#neutral on the geo girl

[prettybbychim]

looks like i will be.. skipping a lot of dialogue after quickly reading it over or maybe even turning off voice audio entirely this summer event

[crystalflygeo]

Mark of an Archon ft. Venti / Zhongli / Ei / Focalors / Nahida / Neuvillette + gn!reader

cw/tags: Mostly suggestive but nsfw in some parts (mostly Zhongli, Neuvillette) marking, kissing.

notes: Alright so... this is different from anything I've written before but I got inspired by the concept of the elemental symbols used as marks by the Archons to denote those important to them. Just short fluffy little dabbles I guess, first time writing everyone except the dragon men heh. I tried REALLY HARD to keep this gender neutral and be inclusive in descriptions but regardless, reader bottoms lmao. Hope y'all like it. (Y'all will NEVER guess where did I get the inspiration for all the marks' placements hehe) Edit: Y'all I have never played obey me WHEEZE the marks placement actually comes from a very old magical girl anime I loved as a kid XDDDD (except geo, it was on the belly button but-//hit)

It is said that the Archons place a mark on the body of their loved ones. A symbol of protection, perhaps of “ownership”, imbued with their elemental energy. Legends has it that they remain mostly invisible to the naked eye, glowing brightly only when the Archon in question touches it, but leaving behind a distinctive trace able to be identified with elemental sight.

However, none of this has been proven at all, and remains mostly as a fantastic tale, just a rumor…

Or is it?

-Barbatos

Venti’s mark rests between your shoulder blades, the small Anemo sigil emulating tiny wings in the most appropriate of places. It makes him fond of calling you his “angel”, though, you know it cannot compare to his own real wings... it makes your heart flutter nonetheless.

It remains mostly covered, and yet without fail, Venti’s hand would always gently rest on it before his hand slides over to your shoulder or waist. At this point the touch soothes you and you’ve come to expect it every time you enter Angel’s share and bright Aqua eyes land on you.

In the dark of night, those precious moments of closeness and passion among the bedsheets, Venti’s nimble fingers, calloused by the Lyre and the bow alike, trail along your spine and stop at the mark, before he leans in and places a kiss on it.

For the God of Freedom to brand someone like this… it would seem as a contradiction, but you know it to be his blessing, his vow to you and your love. As his lips go up to your shoulder and his hands slide down to your waist, sneaking between your legs, he closes his eyes and hums a soft tune.

-Morax

The Geo mark is found on a rather unusual place, and to tell the truth, it even embarrassed you a little at first. The golden diamond placed just below your navel, partially hidden by the line of your underwear. When asked about it, Zhongli simply murmured something about dragon mating, fertility or virility… his cheeks dusted red.

You admit though, that once you get used to it, you do find yourself idly tracing it from time to time. Sometimes it seems to glow softly, or feel warm, perhaps responding to the Archon when he thumbs gently at it, contrasting and comparing with his own blackened arms, etched with veins of gold. Amber eyes staring up at you with love and desire as he places a kiss on it making you shiver.

Zhongli constantly wants to mark you more, in all sorts of ways. Drape you in silks and cover you in gemstones and gold. Leave bite marks along your skin. Douse you in his scent. It appeases his draconic instincts. But nothing compares to that little geo sigil, a personal indisputable claim, tattooed on your skin.

In a way, the mark could be taken as the God of Contracts’ signature and an unbreakable oath to you, his mate. It makes the dragon purr as he rolls his hips into yours, sinking deep inside you and making you whine as his palm presses against it.

-Beelzebul

Right at the center of your collarbone, like a pendant held by an invisible necklace, that is where the Electro mark was placed by Ei. Sometimes it’s a real shame it can’t be seen normally by humans, it would make for a pretty nice tattoo…

It’s not like the Electro sigil is rare to see anyway, quite the contrary, a rather popular choice and common sight all over Inazuma with deep cultural and religious meanings alike honoring Her Excellency. But one look from a youkai or one of the mikos at Narukami shrine and you know this is different.

Ei could act aloof and have a hard time expressing or understanding feelings, but the way she looks at you as she straddles you… dark violet hair cascading down her back and sides, hands roaming your chest and settling at your shoulders. She pins you there under her intense purple gaze and then bends forward to kiss at the sigil before moving to your lips.

The Goddess of Eternity considers her choices deeply and rarely ever goes back on her word or breaks a promise, and that is what she bestows upon you with her mark, a promise. Of love, of respect, of loyalty. Who would’ve thought the Electro Archon could be so… passionate?

-Focalors

You couldn’t believe just where Lady Furina had placed a pretty, blue, Hydro symbol on your skin. When asked about it she’d just giggled and said everything had a reason when it came to divine marks such as these… then proceeded to not explain at all. But seriously, your inner thigh?!

You could only sigh but smile softly at her antics as she laid across the couch, head rested in your lap, taking a nap by using your thighs as pillow, or demanding to be fed more sweets and sputtering indignantly when you poke at her nose or cheek instead, blushing.

She often drives you insane, paying special attention to the hydro marking with kisses and nibbles when you need her lips to go just a little more to the side… but oh, how she enjoyed teasing and riling you up. Mismatched blue eyes blinking coyly under thick eyelashes.

This is Lady Furina’s pledge to you, her word of honor as the Goddess of Justice, to love and cherish you no matter what. For despite her innocent act, she is guilty of having fallen for you.

-Bonus: Buer (Platonic)

Many people underestimate and doubt Nahida. A grave sin, in your opinion. When she places her mark of Dendro softly in your forehead, you feel nothing but pride, willing to follow and defend her and her teachings, for it is an honor to be her acolyte.

You see her wisdom in her actions, in the contemplating looks at her beloved city and people, in the way she always tries to solve problems and learn from difficulties, in her kindness, gentleness and little smiles. You see her love in the way she helps the elderly and soothes the children, in the candied ajilenakh nuts she shares with everyone, in the sparkle of her unique green eyes.

Like any other Archon, her nation and all its inhabitants are like her children. Despite her preferred appearance, the way she holds your hand as she guides you along and brushes at your hair gently with comforting words and praise feel more akin to a mother.  

Just as you trust her, she trusts you, that is the covenant her sigil represents. And in the eyes of the Goddess of Wisdom, one day you’ll reach the sky and stars above.

-Bonus II: Hydro Dragon Sovereign

You stare at the sigil in the palm of your hand. An ancient symbol of power, no doubt, but with a meaning long since lost to time and shrouded in mystery. Yet, its significance is crystal clear to you: “I am yours as you are mine.”

The way the Iudex would always, without fail, hold your hand gently and kiss your palm instead of the back of it as it was traditional would no doubt confuse some people, but it makes your heart skip a beat. This special connection, the knowing look from those gorgeous lavender eyes and the hidden smile pressed against your skin…

Your back arches with a moan as Neuvillette ruts softly into you, slow and reverent, peppering kisses and nuzzling at your neck. His hand takes a hold of yours, fingers intertwining and you shiver as the marking in your palm seems to react. Your grip his hand tighter, canting your hips as well and surrounding him with your legs, asking for more, more, more-

It’s unknown if one day his kind will return to power, just as it’s impossible to predict the flow of the elements and the energy in leylines or just what the future will bring. But for Neuvillette, having you by his side feels like the most refreshing spring water and makes life that much sweeter.

[xcyphoz0a]

pleasepleaseplease- sagau archons by your choice with dragon reader???

Possessive much?

Gender neutral reader, fluff TW/CW: you’re pretty possessive, soft sagau. Character(s): Furina, Zhongli Word count: 489 Proofread: nope | Possessive much? Maybe, but you can’t really help it, can you? | A/N: ehe <3 (slightly crackhead because i just am one)

Perhaps it was because she knew another dragon in Fontaine, so the fact that you were a dragon didn’t really affect her much– considering there were a lot of other ‘species’ in Teyvat.

Though you as the creator was a completely different story– and she found it quite interesting as well as a shocker.

Adding on, she wasn’t quite used to your possessiveness towards her– of course, she is one popular person after all– who wouldn’t? But this is the creator that we’re talking about– you.

Maybe you liked Furina before you somehow magically teleported in the world, but you’re pretty–scratch that, strongly, possessive of the faux hydro archon.

Your arm has to be around her at all times or else you’d start to become slightly irked.

Furina thinks it’s pretty nice to be cared for and to be loved by her true self, and you’re also the creator! Plus points./j

While you know that all the others in Teyvat love you to bits, you still can help but feel the teensy(massive) amount of jealousy when you see the white haired girl interact with another dragon cough cough poor Neuvillette, he doesn’t know what he did wrong to earn your glares.

And if your tail’s somehow always in sight, it wraps around Furina with such ease and gentleness, pulling her into your embrace as you bury your face into her neck.

Once Furina’s more comfortable with you, she teases you a little, but indulges your little dragon antics, patting the top of your head as you huff in content.

How nice :) 

“I missed you…” “You always do…”

Another dragon! Which you already knew– of course.

Besides that, Zhongli is pleasantly surprised that you–the creator– is a fellow dragon like him!

He wishes to talk to you a lot, but then he remembers that you’re the creator, not someone in Teyvat, thus he doesn’t really talk to you, instead opting to converse with you in such respectful manner.

But when you start to show the miniscule amount of signs for the former geo archon to stay with you at all times, Zhongli gets the hint as he rests somewhere around your room, preferably closest to you.

At times when you pull him in an embrace, his eyes widen just the slightest bit as a blush creeps up his face, embarrassed yet happy that you found him as your ‘favourite’.

While it takes a considerable amount of time for him to be more comfortable with you, he isn’t against you being possessive with him, rather he reciprocates it in his own way.

And once he’s fully comfortable with you, not as the creator, the two of you are seen huddled up into little dragon noodles as Zhongli rambles on about his day, his voice lulling you to sleep as you both hold each other tight.

“About that Osmanthus wine, when are we going to have it again?” “Tomorrow, perhaps.”

[starshinesama]

✦ In such a lonely world, how I wished to see you again. ✦

Your pleas were heard.

Authors note: this takes place after any regular sagau fic, (probably imposter au). Reader is Gender-Neutral but B/N is an implied she/her :]

༄ CW: loneliness, cultish themes, angst (with comfort)

Part 1 | Part 3

- POV: after being so lonely in Tervat, - you meet someone from your world, - stranded, like you.

"...so let me get this straight. We got isekaid into Genshin impact. And all the playable characters think your a god, because of how much you played the game??"

"Yeah that's pretty much it"

...No way in hell. As if you'd actually say that! I mean seriously? You've already been through enough confusion, can't you have some peace and quite with your best friend, for one moment?

Alas, that moment would soon come to an end

.　⁺ . ✦　

Zhongli soon caught up with you, he was already struggling to catch his breath due to his old peepaw body and it looked like he just about had a heart attack from the shock of seeing you suddenly tackling B/N down in a hug like that.

"Your grac- [Name].."

