Even when he was sick he was still the most attractive person you’d ever seen. “Albedo.” You called to him and his eyes lifted to meet yours. “Please rest, for me?” 

There was a long pause, a hopeful silence as you waited until he mumbled in agreement and began to lay back down. Quickly, you kissed his hand before assisting him under the covers. When the rag touched his forehead he winced but soon relaxed under it’s chill. His ragged breathing slowed, his tense face relaxed, and he eased into the mattress ever so slowly. 

“Try to get some sleep, I’ll be just outside.” 

“Stay.” Albedo hummed, hand reaching for yours before it could leave his side. His skin was hot and his grip was weak but combined they were so strong. It wasn’t fair how much you adored this man, how much you cared for him.  

“Alright, until you fall asleep.” You replied and quickly found yourself beside him. You pulled a book from the stack always available and began to read while your fingers played in his hair, while he moved in closer to you, his hands curling around your shirt as he slipped further into his dreams. 

He hummed contentedly, you made sure the rag didn’t slip off him. 

It was so infrequent that he would get sick but you found yourself enjoying the shift in support. To finally be the one to heal and treat him, it was worth it’s weight in gold. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

HAZEL MY BELOVEDDDDD I ALMOST FORGOT THAT YOUR NEW EVENT IS UP!! Hehe I can't wait to see what you whip up :DDD

But that being said, may I request the Lovers (reversed), Wheel of Fortune, and the Emperor with Albedo?

but, to add, perhaps starting out with that heartbreak so I don't break my poor sensitive heart with Albedo angst oisehfoihOIEFH tyty please make sure to take care of yourself and take breaks and stuff :>>

The Lovers (rev) (heartbreak), Wheel of Fortune (new beginnings), The Emperor (comfort, guidance) :: albedo x gn reader | tarnished fate 

warning: angst -> slight comfort, out of control albedo, injury mention (reader, albedo), corruption (albedo)

“Don’t - ugh, let go of me!” 

“It’s too dangerous! Let the Knights handle it!” 

“It’ll be too late by then - MOVE.” 

“y/n, don’t!” 

“Where is he?!” You screamed through the torrent. The wind picked up as you spoke, dampening your voice so you asked the question again. The muted, frozen, trembling attendant simply pointed to the top of the mountain and you knew exactly where they were directing you too. 

--

The snow stung your eyes, clung to your lashes as you trudged up the mountain path. If you hadn’t already cried you might have found yourself there now but with your heart pounding in your chest, lungs burning against the frigid air, all you could think about was getting to him. 

Every step brought you to the thought, ‘how did we get here?’ but no matter the answers you imagined, nothing made sense anymore. The thoughtful, compassionate Albedo who nervously asked for your time had turned cold and neglectful in the last few weeks. He cared little for those around him, offered no help when his students asked and then, suddenly, he broke it off with you. No warning, no reason why, he just vanished like a snowflake against your palm. 

At first you were confused but that soon turned to bitterness, resentment, anger. Now, as you braved the bellowing elements, you wondered why you even cared about him anymore. Nights spent begging and contemplating until you were sick left you nothing but tainted memories but still, here you were. Climbing Dragonspine in a heartbroken attempt to save the one man you knew you’d always love. 

He may not love you, but damned if you were going to let him hurt himself, or worst ... 

When you finally reached to peak,  your narrowed and burning eyes did their best to understand what they were seeing. It was unlike anything you’d ever seen before, only in your darkest dreams would you believe this to be true but there was no mistaking it. Before you was a whirlwind of snow and ice, flecks of geo flickered like stars as they spun in dangerous speed around the center mass. Red vine-like electricity shot out in a wild array from the center and, even though it was difficult to make out, in your heart you knew it was all surrounding Albedo. 

Fear rattled you, worry took you. Instinctually you backed up, slipping on the ground and colliding painfully against the gravel filled snow. Grimacing, you pushed yourself up. It was easy to tell you’d gathered cuts from your stumble but it was like your brain couldn’t take it in. Your eyes were fixed on the floating body in the center of the storm whose eyes burned a violent red and whose face was distorted beyond comprehension. 

“A-Albedo!” You screamed harder than you ever had before. The sound rattling your bones and straining your throat as it exploded from your chest. You swore the entity looked at you but nothing changed. 

You knew this wasn’t right, knew something was wrong and if you didn’t try to help him there were others who would, and they wouldn’t be compassionate. So, with frozen limbs you pushed yourself up onto unsteady legs as you made your way into the storm. 

