Tumgik
#platonic genshin impact x reader
stellar-skyy · 3 days
Note
hello dear <3 i was thinking an iced hibiscus tea for arlecchino, perhaps? feel free to decide the specifics and details on this one hehe
“i have an order ready for arlecchino! an iced hibiscus tea, for arlecchino!”
☆ — if you're craving a drink, make sure to stop by the teashop!
Tumblr media
i. SUMMARY: Arlecchino's child is struggling, but she is there to reassure them. ii. CWS & NOTES: no warnings applicable. platonic arlecchino & gn!reader. house of the hearth!reader. angst & hurt/comfort. 1.5k words. iii. A/N: the way i ran to get this order done- THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE THIS ILY /p
Tumblr media
It was a cold day in the House of the Hearth when Arlecchino called upon one of her children for nothing more than a simple chat.
One of the unspoken rules of the House was that the most leisurely of discussions were only a preface to something deeper; layers of ulterior motives hidden underneath an innocent invite for tea. Some children had never glimpsed the privilege of being summoned to her office, while others found themselves carving a dent into her seat cushions with the number of times they sat in them. But one thing remained unchanging with every visit: their Father would send for them with a purpose, and they would not leave until it was fulfilled.
When [Name] received word that they were to visit Arlecchino’s office at 7:00pm sharp, their first instinct was dread; for the dozens of possible reasons for them being the one to be called upon. Musing upon the ‘why’s shifted their mood from the dull thrum of anxiety to sweeping waves of confusion. As far as they were concerned, they had no due cause for such a meeting with the Director herself; no failed missions to be reprimanded over, no shady plots of subterfuge to be exposed. They weren’t any rowdier or more troublesome than any other of the children, so the list of matters that would merit a visit was short.
Still, they knew better than to avoid the call. 7:00pm, they stood outside the office, hand poised over the door. They closed their eyes, knocking on it sharply and wincing at the echo that reverberated off the walls.
Three short raps. A smooth, calm voice, from inside the room: “Come in.”
The doorhandle creaked loudly as it turned. The door was old, and rather heavy, so it took a gentle shove to push it fully open to reveal the neat, cozy office inside.
“Ah, [Name], you’ve arrived.” Arlecchino greeted them as they entered. She was seated behind her desk as she usually was, with a full tea-set in front of her. As they slowly approached, she motioned towards the plush chairs opposite her. “Please, take a seat. I have been waiting for you.”
They quickly settled into the closest chair, hands folded in their lap. The room was quiet and cold; enough to send an uncomfortable prickle down their spine. Arlecchino paid no mind to their uneasiness; her hands were busy deftly arranging the teacups on the tray. Once she was satisfied with their placement, she then moved to pick up the teapot.
“I have some new tea from Liyue,” she hummed, gently tipping the teapot to let the dark red drink fill one cup, then two. Steam rose from each, cutting through the chill of her office. “Hibiscus. It’s quite sour, but I have added a spoonful of honey and sugar to the brew to sweeten it.”
She held one of the teacups out, and they clasped both hands around it with a murmured thanks. As they moved to take it from her, the side of their palm brushed against her fingers—icy cold, enough to make them shiver with a single touch.
“Your night has been well, I am assuming?” Arlecchino asked, taking a sip from her cup.
“Yes,” they murmur, bringing the tea to their lips. It was hot, but just enough not to burn their tongue. The honey she had added did little to mask the sour taste of the hibiscus, but it created a lightly sweet aftertaste that was pleasant enough to warrant a second sip.
“And your days, how have they been?”
They frowned, scanning her expression for any hint of what she wanted. She was clearly speaking to them in search of something, even if she didn’t say it aloud. A mission report, perhaps? They had already submitted the paper copy to her desk, but if she had missed it, or it had gotten lost with the rest of the paperwork handed in that day, she could be waiting for them to recount the mission directly.
“I returned from the mission you sent me on,” they blurted out. “I… it was a success, mostly. No casualties. Minimal injuries. And I also—”
“No need for a summary, I’ve read your report.” Arlecchino cut them off smoothly. “I want to know how you are, not how your mission went.”
They almost choked on their tea. Arlecchino raised an eyebrow at their sudden lack of composure, and they hurriedly covered it up with a half-hearted cough. “S-Sorry… you want to know how I have been… feeling?”
“That is correct.”
The air was thick with silence and the bitter smell of hibiscus, until they blurted out a quick “Fine! I’ve been fine, thank you.”
“Fine?”
“Fine, yes.”
“Interesting. I have been hearing curious things,” Arlecchino said casually. “Some of your siblings seem to have noticed a change in your behaviour. You aren’t sleeping as well, your mood has been significantly worse, you haven’t been joining during social activities. There is clearly something wrong.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” they said weakly. Their feeble attempt at normalcy was nowhere near convincing enough to fool her, and they knew it. They were a passable liar in the best of circumstances, but she was the one person who would always be able to see right through them.
“Are you sure about that?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
They couldn’t look at her. One look into those sharp eyes, one wrong word and they would crumble right there in her office. They had to keep it together for as long as it took to convince Arlecchino they were alright and be dismissed from her office. They only needed to hold back the burning behind their eyes until they were far away from Arlecchino and her pressing words and bitter tea, and could quietly fall apart.
She was waiting for an answer, but they could hardly breathe through the lump in their throat, let alone formulate a response. If she stopped now, saw them for what they were—a lost cause—and gave up, it would be fine. But instead:
“What’s wrong?” she asked gently, and something inside them snapped.
Tears burst from their eyes, spilling over their cheeks and down their face. They gasped, choking back a cry, holding a fist to their mouth to stop the hiccupping and wheezing breaths.
“I’m sorry,” they sniffled, rather pathetically. They kept their head ducked down low, unable to bring themself to look up into her undeniable face of disapproval. If they were any stronger, they could grit their teeth and make up a spiel about how they would do better next time, but instead they had to cry.
Now, not only were they going to be reprimanded for letting their emotions affect their work, they would be scolded for crying as well.
“Now, there is no need for crying.” Arlecchino stood, scraping her chair against the floor. They flinched away from the jarring sound, shrinking inwards with their tear-streaked face hidden in their hands. As much as they tried to stop them, the tears kept flowing into their palms. The walls were shifting closer with each second, and the thick scent of the tea filled their lungs until it choked them with that cloyingly bittersweet scent—
They jumped, as something cold touched their fingers. Their hands were carefully pried away from their face, revealing Arlecchino kneeling in front of them, with an unusually concerned expression on her face.
“I’m not upset with you, dear.” She said gently. “If that is why you are apologising.”
“You’re not?” they asked slowly. It had to have been a lie, but with how softly she said it, a part of them couldn’t help but wish it was true.
“Of course I’m not. But do you know why I’m not upset with you?” she asked. Hesitantly, they shook their head. “I’m not upset in the slightest, because I know whatever is clouding you is something that you will work through. You will emerge the victor of this battle, no matter what it is.”
They made a strangled sound, and felt a new wave of tears form. Arlecchino sighed, pulling them to their feet and against her chest.
“You are strong,” she said softly, carding her fingers through their hair. “You are capable. You are able to overcome whatever hardships you are facing, no matter how much they wear on you.”
She kissed their temple, her cool lips feeling almost warm pressed to their skin. While she lingered there, she whispered to them, softer than a mother’s touch. “You are strong enough to face this on your own, but even if you aren’t you will always have me here behind you.”
Their hands stretched out to grab the back of her jacket, shuddering out a breath. If Arlecchino minded their teary face being pressed against the front of her clothing, she didn’t comment on it; she only murmured more reassurances as she held them close.
“Just breathe, dear.” She whispered. “You’re going to be okay.”
Tumblr media
reblogs and comments are appreciated! ♡
248 notes · View notes
idyllic-affections · 3 months
Text
little colt.
summary. xianyun cannot help but take in another child. perhaps, in the future, they may become a disciple of hers.
trigger & content warnings. none applicable.
tropes, pairings, fic length, & other notes. fluff, found family-ish. xianyun & child!reader. 2k words. they/them pronouns for reader. prev | next.
author's thoughts. bird mom propaganda RAHHHHHH btw if you find a typo no you didn't i'm sleepy but i wanted to post this........
Tumblr media
       Cloud Retainer has taken on many disciples in her time, and she has loved each and every one as if they were her own.
       It was, therefore, quite unlikely that she woukd cease to take on disciples anytime within the forseeable future. Her love was extensive, far beyond what most mortals would be able to comprehend, and her capacity for intimate and tight bonds was even moreso. She has taken on many disciples over the years, and she has loved them all like her own children.
       Perhaps it could be attributed to her adeptal instincts; she can recall many a time during which her fellow adepti, upon bonding closely with another being, became exceedingly protective of them. It was only natural—adepti lived for so long and were often affected by their more nonhuman instincts. It wouldn't be improbable to imagine that the need to bond with other beings would grow strong over so many years.
       ...Then again, it could always simply be attributed to her. In her mind, there was little need for any such justification like 'instincts.' She could scoff at the idea—she was no mere animal. 'Instincts' could not begin to fully explain the depth of her love and care; it was surely infinitely more complicated than the mere maternal urges that a simple crane, a wild animal, might have. She was infinitely more intricate and convoluted than an uncomplicated bird.
       (That, however, did not change the fact that she did tend to have bird-like habits. Preening, nesting in her own way... She preferred not to bring attention to that fact, however.)
       Regardless of the reason, the truth was that she was lonely, even if she vehemently denied it whenever someone brought up the idea. Mt. Aocang was... quiet, dreadfully so without the constant presence of Ganyu or Shenhe or any of her other disciples. She enjoyed the silence to an extent, but she could only entertain herself for so long without another being to share her knowledge with. Liyue Harbor was far more lively. Loud and chaotic at times, perhaps, but far less lonely than the empty nest that her adeptal abode had become.
       Maybe that was why she was so immediately invested in the little one who had accidentially bumped into her and was now apologizing profusely.
       "I'm— I'm so sorry, miss! I wasn't watching where I was going! I really didn't mean it, I..."
       'What a swift little thing,' she couldn't help but muse. She'd hardly even spotted them rushing her way before they tumbled into her legs. Their body weight wasn't even enough to make her stumble—if anything, they were the one that ended up getting thrown off balance. It was cute how small they were compared to her, really; it reminded her of Shenhe when she was a child, or even her current disciple, Shuyu.
       Ah... but she shouldn't be so quick to think fondly of them. No, surely this little one had parents of their own—a life of their own—to return to. She did not even know their name. No. Bonds should not be so quick to form.
       With elegant, poised grace akin to a gentle breeze rustling a tree's leaves, she knelt down, the motion putting an end to their sheepish yet hurried apologies. Glossy, innocent eyes stared up at her—even kneeling, Xianyun was still a bit taller than they were—with an amount of awe that would've made her feathers puff out in pride had she been in her illuminated beast form. She was not one to grow embarrassed at admiration, after all.
       "Where are your caregivers, child?"
       "Oh. Um." Their brows furrowed slightly. "...I don't know, actually."