Zhongli's eyes widened with confusion as he looks at the two of you awkwardly standing over the unconscious guard.

_

You awkwardly glance over at B/N for support, and she probably would have noticed, that is if she wasn't busy Staring at the gorgeous Geo Archon, you could even see the stars sparkling in her eyes as the the tall Geo Archon stand before her (you could have sworn you almost saw her drool too)

"Who is this?" Zhongli interrupts, burning holes into your skull as you avert your eyes from his piercing gaze Well shi- "well uhm!"

Unfortunately before you could finish that statement you too were cut off

"Oh wow, just wow. sorry, I just can't help but get distracted- bcs damnn you are hot- i mean is it hot in here? are you hot? i mean you are hot-“

…woww that girl is thirsty

B/N paused before continuing her sentence

“Mr. Zhongli? if you would consider my offer.. please come home with me instead of serving [Name] 🥰✨” (B/N said all this with a straight face)

you look over at Zhongli to see him freeze in his tracks, absolutely gob smacked from the initial shock

“oh.. ah, thank you miss..” phew! good job B/N, she distracted him!

You give a thumbs up to B/N as you sigh in relief

Phew, well that was close-

"As I was saying"

Oh.

You sweat as you fumbled trying to explain

"OH, WELL! "Youseeactuallysouhtherearemorepeoplewhereicomefromandthisthisismybestftiendwe'veknowneachotherforseveralyearssouhihopeyouwelcomeherasyoudidme!!" ⊹

..you fucked that up didn't you.

You fidgeted nervously, awaiting the Archon's response

"Ah..I see, and this poor guard unconscious on the floor-?"

Zhongli paused before continuing whatever nagging he was gonna berate you with after noticing you fidgeting with your clothes

"..ok then, so I'm assuming that you two have a history together then, yes?" he picked his words carefully, not wanting to further upset the two friends infront of him (not that it seemed anything could possibly ruin B/N's day at this point )

Wow! He actually managed to decode your rambling! ‧₊˚

You breath out a sigh of relief as a smile slowly creeps up on your face

"Mhm! I guess it's time I properly intruduce you two huh?"

"Zhongli, this is my best friend B/N! she's er, from my world, and I'm guessing she got here the same way I did?" you glance at B/N questioningly,

but you know there are better times to talk about that.

"And B/N this is-" "i know."

Oh right, B/N was as much of a genshin addict as you were

you sigh smiling slightly at Zhongli's baffled expression ⌒ .

Was he..jealous?

Whatever expression he was making quickly dissipated though as soon as you brought up that B/N might be another "god" like you.

Wait, another voice "playing" with them? Oh, right he remembers now, how could he forget?

"Ah, I see, welcome then, B/N" Zhongli greeted her, smiling ever so slightly, though this was enough to gain an admiring sigh from B/N

_

"Well..I kind of just.. fell from the sky?"

You were trying to get an explanation of how B/N got here in a curious attempt to try and find out if you can even go home, but so far it seemed like it was still hopeless

You sigh under your breath, leaving B/N concerned

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"No no, it's nothing, I just"

Oh who were you kidding, your scrambled emotions right now were way more than just "nothing"

Tears threatened to escape your eyes again and they were starting to prickle your eyes

"Oh.. are you ok-?"

B/N Sighed

"C'mon [Name], cheer up!! We'll definitely find a way to go back... so forget your worries and let's take full advantage and enjoy this Real Life! genshin experience"

B/N Smiled excitedly at you, beaming with excitement, patting your shoulder.

B/N offers you a hug that you gladly accept with open arms

Your tears soon stop trying to escape your eyes, as you think.. "I'm so glad..I'm not alone anymore" that brought a smile to your face. ₊ ˚ ⁺ ◌ ‧

"Anyways Zhongli is so much hotter in person like Damn!"

Oh right this was still B/N

A chuckle escapes your lips as you decide to join in and have your first "Genshin talk" in a while

"Ikr?! And omg lumine is so much prettier and buffer in person"

_˚ . ✦ ⁺ . ◌ ˚　

It was the first time in awhile you had a chat with someone from your world, or even a casual chat like this in general, You missed being able to just have a genuine laugh with someone you could relate with, God you missed all of your appliances, and your pets.. you missed them so much but you didn't have any idea if they were ok,

You're sure B/N would have taken care of them while you were gone, but now that she was here too you just hoped someone else took good care of them, wich brought up the question in your mind.. one that you've been desperately trying to avoid, how different is the time in tervat, and earth?

"So B/N.." You gulp down a lump of saliva that was piling up in your throat as you brace yourself for the answer

"how long has it been? Since I got here, I mean"

"Oh.. it's been, hmm, I'd say a day?"

you nearly jump out of your seat and B/N nearly jumps out of her skin herself from your sudden response

"Woah?! Uhm, Is it that bad? You just disappeared today and you weren't replying to my texts so I came over to check but you weren't there.."

You stand still for a moment unmoving, scaring the poor girl even more before suddenly exclaiming

"It's been.. nearly a month. but woahh!! So those analysis's of the ratio of Tervats time contrast to earths time were right!!.. huh.." you pause as you let B/N sit you back down onto the large rocks, that the two of you turned into benches

"Woah.. a whole month?! But Uhm, Earth to [Name]?? Are you good? Gosh you almost scared the life out of me!"

"Not that you had a life to begin with"

You joked as B/N stumbled back pretending to be exaggeratedly offended

"Har har. Your one to talk"

...Well to be fair it was kinda true.

The two of you stayed silent, trying to stifle back giggles, unsuccessfully.

Eventually you snort, and that was enough for fits of laughter to erupt from you, causing a chain reaction of B/N wheezing on the ground and hitting the dirt beneath her so hard that a nearby Dendro slime popped up from the ground, startled and confused

"HOLY SH*T!!" "AAAAAAAA-"

You scream in terror from the shock of the dendro slime suddenly popping out of the ground as B/N kicks the poor slime away from her as a reflex

"fu- oops.. uh, sorry little slime" The dendro slime unfortunately does not take her apology and retreats back into the ground with (what you assume to be) tears in its eyes, poor slime :(

You look over at B/N, baffled, She stays on the ground, defeated.

you sigh as you attempt to coax the dendro slime back by patting the dirt next to it gently

"Pspspspspspspspsps dendro slime?" Somehow this does not work. suddenly an idea pops into your head, like a tiny light bulb was switched on inside your head! ☆

sigh, c'mon B/N, lets just go B/N just looks up at you confused until you whisper your plan to her, to wich she nods in agreement and gets up, pretending to leave too

"Aw man! I was really looking forward to petting that dendro slime.." the dendro slime's Leaves(?) perk up

"Mhm.. same" the two of you swiftly turn your backs on the dendro slime, giggling as you wait patiently.

You hear the swaying of leaves and the dirt below you getting pushed out of the way and-!

"OWW-!!" in a blink of an eye the dendro slime body slams into B/N's shoulder, catching her off guard You burst out laughing but not for long as the dendro slime body slams into you as well knocking you to the ground

This time it's B/N turn to giggle as you look at the grumpy slime on your stomach, your stunned but realize it's asking for pets (now that it was able to get its revenge) and you happily Oblige ⌒.

Petting the dendro Slime calms you..

You close your eyes having a moment of peace.. untill

"Ouch!" Your finger snags on a sharp rock that was on the dendro slime

You look down at your hand and see golden ichor clotting at the tip of your finger, your breath starts to pick up but you calm down

"Oops, oh well.. atleast we can heal this scratch you have now" You rub some of the golden blood leaking onto the dendro slimes damage from B/N's kick, and as the area your blood touches glows, all the slime's wounds heal like they were never there

The slime gives you a happy smile and bumps against your forehead happily before hopping back off into the wild

You sit in silence for a moment, you haven't had to see that glistening liquid for days, but the dendro slime's peaceful vibes still stick with you as you sigh, sitting up

"..wha..What just happened?!" Oh crap you almost forgot B/N was standing behind you

"O-OH, uhm.. im not really sure how to explain this-" Your about to explain before you hear a familiar voice behind you

"Your grace!~" of course you always have to be interrupted don't you.

you can never catch a break can you? ✿

___

Hi again! Sorry this chapter took awhile to get out, its a little long because i wanted a special guest to help me write some of the lines, it got delayed because she was busy with school but its finally heree! thanks again to my irl best friend! <3

Taglist: @madokamagicaa

[offbrand-valk]

(A bit of writing practice for nanowrimo, cause ya girl is rusty.)

Ræðsla

(*Ra-Th'-Sla*) trans. "Horror"

The machine awoke on command, followed the instructions attached to the boot message, and began its diagnostic routine.

First it scanned the hangar, noting each human shape it could identify within the 99.95th percentile; then it analysed each presumed human in turn, checking that they wore an identification token (and only one), and that this identification validated correctly.

This was not part of the diagnostics process, and would not be included in the diagnostics report. But should any of the validations fail, it would silently raise an alarm with an external system and await response from said system’s human operator. If no response was given, or the response was deemed untrustworthy, the machine would trigger a catastrophic meltdown within its reactor, destroying itself and its surrounding after a few minute, while trying to disguise the process as routine diagnostics.

Ræðsla of course, had no opinions on this protocol. It was a machine, an incredibly complicated machine, which even the people who had built it, only understood bits and pieces of, but a machine nonetheless – The closest it came to sentience was a series of specialized processors daisy-chained together to perform statistical extrapolation of available data in order to help the pilot focus on the most important information in the heat of combat.

One by one, Ræðsla tested the servo actuation on its’ thruster array, under the supervision of a small army of monks.

Two new figures entered the room, which the machine automatically checked the identities off and found them valid.

One was a tall, black man, with a bit of a muffin top, a neutral expression on his anonymous face, and eyes that were once warm, but now had become haunted by the horrors of war. Ræðsla’s database identified him as: Geo (he/him), father superior of the order of our father of righteous sorrow, head of the Ræðsla project.

The other was a mixed race butch, her mother was white, her father had been south Asian. She was sickly pale and skinny; an endless list of surgeries, and surgeries to correct the damage done by earlier surgeries, having taken its’ toll on her body.

Still, she looked like nothing if not the warlord upon her throne, as she drove her electric wheelchair towards the machine that took up most of the hangar. Ræðsla in turn, identified her as prince Gallantine Eva-Maria Brathwaite Oldenborg the 1st, of Fenrisfort, holy daughter of the matron pope Maria Valfreyja the 3rd; 1 of 1 authorized pilots of the Ræðsla prototype.

Ræðsla was an unconventional design. For one, it was big, almost twice the size of the average mech, top heavy too, with short legs and a pair of long arms hosting an thrusters, gravity shields, and torpedo rails.

The Ræðsla was built around its main gun, a terrible thing that spewed metal shavings at almost 10.000 kelvin. It moved around corners, got into ventilation, choked and burnsed at the same time, and left heavy ash in its wake.

