#farewell-love

[aqualesha]

The Balladeer's Regret - Scaramouche x GN! Reader

character : Scaramouche

prompts : 19. “i can’t do this anymore” & 24. “just leave me alone”

summary : loving Scaramouche is hard, and you were aware of it. yet you never stopped loving him. his harsh words may sting, but you know deep down that he was a gentle soul and he never meant those things he said. you fell in love with Kunikuzushi, so gentle and fragile. if only he had noticed earlier how badly he had hurt you. he wanted to turn back time. but he knew that he couldn’t. he had lost everything because of his own foolishness.

- spoilers for Sumeru Archon Quest Act 2 & 3, pure angst/no-comfort, cursing, arguments, scara spitting harsh words, scara’s real name spoiler, scara’s past, not proofread

- word count : 1.8k

~ my entry for @versadies angstober writing collab - farewell, love

“Don’t leave me…”

“Please stay…”

“I didn’t mean all those things…"

These were the words that have been echoing inside his mind now. His mind was begging for him to drop his ego and call out to you, to stop you. He didn’t want you to leave him like the others. Not when he didn’t have anyone else but you.

How ironic of him, to feel distraught when you turned on your heels to walk out the door of your shared home. He recalled the poisonous words that spilled from his mouth, that were directed towards you. The look of hurt in your eyes and the way your expression faltered when he pushed you away and raised his tone at you. He didn’t mean anything that he said.

He swore that he could feel his non-existent heart shattering at the sight of your glistening tears cascading down your cheeks and your hushed whisper of “I’m sorry..” while you backed away from him. He could never forget how your voice trembled when you uttered the words that had Scaramouche breaking down right after.

“I still love you.”

He had taken your kindness for granted. You had always been with him even before he was known as Scaramouche. You had been with him since he was nothing but a broken puppet, Kunikuzushi. You accompanied him and lent your shoulder for him to cry on when you found him cornered by the darkness of Shakkei Pavilion. You saved him from his greatest suffering, which was loneliness and betrayal.

But the greatest pain was being betrayed by his own creator, his mother. The mother who was supposed to take care of her child with care. He never got to feel a mother’s love, for his mother replaced him with another puppet after taking notice that Kunikuzushi was too weak. He cried in his dreams, which showed his vulnerability and his fragility. A puppet that has emotions simply couldn’t be called a puppet, now can it?

Kunikuzushi had always been a gentle being, far from what his creator was expecting for a divine being, a god’s replacement. Yet, he couldn’t do anything as he was created with these human emotions. He swore to lock away all remaining emotions he had in himself so that he could grow stronger. He wanted to show his creator that he is not weak.

That was until he met you. Your existence in his life changed his objective and purpose. Even so, he still desired to claim the godhood he should’ve obtained if not for his stupid emotions getting in the way hundreds of years ago.

You had always loved him, no matter the circumstances. But you couldn’t fully agree with him when he decided to seek help from Il Dottore to achieve godhood. You knew how crazy it sounded and how far Dottore could go to achieve anything he desired. He was the 2nd Harbinger for Archon’s sake.

You weren’t against the idea of Scaramouche reaching divinity, but you were worried about his safety too. But you knew better than to interrupt their plans. You could get your head blown if you try to mess with Dottore, even when you two were quite well acquainted a few years ago when you were still in the Fatui. But that was long ago.

Ever since you both started living in Sumeru, you rarely ever see Scaramouche coming home. He’d either stay in his office or not come home at all for a few days. It was starting to make you worry. A puppet doesn’t need sleep, but he wasn’t completely a synthetic puppet. You had the right to make sure that he’d taken care of himself too.

The clock in your shared bedroom was ticking ever-so-slowly, making you sigh for the umpteenth time. “This can’t keep going on..” That was when you decided to have a talk with him once he really comes back.

You didn’t know how it turned out like this. It was supposed to be a simple talk regarding his absence and his goal to achieve divinity. That’s all. How naive of you to think that he’d apologize just like he always did. You really thought that you could simply convince him when you were talking about the only goal he tried so hard to achieve?

He was starting to think that you were doubting him and his capabilities. He was created to become a god, so why were you against it now? Didn’t you promise him to always be with him until he has fulfilled his goal to become a god? Are you betraying his trust now? How pathetic.

He was losing his temper. He knew that he couldn’t control his anger that well. The way you worded it made him realize that all humans are the same. They can’t be trusted. “Kuni, I’m just saying that what you’re planning with Dottore is quite.. dangerous.” Dangerous, you say? He was a divine being, created with the power that equals those of gods. Don’t you dare spit out those stupid nonsense in front of him.

“Are you underestimating me and my capabilities? Come on, you knew better than that.” The way he glared at you made you feel small under his gaze. It made you feel terrified of the sudden change in his aura. It has become unsettling and dark. You fucked up and there was nowhere you could hide.

"It wasn’t that.. But- You’re going to hurt the people in Sumeru.. Besides, this nation already has its own god, so why bother taking her place?“ You were careful with your words, trying to not worsen the situation you’re in. The atmosphere was getting tenser each passing time that you could barely breathe through your lungs.

“That small kid? She couldn’t even do anything. She’s weak and useless at this point. I’m just doing a favor for her people. I can be a better deity than her.” His tone was no longer the gentle tone that Kunikuzushi always used. It was Balladeer taking over the conversation. His voice was full of venom, and he stared at you with a look that feared you.

A look of disapproval was written on his face. He must’ve hated you now. How stupid you were, to bring up about his purpose of life when he trusted you to always be with him.

It had to be said even though it was going to hurt both you and him. You really didn’t want him to get hurt. It was the least you could do. “How do you know that Lesser Lord Kusanali wasn’t able to look after her people? As far as I know, she’s the gentlest and the kindest Archon.. Please have faith in her. You don’t have to do all this just because of your goal to achieve godhood. Ei had acknowledged your strength so please…”

You almost ran out of breath after holding it in for far too long. You shifted your gaze towards Scaramouche and you were stunned. He was taking quick steps towards you before holding you by the hair. Disappointment and hatred could be seen in his eyes as he made you face him directly.

"What is it that’s so fucking hard for you to understand. I was born as a divine being and this is how I’d get what I deserved. Your opinions don’t matter to me. You’re just a weak mortal who just happened to have some pity for me, hmm? You never cared, didn’t you? I should’ve known better than to trust a mortal.“ He looked at you with pure loathe. You couldn’t bear to see him looking at you as if you’ve been nothing but a burden and a hindrance.

You ignored the aching sensation on your scalp as he was still holding a fistful of your hair in his hand. The sharp pain in your heart hurt more than anything you’ve ever felt. You tried to grab him by the shoulder to make him halt his movements. It hurts so much… “Don’t touch me…” He let go of your hair and took a step away. You dropped onto your knees, hissing from the searing pain as you held your scalp with your hand. It took a lot of strength in you to hold the tears in. This truly wasn’t what you had expected.

You called out his name in a small voice. “Scara-” “Don’t you dare say anything else!” You still continued even though it was clear that he didn’t want to hear anything from you. “I can’t do this anymore..” You uttered while leaning against the wall to steady yourself. He then laughed mockingly at you, showing that he had expected this from the start.

"Are you now? Have you finally realized that you were simply useless? Look at you, pathetically crying over small insults. Humans are weak, they are too vulnerable and worthless compared to a divine being. You were just a pawn in my plan, after all. You meant nothing to me. Your pathetic emotions will only distract me from achieving my goal.“ He was too harsh, but he could care less. These stupid emotions will only drag him down.

“Oh and one more thing,” He continued while taking a few steps toward where you were weakly standing on your feet. His eyes settled on you as he gave you a deadly glare that almost had you shedding more tears. “Just leave me the fuck alone, and never show yourself in front of me again, you traitor."

It dawned on him like crashing waves. He had lost you, the only person who stayed long enough and sacrificed their whole life to be with him. He knew he fucked up. But his ego was too big for him to chase after you and apologize, even though his mind was practically screaming at him.

He never knew warmth and love anymore. His artificial heart was beating frantically in his chest. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… He could never take those harsh words back. You probably loathe him now.

He deserved it. He was the one who had wished for this. He wanted you to leave him alone, so you obliged by getting out of his life completely. He lashed out at you and put the blame on you. He broke your heart. Your gentle and fragile heart that he once swore to protect. Five words were all it took to completely lose everything. He had lost you, his other half. You, who had given him your heart to feel the warmth of love and care.

Now, he felt nothing but numbness and emptiness. You must’ve felt lonely too when he wasn’t home for a long time. The deafening silence in every corner of your home was driving him insane. The atmosphere in your shared room had never felt this cold. The mattress felt hard under his weight. The duvet felt uncomfortable. Something was wrong. No, everything felt wrong. It lacked warmth and love. Something that he could never gain again. All because of his foolishness.

He was foolish to have pushed you away for his own selfishness. He was even more foolish to even think that he deserved a happy ending despite all the horrible things he had done. Especially towards you.

#farewell-love #scaramouche x reader angst #scaramouche angst #wanderer x reader angst #wanderer angst #genshin impact angst #genshin angst #genshin x reader angst #genshin x reader

[scaralvr]

dendrobiums. scaramouche x gn!reader (angst, no comfort, argument)

prompt #14: "you don't love me, do you?" this is an entry for @versadies writing collab farewell love!!

you had known kunikuzushi for a long time, but not long enough, as it seems he holds secrets to himself he doesn't wish to share with you, his companion, his lover. you believe that upon being cursed with immortality, you've seen it all; the woe and joy that the people around you experience.

though, seeing him distressed and quiet as of late caused your heart to twinge with an inexplicable searing pain. living in a peaceful house isolated within the heavenly fields of inazuma, you found it hard not to feel lonely sometimes, with kunikuzushi being oddly silent.

your kimono fluttered in the light wind that blew, causing the blades of grass to bend under its command. despite your lover's strange nature, you decided to be patient with him, as you always are. vibrant dendrobiums filled the basket you cradled in your arm, planning on gifting them to kunikuzushi who's been cooped up in the house.

a lovely smile adorned your lips akin to vibrant flower petals as you walked back to the house. lately, the air was menacing, as if no one lived in the small cottage you reside in with him. the cottage was perched on a cliff above water, cutting off the bustle of the nation from your peaceful life with him. you close the door behind you and peer into the hallway around the corner.

the door at the end was agape, where you assumed he was laying in bed again. entering the shinshitsu, you greeted him with a, "good evening, kuni." before sitting on the futon, back facing his figure. a few moments of silence passed.

"i picked dendrobiums for you. i know you're not a big fan of flowers but they were blooming so beautifully and... i thought you'd like them." you meekly commented, fingertips grazing against the flower's stem. "kuni-" you turned around and in an instant he was on top of you, pinning you to the futon as the basket of dendrobiums fell to the side, spilling its contents across the floor.

your pupils dilated. his grip on your wrists tightened but you didn't mind it at first; he would never hurt you. "kunikuzushi?" you repeated, in a hushed voice this time. he finally looked into your eyes after what seemed like an eternity.

those electric violet eyes that you've come to love, filled with such hatred.

"do not fool me. why are you here?" kunikuzushi interrogated, teeth gritting together. "just to love and abandon me, is that it? are you staying longer for the pleasure in knowing how much it will hurt when you finally leave?" tears released from his angry glare that landed on your cheek. "i'm here because i love you." you simply replied.

kunikuzushi clenched his jaw. "i said, don't lie." his nails began to dig into the skin of your wrists and at that, you felt your heart rate slightly quicken. "why would i be lying, kunikuzushi?" you breathed out. "you never tell me anything."

at that statement, kunikuzushi's eyes widened. "what do you- what do you mean?" he asked, his grasp loosening but refusing to release. "do you doubt me that much?" you queried with a trembling voice, a tear slipping from your eye and falling onto the futon.

"what happened to you, kunikuzushi? what did they do to you?"

"shut up. you don't know what you're talking about." he whispered, more tears beginning to fall from his eyes. he let go and backed away from you as you sat up, following him out of the room. "you need to tell me something! anything!-" kunikuzushi ignored your protests and covered his ears, "you wouldn't understand. you never understand!"

you paused, "you've never touched me once, don't you know?" he stopped in his tracks. "you never look at me. you haven't done a single thing since we began this hell of a relationship where we promised we'd give each other the affection we never had!" you panted, voice straining to keep a loud volume.

you were afraid he would run away from your inquiries again, from letting you know why he's so distant after years of being with you. that's when you realized, there was only one possibility left.

"you don't love me do you?"

he visibly tensed up. your eyes filled to the brim with more tears bound to escape. all he has to do is say those three words you never heard him tell you before, and you'll be fine. you'll continue to live under the same roof with your lover, who may not tell you everything, but still adores you.

if only that were the case for poor you. poor you, who was victim to the hurtful words he spouted at you, telling you that you're right, he doesn't love you. he supposes he just used you as some sort of mental stability from the people he's met in the past. he supposes that he considered none of this real from the very beginning.

you stood there, hands by your sides as hot tears continuously poured down your face with your mouth slightly agape. oh, the truth hurts, doesn't it?