       "Ah, are you lost? Come, then. One— Ahem. I shall reuinte you with them. I am certain they must be quite frantic in your absence."
       Before she could rise and offer her clawed hand to them, they urgently shook their head.
       "Oh, no! It's not like that, miss. Even if it was, I wouldn't want to trouble you at all! I would find my way back!" they insisted politely, waving their hands in front of their body as if to dismiss her concerns (though, Xianyun hardly thought it would be "troubling"; she was a bit surprised that they felt it so, or perhaps they were really just trying to be polite). It was then that she noticed the little wooden chick held carefully in one of their hands, but she did not yet have the opportunity to inquire about it. "I've been on my own for as long as I can remember, that's all."
       Oh?
       Oh.
       "Hm. Is that so?"
       "Uh-huh."
       "In that case, child, I—"
       A man rounding the corner and immediately prevented her from finishing her sentence. He was very clearly furious, approaching the child with such fervent determination that Xianyun could not help but wonder what nature of a troublemaker she must have encountered. Though... she really did not see them that way, which only made her infintely more curious about rhe situation at hand.
       Their expression seemed to fall.
       "You, kid!" he shouted, stopping just a foot or two away from them. "You can't just go around stealing whatever you please! Who raised you?!"
       "No, I..." They could not meet his gaze. "I was gonna bring back more mora to make up for it when I could, I just—!"
       "Don't give me excuses. I want the toy you've stolen returned, you understand? Hand it over!"
       Xianyun sighed, adjusting her glasses.
       "Enough," she said, rising to her feet. "How much mora will suffice? For reparations, of course."
       "Rep— reparations?" the man stuttered, then sighed. "No, no... look. You're the mom? Just teach your kid not to go around stealing. The toy's not worth much, but a kid who starts stealing this young will take far more important things in the future. So, teach 'em not to do it."
       Hiding behind Xianyun's legs, they couldn't help but stare upwards in wonderment. His attitude flipped completely when faced with a woman so much taller than he was, and with an air surrounding her that demanded such an impossible amount of respect. They honestly could not blame him for such an attitude change; they would too, they thought, if they were faced with someone like her.
       "Very well. You have my apologies on their behalf." She turned on her heel, holding out her hand to them. "Let us go, little colt."
       Colt?
       Bewildered but nonetheless beyond awestruck with this strange yet kind woman, they nodded, wordlessly placing their freehand in hers. Her sharp, hooked nails dug slightly into their skin; somehow, though, they couldn't be bothered to care. It didn't hurt much. On the contrary, it was oddly comforting.
       The walk was silent for a few moments, but then, Xianyun's voice demanded their attention:
       "You should pay quite the mind to your behavior in the future. Theivery is a significant offense in a land such as this—a land that regards contracts with the highest of respect. Had I withheld my intervention, it may very well have ended far worse."
       "I really didn't mean to," they whispered, little tears building up in the corners of their eyes. Even though she was someone they had only just met a few moments ago, disappointing her seemed... unbearable. Angering her would have been more tolerable. "Um... steal, that is. I didn't mean it. I just thought it looked really cool. I left whatever mora I had on me to pay for it, and I was going to try and get more so I could pay him the right amount... I swear I wasn't going to just run away with it..."
       She hummed. "Regardless of your intent, I will see to it that you do not do such a thing again."
       "Hu— huh? You will?"
       She scoffed. "Of course. Surely you did not expect me to abandon you on the side of the street again? As an elder, it is only right that I watch over little ones such as yourself, and little ones should not be cruelly left to fend for themselves."
       The tears on their lashes had dried by now. They even offered her a smile, giggling as they said, "Elder? I don't think you're old."
       "Oh? And what, pray tell, has led you to such a bold conclusion, hm?"
       "Well... you! You look very young, miss! I think elder women are very pretty too, but you look... young pretty? Um... what's the word again..?"
       "Youthful, perhaps?"
       "Yeah! Youthful!"
       As they rambled on animatedly, clutching the wooden bird to their chest, Xianyun's lips quirked upwards into an amused smile.
       It, of course, went unnoticed by them.
                       — flower of the universe !! 🌸
       In the few days that had passed since Xianyun welcomed little [Name]—they had bashfully introduced themselves to her in the middle of their rambling once they recalled that she didn't even know their name, and she returned the sentiment with greater confidence—into her home, she had put together a few simple toys for them to amuse themselves with.
       She was an inventor at heart. Even though these designs were not entirely her own, she made them hers with unique additions and more efficient features... of course, all while doing her best to keep the toys simple. They were for a child, after all. Mechanics, Xianyun's mechanics, were complicated enough for adults to understand as it was—a child would surely have even less of a capacity to grasp something too complicated, and her efforts would therefore have been wasted.
       ...But oh, how terribly wrong she now understood herself to be.
       Quietly and motionlessly, as to avoid drawing their attention, she watched with the growing warmth of fondness and excitement in her chest as the young one she took in meticulously pried open the toys she handcrafted.
       They were humming to themselves, gingerly laying out the parts in an organized manner so that nothing got lost or mixed. She was beyond impressed with the careful thought they had blatantly put into keeping track of everything; Xianyun was certain that most children would lose a small part or two, but as she surveyed their layout, she noted that every single piece—big or small, hard to overlook or easy to lose—was accounted for.
       Childish forgetfulness wasn't an inherently bad thing. In fact, it was quite amusing and endearing to those such as herself who had lived for so many millennia.
       However, she was infinitely more endeared by their sheer mindfulness.
       Their sharp gasp snapped her from her internal musings.
       "Oh— Miss... Miss Xianyun! I'm sorry, I—" They stumbled over their words, and they froze up somewhat. It was as if they wanted to hide what they had done but ultimately decided against it; she had clearly already spotted them, and they did not want to risk mixing up all the parts. "Miss Xianyun, I'm so sorry, I— I wasn't trying to destroy them, I just—"
       "—wanted to understand their internal workings, yes?"
       Their eyes went wide with that same wonderment they had displayed towards her a few days prior. "How... how did you know?"
       She almost laughed at their cluelessness. "You have taken them apart with the care and delicacy quite unusual for one of your age. This, one surmises, is only because you sought to sate your curiosity regarding these simple mechanisms and their internal functions."
       The grace with which she carried herself never failed to leave them in astonished silence. Xianyun hummed, sweeping them up into her arms as if they weighed no more than a feather (her utter, raw strength was another astounding feat in their young mind; she was so unimaginably admirable in a multiplicity of ways to them). Then, with steady caution, she kneeled to the floor and situated them comfortably in her lap.
       "Allow one to introduce you, little colt, to the basics of mechanics."
       Xianyun, they concluded, was an odd but genuinely kind woman.
       Though her manner of speech was sometimes strange and formal, and her grace seemed otherworldly in its nature, and her strength was assuredly not a feat that just anyone could achieve...
       She was tender. She was kind. She cared.
       Perhaps the world was not always so kind, but despite that knowledge, they had never felt safer than where they were now.
please consder reblogging with a kind tag or comment, it helps me out quite a lot! mama xianyun series taglist: @zeldadou, @starryshinyskies, @soleillunne, @lillonvia, @nervocat, @dragon-type-nuggetz, @starlit-dianthus. contact me non-anonymously to be added.
622 notes · View notes
impactedfates · 5 months
Note
hehhaharhar i so totally not deprived of father figure! genshin men with kidnapped child reader? pls pls 💓💓💓any man is fine but perferably the tall ones ☝
★ A/N: Yeah sure you aren't...anyways, yep I got you covered with this request :))
☆ Genre/Trope: Platonic + Familial
★ Format: HeadCannons (Characters Included (Separate): Diluc, Zhongli, Kaeya, Childe, Kaveh)
☆ Warnings: Mentions and hints of kidnapping // Mentions of death (In Diluc and Childes) // Spoilers for the Liyue Archon quest if you have not done it yet // Mentions of going to the hospital (Kavehs)
★ Extra: Reader is adopted in Zhonglis one // Reader is shorter then most characters (They're about 6-7 age wise) // Reader has no vision // Reader is ofc NOT traveler
Tumblr media Tumblr media
For whatever reason I can see it being a Fatui that kidnapped you. Perhaps to get payback for the massacre Diluc caused back in Snenznaya. Whatever the reason, once Diluc finds out you’re gone and it was because of the Fatui? Oh he’s more then pissed.
If they wanted to upset him, they succeeded. Perhaps too successfully as when he finally finds you, most of the Fatui that’s been there to ensure you don’t escape has been soaking in a pool of their own blood. He of course won’t hurt anyone violently if you’re in the room, but he will knock the other people in there out. He’ll pick you up and hide your face in his chest as he calmly walks out.
When you are back home, he’ll take a few days off work to ensure you’re okay after what happened, and maybe if it comes to it he may actually ask some of the Knights of Favonius for help as well.
Honestly whether or not he actually hurt anyone is up to you, however I do think that when it comes to family, he isn't that hesitant to be a bit more violent then usual.
Tumblr media
Getting adopted and having your father being the ex-archon of Liyue had it's ups and downs, especially as you witnessed your father continuously forget his wallet, however never have you thought you'd get kidnapped.
You weren't sure why though, Zhongli had kept his identity a secret and the only ones knowing were other Archons and the traveler as far as you knew plus Zhongli in his "mortal" form isn't that much of an important figure to others, nor is he famous. Yet here you were, treasure hoarders surrounding you.
Meanwhile, Zhongli was panicking wondering where you went. One second you were close behind him, the next you were gone. So he quickly called upon some of the adeptus to search for you and thankfully, you also had the privilege to call upon Xiaos name and he'll come right to your side. Whatever happened to the treasure hoarders?
You're not sure, Xiao simply teleported you away and right into your fathers arms as he held you tight before disappearing into the green mist once again. Zhongli checks all over you to ensure you aren't hurt. After that day, he's sure to always have an eye on you and when he cannot. An adeptus will look out for you from afar.
Tumblr media
Being a Knight, and a captain in fact. Kaeya definitely encountered people wanting to push his cool persona over the edge. It's part of the reason why he's a bit hesitant on growing closer to certain loved ones.
He's afraid of loosing them, so when he lost you. He did not take it well, despite his cool demeanour when he ordered some knights to go search for you, people like Jean and his brother Diluc were quick to see he was in a state of panic, Jean even offered to take over the search so Kaeya could relax but he didn't want too. He had to find you safe and sound, even if that meant he had to get hurt.
When you are finally found, he's quick to take whoever's responsible away and have Jean deal with them properly as he himself brings you to Barbara who checks for injuries you may have sustained. He's by your side at all times and may even be hesitant to leave your side.
Even though Jean likely did give him some time off to spend time with you and for him to cool down after what happened, he's still unwilling to leave you alone, even with another babysitter. He does reluctantly agree when his older brother offers to take care of you. He knows Diluc is strong and will be able to protect you. (Better than Diluc protecting him anyways)
Tumblr media
Whoever kidnapped you must have a death wish or something...
Of course it's easy to see why someone were to kidnap you. I mean, being the kid of not only the fatui, but a harbinger. It's clear why someone tried to kidnap Tartaglia's kid but...it's not smart either.