It didn’t matter that it was clumsy on the ground, it was a spaceborn weapon, only meant to come down from low-orbit to do strafing runs on key targets or population centers.

Looking at it’s tripod shape, Gallantine couldn’t help but notice the resemblance to the dragon on her late wife’s coat of arms.

The machine finished it’s diagnostics routine.

One of the technicians, an old woman in a well-worn jumpsuit crossed the overhead walkway, her breathing was ragged, assisted by an implant that couldn’t quite compensate for the damage she did to her lungs 18 years ago sifting through heavy ash in the faint hope she would find just one member of her family alive.

In her hands she held a vacuum sealed box, within which lies 8kg of a pyrophoric alloy known as phlogistron. Enough for an 0.6 second burst of the Ræðsla’s main gun.

Another technician, a young monk, instructs Ræðsla to open its ammunition feed hatch, and fusses as the old woman connects the box to the feed mechanism.

“I urge you one last time prince, please reconsider.” The monk said as the pair crossed the room, doing an admirable job at hiding the fear in his voice.

The prospective pilot stopped, and turned her wheelchair to face him. The rage in her eyes burned like an ion torch.

“There was a point where we could have reconsidered brother. We passed it somewhere between when we granted my wife’s wish for euthanasia, and when we started grafting pieces of her cerebellum to my brainstem.”

The monk nodded, recognizing it was not his place to oppose the will of the gods, much as he wanted to.

Ræðsla closed its’ ammunition feed hatch, and sent a signal to the diagnostics terminal that it had successfully sealed its phlogistron supply, and that the main gun was now armed.

Reading this the younger monk, his face stained with engine grease, looked over the edge of the diagnostics terminal, and in a huge breach of decorum called out to his senior and the prince: “Will you two be done yapping soon, or should we put this thing back to sleep?”

The butch in the wheelchair smirked at her companion, feeling vindicated she was not the only one anxious to see if their project had paid off.

“Let’s see what this puppy can do!” She yelled out to cheers from the assembled technicians as she rolled up the ramp, and used the handrails for assistance to pull herself into the cockpit.

Father Geo took the cable off the pilot chair, and attached it to the back of the prince' suit with a loud *k'chunk*, before stepping back. A gentle current ran through Gallantine's spine for a few milliseconds in order to confirm the circuit was closed.

Ræðsla did as instructed, retracting the cockpit into the safety of its belly without beginning to interface with the pilot.

If she didn’t know better, Gallantine would say there was something _hungry_ about the rumbling and grinding sounds the machine made as it closed tight around her. As if _it too_ was excited to get moving, like it knew the atrocity it was built to avenge.

Father Geo took his place on the observation podium, and made the sign of the gods.

“Control, ready when you are.” Came the unmistakably impatient voice of prince Gallantine.

Geo considered asking her to lead them in prayer, but thought better of it. The old God and the new Gods had already made up their minds as to whether or not this would succeed, and the act was just as likely to calm the prince as it was to infuriate her.

===

The machine's cockpit was cramped, not an inch of empty space that wasn't required for the pilot to enter and exit.

The dual control sticks featured a staggering array of triggers, switches and buttons, rows of controls sat along the sides of both armrests, below screens waiting to be slid into her field of view with yet more buttons and switches placed above her.

Gallantine had piloted simulators before, but if you fucked up in a simulator, you made a fool of yourself, if she fucked up now, she might break a one of a kind war machine and set the project back years.

With more caution than she cared to admit, she flipped the overhead switch to activate the main display, lighting up the armored wall in front of her with a view from Ræðsla's head.

So far so good, a few more switches flipped, verify the cables were correctly attached, and nothing to do but try their luck.

"Begin human interfacing" came brother Geo's calm instruction in her headset.

Deep breath, here goes nothing, remove the safety, turn the handle 45 degrees, then pull until it goes click.

Every nerve in Gallantine's body triggered at once.

She was burning, she was freezing, she was being squeezed all over, up was every direction; and she was in

SO

MUCH

PAIN

The machine, for its' part, did exactly what it was supposed to, frantically changing frequency and voltage in the hope of finding the right one before causing irreversible damage to the pilot.

She was about to call it off, didn't know if she still could, when an image resurfaced in her overstimulated brain: a broken down mech lying beneath a blanket of heavy ash, clutching the cockpit that had failed to eject, in the hopeless hope of protecting its pilot from the dangers that lay outside, yet unable to keep her from breathing heavy metals.

The pilot would lay there for almost 3 days, unable to move herself or her mech, wasting away as microscopic slivers of thalium cut holes in her lungs and entered her bloodstream.

And one thought crystalized, unifying pilot and mech.

Kill them all.

Kill Them All!

Kill! Them! All!

The Pope.

The General.

The Captain.

The Organist.

The entire fucking council who let them do it.

KILLTHEMALL

===

Integration successful

You sent the message to your visor, telling you nothing you didn't already know. Moving your metal body was obvious, the wealth of controls no different than the wealth of muscles belonging to the soft organic thing within you, that was you, and yet, so much less.

You moved your tail experimentally about, feeling like a phantom limb the different textures as it scraped across metal, plastic and glass; unable to imagine a time you had ever been without it.

Because you hadn't. Prince Gallatine Oldenborg of Fenrisfort had, but she wasn't you. She was an essential component, like your grand CPU, and MTF reactor. Without her, there was no you, but she was not you.

You were a 115 ton, experimental, flying, war machine, rated for atmospheric and space combat.

You were 27 kilometres of wire, 304 distinct microprocessors, 556 reactive armor tiles, 24 ion thrusters, 2 gravity shields, 9 recognizance drones, and a weapon that should never have been built.

You were Ræðsla.

[dealgemeneverwarring]

De Algemene Verwarring #124 - 23 December 2024

Episode one hundred and twenty-four of De Algemene Verwarring was broadcast on Monday, December 23, 2024, and you can listen to it by clicking on the link below that will take you directly to the Mixcloud page:

Pictured below is the Japanese post-punk band Mizutama Shobodan. I don't know anything about that band, except that I just bought the Subnormal Girls Volume Two compilation (unofficial compilation of female fronted post-punk), and there's a track from that band on it that I really really like, so I played it on the show and probably they are worth checking out. I have also played a lot of other new music in the show, because as some of you might now, early December I was in Paris and I went record shopping in two of my all time favorite records shops: Born Bad Records and Pop Culture Shop. Besides the fact that I'm broke now, I am also really happy that I finally have copies of the Alvilda album, that Cuneiform Tabs lp, the new record of The Sheaves, and the fantastic new Warm Currency album. You can hear tracks from all those records in this episode (and no doubt you'll hear more from them in upcoming 2025 episodes). So, that's it, 2024 ends with episode 124 and as always: beneath the photo you can find the playlist for the show. Enjoy!

Playlist:

Freundliche Kreisel: Gespensterland (LP V/A “Gespensterland” on Bureau B. 2023)

Tee Vee Repairmann: Organic Mould (7” “2-Big-4-Mah-Boots” on Goodbye Boozy Records, 2024)

The Babies: Not Coming Home (LP “Not Coming Home” on Rip It Up Records & Dirty Old Town, 2005)

Alvilda: Maladresse (LP “C’est Déjà L’heure” on Static Shock Records, 2024)

Neutrals: Steven Proctor, Bus Conductor (LP “New Town Dream” on Static Shock Records, 2024)

Plastix: Konsumier Mich (7” “Konsumier Mich” on Danger Records, reissue 2019, originally released on the Die Tödliche Dosis LP on Lustgewinn Schallplatten, 1981)

Mizutama Shobodan: ジークフリードはジッパーさげて (LP V/A “Subnormal Girls - D.I.Y. PostPunk 1979-1984 Volume Two” on Waiting Room Records, 2017)

Geo: So Many Ways (LP “Out Off Body” on Erste There Tonträger, 2024)

The Sheaves: Culminating Rites (LP “A Salve For Institution” on SDZ Records & Dot Dash Sounds, 2024)

Swell Maps: Real Shocks (LP “International Rescue” on Alive Records, reissue 2016, originally released in 1999)

Cuneiform Tabs: Healthy Reaction (LP “Cuneiform Tabs” on W.25th, 2024)

The Fall: Various Times (7” “It’s The New Thing” on Step Forward Records, 1978)

The Psychotic Monks: Crash (LP “Pink Colour Surgery” on Vicious Circle Records & Fat Cat Records, 2023)

Balint Brösel & Brannten Schnüre: Disco (LP V/A “Gespensterland” on Bureau B, 2023)

Warm Currency: Her House (LP “Petals” on Horn Of Plenty, 2024)

April Magazine: If The Ceiling Were A Kite (LP “If The Ceiling Were A Kite” on Tough Love Records, repress 2022, originally released in 2021)

Stefan Christensen: 84 Days (LP “In Time” On C/Site Recordings, 2024)

[whatdoesthathavetodowiththis]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: UGG Heidi Perforated Slip-On Espadrille Flat In Suntan Suede Pink Women’s Sz 9.

[uplatterme]

Not Another Archon War!

Summary: It seems the Archons of Teyvat have been getting selfish with how less of a time they’d been spending with you. They’ve decided that enough is enough and must have you all for themselves.

No matter how far they have to go to get it.

cw: yandere themes, obsessive characters, dom!reader, sub!venti, sub!zhongli, sub!ei, gender neutral!reader, other tags will be added! (no non-con)

taglist <3

The Anemo Archon presented himself in a form you haven’t seen before. Pure and white wings on his back, with a rather revealing outfit than his usual.

“You don’t want another city to fall into ruins, do you?”

The Geo Archon’s mood had been sour ever since you saw him. He put his arms around your waist, not letting you go and blocking the entrance with one of his structures.

“I…How do I say this? Must you really spend time with that drunkard and that girl more than me?”

The Electro Archon entrapped you in her Plane of Euthymia without warning and no matter how many times you asked her to let you go, she wouldn’t listen.

“A-Aren’t I enough? You won’t need the outside world. I swear it.”

[yumpty-dumpty-inactive]

C H I L D 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LISTS: ANON LIST, MASTERLIST, RULES

Knight's of Favonius' thoughts on having children with their s/o!

a/n: it is currently 2:22 in the morning. this took so long, somehow came out short, did not come out good for some characters, so I’ll probably re-write soon fgirjgirgiuhuwireusf-

*EDITED PARTS: AETHER*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*GENDER NEUTRAL READER*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Includes: Aether, Albedo, Amber, Eula, Jean, Kaeya, Lisa, Lumine, Noelle, Sucrose

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AETHER:

AW, YES HE DOES!