"love you? i absolutely loathe you, (y/n)." kunikuzushi finished off, shoulders rising and falling with each heavy exhale he took.

a little later, kunikuzushi took a walk to clear his mind. his half-lidded hues flitted across inazuma's heavenly welkin, a gut-wrenching feeling weighing within him. the sun was beginning to set, and he comes to a conclusion. he should learn to let go of the past by now and he'll start with you. you, who have been nothing but patient and gentle with him, you, who never left despite the cold shoulder he gave.

yes, it's always been you. you're the source of his happiness, the reason he wishes to arise to another morning. kunikuzushi feels guilty for what he said earlier and decides to make it up to you by picking dendrobiums, much like the ones you gifted him earlier that he so rudely threw away.

with a hopeful smile gracing his features, he walks through the grass to pick very specific dendrobiums all the while making sure they were perfect from top to bottom, fit for his lover.

kunikuzushi's hands were soiled with the dirt from the ground yet he didn't mind, just as long as he had you waiting for him at home. he sighs out with a grin, rushing to the front door. as he opens it, a strange thought settles in the back of his mind.

the aura seemed a little emptier than usual, but he shrugged it off as the fact that the two of you left off at a bad mood. kunikuzushi was more than ready to apologize, his smile faltering to a smaller one as he realizes you'd probably be mad at him, though he'd understand.

because it doesn't matter, because you'll still stay. to think that you'll be the first person that doesn't betray him still takes him aback sometimes and now, he's ready to accept it.

"my love, i've returned." the nickname sounds a little odd at first, rolling off of his tongue; kunikuzushi hasn't called you an endearment like that, ever. he rounds a corner and makes his way down the hall to the shinshitsu. when he slides the shoji doors open, he drops his flowers but quickly picks them back up.

"(y-y/n)?" he stutters out, gaze anxiously darting about the room as he searches for your presence. how long has he been out for? maybe one, two hours? where could you have gone in all that time? this is when he begins to panic.

kunikuzushi leaves the room and searches all over the house. "(y/n)!" he calls again in a more desperate voice. not now, not yet. he runs outside, panting as he tries to get to the city. stay, for just a little bit longer, he pleads within his mind, hoping to catch sight of you.

you promised...

dodging past hordes of people, he catches a glimpse of you at the docks. kunikuzushi's eyes grow wide in realization. he recollects himself and manages to escape the crowd. his hand reaches for your figure.

"excuse me?"

"huh?" you look up at the man before you who called. "o-oh, nevermind. i thought i saw someone." he stammered, rubbing his neck. you nod your head and enter the boat where you cross paths with your close friend, beidou.

you can see the visible frown on her lips. "you sure you wanna' leave, kid? i mean, it's great you want to continue traveling with the crux again like you used to, but-" you stop her short, "it's alright, beidou. but i appreciate your concern."

you sigh through your nose, giving inazuma a sorrow glance. you'll never forget the lovely puppet you met. the lovely, yet misunderstood puppet.

and that very puppet you were thinking of couldn't do it. he stayed behind a wall, akin to a coward. would things have ended differently if he learned to control his emotions? would you still be in the cottage embracing him in your arms?

he clutches the dendrobiums in his hands, his rigid nails digging into the stems as he thinks about all of these possibilities. kunikuzushi returns to the home he once shared with you with a heavy heart.

upon arrival, he drops the flowers. tears start pouring and in just a few moments, does he start crying like he did those countless nights and for more to come now that you've realized what he truly is.

nothing but a ghastly monster that takes your kindness for granted.

kunikuzushi cries and cries, his body failing him as he falls to his knees. the poor puppet's tears land onto the withering dendrobiums as night covers the whole of inazuma. "i didn't mean it, i didn't," he sobs, recalling the way you looked so harmed by his words.

"i didn't mean anything, i'm sorry," he apologizes to no one in particular, but the wind replies, for it tousles his hair and causes his face to dry, only for more tears to continue dripping. kunikuzushi supposes this is the way it was always going to be like. none of those betrayals were really his fault now, were they?

it's because he can't handle abandonment, and all he wants is to be loved. when he enters the empty bedroom and lays onto the futon, eyes sore from crying, he thinks about a specific time.

the time when you loved him, and always fought for his attention.

"kuni, look!" you presented him a dendrobium, "isn't it pretty? it's pretty just like you!" you happily chirped, walking by his side. kunikuzushi stayed silent as he looked around; anywhere but your gaze. you avoided a frown from placing itself on your lips.

"h-hey, what do you think of nature? it's fascinating, isn't it?" you asked, tilting your head as an attempt to view his expression. blank.

kunikuzushi hisses at the memory, resenting himself for constantly ignoring your obvious yet somewhat subtle acts of affection. fresh tears peek at the corner of his eyes.

"kuni, i bought you dango from the market! i don't know if you like it, but you can always try!"

"i don't."

you stammer, "h-huh?" kunikuzushi emphasizes, "i don't like desserts. they rot the teeth." he mumbled the end of the sentence and your shoulders sink, "oh, i see. well, that's perfectly reasonable!" you laugh it off with that signature smile of yours.

kunikuzushi closes his eyes. he'd do anything to go back to that moment. he would've told you that it was his favourite thing in the world to eat; dango. kunikuzushi wishes he didn't pretend he never saw the desserts that rotted in the trash that you bought or made just for him.

at that, he begins to wonder what your baking tasted like. you often did it for him...

"kuni? i only realized yesterday that, um, you never told me your birthday and i feel a bit bad for not noticing sooner. so i made you a cake to make up for all the ones i missed!" you said with a smile. all of the hope in your eyes dissipates when he looks at you in disgust.

kunikuzushi sighed, "eat it yourself. don't you ever listen to what i say? i hate sweets."

the next morning, a dark cloud hangs above the puppet's head. he believes he has no purpose without you. he tends to try and convince himself that he resents you, but can never bring himself to do it when he knows the truth he hides deep down.

when he joins the fatui and becomes scaramouche, there are only two reasons he continues to push on further. to steal the gnosis for a heart of his own so he may finally apply to love you again.

but what use is it when you've already moved on?

© scaralvr.

#farewell-love #[ myst publishes. ] #gender neutral reader #genshin impact #genshin #genshin x you #genshin x y/n #scaramouche x you #scaramouche x y/n #scaramouche x reader #genshin imagines #genshin imagine #genshin fanfic #genshin fanfics #genshin fanfiction #genshin fanfictions #scaramouche #genshin fluff #scaramouche fluff #scaramouche angst #genshin angst #scaramouche imagines

[versadies]

a traitor. (scaramouche x gn!reader)

SALUTATIONS. a traitor

ADDRESSED. scaramouche (w/ gn!immortal!reader)

CONTENT. angst/no-comfort, spoilers to sumeru's archon quest act 3, spoilers to scaramouche's real name, spoilers to scaramouche’s backstory, major character death, mentions of violence, mentions of blood and injury, aether is the traveler

STAMP. in which scaramouche realizes there's more to just getting the power of a divinity.

PROMPTS. 10. "don't die on me... please." and 25. "i thought i could trust you!"

PENPALS. @scaraslover @saving-for-xiao @dawgimsohot @kazu-topia @chiruru@aqualesha @renamichii @mrkamisato @shenhesl0ver @serami00 @serenareiss @hiqhkey @emperatris-rinaka @bystander36 @irisxiel @ladycoleigh @034ven @dear-dairiess @owozi8 @hadesaedes @chiro-chiro-kun @hersscherofyatta @mariusvonhangme @yuzuricebun @nejibot @hoshikistarlette @solaaresque @crowbird @lordbugs @flowersforayato @headintheclouddd @estelwrld @giyusimpsassemble @irethepotatosblog @moonlightaangel @alice0blog @shotosbrainrot @sniffoat @chihawari @mxsomn @kuni-kuzushii @jiminscarmex @mitsukii14 @nejibot @ylimeprive @sachispet @loreleis-world @sn-owo @starforecasts @someonetookmynamelmao @ceylestia @lychme @ymikkos @reallysporadicarcade @melodyyamino

POST-SCRIPT. this is my first entry for my collab event, feel free to check it out if you're interested to participate!

LINKS. MAIN MASTERLIST \ TAGLIST \ FAREWELL LOVE COLLAB EVENT \ FAREWELL LOVE MASTERLIST

You’re the only one Scaramouche had left. 

Unlike the people he thought he could trust, you never wavered from your promise to him. You never once showed signs of fear, death, or hesitation when it comes to him for all the years the two of you have spent together. He was grateful, had it not been for you and your comfort, he would probably have losted it and gone insane. 

He was so close to his goal of becoming a god, to have a heart at last. 

So why… Why does it have to be like this? 

“...Huh?” His breath hitches, watching you, who was just standing in front of the traveler as a shield a second ago, fall to the ground after getting hit by one of his attacks. 

You, who once promised him that you’d never leave his side and live to see his ascension, are on the ground bleeding to death with no signs of standing up from the cold ground. 

“...( Name )...” He reaches out to you, but from how high he is, you’re so far away – so out of his reach, just like how the last of his sanity. “( Name ), what…” 

Without hesitation, he jumps out and head towards you, his heart beating so fast and aching at the thought that he hurted you and possibly killed you–

“You idiot! I told you.. I told you to stay out of this battle!” He exclaims as he sits next to your body, instantly lifting your head on his lap. “Why did you do it? Why? You don’t even know the traveler as much as you know me! Why did you save him?!” 

You slowly look at his purple eyes, fighting to keep your eyes open. “Please.. Don’t misunderstand this. This isn’t what you… This isn’t what we wanted.” Your voice was so fragile, so shaky and so weak. 

“What do you mean? This is what we wanted!” He ignores how the traveler and his small companion are watching you two in confusion and in shock, not expecting the person who has helped them come this far to be associated with the one person who’s trying to kill both traveler and paimon. 

“No… It’s what you wanted.” You whispered, exhaling. “What we wanted… is a life where people won’t hurt us again… Where we can be happy for the rest of our lives.” 

Scaramouche couldn’t believe what he’s hearing. He immediately shakes his head in disagreement. “No, no, you’re wrong… We’re almost close.. We just needed to– Don’t close your eyes on me!”

You smile apologetically, trying not to show your pain from your injury. “I’m sorry, Kuni.. I wasn’t able to keep my word… I hope you won’t be so harsh with yourself. This isn’t your faul–”

“What are you saying…? You can’t possibly be dying now! What about our goal?! What about.. What about me? Are you leaving me alone like everyone else?!” 

You suddenly grip his hand. “I’m really sorry it has to come to this, Kuni…” You start to close your eyes with a shaky breath. “I didn’t want this either...” 

Scaramouche tries to ignore the way his eyes begin to blur and watery, his lips shaking as he watches you giving in to your injuries. “No…No, no, no! I thought I could trust you – you said we’ll spend the rest of our lives together until we die together! You can’t do this, don’t you dare leave me!” 

You dare not to say a word. Be it because of the overwhelming pain or how exhausted you are, it didn’t matter.

You’re just saddened that your dear companion will not hear your unsaid confession of love.

“Don’t die on me… Please!” 

“...”

All fell silent. 

Aether watches Scaramouche carefully, but also looks at your now dead corpse with a pained look on his face. He may have known you for only a few days, but you were surely a dear friend to him, who helped him and guided him a way to save Sumeru despite not knowing him well.

The traveler is instantly on his guard when the purple-haired man stands up, holding your corpse bridal-style despite your weight with a blank expression on his face. 

“...This is all your fault.” He said in a dark tone, staring down at the injury that took you away from him, from living with him for eternity.

Aether isn’t too sure if Scaramouche was talking to himself or to him. 

#farewell-love #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin x gn reader #genshin impact x gn reader #genshin x gender neutral reader #genshin impact x gender neutral reader #scaramouche x reader #scaramouche x gn reader #scaramouche x gender neutral reader #kunikuzushi x reader #kunikuzushi x gn reader #scaramouche angst #genshin angst #genshin scenarios

[kunikame]

the stars are prettier. - scaramouche

entry for @versadies 's event farewell love !

warnings : gender neutral. angst. major character death. injury. slight spoilers for scaras backstory & use of his real name. spoilers for the aftermath of 3.2 archon quest. traveler is not specified. english is not my first language.

w/c : 1883

the inazuman night flowers have always been beautiful to kunikuzushi.

yet, as you sit there with him, their beauty dims in comparison with yours. the same could be said for you, as to you, he's the most beautiful creature you've laid your eyes on.

"hey, kuni, i sliced some lavender melons. would you like some?"

he nods eagerly and scooches closer to you so you can share the sweet fruit slices. a gust of wind rustles the leaves of chinju forests' trees and pushes the young boys' veil to his shoulders, at which you chuckle.

reaching out to help fix it for him, he pauses his munching and looks at you with a startled look in his eyes. you finish your actions and glance over at his face, smiling softly when you catch him staring.