--

It was unbelievably painful. The power of the wind knocked you around so much you gathered cut after cut just trying to press onward. You screamed only to have the wind shove your words back down your throat, you waved your arms only to have them nearly ripped from their socket. You took another step and stared at Albedo. 

Luckily, there was an overpass that brought you close to him but there was no way of reaching the end unless you wanted to be yanked from the ground and thrown about in the tornado of snow. You called out as you crouched forward and took several slippery steps toward him. 

“Albedo! Can you hear me?” You bellowed, hand cupping your face to help block the wind. “ALBEDO, PLEASE!”

Suddenly, a red bolt shot out from around him. It hit the side of the mountain with so much force the stone cracked until it crumbled to pieces. It was like the mountain itself wailed in pain as it shook under your feet and created a sound you would hear forever in your nightmares. 

Another step, you called for him. 

Another step, the world around you broke apart. 

Another step, you reached out your hand and watched how the snow turned red around it. 

Another step, “Come back to me!” You shouted and Albedo turned to you. 

His eyes weren’t his. They were dark, twisted, and you felt the tears pool down your cheeks. His face was covered in pulsating purple veins that spread from his throat. His clothes shredded, allowing you to see just how far the infection spread. It had to be an infection, there was no other explanation for what was happening. 

Even if he didn’t love you, even if he never spoke to you again, you couldn’t let him go. You’d known that from the very first day the two of you met. How fast your feelings grew each day you spoke to him, each moment you spent with him. Even now when they were clouded, the truth of your feelings shined through. 

“This isn’t you -” You took a step closer, your strength growing weaker as you fought against the wind. “Whatever this is, you are stronger than it.” You cried, tears crystalizing on the edges of your eyes as you stumbled toward the edge of the overpass. “The man I love is right here. He’s right here.” You weren’t sure how it was possible that you could stand so perfectly on the edge of the breaking overpass but you didn’t question it. Not when your focus was completely on him. 

Just reach him -- all you have to do is reach him -- 

You pleaded again and again in your head as your hand extended, arm strained against the intensity of the wind. In one final moment, your eyes closed, you called his name, and your fingers touched him. 

There was an overwhelming sound. Screeching, booming, a cry of extraordinary mourning washed over you. You felt yourself breaking but refused to cover your ears. What you had in your hands was too precious to let go. The last thing your senses accepted was the feeling of an embrace and a gentle hand at the back of your head. 

-- 

You woke up gasping but it seemed you weren’t alone. Everything came back so suddenly: the feeling of someone gripping you as tightly as they could, deep, uneasy breaths bombarding your ears, trembling figures huddled in the cold and exhausted legs deep in a pile of snow. You coughed and let your hands explore until they recognized what they were touching. 

“Albedo?” The sound of your voice seemed distant, muffled even in your head but it registered with the body you clung too. His hands grasped your clothes as his face buried itself further into your neck. “You’re okay. You’re safe. We’re safe.” 

“Is it over?” He asked in the voice you recognized, the voice that belonged to him. 

“I’m not sure but ...” You swallowed and moved your hand to hold the back of his head, “I’ll be here till it is.” 

“Don’t let go.” 

“I promise. Never again.” 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hazelllll Hi bestie 🤗

Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, listen Linda, listen:

Thoma with The Sun, The Lovers, and the Wheel of Fortune

I’m so excited to see what you come up with 🥰

The Sun (refreshed souls), The Lovers (soul mates), Wheel of Fortune (new beginnings) :: Thoma x gn reader | Destined Fate 

warning: fluff, sfw - romantic, meet-cute mention - (a-n: this made me cry from how soft it is T>T)

The contender for the best day of your life was tough to beat. 

First, you counted the day you went out on your own, made a place for yourself in this world. It was a day of great accomplishment and pride; to grab your freedom and autonomy by the reigns and push forward. The second was the day you met Thoma. It was unexpected, a happenstance encounter you would spend weeks fussing over. It was amazing he continued to talk to you after the clumsy way you introduced yourself. Falling, tumbling, wailing as you fell into his arms only to profusely apologize and, in the end, dash down the street before you could tell him your name. 

The third was the day he told you how he felt. The joy you experienced was one you were certain couldn’t be matched. Until you encountered the fourth instance and top contender of the best day of your life. The day he asked you to marry him. 

Today though, as he carried you through the threshold of your home, lips pressed tenderly against your cheek with a smile that couldn’t fade, his voice calling you by your newly appointed title; this was by far, without question, the best day of your life. 