The Fatui have a large amount of people working for them, and most aren't afraid to attack. And due to the fact Childe is a harbinger, it's easy for him to get people to find you as soon as he knows of your disappearance and when you are found, he asks his subordinates to take you back to his house where his family will look after you whilst Childe *cough cough* uh...deals with the perps responsible.
He'll come back soon, cleaned up but faintly smelling of blood and double checks to see you're okay. Now he does go back to work faster then anyone else, this is mainly because I don't think he'll really be allowed time off, however he does have some subordinates keep an eye on you from afar.
Tumblr media
Oh archons, he is p a n i c k i n g. Once Kaveh finds out you've been kidnapped he's so worried, it takes Alhaitham to actually shake him to get him to finally focus on finding you. Unfortunately unlike the others listed in this post so far, he cannot easily go looking for you himself. However being friends with Cyno does mean you have the General of the Mahamatra looking for you and he is good at his job.
It may take awhile but eventually Cyno does find you, and after dealing with the kidnappers and arresting them. Takes you to the Sumeru hospital (they have one right?) to get healed as he tells Kaveh that you've been found.
Kaveh stays by your side no matter what, he'll sleep on the damn floor of the hospital if he has too, he doesn't even leave you once you're discharged from it either. He feels so guilty about what happened and blames himself so he tries his best to make more time with you. Even if this means his debts may increase, he just wants to spend as much time with you as possible encase this happens again.
And hey, Alhaitham may be kind enough to dismiss Kavehs missed rent payment that month.
Tumblr media
Weehee. I actually enjoyed writing this :D However next time please make sure to check to see if my requests are open before sending one in, in any case I hope you liked this <33
496 notes · View notes
lovehypegirl · 2 months
Text
SACRED SAKURA
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Paring: yae miko x kitsune!yokai!gn!reader wc: 442 description: a little cup of tea under the sakura branches warnings: none!
Tumblr media
As a shrine maiden and a kitsune yokai, it was your duty to tend to the sacred sakura as seen fit
The branches swayed in the wind as you finished up your duties and your ears perked up as you heard a familiar footfall head in your direction
"y/n" a smooth voice called out earning your attention
"Guuji Yae" you bowed once you had turned in her direction
"How's your work been going as of late?" she caught one of the sakura petals between her slender fingers
Still not raising your head, you responded "Everything proceeds smoothly. All preparations towards the summer festivities will run without trouble"
She smiled and tapped your chin raising your head up
"You work quite hard don't you?" she tilted her head
"Um...I do the work you give for me to the best of my ability...such is my job" you looked to the side, slightly flustered at the sudden proximity
She turned your head towards her making you keep eye contact with her
"Well, you are my hardest working, my little fox...you deserve a little break~"
"Guuji..." This felt like a scene out of one of those short novels you secretly indulged yourself in...what was it? Oh...Pretty Please Kitsune Guuji?
You sighed to yourself
"If my Priestess insists...then I shall comply"
She guided you to a small clearing on the base of Mt. Yougo surrounded by sakura trees in full bloom
In the middle of the clearing laid a small table with a pot of tea already warmed up, two bowls of Fukuuchi Udon (Yae Mikos favorite), and a plate of sakura mochi
"My goodness Guuji Yae, did you have this prepared beforehand?"
"But of course! It had to be ready by the time we arrived"
"How did you know that I'd say yes?"
"Because, how could you ever refuse me?" She sent you a little wink
"How could I...yes....how could I ever refuse you" you said after she sat down
Following her actions...you sat down right across from her as she served you tea
The two of you sat in a comfortable silence as your four tails swept the grass behind you in content
"Four hundred years?" she questioned suddenly
"Hm? Ah..yes. Four hundred" you replied "It...seems like a lot now that I think about it...."
"Do you forget any of those earlier years?"
"I try not to. Experiences are meant to be treasured no matter the emotion they carry. Moments like these"
She smiles at your sweet words
The sakura sways above you as the sun sets behind the mountain. Two Kitsune sit in peace unaffected by the passing of time. Perhaps for an eternity...
Tumblr media
120 notes · View notes
tragedy-of-commons · 2 months
Text
when somebody needs you (+ baklava)
Tumblr media
kaveh & gn!reader | wc: ~1.5k
In a much-needed moment of respite, you and Kaveh both learn not to give so much in the pursuit of others' happiness.
tags/warnings: hurt/comfort, mild angst, written platonically but can be interpreted as romantic, description of disassociation (reader), and nail-picking (kaveh)
notes: n/a
Tumblr media
A voice calls your name, dangerously soft.
You want to snap out of the stupor you’re stuck in, but white noise rings in your ears. It threatens to drown out the singsong of daily life as the seconds tick by. Maybe you didn’t even hear it at all, because the sunlight feels fake upon your skin, and the line between reality and the pit of your mind blurs further.
Your name again, louder. Ah, well, no excuse now - do something.
“Hm?” you hum. A small part of you realizes that you’ve been staring at the same market stall for at least an hour, but it’s easier to remain transfixed on an inconsequential target than your own thoughts.
“I asked if you’re alright,” they place a hand on your shoulder and squeeze. “Ahem, that brute stole my ke–uh, something important of mine again. I was heading back here to kill time, but you’re still in the same spot as when I first saw you.”
Kaveh. His hand is on your shoulder, and you can picture his brow furrowed in concern that you don’t deserve. You take a deep breath.
“Yes. I’m alright.” You don’t dare face him.
The silence that follows your lie is comforting. However, the architect must not agree. Kaveh finds his words after a too-long pause. “..In that case, could I sit with you? It’s beautiful out today.”
You nod mechanically, and a blur of blond and white settles in your peripherals.
“You know,” he starts, and you strain to hear him. “I haven’t seen you around much lately. If there’s something you want to talk about, I can listen. We could get lunch,” he offers kindly.
You wrench your head to the side to take a good look at your friend. He’s breathtaking, and it’s almost criminal that he doesn’t realize it. He’s looking at you with his bleeding heart on display, and you know that he knows. He must, right?
“With what mora?” you joke. Kaveh lights up like he just won the lottery when you bloom at his behest. “Why, Alhaitham’s, of course.”
That’s right; he’s more inclined to let go of his pride when you’re around. One usually can’t waterboard his living situation or reliance upon his roommate out of him. It’s not that he’s arrogant, you think, but that he has to shed his Light of Kshahrewar persona - and you’re grateful for the privilege. He certainly deserves a reprieve, even if it’s better spent with someone else.
“And that wouldn’t be too much trouble?” “Nonsense, don’t be silly. I could also use your opinion on some of my revisions,” his bravado softens. “I’d love your company.” 
He’d love your company. It’s dangerous for him to say things like that - sweet conjectures that haul you to your feet and make you agree to spend the afternoon with him. 
Walking down Treasures Street with Kaveh is a familiar activity, sure, but this time he’s merciful enough not to comment on your sluggish movements or lackluster replies, when you’re usually matching his intellectual wit head-on. Another thing you owe him.
“Something sweet is a must,” he mutters, holding the door of Puspa Café open for you. “What do you think? Baklava?”
On second thought, maybe you’ll save your debilitating guilt for after dessert.
Tumblr media
When Kaveh’s teeth are sufficiently sticky, there still has been no heart-to-heart therapeutic conversation. Something awful gnaws at him when you stare blankly down at your portion. So, he talks at you like you’re a client, even if it feels wrong. You’re his friend, someone who has seen him at his worst - and he finds himself lacking the right words to get you to open up. As he rambles about his recent projects, his work on Mehrak, and the trips he’s taken to the desert, he’s reminded of how little you’ve talked about yourself period.
He can preach about tact to his roommate all he likes, but this is a contender for one of his more humbling experiences. How many times have you wanted to leave early before this, but you were too wonderful to say anything? How many hours of your life has he wasted by making everything all about him? 
Inviting you here was supposed to be an attempt at listening to you for once, and he– You snap in front of his face. “Hey. You’re not making any sense.” “Oh! Sorry, I must have gotten caught up in my thoughts,” he chuckles sheepishly. “I know the feeling. Also,” you rap against the table near his lounging hand, one of his restless index fingers picking at the adjacent thumb’s cuticle. “You’re messing with your nails again. Something on your mind?” His heart is about to overflow whether he likes it or not. “I want to help.” You blink twice, eyes now glossy. Since when did you perk up? “You are helping.” “I’ve been rambling this whole time–” “–And I’ve been listening,” You cross your arms over your chest matter-of-factly, now chuckling. “Clearly you haven’t, because in the latter half of that spiel, you started reciting shitty poetry instead of whatever filler you had prepped.” The soft expression he wore morphs into abject horror. “I did not.” You’re grinning evilly, and it’s beautiful. Oh Archons, he did. However, had he known making a fool of himself frees you of your pain that you guard sacred, he would have screamed purple prose from the rooftops like a madman at the earliest opportunity. “That aside, what I’m trying to say is.. you are helping, Kaveh. Dragging me here, away from all the noise, and keeping me company means a lot.” The mist haunting your visage has been warded off, accidental soliloquy aside. “I’m sorry for not being upfront about my situation.” “I know the feeling,” he parrots. The scope of his empathy extends to everyone, himself be damned, but it shouldn’t have taken this long to realize what’s been festering in plain sight. “No apologies. Please allow me to lend an ear, even if I’ve been difficult about it myself. I insist.”
A sip of cold, neglected coffee can’t taste too good. You tough it out and then nod stiffly. Details emerge cautiously, muddled by hesitancy and exhaustion, but he listens with rapt attention. Kaveh feels closer than a seat away from you, backing you with all the support he can muster - and when you choke up in front of him for the first time, he swears that he’ll make sure you feel safe enough to do so more often, starting with Baklava pick-me-ups every week.
Tumblr media
Regrettably, the world moves on. Tabs are settled, the tear tracks on your cheeks dry, and the sun begins to set, casting the district in a citrinous orange. Though your mind is clearer than it has been in days, there’s still a niggling urgency as you walk your friend back to his Not-Home.
You’re not alright. You’re not alright, and Kaveh knows more than you ever planned to tell him, but at least there’s comfort in the fact that he’s the exact same way. He never planned to tell you about his mother, or the monumental regrets he’d do anything to put to bed. When he let you in, you should have made yourself at home also. Now there is no idle chatter. You pick up the torch. “I like when you talk. Just because you felt like it wasn’t helping me is no reason to go all quiet on me now,” you nudge him with your elbow. Carmine eyes narrow in suspicion. “B-But I literally ‘recited shitty poetry’ when I was–” “Oh, about that..” Kaveh’s strides stretch wider, his many accessories bouncing in pursuit of a space safe from your teasing. A playful scoff. “..I’m never living that down, am I?” “If you don’t want your experimental free verse plastered on the nearest message board, I’ll be expecting a bribe prepared by next Wednesday.” You think the architect is endeared enough by your noticeable uplift in spirit to let it slide. You love him very much, and he must love you too. “Extortion is a serious crime,” he slows down, taking it like a champ. “But it’s a deal. We could meet again then, same spot? I’ll have ample time in the late afternoon.” It hurts to swallow. “Yeah. We could.. talk.” His head eagerly swivels towards you, one hair clip almost dislodging. There’s no missing the glimmer of hope present in each almost imperceptible warp of his features. Alhaitham’s house looms in the distance. “About what’s on your mind?” he hopes. “Yes,” you make yourself say it. “And yours too. Then the revisions you’ve agonized over the last two months.” Kaveh releases the breath he was holding, unabashed in his smiling now. “It’s a promise then.” Such a promise with your best friend is something you’ll try to stop feeling guilty about. As you watch him break from your side onto the porch of his temporary residence (and pound on the door irately), you believe that it will get easier. After all, who else will buy you dessert?