"you're very pretty, you know that? it's slightly unfair. how am i supposed to compete?"

the location warps then and he's no longer sitting in the night flower fields of chinju forest; he now finds himself side by side with you, under the night sky at one of the many cliffs in kannazuka.

"look, that's the ursa minor over there! and that's the orion! and-"

you point out the many constellations to him eagerly, not even taking notice of him losing all interest in the sky. the stars you speak so highly of reflect so well in your eyes already, why should he look at the sky? you're way more ethereal than the stars could ever be.

when you receive no response to your inquiries, you turn your head sideways and catch him looking at you with a gentle and content look in his eyes. his eyes widen and he falters, only to turn away quickly.

you pout, "you're so hard to impress, kuni. how will you ever find a lover?"

just when he's about to respond saying he doesn't need anyone else when he has you, the location warps around him again.

suddenly he finds himself on the familiar plains of yashiori island, collecting some crystal marrow and firewood so you can continue on your journey while you entertain yourself not too far away.

when he thinks he has enough, he makes his way over to you where you sat on a tree stump. when you hear his footsteps approaching, you look up at him joyfully and your eyes seemingly sparkle.

"kuni, kuni! look what i made!"

you run up to him with a blindingly beautiful grin and plop something soft and light on his hair. he drops his satchel to inspect the item only to falter when he finds a flower crown woven of beautiful flowers. the color combination fits his aesthetic perfectly.

"is this.. for me?"

"of course it is, dummy! who else would it be for?" you smile at him, oh, so gently and he swore he could cry. he would do anything for you. if you wanted the moon, he would steal it for you.

".. but why?"

"i thought you'd look even prettier with it. and also, i made one for myself as well, so we match! it's like a promise."

"a promise? of what?" he tilts his head to the side in confusion, a habit, you notice. you find it funny when the flower crown tilts with his head and he reaches up to fix it.

"to stay together as long as we live, naturally. i promise i won't leave you!" 

you shouldn't make promises you can't keep, he thinks. yet instead of verbalizing his thoughts, he only smiles at you. the gentlest smile you've ever seen from him. he carefully takes your flower crown from your hands and places it on your head, "it's a promise."

"it's a promise."

time and space warps around the boy again.

nahida has seen many people dream, and has given many people happy dreams when the creations of their own minds haunted their nights.

never has she seen someone given a happy dream cry in their sleep.

until him; the balladeer.

after he fell out of his giant robot and knocked out, she decided she'd take care of him. patched up his wounds and gave him happy dreams to have until he wakes up on his own accord.

so then, why is he shedding tears with the softest smile?

seirai island.

the last warp took him to seirai island.

he remembers this memory. no matter how many centuries have passed, how many times he's told himself he has forgotten; it will always remain in the back of his mind, haunting him as long as he walks these cursed lands– as long as he's breathing. the worst betrayal he's had the misfortune to experience; the betrayal of a lover.

there you were, walking ahead peacefully, not knowing what was about to happen to you. no matter how he kept ordering his body to move, to run forward, to sacrifice himself to save you– even if just in an archon damned dream– his body wouldn't move, because the kunikuzushi back then didn't know any better.

an arrow was shot and you screamed in pain.

the younger kunikuzushi looked around in a panic and ran towards you to pull your body towards his. his eyes zeroed in on the culprit, yet he couldn't do anything. the younger kunikuzushi barely had any fighting skills, he couldn't protect you back then.

so he ran. he hoisted you up into his arms and ran the way you came. he remembers seeing a cave on the way, maybe he could patch you up and you'd be alright after a couple days of rest, right?

he arrived at the cave entrance and gently set you down on the ground, panting from the speed at which he ran. inspecting the wound, he cringed.

it went in pretty deep… i shouldn't pull it out or they'll bleed out. what to do.. what to do… i could tie my veil around the wound to stop the bleeding..? yeah, that's better than nothing.

he moved to remove his veil, only to be stopped by your trembling hand.

"kuni.."

"shut up, i'll patch you up, okay? you'll be fine, just don't talk, alright?"

"..kuni.. i think-"

"i told you to stay silent," he ripped his veil, "let me help you for once."

you struggled to get any air into your lungs, but you had to stop him, so you mustered all your strength to raise your voice.

"kuni, i think.. i think i just got poisoned.. you.. you can't save me anymore.."

he paused then, his wide and panicked eyes snapping to your half shut ones. his lips wobbled and he shook his head in denial, his silky hair flying every which way.

you slowly raised your hand and placed it against his cheek, which is now the warmest you ever remember it being. his hand, which he placed against yours in a hurry, was also radiating a gentle warmth. one you never remembered it having. his body was always cold.

ironic, wasn't it? you were the cold one now.

"no.. no, no you didn't, y/n.. it's just an arrow, okay? i'll just get it out and tie my veil around you to stop the bleeding, alright? i can save you, i can. i can. i have to."

you shook your head, and no matter how hard he tried to deny it, he knew. deep down, he knew.

his head hung low, his bangs covering his eyes, yet the tears streaming down your hand were a clear sign.

".. why did you lie to me? you promised.. you promised we would be together forever.. i gave you my entire being. i lived for you.. i loved you.. you gave me a purpose– gave the heart i thought i would never need again a second chance. i thought i could trust you.. yet you're leaving me as well."

with your remaining strength you wiped his tears and smiled at him one last time.

"you're.. so mean, kuni.. you've gotta work.. work on your attitude so you.. can make more friends, okay?.. promise me.. i'll die with.. with regrets if i know i left.. you all alone again.." you gave a weak chuckle, "i don't.. want this to happen either, kuni.. i love you more.. than you'll ever know.."

the hand on his cheek weakened and very nearly slipped out of his hold, had he not caught it in time. his already panicked eyes widened even further, ".. y/n?"

silence.

he scrambled closer to you, yet you didn't even flinch. "y/n?!"

deafening silence.

he wishes he could blame you for what happened. maybe then it would be easier to let go, but there's nothing to blame on you. it's all his fault. he's the one who couldn't protect you. and perhaps, that's what makes it worse.

his pupils wide, he holds your cold hand to his chest, where his heart should be, had you not ripped it out of his chest and taken it with you wherever you went. he sits there, gaping, as silent tears stream down his cheeks.

he lets out a sound. of desperation? grief? rage? sadness? he's not quite sure, it could be all of them as one. and suddenly he's screaming at the top of his lungs.

call them desperate cries for help, a promise of revenge, perhaps even a lover's oath. 

he awoke with a start.

purple eyes snapping open to see the concerned dendro archon standing above him.

nahida somehow convinced the traveler to take scaramouche– now wanderer– with themself when they go back to inazuma.

so now here he is, on a ship with the blond traveler and their flying companion. and the 'crux fleet', if he's not mistaken. he's staring over the railings with empty eyes when he hears footsteps approaching.

"so, why is it you wished to go to inazuma with me?" the traveler asks.

he's about to retort, but then he's struck with a sharp pain in his temple and the words "you're.. so mean, kuni.. you've gotta work.. work on your attitude so you.. can make more friends, okay?.. promise me" echo in his mind.

so he sighs and looks down at the ocean.

"i.. wish to pay someone a visit. on seirai island."

the traveler falters, "seirai island? i thought no one lived there anymore."

the boy doesn't respond.

he hasn't set foot on seirai island in so long. the corruption is no longer there all over the island, thanks to the traveler– not that it would affect him.

he fixes his hat and walks down a familiar path, picking some purple and white flowers on his way, the traveler following close behind.

they take a couple turns and reach a familiar cliff with a shrine. the traveler pauses and puts an arm out to make paimon do the same, finally realizing what the eternal wanderer wished to do– who he wished to visit.

the boy keeps walking until he reaches the shrine and kneels down, placing the flowers in a vase he bought in sumeru.

he mutters a short prayer.

it's silent for a moment, only the sounds of the eternal lightning, wind and waves crashing can be heard. until he opens his mouth to speak.

"i'm home, y/n."

ੈ✩₊˚TAGLIST : @sscarchiyo @gumiresque @meiquipo @ibaraluvr @thesapphirecake @yakshalea @kazemiya @haitanni @beljisuke @sugokawata @nazukisser @mikctp @ichipd //ask/comment to be added/removed! (if you're in bold i can't tag you)

#🖋「txt」 #farewell-love #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin imagines #genshin impact x you #genshin impact x y/n #genshin x reader #genshin x you #genshin x y/n #genshin angst #genshin fanfic #scaramouche #wanderer #the balladeer #kunikuzushi #genshin scaramouche #scaramouche x reader #scaramouche x you #scaramouche x y/n #scara x reader #scara x you #scara x y/n #kunikuzushi x reader #kunikuzushi x y/n #kunikuzushi x you #the balladeer x reader #wanderer x reader #wanderer x y/n #twilight-theatre

[witch-hazels-musings]

days of sorrow

warning: angst - no comfort (reader death*) | one curse word (F)

includes: Albedo (eleazar sickness - mentions of wheelchair, losing the ability to walk, think, function), Diluc (illness undefined), Thoma (illness - cancer) 

character x gn reader | anthology 

request (reader is sick and doesn’t go out with grace (these are rough yall)) & collaboration - @versadies​ Farewell Love event -- “what’s wrong with me?” | this broke me

Albedo 

relationships, connections, these were not what he imagined he’d have in his life - sure, there were a select few that would always be there but to find himself so eager to spend time with you, to learn more about you, to fall in this ‘so called love,’ it was all so new

“Master Albedo,” one of the attendants interrupted him and his research. He glanced up to greet them and an unfamiliar face standing at side, “This is y/n, the biologist from Sumeru.” They ushered you forward, Albedo noticed the curiosity in you as you scanned your surroundings. Your hand extended toward him, a formal greeting, but your bright eyes and wonderful smile were given to the room. 

Chuckling, you finally turned to look at him as your hand curled around his in a friendly hand-shake, “You have such an astonishing research facility Chief Alchemist. I hope you don’t mind, but I did a little research on your work during my travels. You’re work is fascinating and, well, I’m honored to work alongside you.” 

Albedo sensed the connection the moment you touched him, the second he saw the purity in your eyes, the curiosity he knew so well. Kindred spirits finding each other; sharing in their joy. “Well,” he spoke, clearing his throat, “I do hope you learn as much as you are willing to teach -” 

“Absolutely, Chief Alchemist,” you replied with a small bow of your head. 

“Please, Albedo is fine.”  

You laughed, a nervous one or an apologetic one, he wasn’t sure, but he liked the sound of it nevertheless, “Of course,” you released his hand and made your way to an empty work station, the one next to his, “so, shall we get started, Albedo?” 

as a being unlike anything else in this world, Albedo knew his physiology would set him apart from the normal ailments, terminal illnesses, and death that plagued others 

it never occurred to him to concern himself over his health, and it never occurred to him he’d suddenly become consumed by the subject 

Albedo made his way down the hall to his office. It was a slow morning, not many students made their way to the lab so the halls were quiet, unobtrusive to his thoughts. He carried two cups of tea in his left hand, the steam from the hot liquid filled his nose and though he couldn’t see you, the thought of you ran through his mind. 

The office door was slightly ajar, inside he found you standing next to the chalkboard writing a few notes here and there. Every once in a while you shook your arm as if something was bothering you. 

“How’s it going?” Albedo asked as he placed the cups on the desk behind you. Without missing a beat, he picked one up and offered it to you. The cup touched your arm so you twisted to accept it; Albedo couldn’t help but notice how much your hand trembled, struggled to hold the cups weight. 

Has it already gotten this bad? 

“My calculations seem to be off but I’ve ran this, like, ten times already and I don’t know what’s wrong,” you let out an exasperated sigh before taking a sip of the tea. A gentle smile pulled at your lips and a soft hum told him you liked it, “This is a great pick-me-up.” You were still holding the chalk in your hand when you pulled it up to surround the mug in your palms. Sip after sip you continued to smile as you gazed at the problem on the chalkboard. 

“Perhaps its not something within the equation,” Albedo moved to grab another chalk, but before he approached the board, he returned to retrieve your notebook. “Ah, I see.” He moved to erase a few numbers you’d written on the side. As soon as he finished, you exclaimed at his revelation. 

“OH! Of course, how stupid of me.” Quickly, you placed the cup down and began to correct the numbers in your formula. As you did, Albedo noticed the black marking on your arm, and based on his internal measurements, it was spreading.  

Albedo prided himself on knowing so much -- how frustrating was it when the knowledge he sought provided nothing but pitiful apologies

some genius he turned out to be 

You lost the ability to walk weeks ago. It was surprising how difficult it was to make your way around Mondstadt in a wheelchair so you were confined to the grounds of the Knights Headquarters. Luckily for you, there was enough commotion on a good day to keep you entertained, and your research kept you plenty busy. That was when your focus wasn’t poor, or your mind wasn’t fuzzy and disconnected. 

It was frustrating trying to work when your mind refused to cooperate. Irritation was a new reoccurring emotion for you but you tried to push through. You refused to let this sickness take more from you, even though it had already taken your legs and was slowly taking your arms. 