“Are you ever going to put me down?” You cooed against him as his nose pushed against your neck, his hands gripping you tighter. 

“Nope.” Thoma’s voice tickled your skin, his breath warming you as it spread across your neck. He was standing in the middle of the living room, arms holding you carefully as he slowly swayed back and forth. There wasn’t any music, at least, not anymore, but it seemed a song played in his head as he kept you floating. 

You couldn’t believe this was true. That after all this time of wondering, worrying, contemplating if you’d ever end up in a place this perfect, you were having a hard time accepting this as anything more than a dream. 

Clearly you remembered the day he proposed, you remembered the days before and the events of your wedding. How sweet and perfect he looked when you walked down that isle to meet him. The tears in his eyes as he accepted your hand and escorted you up the final steps. How the smile you’d fallen in love with never left his lips the whole time you spoke your vows or when he stumbled over his with nervous laughter. You recalled it all in an instant but living in those moments felt like forever. To hold him as you danced to the song that would be yours. To share with him the first meal of newly bound spouses. To watch as he slipped the ring over your finger. A symbol to never betray you. 

He gave himself to you and you did the same. A promise of trust, commitment.  Forevermore. 

“Thoma.” You hummed his name, sighed at the way he pressed his forehead to yours, felt the tears in your eyes and the breaths he took when you cupped his cheeks in your hands. The dampness of your fingers had never been so rejuvenating. “I love you.” 

Even in the dimly lit room you could see how his face scrunched up as he tried to keep his emotions in check. “I love you, too.” He whispered, lips rising into a smile as he lifted you closer. Your arms slid around his neck, fingers disappearing in the soft locks of his hair. 

“Welcome home, husband.” 

“I’m home.” 

The sound of your shared emotional giggles filled the room. It brought a color to the space that only true love could create and it lasted long after rich ring of your laughter faded, it lingered long after the evening drew to dawn, it resonated for an eternity in the hearts that brought it life. 

Thoma was the sun, he was the stars in your sky and his existence painted the heavens with a beauty you’d never known. He was your present and your future. He was your fate, your destiny. 

Thoma was your ‘meant to be’ and you, without question, were his new beginning. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

HI HI!! I saw the new tarot event you were doing and I wanted to join in as well :>

May I have a reading of fate with xiao!

Also I really love your work and keep up the good work❤️

Wheel of Fortune (new beginnings), Temperance (evolution), The Moon (creativity) :: xiao x gn reader | neutral fate

warnings: sfw, none

“I just can’t tell if it’s right or not,” you reiterated, index finger curled around your chin as you stared at the boiling pot. This was your tenth, fifteenth try but there was always something missing. A few extra spices, a lower temperature here, higher sauce volume there. No matter how many times you thought ‘this is the one,’ it always ended terribly. 

“I’m sure it’s a wonderful dish.” Verr reassured you but it didn’t help. Instead, you sighed, hands resting on your hips as you thought on your next steps. With your eyes closed, you didn’t notice how Verr stretched on her toes to gaze at the food you were cooking, nor did you see how she tried to reach around and grab a taste with the spoon she kept on hand for these occasions. 

“I don’t know ... mmm. There’s got to be something ... mmm” 

Turning toward the open pantry, you searched for something extra, that one tiny thing that would push your creation over the top. The perfect addition to a dish that had to be perfect. 

“Maybe this?” The small bottle rolled in your palm as you tested the theory in  your head. It could work, maybe, and you were certain he- “Verr!” she spun on her heels, hand covering her mouth in a terrible attempt to hide what she had stolen.

Laughter might have been trickling out of you but it didn’t stop your shooing hands from batting at her as she scrambled up the steps of Wangshu Inn.

“You know I’ll let you eat it if its not good,” you shouted and rolled your eyes at the sound of her excited noises drifting down to you. At least someone was happy you were spending so much time on this but it definitely wasn’t Smiley. “Sorry, I’ll be out of your hair soon,” you explained to the empty kitchen, the bottle weighing heavy in your hand as you held it over the edge of the cauldron, “I hope.” 

With your eyes closed, you tapped the edge of the bottle and let the flakes of spice drop innocently inside. 

--

Nervous, worried, unsure, you climbed the steps of the inn until you made it to the top. There stood the person you worked so hard for, the person you hoped to bring comfort too, the person you’d begged to wait patiently as you prepared something for. He turned to look at you and you did your best not to trip. 