98 notes · View notes
mentallyisekaid · 5 months
Text
「 ✦ Fatui Harbingers x Signora's Sister! Reader, PART 2.5 ✦ 」
---
Part 1 Part 2 [Part 2.5] Part 3
It's highly recommended to read the parts in order, otherwise few things will make sense!
Warnings: just me messing with Signora's lore because I can~
Word count: 1.3k
---
And so, with Columbina serenely laying on your lap - and Scaramouche and Ajax's intimate gazes dispelling a part of those doubts that had haunted you for half a millenium...
a glimpse of your past was finally unveiled.
"Rosalyne and I were only half-sisters, and it sprouted a seed of discord between us before I was even old enough to understand what family meant. Albeit, what really drew us apart in the end was my father... or rather, the crime that he committed against the divine."
Twiddling with the warm, red crystal in your hands brought you no comfort - only reminded of a life time's worth of regret.
"A crime that manifested as the Pyro Vision I'm now holding. You could say it's... a symbolization of the Lohefalters' curse. But I was the one who made it possible, and what followed..."
You shook your head. "Well, I'll start from the beginning?"
"Our mother, Freya, a Mondstadter, once met a traveling alchemist from an unknown land. Papa and mama shamelessly fell in love, even though she was married with another man and had a young daughter. After she became pregnant with me, an illegitimate child, Rosalyne's father soon found out and they got divorced. She then married my father, and we all took his surname."
The looks in their eyes revealed that La Signora's colleagues had truly known nothing about her past.
But now, all they cared about was yours.
"Papa was quite fanatic when it came to his alchemic research, and one thing fascinated him above all else: the nature of Visions. He'd become particularly obsessed with a certain thought... could Visions be created alchemically and thus acquired without the blessing of the gods?"
A pained look flashed across Scaramouche's face - maybe one day he'd share why.
"Seeing as he was an outlander, the favor of the divine would never fall upon him in such a way. Maddened, he set out on a journey to achieve a Vision, not as a gift from the gods, but by making one himself."
Columbina tilted her head. "And... did he?"
"It sounds crazy," you sighed, "but he did. He managed to create an artificial Vision. It cost him his sanity and so much more, but regardless; decades of endless research and a myriad of sacrifices materialized in the form of a gemstone - a bright red crystal with a faintly glowing Pyro symbol in its core."
Your next words gained a spiteful undertone, not unnoticed by the others.
"But, he needed a test subject to confirm that this counterfeit Vision was applicable. That was me. Not just because he was insane, but because I was a fool. I only had to promise that I'd never tell the rest of my family, or anyone, about how I had received this 'acknowledgement' from 'Celestia'."
Ajax had an unreadable expression on his face - pity with a hint of disappointment and anger, perhaps.
"You agreed, then?" he asked.
"I was nine years old and rather naïve, so yes." You frowned. "But even as I grew older and understood better, on some level, I still accepted what papa had done..."
Scaramouche crossed his arms.
"But, surely... you didn't do this just to please your parent?"
"No," you shook your head, "or maybe that was a part of it as well. I couldn't say."
Yet someone saw right through you, as always.
"It had something to do with your sister, I presume?" Columbina's voice was gentle, like a mother
Ah, there it was - the void in your heart left behind by a broken kinship with the only sibling you ever had.
It was... more painful than you admitted.
"...I knew my Vision was a fake, but even so, it made me feel special. I'd always felt meritless, living my life in the shadow of the oh-so brilliant Rosalyne, who was both beautiful and academically talented. I... I was never looked at with such admiration."
"Although," your lips curved into a rueful smile, "ever since that day, I had something that she didn't - a Vision - and it harrowed her proud heart. Thus, a mutual feeling of jealousy grew between us, creating a rift that we never tried to overcome."
You shook your head. "At least I never did."
But a question still remained in the air, one that you were consciously avoiding for the sake of the horrible things that had once happened and could yet again occur because of it.
You didn't want to betray or hurt anyone, and even more than that, you wanted to protect yourself.
Yet the other Harbingers cared about you in such a strong, unconditional way, and you had started to harbor these strangely intimate feelings for them as well.
Perhaps you... really didn't need to hide anymore?
Columbina had sat up next you and now pulled you to lay on her lap instead, as she softly spoke:
"This Pyro Vision... you called it a curse - the Lohefalters' curse, or perhaps yours, but what makes you say this, I wonder? Was the cost you had to pay for this power much greater than you have let on, my angel?"
Scaramouche was staring at you intently. "I think we'd all like to know that."
You averted your gaze. "Even if it only gets darker?"
Ajax smiled, uncertain yet encouraging. "Even so."
"I... see. Well, if I had known that my broken relationship with Rosalyne wasn't even a foretaste of this horrible curse that I would end up carrying for centuries... that what papa had done would end up destroying things far, far more precious than just my family, I... I would have done differently, I'm sure of it..."
You sighed. "It's too late for amends, though. And this is all I have to say. For now."
No one was left satisfied by this, not even you yourself.
Their first instinct was to somehow confirm whether you had been telling the truth, having sensed that you were probably quite an adept liar (when you wanted to be).
But your reserved yet sincere eyes didn't invite any distrust.
Childe looked sympathetic, though there was a nuance of something else behind his cerulean gaze. When he smiled at you, the mannerism lacked his usual assertiveness.
"I... see. I'm... at a loss for words here, girlie."
The thought of you carrying these grim secrets all by yourself made the ginger Harbinger feel strangely protective of you, and he wasn't the only one - albeit the other two did a better job at hiding it.
Damselette's expression was curious yet enigmatic, indicating that she'd perhaps already figured out much more than you had told them.
Behind her innocent, uncaring demeanor, Columbina was a very shrewd person.
"Our little angel never ceases to fascinate~," she chuckled, caressing your hair.
The Balladeer's displeasure was evident.
"Ha!" he scoffed. "You've got some nerve, disclosing something of this gravity and then conveniently deciding to leave the rest of our questions unanswered. Moreover, with each secret you reveal, another one just takes its place."
Scaramouche's tone now took a softer hint - then again, maybe you just imagined it.
"Who am I to judge, of course... but isn't centuries of hiding enough, Twelfth?"
Though his opinion was harsh and undisguised, it had voiced the truth you wanted so hard to admit, but just couldn't. You found this... soothing, in a way.
As flames flickered in the fireplace, your heart wanted to stay here with them for a little while longer - each of their gazes embracing you very differently but all in a way that made you feel warm and safe; something quite rare in Snezhnaya.
Yet, with a cryptic smile, you stood up and walked away.
Whether sharing a part of your past had been a mistake, or the first step toward some kind of redemption, you couldn't yet tell. But it was clear that it had set into motion something irreversible.
It was only a matter of time before everyone would know...
84 notes · View notes
sleepy-razor · 2 years
Text
Found Family(Platonic Genshin + Child!Reader)
Request!!: Ok get this— platonic fluff, how certain characters react to meeting child reader for the first time- i just want that tooth rotting, coma inducing, sweet fluff. Whether its both as kids, or idk they’re adopting you as a kid or you’re their new sibling la k e please i need this— anyway imagine like kaeya, diluc, razor, Xiao, Aether——ok anyway toodle loo
Warnings: None that I can think of??
Characters: Aether, Diluc, Jean(feat. Barbara), Kaeya, Razor, Xiao
Notes: I went ahead and added Jean and Barbara in the mix because I love Jean, I hope that’s okay!
Aether
Aether was no stranger to kids.
He’d helped care for many in the other worlds he’d visited with Lumine, but you still came to him as a surprise.
He’d found you in Mondstadt, scared and alone in the streets, and the first thing he did was take you to the Knights of Favonius headquarters to search for your parents. 
Unfortunately, nothing had come up within two weeks, and by that time, you had gotten attached.
Aether took it in stride, welcoming you like a big brother would, with a smile and open arms. He often times takes you traveling and will leave you with trusted individuals if a particular commission is too dangerous.
It’s late by the time Aether returns to the Wangshu Inn. Verr Goldet greets him with a warm smile, handing him the key he’d left with her to make sure you were being cared for while he was gone.
“How were they?”
“Well-behaved, as always,” Verr Goldet responds, laughing softly to herself. “They might still be awake, though. They insisted on staying up to welcome you home.”
Aether’s heart swells hearing that, and his eyes burn with unshed tears, though he doesn’t let them fall. Instead, he thanks Verr Goldet and quickly makes his way up the stairs and to the room that you’d be sharing for the night.
As she had said, there you were, sitting up in the bed in your pajamas, squinting sleepily at the door as it creaked open. “Welcome back,” you mutter, trying (and failing) to stifle a yawn.
“[Name], you should be asleep by now,” Aether gently scolds, walking toward the bed after he removes his boots. He scoops you into his arms as he settles down on the bed, caging you in a warm hug.
“I wanted to make sure you came back safely,” you respond, your voice growing quieter as the added warmth draws you further into dreamland.
God, Aether almost died after hearing you say that.
He vows to protect you with his life, holding you close as you fall asleep.
Your family may have had a strange start, but you two wouldn’t have it any other way.
Diluc
You were, by no means, a surprise.
Diluc had planned meticulously for your arrival after receiving word from the Knights of Favonius that they had recovered a child from a village that had been ransacked by the Abyss.
You were quiet for the first few days, slightly unnerved by the new surroundings and the sheer amount of people (Diluc and the staff) doting on you, but eventually you warmed up to everyone.
Eventually, you took to following Diluc around the vineyards surrounding the manor, and even “patrolling” it on your own to make sure there were no grape thieves.
It didn’t bother you when Diluc had to leave for long periods of time either.
You knew about his work as the “Darknight Hero”, though you had sworn you wouldn’t tell a single soul about it.
Adelinde was the one in charge of your care while Diluc was away, making sure you were well-fed and keeping up with your studies.
Diluc made sure to spend as much time as he could with you, remembering just how happy it made him that Crepus would play with him.
“[Name],” Diluc calls into the manner, shrugging his coat onto his shoulders. “Are you ready?”
“Almost!” comes the response, followed by the overhead thumping of your footsteps as you all but flew down the stairs. You grabbed your backpack, one that Albedo had kindly made for you, skidding to a stop at Diluc’s feet with a wide grin on your face.
Amused by your enthusiasm, Diluc snorts and reaches down to ruffle your hair. “Good,” he hums. “We wouldn’t want to be late to see everyone, now would we?”
