#timaeus is so worried

[northersouth]

KaeMAYeus Week 1:

Warming Up | Pet Names

"Here, give me your hand."

Kaeya laughed, holding out his left.

"So forward Sparrow, I'm flattered but aren't you moving a bit-"

"Not like that." Timaeus took Kaeya's hand, massaging the salve onto his skin. "Your hands are really chapped."

"It's better than frost bite."

"It's a step before frost bite."

-It's Cold Outside, StarrlightKittens

[satinroses]

Off the beaten path

Yan! Albedo x reader x Yan! Susbedo

4874 Words

GN! reader

Summary: Albedo has been frantic about keeping you far away from Dragonspine for reasons unknown but when Sucrose asks you to go to Dragonspine to gather some ingredients for her you can’t help but go there however when you arrive Albedo doesn’t seem at all upset over your sudden arrival in Dragonspine… rather he seems uncharacteristically enthusiastic.

guys this is my first fic so erm I'm sorry if it’s really bad :[

Warnings: typical yandere behaviours, non-con kissing, both Albedos being little creeps, Y/N needs a break and has official permission to execute them both, Y/N is a smidge naïve, Manipulation, gaslighting

The brisk air of Dragonspine doesn’t sit gently in your lungs, instead its crispness demands your attention. Each breath is invigorating. You were never one to focus on meditation or breathing techniques, seeing little interest in self-reflection or mindfulness however on mornings like this one on Dragonspine with the bright morning sun rising to full mast you couldn't help but feel rather contemplative. 

Admittedly you were not as alchemically inclined as your lover, the chief alchemist of the Knights of Favonius however when sucrose entered Albedo’s office late at night in a state of utter disarray as the samples of flora she had procured from Dragonspine had seemingly vanished from under her very nose you couldn’t help but take pity on the poor girl in her panic. Tomorrow morning she would be too busy refining the remaining electro hypostasis’ lightning prisms from her last journey outside the walls of Mondstadt for yet another experiment… She simply wouldn't be able to make the trek to Dragonspine and back while also completing all of her tasks but despite her pleading the knights were far too busy to waste their time collecting mere greenery.

You shifted on your feet, you always thought she held herself to a far harsher standard than she deserved, constantly focusing on her shortcomings as Albedo’s apprentice rather than acknowledging what an accomplished and gifted alchemist she was in her own right. You walked towards the distraught green-haired alchemist, firmly grasping her on each shoulder. At your steady grasp sucrose looked up at the reassuring smile you gave her “Sucrose! Don’t fret so much, you’ve already done more than enough. I’ve got it handled, I’ll head to Dragonspine first thing tomorrow morning and I'll have the samples for you before lunchtime.” For the first time since Sucrose entered the room you could feel your lover's eyes rising from the notebook where he had been scrawling away his recent findings for the past few hours, his turquoise eyes piercing into your body as though if he stared hard enough he’d be able pierce your subconsciousness and reprogram you, as though if he impressed his vision into you long enough you would eventually be remade in his vision, as though staring could somehow convince you to rescind your offer. 

Although Albedo was typically indifferent about how you spent your time and who you associated with, you couldn't help but notice that recently he had been very clearly trying to shepherd you away from the snowy peak of Dragonspine. Any ideas of visiting him while he was working was quickly shot down with a “It’s not worth the trek, most of my work in Dragonspine will be done soon enough, there is no point in journeying all that way”. Any mentions of stopping by to drop off some warm food for himself, Sucrose and Timaeus was quickly halted with a “we pack more than enough food and there are plenty of braziers around the camp, please don't worry yourself” much to the dismay of Timaeus. It felt as though every attempt to come see him working had been instantly stopped by some rebuttal he had regarding it as a waste of time and energy.

It would be a lie to say your heart didn’t ache with every blatant refusal to your attempts to visit him on the mountain. He let Kaeya, Klee and Sucrose visit him freely but he seemed particularly insistent that you do not come to Dragonspine, that you don't even entertain the idea. In spite of Albedo's recent reluctance for you to venture to the frozen mountain, you refused to be deterred. This particular voyage was not a selfish endeavour for your own entertainment… no! Sucrose needed your help and you refused to let her down. It would be a breeze to wander about the mountain picking flowers for a little while before meandering back to Mondstadt to what would likely be a hero’s welcome from the young woman, besides with your pyro vision strapped to your waist you sincerely doubted any hillichurls would be causing you issues and you knew well enough to steer clear of any Fatui outposts placed along the winding frozen pathways.

The mint-haired woman let out a deep sigh of relief, her breathing steadying as she looked at you hopefully “really?! You will? Thank you so much Y/N I- I don't know how to repay you I-'' you laughed warmly at the girl’s gratitude “think nothing of it! It’ll be a piece of cake, besides I haven't left Monstadt’s walls in weeks, going out and exploring will do me some good.” It seemed as though this past month almost every commission took place within the walls of Mondstadt, if you had to clean that blasted statue of Barbatos or tell that creep Albert to knock it off one more time you were going to go crazy, on the rare occasion you were given a commission that left the walls of Mondstadt it was something mundane like a food delivery to Springvale and back. You hadn’t had a single combat commission in weeks. you had filed several complaints to Katherine about the distribution of commissions and despite her promises to reach out to her higher ups regarding potential flaws in the commission distribution system, she still hadn't gotten back to you.

With Sucrose’s issue resolved and her mind soothed you gently guide her to the door of Albedo’s office “It’s getting late and I’m sure you’ll have a busy day tomorrow” you say to her, clasping the bronze door handle and holding the door open “I’ll see you tomorrow, verdure in tow!” you exclaimed as you watched the girl amble over to the exit of the Knight’s headquarters, waving you a polite goodbye. 

You softly shut the thick oak door to Albedo’s office not wanting to disturb the diligent genius, taking his silence during your conversation with sucrose as a sign of him returning to his work. Ever the academic, Albedo rarely allowed himself to be distracted from a task once he had dedicated himself to it, however upon turning around you were greeted by Albedo still staring at you intently, his eyes having never once left your frame. His pupils were dilated, the darkness engulfing his iris leaving only a sliver of blue as an outermost ring. He didn’t blink as though afraid you would slip from his grasp the moment he shut his eyes. His body was still, his entire being focused on watching you as though he was waiting for something to happen. He hadn’t written a word since your mention of Dragonspine, his studies completely paused as his pen stayed pressed on his crisp white notepad, a thick ink blot seeping into the page and staining it but in spite of this, the observant Albedo didn’t make any effort to move the pen.

Seeing Albedo so on edge subsequently had you unsettled. You gently walk across the plush red carpet approaching Albedo, taking the pen out of his hand and setting it down on his desk before he could further sully his work. Only upon your contact with him did he seemingly snap out of the daze he was in, blinking softly. His eyes still zeroed in on you but they seemed softer, less frantic. Upon setting the pen down you began to wrap your coat around your shoulders “you know what i said to sucrose is right, i should be heading home soon before i have to bump into the crowd of tavern crawlers on their way from The Cat’s Tail to The Angel’s Share” you joke gently attempting to lighten the mood, Albedo barely manages a smile at your jest. instead getting up and shoving his arms haphazardly into the sleeves of the jacket he stripped off hours ago “let me walk you home. It’s getting far too dark for you to be wandering about Mondstadt alone. I wouldn't be able to rest well unless I knew you made it back safely.” You smile bashfully at the consideration he's shown for you.

“Oh Albedo, i don't want to be a bother I'm sure you have plenty of things to-”

“I insist.”

“Well if you insist” you smile softly, your heart fluttering at his show of chivalry

You nodded and fiddled with the buttons of your coat, your fingers trembling as Albedo stood by the door waiting for you to be ready to leave. Upon noticing your battle with your buttons Albedo quickly faced you as he placed your hands by your side to instead button your coat up himself. The moment you were suitably clothed to brace the cool Mondstadt evenings Albedo’s arm snaked around your waist as he ushered you out of the Knight’s headquarters. Your cheeks warmed at his gesture as the reserved alchemist’s hand enclosed your waist tightly, pulling you closer into him as though he was trying to mould you together, unable to be separated by anyone or anything. You attempted to initiate some small talk as you wandered through Mondstadt, however Albedo hardly noticed. He muttered vague replies or made noises of affirmation as you discussed your day and how cold it had been recently and how excited you were for the next Windblume festival. Instead Albedo’s eyes were fixed intently on the shadows the dim streetlamps of Mondstadt cast as though a ghost was about to peer out from one of the alleys. As you reached your home you opened the door yet Albedo's hand didn't move from your waist. You stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to release you from his grasp but he didn’t move his hand until several awkward seconds had passed before he hesitantly allowed you to walk through your front door. “Goodnight Albedo” you whisper gently before pressing a gentle peck to his cheek. You disappear behind your door trying to forget about Albedo’s peculiar behaviour tonight, fretting about what could have possibly made him so troubled. In spite of your concern about Albedo’s recent behaviours you slipped into an uneasy sleep, unaware of how he remained steadfastly on your doorstep like a statue keeping watch until the sun began to peak over the rolling hills of Mondstadt and he reluctantly retired to his own abode.

●・○・●・○・●・

The crunch of the fresh layer of snow beneath your shoes invigorated you as you continued your trek along the mountainside. Your head felt light as you inhaled the overwhelming saccharine scent of the half dozen sweet flowers you had found, your hand clutching the stems of the flowers gently, determined to bring Sucrose back the best possible samples. Alas you couldn’t help but feel as though your luck had all but run out when you began to search for mint. Perhaps some traveller had plucked the last of it in this area or maybe you were just unlucky. You bent over in the snow, your head almost grazing the ground as you sifted your hands through the snow hoping your fingers might latch onto even a mint sapling, that perhaps the constant winter snowfall had simply covered up all the fresh mint. After a few minutes of sifting through the mountainside snow you began to instinctively reach for your weapon as a distinctly humanoid presence loomed over you… there shouldn't be Fatui this far from the main path but perhaps these were scouts for a larger group. You held your breath not wanting the person to realise you were aware of their presence until you were ready or you were forced to act, likely the latter. As several minutes passed and you still pretended to be focused on the frost dusted ground beneath you rather than the presence looming over your form you were confused as to why they hadn’t approached yet… perhaps it was just some freezing adventurer too sheepish to ask for help so they were simply waiting to be noticed… or perhaps it was an inquisitive little snow fox or boar who would scurry away the moment you acknowledged it yes, that sounded much better. You would turn around and be greeted by some shy little forest animal who would flee the moment you acknowledged it. Yes. That was it. Nothing bad is behind you. You began to repeat in your head as you rested your numb hands on the hilt of your weapon before taking a deep breath and turning around.

Of all the potential scenarios you imagined being greeted by, seeing Albedo staring at you in utter shock was not one of them. You exhaled softly before you began to chuckle in relief, pressing your hand over your thumping heart as you chastised your over-active imagination. You smile gently “‘Bedo I didn't think I’d bump into you, what are you doing on this part of the mountain?” You awaited a response yet you weren’t greeted by one, you looked back up at Albedo but instead of him offering you a small smile or him trying to usher you off the mountain he simply stood there staring at you as though it was the first time he had truly seen you. He drank in deep breaths, his mouth slightly agape as his eyes danced across you, blinking softly as though trying to dispel some sort of illusion “Albedo? Everything okay?” you ask gently, your mind already on slight alert after his peculiar behaviour last night. Suddenly he let out a deep gasp as he stuttered out “what are you doing here? I thought… i thought you weren’t fond of Dragonstone…” you look up at Albedo in utter confusion “Not fond…? Albedo what are you talking about, you’re the one who practically forces me off the mountain” you say, half joking, half serious.

Albedo’s gaze becomes cold as he spits out “of course I do” with a venom unfamiliar to his voice, his eyes glaring into the ground with such profound hatred it startles you. He quickly remembers your presence and haphazardly attempts to regain his composure with a deep breath and a few blinks before he says in an even tone “then what are you doing here then Y/N? Shouldn’t you be in Mondstadt?” Your heart beat steadily accelerates as you feel your skin crawling as Albedo stares at you, his gaze seeping into your skin as he drinks in every little detail, his eyes fixating on every mole and birthmark and freckle, desperately imprinting them into his mind like this is the last time he might ever see you “we discussed this last night remember? I’m looking for some flowers for Sucrose’s experiment” you state, your voice tight as my body tense like a coiled spring ready to launch itself out of the grasping hands of the alchemist.

Albedo puts his hand on his chin as he begins to mutter “Sucrose… Sucrose… Sucrose… Sucrose!” he had sounded utterly befuddled by the mention of her until the final mutter of Sucrose seemed to ignite some spark of familiarity, like Sucrose was more of a passing acquaintance rather than his most promising protégé. 

“Yes of course Sucrose needed some flowers like we discussed last night”

“Yes that would appear to be the case” You giggled breathlessly, trying to ignore the pit of bile bubbling in your stomach “I just want to find some mint and then I'll begin the trudge back to Mondstadt”

“Oh… some mint? I think I know where you might be able to find some”

“O-Oh are you sure I don't want to be a bother and I don't want to get in the way of anything or be a nuisance or knock something important over in your lab” You stuttered out sheepishly, trying to find any way to get back to Mondstadt.