You weren’t sure what was going on with your body, but Albedo assured you he was working on a cure - and you trusted him, right? The only problem was you wanted to help him, wanted to know more, understand why your body was failing you, why the black, scale-like rashes kept spreading and taking everything with it. You wanted to put your faith in him but you were scared and he wasn’t telling you anything. 

A few days after you were confined to a wheelchair, Albedo disappeared behind closed doors. You were slowly losing yourself, you didn’t need to lose him too. 

Disturbing him wasn’t something you wanted to do, but you were desperate. Desperate for answers, for comfort, to see his face once again, to hear him -- before it was all too late, you wanted to know him once more. 

“A-Albedo?” You called out in the dim light of his office, the fingers you curled around the wheels grew weaker with every grip, every push, but you refused to give up. It strained your voice to speak louder, your chest stung as you called to him again, but seeing him hunched over a table, books spread, tossed aside as if they were no longer useful to him. Scattered notes and torn hopes laying everywhere they fell while he poured himself into a solution, a reason that would never reveal itself to him. It was clear he needed you just as much as you needed him. 

“Albedo ...” you spoke and he turned to see you. Eyes lost, shrouded in dark circles and red skin, graphite touching his cheeks as if he’d fallen asleep on his notes again. He saw you and the color he didn’t have faded from his face, “... what’s wrong with me?” You asked, but he couldn’t answer you. 

death, it’s only the beginning - what a load of crap 

Albedo rarely left your side after that night. The night where the moon was hidden by the clouds and his discovery yielded nothing. In the hours you slept, he snuck away to the study to search more, test again, find a solution but failure after failure he found himself spent. In the few hours you seemed to see grasp your surroundings he would talk to you, read to you, and share with you discoveries as they occurred, but mostly he would hold your hand and become fixated on it’s changing color. 

“... be..o,” you whispered as best you could. It seemed the disease was finally taking the last bit of your will with it. “... on’t wanna go ...” 

Albedo moved toward you, his body barely resting on the edge of the chair as he leaned to wipe the tears from your cheeks. Lately, they didn’t seem to stop falling. He began to speak but, in all the pitiful sounds you could muster, you cut him off.

“nnng ... non done ... on’t wanna ...” In your head you were screaming, with every fiber of your being you were screaming to communicate to him but the words refused to come out. “I ... lob .. you ... wanna ...” 

Albedo -- I don’t want this to happen -- I don’t want to lose myself and forget you -- please don’t let me forget you too -- why is this happening to me --

“Don’t give up” Albedo replied as he pressed his forehead to yours, “I believe there is an answer to this. I will find it. I will find it,” he repeated while you tried to tell him every little thing that ran through your veins. 

I love you. I love you. I love you. 

Let me stay ... 

A few days later you slipped into a coma until, ultimately, you slipped away from him completely. 

He watched as the light that entered his lab faded in cognition and function. He witnessed your determination to fight against the sickness that cared little for your own willpower, all the while he was helpless to stop it. 

It took him weeks to enter the spaces you once occupied. He feared he’d hear your voice calling out to him, or hear your laughter in the sunlight. He dreaded feeling you over his shoulder only to turn around and find you out of his reach. He’d watched people pass, but this was unlike any parting he ever had to make. 

Albedo slumped into his desk chair, his absentminded hands drifted over the places he could remember you in. The sound of you working on the chalkboard, the rustle of paper and pen, the soft muttering as you read, the opening and closing of drawers as you moved around his items to make room for your own. He pulled open the top left drawer and laughed at how he could never find anything without you and that’s when he saw a letter. On the surface was his name written in your handwriting. 

Desperate, terrified, he lingered over it until he could bear it no longer. Albedo wept as he soaked in the words you were never able to tell him: 

Albedo, 

I wanted to thank you. From the moment we met, you were the person who was meant to be my partner in life. I’ve learned so much from you that I wish I had the time to pay it back tenfold. You pushed me, challenged me, encouraged me and helped me. I can’t ask for more but [words are smudged and unreadable] 

I know we were distracted from the research I originally came to assist you with, so I’ve written out a few notes that I think will aid you since, well, I am no longer there to do so myself. 

Truthfully, I didn’t want to go. No one ever wants to die, especially when they have someone like you by their side, but even though I am no longer with you, please don’t blame yourself. I never did. 

I [the words are blurred by tear stains] answers are out there, if anyone can find them, you can. Save the next person for me, okay? Oh, but, don’t forget [word is smudged] your life ... live your life, Albedo. 

I will always love you, Chief Alchemist 

y/n 

--

Diluc

he never imagined in his life he’d fall for someone, so while he worried and contemplated the truth of his feelings, he dreaded the thought of his darkness rubbing off on you - how could have have ever known that no amount of saving, spending, fighting, would ever keep you in his arms  

He found himself distracted by you every day. It didn’t matter what you did, where you went, or how you carried yourself - to him you were always the best sight in the world to see. Today was like any other, perfect from dawn to dusk until, suddenly, every nightmarish fear came crashing through his heart like a monster destroys a home. 

You were busy by the grape vines, your face showed no signs of discomfort but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. When the two of you woke up, seemed you moved slower than normal and, every once in awhile, you winced for no reason. You passed it off as nothing, a gentle pat on his arm to let him know you were okay, a soft smile and a reassuring kiss against his scared skin. You said you were okay; he trusted you. 

Diluc was busy talking to several of his employees when his eyes caught you fanning yourself and gripping onto the side of a cart; he was asked a question so he neglected the gnawing thoughts building in his chest. 

A business conversation, a sentence half-made as his whole world came crashing down when the sound of someone desperately called your name. He was gone in an instant and pushed his way to you, bending knee holding you steady, hand cupping your face, blood going cold at the oddness of your skin. “I’m - I’m alright.” You panted, eyes heavy, focus distorted. 

“Call the doctor. Now.” Diluc lifted you in his arms. He could hear you try to reassure him everything was fine but he couldn’t make it out over the scolding, reprimanding thoughts that whispered: he had failed you. 

no one could have known, no one could have foreseen the outcome - but everyone could feel the suffering spilling from the bedroom

Maids glanced at the closed door as they went about their work, attendants reached for the knob or tried to spy the words inside only to be shooed away by Adelinde  

when the doctor finally left and word spread of your fate, the once colorful winery slipped into grey 

“Don’t push yourself.” Adelinde reminded you as she reached for your hand. Everything hurt. Your muscles ached, your head throbbed, the mere action of stepping out of the bathtub made you want to throw up. It wouldn’t have mattered much, you barely eat anything anyway. “Let me help.” 

“I can do it myself -- ah!” You pushed her away only to stumble into the bathroom countertop. Your hands slipped on the marble surface, elbow crashing against it. That would surely leave a bruise. 

“Y/N!” 

“I said - I’m - I’m f-fine!” The tears began to fall and you crumpled to the floor while Adelinde surrounded you in the softest towels she could find and patiently waited for you to find your footing. “... wha-what’s wrong with me, Adelinde?” you trembled while she hushed your tears.  

you were getting worse - every treatment ended up making you sicker, every idea was wasted, every hope shattered into despair 

you just wanted to give up, but he never did 

“Diluc.” You whispered against his hand. It was impossible for you to get up anymore. Walking was excruciating, bending your limps, your joints sent waves of discomfort through you. Your days were drawing to a close but, as if to buy you a little bit more time, Diluc confined you to the bed and spent every waking moment with you. “Hey, sleepy.” You called out to him but he didn’t answer. He was exhausted, you were exhausted, but there was a looming fear that if you closed your eyes you’d never see him again. 

Trembling, you stretched your hand toward his face. It felt like your bones were shattering in your arms but you braved the pain for him. In the last few months you’d only ever seen him with a contorted, serious, hidden expression as if he were trying to stay strong. If only you had that resolve too, but you were terrified. Terrified of losing him, terrified of what was to come ... terrified of ... dying. 

You missed those days when he courted you. Missed the days where he smiled in the shadow of the world, just so you could see him. Missed how he laughed and lifted you high, or held you close knowing you wouldn’t break in his arms. You missed the life that should have been yours, and you were furious it wouldn’t be. 

“Please, please Barbados - give me more time.” Pulling his hand to your lips, you placed a wet kiss to them before turning into your pillow and crying until sleep forcibly took you. 

the winery shut down - no more orders, no more wine, no more anything. Angels Share had turned into a place of prayer even though it seemed sacrilegious to beckon to the gods in a place where most people desired to get away from them 

Diluc barely held himself together but he braved every day for you - but on this day - the day he lost you ... 

“There’s no more time.” The doctor whispered to the broken man by the door. A heavy hand rested on his shoulder but it provided no comfort to his crumbling heart. “It’s best you ... say your goodbyes.” Diluc looked at the physician sharply as if his words offended him, but the quiet intruder only closed their eyes before slipping down the hall. 

“D-Diluc.” You cried out and he, on shaking legs, made his way to your side. 

“I’m here.” He replied, or at least he hoped he did. He wasn’t sure how to speak much these days. 

“It hurts.” He knelt beside you, hands reaching for your own as his head fell onto the sheets that held your scent. “I think - I think ... Diluc ..” Your throat clenched and the tears began to fall. No matter what he did to brush them away, nothing mattered. “I don’t want to ... I can’t leave you.” 

“It’s going to be alright,” He lied, unsure what else to say and hoping, maybe, if he believed in it strong enough it would come true. “You won’t.” He brushed your hair from your face, his fingers stroked your skin as he leaned in to kiss you. 

“I’m scared.” 

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere, neither are you.” Your lips trembled, your watering eyes blocked out the world so you closed them. Diluc desperately wished you’d keep them open. Let him see, let him see you for as long as he could.

please don’t leave - please don’t leave - please don’t leave me too 

You tried to speak but your breathing became erratic so he pressed his hand to your chest, softly guiding you with his words and his actions to ease your breathing, to calm you down but you couldn't. You could feel it, you knew it was time - and you were furious. Whining, crying, you reached for him neck and held on with all the strength you had left. “I don’t want to - I love --” 

What does it feel like to hold onto your heart only to feel it slip away? It’s nothing anyone can ever explain but, for Diluc Ragnvindr, it’s a curse he can never escape. 

You trembled, tightened your grip, tried to say his name in the voice he loved so much. He didn’t let you go until he realized you weren’t there anymore. 

“Y/N?” Diluc lifted his head, eyes searching yours for a reply. For the first time in so long time he gazed at the relaxed, peaceful expression on your face. Deep down in his heart he knew what it meant. No longer were you suffering, no longer did you hold fear in your heart, no longer would you be hungry or thirsty ... no longer ... 

He brushed away your final tears but couldn’t stop himself from slipping into the tortured blackness of his broken heart as he collapsed onto your chest and when he found he could no longer hear your once comforting heartbeat he screamed.

You were gone and he begged the world to take him with you. 

--

Thoma

to look at the world and see all it’s capabilities, this trait showed it’s face the day after he washed up on shore. There was nothing holding him back anymore as he braved the world ahead and, much to his surprise, he caught your eye and felt like the luckiest man in the world - so why was this happening, he had never broken his promises before -- what went wrong 

Thoma spotted you wandering through the harbor. He’d seen you plenty of times but, for some reason, he felt drawn to you as you passed by vendor after vendor, hands clasped around a small money pouch, a careful eye on all the items for sale. It appeared like you were searching for something but unable to find it. 

“Excuse me, I’m looking for a small hairpin, maybe about this long, that isn’t too extravagant. Do you sell anything like that?” The vendor thought for a moment before shaking his head. You did the same before waving a friendly goodbye. 

“... Ah - Um, excuse me,” Thoma interjected, catching you slightly off guard. You seemed unsteady, your eyes scanning your surroundings before you took a deep breath. “Sorry, did I startle you?” 

“No, I’m alright. Can I help you?” 

“Oh, yes, haha,” Thoma rubbed the back of his head before finishing, “Please don’t think it’s rude, but I overheard you are looking for a hairpin?” 

“Mmm, for a friend, yes.” Squinting your eyes, you looked at him curiously. 

“I believe I know a place, plus, it’ll be far cheaper than anything you’d find in the harbor.” He leaned in to keep his voice low enough to not be heard by anyone other than the two of you, “The vendors here are known for charging unreasonable prices.” 

“... I see.” You were hesitant, that was apparent, so Thoma did his best to reassure you. 

“I’m sorry, I guess it would be rather odd to just follow someone. I’ll write directions for you and you can go with someone you trust.” He searched his bag for something to write with but you cut him off. 

“I try not to live my life through fear, but if you murder me, I will haunt you forever.” 

Thoma burst into laughter and threw up his hands, “I promise I won’t.” 

“A-Alright, but ... I walk a little slow.” 

“No worries, I’ve got time.” He instinctually offered you his hand but, after finding that was strange, not only by the awkward silence in the air, but also by your expression, he pulled it back and gestured in the direction of the shop. 

spending time with you was fun, exciting, and he grew attached to you quickly -- but 

he could tell there was a secret you were keeping from him. it wasn’t his place to pry - but he couldn’t help but notice how winded you became, how tired you were, how some days the color in your face would shift to hues he’d never seen before ... or the bruises that weren’t there the day before, no seemed to appear at random 

You coughed and the feeling rattled your lungs. Secretly you hoped this would only last a minute, but it was turning into one of your fits at the worst possible time. 