REGARDLESS OF YOUR GENDER/SEXUALITY, HE WANTS CHILDREN

he definitely wants 3 kids

he thinks back to when him and Lumine were little, and how they had always wanted a little sibling!

at first he wasn’t sure about it, and wasn’t sure he’d have enough time to love them, however you used your magical Aether taming powers to convince him :D

you would eventually end up with two little girls, and a little boy!

the first to come were you’re girls, you had/adopted twins :D!

what a coincidence 

the one who’s older (by 2 minutes but whatever) was named Lumi after Lumine, she was very gentle and loving, and always looked out for her sister and brother :)

she had a dream of healing others after seeing her Auntie Barbara heal her father’s wounds from a battle with the Fatui

she spent lots of time with Barbara as a little girl, which led to her eventually meeting Rosaria, who took a liking to her

Rosaria was surprised she took such a big interest in your child, considering she usually found people like her annoying

Rosaria had seen she was better with her smarts rather than physical capabilities, and so she taught Lumi to fight :>

Lumi’s weapon of choice is a catalyst, and her weapon is a spellbook named the “Book of Dawn”

Lumi was granted a Geo vision, and her skill creates an extremely durable shield of Geo rocks, and after the shield is activated, all her attacks until it disappears with heal her party members up to 5000 HP per attack :0

her burst creates 5 GIANT rock pillars that cover different areas and deal continuous Geo damage while healing your other party members!

she would eventually grow up to move to Inazuma and open her own medical clinic, helping children all over Teyvat!

the younger one you two named Vira, because she is very strong and feisty, and she’s also fiercely protective of those who she loves, not for specific reason, but she’s just naturally like that

Vira has insane physical capabilities, and was granted a PYRO vision for her passion of saving others

she has dreamed of becoming a Knight of Favonius ever since seeing your father in battle

after she poured her dreams to you two, you were both hesitant to let her follow her dreams due to how dangerous it was but after quite a bit of resistance from her, you both caved

Aether decided to ask Diluc to meet her, in hopes of them getting along

little did he know, they would become inseperable

when she was older, he would let her intern at the tavern

he trained her to fight, and her weapon of choice also became a claymore

her ultimate move infuses her weapon with Pyro and every time she hits her opponent, it creates an explosion

her skill creates a small pyro lion similar to Xiangling’s Gouba :D

she would eventually grow up to become a strong captain in the Knights Of Favonius!

now for your son :>

he is two years younger than the girls, and you two named him Liam!

Liam is sadly mute due to an Abyss Mage accident when he was young, however he’s okay!

at the age of 8, he was granted a CRYO vision after being bullied by some towns children :(

of course Aether showed ‘em

Liam was always fascinated by the history of visions, and spent a lot of time in the library with Lisa!

Lisa eventually taught him to fight, and his weapon of choice is a spear!

he is a mix of his sisters, very sweet and loving but he also had a very strong and fierce side!

his elemental skill creates an ice turret that deals continues Cryo damage to his surrounding opponents! 

his burst creates a second vision made of Cryo energy, and it bursts all of his abilities (HP, speed, damage, etc.) for the duration of his burst :D!

he would eventually grow up to be a professer of vision history at Sumeru Acadamia!

KAEYA:

he’s kind of neutral towards having a child

isn’t against it, but if you want one he’ll be okay with that !

but no more than 2

he doesn’t really know why, he just doesn’t really want a big family

which is why....

you two ended up with a daughter !

she is stunningly beautiful btw

you ended up naming her Riley

she unfortunately  picked up some of her fathers habits and now is a tiny female Kaeya

at the age of 7, she was granted an electro vision, for her different styles!

people often thought she was weird due to the way she dressed, but after a certain outburst about how she was allowed to do and dress as she pleased she was granted her vision!

Riley gets along best with: Auntie Rosaria, Aunt Amber, and Ms. Jean

she would eventually grow up to follow in her Aunts’ footsteps, becoming the captain of the Outrider Regiment (which she revived!!!)

LUMINE:

U H

sorry but i don’t really think she’d really want children :(

instead of children, you guys would have mannnnny pets

like over 5 dogs, 3 cats, and more. 

so a lot-

your dogs’ names are: Aeth, rufus, miles, ben, porky, meatball, pinky, rosalinda, and muggs

LISA:

she rather likes the idea!

now this was not planned at all,

however, you two ended up with a son!

you ended up naming him..

MARCO!!!

he’s a very kind and proper child!

he’s an avid reader, and spends days with his mother in the library reading while she “works”! (yes I put the “” I had to-)

he is insanely smart, however he has a weak body and often becomes ill :(

however, he was determined to become a great wind glider after seeing his Auntie Amber glide!

because of his determination, he was granted an Anemo vision!

thx venti

Marco gets along best with: Auntie Amber (ofc-), Ms. Barbara, and Ms. Sucrose!

Marco would eventually grow up to be an outrider! he would also become Mondstadt’s next gliding champion!

good for marco

NOELLE:

Noelle is not against it one bit!

she loves the idea of starting a family with you! and you two do!

you end up being blessed with two wonderful sons and a daughter!

your first son was named Noah, and he was granted a PYRO vision after realizing his passion for adventuring!!

your second child was your daughter, who was blessed with a HYDRO vision for her dedication to her helping people! she was named Lillith

your last son was named Aiden, but unfortunately he never received a vision :( 

he had passed away at the age of 4 from terrible sickness it broke everyone’s hearts, but sadly the truth had to be faced

anyways, Noah gets along best with: Mr. Bennett, Ms. Fischl and Oz, and Ms. Amber!!

he would eventually grow up to become the grand master of the Adventurers Guild!

Lillith on the other hand, gets along best with: Ms. Amber, Ms. Barbara, and Uncle Aether!!

she would grow up to become a maid of the Knights of Favonius!

SUCROSE:

Our shy alchemist is.... neutral

it’s not like she doesn’t want one its just, she worries

she worries that because she’s so busy all the time, she won’t have enough time for the child

HOWEVER, after some convincing on your end, our alchemist agreed!

you two ended up having one son, named Arrow!

Arrow is a very curious child, and learned this from Sucrose!

he took an interest to something, however instead of alchemy, it was music!

like Sucrose, he has a passion for his special hobby!

however, his music was rejected by most people, and called weird and stupid

but he never gave up, and kept pushing

eventually, he pushed hard enough to earn himself an ELECTRO vision!

Arrow gets along best with: Deaconess Barbara, Mr. Aether, and Ms. Lisa!

eventually his music would be loved by all, and he would start a professional music career :D

JEAN:

Jean is... not against it!

in fact, the grand master loves the idea!

she knows she can protect her children, and she will

however, she was concerned about a few things

1, she is concerned she won’t have time for the kiddos, considering her role within the Knights

2, she is concerned she won’t be a good mother

of course, you are quick to shut these worries down, saying:

“Oh Jean, dear, I’m sure you’ll have time for them! If not, it’s okay! It happens, and also, you’ll be a fantastic mother! I’m sure of it.”

“Really..?”

“Of course really!” you said giving her a light peck on the cheek

you two ended up with three children, all girls!

your first daughter was named Vanessa, after the savior of Mondstadt

she was granted a DENDRO vision at age 10 for showing here true thirst for knowledge!

she has a personality very similar to Jean’s, except she is exceptionally smart and very skilled in battle

her weapon of choice is a claymore, and oh boy does she know how to use it

she gets along well with: Mr. Albedo, Aunt LIsa, and Auntie Barbara!

she would eventually grow up to be the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonious

your second daughter was named Ellie, and she had a very bubbly and bright personality! she always shows compassion to those around her, and she is basically an angel sent from heaven

she was granted a PYRO vision at the age of 6 for her passion of helping others!

she gets along best with: Auntie Barbara and Ms. Noelle!

she would eventually become a sister at the church!

your last daughter was named Adley, and she was a very passionate and leading child

she was very extroverted and her speeches were beyond inspirational

because of this, she was made a Knight Of Favonious and with her ANEMO vision, and her and her catalyst easily rose the ranks

she would eventually become an Outrider, and revived it from its previous state of death

EULA:

Eula doesn’t mind the thought of children, which is why you two end up having/adopting twins!

One girl and one boy, named Mia and Luca!

Mia took up Eula’s love for dancing, and Luca took up cooking!

They both received visions, Mia received an Electro one at age 9 for persevering even though people didn’t like her dancing style

Luca received a Geo one at ago 8 because of his goal to become the best chef in Mondstadt

They both get along really well with everyone however get along best with: Ms. Amber, Ms. Noelle, and Ms. Fischl!

Mia would eventually grow up to become a dancer, and Luca a chef!

AMBER:

Amber loves the idea of have a kid!

yes 

I said A KID

not KIDS

yea she doesn’t feel ready or up for 2 or more :(

so you two end up having one child, a son named Daniel!

He inherites Amber’s personality, and at the age of 7, received a Geo vision for his goal of reviving the Outrider Regiment!

Amber was literally so proud of him oml

he gets along best with : Uncle Aether, Mr. Kaeya, and Ms. Noelle!

eventually he would grow up to become the Captain of the Outriders regiment!! (yes he revived it-)

ALBEDO:

Albedo would in fact love a smaller family, which is why the two of you ended up with one daughter!

She was named Silver, and had a natural gift when it came to alchemey, much like her father

she was very reserved, and picked up lots of her behaviors from Albedo

however even though she was reserved, she had an angry side

no one ever wanted to see her angry due to that side

eventually however, for her dedication to her family and alchemey, she was granted a HYDRO vision 

She gets along best with: Ms. Sucrose, Ms. Kaeya, and Auntie Klee!

she would eventually graduate from Sumeru Acadamia and become a Knight of Favonious, taking her fathers’ place as Chief Alchemist

[genshin-obsessed]

Could you please do a scenario with Venti, Zhongli, Hu Tao, and Raiden Shogun with a S/o that's friends with a group of slimes that correspond to their element? For example: Zhongli - Geo slimes. Sorry if its too much to ask, I just love slimes :3

So I could only do Raiden as she's the only inzauma character. I had no idea where to take this which is why it's so tiny. Also, though the title is "king" the reader is gender neutral.

King of the slimes!

“(y/n)?”

“Yes, Ei?” You asked with a smile, looking at your girlfriend. Her eyes stared at you before looking at the little slime beside you.

“Whatcha got there?”

“Oh! This is my friend! I think she’s a girl, so I named her Machi!” You said with a bright smile.

“... babe, that’s a slime.” She said with an apprehensive look, making you dramatically gasp as you hugged the electro slime. Although, it seemed to enjoy your company and didn’t shock the hell out of you.

“Excuse you, she’s my friend! Say you’re sorry!”

“Um.. s-sorry, Machi.” She said awkwardly as the slim just blinked at her before seemingly getting comfortable in your lap. “I don’t mean to pry… but how did you befriend the slime?” You thought for a second before explaining.

“Well, they just kinda follow me around! And I don’t mind letting them! If I get attacked by hilichurls, they’re always there to help me! And they’re super cute too! Especially when they blink!” You squealed, squishing the slime in your arms. Ei flinched for you but nothing happened. She knew you were bizarre but this was just something else.