“Nonsense I’ve set up a temporary second camp just a little ways up the mountain, follow me. I’m sure we’ll find plenty of flora up there”

“Okay yes you’re right” You beam trying to ignore how tight the grin feels, like your skin is cracking underneath it. He holds out his soft cool palm waiting for you to grab it. You gently settle your hand in his unable to hear how his breath hitches softly as your numb fingers are clutched by his, a barely noticeable flush spreading across his complexion. Each step in the direction of this second camp makes your foot feel heavier until eventually you’re practically shuffling through the snow. As you wind through the passageways of the mountain you can’t help but feel like you’re going far too high but each time you ask Albedo about the new camp’s location you’re greeted by the same excuse “just a little ways further.”

“‘Bedo…” you stutter out “I should turn back, I need to get these flowers back to Sucrose soon. I promised she’d have them by lunchtime and the sun is getting rather high” 

He stopped in his tracks, the hand that had been grasping onto yours tightens with an unnatural grip “but we’re almost there” he smiles out, the smile far too large and toothy to look natural on him, mimicking a lion baring its teeth far more than a reassuring grin “just a little further” he repeats once more as he continues up the path, your hand still held tightly in his. You had followed him for as long as your reason had allowed but now you were venturing into parts of Dragonspine unknown even to you as he dragged you up yet another beaten path. You smile half heartedly, trying to ignore the primal sensation of fear when Albedo smiles at you, the undeniable emotion of something being deeply wrong every time he tightens his hold on your hand.

You stop walking and begin to try to coax your limb out of his grip but the gentle tugging of your hand out of his makes his smile drop. He balls his now empty fist as he pauses and stares down the offending limb as though it had personally wronged him. you stare at your feet, your eyes darting between your snow scuffed boots and the sweet flowers clasped tightly in your other hand as you try to avoid albedo’s gaze permeating through you. Albedo’s lack of social adeptness was often something you found endearing, another quality which raised the alchemist’s standing in your eyes but right here in the crisp morning air of Dragonspine with the sun shining far too bright, there was never another quality you despised more. The chief alchemist simply stared. you tried to move. You could apologise to Albedo for your behaviour later but as you were about to move your legs his fist grasped onto your wrist with a bruising grip. You reflexively dropped the sweet flowers that you had kept grasped securely in your hand as Albedo’s cold hand fixed around your wrist. You couldn't find it in your panic stricken haze to even think about the flowers that were now resting on the cold mountain snow. 

You yelped out in pain before looking up at Albedo for an explanation for his sudden change in demeanour. He offered none, instead he shifted his cold, stiff body closer against yours so your fronts were pressed together, chest to chest. He breathed down on your face, his breath wasn’t warm or wet like you had expected, instead it felt cool on your skin. Snowflakes settled on his long lashes as his pupils dilated, flickering to your lips. You stood stock still as confusion began to cloud your mind. Albedo’s gloved other hand rose to your lips, gently caressing them. “So warm…” he muttered absentmindedly as he traced the curve of your cupid's bow before his finger fell down to your lower lip. You enclosed your only free hand around Albedo’s, coaxing his fingers away from your lips instead you placed it down by his side “‘Bedo… I promised Sucrose those flowers, I need to get back to Mondstadt soon” his expression hardened before he finally acquiesced. Albedo’s dismay at you having to leave so soon was apparent until a mischievous glint alit in his eye. He tightened his grip on your arm before he whispered against your lips “I'll let you return to Sucrose if you promise me adequate compensation…” you could have laughed at the absurdity of Albedo’s demands “compensation?” you guffawed “You can't be serious Albedo.” he pulled you closer, no space was left between you as he tittered airily, running his hand softly through your hair “shh shh shh… I don't want mora and I don't want favours, I just want” his cheek flushed pink in spite of the confidence he exuded as he breathed out “I just want a kiss. That's all.” You were perplexed at Albedo’s request, since your relationship with the chief alchemist had been formalised he had rarely felt the need to formally ask for permission to kiss you but the Albedo here and now was blushing like a virgin at the mere thought of it. 

Typically you might have questioned his sudden change in behaviour but with some divine intervention seemingly handing you a way out of this awkward exchange on a golden platter you didn’t feel inclined to throw it back in the face of whichever archon had decided to bless you with this opportunity. Instead you leaned in softly before pressing a gentle, hesitant kiss to Albedo’s lips. To your relief his remaining grip on your hand loosened as your lips skimmed his but the sudden slackness didn't seem to affect just his hand but rather his whole body as he didn't kiss you back. Instead Albedo kept his eyes tightly shut as his entire body froze, the only part of his body that seemed tense was his furrowed brows. It was as though he were in a state of deep contemplation, focusing only on memorising the feeling of your warm lips on his. With his attention completely on the feeling of your mouth slotted against his own and his arms resting loosely by his sides, you took the chance to quickly separate yourself from him, turning away and fleeing along the frosty pathway down the mountain in a desperate attempt to escape the unnerving encounter.

You couldn’t hear Albedo calling out to you or following behind you so once you had made significant distance between where you and Albedo had been standing you turned to face him. To your surprise Albedo hadn’t moved an inch, he stayed exactly as you had left him, as though suspended in the moment in which your lips left his. The only difference is that this time his eyes were ignited with a cold determination, a look you knew to be unique to Albedo when he made a breakthrough experiment, when he found an ingredient he had been scavenging for months to find, when he finally located a dusty old tome or scrap of paper which had the information he needed and now when he stared at your frame scurrying down the mountain. As the base of the mountain came into view and your nerves began to settle you realised that in your desperation to get away you had left the flowers on the snowy ground. You halted for half a second, your foot pivoting as you prepared to venture back up the winding path but as your eyes met the incline up the mountain you were filled with paralysing nausea. Every single instinct in your body was fighting against the idea of going back up the mountain. Whatever interaction you and Albedo had shared up there, a raw, primitive, instinctual part of you knew that it had been wrong, that it had been off, that if you went back up the path then you truly believed you would not make it back down the mountain for a second time.

●・○・●・○・●・

Almost slipping down the mountain in your haste to escape your peculiar encounter with Albedo you didn't dare stop until you reached the Adventurer’s camp on the outskirts of the mountain where you finally felt the hammering of your heart slow for the first time this morning now that you had escaped the sheer cold of Dragonspine but even then with Albedo’s peculiar behaviour these past few weeks and in particular today you still couldn't feel at ease, even as you began to trudge out of the Adventurer’s camp and back towards Dadaupa Gorge.

You almost did a double take when you saw a frantic Albedo hurrying towards Dragonspine, his hand resting tightly on the hilt of his cinnabar spindle, his body tensed and ready to pounce. “...Albedo…? How did you get down here so fast?” you called out, eyeing the alchemist wearily. You had never felt more bewildered. Upon hearing you call out to him Albedo’s hand loosened on the hilt of his blade. He ran to you and wrapped you tightly in his arms, one arm wrapped around your waist so tightly it was suffocating you, the other clawed into your hair, his fingers digging into your scalp. He pulled you close as he had on the mountain however this time he buried his head into your neck as he inhaled deeply.

As you stood there embracing the startled alchemist you could feel just how intensely his hands were trembling but you couldn't help but pry for answers in your state of bewilderment. You were certain Albedo had been behind you as you descended the mountain and even if he had followed you down (which you suspected he had) how would he have gotten ahead of you? Albedo hadn’t been leaving Dragonspine when you met him here but rather he had been approaching, he had to have come from the direction of  Mondstadt. You asked louder this time “Albedo, how did you get ahead of me?” You were up on the mountain last time I saw you.” At your declaration Albedo finally peeled his from your neck, his manic eyes darting across you assessing for any damage before he finally seemed to regain some semblance of awareness “how did i… i know dragonspine like the back of my hand Y/N. it wasn’t hard to overtake you” Albedo stated trying to steady his voice. Although it’s likely the Alchemist knew the Mountain far better than you did… you didn’t fully believe him. You couldn't fully believe him. Not when you saw how terrified Albedo had seemed as he bounded towards the mountain in such a distressed state you almost didn't recognise the alchemist, not when you felt just how tightly he had clutched onto you as though you were about to slip through his fingers, not when you could feel how frantically his heart was beating as he held you to him. 

You continued to insist Albedo explain what had happened, why he had been acting so strangely. The expression in Albedo’s eyes was unreadable, something you had never seen in the chief alchemist’s eyes before, something almost reminiscent of fear. As you both traversed down galesong hill towards the city of freedom you stopped Albedo and turned him to face you as you whispered in a pleading tone “Albedo please… just explain to me what happened up there. I’m not upset with you, I'm just confused. What happened up there? You seemed rather out of sorts.” Albedo’s lips grew into a thin line, the expression on his face was a grim one but instead of any explanation he simply pressed the back of his palm to your forehead “you’re burning up” he mutters. Yet again Albedo’s actions fill you with nothing but confusion.

“Burning up? What are you talking about Albedo? I feel fine just please, answer my question” you cry out, frustration beginning to rise as he dances around your question yet again

“Yes, you’re shivering too and it’s clear you’re in a state of confusion, from these symptoms I’d estimate that you’re suffering from the early stages of hypothermia” Albedo says in an even, methodical tone

“H-hypothermia? Albedo what on Teyvat are you-?” you pause as Albedo begins to take off his coat, wrapping it tightly around your shoulders

“Honestly you should have dressed warmer if you were planning to go to Dragonstone, you need to take better care of yourself Y/N. now come on, you’ll need to be treated for this but I'll only be able to do it back in Mondstadt where we can warm you up” Albedo said wrapping his arm around your waist as he began to walk even faster towards Mondstadt, keeping you tucked closely into his side. You didn’t feel weak and you didn’t feel tired, the rational part of your mind wanted to doubt Albedo’s diagnosis but an equally significant part of you wanted to accept what Albedo said, to dismiss this whole morning as some strange illness induced hallucination. yes that must be it... You insisted internally. You’re unwell and this illness is messing with your head like Albedo says. You’re not being completely rational so right now just need to trust Albedo and head back to Mondstadt for treatment and you need to forget how Albedo keeps glaring at Dragonspine with pure loathing as though daring the mountain itself to come and try to take you from him, It must just be the cold getting to you.

[teaquaccey]

Okay… soooo… (Eng ver)

Okay so…

I’ve been thinking of this thing for Sagau Genshin for a while but like…

I’m not sure how to explain it…

So, here’s the idea!

I don’t remember where I heard it but it was about the lore about visions.

Archons don’t give them out like candy, but the gods who give them to the inhabitants of Teyvat as a somewhat “help” to the user to achieve their ambition.

But once their ambition has been fulfilled the vision goes out like Tomo’s or something like that and finally the gods receive something greater than what the user wanted.

But it also serves as an “eye” of sorts like a mini spy camera.

I’m not sure how legitimate this info is but, where im trying to go is…

What if the vision also work as a “shield” and blocks the vision holders ability to identify the reader as the creator and such?

Just imagine…

You wake up in Teyvat and the only people that can identify you as a highly being are the npc’s and not the vision users?

Imagine an imposter au with an imposter that is perceived as the creator by the vision users but that is actually a group of gods manipulating their perception or ability to identify the creator by making one of them play the role of the creator.

The reason behind this is because they want to rebel against the creator or something, i dunno maybe they lost badly against the creator in uno or something like that idk.

And because the vision users don’t have the ability to sense anything strange with you they don’t report it to the rest.

And because of how much energy or attention the gods have to keep on the whole creator play they don’t pay any attention to you for the first months?

You would be free from the vision users…

But the npc’s?

Oh dear…

Imagine the gods and imposter finally notice your presence and send the rest to hunt you down.

Imagine the least likely people teaming up together like…

In Mondstadt it would be like…

-Oh! Amber here for the usual?- Sara asks the outrider.

-An imposter?! No! I haven’t seen anyone looking like their grace…- She answered sounding surprised.

—-

-No information about the so called “Imposter” again Master Diluc- Charles informed the red headed that had visited the Tavern with just that exact purpose.

—-

-An imposter? I’m sorry Acting Grand Master, but I’ve seen no one looking identical to their grace!- Marjorie mentioned looking at the blonde.

-I see…- Jean ponders.

-If any information arises please inform us immediately- She mentioned.

-Of course- Marjorie replied as the blonde left.

Jean left as she went back to headquarters.

Finding the imposter was going to be a bit more challenging than expected.

Lost in her thoughts she barely managed to dodge Blanche and Charles who were carrying boxes with what looked to be food and beverages.

-Oh! My apologies- She mentioned.

-Oh no worries Grand Master Jean- Blanche brushed it off as both her and Charles walked towards Marjorie’s shop

She found it a bit suspicious how the three seemed to be together but soon her concerns went away as she realized how paranoid she was that she was now even doubting about Mondstads citizens.

Jean shook her head in disapproval of her eavesdropping and walked away to see how were the others with the search.

Once the three were in the clear they entered the building where a certain Creator was reading a book.

-Glad to see that you’ve been doing alright, your grace-

In Dragonspine:

-Is something wrong, Albedo?- Timaeus asks.

-You see… there have been rumors of a so called imposter…- Albedo explains

-An imposter?!- Timaeus asks in surprise.

-What do you mean…-

-Mmhh, Timaeus… you have been in the city for longer than I, have you not had any encounter with a person with similar characteristics to their grace?- He asks

-No, I’ve seen no one with their appearance…- Timaeus denies.