The tea-cup rattled as you nearly dropped it on the table so you could grip your clothes and cover your mouth with your other hand. It hurt, it hurt so much. It felt like knives were climbing their way up your esophagus. Your back tensed, bones cracked, your neck grew tight and it was becoming hard to breathe, but you couldn’t stop coughing. 

Thoma rushed to your side - when did he even make it back into the room - and did his best to help. He’d seen you collapse before, seen you sick, but you hoped your dear friend would never have to see you lost in a fit like this. It was scary to you, how horrifying would it be to an outsider. 

“T-Th-ma -” You croaked through violent coughs and gasps for air. His hand moved to your narrowed view and you grasped it until the fit subsided. 

“Breathe slow, steady,” he repeated until your coughs transitioned into shaky breaths; he poured a glass of water for you. “Can you drink?” You nodded and took small sips of the refreshing liquid. It felt good against your burning throat but you tried not to drink too much to set it off again. 

“S-Sorry,” you mumbled, voice cracking and breaking between sips of water. 

“Don’t be sorry. D-Does that happen often?” 

You nodded, “Sometimes, but it’s getting worse ...” Somewhere in the back of your mind you knew what it meant but refused to accept it. Perhaps if you denied the truth long enough, you could spent more days with your friend and the man you --

“Let me get you a blanket, your shivering.” Thoma left your side and that’s when you realized the red reflecting in the glass wasn’t from his jacket. 

it sucked, it was unfair - you wanted to blame him, wanted to push him away but you couldn’t find the strength to do it 

all your life you had kept yourself safe from the reality that weighed you down, “you aren’t meant to live in this world, y/n, so don’t - no matter what - get attached to it” 

The cool breeze felt refreshing on your heated skin. It wasn’t great for you to be out with a fever, but your body was always warm now. It’s goal was to fight the illness raging inside of you but it was failing, you were failing, and your time was running short. 

All you wanted was to be alone. All you wanted was to be by Thoma’s side. All you wanted was more fucking time but you weren’t going to get any of that. How was it that in a world full of visions that could burn, consume, reshape, and heal, not a single one of them could make you better. 

You were furious years ago, but now you were bitter. 

A familiar voice called out to you but you hated its sound because it reminded you of all the things you’d never be able to do. It painted pictures in your mind that you’d never be able to see. The voice brought you life didn’t understand that you were nothing but death to it. 

“y/n?” 

“Leave, Thoma.” 

“I brought you your favorite. Why don’t we go inside where it’s warm and eat it together.” 

“I don’t want to. Please, just go.” Your voice broke, you wrapped the thin blanket around your body as if to protect you from the cold truth. 

“You should eat. It’ll make you stronger.” 

“Stronger, right.” 

“Come on,” The dish he made came into view as he rested it on the railing but as soon as you felt him touch you, you backed away, stumbling on your weak legs. 

“No. J-Just go, please.” The tears were threating to fall but when you looked at the pain on his face their threat became reality. “... what is wrong with me?” you covered your eyes, the emotions in your chest made you cough and your mind dizzy. 

“You’re just sick, why don’t we rest.” 

“NO!” You screamed, catching him off-guard, his hands hovering just above your elbows, ready to catch you. “Thoma, I’m dying. Don’t you get that!? I don’t know how much longer I have and I don’t know why you’re here. What? Do you want to watch me waste away? I can barely eat, I can barely walk, I can barely keep myself from falling fo --” you stopped yourself by clasping your hand over your mouth. When you felt composed, you turned to walk away from him, “leave Thoma, go live your life.” 

“My life is right here.” 

The sincerity in his voice forced a sob through your tight throat, another cough followed shortly as you collapsed toward the railing. Thoma rushed to the other side to offer his support and though his touch electrified your very being, it also broke your heart. 

“This is the one thing I didn’t want ...” you cried, body trembling as you reached and held onto his arm for dear life. He waited, he always waited, “... I didn’t want to do this. I kept to myself because being with people was too hard. Allowing myself to get close meant I’d have to say goodbye ... Thoma, I wish I’d never met you ... then I .. I,” you held onto him tighter and looked into his eyes, “I wouldn’t have fallen in love just to lose it ...” With no more strength left, your knees gave way but Thoma caught you, he always caught you. 

“I’ve got you. I’m here,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around you. His fingers brushed your hair as he spoke, “You won’t lose it. You won’t -” he reassured, pleaded, hoped, but as he held you while you sobbed, both of you knew it was the only lie Thoma would ever tell. 

it only got worse - you stopped eating, barely drank. you were confined to the bed but slept more often than you were awake. it was painful to breathe and you were exhausted all the time until one day -- when everything finally eased 

You felt something cold against your lips, your eyes fluttered open to see what it was but you could hardly make anything out. It was too bright so you close them again and listened to the sounds in the room. 

“Hey there,” Thoma’s voice greeted you so you turned toward it. “Try to sleep some more, it’s still early.” He sounded so close but so far away. There was a strangeness in his tone you couldn’t place. 

“mmm,” shaky as your hand was, you managed to lift it enough for him to grab it. The sensation of his warmth spread up your arm and reached your heart as if that was his very goal in life. “... love ...” 

Thoma’s lips connected to your fingers and though he tried to hide it, you could hear the strain in his voice as he answered you, “I love you, too. Try to ... sleep, okay?” You squeezed his hand and he returned the gesture while you drifted back to sleep. 

-- 

Thoma was the one who saw you when no-one else did. He was the one who helped you through so many difficulties when you swore it would all fall on your shoulders alone. He burst into your life like a dog welcoming you home; you swore to never get attached, but Thoma made that impossible. 

He was the one who held you when you couldn’t stop shaking, he was the one who made sure you could eat, even if it required the most intense preparation. When others couldn’t be there, he was at your side and, in the final days, he held your hand until all life from it faded away. 

Thoma saw you live and he watched the way you died. 

As he laid the flowers on your grave, he let his hand rest against your name just to feel close to you one last time, “You said you weren’t meant for this world, but you were meant for mine ...” he stumbled over the final words as he spoke, “you were mine.” 

what is a memory - something you can’t touch 

what is love - something you can’t hold onto 

what is life - empty, without you 

---

tag list: (broken tags)

@star-gods @mercurysmaiden @dourpeep @clemmywrites @handswritteeen @musekala  @mooshymello  @glazelilyy @twokissesforamelia @smol-knife @aoirohi @mguerra11 @lucy-roo @ryekoo @nonniechan @tempehlust @zenith-impact @plumpkie @jaggedsi @salty-salty @onlyhereforinteractivestories @liebestraumss @jaemjenjam @softlybeloved @anatthesavage @mkazuyuh @excitedlysuffering @yujiia @cytomegalia @nua-fromliyue @yoshikuno  @anonymousficreader @cyphermagic​ @akira-kiryu @lenioxoxo @justfandomlover @duskdawn052 @emeixho @yanfei-main771 @musical-gravity @1-800-beidou @makinouri @my-dear-wendy @alatuszc @dearest-ei @x-madeline-x​ @jahnvi-d​ @blushingskywalker @cherryflushz @lucy-roo​ @sufzku​ @uchihaeirin​ @kazuhasupremacyy @scaracock @starserene @bloodreaper08 @disoriented-fish​ @straymoon96 @x-zho @kartoffelgrace @sunny-star021 @3slicedbananas   @noctua-koi​                                                                          

#genshin impact #genshin impact X reader #genshin impact musings #genshin impact fiction #genshin impact headcanons #tw reader death #cw reader death #albedo x reader #diluc x reader #thoma x reader #albedo angst #diluc angst #thoma angst #farewell-love #THIS FUCKED ME UP #I SOBBBBBBBBED WITH THIS BS #I HOPE YOU ARE HAPPY T>T>T>T>T>T>>TT>

[the-travelling-witch]

⇢ ˗ˏˋ But I Still Love You ﾟ☾. ࿐

summary: your relationship was all you could have wished for but what if it turned out it was just a little more?

pairing: scaramouche x gn!reader

prompts: 8. "you're a monster", 19. "i can't do this anymore", 23. "what's wrong with me?"

warnings: [heavy angst] murder, somewhat graphic depiction of violence, emotional abuse+ manipulation, toxic relationship, gaslighting, mentions of suicide, yandere (?) themes, you know i normally love scara but he’s a totally messed up asshole in this, i do not condone this type of behaviour; do not engage with this fic if any of these could potentially jeopardise your health!!

a/n: i can happily announce that this is my first collab fic ever and i’m very excited!! i just had to join after reading the prompts in @versadies’s “farewell, love” collab, my brain was running wild with ideas and settled on the darkest one, don’t ask what possessed me that day; thank you to @mari-on-dragonspine and @yaesnovels for reading this ahead of time and boosting my confidence about it, couldn’t have done it without you; now… soft scara stans, look away, this is not your man

happy halloween🍁

genshin impact masterlist

It was a dream come true.

Every time you’d meet him, the butterflies in your stomach would create a whirlwind of emotion and your heart would soar higher than any bird ever could. That fact that he’d chosen you out of everyone still didn't feel real to you.

Always bright-smiling and elated to see you, he had your heart wrapped around his finger but you didn't mind, you'd gladly given it to him. Taking you out for dinner, escorting you home from work, planning weekend trips with your interests in mind…

He was perfect.

But he was also the Balladeer, who could make anyone dance to his tune. Your friends were wary of his flawless performance from the start. Something that seemed too good to be true was usually just that; a short-lived dream at best, an intricately woven tapestry of lies and illusions at worst. But you ignored all their warnings as your rose-coloured glasses blended every possible red flag with the bouquet of dendrobiums he had gifted you on your date.

As time passed, you saw your friends less and less and eventually they stopped reaching out to you; there were no more letters in your mailbox, you didn't run into them on your trips to the market and their excited knocks on the door faded away into memories. Besides your colleagues at work, you spent most of your time with Scaramouche, whose role in your life was growing more significantly with each passing day.

From helping you with everyday chores to helping you secure better business deals with his position as the Sixth Fatui Harbinger to even going so far as lending you money or straight-up buying whatever you needed or wanted, you were starting to wonder how you managed to navigate life before he waltzed into yours.

Then, Scaramouche asked you if you wanted to move in with him. Considering how evolved he already was and how often you saw each other, you thought living together would make everything easier. Besides, waking up next to him and coming home to him every evening did sound rather enticing, so you agreed.

Relocating all your belongings from where you had grown up to the far side of Inazuma was quite the challenge but of course, Scaramouche came to your rescue, lending a hand in sorting through your stuff and leaving behind what you didn't need anymore.

It was hard to find a new job. Every interview you attended ended up in you being turned down without a specific reason given, even though you more than met the required qualifications. After continuously being rejected you couldn't take it anymore as the venomous fangs of failure sank their teeth into you. Luckily, Scaramouche was there to catch you when you broke down.

“Shh, it's okay, little dove. Why don't you rest for a while and let me take care of you? Can't you see how all this stress is weighing you down? Let me handle everything while you recover, I promise I'll cover whatever you need, so don’t worry. Take all the time you need and then you can start looking again.” As he pressed his cold lips against your temple, you couldn’t help the shiver that ran down your spine. Somewhere in the back of your mind, the notion of Death marking its next victim had taken root while he securely held you in his arms, letting your falling tears stain the shirt clutched in between your hands. “You’re doing so well for me, I'm very proud of you, my love.”

Grasping the fact that you were unemployed and solely relying on your boyfriend’s, admittedly generous, income took a while. Up until now, you’d always stood on your own two feet, a philosophy your parents had instilled into you from a young age and something you had prided yourself on. 

At first, it was hard facing yourself in the mirror, too ashamed of yourself and too afraid your mind would zero in on your every flaw to tear your confidence down even further. But whenever your eyes averted from your figure, two hands would wrap around your middle from behind, Scaramouche’s face appearing next to yours to whisper sweet words into your ear, saving you from shattering completely.

And frankly, your income couldn’t compare to his anyway, so you working would only be worth a drop in the bucket, if at all. 

To keep yourself busy with all your new free time gained, you started working around the house, doing chores just to pass the time and distract you from your feelings of uselessness.

One of your greatest joys was going grocery shopping at the local market. With no new coworkers to speak of, it had been increasingly difficult finding a connection to the people. With the title of being a Harbinger’s partner, they were wary and kept their distance, a precautionary measure you couldn’t fault them for.

As you stopped by more often, however, their behaviour changed. The elderly lady selling vegetables started sharing recipes with you, the young pair from the flower shop were waving you over to catch up and the guy from the herb stand handed you free samples to try around with.

Finally, for the first time since moving here, you felt like you could become part of the community, so naturally you told Scara about it. What you didn’t notice was how his smile strained the more excited you grew. 