[crystalflygeo]

Cockwarming ft Zhongli + gn!reader

cw/tags: oral sex (giving), cockwarming, zhongli has a dragon penis, semi-public sex, office sex, pet play, collaring, lingerie, praise kink, pet names (gender neutral)

notes: Something short I originally started this to sate some pet play/"good girl" kinks and at some point I just went "hey I can make this gender-neutral" so yeah.

“Good pet.”

The way Zhongli groans is pure sin and has your heart and your hole throbbing with need.

You shift a little on your knees, head bobbing lightly as your eyes flutter, lips stretching further to take more of his imposing length into your mouth, fully intending on worshiping your god. The god you loved and devoted yourself to.

His gloved hand brushes your face as a thumb strokes your cheek tenderly.

“You look so pretty like this.”

You let out a small keen at the praise, the vibrations making him hiss. Zhongli’s half chub was a comfortable weight on your tongue, but the stretch has started to make your jaw ache a little, sore. You pull back, resting the tip of the cockhead between your lips like a filthy kiss before swallowing the length back down, tasting precum and lapping at the soft ridges on the underside.

You know how obscene you must look. Debauched. Completely naked save for your lace panties and stockings. Sitting under his desk, hidden from view but still pretty exposed if one were to look from a certain angle. A shiver runs down your spine at the thrill of it.

You swallow heavily and feel the collar around your neck tighten and bob around your throat with the gesture. The geo symbol of the pendant clearly indicating who you belonged to.

“You’re taking me so well. You’re so warm.” Zhongli whispered.

You hummed again with delight and suckled at the head, slicking it with spit before continuing to service him. Your eyes blinking up at him with pure adoration.

The dragon cock is fully hard now, the ridged shaft properly stretching your mouth. If you took him down the right way, you’d feel the engorged tip hitting the back of your throat. Your tights rub together, eager mind supplying other places that perfect cock could be inside…

Zhongli’s hand cards against your hair, threading the soft locks and pulling lightly. The sting is delicious and has your eyes rolling back. “Calm down pet.”

You whine.

“This was your idea. Now hold still, hm? I’m not finished here yet.” He says, soft but firm as he turns back his attention to the documents he’s sorting through.

You make a soft noise in response, breathing slowly as your lips slide back down to take his cock to the root. You shift again to get into a comfortable position with your cheek resting against his thigh and sigh peacefully, eyes fluttering close.

[starshinesama]

✦ In such a lonely world, how I wished to see you again. ✦

Your pleas were heard.

Authors note: this takes place after any regular sagau fic, (probably imposter au). Reader is Gender-Neutral but B/N is an implied she/her :]

༄ CW: loneliness, cultish themes, angst (with comfort)

Part 1 | Part 2

- POV: after being so lonely in Tervat, - you meet someone from your world, - stranded, like you.

Another meaningless day.

You walked on the streets of inazuma

If you hadn't been in this world for as long as you've been, you probably would have been more excited

To see the Sakura tree's blooming, the petals falling and flowing with the wind.

To taste the local cuisine (your mouth watering specifically for the Dango and Unagi Chazuke).

And you probably would have fell to the floor in laughter, seeing the Oni Arataki Itto lose an onikabuto match to a (literal) child

But..

It's been so long since you held that excitement in your eyes

At least it seemed so ever since that happened.

Don't get you wrong!! You still loved genshin impact, you loved the elements, the way everything seemed so alive!

But it was just so lonely

Especially with everyone around you treating you like they were below you

Your blood was gold sure, You had the power to heal living beings with your sacred blood And you just so happened to be a genshin addict that spent almost all their free time playing the game back home.

But even so..

.　⁺ . ✦　

"-your grace?" you were brought back to reality with an unpleasant jolt

"YIKES!! You scared me half to death geez.." "ah- my apologies, your grace" ...

You sigh, you insisted that they call you by your name, but they persist on calling you by your "proper title" it just never felt right

"... are you perhaps feeling unwell- [name]?" "No, it's nothing, im fine Zhongli"

(You came to Inazuma to try and clear your mind but your acolytes insisted that you brought atleast one of them with you)

The Geo archon still seemed concerned but eventually stopped trying to nag you after a while

And you were brought back to that pit of loneliness

Well you were

Until an ear splitting screech coming from Ritou Harbor nearly makes you deaf.

Wait...t-that voice! You'd recognize that annoying screech anywhere. Against your better judgment you start sprinting towards the harbor!

You hear Zhongli panicking, trying to say something but you can't hear him, maybe that scream DID make you deaf, it's like the whole world was being muted out, the only thing you can hear being the thumping of your heart as you run.

It couldn't be.. right?

You were sure you got isekaid here all alone..

That is until

"HEY! Ugh get off me!! I WILL meet my husbando-!!"

You stop dead in your tracks

"Uagh- stop thrashing will you! your causing a ruckus!!" The Kanjou Commission guard exclaimed, trying to wrestle down the girl.

You feel tears prickling your eyes

"H-hey- [Name]?! Is that you?!"

Your eyes widen and your jaw drops

No way..

"B-B/N?! What?!?-" but your cut off with the sound of B/N falling to the ground

"Uhm a little help here?" The guard finally managed to tackle down your best friend, huffing with pride somehow still not noticing you..

"Hey you."

_

You can imagine the guards shock when he saw the creator, THE creator stand before him, seething with malice

Infact, He was so shocked that he fainted.

"Uhm.. do you think he's gonna be ok?" You both kinda just stand there for a moment, not knowing what to say, before you suddenly run towards B/N, knocking you both down in a hug

ah, your starting to cry again

"I- I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" you choke back a sob

B/N just looks at you confused, before eventually hugging you back, sighing

"I missed you too.. dumbass"

You both laugh, crying, ignoring the stares your getting from the people around you (their not judging though, I mean who would dare judge the almighty creator?)

Eventually you both calm down enough to have a proper conversation

"So.. how did you get here? "

looks like you'll have a lot of explaining to do.. ␥✮

___

Helloo! This is my first sagau fic so i hope yall like it, i might write a prequel to how Reader got here or a one shot about B/N if this goes well, comment to be tagged in the next chapter!

[koukouture]

Rating Genshin Impact designs pt.2!

(part 1) 

Welcome back whales, f2ps, and everyone in between! Since the first part was pretty well received, I’ve decided to continue this series! 

Once again, I am not a professional artist of character designer, I am just doing this for fun since Genshin has a lot of good and bad designs

Aether

I LOVE HIM!!! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!! LOOK AT THE SILHOUETTE! THE DETAILS! THE COLOUR SCHEME! 

Aether’s design is a fucking GODSEND from those shitty basic male MC looks. Ya know, the ones with dark basic anime boy hair and an outfit that’s about as imaginative as an unborn fetus. 

The use and placement of colours is so nice and I love the details all over him. He looks like your typical kind and princely character, which is honestly how I imagine his personality. Also idk why but I love the fact he’s wearing a crop top, it’s just so refreshing to see an MC that isn’t in a regular outfit or a full suit of armor with a shitty silhouette.

He looks sleek and leaving him in mainly black and other neutral tones ensures that he’ll look good with any element in his lights, gold also works with a lot of colours very well, so nothing ever looks awkward on him. 

I also love where they put the lights, it just works really well. Hell, even without lights he looks awesome, I could see Aether’s design without any of the elements lighting him up like a lightsaber. 

Also, it looks pretty comfortable for traveling, boots, gloves, and he’s gonna be walking and fighting a lot so a crop top is a good choice. The pants are a bit more loose for easier movement and he doesn’t wear too much armour that could restrict him. Love it. 

Overall, I love this design so much, I wish my colour placement was that good, bruh he looks like the friggin sun I love his design so much ;-;

Lumine

Ok so, I like this dress, and I like the design. It’s not my favourite, but Lumine is really cute and looks super dainty and doll like, but it just doesn’t speak as loud as Aether’s design. Idk I feel like it’s lacking something. I do love her hair though, it’s a super cute hairstyle and is leagues different from other generic blonde anime girls. 

The main gripe i have with this is that i don’t think a WHITE dress with a corset is a good outfit for traveling. There’s also just a lot of weird detail on the dress? Like there’s this weird part in the middle of the skirt where it looks like there’s metal? Just attached to the fabric? 

She doesn’t look like a traveler, she looks like a princess, and I guess that fits given that Aether is the one used in most promotional material, but I think this dress is more something she would wear when she joins the Abyss. 

Lumine seems so cool and threatening as a villain, I think her outfit really reflects that, like I said, she looks like a princess and the cool whites and blues really help with that. 

Overall.... I just don’t know. I don’t like it, it’s really easy to recognize but it’s just not as good as Aether’s. Sorry Lumine 

Mona

Ok, ok, ok, I LOVE MONA!!! Her colour scheme is so nice and not only is her design pretty, it tells you a lot about her. There are stars all over her, she’s an astrologist, her outfit is very intricate and it suggests a cocky personality, which is pretty true. 

The outfit looks so expensive though??? Like Mona how did you afford this? But it sells the mage vibe so well and aaaahhhh she’s just so pretty! 

Not a lot to say, she’s just pretty :3

Xingqiu 

I really like the top part and the shoes, my only gripe is the shorts. They look so out of place?? They look like workout shorts and just don’t flow with how elegant the rest of the design is. I feel like adding more detail to the shorts or just sticking with the “young noblemen from the 1800s” vibe and making them longer (and maybe pleated?) would seel the look a lot better. Don’t get me wrong Xingqiu, you work booty shorts better than me, but booty shorts that look like “athletic gear” from Walmart? On a young noblemen/martial arts prodigy? Yeah no, it doesn’t pass the vibe check. 

On the other hand, his shoes and shirt (and tailcoats) really sell his whole rich vibe better. I love how it sort of combines elements of Victorian London and traditional Chinese clothing, it works so well. I just wish I could come of with something as creative. 

I see a lot of people dunking on his haircut but I like it personally, it’s very recognizable. The fact that the right is really short and flat just kind of pisses me off? Idk maybe that’s just me. 

Overall a very good, well thought, and creative design. 

Chongyun

Ok, next to me loving Chongyun so much, I just- look at his design. There is so much to unpack and I love all of it. 

It combines modern day fashion with traditional Chinese clothing and it just does it in such a natural way and looks so fucking good??? Like the hoodie over the qipao? The baggy pants and the shoes that allude to him as a martial artist? Immaculate. 

Cryo characters all have such nice designs, Miyoho really does play favourites. Like there is not a single cyro character with a bad design, all of them are 1) recognizable and 2) very very very very pretty 

(Also random thought but Chongyun reminds me of a k-pop idol? Like his haircut and the drip? Idk but peak k-pop energy)

His colour scheme is on point because why wouldn’t it be? You can tell that he’s sort of cold and that he definitely has ice powers, the placement is also just really smart. Chongyun has like four colours on him (gold, navy, light blue, white) and yet it’s just arranged in such a way where it’s so easy to recognize and sets him apart from all of the other blue and white characters with ice powers. 