-Mmhh I see… by the way, I don’t want to sound invasive but why have you’ve been asking about the price of my paintings? I wasn’t aware that you were interested on the arts- Albedo inquired as poor Timaeus tried to come up with an excuse to not expose that he wanted to get one to give it to the creator because they commented that they liked them.

-Well um… because why not?- He mentioned sheepishly

-Huh…- Albedo pondered.

Suspicious.

In Liyue it might be like…

-Mr. Shitou one of my clients has complained over the lack of quality of the Noctilucous Jade you’ve been selling- Yanfei mentions interrogating Shitou.

-Well, you see business hasn’t been going well lately and…- He tried to excuse himself trying to find an excuse after he has been commissioning different hair pins and accessories to be made with said material to later give them to their Grace.

-Huh… this is the same thing Linglang told me at the antiques shop! Is business really not blooming right now?- Yanfei asked herself.

-Anyways, my client would still want to demand you for the low quality of your products-

-What?!-

-We’ll be paying for the troubles Miss Yanfei-

Before she knew it, Yanfei was now in front of the Northland Bank.

-We are the ones who have been buying all the good quality Noctilucous Jade from Mr. Shitou- Nadia mentioned helping Shitou cover from this.

They didn’t wouldn’t want to see their grace upset because one of their followers business broke because of them…

In Inazuma:

-I commissioned a new kimono for you your grace! Is it to your liking?- Hiiragi Chisato asked as she showed her a beautiful made Kimono she had sent from Fontaine.

-Wow…-

-Ah yes, your grace we have been waiting to give you these for quite some time- Xixi mentioned as she presented a bunch of boxes filled with various gifts.

(I dunno why but I feel like being in Ritou wouldn’t be so bad I mean, here is where most Npc’s are at… just be careful with the boats and every should be fine)

(Everywhere else I think you’d be pretty screwed not gonna lie xd)

In Sumeru…

I’m too tired to keep making stories…

But I think people like Dunyarzard would be so nice! Like she comes from money as far as I can remember so I can imagine her taking us to the Grand Bazaar.

It would still be a bit complicated to go there however since Nilou and Dehya would be there and with the switch that the gods forgot to turn off to recognize you again… yeah it’s gonna be a bit difficult to convince them but we have a sweet, lovely person like Dunyarzard! And the grand bazaar you should be fine… probably…

In Fontaine…

Melusines or Poisson, either place and you should be good at.

But this place is the trickiest however since there seems to be someone with a vision almost everywhere you may go.

Overall…

It would be like a very big game of hide and seek where the seekers(the vision users) are breaking their minds trying to find you while the supposedly spectators that shouldn’t help you are just watching them while helping you, basically cheating in the game.

Just image a war between the two factions like oh my gosh!

There was this Npc’s… I don’t remember her name(also to lazy to search it up xd) that was part of the Aranara quest, like the forest watcher that helped us, you know what I mean? Got into an accident, Aranara help, Aranara quest and finally she went out into adventures with the Aranara that saved her.

Just imagine if we meet her before anything and then she gets her vision like…

She puts it on as an accessory and doesn’t sense the Creator’s aura.

She takes it off and she notices it.

She finds out slowly about what visions really do and with some scholars from the Akademiya they start coming up with a plan or device to take away people visions so that they realize who the actual god is.

The possibilities…

Also dunno where to put the archons here I think they would notice the aura of the creator because they don’t have visions and such so maybe they’re in the rebellion against the gods of celestia and the fake creator.

Neuvillete and Furina would also probably be in the creators side because Furina’s vision is if I don’t remember badly given to her by Neuvillete.

So yeah…

Just something that I’ve been thinking about while I try to sleep.

This is just a very crapy idea but anyways hope someone likes it :,)

Also!

I don’t think my posts are appearing in the etiquettes i’ve been putting them at, because this is a very new blog I made with the only purpose of publishing this.

So if anyone that somehow sees this thread can help me with reblogging it you would be helping me a lot!

I really want to share this Idea with more people!

Once again thank you!

(Also good luck for anyone pulling for Clorinde and Alhaitham!)

(I’m personally pulling for Sethos, fingers crossed that he comes in a ten pull or else I’m gonna be so close to 70 pity and I don’t want neither of the current 5 stars, even though they are cool)

(Anyways good luck and thanks for reading!)

(:D)

[lovelyney]

───────BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT──────

DESC: For this Windblume, the Knights of Favonius decide to hold a grand ball, and Albedo decides to ask you !!

PAIRINGS: Albedo x (F!) Reader

SCENT: Fluff with a hint of hurt/comfort

WARNINGS: Panic attacks, Albert being a creep (don’t worry it isn’t anything too bad.)

FLORIST’S NOTE: I need to stop making empty promises, LMFAO. I’m proud of this piece, ngl; it’s 4,000 words long, which is why it forever to edit. . . Let me know if you want a continuation !!

SONG: I Hear a Symphony, Cody Fry.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯2023 !! #©LOVELYNEY

ALBEDO SAT AT HIS DESK, pen resting between his fingers as he scribbled down some notes from his latest experiment. After meeting the others, he wanted to take some time to himself—the silence bringing him some sense of tranquility.

A soft knock on the door burst the silence like a balloon. “Come in, but please watch your step.” Albedo forewarned, gaze primarily focused on the various papers littered on his desk.

Sucrose walked in, quietly shutting the door behind her. “Um, my—my apologies if I’m interrupting something important, mister Albedo. I just found something that I think you might be interested in,” she said. 

He raised an eyebrow, his interest piquing. “Oh? Does it have to do with that paper you’re holding?”

She slid the flyer she held over to him, a confident look in her eyes. “The Knights of Favonius are holding a ball for Windblume this year! I—I know you don’t really prefer social gatherings, but I remembered you mentioned something about wanting to take (NAME) out somewhere. . . So, I figured this was something you could consider.” She acknowledged.

The gentle tapping of his pen against the desk stopped at the mention of you; you were a popular baker amongst Monstandt and one of a few of Albedo’s close friends. He met you when Klee dragged him to your bakery one day and found himself enchanted with how you carried yourself.

The alchemist skimmed through the flyer’s contents while remaining deep in thought. He couldn’t help but smile at the idea of dancing with you—one of the many things he’s dreamed of doing with you.

His fingers drummed his desk as he sighed; “as much as I would love to take (NAME) to this. I am. . . unaware how she feels about these kinds of events herself.”

Sucrose nodded and held back a giggle, not used to her mentor being so love-stricken. “I considered that as well. . . I believe Timaeus is asking his crush to go with him! So it wouldn’t hurt to ask! I know how long you’ve been wanting to confess to her. . .” The girl encouraged.

A shiver crawled up Albedo’s spine at the contemplation of confessing. There was nothing more he wanted than to be with you romantically, but aside from the notes he documented, he didn’t know a thing about pursuing that kind of relationship. What if he screws it up and hurts you in the process? The thought alone made him want to throw up. But then again, Sucrose proved a point; he wouldn’t know without trying.

He exhaled slowly, “alright, I’ll go and find her when I’m finished up here. Thanks, Sucrose.”

She nodded excitedly. “n—no problem! I’m pretty sure she closes at six today. . . Good luck, mister Albedo!”

The rest of the day seemed to fly by without Albedo noticing. with thoughts of you engraved in his head and his research, he never bothered to peek outside his window or check the time.

After locking up the lab for the day, he peered up at the city’s clock, eyes widening when the time read 6:02. “Was I really working for so long? She should still be cleaning up. . . Hopefully, I’m not too late.” He thought and headed to the bakery. When he reached there, he breathed a sigh of relief at seeing you wiping down the counters.

The sound of the doors opening caused your head to turn. “‘Bedo? What brings you here at this time?” You wondered.

He smiled, “hello, (NAME). My apologies for coming in rather late, but I was hoping I could ask something of you.”

Your lips pressed together as you nodded timidly. You weren’t sure what you could offer him since your guys’ jobs were completely different. “Oh! Of course, what is it?” 

Albedo pulled out the flyer and handed it to you. “The Knights of Favonius are holding a dance for this Windblume. . . If you wouldn’t mind, I would like you to accompany me to it,” he requested blatantly.

You blinked in astonishment, the heat of a volcano suddenly soaking you. “A—Accompany you to the dance? Um. . . are—are you sure you’d want me too?” You doubted, voice hushed. It’s not like you didn’t want to go—far from it, actually.

He tilted his head, carefully studying your expression. “I don’t see why not? Is there perhaps something I’m missing in terms of bringing someone along? Or do you not want to come?” Stewed the alchemist.

Your eyes dilated, feeling your heart sink to the bottom of your stomach at his tone; you’ve never heard him sound so deflated. “Nonono! Of course, I’ll go with you! It’s just that I thought you’d want to bring someone a bit more. . . closer to you.” You interjected and fidgeted with your fingers underneath the table. “I cannot believe I just said that. . . I probably sounded so desperate.”

He quietly sighed in relief, sapphire irises picking up your nervous habits. “Well, (NAME). . . Statistically speaking, I consider you the closest person to me in all of Monstandt,” he laughed heartily.

Oh.

“So shall I see you there?” He asked and tucked the flyer in his jacket pocket, eagerly awaiting your response.

Letting out a quiet breath, you wiped your palms against your pants. “Y—Yeah! I’ll be there. . .” you muttered, the sound of your heartbeat plugging your ears.

Albedo grinned, lightly holding your waist and laying a soft kiss on your forehead. “That’s my girl. . . I’ll see you then. Until then, love.”

“Albedo asked you to the ball? (NAME) That’s adorable!” Amber beamed from the opposite side of the table. 

“Haven’t you had a crush on him for months now? why are you so on edge about going?” Eula piped in and swished her drink around before sipping it.

Blood promptly rushed to your face as you frantically looked around town. “Shushshush! He could be around here, you know!” You spluttered and slapped your hands over your face, embarassed.

Eula and Amber were both good friends of yours and knew of both your anxiety and massive crush on Albedo. With the dance closing in, you asked them to meet you at Good Hunter in hopes of them offering some kind of advice.

You clarified, “it’s not him that worries me, Eula. I’m scared I’m going to get overwhelmed with how many people will be there.”

The outrider’s expression slightly withered, but she nodded sympathetically. “Oh, I see. . . Is there a reason you haven’t mentioned anything about it to him?”

You propped your chin on your palms and sighed; “I don’t think so. . . Albedo is really kind and patient with me, so I don’t think he’d make fun of me for it. It’s simply that what if he finds me a nuisance and doesn’t want to go with me anymore?”

Eula scoffed with a roll of her amber eyes. “If he mentions anything even remotely similar to that, he won’t live to see another day.” She threatened and flashed you a smile. 

Amber smacked her shoulder. “Eula! (NAME), from what I’ve heard, Albedo rarely even makes small talk with people. . . So for him to ask you to the ball, he must trust and care about you a lot! And if it’s any consolation, Eula and I will be there, so we’ll make sure to check on you!” She assured.

The corners of your lips tugged into a half smile, your friends’ words bringing down your anxiety a little. “Thank you, guys. . . I really appreciate it.” You said. “Except there’s one more problem. . .”

“And what might that be...?”

“I have nothing to wear. . .”

After what felt like an eternity of shopping, you finally settled on a white and puffy gown. You rarely dolled yourself up, but Amber and Eula insisted that you go all out for this occasion—with Amber declaring, “we have to secure your chances of Albedo falling in love with you!” You had no clue where she got that idea from. Still, it was nice to think about. . .

“You’re going to look so pretty, (NAME)! I guarantee all eyes will be on you!” Squealed the brunette as you three stepped out of the incredibly costly dress shop.

Eula nodded and ruffled your hair. “I second that. if Albedo won’t dance with you, then I sure as hell will,” she affirmed.

“Oh? Out shopping, are you, (NAME)?” A familiar voice said from behind.

You nearly fainted when you turned and saw Albedo standing there, a smile gracing his lips. “A—Albedo? I wasn’t expecting to see you out here. . .” You commented, your voice growing significantly smaller and quieter.

Amber giggled and stood in front of you so he couldn’t get a glimpse of what was inside your bag. “No, no! You’re not allowed to see yet, Albedo! No peeking!” She gushed.

The alchemist crossed his arms, finding your sudden coyness nothing short of amusing. “Is that so. . . How cute, no wonder (NAME) has turned so shy. . .” He expressed, glacial irises observing you delicately.

As if gasoline coursed through your veins, and he lit the match, your skin engulfed in warmth. “Did he just call me cute? Did I hear that correctly? Barbatos, please give me the strength not to pass out right now. . .”

Eula huffed and pressed you forward. “Yes, yes, we know. She’s cute. Now, come on, (NAME). . . Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see your bride before the day of the wedding?” She teased.

“BRIDE?! E—EULA!”

Albedo chuckled as he watched the spindrift knight drag you away, your face rivaling the color of a ripe apple. “Hopefully, one day, (NAME). . .” he murmured.

Attempting to focus had never been so difficult. . . While Amber excitedly talked to Eula, all you could concentrate on was the excessively deafening music that echoed through the room—well, that and your racing heartbeat. You couldn’t tell if it was because of the crowded room or because it longed to see your date. 

“What if he forgot and I came here for no reason?” You panicked internally and rhythmically tapped your heels against the marble floor, fingers absentmindedly fumbling with the pair of white gloves which adorned them. Truthfully, the ball had barely started yet, so you didn’t really know why you felt so doubtful. 