"How long has this been going on for?” Even he couldn’t hide the venom lacing  his words. “Remember, you have to tell me. Not telling me is just as bad as lying.”

“Wait, Scara, you aren’t upset with me, right? I just wanted to help out, you know.“

“Am I upset? Why? Should I be?“ The hairs in the back of your neck rose and your skin tingled as if someone had shot a bolt of electricity through you. It was like the ground around you broke away at his tone and you knew you had to tread carefully if you wanted to make it out of this safely.

“No, don’t be.“ You gingerly extend your arm as if not to scare a cautious animal and cupped his cheek. “I love you like I’ve never loved anyone else, you know that right?“

Leaning into your touch and trapping your hand under his own, his purple eyes zeroed in on you. “So you knew after all?“

You froze. “What?“ It was barely more than an exhale as your gut seemed to plummet. His grip on you tightened as you started squirming.

“Oh come on, you’re smarter than this. You knew I‘d get jealous and you told me anyway. Or maybe that is why you told me in the first place?“ Apparently your appalled face gave away how impossible the thought was to you because he merely sighed deeply before dropping your arm and turning to leave. “Whatever. It’s not like I care anyway.“

The silence he left behind that day left you stunned, weighing down on your chest and pressing the air out of your lungs only to be shattered by the sound of a plate smashing against the wall a few rooms over. Yet, despite flinching and despite the acidic sting in your eyes, the tears wouldn't fall.

In the wake of that incident, you desperately scrambled to make it up to him. There was no need to go to the market for groceries anymore, instead you found a basket with produce in the kitchen with no trace of the Fatui Agent who brought it. So, you devoted your time to cooking homemade meals and cleaning the house. Only to have your heart broken when Scaramouche picked at his plate with disinterest or had someone clear the decorations you had put up in careful consideration.

But he still loved you, he always reminded you. From showering you in expensive fabrics and jewellery to treating you to fancy dinners in high-class restaurants to sweet words of praise dripping from his lips like honey, making it hard for you to taste anything but their saccharine flavour. Of course he still loved you when he responded to your gratitude with “I would do anything to make you happy. I just want you to do the same for me.”

Maybe you were the one who wasn’t showing their affection enough. Otherwise, why would you feel this sharp stab of guilt piercing your heart whenever you refused him? How could you stay unmoved when his glassy violet eyes drooped as he mumbled “I guess you just don’t love me enough after all.”

And when you brought up an issue you wanted to discuss with him, his cold “I could just leave, you know” didn’t mean he actually would, he still loved you after all. Surely, he just had a bad day at work and needed some space. Your theory was cemented when Scaramouche sat you down one evening, expression unreadable as he took hold of your hands.

“Listen, little dove, something at work happened that I need you to know about. I’m telling you this for your own safety, okay?” You silently nodded at his genuinely concerned voice. Normally, he never told you anything about his work and completely shut you out if you asked about it, so you figured it must be pretty serious. “You understand that my job is dangerous, right? That shouldn't be news to you. And while I’m always very cautious to keep any kind of information about my personal life away from the Fatui, it seems that recently some of that information trickled down to our enemies through a mole.”

You didn't need to voice it, the anxiety sparked within you at his words apparent in your expression and Scaramouche gave your hands a reassuring squeeze as he continued with a softened tone.

“I'm sure you already figured out what kind of information has been leaked if I need to tell you. Yes, the enemy knows the location of this estate. It's unclear, however, if they know about you.” At that you couldn't help but clench your fingers into fists; enemies of the Fatui weren't to be taken lightly. “Don’t worry, I already made sure that traitor got what he deserved. Despite all of that, he wouldn't talk about the reason for giving up this particular intel, the working theory being that someone is after my life. Personally, I don't think you are their target; all the same…”

Pulling out a silver dagger, he handed the razor sharp weapon to you. Its handle felt like an icicle against the warmth of your palm and the weight of it seemed to sink into your gut rather than your arm. Certainly he wasn't asking you to…

“I want you to have this. If the situation calls for it, you need to be prepared to use it.”

“Scara, what is it that you want from me? I’m not like you, I can't just…” Lost for words, your currently empty hand was waving through the air trying to grasp the meaning of all of this. 

Your lover reached forward and clasped his hands tightly around your shoulders, his stern gaze glued to your shaky one. “Your life or my life might depend on this, (Y/N), do you understand? If you really cared about me, you'd do what I'm asking.”

For the first time in a long time, you cried. Bitter tears seeping out of the corners of your eyes before starting to fall faster and faster and broken hiccups echoed around the room. The knife clattered noisily onto the floorboards as Scaramouche pulled you into his arms as you clutched onto his robes, gasping for air. 

“Shh, shh, I understand, little dove. It's scary,” he soothed. “But you have to see my side of things too. If something happened to you, what would I do? You’re the most precious thing in the whole world to me, I can't lose you, ever. I promise you, we’ll be together forever, so don’t cry.”

You didn’t sleep well that night. Or any of the following for that matter. It was even worse when Scaramouche had to stay out on Fatui business, leaving you all alone in the estate. Even the agents you knew where stationed somewhere in the vicinity didn’t help quell your fears.

Had this really become your life? Waking up in cold sweat, thinking you heard a noise? Flinching at the curtains blowing in the night’s breeze? The dagger didn’t pacify your worries either. Instead, the wretched blade seemed to follow you into your dreams, cutting through the pleasantries to reveal subconscious terrors slumbering under your quiet surface.

It was one of those nights where you were startled awake by your own hammering heart and the sweat rolling off your temple, the other half the bed cold and empty. Just as you slid your legs from under the blanket in hopes that a glass of water would help you calm down, you heard a thud. 

You wanted to play it off as your mind playing tricks on you, like every other night; that it was just the blood thumping through your ears that made you hear things. But then it was there again. 

There was someone else in the house with you.

It couldn’t be the Fatui nor Scaramouche. They were better trained than this, stealthier than to make a sound twice. In the moonlit room, you groped for the cool metal under your pillow, shaky fingers wrapping around the handle. There was no way you could win against an enemy who’d go after a Harbinger in one-to-one combat, much less if you were outnumbered, so you hid in the shadows of your room.

The creaking of the floorboard grew closer and you tried to stifle your ragged breathing. Even when you wrapped both hands around the hilt, they were still trembling as you recalled what Scaramouche had drummed into your head… “Go for the throat”

You didn't dare inhale or exhale as the door slowly slid open and a shadowy figure stepped into the room. The person was wearing a straw kasa shielding most of their head from your view but, from what you could make out, it was a young man. 

There was no time to think. In the few seconds he took to advance to the middle of the room, you lunged forward, driven mad by fear alone. Just before the sharp blade made contact with his skin, the man whirled around, startled by the noise. And then, merely a fraction later, the dagger was lodged to the hilt in his throat. 

When he tried to speak, nothing but a gruesome gurgling sound left his mouth. From the proximity, you could finally see under the hat, just to meet familiar eyes. You staggered back, mortified. It was as if someone had punched out all the air from your lungs as realisation struck you.

How didn't you recognise him? You had seen him so often. If you had just taken a second longer to properly look at him, he wouldn't…

The person burbling unintelligible noises sounding too similar to the letters of your name was certainly not an enemy of the Fatui. No, he was a simple herb farmer, selling his products on the local market. And you…

…just killed an innocent man.

The dull thud of the knife hitting the floor barely registered as your knees gave out and you sacked downwards. Two cold hands wrapped under your arms and stopped you from joining the blood-slicked blade. You didn’t put up any resistance as you were pulled against an all too familiar chest, your body limp like a puppet with its strings cut as he lowered both of you to the ground slowly.

“Look at you. You’re a monster,” he cooed and you could feel his grin curl against the top of your  head as he placed a frosty kiss there. “You just murdered an unarmed farmer, just like that. But it’s okay. I still love you.”

“No, I– I didn’t… I cant–” Guilt crushed your chest and wrangled your airways. You might as well have been the one with the slit vocal chords, judging by the lack of sound coming from you.

“Mhh, but you did, little dove.” Scaramouche’s soft hands were caressing the side of your face as he softly spoke to you. It took a few caresses for you to realise that his fingers were sticky and you forced yourself to focus on the scene in front of you. There was a pool of dark liquid slowly expanding from where the man's neck would be, the metallic smell filling the room, making you nauseous. You saw the knife lying next to the slumped over body. As in trance, you reached for it, anything to make the pain go away…

But Scaramouche was faster in pinning your arms back to your side “None of that, don’t be dumb. It wouldn't remedy what you already did.” When you sagged back against him and he was sure you wouldn't try taking the knife again, he let go of your arm. “Did you know? He was here to ‘save you’, isn't that funny?”

“...what?”

“I know, right? It's ridiculous,” he chuckled. “Apparently, the townsfolk were concerned about you when you stopped showing up at the market, so they waited for an opportunity where I wouldn't be home, those fools. But you made nice work of this idiot without my help. You did so well for me, love.”

“You… you knew about this?” You couldn't prevent the way your voice cracked from lack of energy. “But… the enemies of the Fatui… and the information that was… you said that… I thought..”

“Hm? Oh, that? I told you, didn’t I? We took care of them a couple of days ago. I definitely told you, little dove; you were so relieved when you heard the news. You didn't forget, did you?”

Did he tell you? You couldn’t remember; surely you would, if he had told you something so important. The Fatui, however, were notorious for dealing with their problems quickly, so it was possible this had been resolved so swiftly. No, you'd definitely remember…

You were ripped out of your thoughts when something warm touched your bare foot. Violently jerking your leg towards yourself as vermillion smeared across the wooden floor. Suddenly, it wasn’t just your lungs caving into themselves but also your stomach being compressed into a fraction of its size. Flopping onto your side you pulled yourself up onto shaky arms and knees as acid burned your throat and your body tried to rid itself of nonexistent content. 

Throughout all of it, Scaramouche lovingly ran his hand up and down the length of your spine, cooing at you to soothe your nerves, all the while praising you for doing so well. When you stopped throwing up for the moment, he gently lifted you up and brought you to the bathroom and helped you wash up. Frankly, he did most of the work, whereas you merely stood there, watching your reflection in the mirror. 

This was the baseline behaviour for the next few weeks as you processed what you had done. Naturally, by the time you exited the bathroom that night, there was no body or crimson trace left of what had transpired there. Nobody would know, except you, Scaramouche and the Fatui agents under his command. Although, the guilt and shame within you remained, most possibly until the day you died. He was right, you were a monster.

But underneath all the easily-accepted self-loathing, another sensation reared its ugly head. Denial spilled into the numbness and slowly warped into scepticism. And it culminated the morning you looked at yourself in the mirror. What had your life become? When did it all go wrong? 

Quietly, meant for nobody but the reflection on the polished surface but with the force to shake you awake, you mumbled a long overdue question: “What's wrong with me?”

However as you turned the situation over and over in your mind, there was only one answer. It was him, it all started with him. Your life was good before him. You weren't the problem here; you weren't the monster in this house. And there was only one solution to your problems.

“I can't do this anymore.”

“What?!” It was pure fury, the way he sliced the air with that single word. “You’re kidding, right? Well, it's not funny, so cut the crap, (Y/n).”

“I’m not. We’re done, Scaramouche.” It took every ounce of willpower for your voice to remain composed and unwavering. But you had made your decision and you wouldn't let him charm you into your downfall again. “I'm leaving. Don't follow me.”

“Have you completely lost your mind? You killed a person, remember? You should be grateful I’m willing to stick by your side; who else would love a freak like you? And that’s given the chance you’re even allowed to walk free.” The sneer was contorting his face into an ugly grimace and in the back of your head you wondered if those were the true colours you were just too blind to see all of this time. “You do realise, my position is the only thing keeping you from prison and poverty and homelessness. You need me. You owe me.”

“I don’t owe you anything for ruining my life,“ you spat, thoroughly done with him manipulating the narrative. It felt good to finally stand your ground and argue with your own agency in mind, no matter how terrifying it might be. Turning on your heel you marched straight to the front door, belongings in hand. Before you could make it there, however, a hand wrapped tightly around your wrist, spinning you around forcibly.

“You don't want to do this, little dove, trust me. You don’t know what I'll do if you dare leave me,” he gritted out. “I told you, we will be together forever.”

Merely raising an eyebrow as you held his stare you noted, “What you do no longer concerns me.” And so, you took the first steps to your regained freedom.

It had taken months of gentle caring to nurture the wilted shell in your chest back into a living sapling, hopefully strong enough to fill the empty void where your heart had been carved out.

It had taken years of genuine reassurance for your friends, who readily took you in again, to finally be fully let back into your life as you slowly broke down the high walls you had erected to keep the tiny sprout safe. 

Finally, the lively breeze that had carried you from adventure to adventure before had returned to ruffle your rusty wings once more and you were ready to rejoin the path you used to walk on.

So when you were waiting for your friend to pick you up and you excitedly answered the knock on your door, the dreaded amethyst staring back at you made you stagger back, the bouquet of crimson dendrobiums tearing open scars you thought had healed.