His heart lifts at the way your face brightened further and you start excitedly rambling about getting to see Kaeya again. He takes your hand in his, and together, you begin the trek to the city.
Jean(feat. Barbara)
Barbara was the one who brought you to her.
You had just been deposited on the doorstep of the church with no clue as to who your family was or how you got there, so at a loss, Barbara brought you to her big sister for help. 
A search was conducted, but unfortunately the results came up empty.
After learning such news, Jean decided that she would be the one to take care of you.
It was rocky at first, after all it had been years since Barbara had been a small child, but she eventually got the hang of it again.
The other Knights see you as a godsend, because ever since Jean took you in, she’s been taking more breaks instead of being cooped up behind her desk all the time.
You were quite the little troublemaker, and often got hurt while tripping over your own feet or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Barbara was exasperated by the fact, as was Jean, but they knew that you were just a kid, and scrapes were bound to happen now and again.
“Miss Barbara! Look what I found!”
Barbara lifts her head as you come bounding through the cathedral, a bundle of white flowers clutched tightly in your little hands.
“Oh? What is it, [Name]?”
She crouches down to get a better look. Cecilias.
“Flora gave them to me!” you exclaim proudly, eyes sparkling. “I thought you and Miss Jean would like them!”
Barbara’s smile widens at the thought. “Thank you so much,” she praises, placing a hand on your head. “Why don’t we go and give them to Jean now?”
You nod enthusiastically, and Barbara scoops you up into her arms, carrying you off to surprise your big sister.
Kaeya
Kaeya was the one to find you on the way to the Angel’s Share to have a drink with Rosaria.
You were new to the city, at least, that’s what Kaeya had assumed, considering he had never seen you before.
He had tried to ask you if you knew where your family was, to which you shook your head.
You had just moved to the city, and had gotten separated from your parents while you had been exploring.
Kaeya made it his personal mission to reunite you with your family, and luckily, that was done quickly.
Your parents were relieved that you’d been found and were safe, and thanked Kaeya profusely.
They quickly came to trust him, and were much more comfortable with letting you run around the city on your own if they knew he was patrolling.
You’re hiding around here somewhere. Kaeya knows that for a fact. You had a strange fixation with hiding from the Cavalry Captain so he could find you and start the game all over again.
He didn’t mind it, you were like a younger sibling to him, and your parents trusted him a great deal with your safety. The way you followed him around and begged him to play with you reminded him of when he and Diluc had been children, and the time spent with you filled the emptiness their bond had once filled.
Well, speak of the devil.
As Kaeya is lost in thought, a small weight slams into one of his legs, little arms wrapping around it as the Cavalry Captain stumbled with a good-natured laugh. “Well, hello to you too, [Name],” he greets you with a smile, his hand coming to land on your head.
You say nothing, only tipping your head back to beam up at him. The backpack on your shoulders tells him that school has just ended, and you had decided to seek him out before heading home.
“Tell me how your day was,” Kaeya says, taking your hand. “And I’ll make sure you get home safely.”
Razor
Razor had no clue what to do with you when he found you.
A small child wandering around Wolvendom? Didn’t you realize how dangerous that was, especially since you didn’t have a vision?
He tried his best to ask you questions and figure out where you came from, but he wasn’t getting anywhere on his own, so he ended up seeking out Bennett for help.
When he learned that you had no family to speak of, Razor decided right then and there that you would be part of his Lupical.
He set about teaching you how to hunt in the woods, and how to communicate with the wolves, though the latter took more time for you to master than he would have liked.
Nonetheless, you showed extreme promise as a hunter with your quick thinking and your sharp reflexes.
The wolves took to you very quickly as well, though Andrius was more apprehensive when Razor tried explaining the situation to him.
Eventually you were properly accepted into the pack, and Razor deigned you his younger sibling.
“Razor!”
The wolf boy turns, eyes lighting up when you come bounding through the trees.
“[Name]!”
He catches you in a hug when you throw yourself into his arms.
“How was the city?”
“Crowded,” you answer, beaming up at him. “I met with Lisa, though! She taught me how to read a bit more, and even gave me a book to bring back with me!” You turn, rummaging in your bag before pulling out the book in question.
It’s short, nothing more than a mere picture book, but the way your eyes gleam with pride is absolutely worth the accomplishment. “Proud of you,” Razor praises, and you seem to almost glow from the praise.
“After we eat, I could probably read to you and Lupical later,” you say excitedly, following your older brother as he begins to lead you back through the forest.
Razor only smiles. “Lupical would love that.”
Xiao
It was no secret that Xiao kept his distance from mortals.
He couldn’t risk them becoming affected by his karmic debt, but in the end, he can only avoid them until they start intentionally seeking him out.
Which, in some cases, was you.
You had been adopted by Verr Goldet and Huai’an, becoming a permanent resident of the inn where you were allowed to run amok and play to your heart’s content, so long as you stayed out of trouble.
The first time you’d run into Xiao was by complete accident.
You, in typical childlike curiosity, had snuck up to the balcony that you had been warned was completely off-limits, desperate to see the view from that high up.
And there he was, standing with his back turned to the doorway and arms crossed over his chest.
You greeted him politely, as you had seen Verr do when new guests arrived downstairs, and Xiao whirled around, staring at you with wide and bewildered eyes before disappearing in a flurry of black and green.
Huai’an found you soon after, scooping you up into his arms and bringing you back down the stairs, quietly scolding you for breaking the rules.
Curious, you asked your adoptive parents about the strange man standing on the balcony, and, unable to escape the situation, they told you the story of the Vigilant Yaksha.
Xiao knows you’re coming this time, senses on high alert for the child who he had come to learn was Verr Goldet’s child.
He’s thankful you hadn’t cried when he disappeared on you, not like the last child who had ventured up here. Startled the poor thing.
“You shouldn’t be up here,” he says, listening to your feet patter against the wooden balcony before coming to a stop behind him.
“I brought you something,” you say.
He already knows, he could smell the almond tofu all the way from the first floor.
Xiao turns to regard you carefully.
You smile. “I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for Liyue,” you say carefully. Verr Goldet must have helped you rehearse what you wanted to say. “I asked Smiley Yanxiao to make you your favorite.”
Xiao’s heart melts at the admission, though he would be quick to deny it. Instead, he mumbles a quiet thanks and takes the bowl from your outstretched hands.
Satisfied that your task is complete, you say goodbye to the adeptus and run for the stairs, tossing a promise that you’d be back tomorrow over your shoulder.
Xiao definitely isn’t looking forward to it. Not by a long shot.
190 notes · View notes
ighnari · 10 months
Text
001
# ... thoma & reader (platonic). 500 words.
& … prompt 8 (tweaked). "and they were childhood best friends" prompts by (@)dumplingsjingson.
.………..
thoma knocks his head on a doorframe. thoma—the guy can sense where a knife is in the kitchen, the one who trained with the shuumatsuban before his role as the housekeeper—wasn’t paying attention to where he was going.
you saw the trouble before you heard the loud bang, and when he rebalances himself, you let out a quiet chuckle.
thoma grumbles, rubbing his forehead. you dig into the first aid kit you keep around as the medical assistant of the estate. 
“you could have warned me!” he whines, frowning, but eyes filled with a sort of mirth that tickled another laughter out of you.
“i would, but it’s not everyday i get to see the oh-so-careful thoma bumping into something.” you usher him to sit at the nearest furniture, successfully retrieving an ice pack for him and pressing on his forehead as a form of apology.
he reaches for the ice pack but you stretch yourself so it’s out of reach. he grabs it in the end. placing the ice pack against his bruise himself, he shakes his head as a small smile sneaks on his face.
“and you just wanted to mend me up? should have said it yourself.”
“in your dreams,” you counter, sticking out your tongue before bursting into melodious laughter with him. “but speaking about dreams, you were obviously in your head.” you press his temple with an index finger. “so what’s up in here?”
thoma stills. his smile weakens, eyes growing distant. your shoulders freeze, anxious about what he’s going to say next. it’s not every day thoma finds something that troubles him either. you’ve seen the boy grow up, worked with him for assignments given by kamisato’s secret association, and he’s always someone who never slouches his shoulders.
“i was thinking about you,” he says like its a secret. a part of you relaxes, another cracks under pressure of expectations and anticipation.
“all the more reason to see you bang into a door frame,” you tease, letting a light laugh to hide the fact you're nervous.
“that’s exactly it,” thoma looks at you, passing you the now warm ice pack. you fish out another for him. “i don’t know why i like you—”
“do you regret it?” you press the ice pack closer to your chest, wondering if you went too far to let thoma meet his uneventful fate with the doorframe.
“no, of course no,” he reassures, gingerly taking your hand and placing it on his forehead. “you’re just a joker, even when we have to be all serious. it’s not something i can’t appreciate, but not something i like either.”
“ouch,” you say, a smile returning just a tiny bit. you’ll keep that in mind. “you’re no fun sometimes, you know?”
“by your high standards, maybe,” thoma retorts, freeing your hand so you can do the honours of touching him up. “but i guess i do like you because who else has been there for me?”
you grin.
then tap his forehead with hard ice.
piak!
“ouch!” he exclaims in mock hurt as you laugh.
“don’t go bumping into door frames again,” you say before gently dabbing in his wound. “i may be with you through thick or thin but definitely not when you’re about to collide with wood.”
37 notes · View notes
www-brontide · 4 months
Text
— big brother kazuha hcs
༄ cw: mentions of arguments, overworking, healthy protectiveness, kazuha being the best brother in existence &lt;3
༄ genre: fluff. angst. hurt/comfort.
༄ summary: what’s kaedehara kazuha like as a big brother?
Tumblr media
i. kazuha is the kind of older sibling anyone would feel lucky to have. he’s understanding, patient, and open-minded; always wanting to make sure that you and your feelings are both seen, and heard.
ii. he doesn’t want to make you feel excluded, so if you’re a bit more on the shier side, kazuha developed a tendency to have you join the conversation — but only if he’s absolutely sure you’re comfortable with it.
iii. whenever he’s stuck on a haiku, he'll turn to you for inspiration or direct assistance -- one of the two, there's really no in-between. if poetry isn't your strong suit, that's okay, too! he won't mind.
iv. matching outfits? matching outfits. need i say more? haha, i'm kidding. the designs and details of your attire will differ from kazuha's depending on your chosen elemental vision, but you and he's themes are still noticeably similar to be considered matching nonetheless.
v. kazuha is literally so sweet and supportive towards you. he's normally like that with his companions, but you're not companions, you're family!! it's a different kind of sweet and supportive when it comes to his little sibling.
vi. he'll always be there to support you in whatever career you want to pursue. you want to be an actor? he and beidou would come to each and every one of your performances, even if your role is just a minor background character. you'd like to try your hand at becoming a writer? kazuha will be more than happy to help you, especially with his wide vocabulary! you name it, and he'll support you in the best way he can.
vii. although... if you wanted to join him in the crux, he'd be a bit hesitant, but if you're that willing, he won't exactly say no. only a small warning telling you of what's to come if you came with him, making sure you knew what you were gonna be getting yourself into.
viii. or if you just chose to pursue your academics until the finish line, that's completely understandable and valid, kazuha thinks, and it's okay by him; he can still send a letter or two every week!
ix. don't try to overwork yourself. kazuha will know, no matter what. (its become a sixth sense at this point.) he wouldn't be mad at you per se, but he'll get upset at the fact you disregarded your health in favor of excellence, authoritative validation and approval. he wants you to be happy and healthy, so how can you be that if you ignore your body's necessities?
x. this might lead to a bit of a disagreement between you and kazuha if your physical and mental health start to deteriorate because you wouldn't take a much-needed break.
xi. you keep trying to insist to him that you're okay, and that you can handle it, but kazuha won't be believing your empty reassurances. he can see it on your face, after all -- it's hardly subtle or discreet.
xii. he refutes your claims, and retorts gently. how long this disagreement'll end up becoming depends not only on your level of stubbornness, but also your energy. so if you end up fainting, uhm… you’ll have a doting kazuha on your hands now. <3
Tumblr media
© www-brontide — do not steal, plagiarize, or repost onto another platform without my explicit permission.