A small figure wrapped around your legs, forcing you out of your withered thoughts. You looked down, only to smile when you recognized a familiar tuff of light-blonde hair. “Oh! Hello there, Klee!” You smiled and crouched down, letting the girl properly wrap her arms around you.

“Big sis! Klee’s so happy you’re here! Your dress is super pretty!” She bubbled and pulled away, the twinkle in her eyes challenging the stars in the night sky.

You giggled, your worries briefly melting away at the girl’s excitement. “And your braids are super cute!~ Who did them?”

“That would be me. . .”

Startled by the familiar voice, your eyes flew up to confirm who it was. Your heart nearly jumped out of your chest when you saw Albedo dressed in a well-fitted white dress shirt, light blue vest and tie, and black dress pants.

He simpered—his cyan irises sizing you up. “I’m very rarely taken aback, but wow. . . You far exceeded my expectations, (NAME). Your glow far passes the moonlight as if it’s but a cheap imitation of you.” He voiced and helped you to your feet, his lips igniting multiple sparks where they lay on your wrist.

You opened your mouth to speak, only for the words to fizz away on your tongue. Did he drink some kind of potion before coming here? Was this the same Albedo you knew? You couldn’t be too sure. . .

“You’re going to have to forgive her. . . She’s a little starstruck!” Amber disputed and wrapped one of her hands around your arm, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Look at you, Klee! You look so pretty!”

The small elf giggled, her small hand enveloping her brother’s. “Thank you, miss Amber! Oh! Oh! Doesn’t (NAME) look like a princess from a fairytale, Albedo? Klee thinks she looks super pretty!” She bubbled and tugged excitedly on his sleeve.

“Oho, so Klee already approves of you guys? Look at you go, (NAME). I told you you had nothing to worry about!” teased Eula as she walked over, grinning cheekily at you. “She wouldn’t stop talking about you on the way here, Albedo.”

“EULA?!” you screeched and hid behind your other friend. You know, the one who didn’t rat you out. 

Despite your impulsive embarrassment, Albedo bit his lip and chuckled softly, amused by it. He cooed, “really now? I suppose I can only hope her lips are as sweet as she is.” He then walked up to you, grabbing your arm and pulling you closer to him so he could see you. “You know, (NAME). . . Klee’s not wrong, now is she? You certainly do look like a princess straight from a fairy tale. . . You fit that role quite flawlessly.”  

You shuffled through your brain for something to say, struggling with how countless thoughts spilled over. Looking away coyly, you spoke barely above a whisper, “would that make you my prince then. . .?”

Adoration glazed over his eyes, oh how he wished you would look at him; he adored your pretty (COLOR) eyes. “Hm? That depends. . . Would you like me to be? I would be more than honored to have you as my princess.” He crooned.

Eula crossed her arms, staring intently at his hand on your arm. “And this princess is irreplaceable. . . So you’d better handle her as if she’s the most treasured glass statue in all of Teyvat,” she quipped sharply.

Albedo nodded and offered a tranquil smile. “Eula, if we were to play with the idea of fragile pieces of art, then I must admit—(NAME) is more akin to a statue crafted entirely out of the purest diamond as her value is boundless. I believe it was once said that diamond was a symbol of eternal love. I will ensure she’s treated as such.” Reassured the alchemist, his fingers smoothing circles on your wrist.

Amber looked over at you, laughing sympathetically as you kept your lips tightly pressed together. “Alright, let’s give these two some alone time, Eula. . . You come too, Klee!” She butted and beckoned the two to follow behind her. “I’ll come back to check on you, alright, (NICKNAME)? You’ve got this!”

Albedo tilted his head curiously, worry casting over his eyes. He wondered, “hm? Why does she need to check on you? Are you by chance feeling anxious or something of the sort?”

Almost resigned to his accuracy, you let out a sigh, dreading how he could get it so right from just one sentence. You felt vulnerable yet comforted that he could grasp you so effortlessly. “Only a little. . . I tend to get a little overwhelmed in crowded places. I’ll be alright, though!” You informed.

He frowned and pressed his lips to your pulse point. “And you still agreed to accompany me here? Your compassion shows no bounds, (NAME). . . I do wish you would’ve mentioned this earlier; I could’ve created a potion that could help numb those types of feelings. Regardless, make sure to take deep breaths to help ground yourself. I promise you wholeheartedly that I’ll take care of you.” He consoled, voice as smooth as the silk he adorned in that night.

As he finished speaking, a pair of voices shouted for him. “Albedoo ~ Over here!” Venti crowed and waved his hands like a maniac, most likely already intoxicated.

With an exasperated sigh, Albedo kissed your jaw, his heart fluttering when you let out a short laugh. He lamented, “I can never get some time alone with you these days. . . Let me go see what they want, and I’ll be right back, alright, princess?”

“Mhm! I’ll be over here if you need me,” you replied and watched him leave your peripheral vision. Deflated, you strode over to the food table and grabbed a water bottle, hoping a drink of water would help alleviate your nerves. You took a few sips and looked around the room to get your bearings and remind yourself why you agreed to come. Where was Amber when you needed her?

“Excuse me. . .”

Your shoulders tensed as you swung around, an overpowering panic settling in your gut when you saw a male with choppy blonde hair standing there. “Yes? Can I help you?” You gulped and stood stiff as a board; you weren’t comfortable with strangers, and the way this guy stared at you made you feel trapped. The feeling was similar to that of a small animal cornered by a predator, anxiously searching for an escape route but none being available.

He smiled, resting his hand near yours. “I couldn’t help but notice you were standing by yourself and thought you wanted some company. . . The name’s Albert; what’s yours, pretty one?” He hummed and reached to grab your hand

Your water bottle crinkled as you squeezed it, retracting your hand and pressing it to your chest. “I feel like I’m going to throw up.” You thought and frantically looked through the sea of people in search of someone you knew. “I’m fine. My date’s just talking to someone at the moment; please—”

“But it’d be a real shame to leave such a pretty woman alone. I bet I could treat you so much better than whoever you’re with.”

“Judging by how uneasy she is and how unmannered you are, the statistics that you treat my date better than me are meager.” Albedo spoke coldly and shielded you away from him. “To treat women with so little regard is quite the pathetic trait to hold; it’s that same reason why you have not got a date yourself.”

Albert’s eye twitched, his knuckles turning white from how hard he clenched his fists. “Excuse me? Just who do you think you are?” He snarled; his face contorted in rage and teeth bared as he glared at Albedo.

Your heart hammered in your ears as you desperately sought to bring yourself down from an upcoming panic attack. You could feel your breath becoming shallow and your chest tightening as you clenched your fists and reminded yourself to stay in control. It was like trying to battle a tidal wave with a sandcastle—no matter how much you tried to resist, the surge of anxiety was almost staggering.

Through the sea of voices and blur of faces, Albedo’s voice echoed in your thoughts. His steady, soothing voice like a beacon, guiding and leading you through the stormy waves of uncertainty.

“(NAME)? Goodness, you’re trembling. . . Focus on my voice and breathe for me, okay? He’s gone now; he can’t hurt you. . .” The boy muttered and cradled your face in his gentle hands, peppering it in small kisses. “You’re going to be okay, sweet one. . . Come on, breathe with me mhm? In. . . and out.” 

Binding his instructions, you followed his breathing, and the tingling in your fingers gradually decreased. One by one, everyone’s voices filled your ears, and you could see clearly again. “Where—where did he go?”

He shook his head and carefully rested his hand on the small of your back, his thumb tracing circles. “The knights escorted him out, love. They’ll probably have him thrown into confinement; you’re safe.” He assured, gently wiping sweat beads off your forehead. His head lifted when a slow song played on the speakers. With a warm smile, he offered his hand out. “Shall we dance? By focusing your attention on something else, it should distract you from the event that triggered your anxiety.”

Your heart catches in your throat at the proposal, eyes glued to his extended hand. “A—Albedo, I can’t. . . I don’t—”

the dance i had in mind !!

“—know how? You don’t need to, love. All you have to do is follow my lead.” He cajoled and took your hand in his, leading you to the centre of the room. “You don’t mind me being this close, do you?” He murmured right above your ear, his hands enveloping your waist. 

“A—as long as you don’t. . .” you uttered breathlessly, struggling to hold yourself together. His touch was feather light, yet it made your heart ram against your ribcage—his slender fingers drawing shapes on your hips. “What if people think we’re dating. . .”

He spun you around so that you faced him, his eyes—deep pools of glacial blue—glazed over with raw adoration upon meeting your (COLOR) ones. He cooed, “oh? Then let them think that, princess. . . When you are as ravishing as you are, I could not care less who stares. I am rather honored to be your date, and to be perceived as your partner is a rumor that I’m far from concerned about.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, your senses infiltrated by Albedo’s gentle touch; his hands seemed to perfectly fit your figure as if they were made for you. his fingers moved lightly across your body, caressing you with a tenderness that left you speechless. “When did you get so daring, ‘Bedo? I’m so used to you engrossed in your research. . . It’s a little jarring.”

Albedo chuckled. “Daring? Is that what you’d call it? I certainly don’t hear you complaining. . . Teasing aside, I’m only speaking from my heart, love. You’re truly captivating; I know I haven’t been vocal about it until now, but I’ve always thought of you as such.” Hummed the blonde, his words like a steady stream of honey to your ears—sweeter than any melody you could recall. He always seemed to know exactly what to say to get your heart beating louder.

Thinking on your words carefully, you rested your hand on the back of his neck and indistinctively drew him closer. You stood in a moment of contemplation, trying to gauge his reaction and measure the weight of your words. “Hmm. . . and what if I told you I felt the same?”

He couldn’t fight the smile that blossomed on his lips, like a blooming flower that had been touched by the sun or a sudden splash of colour in an otherwise gray landscape. “Well, pretty girl, I’d be truly and utterly flattered that you find me as captivating as I do you. However, I believe you to be the very definition of beautiful, so I don’t think my attractiveness quite matches your own,” he swooned.

“Don’t be so modest, Albedo. . . Kreideprinz literally translates to “chalk prince.” Not only that, but you’re incredibly intelligent,” you said. “Many girls are smitten with you, which is why I’m surprised you chose me out of everyone.”

Albedo quietly tutted and tilted your chin up, biting back his desire when his eyes met yours. “And you call me modest? Oh, princess. . . if only you could look at yourself through my vision. My heart isn’t set on other women but on you. you’ve had my complete attention and devotion since we first met.” He professed, watching your pupils dilate with the very same desire held back. 

Hearing the music slow down, he caved in and placed his forehead against yours, his nose gently nudging yours. He closed his eyes and breathed you in, his hunger for you causing his breath to waver. He was starved of kissing you for months, and holding you so close made him tremble. “F—forgive me for being so brash, but my sense of control slips through my fingers the more you look at me like that. . .” He muttered and thumbed at your bottom lip. “Feel free to call me out if this is inappropriate, but can I kiss you?”

Without skipping a beat, you looped your arms loosely around his neck and pulled him flush against you, brushing your lips against his. Electricity surged through your veins as his hands rested on your hips. You tilted your head and gently deepened the kiss, exploring the contours of his lips.

He responded eagerly, pressing his body against yours and letting out a low growl against your mouth. You tasted of strawberry champagne blended with desire, and it intoxicated him more than any other alcoholic beverage could ever do. Resisting the want to poke his tongue through your parted lips, he reluctantly parted from you—heart whirring with desire at your flushed face and half-lidded eyes.

“I sure do hope that whoever thought they had a chance with you saw that. . . Because as your prince, I hereby declare that you’re mine.”

“THAT’S OUR GIRL! GET IT (NAME)!” “Venti, I believe my prediction was correct. . . Now, as for the payment?” “PLEASE, NOT MY LIMITED EDITION WINE.”

[justrandomayatolover]

Relationship headcanons or something pt. 4 w/ Beidou, Kujou Sara, Sucrose

Includes: gn!reader, reader is a barman from Natlan in Beidou's part, a baker in Kujou Sara's part and an artist in Sucrose's

Here's part 3 and part 5

Beidou:

After all, we all know that Beidou is an alcohol lover, probably as well as the Crux's whole crew

So as they set the ship in Natlan, the first place they went was your family's tavern

And oh dear god, it was hard not to look at her, you've heard about beauty of people from East but damn, you haven't expect that

You tried not to look down so you don't look like pervert, but looking in her eyes was even harder

She was both intimidating and hot, also funny and caring about her crew, treating them like family

Next day she came again, this time alone, sitting before you and laughing about the state people were in the morning

Afternoon became almost midnight, neither of you caring about closing time, just talking like there's no tomorrow

When the day came when she had to leave, she simply gave you a small note with her address for letters and "You're cute when you're flustered" leaving you dumbfounded, red and also excited for next meeting and letter exchanging

Kujou Sara:

As general for Shogun army, she doesn't have much free time, but after vision hunt decree (and Raiden Ei taking over, putting Shogun away[at least that's what happened in my opinion, if it didn't now it did for the sake of this fic]) she was now asked multiple times in a day to buy some sweets that happened to suit the Archon the best

And it happened to be your little bakery with homemade goods

Each with nice details, some looking like inazuman visions, some like foxes and some like cherry flowers

So it was every day thing that Sara saw you, except she didn't tell you who these were for but when she did you froze in place, shock written all over her face

Then nothing

When you woke up from apparently passing out, she was sitting next to you with stern face but still deep inside worried for your state since it's not normal to just pass out

So next time she came for sweets she brought you some herbs saying they're relaxing and recommending taking breaks, you were rather surprised because it's not every day a general of an army brings you some sort of herb tea

So you offered her to sit down with you for a moment to enjoy a tea together

And like that every day, both seemingly to enjoy it

Her stern demanor softned at the sight of you, her tense shoulders relaxing and small smile decorating her face

After not very long when she came to your bakery one day and simply stated "I like you and I would like us to be in relationship, if that's okay with you"

Of course you agreed even if it was rather plain and straightforward

Sucrose:

You met Sucrose near fountain in Mondstad and immediately fell in love with her

She looked so adorable, so pretty and had such unique features

The ears, the glasses, the hair, everything about her was perfect to you

You quickly went up to her and asked if she would want to be your model for next piece, but the moment you did, her face was red, and her glasses slightly fell from her nose, making her even more adorable

She didn't know what to answer but both Klee and Timaeus cheering for her in background and Albedo giving her an encouraging nod

After first painting came another and another and another, but your favourite one is painted when you asked her to talk about alchemy, with small smile and eyes full of excitement

With that you two exchanged things you're passionate about but made for eachother, you giving her painting of Mondstad's scenery and her giving you flower made from alchemy (similar to that in last windblume event)

Not very satisfied with this one but ig it's not that bad

[millenniumdueled]

Day of Judgement: Part 1

Something had to give. Too many people were getting hurt, getting caught up in what should have been his fight. His friends were one thing. But now, Professor Hawkins...