“Sorry it took so long,” you apologized, a small smile rising in the corner of your lips as you brought the bowl toward the table you’d set up earlier that day. It was a quiet, private affair you crafted but now that you saw the little vase holding a single orange flower, you wondered if it was too much. “E-enjoy.” 

Xiao didn’t move which made you want to leap off the side of the inn. Perhaps the smell was too much for him to handle? Anxious, you began to recount all the spices you added to the mixture. 

When he finally moved you held your breath. All your attention was on him and it was overstimulating:

Would he like it? You fretted as he took a seat in front of the dish you made. 

Did you remember to taste it? You panicked as he picked up the spoon and dipped it into the food. 

Maybe you should have practice some more!? You cringed as he slipped the morsel into his mouth. 

The painful wait of his review nearly made you pass-out. Just what in the world would he say to you. This was such a terrible idea. You hid behind your hands and begged the universe your food wouldn’t be that bad. 

“This is,” You peeked over your fingers, eager, hopeful, “quiet lovely.” 

“Ah! Really!” 

“Yes, I enjoy this very much.” Xiao looked at the dish, spoon going in for more while you pulled yourself back together. 

“You’re not just saying that?” The table rocked at your sudden contact but Xiao brought it to a halt with a balancing wind. 

“No,” Xiao looked at you, eyes staring straight into yours as they always did. The yellow ray of their shine causing your heart to flutter. “You’ve grown much in your skill,” he explained with a soft smile and you felt like you could melt. 

“Ah! I’m so happy,” giggling, you collapsed onto the table. It was like all the muscles in your body gave way at the same time. Even if you wanted to jump for joy there wasn’t any strength left for you to do so. 

“Would you - like to have some?” 

Lifting your head, you saw his averted gaze. Was it a mirage or reality that his eyes landed on in fleeting glances above rosy cheeks? You practically squealed at the sight but held your composure as best you could. “Okay,” you hummed, chin resting in your hands as you smiled bashfully at him. 

-- 

“Did he eat it?” Smiley asked, hands lost in his food stained apron.

Verr quietly descended the stairs toward him. The floorboards didn’t even creak when she stepped across the entrance. She was smiling behind her clasped hands as if to hold in her glee. “Mmhm.” 

“Wow, I’ve never seen him eat anything other than what I’ve made.” 

“I think he’s found someone he likes,” she beamed and Smiley swore tiny rays of sunshine were radiating from her face. 

“Let’s leave them too it then,” he whispered and the two of them went on about their day while sending their best to the two souls on the balcony. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology

[witch-hazels-musings]

Omg!! I didn't know about this event xD

Ok I think I get it right with the instructions. Lest see.

Oh great sage(?) Can I pull the Hermit, the devil and the tower with scaramouche please? I need angst in my life!! I like to suffer!!!

Thank you in advance!!!💕

The Devil (insecurities), The Hermit (loneliness), The Tower (catastrophe), The Emperor (support) :: scaramouche x harbinger!reader | neutral fate | combined requests

warning: sfw, slight angst : harbinger reader*, (mentions: Tartaglia, Signora, Dottere), mentions of a battle (not specific)

It wasn’t easy working your way up the ranks to become a harbinger. There were times you thought you’d certainly fail, especially considering your skills were far from anything spectacular. You’d come from nothing, thought of yourself as nothing but the Fatui managed to chang that. They believed in you, the Tsaritsa believed in you. Suddenly, you knew where you belonged the day you stood side by side to the most powerful members of the Fatui. On that day your head had never risen so high, your shoulders had never been more sturdy, and your heart had never pounded so hard in your chest. 

From nothing you grew into something, and you vowed to prove it to them all just how powerful you’d become. 

The only problem was getting a long with the other Harbingers. Of course you’d worked with them in other capacities but to work next to them, along side of them, you never would have expected them to be so ... annoying. 

Tartaglia was young, about as young as you. It was nice to have someone who could relate to you, but you still found him annoying. If it wasn’t for his constant begging to fight you it was his unorthodox way of handling things. You found his brashness uncouth for an organization as prestigious as this. 

Signora was alright but you tried not to get in her way. She had a nasty habit of biting peoples heads off if they crossed her and you found it easier to just watch her from the sidelines. 

Dottere on the other hand, was the most unpleasant person you’d ever come into contact with, and considering the company you kept, that was saying something. Every time you spoke to him it was like worms writhed uncomfortably in your stomach. You might have done some things in the Tsaritsa’s name but he was a monster, and the faster you could get away from him the better. 