113 notes · View notes
taylorman2274 · 3 months
Text
We Care About You
For the past couple of days, you've been sacrificing sleep to spend more time playing Genshin. The people of Teyvat take notice and do not approve.
Content Warning(s): Liyue Archon Quest Spoilers
Notes: SAGAU; GN!Reader; First Story; Inexperienced Writer
Word Count: 1.5k
Previous || Next
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You honestly should've seen it coming.
There were too many hints that told you what was about to happen, but you either didn't notice them or ignored them entirely.
Now you're about to fall into unconsciousness against your will, all because someone within Teyvat cared about your well-being.
"How is this even possible?" you pondered before you finally fell into sweet unconsciousness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first hint happened so quick you almost missed it.
You were a couple of minutes removed from logging into the game and had just started working on your second of four daily commissions.
As you were teleporting to Dadaupa Gorge to help Wyatt look for his key, you noticed an unusual message on the loading screen.
Sleep
When night falls, make sure that you get plenty of rest!
You were lucky that you were a fast reader or else you wouldn't have been able to read that message in time.
At first, you didn't know what to think of it. Sure, Hoyoverse could've easily added it into the game, but you didn't see them ever doing such a thing. Additionally, you've never seen anyone else experience this message before.
"Probably something new," you guessed before gliding on down to speak with Wyatt.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The second hint was a bit more noticeable than the first.
After completing Wyatt's commission, you were on your way to Falcon Coast to defeat some hilichurls. It was approaching nighttime in Teyvat when Paimon suddenly said:
"It's getting pretty late. Paimon thinks that we should go to bed soon."
You stopped gliding forward for a brief moment in slight surprise. It only took a few seconds for you to snap back to reality before pausing the game to save what airtime you had left.
"I can see a new line of text being possible, but a new voice line?" you contemplated. Like the last hint, you really didn't know what to think of it. If it was only one new voice line that got added into the game, you guess you shouldn't see that as a big surprise.
"Today has certainly been weird," you added before unpausing the game.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It wasn't until the third hint that you started to think that something was wrong.
After defeating the two waves of hilichurls, your last commission had you beat up some cryo slimes near the Dawn Winery. You teleported to the Anemo Archon statue, grabbed a couple of Windwheel Asters, and began to glide down to the water.
However, just as you were about to pass the Dawn Winery, you began to hear a sweet melody coming from the building. This wasn't the theme you were used to hearing when you were near the Dawn Winery, so being the curious person you were, you took a quick detour to the building.
As you approached the building, the melody began increasing in volume. Furthermore, as you moved your camera you noticed the sound gradually shifting volume in-between your right and left ears.
"Wait, this isn't just a soundtrack? Someone's actually playing this?" you questioned, speaking aloud for the first time. You rarely speak your thoughts aloud, finding such an action to be awkward, but you felt that the situation warranted such a reaction out of you.
After a bit of wandering and camera movement, you pinpointed the source of the sound coming from the roof. Starting from the front of the building, you climbed up the wall and onto the balcony. You moved the camera around, trying to see if you could get a better view of the roof, and after a while, you found the source of the melody.
Venti the bard was currently straddling the roof beam with his back against the spire right near where the Anemoculus used to be. He had his eyes closed as he was playing the soothing melody on his lyre. If he noticed you, he took no note of it as he continued to play.
"Okay, now things are getting weird," you began to monologue to yourself. "I can somewhat explain a new loading screen message and a new voice line, but a new audio played by a character who is never supposed to be seen outside of archon quests and events? A change as big as this would've surely been advertised by Hoyoverse on social media, right? So why does it feel like I'm the first person to have discovered this? Do I consider this to be a bug or a glitch?"
However, as you continued to think to yourself, Venti continued to play his melody. As the melody dragged on and on, you began to yawn and feel your eyes growing heavy.
"Hold on. Is this melody...making me sleepy?”
Music notes began to fade in and out as they floated from Venti's lyre to your player character.
"I can't fall asleep just yet! I still need to finish my commissions!" you proclaimed before leaping off the balcony and continuing your way down to the beach. "Ooh! I also may need to travel to some domains and farm for materials."
You missed the fourth hint while you jogged away from the winery. Had you looked back at Venti, you would have noticed that he stopped playing the melody before sighing with a slight frown on his face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After completing all of your dailies, you decided to take a change of scenery and meet up with Liyue Katherine.
"I still need to go to Wanmin Restaurant and trigger that Beetle event. Plus, the crafting table is just around the corner for me to craft some Condensed Resin!"
You were too distracted by the crafting table to notice the fifth hint of the day. Had you kept your eye at Third-Round Knockout, you would've noticed the former Geo Archon getting up from his table and walking over to you.
Having finished crafting your Condensed Resin, you began to head over to Wanmin Restaurant. But before you could...
"Traveler! A quick moment of your time, please."
Startled by the sudden attention, you flicked your camera behind you to find Zhongli approaching your player character.
"It has been a while since we last had a chat. I was hoping you would accompany me while I head to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to retire for the night. We can catch up with each other while we walk."
Too many thoughts were running through your head for you to give a proper response, not that any prompt showed up anyway. Zhongli took your inactivity as a sign of acceptance.
"Good. Let us be on our way then."
Zhongli started to walk past you, which didn't help your thoughts at all.
When his feet hit the ground, there was no visible space between the sole of his shoes and the ground. You never saw any of his clothes clip through any part of his body. In fact, you swear you saw a few wrinkles.
"Everything about him is too detailed. The walking animation, the clothes, the collision, the hitboxes; there is no way in hell everything should be so... fluid."
You started to think whether or not you should go through with his request. However, before you could make a decision, the game decided to make one for you.
The Traveler moved... but your hands were off the keyboard.
"WOAH Woah Woah woah..." You repeated as you backed your chair away from the computer. Now you were starting to think that your game was broken. You quickly scooched your chair back closer to your computer and were about to Alt+F4 outta there before...
"I would refrain from doing that."
You stopped what you were doing and looked up at the screen. Did you miss something that the Traveler did?
"As much as we all love to have you around, we know better than to have you overstay your welcome when you are clearly tired."
...That didn't sound like he was talking to the Traveler.
"I admire your persistence, but you leave me no choice, [Y/N]."
"Oh sh-."
Before you could finish your sentence, a loud buzzing sound suddenly played from your computer speaker. Almost immediately, you could feel yourself about to fade to unconsciousness. You quickly stood up and covered your ears as you tried to fight it, wondering how in the hell this sound was affecting you despite having heard it before in Sumeru. Unfortunately, the noise continued to grow louder and louder until you could no longer stand on your own two feet. You slowly slumped to the floor as the sound began to lower in volume, sensing that its job was done.
You honestly should've seen it coming.
There were too many hints that told you what was about to happen, but you either didn't notice them or ignored them entirely.
Now you're about to fall into unconsciousness against your will, all because someone within Teyvat cared about your well-being.
"How is this even possible?" you pondered before you finally fell into sweet unconsciousness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author Side Notes: I know that I'm not the best writer in the world, but this idea for a SAGAU story I had continued to grow and grow until I felt like I could connect all of the plot points by myself.
If anyone is willing to rewrite or even possibly continue this story, I'm all down for it. I just wanted to see if people like this sort of scenario.
I also have more ideas for SAGAU stories if anyone wants to hear them.
2K notes · View notes
stellar-skyy · 2 months
Text
FAMILY (OF SORTS) — Platonic Fatui Harbingers & reader.
i. SUMMARY: The Fatui Harbingers have a soft spot for Arlecchino's child. ii. CONTENT WARNINGS: None! iii. NOTES: STRICTLY PLATONIC, headcanons, fluff, parent!arlecchino, house of the hearth!reader, all of the harbingers are reader's weird aunts and uncles, gn!reader, they/them pronouns used, 1.6k words. iv. A/N: the fatui are just a dysfunctional found family and i will die on this hill. shoutout to @romaritimeharbor for listening to my rambles about this idea 🫶🫶 also pierro and pulcinella aren't here because i could not think of anything to write for them :')
Tumblr media
All of the harbingers knew about Arlecchino’s child; the one that appeared in Fatui Headquarters stuck to her side, eyes cast to the floor. They all saw the way that Arlecchino had held a soft grip on their shoulder, guiding them through the halls with the gentle touch of a parent from the gentle hands of a monster.
The Knave always swore she didn’t play favourites, but from an outside view it was clear that they held a special place separate from the rest. Anyone could see the way they appeared so much more frequently by her side. They were permitted to sit in on meetings, following her like a shadow. Some of the Harbingers guessed that she had picked them to be her successor; that their frequent shadowing was training them to take over once she was gone. Others joked about Arlecchino’s apparent soft side taking over. Whatever the reason, time went on, and the Fatui saw more and more of them.
All of them varied in their opinions of them—some indifferent, some fond—but the Harbingers all cared for them in their own ways.
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
Columbina simply adores them. They’re just so small and cute, so tiny and fragile! Admittedly, her idea of ‘tiny’ is rather skewed—applying to anyone she deems weaker than her (notably, this label also gets given to Capitano and Tartaglia, despite their larger size and physical strength. The Damselette is truly an enigma.)
Whenever Arlecchino allows her to watch over them, she is delighted. She has a penchant for pet names, so ‘angel’, ‘my sweet’, and ‘lovely’ are all more commonly used than their name. Sometimes there’s a ‘baby’ or ‘bub’ if she’s feeling particularly affectionate, but no matter the name, it is always dripping with sweetness. She’ll sing to them too, to calm them down or get them to sleep. Her voice is gentle, laced with as much love as she would show her own child.
Some Fatui believe Columbina is a woman formed from hollow sweetness; that behind the lazy smile and soft voice, lies a callous and unfeeling heart, but her insistence on singing them to sleep comes from a place of genuine affection.
When they have to return home, she’ll kiss their cheeks and sweep them into a hug, making them promise to visit her soon.