Yugi shifts against a sleeping Joey, where the two of them rested against each other in one of the bench seats of the Hawkins' RV. Across the table, Tristan and Duke snooze in a smiliar fashion.

The conversation between Yugi and his Other is quiet, spoken inside their hearts, communicated with feelings more than words. They both know what it feels like to worry about their Grandpa. Yugi glances over at the door to the RV's little bedroom at the back, where Téa and Rebecca sleep. He owes it to her to find him. To bring him home. To do so without endangering anyone else.

Yugi moves slowly, slipping out from under Joey's arm, careful not to wake the other man. He dons his jacket, his shoes, his Duel Disk, and quietly leaves the RV.

He has to Duel Doma's Three Musketeers. He has to win. Even if that means condemning his opponent to the cruel fate of the Seal of Orichalcos.

Those three have been with him through everything. They've seen the Shadow Games. They knew him at his worst.

But he can't let them see that side of him again.

He glances at Duke's Cadillac, considers for a moment. But he's never driven before, and the roar of the classic engine would surely wake everyone. He wanders from the RV, past the charred remains of the Professor's house and to the stables behind.

They don't need to speak, they share the same memories of that horse camp in middle school.

It's awkward, especially at first. But somehow, some sort of instinct takes over as the Other Yugi does too, sitting there on Rebecca's beloved horse Billy. But awkward as it is, he manages to coax the horse out of his stables, and into the desert, chasing the location left for him by Doma's Musketeers.

The ride seems to go on forever, but his heart keeps him going, even as the ranch falls far out of view behind him. He's not sure how he knows the way. Maybe it's destiny guiding him, or Timaeus on his deck. Maybe it's that little stone he's been wearing around his neck since that Duel back in Domino City.

But eventually, he sees another person. The tallest member of the trio, the man who called himself Raphael, standing expectantly across a rickety suspension bridge.

Yugi's heart pounds in his chest.

He brings Billy to a stop, nearly tumbling to the dusty ground as he dismounts. But that little fumble hardly deters him, as he turns to fix an icy, piercing glare on the man across the chasm.

"This ends here, Raphael," he growls as he marches, confidently, across the precarious bridge.

[javomelancholie]

Happy Birthday, Albedo! 🎉🥂🎂

I love you with all my heart 💖

You are the best character in Genshin Impact 😙

"Dragonspine is one of my favorite places to visit and collect inspiration during my leisure time.

Just like now, the skies have cleared after the snowfall and birds are chirping lively. Setting up an easel here is bound to capture a remarkable scene.

However, the snowy landscape can be too serene, and painting just the scenery might leave the composition feeling somewhat sparse. If only I could add a figure to it... Hmm, you'd be willing to model for me?

Alright, then come over here. Fret not, just stay in your most comfortable, natural state."

"Okay, come over here."

Lumine fell into his arms 🥰

Albedo is so good in his language art skills.

I would like to remind that last year Albedo and Lumine were drawing for each other on Albedo's birthday. The painting was called: "You and I" (omg I am still not over it)

He could talk about anything but he specifically chose to talk to Lumine about something romantic once again - the experiment which Timaeus did for his beloved (what Albedo is hinting here? 😏)

"Timaeus was depressed for a while because he didn't make the flower for his beloved"

By this analogy Albedo was also depressed for a while because he hadn't seen Lumine for a long time. This Natlan material is just a pretext to lure Lumine to see him. His little tricks can't be hidden 😌

And this is what excites me the most - he is paying attention to Lumine's journey to Natlan! They want to explore it together! He invited her to investigate this world with him again just like in his feelings about ascension.

Don't worry, Albedo, I have been taking you with me every day since the day I went to Natlan! 🥹💖

"I can serve as your assistant"

What kind of a new play is this??

You know how to play it!

Can you be my hubby instead

What do you mean "He's fictional character"?

I need him!

"Captain Albedo, please take a look! This is my latest sketch from practice! ...What do you think?"

"...Well, if you consider it a form of relaxation, it's not bad."

Omg when I saw Mika for the first time I thought that he looks like an albelumi child who came from the future 😂

I still keep seeing him this way esp if he is around Albedo, Lumine or Klee xd

[dragontamer05]

I fully admit that even I have yet to really figure out the extent of like what Tim / his magic can like do.

Being well made of/from it, changing up his form be it keeping disguise and hiding the less the human bits or taking on full draconic form both use/need magic.

In a way it's likely at least partially the reason behind his strength, despite his size.

But like in terms of like actual skills or idk spells?

[holy shit this got waaaay long so put it under a cut lol]

Always flip flopped between if he breathes fire - like I never actually had him do it but I imagine maybe he could. Although if he did it as not full dragon probably hurts a lot, not badly injured perse just a very uncomfy feeling might leave his voice a bit raspy for little bit.

As much as he'd like to be, he's not much of a healer. Look he has tried and with more effort and training to some degree he likely could use his magic to heal. At the very least in an emergency situation a temporary help (slow bleeding/ hold something into place, though doing such would surely be very draining on him. (Makes up for it though with having fairly good first aid and medical knowledge from his dad so not totally useless in that kind of situation)

magic or not his own body does have increased healing capabilities.

Honestly most of it probably tends to manifest in either defensive ways keep himself/someone else safe or when push comes to shove

He's definitely more sensitive and able to pick up on when it comes to magical objects- be they made with magic, have magic cast on them charm/curse and while I hesitate to say he can perfectly figure out/know but at the very least very intuitive at sensing if said magic is something dark/ malicious/ dangerous in nature or something more benign- So you know not always 'good' perse but certainly nothing dangerous or needing to worry about

With training and practice Timaeus eventually would be able to perhaps despell/remove some charms/curses/magic (Inspired by the Legendary Knight Timaeus Card who upon being summoned you can banish a spell or trap) Of course even he'd have limits depending on how strong he may only be able hold it temporarily

Being something of a literal creature of magic if need he could/can draw magical energy from another to like strengthen himself. He sort of already unconsciously does it- but very very minor and not enough to affect the other person but like there is sort of a different feeling he gets when around others who have magic. Really it's only more recently he's slowly started to notice/piece together that like that there have been times where after spending time around /with someone (Yami, Mana, ect...) who has magic even if he was really exhausted before he doesn't feel quite as tired after.

That said if he's touching someone- and in this case also needs to be a voluntary choice and would never do it without asking first. He can basically use/take advantage of the other's magic and it will strengthen him

--

Though under utilized fact is that to an extent the magic which makes him, his magic although he has gained a far stronger grasp of it. It's not exactly stable , predictable and makes him unpredictable.

Sadly he was labled as 'failure' for a reason.

Part of that was from their own ideal of not thinking him suitable i.e. obedient enough or thinking he would ever be to be of use- plus growth was to slow for their liking and some other perhaps seeming arbitrary reasons.

However a big one was, a clear lack of control. Which sure some of it came from him just being this under developed lab creature without proper direction ect but there were signs that the magic and the 'experiment' / Tim wasn't exactly stable.

At one point he lashed out and attacked one of the scientists (and uh killed him). Marking him as dangerous.

And although he seemed okay after well there was no knowing if he'd suddenly turn on them, or if this creature would lose the ability to control itself with the strength of its magic in a constant state of flux and they couldn't get it to stabilize.

--

Somewhere, somehow Tim's dad was able to get his hands on a sort of charm that kind of dampened down some of that excess magic. Not a perfect solution but it helped/helps keep his magic more in check. Sort siphons off some of the excess / overflow during rises in it.

There is some connection with magic to his emotional state - though it's hard to say which way it goes. Emotion affect magic or does magic affect his emotional state, might be a mix of both. During high stress/ emotional times there's certainly an influx and can be harder to control.

That said the charm isn't a permanent solution and every so often he does kinda have to do a magic decompression if you will and just kinda allow a large release of magic. Usually by taking dragon form and going off somewhere away from any risk of harming someone and mostly just waiting it out that way.

With having gained more control he doesn't always need to wear / have the charm on him and can manage without it but that doesn't mean he won't.

The very unstable nature is why for a long time, he tended not to be able to keep control of maintaining his human appearance once night came (something something magic connected to night something something)

Thankfully such instances are a lot rarer for him now as he's slowly gained better habits of managing his magic though that doesn't mean he still doesn't fear for it happening. So he tends to be a lot more careful in the evening and why he doesn't go out as much as he'd like- or will go and find the least populated areas if he does.

[kumeko]

A/N: For the @albetherzine! I have too much fun writing Paimon sometimes.

…

…

…

…

In hindsight, Aether should have expected this. The realtor had been really vague when he’d asked about his roommate. The woman leaving had squeezed his shoulder in what had seemed like a reassuring manner but was now clearly pity. Even Paimon had told him the house was sketchy.

A fact she refused to let up, even now as she rattled off on the phone. “Paimon told you so! No one rents a house for that price.”

“I know, I know.” Aether sighed as he leaned against the hallway wall. “But it is a really nice house. And affordable.”

In his defense, it was an amazing place. There were three bedrooms upstairs and one in the basement, meaning the whole house was only filled with four roommates instead of the usual five to six. There were two fridges. His roommates consisted of Sucrose, a shy scientist, and Timaeus, a nerdy mechanic. When he needed to study, the house was quiet and seemingly empty.

“That’s how they trapped you.” He could almost hear Paimon roll her eyes. “You should have asked Lumine for help.”

“I didn’t want to bother her.” Aether rubbed his neck sheepishly, thinking of his twin sister. For the first time since they were born, they were in different places, in universities that were a plane’s flight away. The independence was thrilling. It was also terrifying.

“You’re just asking for help, that wouldn’t bother her! And then you wouldn’t have ended up in a place like that,” Paimon huffed. She stamped indignantly, the sound loud enough for him to hear. Sometimes he worried about her—she had never been able to control her temper and he could just picture her failing interviews because she didn’t know when to keep her mouth shut. “Is he still down there?”

Aether glanced at the foreboding basement door in front of him. It hadn’t budged an inch. The white paint was cracked and peeling in places, revealing the brown wood underneath. In an otherwise modern house, it looked entirely out of place, like a horror scene in a field of flowers. “I think so.”

“You think so?” Paimon asked skeptically, tapping her foot.

As though to answer her question, a loud bang punctuated the air. Aether winced, wondering just what happened downstairs. “I know so.”

The only problem with this house was his mysterious third roommate, Albedo. Aether could count on one hand the number of times he’d seen the guy. Every time, the upper-year chemist had been wearing goggles, his blond hair flowing over the frames like a lion’s mane. Loud bangs and odd smells informed everyone else when Albedo was home.

Sucrose had said it was fine, but Aether wasn’t certain. Just how healthy could it be, locking yourself up in a basement with foul-smelling chemicals for hours on end? He couldn’t remember his science classes that well, but couldn’t Albedo accidentally make a poisonous gas? What if he was slowly killing them all?

And just what was he trying to do?

Once, just once, Aether had seen Albedo without his trademark lab coat. Aether had been studying and glanced out his window to find Albedo in the backyard. Paintbrush in hand, the senior had stared at a blank canvas, as though visualizing his painting. By the time Aether had scrambled down the stairs, Albedo was gone.

Part of him wondered if he could have seen Albedo’s eyes if he’d gotten down fast enough.

“This sounds sketchy,” Paimon grumbled. “I still think you should leave.”

“It’s—” Aether’s eyes widened as black smoke poured out the cracks around the door. “Fire!”

“Fire!” Paimon shouted. “Should I—”

He didn’t say anything before hanging up, shoving the phone in his pocket as he yanked open the door. Luckily, the doorknob wasn’t hot yet. Black smoke poured into the hallway. Albedo was still down there. Aether didn’t think twice before dashing down the stairs.

The smoke was even thicker downstairs. There was a small window, barely visible, and he ran to open it. As the smoke escaped, Aether pivoted on his heel. It was easier to see the small laboratory now. Vials lined the counters, various machines beeped as they ran automatically. Aether coughed in his sleeve as he searched for his roommate.