“Hello, little dove. You seem surprised to see me.” Every nerve in your body was screaming at you to run, far far away, put as much distance between you and the person you had once called your lover. But the weight in your stomach was dragging you down and you could only stare with wide eyes as you were once again pulled under and into your own demise.

“I came back for you. I promised I would.”

tag list: @mccnstruck @silentmoths @teyvattales @ainescribe

#holly´s potions #farewell-love #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact angst #scaramouche x reader #scaramouche angst #scaramouche genshin impact #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact imagines #genshin x reader #genshin angst #genshin headcanons #genshin scenarios #genshin imagines #yandere au #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin au

[tavvattales]

GENSHIN IMPACT Character x GN!Reader Angst Stories

Word count: 600+

Fic for @versadies farewell-love event.

Prompt: "Everything I've ever done...was for you."

Characters: Dottore

Pairings: Dottore x GN!Reader

Warnings: Usage of Dottore's real name. Reader death. Please read at your own risk.

Taglist: @stygianoir @kurobakachan @hikomisan @silverwritesthings @minty-stays-tired @genshinparty

Special thanks to Silver for bouncing ideas off of me~

If you like what you read, come and check out my Discord!

Click below for more~

Il Dottore

Zandik watched the gentle rise and fall of your chest as you slept soundly; the regular beeps of the monitors and occasional hum as they adjusted to deliver the vital medications—it all seemed too quiet for his liking. He felt unusually apprehensive as he waited for the other shoe to drop. And so he waited. And waited, but when it didn't fall, he breathed a sigh of relief, stirring you awake. You were still there with him. He smiled as he offered you his hand, muttering an apology for waking you.

Grasping it with all your strength, you look up at him from the solace of your hospital bed, "Zandik…when was the last time you slept?" you ask him weakly, stroking his hand with your thumb. Noticing the exhausted look in his crimson-red eyes, you frown, "You know I'm not going anywhere, so please, for your sake…go home and sleep."

"Darling…I'm so close to finding a cure for you. I can't just up and leave you," he retorts.

"Then stay here and rest with me," you offer, scooting your small frame over for him to lay next to you, "It's been too long since we've slept like this…" you say, reminiscing the past when the two of you slept side by side, without a care in the world. 

Smiling affectionately down at you, Zandik then lays on your bed, wrapping his body around your small, weak physique as if he were afraid to break you, "You've lost more weight…" he murmurs into the back of your neck as you snuggle closer to him.

Knowing your time here on this earth won't last, you listen to the gentle hum of the medical machines, and the steady breathing of your lover pressed up against you, "It will come back once you find the cure we've been looking for," you say softly, though you knew it was a lie. 

Turning to face him, you realize he has fallen asleep. His soft blue locks cascaded down his worn face; this wasn't the life you were hoping for. With a weak, shaky hand, you brush his hair out of his face and admire him one last time, "I love you," you mutter as a single tear rolls down your sunken cheeks, and taking your last breath, you kiss his forehead.

—----

The long abrupt beep of your heart monitor stirs Zandik from his deep slumber. Feeling how cold you were, he knew he was too late. Time of Death: 3:33 pm. Just ten minutes after he had fallen asleep. If only. If only he knew, "Don't you know? Everything I've ever done…was for you," he says pitifully, cradling your corpse. If only he knew that you still watched over him.

You looked peaceful. As if you'd fallen asleep again and the slightest touch would wake you. For a moment, Zandik thought of abandoning the research and destroying all of it, so that nobody could ever have what he couldn't. But you wouldn't have wanted that.

Flying free from your illness, you watched. You watched how carefully he handled your body and zipped it up slowly into a bag. You watched how night after night he cried himself to sleep. You watched how anger slowly consumed him and found its way to Tsaritsa; you knew he wouldn't be able to look back. You watched how he immersed himself into his work even more, going days without sleep, only taking a moment to rest when his own body failed. But there was nothing you could do about it. And so you simply watched.

There were times he swore he felt you. Felt your lips on his forehead as if reliving your last moment. But they, like you, were fleeting moments, now long gone from this world.

#farewell-love #genshin impact #genshin impact fandom #rebby writes #genshin impact fanfic #genshin imagines #genshin scenarios #genshin impact x gn reader #genshin x you #genshin x gn reader #genshin x reader #dottore x reader #dottore x you #genshin dottore #dottore angst

[tingyunz]

unforseen parting

pairing: alhaitham x reader

contents: character death, angst, no comfort, mentions of blood, there's some talk about wound but nothing too graphic

synopsis: it wasn't supposed to end this way. but none of you were able to change this outcome.

additional notes: written for @versadies farewell, love collab, prompt 10 “don’t die on me... please”; alhaitham might be a bit ooc; also i'm so sorry if this ends up being bad, i haven't written angst in a long while and i also wrote this being half-asleep; reblogs are appreciated!

genshin masterlist: [here]

breathe in.

it's no secret that the life of a scholar can be a dangerous one, with research sometimes leading into places crawling with monsters. yet you always managed to come out of it with small injures and that was only in the worst scenarios, be it by yourself or with help that seemed to always show up at the right time.

breathe out.

and yet, you had a feeling that this time you might not make it. you could feel the blood seeping through your fingers, as you tried to stop the bleeding from the wound your stomach, and the adrenaline wearing off in favor of the fatigue catching up to you.

don't panic.

a small part of you hoped that someone miraculously would show up to help you, even though you knew it wasn't possible. after all, you'd made sure of it by getting into the worst fight with your boyfriend that morning. what's started as a simple question if you could go out another day, as he wasn't able to accompany you, somehow turned out into a full blown argument with you angrily accusing him of underestimating your abilities.

it's gonna be alright.

but it wasn't, was it? turns out you were the one, who underestimated the situation, getting yourself injured at the worst possible place and time. that ruin drake was a nasty surprise, yet could you really be surprised after choosing to conduct you research near an old ruin golem?

you thought you could reach a breakthrough, if you came here, but right now that research was the last thing on your mind. you needed urgent medical attention, but the closest settlement was further than you could hope to get and you started to feel as if all the exhaustion in the world was suddenly dumped on you.

i'm scared.

then came the pain, pulsing in your stomach as the adrenaline wore of completely. it dispelled the tiredness for a short moment, but it was enough for you to hear someone calling your name.

"[name]!"

then there was a sound of rushing footsteps and suddenly someone dropped in front of you and brought your body closer to theirs, applying some more pressure to your wound.

"it's okay, i've got you." they whispered, but there was some sort of shakiness in their voice. "you're gonna be okay."

when you lifted your head to look at your saviour, your half-closed eyes were met with a sight that you never thought you'd see.

it was alhaitham who was desperately trying to stop your bleeding, yet one look at his face made it obvious that the normally composed scribe was barely holding himself together, probably trying to look calm for your sake.

"you're here..." you murmured, somehow finding the energy to speak.

"of course i am. and i'm sorry that i didn't come sooner. but... i'll make it up to you really good, so... don't die on me... please."

maybe if you were more careful. maybe if you listened to him and didn't go on this expedition. maybe the two of you wouldn't be in this situation, instead sharing some drinks at puspa cafe or just simply reading some books together, finding comfort in each other's presence.

but you didn't listen, nor were you careful enough. so when the sun set on this almost completely normal day, instead of comforting silence or happy smile, there was only a small "i'm sorry" you breathed with your last breath and the final drop of your eyelids.

and only then alhaitham allowed himself to cry, letting tears fall from his eyes as silent tears wrecked his body.

because this time you left too quickly and to a place he couldn't follow you yet. and the silence that fell after your departure was the furthest thing from comforting.

"i'm sorry... i wasn't able to protect you..."

© tingyunz 2022, please refrain from copying and reposting my works!

#🌸 petals #genshin impact writing #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact angst #alhaitham x reader #al haitham x reader #farewell-love #twilight-theatre

[teabutmakeitazure]

Gone Wrong (Farewell Love Collab)

>Yan! Childe x Fem! Reader (modern au I guess)

a/n: warning for implied dub con

For the Farewell Love Collab by @versadies

There's a suffocating thickness in the air that makes it hard to breathe. You are in a basement after all, from the looks of it at least. It’s not like you’ve ever been down here before. Despite it being furnished enough to suffice as a temporary place to live, you can’t seem to find it homey enough. It’s more on the unwelcoming side. There are no doors except for the bathroom and the exit, and a plain navy blue sofa in what you assume is the living room welcomes you when you leave the bedroom.

The single person bed isn’t made since you’re too fatigued to do anything ever since you woke up. You didn’t even have enough energy to check whether or not the kitchen is functional or if the wardrobe has clothes or dead bodies. Resigning to the dull pain in your skull that’s still throbbing, you fall onto the sofa with a sigh.

This is your life now. That is until he deems you worthy of taking back into his apartment. Till then you’re stuck here, forced to think about what you did until you’re on your knees begging him for forgiveness.

-

Fingers run through your hair, lightly massaging the scalp as you relax under the touch. The hand is warm, soft and most importantly gentle. Oh you haven’t felt that in so long. Sleep cages you in further, it’s temptation of a temporary relief too enticing to pass on. Going into a deeper slumber isn’t fruitful because your eyes shoot open at the realisation that you’re supposed to be alone.

Safe to say the face of a particular Snezhnayan coming into view first thing wasn’t a pleasant surprise. What’s worse is that you seem to be in his lap as he stares down at you with a smile.

“I hope you had a nice nap. I did end up hitting you too hard.”

“Childe,” you seethe out.

“Nuh uh, it’s Ajax for you, my dear.”

Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you immediately get up just to be pushed down again. Back into your previous position, you shoot him the nastiest glare you could manage at the moment. Your mind still feels like cotton candy after all.

“I was hoping we could spend some time together. I got off duty early today, so I figured what better way to spend the time than see your angry face as you spite me and my next ten incarnations?”

You raise your brow at the oddly particular mention, surprised at how he still remembers you cursing him like that. Had you any faith in his ability to woo someone into starting a family with him, you would’ve cursed his next ten generations as well. At the lack of response from your side, Childe starts massaging the tip of your nose, laughing when you scrunch it up.

His thumb suddenly pries open and hooks inside your mouth, rubbing on the top of your tongue. It’s uncomfortable and you’re about to gag but he quickly removes it. As gross as it is, he casually licks off the saliva as he looks you dead in the eye. He’s back to assaulting the tip of your nose again in a matter of seconds.

“If you just wanted to get your hands dirty, you should’ve just stayed at work.”

The harbinger chuckles, cooing at how you seem angry. “What’s wrong with coming and seeing my little wifey? You weren’t this cold to me yesterday. Just because I caught you in the parking lot doesn’t mean that you’ll be sour to me now.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? It’s a cute nickname.”

You swat away his hand and get up, scooting to the other side of the sofa. Your eyes briefly land on the cell phone sitting on the table in front of you. Judging from the cover, it’s his personal phone. That means he stopped by the apartment on his way here.

“[Name],” he sings, “I’m guessing you’re mad at me? Look, I’m sorry that I hit your head that badly, okay? I lost my temper, and I admit that I got too rough. However, you were the one that lied to me and broke my trust.”

Childe slowly moves closer to you, immediately grabbing your ankle when you attempt to get up.

“I’m willing to forgive you,” he confesses. “Just be a good girl and sit right here and quietly listen to me. You wouldn’t want me to change my mind, now would you?”

You manage to shake your head despite the inability to say anything. When you’re properly seated again, he pulls you to his lap making you straddle him.

“You’re going to stay here for one week while I move all of our stuff to a better place. I never really liked that penthouse I bought, but now that I have you, I might as well put all that security to good use. It’s better to live somewhere like that when you have someone with you, don’t you think?”

His hand creeps up under your shirt and settles on your waist while the other plays with a strand of your hair. He shushes you as soon as you open your mouth to say something, asking you to let him finish.

“You managed to pick the door’s lock with a hairpin so the first new rule: no more hair pins or pins in general. Second rule: when we move in there, you will always be in my sights. I don’t care what you say or whatever you reason you give. And just know that no matter how much you whine or complain, I’m not changing my mind.”

He smirks when he sees you avoid his gaze. The satisfaction from seeing you be so cooperative is just so addicting to him. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t like it when you bite. The desperation and anger in your eyes might just rank second among his favourite sights, your glazed over eyes from overbearing pleasure being the first.

Still, when you look at him again, he can feel his heart beat faster. When you lick your lips before speaking, he finds himself doing the same all the while resisting the temptation to shut you up before you even speak. But what is he if not patient?

You try your shot at negotiating, even batting your eyelashes a few times. “And what if I promise to be good? I swear it this time.”

“I would be an idiot to trust you again.”

“And you think you’re smart?”

“Depends on who I’m being compared to. If it’s you then I am.”

You click your tongue, unsatisfied at his quick responses. “You don’t love me, do you?”

Childe tilts his head, brows knitted together in confusion. His hand delicately holds you chin as the thumb gently presses into your lower lip. “What makes you think that? I married you, I keep you with me at all times and I take such good care of you. Why would I not love you?"

“This isn’t love.”