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
The fact that Arlecchino would tear out his throat with her bare hands if he dared to look at them the wrong way is the only thing stopping Dottore from roping [Name] into one of his experiments. Even then, he can’t help but investigate them a bit. Nothing extreme—please put the knife down, Knave—just some simple trials to see how they work. A quick strength assessment, a test of their reflexes, enough to judge the effectiveness of the House of the Hearth’s training.
The segments all had different opinions of them, varying from Prime’s general indifference to some of the younger segments fondness towards them. The latter were less likely to try to trick them into the lab—not that Arlecchino would allow them anywhere near it without strict supervision—and instead focused their efforts on convincing them to help mess with the rest of the Dottores. They proved to be an excellent partner in crime to thoroughly ruin the older segment’s day.
Despite his assertion that he won’t harm them, Dottore tends to be the one Arlecchino trusts least around her child. His unwillingness to get on her bad side doesn’t stop her from insisting Columbina or herself accompany them whenever they visit his lab.
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
Tartaglia loves them. The days he gets to see his siblings are few and far between, so he’s always eager to play the older brother for them, and for any other House of the Heath kids that stop by. In fact, whenever any of the children visit, he makes sure to buy them plenty of sugary treats and candies before quickly sending them back to their Father.
(Arlecchino was not happy the first time this happened. It didn’t stop him from doing it every time, though.)
He was the first to convince them to call him Uncle, a feat that he bragged about to the rest of the Harbingers. This small incident would inadvertently lead to a petty competition to see who their favourite is, an event that would quickly spiral out of control with bribery and promises coming from all sides.
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
Sandrone is very particular with who she allows in her workshop. When the rare guest was allowed inside, they had to follow three simple rules: do not touch anything, do not move unless I tell you to, and do not talk to me while I work. When [Name] first stumbled into the room, she was prepared to discourteously shoo them out the way she did whenever Tartaglia poked his head in to see what she was working on. But after some extensive begging, she relented and sat them down in a corner to watch her work. 
Even if she is far less fond of them as some of the other Harbingers, she still audibly squeaked the first time she was called Aunt Sandrone. This was covered up with a cough, but nothing could stop the warmth blooming in her chest. It was the first time a living creature had addressed her with such a familial title; some of her synthetic creations had a habit of calling her Mother, but this was a living, breathing person.
After they started calling her that, she quietly told them they were free to visit when she was working—provided they did not interfere with anything. 
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
As much as he denies it, Scaramouche has a big soft spot for kids. He’ll swear up and down that he doesn’t care for them at all, but he treats them noticeably gentler than he treats any other member of the Fatui. Arlecchino once caught them huddled against him, using his wide-brimmed hat to shelter from the rain. She never let him forget that moment—the fearsome Balladeer, who notoriously never let anyone close enough to touch him, allowing her child to use him as an umbrella.
They remind him a little too much of the young boy he once considered his family. Whenever he spends time with them, there is something inside that both urges him to protect them in the way he couldn’t protect that child, and warns keep them at arm’s length before they betray him too. But his endearment towards them prevailed, and he begrudgingly allowed them a place in his heart.
Unlike Columbina’s affectionate pet names, the only nicknames Scaramouche gives them are ‘kid’ and ‘brat’, depending on his mood. On good days, they might even get called by their name, though it is a rarity. He cares for them, truly. In his own, strange way.
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
Capitano is the best at giving advice out of all the harbingers. He is much more down to earth than Columbina and Dottore, and far less cynical than Scaramouche and Sandrone. He’ll let them ramble about their frustrations freely before offering gentle suggestions on what they should do to help. Even if they aren’t looking for a solution, he’s patient enough to hear out their thoughts, however jumbled and incoherent they may be.
He also likes teaching them skills he deems important for a young person to know. These include cooking—Tartaglia is not allowed to join them in these lessons after he almost burnt down the kitchen trying to ‘help’—as well as sewing and mending clothes.  
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
Pantalone never would describe himself as parental. He never cared too much for kids; he hadn’t enough patience to deal with constantly crying babies or needy toddlers. Arlecchino’s child was thankfully far above that age, so they were less unbearable to deal with.
He was quite happy to spoil them with extravagant gifts and treats to win their favour, but the most effective way he does so is simply spending time with them. Trips to luxurious restaurants for lunch, allowing them to shadow him while he works. He also likes to give them advice—completely unasked for—about life, and relationships. Unlike Capitano however, his advice is of a much less helpful; he has a habit of advocating for blackmail for solving problems.
In exchange for a box of the most expensive pastries in Teyvat, he got them to call him their favourite uncle in front of Tartaglia. The miniscule dent in his funds was worth the look of betrayal on the younger Harbinger’s face.
⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆
Signora easily took the longest to warm up to them. When she first met them, it was easy enough to label them as Arlecchino’s brat and move them from her mind. But they kept appearing, in and around the headquarters. At first they were always glued to the Knave’s side, but eventually Signora began to see them wandering alone through the halls. She took note of them—not out of any attachment to them, only out of self-preservation knowing that if Arlecchino found out her child landed themself into trouble while she was close by, it would be her funeral soon.
The sense of obligation faltered when she started to grow fond of them. They were irritatingly innocent, a rarity within the Fatui. Something about the spark in their eyes reminded her of when she was young—when she still had warmth in her heart and blood in her veins. For the first time in centuries, her frozen heart began to thaw with care towards another person, and begrudgingly, she began to accept that they were not as unpleasant as she once believed.
Tumblr media
reblogs and comments are appreciated! ♡
734 notes · View notes
idyllic-affections · 5 months
Text
taking their picture.
summary. taking the picture of various genshin and hsr characters.
trigger & content warnings. none applicable.
tropes, pairings, fic length, & other notes. fluff. pantalone & reader, baizhu & reader, venti & reader, dan heng & reader, himeko & reader. 0.5k words. no gendered pronouns used for reader (you/yours).
author's thoughts. no thoughts today. only vibes (<- is feeling unwell). i hate the 2nd person pov but it's the easiest one to use in this format HELP
Tumblr media
pantalone isn't a fool, really. he's impossibly perceptive, even if it may not outright seem that way, especially on the days where he appears to be functioning on autopilot. he is no fool. he knows that something is going on when you seem to sneak around a bit more one day... and the click of a camera only confirms his suspicions. he can only smile fondly at your antics as he turns towards you, saying, "if you so desperately wanted a picture of me, dear, all you had to do was ask." he doesn't mind much, though. being the man he is... it's something he's used to, but he finds it to be sweeter when it's you taking his picture.
baizhu knows what you're doing, much like pantalone, but he doesn't mind. he's a bit flattered if anything. really, if you wanted a keepsake of him, you only would have had to ask and he would have been more than happy to oblige... but if you want to sneak pictures of him while he's in his element, focused on writing or preparing a perscription, he genuinely doesn't mind. you are never a bother—not to baizhu... not as long as you're polite and mindful, of course. he does need to get work done, after all.
venti, oh, venti... once he catches wind of your antics, he'll gladly entertain you! he might tease you a bit, though. he's your dear friend! if you wanted to have a picture of him, you should've just asked instead of being so sneaky <3 he wouldn't have said no! he'll pose for you and smile widely at the camera any time he sees you aiming it his way (though i feel as if, at first, you would have to thoroughly explain the concept to him... he is quite the old archon now, after all). if you manage to catch him off guard though, perhaps when he's performing or resting under windrise... the picture you'll get of him is very befitting of the archon he truly is.
dan heng doesn't visibly react much, but deep down, he finds it quite endearing. he won't entertain your antics; he won't turn your way and smile when you're about to take the picture, nor will he pose much beyond throwing up a casual peace sign as he's done at march so many times before... come to think of it, that's probably why he's so unbothered. you wouldn't be the first to take surprise photos of him. he wouldn't be surprised if you picked up that habit from march, actually.
himeko doesn't mind at all! she won't shy away or ask you to delete any photos you take of her. she thinks it's sweet, really, that you want to have pictures of her that you can hold dear when and if she's ever away. if you missed her so badly, you could always just... text her. or call her. she understands the sentiment of pictures, though. she'll always smile and even pose for you if you wanted her to. all of her photos come out remarkably beautiful, even if you catch her off guard. she's photogenic in that way.
please consider reblogging, it helps me out quite a lot!
465 notes · View notes
impactedfates · 11 months
Text
Mini Fan - Platonic Shenhe x Child! Reader
Summary: Even after the events of the rebuilding of the Jade Chamber, Shenhe still gets the odd stares of others. She’s used to it though and she expects it, what she doesn’t expect is someone who’s dressed up (albeit poorly) as her comes up to her. 
Warnings/Extra: Small spoilers for the quest - The Crane Returns on the Wind - Act 1! // Characters are probably ooc // Reader has no spesfied gender, but uses they/them and is dressed similar to Shenhe // Not proof read either hehe...other then that, it should be okay to read ^^
W.C - 693 (Yeah it’s short-)
A/N- This is based off an idea me and my friend ranted on for a bit, I would’ve let that friend read this before posting but because of timezones I got impatient after I finished writing this...This is definitely not my best work (And honestly, I hate it) but I still enjoy the idea and I hope you enjoy this anyways. :)
Tumblr media
{{Reader is about 6-8 yrs old in this}}
=======================================
Murmurings of whispers throughout Liyue Harbour reached Shenhes ears. Her fingers tapped on the table as her free hand lifted up her teacup to her lips once more to take a sip. Even after defeating Beisht alongside the traveller. It seems only they got the praise. And although she got a few praises and compliments from people, that didn’t put a stop to the usual stares and whispers she’d get when she passed by. She’s used to it though, she knows it’ll take some time before they’ll treat her as a regular mortal like themselves.
“Shenhe? Are you alright?”
Shenhes eyes drifted to the person in front of her, the one who invited her out in the first place, Yun Jin.
“Yes, I’m fine. There’s no need to worry”
The exorcist waved off her friends' concerns. The opera singer was more smarter than that though. Even she noticed the mumbles and talks that would start when Shenhe was in the room. She wanted to point out that Shenhe was obviously paying attention to the words of others but her manager came up and was quick to take her away. Sparing an apologetic glance to her friend, Shenhe simply shook her head.
“It’s alright Yun Jin, go ahead”
“Let’s try to do this another time”
Shenhe watched as Yun Jin's figure became smaller and smaller from a distance. With a sigh she began drinking the rest of her tea. Her eyes closed as she began loosing herself in thought. . .
.
A sound brought her back to reality. A sound of a chair scraping back and someone climbing on it. She thought perhaps Yun Jin came back after convincing her manager to let her stay longer, however when she set opened her eyes and set it on the person now seated in front of her, she was slightly taken aback.
There sat a child. Wearing a wig, but seemingly dyed white and black…horribly too. Their clothes seemed out of place, not matching up and the kid seemed to have contacts, on add choice of colours…hang on.
The more Shenhe observed the child, the more she realised…it looked like her? Well, an off-brand version it seemed. She tilted her head at the kid, her blank face staring at them.
The kid looked back, having a smile on their face, after a bit they seemed to copy her demeanour. They straightened their back, tilted their head and tried their best to copy her facial expression.