“Albedo?” he called out. There wasn’t a response. The silence unnerved him. He stepped forward. “Albedo?”

His foot bumped into something and he looked down to find his roommate lying face down.

“Albedo!” Before Aether could check him, he noticed a small fire on the counter. It burned on a pan, trapping it for the most part, but he wasn’t going to take any risks. He sprang forward, patting it with his hand instinctively before recoiling from the heat.

“Extinguisher, water…” He mumbled his eyes darted around the room before landing on the former. In two steps, he picked it up. In another, the fire was gone. Aether sighed, relieved. “Great.”

There was a soft moan. Aether looked down just as Albedo slowly opened his eyes. He’d almost forgotten. Quickly, Aether knelt next to him, helping the older man get up. “Are you okay?”

Albedo coughed, looking dazed. Lazily, he scanned the room, as if not certain of where he was. It couldn’t be good for him to be here. The air still smelled of smoke and burned plastic.

“Here, follow me.” Gently, Aether took Albedo’s arm and guided him up the stairs. Past the wooden door, with its flaking paint. Past the narrow hallway, covered in darkness. Past the patio doors, until they were outside in the cool, fresh breeze. “Take deep breaths.”

Albedo breathed in through his nose, shaking his head slightly as though waking himself up. His voice was smoother, deeper than Aether expected. “We’re outside.”

“Yeah.” Aether watched him worriedly, inspecting him for injuries. Fortunately, he appeared unscathed.

He looked at his hands, then the house. “Huh. Didn’t go as planned. I added too much phosphate.”

Aether frowned. “You started a fire. You could have killed us.”

“No, we would have been fine.” Albedo pulled off his goggles, yanking them past his golden hair. He rubbed the soot off with his shirt. “The fire wouldn’t have left the pan.”

He kept talking, but Aether couldn’t hear. Instead, he stared, transfixed by the tropical blue of Albedo’s eyes, the way his hair framed his face, softening his impassive expression. It had been hard to tell before but his roommate was hot.

Aether flushed. Maybe the fire had spread to him somehow. Clearing his throat, he pushed all irrelevant thoughts from his head and focused on the issue at hand. Their house could have burned down. This madman constantly did experiments, ones that probably could endanger them. Who knew what could happen next time? What if Aether hadn’t been around today?

It was time he stopped this nonsense. Squaring his shoulders, Aether interrupted, “That isn’t the point.”

“Then what is?” Albedo absentmindedly dusted off his clothes, creating small black clouds of soot. He glanced up at Aether and frowned. “You’re…?”

Aether stiffened, mildly offended. Sure, they hadn’t interacted much, but he’d expected Albedo to at least know who he was. “Your roommate. Aether. We’ve met.”

“Oh.” Albedo rubbed his chin, his brow pinched as he tried to remember. “Right.” He held out a hand. “Albedo.”

Somehow, Aether had a feeling Albedo didn’t remember. Or care.  That the next time they’d met, they’d have this same question all over again. Reluctantly, he took Albedo’s hand and shook it. The senior’s fingers were calloused, as though this wasn’t the first time he’d nearly burned or hurt himself for the sake of his tests. “Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah.” Albedo extracted his hand and turned around. “I’ll see you later.”

“Wait!” Aether gripped his shoulder, forcing him to stay. “Like I was saying, the point is safety. You can’t do that again if it’s unsafe.”

Albedo scoffed, crossing his arms. If before he had appeared unfocused, now he was determined. “I have safety precautions.”

“They’re not good enough.” Aether gestured at the house, then down at the basement window at the side. Black puffs of smoke still seeped into the air. “You still ended up out here! That fire still happened!”

“Oh.” Finally taking this seriously, Albedo strolled over to the window and crouched. He swatted at the smoke once, dissipating it. Peering through the window, he studied his lab before nodding. “Fair point. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Aether rubbed his ears, not sure if he’d heard right. “Next time?”

“Experiments can’t run themselves.” Albedo stood up. He slipped his goggles over his neck like a necklace. “I’ll figure something out.”

“You almost—there was a fire and you’re thinking next time?” Aether paled. He had no idea what Sucrose and Timaeus saw in this man. They had claimed he was a genius. Maybe he was, but he certainly was a danger. Maybe he was a genius at putting them in danger.

He could almost hear Paimon now, laughing at the news. Told you the house was bad news.

Gritting his teeth, he ground his heel on the grass. There was still something he could do. This wasn’t over yet. Aether squared his shoulders and asked, no, demanded, “You’ll show me the safety measures before you start.”

Albedo stared at him. His expression was impossible to read. It was like looking at a blank slate, a white sheet, a piece of granite. Part of Aether wondered what it would take to make his roommate smile. Then, finally, after the silence was unbearable, Albedo nodded. “An assistant would make things easier.”

That wasn’t the response he’d expected. Aether blinked before pointing at himself. “An assistant? Me?”

Albedo didn’t seem to hear, already lost in thought as he mused over the new development. “A second person to run experiments with…this could work out. Should I increase the quantity of trials or scope? A live test subject would also be handy.”

“A live test subject?” Aether’s jaw dropped. Just what sort of experiments was Albedo running that needed human experimentation? At this rate, it wouldn’t just be the house that got destroyed. “Wait, I didn’t even agree to this! I just wanted to check your measures, not help you.”

It was too late. His enigmatic roommate was already heading back into the house, making his way back down to the basement. Clearly, he hadn’t learned anything from the fire.

Clearly, Aether had no choice if he wanted the house in one piece. He sighed.

“The rent is cheap. The location is good. The other roommates are nice.” Aether ticked off each point on his finger, to remind himself of just why he didn’t pack up and leave. “I can’t find another place right now. It’s quiet when I study. I already paid this month’s rent.”

Paimon had been entirely right about this place.

It had been entirely too good to be true. 

“She’s never going to let this go,” Aether grumbled as he headed inside.

Still, there was something to look forward to. He’d be working with Albedo. Maybe he’d get to see those bright blue eyes again. Aether couldn’t deny the small jolt that went through him at the thought.

All he had to do was survive whatever Albedo tossed at him. That couldn’t be that hard, right?

[xcyphoz0a]

When the stars took you away

Gender neutral reader, angst TW/CW: disappearance but it’s you this time <3 Character(s): Liben Word count: 491 Proofread: n/a | “Looking up at the stars at night, I couldn't help but wonder... What lies beyond this world?” | A/N: :) / @i23kazu

When you expressed your interest in the stars, Liben made trinkets of glass and metal shaped to stars in the most intricate designs. You’d give him a smile with another trinket shaped in the sun in response. He’d cherish it, always somewhere in hold with him.

When you told your increasing suspicion of what may lie beyond Teyvat, he looked at you with a confused look. He’d see you with the traveller and Paimon, asking them–especially to the traveller– about what worlds existed, if it was possible to travel, and jump to other worlds. Liben wishes it was only just a passing interest.

When your wish for adventure and freedom raised concerns in his mind, he did everything to satiate that hunger for something new, raw, free, newfangled. He’d take you to the nooks and crevices in Teyvat, wishing for that want of something fresh and new to be gone, for that curiosity of what lies beyond this world to disappear, never to appear in your mind again.

But he knows that he also had an insatiable curiosity of new worlds–especially when the traveller came. Yet he only wonders. He was a bystander, someone who just wondered, but you were different. You wanted to know, so you acted on your curiosity. You’d be cooped up in your room, at times being seen running in and out of the knights of Favonius’ headquarters, boxes full of scientific and alchemical equipment from Albedo, Sucrose and Timaeus.

Your visits to him were seldom, progressively becoming lesser every single day. The week passes and you haven’t visited him at all. You don’t answer the knocks on your door, you don’t seem to get out to see the letter of your rent being overdue anymore.

And at night he sees the windows of your house flash a bright yellow and white for a millisecond. His eyes widen as he runs over, watching the door of your house creak open as if inviting him to see what was going on inside.

Your house was a mess. Scattered test tubes, equipment, metal bits, crushed glass, bright, gleaming materials at the table, leaking to the wooden floor, staining it to neon colours.

Instead of the common furniture in the living room, it’s replaced with something odd, peculiar, the outré device taking up the space of your living room, odd coloured smoke pouring out of the little cracks in the metal.

He’s calling out to you in worry, but there is no reply.

He looks at the odd machine in distress as he looks at the burnt hole in the middle, burned in the shape of two feet, the size of your own.

Liben always knew your actions and thoughts were of idiosyncratic style. Yet he never knew you’d be successful.

His heart cracks when he sees the trinket of a star in the middle of where you would’ve been, holding it close to his chest.

He disliked the stars.

[my-white-canvas]

Letter underneath my Table

For @heiayen in the GIwhiteday event || Highschool AU

Characters: Mondstat- Albedo

Note: you mentioned about it being in a highschool setting, and that I never did before so here's my take of it, this was so last minute so there might be some errors and no planning of it. And I chose Albedo because*looks at ur blog* ya know

Mondstat

You were exploring the west wing of the building where the alchemy laboratories were, you were looking for your next class but couldn't find it so you asked a nearby student with green hair "excuse me miss, but do you happen to know where the class 3 alchemy lecture will be held?" She spun to your way holding a tube on one hand "ah... right, it should be around the corner from here" her voice stumbling "thank you" you waved to here and leave.

Running your way you made it in the room just when the professor came in "ah *name* you're here, take a seat" the professor gestured to the seats, you quietly made your way to the seat next to another student with blond hair.

Still panting, you slouch at your table as the teacher begins his lecture "Good day everybody, I am Timaeus, your professor for today, and we will begin with what you already know..." The lecture started.

The blond boy next to you saw your panting breaths and handed you a bottle of water "you seem tired, here, you need it", you gleefully drank the water and thanked him for his generosity "thank you, I really did need it, anything I can help in return?" you asked him as you felt a little greedy for giving him his bottle empty "ah, well, only if you will agree to it, I need someone to test this potion with, other than me" he looks at you

"... Well that does sound a little suspicious, it won't be harmful right?" you whimpered as you didn't want to get poisoning from it "don't worry, I can assure you it won't... I think" that statement pulled your stomach.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Albedo"

"Oh, *name, my name's*name"

The lecture ended with some free time so you and Albedo left to a laboratory where he left his experiment. "Just wait for a moment, I'll get everything ready" he said as he pulled out a chair and left to the table.

Some time passed then he called you over "*name, it should be safe now" as he drank some of the potion "hmm yes, it should be safe for you" "what is it supposed to do exactly?" you raised a brow while holding the weirdly coloured solution "it's supposed to help with digestive problems" he said

*audible flare gun noises coming from the restroom*

"it worked, but it has trouble adapting to people, I need to take note of that. Thank you *name and I apologize for this incident" he glanced at you "and if you have anymore problems, please find me" he then walked off

After the incident you walked back to your dorm for some rest.

Tomorrow you see a letter placed on the seat you sat with Albedo yesterday addressed to you:

To *Name:

I would like to sincerely apologize for the inconvenience yesterday and I hope to make it up with you this weekend, we can do whatever you wish. I may not have a lot of talent but if you want I can make a portrait of you if you would like?

~Albedo

Along with a drawing of you holding a cecilia.

[dragonofthestone]

What Everyone Else Knows [lab!life]

Closed off in the little bubble called a lab, locked away from the outside world. Timaeus thought he understood it all, could follow orders obediently and just by a gesture figure out what was wanted. But that's not how things work, not really.

Keep quiet, head low and wait for an order that's what he'd understood- even then he didn't always understand why but never questioned it (not out loud anyway) simply did as what was wanted of him.

And now?

He watches as those around him go about doing any which task even without orders, without being told first - the last and only time they recall trying something like that the person was furious for going against them.

One familiarity is the nonsensical fights, or asking how someone was feeling. Why can't they see it? To him its almost as plain as day and seems a silly question.

At the same time it's also frustrating how some things do go unsaid when they shouldn't- and in general what's the point of 'subtlety' which might be misread or go unnoticed.

Example:

He might be one of if not the first to pick up that something is wrong with someone, that while they say their okay and from his perspective feels like no one is noticing or cares. So asks why they're lying , or point out that well no your not what's wrong.

Not having picked up on or realized that perhaps their reason for saying so was less to say they were alright but simply didn't wish to talk about it / or idk there way of saying not good but they aren't worse either, whatever other meaning you want to throw at it- sure it was a lie but a lie done to try not to worry the other person.

---

Anything that ends up creating mixed signals, he also doesn't understand the most terms of phrase. Oh he's certainly heard them even in the lab but never knew what any of the meant and although having it explained helps he still finds them a bit weird or doesn't get how one could relate to other at times.

The other thing lost on his arrival was routine, the expected. Without he's got no idea what to do with himself and it is frustrating. Even on the days where he was left alone and there were no tests to be done, certain things remained.

When food came, when they left. Could always tell when it was about time for them to change what little bedding they did give the Chimera. Take away the old and throw down some fresh clean ones- the best days were the times when they placed it down it was warm.

Certain sounds or smells that occurred regularly. Occasionally something new or unexpected occurred but generally the White Coats habits were predictable. Nor was he entirely devoid of any stimulation or enrichment, even if it was only to keep the Chimera from becoming destructive or maybe was just another test monitoring their problem solving skills or whatever at the end of the day it all added up and was part of his habits and routines.