I remember I saw a video titled “why you should play Genshin Impact” after I had finished BOTW, and I saw Chongyun’s design and being like ‘Oh wow, he looks pretty cool’ 

I love Chongyun so much and his design is a big contributor to that, and that’s all I have to say. 

Geo Daddy Zhongli 

BARK BARK BARK BARK GRRRRR AWOOOOOOGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAA-

Ok Zhongli is really hot. Like really, really, really, FUCKING hot. Like “he simultaneously raised and lowered my standards for the male gender” hot. How did he lower them? Bruh his spending habits, it makes him so endearing and cute I just- *dies*

(Zhongli I have Mora, you don’t need Childe I can be your sugar mommy-) 

Ok so let me start with his colour palette because awooga that shit is hot. Black and brown wasn’t a colour palette I expected to love so much but here we are. He definitely looks like he has earth powers, and it’s so nice. I have never seen any character who have brown in their colour palette, even if they do, it’s just their hair. 

And the fact that he’s wearing an elegant suit and yet has pauldrons? I love it so much. It speaks to him as a gentleman and a warrior, which is literally his entire personality and I love it so much. 

Once again we have a character who combines Victorian London vibes with traditional vibes and it is amazing. Like the tassels and the dragon motifs? The long ass tailcoats that aren’t practical for fighting but GOD are they hot? Yes. Yes to all of it. I just wanna tug on his lil tie and smooch him. 

I love how they just added yellow on the inside of his tailcoats, it’s really nice and helps break up the dark colours of his outfit I love Zhongli so much he is my comfort character and everything I don’t deserve :’)

[still-single]

Heathen Disco Show #288 for you to listen to

LISTEN OR SUFFER

Tracklist:

The Saints – This Perfect Day

Red Transistor – We’re Not Crazy

Coins Parallèles – Un Trou Dans La Tête

Loop – Fermion

Cosmic Slops – Release the Platinum Claw

The Fall – U.S. 80’s – 90’s

Tha Retail Simps – End Times Hip Shaker Pts 1 & 2

Pan American – Just a Story

Mark – Integrier Dich Du Yuppie

Singers & Players – Cha-Ris-Ma

Dexter Wansel – Funk Attack

Geo Rip – Tooni

Stander – Frozen River

Horsegirl – World of Pots and Pans

Tristan Disco – Social Dance (Krikor Retake)

Microchip League – Stranger

Speedking – Monosodium Glutamate

Pankow – Boys and Girls (Hard Dub)

Chubby Checker – My Mind Comes from a High Place

Jonas Reinhardt – Sly Tomb

Jon Spencer and the HITmakers – Layabout Trap

Laughing Hyenas – Sister

Emilio Santiago – Bananeira

Weak Signal – It’s Not Enough

Caroline No – Anna’s on the Radio

Jess Scott – Modern Primitice

The Embarrassment – D-Rings

Alabaster DePlume – Mrs. Calamari

David Nance – Chicken Bone

Comet Gain – Our Wasted Library/Tiny Children

Slovenly – Orange Crush

The Rationals – I Need You

The Velvet Underground – Foggy Notion

Love – Nothing

Neutrals – Pressures of Life

Blood Incantation – Ea: Third Movement

Minnie Riperton – Love and Its Glory

Workdub – Caravan

Juana – It’s Low

A Popular History of Signs – Crowds

BassKase – Graveyard Shift

Joys Union Group - Wiser

[noki-bb]

Zhongli x Gender Neutral Reader

Based off “Memories of dust” and Guizhong description. The reader is Guizhong (deceased)

“Is there anymore questions you would like to ask me?”

“Paimon wonders why you decided to work at a Funeral Parlor?” Paimon shivers, “Doesn’t working with dead b-bodies scary?”

Zhongli looks at the flying girl humming. “Not at all, death is a natural thing, it is not to be feared nor is it evil. To be trusted with the corpse of a loved one is a great honor” he turn to the setting sun. Closing his eyes absorbing the fleeting rays.

“Of course that’s not all I do. Our shops specialize in home deaths. I am there for the persons last moments helping the family in their death rituals,” He opens his eyes again “Have you seen a hilichurl death ceremony?”

They both shake their heads “It’s quite fascinating to see, if you ever stumble upon one go watch it.”

Zhongli turn back towards the sun, ending the conversation. Paimon and Traveler looked at each other confused “See you later Mr. Zhongli!”

He listened to their retreating footsteps, the wind fluttering around him. The phantom scent of glaze lilies caressing him. He stood there until the last of the attendees left, comforted by smell.

The air soon turned cold, without his gnosis the cold made him shiver. To think that this could affect him. How he took it for granted. He sighed once more. Turning to descend the stairs and head home. The scent of glaze lilies following him, the pleasant chatter of a young women ringing in his ears and the grime of dust dirtying his clothes.

He opened the door to his house, a gift from Childe. Shedding off his coat placing it on the rack. He went to his room, it was empty. Void of many belongings. He headed towards his closet kneeling down, he pried the board off. Under the floor boards was a chest, hard and sturdy. He pulled the chest out of it place walking over to his desk.

Zonghli placed the chest down onto the wooden desk. Opening it he was hit was geo energy, pouring out of the box in flowing waves. How long has it been since it has been used?

Grabbing “Memories of Dust” he stood there absorbing the flowing geo energy. It flowed delicately the the blood in his veins. The dumbbells heavy in his hands. He walked to the balcony, facing the full moon. Shining so brightly down on him.

“Guizhong, today we had a Rite of Parting for Rex Lapis. Though as you can see I’m still alive. I merely had a contract... I gave away my gnosis. I don’t regret it, my time as a archon has long past. The city of Liyue- our city has long need the support of a god.” blinking away tears, “I can already hear you yelling at me. I still haven’t figured out how to unlock this yet. But today I had a realization you can say. Your challenge, it wasn’t to unlock your secrets.”

He looked at the catalyst for one last time, all the nook and crannies. All the engravings you had made into stone. You were a excellent engineer, but also a great trickster.

Zhongli leaned down to give it a soft kiss. The catalyst pulsed and glowed with strong geo power before it dimmed and crumbled in his hands. Turning into dust the wind carry the ashes away into the night sky.

“Good bye my love”

[baekchelor]

𝕕𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕕𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

pairings: George Mackay x reader genre: romantic comedy rating: pg13 synopsis: on the set of his new film, golden boy George Mackay learns a basic human truth: that the heart is deceitful above all things.

❝ i  love  you  without  knowing  how,  or  when,  or  from  where.❞                                                                                                                       —pablo  neruda

THREE | HEARTACHE & FAREWELLS ◄ ᴘʀᴇᴠ

Daisy (against Geo's wishes) flies to Mumbai a little over a month into the shoot. Dharma is extending its filming period to six weeks, just as Alma predicted, so although George's left scenes are few, Daisy still gets to see him in action when —without an invitation, she arrives on set.

"I said I'd meet you at the hotel," he says as he greets her once Greta wrapped George’s last take for the day.

It's him and two other actors for this particular scene, in which Edmund reveals amidst the chaos of the Indian rebellion, he's well aware of James' feelings towards his wife.

Y/N is back at The Taj, probably still asleep. It is her free day, and George has come to learn the girl cherishes snooze above all things good. She'd rather stay in her Pj's and dreamland instead of strolling across Mumbai's beaches.

Daisy pecks George on the cheek, and a few of the staff members milling around them exchange curious glances. As far as George knows, no one but Dean and his sister, know about the friends-with-benefits situation with Daisy. And as far as he's concerned, everyone on the crew (except maybe Dev Patel. George suspects he's got a crush on Y/N too) were rooting and gossiping about Geo and Y/N's potential to become an item. So of course, they all seem taken aback with the unknown blonde wrapping her arms around George’s shoulder blades.  

"I wanted to surprise you," Daisy whispers into his ear, standing on her tiptoes.

She's smiling up at him now, a complexion like peaches and cream, and George can make out signals of uncertainty in her expression. Daisy still looks as lovely as he remembers, yet not as beautiful as his lovely one. It hits him just then, how easily Y/N's smile can melt him down —and how, at this moment, Daisy's smile only makes him feel guilty.

"We're okay, aren't we, Georgie?" There it is again: the minimal furrowing of her brow, the vulnerable pull in her mouth. "You've just been busy, haven't you?"

He smiles back as tenderly as he can to reassure her. It seems to work because her features illuminate.

"Yeah," He puts his arm around her, the protectiveness of it a habit. Might this be how Y/N feels with Henry? "Come on. Let's go to The Taj."

Daisy's booked a separate room, of course. She even checked in at a completely different floor. George knows she's here on a mission, and she's going to try to spend at least one night in the same bed as he; but for some reason, it feels wrong to have a girl in the same mattress Y/N has fallen asleep, read books and talk to him about everything and nothing.

"Let's go out to dinner tonight," Daisy is wearing her hair down today, the way George likes it best. "Tell Y/N/N to come too. With a date, if she likes." Her expression slides into something conspiratorial. "She shouldn't have any trouble finding one by seven, right?"

"I don't see why she would," George manages to say, feeling the weight of it sink into his chest.

Things haven't been strange between him and Y/N. Not at all. Not if George ignores the razor-sharp awareness that prickles over his skin every time Y/N sits a little too close, so their thighs touch, or looks at her for a moment too long, so he catches that question Y/N never asked still lingering in her gaze.

Daisy is waiting expectantly, so against his inner-self will, and in an effort to prove God-knows-what to himself, George takes his phone and types out a message:

Two hours later, Y/N replies, and George realises he didn't clarify the fact that the Daisy in the matter isn't his sister but his friend. He doesn't want to let her know he has a physical relationship with a girl via text, so he opts to break the news before they walk into the restaurant.

George wipes off his lips with the corner of a table napkin. He keys in the name of the establishment, the time of their reservation and puts his phone away. Daisy sips her white wine, lashes thick and eyes reserved for him, and the likeness George would generally feel is overpowered by unease.

Much to George's dismay, Dev Patel —the other man in the crew who's also from London and can be referred to as London Boy (yes, George is still investigating if the nickname is reserved for him and if Y/N likes Taylor Swift)— is whom she brings as a date. He's much taller than her, the height difference more pronounced since Y/N is wearing flat sandals. The dress on Daisy is similar to the cobalt mini-dress loosely falling from Y/N's shoulders. Yet Daisy only manages to look almost —almost— as beautiful in George's eyes.

When Dev and Y/N walk into the restaurant together, her hand tucked around his arm, George experiences the tell-tale clench of disappointment. However, his inner self knows better, disappointment might be one of the many symptoms, but the most prominent is jealousy.

<< So there's a new London Boy. >>

"Y/N Y/L/N!" Daisy trills. "I'm so glad to finally meet you."