Scaramouche was one of the only ones you could tolerate being around for long periods of time. Even with his manipulation and power hungry mentality, you found his often silent demeanor comforting. He preferred to work alone but when the option to pair up on a mission was given, the two of you would always look at each other with understanding. 

Your relationship started long before you became a harbinger. Though the interactions were small, miniscule compared to the times you spent with him now, they made a lasting impact on you. 

Practice was never easy. You were pitted up against ridiculous situations with absolutely no help at all. It was method to weed out the weak, and you were anything but. 

Still, you were getting more and more frustrated with every increasing loss. The damage was starting to wear on your body and the failure weighed on your brain. 

“If this is all you can give, you aren’t worth my time.” Scara’s voice pulled you from your stupor. His eyes cold, unfeeling, arms crossed as he stood above you. “Here I thought you might actually show me something interesting. How disappointing.” 

You weren’t sure why his words cut so deep, weren’t sure how they set a fire in your chest so intensely that you dragged yourself off the ground, turned away from him, and tackled the test like it was as easy as breathing. You weren’t sure why he inspired you so much but, when you turned to show him your resolve, he smiled at you in a way that made your heart pound. 

Now the two of you were inseparable. Even when the mission didn’t require two harbingers you managed to find a way to make it happen. You would sneak away to see him. Find some excuse to be in the same part of Teyvat as he was, assist him in the background so no one would notice. You never expected him to do the same for you but were shocked multiple times to find hints of his involvement in the shadows of your dark dealings. 

Enemies began to grow weary about you, they would tremble in fear because they knew that once you attacked another was surely to follow; and they say lightning never strikes the same place twice. 

Months went by and you swore they were the best times of your life. You were at the top of the food chain, partner at your side, and nothing in the world to stop you, until ... 

Whispers began to spread of your unorthodox relationship. It wasn’t proper to allow to harbingers to fraternize they way you both did; it was dangerous, stupid, and could lead to a shift in loyalties. 

It was because of this reason the Tsaritsa, in all her power, cut your bond with a swift, unapologetic strike and left the both of you stranded on opposite sides of her blade. 

--

“You swore to the covenant. To disobey them is a sign of treason.” The Tsaritsa’s voice echoed in the grand hall. It rippled, crashed, and froze the air itself with every word. You tried your best not to shiver at it’s touch. With your head bowed, you couldn’t properly see her but it wouldn’t have mattered since she was always standing behind a veil of ice. What were you so afraid of, you wondered. 

Glancing to the left, you saw Scaramouche kneeling in a similar manner. It was difficult to make out his expression but there was no mistaking the tightness of his fists. 

“To reclaim you commitment, you must prove your loyalty, your fealty.” Her voice caused the floor below you to shimmer. It was like her power had become a part of the room itself ... is this what an archon is truly capable of? “To the death the two of you will battle, to the victor goes the title of: Harbinger.” 

Your heart stopped beating, eyes shifting back and forth as you quelled the tremble in your spine. She wanted you to do ... what? 

“Rise.” Her voice compelled you, willed you to do as she pleased and soon you were standing, weapon in hand, only a few feet in front of the man you loved. His eyes were distant, vacant, unlike the ones you’d seen many times over. It was unreal, this was unreal. A bad nightmare, that’s all this was, all you had to do was wake up!

Desperate, you scanned the room only to see the disinterested eyes of the other harbingers staring back. One, the red head, whose foot was propped up on the ice wall, head down, arms cross refused to look at you. Another whose grin was so unsettling it seemed colder than the fortress of ice you stood in, while another appeared far sadder than you expected her to be. If you had more time, you might have seen her cry. 

“Well, go on.” the Tsaritsa hummed, amusement rippling through her voice as if the sound of it could push the dagger further into your heart. 

You gripped your weapon, eyes darting around the room at the other remaining ten Harbingers until it landed on the veil which covered your archon. Scara didn’t move. It was like he looked through you instead of at you. Was his dissociation a preservation method for the horror of this moment? 

Biting the inside of your lip you willed yourself to speak, and though it was painful, cryptic, you hoped he’d understand, “and here I thought you might actually show me something interesting,” you smirked, a single tear rolling down your cheek as the realization flashed in his eyes. “Guess I’m going to disappoint you after all.” 

Scara took a step back, weapon ready but you were too fast and by the time the other Harbingers took action, you were already dashing toward the shattering veil of the Tsaritsa with a cry so powerful it forced the world to freeze as your weapon came barreling down toward the archon. 

Fate Made Event (May8-31) | Anthology | @coleluuviida | @shailina-aphrates