Leaving him rather lost and confused without them- and in search of finding a new one.

--

Lying.

While he could probably come to understand the idea of keeping secrets, and obviously not everyone needs to know everything or if it's for something good that will be told to the person involved just not yet.

Beyond that he fails to see how not telling the truth could ever be good. Wouldn't it only make someone more upset not being told something.

Which leads me to want to make it very clear that rarely if ever does he lie. He will always tell the truth, even if something gets omitted but it's always in away where what he's said and told the person is factually true it's just there was something extra involved. Or just answers the question very literally with the defense of not being asked specifics or what not.

You ask him where he's going: Will truthfully if vaguely say that he's going out, or give a location he's headed - which while true if he were to then head somewhere else it's not a lie cause he never said he was staying there / wouldn't go somewhere else after.

Injuries / illness: Call it animal instinct or what becomes a growing desire not to cause worry in others but he'll certainly try to down play the seriousness of things: It's nothing bad, he'll be alright. Key word being saying 'he will be' not necessarily saying 'he is' and if he says he is fine more often then not again it's not so much a lie perse as in that moment when asked he was fine

Yeh admittedly it gets to be a blurry line of technicalities an semantics but at the end of the day by definition of a lie he doesn't. He's always honest.

The only time you'd catch him in a lie is if it legitimately is something that's to protect or help someone because along with being honest is keeping a promise.

So if he promises one person not to tell anyone where they're going but someone else asks that's where vague but still technically truthful replies come in, saying that they only saw them leave but aren't sure where they are now (sure he knows where there headed but by all accounts he doesn't know where they are)

Of course the last option is just to stay quiet- can't claim truth or a lie if nothing is said in the first place

[cloverthecuddlycactus]

My Thoughts on Genshin Characters

Albedo

These will be broken up into thirds to help organize my thought process of: my general all around thoughts, what kind of relationship I would have with them if I was in the gi universe, and what I think of their character stories and background

My general scrambled thoughts

I didn't really care for Albedo tbh

He wasn't bad and I didn't dislike him he was just kind of meh?

But then I found out he was essentially a homunculus and adores Klee.

Like sure, you're so stoic and only care about research and yet you have all but adopted this arsonistic child (affectionately)

As well as his search for knowledge. I personally really understand this because I always have needed to learn about everything around me

I always felt on the outside of society and still do.

I wanted to pick peoples brains apart figuratively and literally

I always wanted to learn about nature and animals and still do

But I feel like him and I would get along in this sense that we both share this intense need for knowledge

And he only learns about things that interest him as well, I hate being forced to learn something I care nothing about and will promptly forget when it is no longer of use

I just think it would be neat to learn about some animals or plant species together

He's also an artist! I used to make art all the time but have since lost my passion for it

If I were in the genshin universe I would love to hang out with him. I feel like his main love language would be differing quality time. Like you're in the same area but aren't doing the same thing and just sharing space and everyone once in awhile looking over and asking "how's it going?" And no need for much more conversation

Or we would both be losing our minds over some new found species and we will not shut up about it, no inbetween

Also of I were in the genshin universe, all Characters under 20 would immediately become my children in some form or another whether I just visit and bring presents and spend a lil time before I'm off or they travel with me, they are all my kids.

And Albedo likes kids more than adults and I feel like it's because they don't see him as anything less than a person or don't hold these ridiculous expectations of him and expect him to be this genius all the time either

He's not stone cold tho, he has friends but I feel he has the same worries I do and that's they will leave eventually because we can't give them what they want so we keep ourselves away

He's said that he thinks keeping up friendships with adults is tiresome and yeah, it really is

But I do think it shows a very strong sense of maturity and wisdom that he has some friends in Mondstadt

Even if they don't know him super personally they are there, such as Kaeya and Jean, and they've expressed many times that they'll be there for him whenever he's ready to open up

I think something else that I admire about him aswell is that he's not super cranky or rude to people

Alot of people who have a lot of knowledge tend to forget that others do not know all of these things they know and look down on them bc they forget that they were once there too and lacked this knowledge

Albedo doesn't do that

He balances on a tightrope of secrecy, high intelligence, and never ending kindness. All of his dealings and interactions with other folks are in earnest. Which I respect him for bc I have a hard time being nice to people on certain topics bc I feel it should be common sense or blah blah blah blah

But ya know he never hesitates to lend a hand when someone needs it or asks for it bc he has the mindset of "I have you need it here ya go"

And he's so kind to his assistants Sucrose and Timaeus too

Not only that but alchemy is considered an ancient practice!! That must have been so hard and grueling for him to accomplish! As well as it's been stated that he has knowledge that not even scholars at the akademiya in Sumeru have

And he has such and important job among the ranks of the The Knights of Favonius as well

Just all around mad respect for the man honestly he's everything I want to be in life

In Universe Relationship

If I were just like Aether, Lumine, or Aloy and was a traveler from another world I feel we would get along and be pretty good friends

I would love to bring him pictures whether sketches I've made or actual Polaroid type photographs of me and the kid's adventures in the other lands of teyvat whenever we come back to visit Mondstadt.

I would love to go up into the mountains and ask about any of his findings while we were away and tell him about our adventures. Spend like a week at his research facility with him catching up.

He would be great with the kids too. He would be so helpful

The first kid I adopted was Razor (ill write about that later) and Albedo would be so understanding that Razor can't speak very good English yet and would help him out whenever we're around. And Albedo likes to look at the interactions of people around him so he would have a plethora of knowledge on how to act around people and I bet he would even make a book especially for Razor that has some social stuff in it.

Diona was the second and he would be so understanding of her views but I think he would help her break out of them, such as all people who drink are bad and how awful Mondstadt is for allowing her life to be this way. He would effortlessly help me help her with her anger at Mondstadt and shift it to determination do make her life better. She would no longer be a victim.

Of course Klee and how endearing he acts towards her and her destructive tendencies.

Albedo would be good with Bennett as well and probably ask Bennett to like heat up something for an experiment and help Bennett maybe learn to relax and trust himself that he can in fact control his Pyro vision.

Barbara would be great as well I think learning about so many new things would open up her mind GREATLY and she would probably end up pursuing a life of like science or healing outside of the church in some way and not be brainwashed into the Cult that the church in Mondstadt very obviously is. It would probably spark an interest for her to join us in traveling and learning about all the different things in the world .

Albedo would also be really good at listening to the kids when they talk about something exciting that happened while we were gone and be very kind in explaining anything to them that they wanted to learn about. I feel like he would be a great teacher.

I would also love to learn from him and hear him talk and explain things as well. I really look up to him so it would be very much of a mentor/mentee relationship but I'm like an old student of his that's grown up and we are on more equal terms ya know.

He sees me as like and adult and treats me like one and we're good freinds but he never stops teaching me

I also headcanon him as aromantic, he just never really thinks of romance and just thinks of caring about people and helping them out in general and having a general love for life and all the forms it takes

Character Story

What we know of his character so far is pretty neat actually.

So far he is the only non-organic person in genshin kinda???

He was made in a lab, he was a test tube baby so to speak ya know and I think that the fact that he is as emotionally intelligent as he is is amazing as well

He knows how to handle his emotions and how to take care of himself and what kind of relationships he can have with people and how many before he starts getting burnt out.

He also has ancient knowledge that no one else has and that's pretty neat.

I also like that the devs didn't go the route of him having no emotions at all and making him hateful and rude. I really like that they decided to make him so compassionate

[uniasus]

Struggling with CH 5 of Puzzlebox, because I'm slightly worried I'm making characters do things for ~drama~ than for character-driven reasons, and since I figure things out by writing them, time for a (very very long) character ramble! Potential spoilers under the break.

------------

Timaeus had been a warrior of Atlantis, cursed into a weaker dragon form, and then shoved into the monster realm where he and the other Legendary Knights were frozen until it was time to fight again. Predating Egypt, he's ancient, and his situation opened the door for other heroes of old to become future monsters (Mana, Mahad, others like Gaia?).

DMG, believing the duelist destined to wield Timaeus is the Pharaoh, brings Yami and Yugi to the monster realm when the barrier is thin. While Yami and Yugi pull the sword together, there's the assumption it's Yami Timaeus reacts to. Timaeus decides no, it's actually Yugi who is his Legonadry Duelist as soon as Yami plays the Seal.

Timaeus and the other dragons/knights are monsters that play sorta as polymerization cards. They're support aids, just like they had supported the royal family of Atlantis. Specifically, the side that wasn't power-hungry, aggressive, and dark-hearted, which Yami showed himself to be by playing the Seal.

When Yugi is gone, Timaeus throws a fit and refuses to do anything to help Yami. Eventually, he does allow Yami to summon him. In part because yes, Yami has seen the error of his ways, but also because Timaeus realizes it's his best chance to help Yugi - the person he's destined to serve now that Atlantis has fallen.

After the battle with Dartz, Timaeus had originally returned to the monster realm to help the souls that crossed over settle in but is pulled back to the Puzzle when Yugi is in danger. Timaeus would do everything he can to protect him, even kill, which the knight is no stranger to. He'd done it in Atlantis, and to him, duels were actual battles and not card games. Plus, the ghosts present a huge threat to Yugi.

There's a bond between Timaeus and Yugi that makes him protective, loyal, and fierce and he doesn't understand Yami's hesitation to do what's needed to protect Yugi. There's a bond there too, he can tell. It bugs him because he feels like Yami should be like him. Protect Yugi at all costs, but Yami won't. There's a line he will no longer cross and he feels it makes Yami an inefficient and inferior protector. If only the connection between him and Yugi had been first, because Timaeus can sense Yami is his priority. Yami is who he turns to, reaches for, wants, hides behind, and it should be Timaeus Yugi looks to for protection.

So he has to prove it. He knows what's going on and will make sure the problem is solved and not just kicked down the road. Kudos to Yami for not completely giving in to darkness, but sometimes you have to use it for good. And people like Timaeus have to because Yugi will not. Should not.

Yami is still reeling from the fight with Dartz on all levels. He wants to be with Yugi all the time, appearing to him in spirit form more frequently, talking to him more, leaving his room more too. He missed him desperately, feels guilty for not listening to him, and firmly believes that Yugi makes him a better person. Not just Yugi, but everyone. It was the new memories and connection to people he's made since he'd been released that allowed him to beat Dartz and the Orichalcos. That pointed him toward a goal/reason for his restoration - defeating all the darkness in the world.

And you don't do that with more darkness. You do it with light. With forgiveness and acceptance and a wide open heart (ah! series title! I'm so clever).

Yami feels even more intensely toward Yugi at the start of the series - he's apologized, Yugi's forgiven him, and while he doesn't see himself as good as Yugi sees him he is now officially Yugi's partner in every way. He gave Yugi an Egyptian collar. They're a done deal.

But Yami wants to prove he's worthy of it. He doesn't quite feel like he is, Yugi will have to work on it, and Yami is trying to be the man Yugi sees him as / wants him to be. No more Shadow Games. The power of friendship, strength in numbers. Accepting the negative parts of people. No killing.

That's really hard in Puzzlebox. The threats are very specific to Yugi, there's no greater world threat, and this isn't a situation where they can work together in a manner they're used to. He doesn't know what's happening, doesn't know how to fix it, and Timaeus shows up swinging with a solution that works but goes against everything Yugi is and thus against everything Yami wants to be. It bothers him because in Timaeus's sword, Yami sees his mind crush, and Timaeus is goading him.

Comments about how Timaeus is the better protector, about how Yugi is his, are all things Yami reads as threats. A threat to Yami's relationship to Yugi, a threat to Yugi's heart, and a threat to Yami's desire to be better because what if Timaeus is right? What if death is the only answer here? What if Yami can't walk the path of light he wants to keep Yugi and their friends safe? What would that do to his relationship with Yugi? Especially as Timaeus's methods are something he shows visible disdain for.

Yugi is thrilled to just be back in his body and is beyond enthusiastic to now be in a relationship with Yami. They still have a lot to figure out, including roles in the bedroom, but a bigger concern is the sudden invasion of other people in the Puzzle. He'd always been a little disturbed by where the hallways went and thus never explored them, and that might have been in error.

Despite Yami and Yugi having their soul rooms invaded, it's only Yugi who has felt the impact of that - including an injury extreme enough he's not sure he could flee at the next sign of danger. He's highly dependent on Yami to handle the problem. Thankfully, Yami has the help of DM and Timaeus, but Timaeus instantly puts Yugi on edge.

While Yugi is used to Dark Magician appearing on and off in Yami's room, something Yugi relates to Yami's past, he can't think of a reason for Timaeus to be there. Plus, he's spectacularly independent. DM isn't necessarily programmed, but he reacts to Yami and seems to have areas he's protecting. Timaeus showed up unannounced, in Yugi's soul room of all places, and has shown no qualms about killing the ghosts running around. In fact, he seems to have a plan to go kill all of them.

Yugi balks - violence is wrong and he's not entirely sure all the souls are malicious. But Timaeus shows a fierce protectiveness he has a hard time dismissing. He likes it, that feeling of belonging to someone. He belongs to Yami, nothing will change that, but it's a heady feeling all the same. Being special. Being protected. (related to having been bullied so much and his insecurity)

There's a lot of overlap between Timaeus and Yami. And there's a nudge in Yugi's chest, not a bond like with Yami but something, that makes him realize he can't just let Timaeus go in an effort to curb Yami's jealousy. Timaeus is staying. Yugi tempered Yami, can he do the same with Timaeus? What does the bond with Timaeus mean? Is this someone else he has to help, just like he helps Yami, and will that delay getting Yami his memories back? He's getting sick of danger, he'll admit it, but if Timaeus is a sign of something else beyond these ghosts, he'll still do his best.