"Hello... Daisy?" Y/N replies with a discreet smile. She looks over at George, wondering why this Daisy is not the one she expected to encounter, this Daisy doesn't smile in the exact same way George does, and this Daisy is one Y/N hasn't ever heard about. George wants to apologize, entwine their hands and explain the long thread of misconceptions that took place since that one call in George's suite, but he knows this is not the place nor the right time to do it.

"Dev," London Boy #2 greets, extending his palm to shake Daisy's. George is grateful. "Are you George's girlfriend?

George is not grateful anymore.

Dev's eyes shine, he directs to George, "She's gorgeous, man."

"We're not a couple, actually."

"Oh."

"Yeah, we're complicated," Daisy ripostes.

George smiles at him half-heartedly, his gaze drifting immediately to Y/N's face. The studied neutrality on it, which every movie star learns to uphold in front of a press line —only to drop the facade when they're out with friends—, is what makes every trace of that half-smile disappear completely.

"What is it?" Daisy whispers as George pulls out her seat for her. No matter the situation, he is a gentleman.

George bends, so her lips are at the level of his ear. "What is what?"

Y/N catches the movement, and their eyes meet from across the table.

Daisy puts her little hand on George's bicep. "Why do you look so..." Y/N is staring at him, "...so sad?"

George's answer is stolen when charming Dev pulls out Y/N's chair for her. George has shared enough time with Dev on set, howbeit, he didn't realise how...touchy he is when he expresses his attention. The moment he is seated and Y/N smiles next to him, he brushes his fingers over her cheek and the corner of her mouth, with careful attention. Y/N isn't looking at George anymore.

On cue, George tears his eyes away too. "I don't know what you mean," he tells Daisy breezily, pressing his lips to her temple and sliding into his seat in one smooth movement. It's a dick move, he knows, but he has never felt so jealous in his whole life; thus, he cannot get a proper hold of his emotions.

Daisy is smart, intuitive, George is sure she doesn't buy his excuse when her hand cautiously removes itself from his arm and comes to fidget in her lap.

"Georgie..." she tries again, under her breath. Dev taps Y/N on the chin, and she responds with a tiny smirk.

Fuck it. George swallows harshly. There is a bitter taste in his mouth he can't seem to get rid of, not even after his second sip of scotch. "Everything is fine, Daisy."

But Daisy won't stop eyeing him after that. Long, searching looks from behind her menu and wine glass; quick, puzzled glances she tries to play off when Dev draws her into the conversation. When she reaches for it, George permits her to wrap her little hand around him under the table, but he doesn't squeeze back.

Y/N focuses her attention on Dev, letting her feed things to her off his plate with his fork and placing her hand between his shoulder blades when he murmurs a question into her waiting ear. It might be due to the same reason as George allows Daisy to hold his hand, or it might be because she is as angry as George suspects.

Dinner runs long, even though George can't remember anything that was discussed from the arrival of the breadbasket to the departure of the dessert plates. Only the cut of Y/N's lips, the bump of her chest when she breathes, her entire face in perpetual profile.

After picking at her food and swilling way too much chardonnay for her unlined stomach to handle, Daisy gets drunk. You've got to be kidding me, crosses George's mind before he's practically forced to piggyback Daisy out of the restaurant, into Tha Taj's elevator and to his room. She hooks her chin over his shoulder.

"Have fun tomorrow," Y/N susurrates. Dev has his palm at the small of her back, and George wants to slap it away.

"I'm sorry," George starts to say, but drunk Daisy surprises him by biting down gently on the juncture of his neck and shoulder. If he were not a good boy, a good London Boy, George would have dropped Daisy off his back. He wants her gone, now, yet he understands Daisy is at an awkward position, and he hasn't helped at all. George should be honest with her, how come, though? If he hasn't been honest with himself.

As an answer, Y/N shakes her head, dismissing the matter. She forces a smile, George can tell, it's the same expression he writes on his face when he's tired and annoyed and still has to stop to take photos at an Award Show. "Good night, heartbreak prince," Y/N murmurs.

That strikes a chord. George whips his face around, baffled. First London Boy, now Heartbreak Prince. He can't remember it as clear, but his sister repeatedly plays a particular album when she bakes, it is the same record London Boy belongs too, and a certain song, phrase, quote, lyric, contains those two words Y/N just told him: Heartbreak Prince.

Greta gives George the day off. The rumour has spread that a beautiful and clingy visitor surprised him on set yesterday. George hadn't asked for special treatment, but Gerwig insists.

"Show your girl around," the director says over the phone, in the sage tone of a mother. He can't help but correct her, Daisy is not his girl, merely a friend. Greta laughs, maintaining her position, "I'll film the scenes you aren't in. Marina and Edmund (George frowns at it, he doesn't want Michael Fassbender kissing his girl. But at least it is not Dev Patel), falling in love. I had their scenes programmed in two days, I'm just going to advance it. We'll survive without you for a day, prince."

Prince?

And again, he tortures himself with his endless theories about London Boy and Heartbreak Prince. He tells Daisy he's tired, so they reclude on his suite. To show Daisy around feels like betraying Y/N, he visited every landmark on the city with her, and he doesn't want to corrupt the memories by bringing a girl who's not her.

George pours Daisy a cup of coffee. She slept in his bed last night after he'd gently unzipped her dress and slipped one of his sleeping shirts over her head. George fell asleep in a chair by the bed, watching her breathe and feeling like a terrible person. 

"Are you sure you don't want to go out? You shouldn't miss Mumbai's wonders because of me..." George comes to her side, handing her the cup, which she sets down on the nightstand. Then she holds out her arms, so he knows to crawl back into bed with her.

"I came here to be with you," she says, pulling him down until he's half on top of her. Her fingers thread through his hair on cue, but now the gesture lacks the confidence it used to have behind it. George doesn't know what makes him kiss her on the collarbone, almost like he's asking for forgiveness, but he does it once, twice, before resting his cheek against her chest.

They only have sex towards the end of the day, after George has texted his sister concerning a Taylor Swift song —he thinks is— about a Heartbreak Prince. As the other Daisy dips a teaspoon in each of the tarts and cakes available on the in-room dining menu, his sister sends him a youtube link to a song called Ms Americana & The Heartbreak Prince. George doesn't play it, it would be weird if he pulled out his AirPods with Daisy in the room. Instead, he reads the lyrics.

Scrolling through the words, he comes to terms that the nicknames might be nothing but a coincidence. He is indeed from London, and if anybody saw the way Daisy' stared at him at yesterday's dinner, they would have called him Heartbreak Prince as well. But another part of him, really wants it to be premeditated. He wants to be the London Boy, and he wants to be the boy Y/N thinks of when —if— she listens to Taylor Swift sing: you know I adore you, I’m crazier for you.

At dusk, when Daisy slides her hand up the back of his shirt, scratching lightly down his spine, George knows what she wants. She keeps her eyes open like she wants to memorise the expression on his face as he divests her of her underwear and pulls her body against his. Her mouth tastes like strawberries.

Daisy was never very vocal in bed. Whenever they get together, which is often because who's George kidding, that's basically the purpose of a no-strings-attached relationship, she muffles her moans into his shoulder or trades them for delicate gasps. The look of pure, unadulterated pleasure on her face expresses more than any sound could. Tonight, on the contrary, as he moves over her, she cries out uninhibitedly, like she doesn't care if anybody hears. Like she would just keep going even if someone came knocking on the door demanding her to shut the fuck up.

"Daisy," George forces out in the heat of it all, brows furrowed. "Am I hurting you?" And even as he says it, he hopes, so fervently, that Y/N is still out filming, not alone in her room next door, privy to their noise. It makes him sick to his stomach. The fact that he's thinking about someone else —another girl— when Daisy is wet and naked beneath him. "Tell me if I'm hurting you."

"Not like this," Daisy mumbles.

The cryptic nicknames are still running through George's mind when he's led to a chair and simultaneously seen to by hair and makeup. Daisy left this morning, much to George's relief. The feeling doesn't last long. He knows he should expect it by now (They shoot ninety per cent of their scenes together, for god's sake) but that doesn't stop him from jerking in surprise at the sweet sound of Y/N's voice. It sends his stomach into knots, and he swears he can feel something fluttering around.

"Hello," is all she says as she climbs into the makeup chair opposite George's. The stylists enveloped her in a white lace ruffle gown. Her dyed black, long hair has been placed into two victory rolls at either side of her head. It makes her look like a fucking angel and there, right there, is that wretched question in her eyes.

George folds his lips to wet them. "Long time no see, Gorgeous." He ventures, because his research told him it is also a Taylor Swift song, and maybe she'll take the sign that he has discovered her little riddle —if it even exists.  

"It's only been a day," Y/N giggles. "But I know what you mean."The tinge of longing behind it does not go unnoticed. 

"I didn't know about you and Dev," George ventures, because he can't help himself. "I guess it really is off this time with Henry."

"It's been over for a while, Geo." Y/N looks over, and the heat of her innocent gaze sets every single bump on George's spine on fire. "And Dev is just–"

"Are you sleeping with him?" George butts in.

Y/N's eyes darken. She’s clearly mad, and with the right to, what the fuck is wrong with him? "No. I'm not sleeping with him and its none of your business." Her voice is sharp and hollow, and George can only think about how even though he just screwed up, he can still get the girl. That, until Y/N continues, "Only one of us has bedded someone since we got to Mumbai, and it isn't me."

George flushes, swift as a sea swell. "You heard us?"

"I didn't have to," Y/N replies dryly.

Then, just like the first day they'd met, at the read-through in London, she seems to sense that she's said too much, and her mouth —that perfect, kissable mouth, stills over the last word. She shifts in her seat.

"I'm sorry," she mutters. "That was inappropriate of me."

"I'm sorry, too," George offers in return. Everything about the apology is melancholic.

"For what?"

"Thinking you were sleeping with him." After a pause, he continues, “And telling you about it. That was really disrespectful.”

But that's a lie. George is sorry for so many other things. He apologizes because he feels like he's just cheated on someone, and worse, on someone who's not even with him. Call him coward, George doesn't want to ruin what they have. What if she isn't over Henry? What if things don't work between them and they can never go back to this?

He doesn't know how long they sit in silence; it could be three minutes, it could be thirty. The hairstylists and makeup artists have long finished their work and proceeded to the craft service table. The crew is having technical difficulties today, something about the street’s uncooperative lighting. From behind them, George can make out an intense discussion on veganism between two of their co-stars (one plays Marina's maid, and the other plays Clint, a soldier who's close friends with James). Tomorrow, the girl and two other actors who portray Marina's parents will fly back to London, having completed their scenes in Mumbai.

George and Y/N, along with the rest of the actors who interpret Marina's love interests and Clint, will stay on for another six days to complete theirs.

"When I was dating Henry," Y/N says out of the blue, her voice stumpy but clear over the din of production. George smiles at the past tense she employs. "Someone else tried to confess his feelings for me."