Her eyes widened a bit in surprise at this. She wasn’t sure what to say. Finally finding the words she asked in a soft tone.
“Hello…I am Shenhe…can I help you?”
The kid looked back and smiled.
“I’m [Name]! And I know who you are, you’re one of the heroes who saved the day when that weird water snake attacked Liyue. You were sooo cool…can you teach me how to fight please please please”
Once again Shenhe stared a bit in confusion. But shook her head much to the disappointment of [Name]
“I am still in training myself, plus…you seem too young to train…I don’t wish to over exert you from the tests I’d give you…if I may ask…why is your attire..similar to mine?”
“Easy! I wanna be just like you when I grow up. I wanna fight water snakes and save people just like you have Ms Shenhe”
“You…really want to be like me?”
Shenhe relaxed a bit. For a kid to say this about her, without getting to know her, was a nice change of pace from what she usually had to do which was to personally get to know people so they don’t label her as a witch or an adepti.
She didn’t need to personally befriend the kid, nor do something for the kid. They just wanted to be like them because…they looked up to her.
Slowly she smiled softly at the kid, leaning over a bit and ruffling their wig. Before pouring the kid a cup for their own, and sliding it over to them.
“Tell you what…when you’re older, come find me…and I’ll be happy to train you…by then you’ll be ready and so will I”
224 notes · View notes
lovehypegirl · 2 months
Text
APPRENTICE OF THE DUKE
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
paring: platonic!gn!reader x platonic!wriothesley synopsis: the apprentice of the Duke of Meropide and heir of position of Duke wc: 688 warnings.ᐟ none type: headcanons
Tumblr media
Before you became the apprentice of the Duke of Meropide, you were selected from a group of trainee Gaurdes as a teenager, to be sent to the fortress for a program to learn how to deal with high-intensity situations
During your time at the Fortress, you learned how to keep order within the rowdy prisoners, guard cells, and monitor the prisoners during their work hours
Towards the middle of your program, your instructors had been regularly congratulating you on how you've excelled during the duration of the program
Naturally, these words managed to reach Wriothesley who had met you and your fellow trainee's when the program began
He asked to see you and offered you a position to work at one of the top Gaurdes once you graduated from the program, and you, excited to move up in the world, accepted his offer
Once you graduated at the top of the program, you immediately moved to the fortress as one of the top Gaurdes
Of course, they didn't accept you in a warmhearted fashion since you were young and inexperienced which made you want to step up and prove to them that you were able to work on their level
You were able to move through the ranks quickly. Earning the favor and respect of your fellow Gaurdes and even the prisoners
As usual, Wriothesley heard of your endeavors and offered you a spot to work closely with him. As his right hand.
Your uniform changed drastically when you changed positions. It changed from a dark red and dark grey uniform to a black and gold uniform
It consisted of a black overcoat worn on the shoulders, a black waistcoat with gold detailing, a puffy white blouse underneath, black pants with gold detailing by the seams, and black boots.
You carried a rapier sword by your side as a show of your position in Meropide
In addition, you also wore a small broach that was similar to the one that Wriothesley wore with the wolf emblem
When you first arrived, you brought in exotic tea leaves from Sumeru, Liyue, and Inazuma as a gift of thanks for bringing you in as his right-hand
Because of this gesture, he immediately liked you. I mean, tea was his favorite thing
Your duties at the Lady/Lord of Meropide included a copious amount of paperwork, spending way less time on the surface, and your sparring lessons from Wriothesley
During downtime, he would take you to the boxing ring when it was unoccupied and train you in his style of boxing. Teaching you to use his gauntlets and whatnot
You usually were the one to run important paperwork to the Palais Mermonia and you were to hand said paperwork directly to Neuvillette
You handled a lot of arrests, but because of your position, you didn't handle your day-to-day arrests of treasure hoarders and pickpockets stupid enough to get caught
No, you handled the high-intensity arrests
Serial killers, heavily armed robbers, criminals at the top of Fontaine's wanted list
Wriothesley was very proud of your work and how you handled yourself considering how dangerous your job was
He decided to make you his heir
After he made his decision, your work became more intense
He felt the need to train you to the highest extent to ensure that you would survive
He began to show you secrets like the abandoned civilization of ships under Fontaine's seas
Far into your training, he showed you the sluice gate where the Primordial Sea was being held back. His main concern was how you would handle the emergency of the sluice gate opening when you were in leadership
You managed to prove yourself when you immediately took action when Fontaine was flooded
Your actions helped ease his mind and place more trust in you leading The Fortress of Meropide in the case that he would step down
After a while, the Duke's name was still one of fear for convicts but so was yours. The word had begun to spread of the right-hand Lady/Lord of the Duke of Meropide. A person who wasn't meant to be messed with
Tumblr media
124 notes · View notes
zhongrin · 1 year
Text
a hybrid’s instincts
Tumblr media
◇ characters ◇ zhongli, gorou, tighnari, (bonus) platonic!diona
◇ tags ◇ pregnancy, afab!reader, dragon!zhongli
◇ a/n ◇ what's that? will i ever stop pushing the dragon!zhongli agenda? hahahahahahahhahahhaha hhahaha ha ha- no.
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 ⬙ 𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡
Tumblr media
oh? what's this? it seems like your pregnancy triggered something in these men. their more… "animal side", perhaps?
Tumblr media
ever since baizhu’s confirmation - actually, even weeks before that - zhongli has been very reluctant to let you wander out of the house. or even out of his sight, in general (which is quite strange since with his enhanced dragon senses you know he’s able to locate you within the house with no problems at all).
at night, you sometimes wake up to him in his dragon form. sometimes it’s his compact form nuzzling and he's purring near your stomach, sometimes it’s his half-dragon form where he’ll place his head beside your stomach with his tail curling around you protectively. it doesn’t matter whether you’re already showing or not; your heartbeat and the little hatchling’s brings him a sense of comfort that he needs, lest he becomes restless.
his nesting behavior is out of control. he’ll bring you all the pillows and blankets, surround you with the nicest smelling flowers, make you always wear his shirt, and he’ll bring anything you want to the bed so you don’t have to leave the nest. the further you are into your pregnancy, the more reluctant he is to leave you alone. he ends up taking that paternal leave hu tao has been telling him to get. bless her.
Tumblr media
gorou is just as excited as he’s alerted. kokomi will have to force her best general to take a temporary leave from the army throughout your pregnancy because he’s so jumpy and sensitive to literally everything and his behavior is making all of the soldiers anxious.
gorou insists that you take a walk with him every day; just something light around the block to keep you from feeling lethargic. he’s also developed a habit to sniff everything that will touch your hand. yes, that includes your supposedly harmless change of clothes. it’s not ridiculous in his opinion! it’s a necessary precaution!!
will snarl when a stranger approaches you and tries to touch you in any way, even if it’s just a friendly gesture. he would be so embarrassed and apologetic about it afterward, but only once you’re at the safe haven of your house.
Tumblr media
are you a forest ranger? an adventurer? does your profession require you to venture into the wilderness? welp, say goodbye to your job for the time being, because there is no way in any cycles of samsara tighnari would let you go into the dangers outside while you’re carrying his pups.
walking arm-in-arm whenever you're out and about is a must these days. whenever a villager congratulates you, you can sense his hold tightening despite the polite smile on his lips. if it was up to his instinct, he wouldn’t have let you get out of the house, but rationally he knows you need to move around and breathe in the fresh air.
though you still won’t be exempt from your beloved’s sassiness (”you want me to get you coffee…? do you think i’m an idiot?”) as long as what you ask for doesn’t harm you, he’s at your every beck and calls now, no question asked. you’re craving for collei’s specialized pita pockets? he’ll learn the damn recipe from collei herself and serve it on your favorite plate the next day. you want to be carried everywhere? good thing he’s got the physique fitting for the head of the forest rangers. you want ten kisses a day? say no more; he’ll give you thirty.
Tumblr media
[bonus - platonic]
Tumblr media
at first, diona seems super indifferent about it, only reacting with a ‘hmph… congrats, i guess’, but her actions speak louder than words. you know how cats tend to hover around pregnant women and even lay themselves near their bulging bellies? that's right.
no, you will not be having alcohol. no, your spouse will not be having alcohol. no, all the people within five hundred meters radius from you will not be having any single drop of alcohol. she won't allow those boozehounds to get close to you.
she’s so amazed at how your stomach keeps growing bigger every time you visit her. when you give her your permission, she’ll curiously poke and stare at your bump. her hand will gently pat your tummy as she unconsciously smiles. she starts to seek you out more often after that, telling you that she’s just there in case you need help, but you know she’s just worried about you. she would be such a good big sister to your baby!
Tumblr media
© zhongrin | 2022 ◆ no repost. reblogs much appreciated. feel free to reach out to submit suggestions, feedback, comments, or if you just want to talk!
Tumblr media
◇ taglist ◇ @thestarsofenkanomiya | @genshinparty | @abyssmal-skies | @hamdehlesmis | @depressivecomforts | @sophiethewitch1 | @why-am-i-here-someone-save-me | @sunnshineflxwer | @heartonthemoon | @yuutasbabe | @percyval-archives | @carbs-need-more-love | @rebeccka | @queen-belial | @stygianoir | @niverine | @silentmoths | @niktwazny303 | @dustofthedailylife | @herdrops | @clovcly | @marina-and-the-memes | @angryhope | @mixed-kester | @shuangxo | @fiannee | @lordbugs | @anonymousficreader | @shizunxie | @ladylofspades
7K notes · View notes
arisewanekosuki · 3 months
Text
Genshin Impact Self Aware – Your sadness  
They miss you. For past week you have been login into the game only to do commissions and changing Resin into Condensed one (or quickly doing domains or Ley Lines if you already had 5 of them). They hoped that with the new regions of Fontaine you will be playing more, you will take them to get chests, do puzzles, find Oculi and enjoy the scenery like always. But no, you didn’t even unlocked all the new waypoints, only two or three, so they couldn’t help but wonder "Are you getting tired of them?"
They tried to be patient but the more time passed the more they were feeling worried. Till that one day you logged and they could hear you talking to them like sometimes you did before. “Finally we can go check those new places, right?” The team you were using lately was happy, but they couldn’t do anything that would make you aware that they are conscious about you and this ‘world’, so they had to contain their smiles after hearing your voice.
And yet, the more you were looking around with them and fight the enemies the more silent you become again, till you stopped moving them at some point. They wondered if you left for moment to bring food or something to drink but then they heard it. Your muffled sobs “What happened? Why are you crying? Did you get hurt? ” those questions were swarming in their heads and they couldn’t do anything. Through your sobs they could hear “I can’t stop thinking about it” What are you thinking about? If only they could do something for you, comfort you, tell that everything will be alright. But they can’t. No matter how much they love you. They can’t do anything for you.
You took them to a safe place, mumbling that you didn't feel like playing anymore and logged off. They are alone again, knowing that you’re sad.
Maybe it’s really time to try bring you here, where they will be able to protect you and make you smile every day.
827 notes · View notes