[lustimpacted]

Sucrose

Age: 20

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Bisexual

open roleplay

Modern AU RP

Sucrose loves experimenting and spends most of her time researching on bio-alchemy, stating that she likes to discover the secrets of life. Her research often yields numerous results that she often labels every unique variable as a result of its own, regardless of how useful said result may be. She spends an immense amount of time researching that she finds herself quickly bored whenever she takes a break.

Due to spending most of her time researching and experimenting, Sucrose is a recluse. She has trouble talking with others, as she frequently worries about unintentionally offending them. Lisa remarks that she is hopeless when talking to people, as she is very timid and easily frightened, especially by people of imposing status, such as Jean and Eula. However, she does not share the same issue when talking about bio-alchemy or Albedo. She reveres Albedo to the point that she considers him to be a true gentleman and maintains an excessively formal manner towards him, despite both being of similar age.

Despite her meek nature, Sucrose is also compassionate and humble. In spite of her social anxiety, she sympathizes very well with those who are equally or even more shy and awkward than herself. She's also supportive of other people's academic pursuits, as shown by her support for Collei's studies and Klee's Jumpy Dumpty creations. She's also close to her fellow alchemists Timaeus and Albedo, supporting and respecting them in research and other aspects of their lives. However, she will not shy away from honest criticism of her friends, such as Timaeus' research or Albedo's bad habits, even if doing so scares her.

[winter-cheshire-writings]

Echoes and Experiments - Chapter 22:

Mieko spent a few weeks with Albedo, keeping their engagement quiet and just spending their time together. Upon returning from his work one day, Albedo found Traveler talking to Mieko in front of Good Hunter. Traveler needed a place to stay the night, since the knight's headquarters was under renovation, so of course Mieko and Albedo offered them a room. “I don't want to intrude.”

“It's fine. I'll be working through the night, I have an experiment that needs completing.” Albedo stated. "And Mieko doesn't mind the company.”

“Exactly. Since cooking for one is boring.” Mieko smiled. “So. What would you two like for dinner?”

-

The next morning, Traveler walked into the kitchen, shocked to see the blue-haired woman already sitting there, drinking coffee.

"Oh, good morning Traveler." It was hardly even 6am and Mieko was already wide awake. "Did you sleep alright?"

"What are you doing up?"

"I'm not exactly the most sound of sleepers." She replied simply. "Want some coffee? Or tea, or juice?" She asked. "I also have some pastries if you like."

"Is Albedo not here...?" Traveler expected the woman's  other half to be present, but he wasn't around. Surely he had come back at some point.

"He had something to do, so he left around 5." She yawned a little. "He said he would return soon." She sipped her coffee again as Traveler sat down. 

"Sorry to bother you two, I'm sure having someone else in your house is odd."

"Hardly, Traveler." She chuckled. "Albedo and I don't mind the company. Besides. Now that I'm out of work after selling the shop, all I do day in and day out is either follow Albedo around or go help the Knights with work." 

"Even so... It's not awkward to have someone else in your house?"

"If it were, we wouldn't have offered." 

"Precisely." Both of them turned to see Albedo walking into the kitchen. "Sorry for leaving so early, Mie. I hope you got to sleep a bit more."

"Not really, but I'll be fine." She pet his head. "Sit and have some breakfast, Albedo. You and Traveler can talk. I have to go and drop something off to Koyuki." She kissed his cheek.

"Very well. Don't be long." He replied, smiling as she left the room. "Traveler."

"Yeah?"

"I know Mieko said you're welcome to stay. But she is very stressed after losing the shop."

"I noticed. Don't worry, I get the hint." Traveler replied. "I'll be out later today. I mostly stopped by to see how she was doing."

"Good." Albedo smiled. "She needs to rest."

"Is it not enough anymore? You sleeping next to her?"

"It hasn't been enough since she lost the shop." Albedo replied. "She's getting worse.”

-

A month and a half later, Mieko had gone up to Dragonspine with Albedo, and was helping him gather Star Silver for his paint. “They've got to be here!” Mieko looked up when she heard the voices, turning when she heard Albedo step away.

“Oh, Traveler. Paimon. What a coincidence, seeing you here.” She heard him say, picking up the pieces of Star Silver and heading their way.

“There you are! And where's Mieko???”

“Albedo, is that Traveler and Paimon?” Mieko asked, smiling as she carried the chunks of Star Silver, brushing her hair back with her free hand. “Hello, you two. What brings you up the mountain?”

“Timeaus sent us, because he said he didn't want to interrupt you two again. We left the bulky stuff back at the camp, like the blankets.” Paimon said as she floated around and Traveler handed Albedo the important items from Timeaus.

“Blankets? Oh. Yes I do recall asking him to find me something warmer for my Mie.” Albedo said as he took the wrapped parcel from Traveler's hand.

“Albedo, you made Timaeus do that? I could have gone back to Mondstadt for that myself.” Mieko said, pouting a little. 

“You need more rest. That is non-negotiable.” He retorted. 

“Non-negotiable, huh?” She sighed, giving him the side eye. “Oh, alright…”

“Is your condition still bad? Has the insomnia gotten worse? And what about the dizziness?” Paimon asked, floating closer to Mieko.

“I'm okay, Paimon, really. Being up here on Dragonspine seems to make me more at ease. Plus, I get to spend all my time with Albedo now that I'm not working in the shop. And if he has to go into the field, I can always just go and assist Jean with small errands.” Mieko said, smiling a bit nervously.

“Well, if you say so…”

“I do, really Paimon. Thank you for your concern.” She said, relieved that Paimon believed her for the moment. It wasn't exactly true, but she didn't want to cause any concern here. Albedo walked up behind her and took the Star Silver gently from her arm.

“Let's go back to camp, so we can treat you to a meal for bringing these things up the mountain for us.” He said, Mieko feeling his hand on her back.

“Now you're talking!” Paimon cheered. 

“Then I'll make dessert too.” Mieko added.

“Alright!” They headed back towards Albedo's camp, Mieko walking and talking with Paimon while Albedo walked with Traveler. They were clearly talking, but Mieko didn't mind. She knew Albedo was probably informing Traveler about her condition worsening. Mieko got to work on the food and dessert, looking over at Paimon.

“So, Paimon. How have you been? Any stories to tell?”

“Not much. It's been the same old, same old for us.” She said, making Mieko smile.

“Hmm, I see. Well, that happens sometimes, right? The calm before a storm.” She smiled a little more.

“Hey, don't say it like that! You'll jinx us!” Paimon exclaimed, making Mieko chuckle.

“Sorry, sorry. I'll try not to.” She said, finishing up her cooking. When she was done, she got up to go and fetch Albedo and Traveler, who were talking outside of camp. “Albedo. Traveler. Food's ready.” She said, smiling at them. “Come and eat.”

“Hurry up, if you want any!” Paimon chimed in, flying up next to Mieko. Traveler walked to join them, Mieko stepping aside as they walked in. Albedo stopped in front of Mieko. 

“You aren't tired?”

“I’m alright.” She said. Albedo made a bit of a face, shaking his head and turning away.

“I shall return shortly.” He said brisket, Mieko watching him go. She sighed a little, feeling her heart ache. He was… Frustrated? Of course he was, he must have thought she was feigning being alright because they had company. She turned and walked back into camp, sitting down next to Traveler.

“Huh? Albedo isn't coming?” Paimon asked her. 

“He's been doing that, when he gets upset… It's mostly because I can't stay focused, and he's having to watch over me more.” She said, smiling as she served the food to them, not feeling hungry. She always lost her appetite when Albedo was frustrated with her. 

“Watch over you more? What do you mean?” Paimon questioned as they ate. 

“I'm not really… Doing as well as I let on.” She said. “I put up a front because I'm trying not to worry anybody else, but…” Mieko sighed. “I'm sure everyone has seen through that already…” She looked over at Traveler. “Albedo told you weeks ago, didn't he?” She said, watching them nod in reply. “My condition is getting worse, clearly. And no one can pinpoint what's wrong with me… I'm causing Albedo so much stress, and I'm worrying everyone around me.” She gripped her arm to steady her shaking hand. “I'm honestly terrified, because I feel like Albedo will find me to be a burden…”

“Mieko…” Traveler's eyes caught a small wisp of darkness over her shoulder. As they wondered what it was, Mieko spoke again.

“I just wish I could make it stop… I'm a disaster, I know I am… And Albedo keeps protecting me… I worried Diluc, Lisa, even Kaeya… I can't even work right now… I'm useless.” Traveler dismissed her statement of being useless, telling her that someone would scold her. She knew Albedo was close by, he never went far. “Ah, you're right, but…”

“Mie.”

“Yes, Albedo?” She turned her head, looking over her shoulder at him. His hand came to sit on her head, gently stroking her hair.

“You look tired.” He said gently, clearly apologetic in his own way for walking away. 

“You do too.” She smiled in reply. “I'm sorry… You heard me, huh? I'll go and lay down…” She got up from her seat, bowing her head to Traveler and Paimon before heading to the corner where the sleeping space Albedo set up for her was, taking one of the blankets Traveler had brought with them along. Albedo was about to reach for her, but stopped and sat down. 

“Thank you for talking to her.”

“You don't have to thank me for that. She's my friend. You'd usually scold her if she's like that.”

“I can't bring myself to scold her, not when she's like this. She's fragile right now.” Albedo said softly.

“So you're just worried about her? She seemed terrified that you'd leave her behind.” Paimon said.

“That fear has been progressing immensely. It's been especially intense since she lost the shop.” He rested his head in his hands. “I can only watch her slip away… I haven't been able to find a single thing that helps.” He was clearly very frustrated by his inability to assist the woman he had been in a relationship with for over 4 years. 

“D-Don't worry, you'll figure it out!” Paimon said, concerned for the Chief Alchemist, not used to seeing him like this. 

“Thank you for the sentiment… I can only keep trying… In the meantime, could I ask you a favor?” He looked up at them, doing his best to regain his composure. 

“A favor? Sure. What kind of favor?” Albedo glanced over at Mieko laying down before turning back to Paimon and Traveler. 

“If at all possible. Can you two take her somewhere tomorrow? If you aren't already occupied.” 

“Take her somewhere? Like where?” 

“Anywhere is fine. I just need her to not be at home, and not here. I have something I'm working on, and I can't let her see.” He stated simply.

“Ooh, sure. We can do that. Right, Traveler?” Paimon grinned. Traveler laid out some options, trying to lift Albedo's mood by joking about taking Mieko to Starsnatch Cliff, or Fish Blasting with Klee. Albedo was mildly exasperated, just enough to be noticeable.

“In any case, please just keep an eye on her for me.” He said. Once Traveler got up and left the camp, Albedo looked over to Mieko, who sat up from her “sleep”. “Did you manage to nap?”

“Not much…” She looked over at him. “I… I'll try and go back home… I don't want to bother you while you work.”

“You wouldn't be.”

“That isn't what it sounded like to me.” She replied. They stared at each other before Mieko stood up. “I'll go back to the city.”

“You aren't well.”

“You're right… But I'm clearly burdening you, even if only emotionally.” She stated. 

“My emotional state is fine.”

“Is it?” She asked him. “You're frustration is getting clearer by the day…” She said softly. “And you're clearly working on something that you don't want me to see… The surprise in your eyes tells me you thought I wouldn't notice because I haven't been at my best.” She smiled again. Albedo wanted to retort, but nothing came out of his mouth when he opened it to speak. “I'm sure taking care of myself constantly is impeding your work. So…”

“... Very well. I shall return to the city tomorrow.” He stated. Mieko nodded, walking past him and out of camp, heading down the mountain alone. Every step felt heavy, and her heart ached. Her hands felt like they were burning as she thought about even the remote possibility of Albedo being upset with her enough to show this level of frustration. Even though he said it wasn't her, it still hurt. It reminded her of her ex and the way things had been left.

“Mie you idiot.” She cursed to herself quietly as she walked down the road, feeling a light rain start to fall. “See what happens, when you get too happy?” She scolded herself. “You went and upset him…” She took her time heading home, the rain picking up as she arrived near the outskirts of the city. “Ahh, calm down. You're overthinking it.” She looked down at her hand, seeing the engagement ring on her finger. Tears started welling up as she headed home to Albedo's house, opening the door and locking it behind her. The thoughts were becoming overwhelming, and although she was able to tell herself they weren't true, the pain still radiated through her like if she had just received confirmation of the words being true.

Every thought hurt, every insecurity bubbled up, and she felt like she was going to drown in it. She did her best to calm down, going to take a warm shower to wash away the rain. Somehow it didn’t help her feel any better, but at least she hoped it would stave off any chance of illness. She laid down on the bed and stared forlornly at Albedo's pillow, feeling the tears rising in her eyes again. “Albedo… I miss you.” She whispered, gripping the blanket and closing her eyes. “I’m so sorry… For causing you distress…” She muttered to herself as she did what she could to silence the thoughts, and for the first time in years, the words she never thought she would say again left her lips. “This is my fault…”