"Just one person?" George is not in the teasing mood, so his smirk is lukewarm. He wants to thin the heavy sensation in the air around them. "I find that hard to believe."

"So did I," Y/N continues, "because we were really close friends."

That's not what George had meant, nor what he had been expecting. He wanted her to giggle, laugh even, not to feel like she's speaking to him. Maybe she suspects George fancies her, and this is her way to prevent him from going further.

"Oh." It takes a little time for him to formulate a better response. Y/N waits, or at least, that's what it feels like. "How did it happen?"

She picks at her fingernails, "He told me at a dinner party."

“What's a dinner without a little drama," George says, referring to their dinner with Daisy and Dev, just to fill in the static.

"After dinner, the cast was supposed to head to a bar and him, Booboo, said he wanted to drive with me."

"Booboo…” The name is too singular not to recognize. "Booboo Stewart?"

"Yes," she confirms. Y/N's fingers curl in the lacey fabric of her dress. "We walked to the parking lot together. And just like that, he began to tell me."

A chill treads lightly over George's nape. "What did he say?"

"Nothing," Y/N takes a deep, deep breath and releases it, like something in it has pained her. "I shut him down so fast. " Y/N's mouth sets in a grim line. "I asked him if he enjoyed the dinner, and all in a rush changed the subject to Henry and how good our relationship was at the moment...'"

"And what did he say?" George whispers. His heart is pounding out a hazardous beat.

"He didn't say a word," she tells him. "His face just crumpled, right there in front of me, and I felt so terrible." Y/N tugs at the snug, starched silver necklace she’s wearing as if it's part of the problem. "He was pretty much my best friend among the cast, you know? So I just pretended it never happen. I wanted him to know I still considered him a friend."

George can already see where this is going.

"But after that night, things just turned so weird between us," Y/N says. She's not looking at George, it only adds to his unease. "We couldn't rescue our friendship."

"It ruined it..." George murmurs.

The girl exhales, and it's as pained as it had been earlier. Her eyes have mellow considerably, and finally, she stares right into George's blue eyes. They don't exchange words for a while, their gazes seem to hold enough meaning. George is scared, frightened really, but he still manages to ask what intrigues him.

"Why," his throat works. "Why are you telling me this story?"

"I don't know." Y/N's voice falters, and George waits for the worst. Instead, she says something George didn't expect: "I guess because, recently, I feel like I'm Booboo, trying to say something and getting cut off before I can."

"If you're Booboo," George says, with a twinge, "then who is you?"

The look on Y/N's face is bewildered; soft and yielding too, like overheated butter.

There is a fifty per cent chance —George thinks to himself—, that she won't say what he wants her to say; rather, she will name the London Boy whose hair is black and eyes are brown. That leaves a fifty per cent chance —he continues thinking—, that Y/N will say what George wants her to say. And that is his name.

It is you, George.

"All right!" Greta bellows from the centre of the car park. Y/N snaps to attention, and the spell binding them together is broken. "Lighting issue addressed. We're ready for you!"

Inside, George's organs have turned to quicksand, caving into themselves speck by speck.

"That's us," Y/N says, hopping out of her chair. "Thanks for letting me ramble over my ridiculous stories," she laughs, and it rings with nerves.

George gets up too. "I like your stories," he mutters, suddenly thinking about closure and the different definitions it would hold for him, for Daisy, for Y/N and for, now happy (he hopes), Booboo Stewart.

"Excuse me?"

George didn't realize he wanted to tell someone so severely until Dean called and asked him about his time in Mumbai, his scenes for Dharma, and if he had won the bet. "You did. I liked it. Kissing Y/N."

"Are you telling me?”

"I want her." No filter. "I think I'm infatuated with her."

"Wow." Nothing is masking Dean's shock. "Wow. All this time, I was having a blast teasing you about it, because you're not the kind of man that falls for his co-star, but...wow." He chokes out a laugh. "You won't be a bachelor anymore, huh?"

"Won't I?" George says miserably. "Nothing is going to happen, Dean."

"Have you talked to her about it?"

"No." He and Y/N only talk in riddles. "It doesn't matter, either way, because I won't ruin our friendship."

"I understand," Dean puts in. For the first time in many months, George can tell his friend is being wholly serious. "But can things really go back to the way they were now that you know?"

"Now that I know...what?" A question for a question. It's always been a bad habit of George.

Dean spells it out for him with impatience. George can imagine him rolling his eyes, sick of him, "That you have these feelings for her." He exhales. "I hate to be the one to break this out for you, but if you don't tell her how you feel and she goes back to Henry or dates someone else, do you know how will that make you feel?" Dean barrels on, not bothering to stop for breath. "Ridiculous! Full of regrets! Like you lost her when you had the opportunity to be with her, right there in front of you. Idiot."

George grips his phone a little tighter. "I won't get hurt. And I have Daisy." He's gritting his teeth, molars digging into each other as he speaks. "She's a good girl, and she loves me, might give her a chance."

The silence is back, but only for a moment. "I understand you, Geo." It feels like their stations have been reversed, and Dean is age, and George is beauty. "Daisy is everything good." It's sad the way Dean says it, pitiful, even. "But you can't stay with people just because they're good. You stay with them because they are everything."

George tries to form a rebuttal to that, the leather case of his phone squeaking in his hand from how tightly he's grasping it. But he comes up empty, and he and Dean huff into the receiver at the same time.

The final scene of Marina and James is ironically, filmed on their last day in Mumbai. It is their reunion, where a wounded James comes back from England, unaware that Clint informed Marina about the injuries he suffered while fighting the rebellion, and that at the same fire in which Colonel Edmund lost his life, James lost his sight. Marina loves him and is finally able to be with him, even if Edmund is ashamed of the way his face, and body looks.

They're filming the whole thing at the Gateway of India. George remembers it well from the time they went to Elephanta and Y/N held onto his arm as if her life depended on it. George will remember it for another reason now: the end of a brief, bewitching chapter.

Greta Gerwig pulls his two leading stars into a meeting before she starts rolling. "I want to work with you two again," she says warmly. "I knew this movie was going to be a success when you both signed on."

They smile in turn, murmuring their thanks.

The director gets down to business, looking pleased as punch. "What I need you to do for me in this last scene is making me feel the longing." She squeezes her fists together with gusto. Then she looks at them with a smile painted on her thin lips. "I want it to feel like you're the only two people left in the world. Forget about the extras, and Aakesh looking at the scene. You don't see anybody else —George quite literally—, or hear anybody else, except the person in front of you, and how much you missed them while you were separated." Greta breathes in. "You think you can do that?"

"I'll try my best, Boss," Daniella says in earnest. George nods along, watching her. He wonders if Greta Gerwig, the screenwriter and the vastness of the universe are all conspiring against him.

George repasses his lines on his head, it's supposed to be a sign to the last time James and Marina saw each other —when they made love. The lines are the same, only said different, and George knows every single sentence James will speak to the woman he loves when he hears Greta Gerwig's "Action!"

George can hear the sound of his own breathing crisp in his ears. If he cuts his eyes, just so, to the right, he can make out the rosy swell of Y/N's lip.

"Can you love me like this?" he murmurs, chest heaving. The force of his real-life emotion slams into him like a concrete wall.

"Always" Y/N —no, it's Marina, Marina— thumbs over the still open scar that cuts from his right eye to his chin. Then, so slowly it aches, she kisses him.

There's a celebration party that evening at an Italian Restaurant. It's on the eighth floor of a midrise commercial building. From the window, George observes the rows and columns of flashy lights that crowd the horizon, blinding and unapologetic.

He and Y/N stick close together, preceding conversation for a silence that teems with unsaid things.

As the night winds down, and the people around them begin to file out in a wine-induced haze, George is emboldened enough to ask, "Can I sleep in your room tonight?" He knows how close he is to reveal himself (if George hasn't done it already), how inappropriate it is to ask that to a girl, and he doesn't give a shit. "For old time's sake."

"Uhm…yeah, no problem," Y/N answers. "Whatever you want." It's so simple, yet so loaded, and it makes George curl his toes inside his sneakers.

They take turns in the shower. George's brought his sleeping clothes and his toothbrush, the way he does when he goes over to Daisy's...but George stops the thought right there because he's decided to be selfish this final night. He's not going to think about her at all, neither about Henry or Dev Patel. Not even about the potential, this night has to ruin their friendship.

In the morning, when he flies back to London, everything will go back to normal anyway.

Y/N is already in bed when George emerges from the in-suite bathroom. She props himself up on her elbows when he shuts the bathroom door. Then she smiles, and she pats the space beside her, just like a friend would. It's the same side George had slept on when they'd taken that nap together.

"Did I wake you?" George asks, feeling warm and wistful.

"I wasn’t asleep" is Y/N's reply. "But I should be. Come on."

George feels the dip of the mattress under his backside. The linens guard fragrance of the detergent, and he senses the stillness of the air between his arm and Y/N's, under the covers, where they do not touch.

The girl turns over on her side. "We had a good time, didn't we?" Her breath fans over George's cheeks, toothpaste-fresh.  

"I had a blast." George stares at one of the switched-off ceiling lights. "I had so much fun working with you. And even when we weren't working," he adds in haste. "Every second of it."

Y/N is heavy-lidded, but not in a way that suggests lethargy. "The feeling," she says, "is mutual."

One, two, three, four, breathe. George tries to resist, tries to keep his head above water, but it's as if his body is on autopilot. He turns over on his side too, so he and Y/N can see each other's faces.

He lets the words breach his lips before he can change his mind. "Did Henry ever tell you how beautiful you are?"

It's enough to disrupt the assembly line of Y/N's slow, steady blinks. George loves the way her eyelids flutter, completely surprised. He files it away for the future when he can no longer see it up close.

Y/N's lips part. "Not recently."

"Take it from another man, then," he says with conviction. "You are beautiful."  

"You’re very handsome yourself," his companion mumbles.

George's heart pulses painfully. All right, George, it seems to chide. That's enough. That should be enough to last you.

It's like Y/N has read his mind: "We should get some sleep." She presses her lips together; they're moist at the centre from where she's darted out her tongue. "Early flight tomorrow."

"You're right," the boy agrees. And at that very moment, he feels impossibly reckless.

There's a surge of something potent behind his ribcage, and then he's leaning over and pecking Y/N's bottom lip —so softly, it could almost pass as innocent.

"Good night, Gorgeous," he whispers, bravado slipping a mile and minute. He doesn't look her in the eye. He only turns his body in the opposite direction and switches off the lamp on his nightstand.

The room falls dark.

When Y/N cautiously hooks an arm over his waist and keeps it there, it liquefies George's bones.

"Sweet dreams, Geo," she whispers into his nape. Her voice is defenceless, and it seems to suggest that Y/N isn't holding him to any promises. "Thank you for Mumbai," she tells him, and it breaks George's heart.

ɴᴇxᴛ ►

A/N: The next chapter is the last one, loves. xx