“All you need to know and care about is that you are my family. There’s no need for you to concern yourself over such trivial details.”

Grabbing his wrist, you move away his hand that keeps assaulting your lower lip. If he thinks he can scare you with such small and meaningless gestures, he’s wrong. It may have intimidated you before but now it simply feels like an everyday action. Now at the receiving end of his scrutinising gaze, you fearlessly glare back at him with an intensity that surely should’ve delivered your sentiments to him.

“I never pay attention to trivial details. There’s a reason I never looked twice at you when you were still doing your best in your lousy ‘courting’.”

A grin stretches on his lips, consequently making your heart throb in anticipation of his answer. If he’s smiling after being called unimportant, he has a trick up his sleeve.

“Oh sweetheart. You call me trivial, yet I am the puppeteer of your sad little life.”

Sharp, stinging pain spreads throughout your scalp as your head is jerked backwards. With a fist in your hair clutching the strands with all his might, he leans into your exposed neck. His lips tickle the skin as he speaks, a newfound excitement rushing through his body as he hears your pained sounds.

“Had it not been for me, you would still be living a useless existence,” he states. “I gave you a purpose, a reason to be alive. I love you, and I'm afraid you’re not getting rid of me anytime soon. It’s best if you’re good and behave like the pretty little thing you are instead of biting like an untamed mutt.”

Another harsh tug and you scream as your head jerks backwards with much more force than before. Childe grazes his lips right above your carotid artery, the smile easily felt on your skin.

“Now that your bickering has ended, let’s get down to business.”

You just hope you don’t pass out this time.

#farewell-love #genshin impact x reader #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin impact x reader #childe x reader #genshin impact imagines #yandere genshin x reader #yandere childe #yandere childe x reader #yandere tartaglia #yandere tartaglia x reader #tartaglia x reader

[lov3rmir]

“GIVE YOU THE WORLD”

#— synopsis ; as the lover of the general mahatrama and a traveling merchant, you were bound to be found like this in the wilderness of the desert.

#— featuring ; cyno (genshin impact)

∆ tw(s)!∆ mention of death, violence, blood, character death. Angst

EVERYONE IN SUMERU KNEW ABOUT YOU. The lover of the general mahatrama, cyno. It wasn't rare to see the both of you together, often times being on a date. The elders of Aaru village could only smile at the love filled smile the general seem to throw your way. His eyes would sparkle a million stars when he as much as see your hair.

Even more usual, was your frequent absence. You were after all a traveling merchant, staying in one place seems out of your ways. You never wished to stay put, preferring to explore the world of teyvat. But it doesn't mean you would leave your sweet lover alone.

You sometimes stay over a month in sumeru because of him, you just couldn't get enough of him. No matter how many times you see, kiss and hug him. They never seemed enough to satisfy your wants.

cyno, never complained. He actually liked the way you stay over for him—selfish as it may be— each time you tell him about the recents feats you had come across he would never let him mind wonder off, loving the way your voice sounds when you recall your adventure. He sometimes wish his position wouldn't have chained him so down, if it wasn't for it he would've been there with ypu when you almost drowned in the river, when you encountered another merchant, when you were in danger.

As much as he wished, he could never leave sumeru, one day perhaps but not now.

HOWEVER SOMETIMES HE REGRETS HIS THOUGHTS. Maybe if he was more lenient on going with you, maybe if he didn't bote back the feeling of wanting. Just maybe.

The news reached him an evening in a rainy day. cyno had this feeling of dread eating him apart, he always shaked it off and blamed his lack of sleep. But even so, the feeling was still there.

A scholar—which he remembers being with you today for some exploration outside the city and in the vast desert— came rushing through the grand doors of the Akademia, shouting out his name.

Stepping in front of him, he asked what was all the fuss about, worry at the back of his mind, thoughts of something happening to you couldn't be shaken off.

The scholar took quiet the time to spir everything out. Finally, the cat was out of the bag.

“mx.(name) has been kidnapped by the emerits! ” the moment the words left his mouth, cyno was already out of the door, rushing to where you were.

He wasn't so reckless, he took the scholar with him, threatening your location out of him. He could always apologize later. Now was the time to worry about you.

He ran. cyno ran faster than he ever did, he could not lose another second. Threatening the location out of the scholar, he successed in tracing back the steps the eremits took. He tried so hard to not break down, to keep going and not let those thoughts drown him in a series of what ifs.

cyno could not lose you. He didn't allow it, he need you to live, and so he prayed. Prayed to the gods to have mercy on you, to grant you some times even a second just enough to let him save you. cyno was ready to pay your live with his, if that meant to keep you alive.

cyno was deseperatly trying to find you. He needed you to live. He wanted you to laugh at his god awful jokes, he wanted you to be there to heal his few wounds from battle, to be here with him breathing and fine. cyno wanted and wanted.

Even so, the gods were cruel.

There you were, all in red, arms hugging your figure. Tears strained eyes looking straight at him, a hand reaching over to him. Your eyes filled with fear, the tears mixed with blood making the sight before him a gruesome one. You begged ;

“save me.. please.”

cyno lost all control, eliminating each and every eremits that stood beside you. Leaving all of them in a near death state.

He couldn't breath,his hands shaking at the thought of losing you, so held you close. The blood of those filths mixing with yours. cyno shakingly spoke,

“you're..bleeding..” you laughed, in such situation you still found a reason to laugh. You soon coughed up blood making you look paler than you were. He looked over to the scholar who was standing in the sidelines.

The scholar saw a sight of the ruthless general, none could ever hope to see. A look of pleading.

“help me.” in another setting, it would've been a feat to have The general mahatrama beg. However, given the time. It was certainly not the best thought to have.

Scrambling to get his bag, he stuttered in his word to inform of the general that he may have some first aid kit with him. A ray of hope for the general. he reassured you, but even with all that, you both know you wouldn't make it. Simple tricks such as a bandaid wont restore the enormous quantity of blood you had lost. You would unfortunately meet your end here.

With whatever last energy you had left, perhaps you should lessen the burden on him. “cyno, can you promise me to tell me one of your jokes next time?” you voice was barely above a whisper.

A weak yes from him made you smile, “the moon is beautiful. Isn't she?” he cried. he cried knowing this was the end, he cried to the moon, hoping she would be a tad bit merciful to spare you. To protect you and save you.

“dont die on me,...please.”

You never answered.

The scholar pitied the man infront of him. He wasn't the general mahatrama, the ruthless and cold soldier of the Akademia. The stric figure everyone would shiver at.

No, it was a man who grieved the death of his love, (name) as the moon shined, with the stars to bear the tears of the poor soul.

The night a star shone brighter than anything.

End note : tumblr made me cry bc i lost my recent progress and had to do this all over again ;'( anyway thx to @versadies for the amazing angst promt!!! Also first angst so go easy on me :P

#✳️— venus constellation #cyno headcanons #cyno x reader #cyno angst #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader angst #no happy endings we die #literally #farewell-love #idk if anyone gonna cry but eh i wish to make a drink outta your tears

[yahoodarling]

XiaoXMerPerson Reader(GN)

Warnings: Drowning, death, mentions of injury and struggle, betrayal, mating system of romance (declaring your loved on as a mate), (reader is not a good person at first*)

So glad to join the #farewell-love event from @versadies Prompts 8, 25 “you're a monster”, “i thought i could trust you”

I really enjoyed the character dynamics here. 3.5k words

Relief. A sweet calming sense flooded Xiao as much as the melody entranced his mind. For once in a long time peace washed over him as his Karmic Debt didn't seem to burden him, for a temporary moment he stood with no pain only a gentle voice in his ear singing away the strain. How long had it been since he stood on the ground not held by the burden of his duties, of his sins in the past? It was rather scary actually, when one is exposed to nothing but pain that reminds one that one is alive, one could be mistaken if one lives or not by having that moment of relief from the painful reminder.

 Xiao walked towards the sound, tempted by the very thing that brought him rest, grass turned to rock which turned to sand as he stood on the cliffs of Guyun Stone Forest, his task of eliminating a toxic threat forgotten. As he walked over the shores he found himself in view of the full ocean, salt licked his skin and his eyes stung but the pain was easily forgotten by the figure that caught his attention. Along the rocks sat a being, not human by any means, a mortal could never reach the beauty he saw. The figure's eyes were closed and mouth open to release the heavenly sound, a gentle hum of no words yet touched the soul. He walked closer, on edge for not knowing the figure but curious because of how they affected him. Xiao had to take a moment to regain his thoughts as his eyes laid upon your tail, scales climbing up the long fins and phasing into your skin with a stunning colour to match, hair though messy from the pull of the sea stuck to your face in clumps but were dry, no doubt you had been sitting in the sun for a while now. In that moment you seemed unreal, a figment of an imagination, a glimpse into the perfect world, an artist's masterpiece. You were not aware of Xiao's presence and simply kept swaying to your own melody.

Xiao decided to sit down, not to approach you any further but simply enjoy your song and let ease wash over him. In time his body finally relaxed fully, back melting and releasing tense stress, shoulders loose and his spear sat by his side. For a moment he let his eyes close, in that moment it was only your voice that was on his mind.

"Oh dear, hello there" 

The singing stopped and the figure spoke, Xiao immediately back on guard. He stood up, held his spear and gazed at you watching your every move. His pulse heightened, hyper aware after being caught vulnerable. You must have eventually looked over to him and finally spoke out.

"No need to be on guard, you seemed relaxed with my singing. I'm glad. Please, if it comforts you you may continue, i only wanted to introduce myself"

Xiao nodded, still a little too on guard to speak.

"My name is (first) (last). I come from the seas of Inazuma. I know our worlds are usually apart but recently I felt I needed to explore out to find my mate. I never found someone amongst my own kind and thought I could find someone on the land though I was advised not to. In simple terms, I'm just enjoying some time away from home." You smiled brightly at him

Xiao blushed slightly at the word of you looking for a mate, no doubt would your mate be lucky to be blessed by your voice often.

"I am Adeptus Xiao of Liyue. I apologise for imposing on you I was just- you have a nice voice" it was a bit out of his character to compliment but he felt he needed to let you know he liked it, more then liked it since it was your voice that gave him comfort he started to crave it. 

"Ah how lovely. It's no problem if you wish to listen for as long as you please." 

And with that you began your melody once again. Xiao recoiled back and sat on a rock, letting himself relax again but this time echoing out your name in his mind, going over your words once again and watching you sing so gracefully on the rocks just a few steps away into the sea. 

In time Xiao continued to return every few days, he'd at first sit and simply listen to you for a while before you began conversation with him. Even though your singing is what caught his eye at first he slowly seemed to fall for the person you were as well, hearing the stories of your land, your feelings and questions you had for him and in turn he revealed part of himself to you. Months flew by and Xiao visited nearly everyday, to spend his evenings with you, a graceful start to ease away the pain of the night to come. He had never revealed himself like this to someone in a long time and he felt you were the same. You chose not to leave Guyun Stone Forest to continue exploring and Xiao felt relieved you hadn't left him. You were someone he came to find very special.

He was willing to give you himself, his thoughts were consumed with you and he wanted you to feel the same way, the same pang that hit his chest when he thought of you or the first sight of you each day. He wanted you to find him just as special so the day he teleported to the coast to find a human on the shore, sitting on the sand and watching you with the same look of wonder on their face made fear overtake him, perhaps it was jealousy. He watched as you allowed your voice to grace someone other than him. The human stood up and did what he never could, no matter how much he tried to encourage himself he could never walk in the water towards you like this human was. The female human was calf deep, eyes set on you in amazement. When she was waist deep she reached for you, to touch such a magical being. Her eyes shone with wonder, that feeling of absolute content. It was peaceful,until it wasn't, until you quickly latched onto her, dragged her into the water with you and crashed under the surface with an almighty splash. There was a great fuss, water splashing all the way, huge waves created in the chaos and soft hues of pink soon surfacing where you and the human disappeared. Xiao couldn't move, true heartache and fear ate him. Would that have been him? If he had ever entered the water to be with you would you have dragged him into the doom like you had that human? All this time, all that your relationship with him was was just an attempt to lure him in, like a fish to a hook. He cried, he allowed tears to escape his eyes and fall on his cheeks. This was all he was to you, a chase. He was in such despair he couldn't even act to save the human like he was by duty meant to. Pure sorrow drowned him just as you drowned the human. “you're a monster”, he said to himself, needing to convince himself of the true colours you were showing.

After however long, Xiao couldn't tell if it had been a few minutes or hours, you broke the surface again, hair more rugged and slightly out of breath but the ocean waves swept away your sin and diluted the blood away, you sat on your rock like nothing happened and closed your eyes beginning your song again.

The contrast of his body's ease hearing the song to Xiaos mind tearing himself apart ached him. He had to know from you.

"(Name)" he said, his voice weak and low, hardly a whisper. If you did not have hearing above humans you would not have heard him.

"Xiao my darling! How's your day been?" You smile in delight at him until your face falls to a frown.

"Why are you crying? Your eyes are so puffy and red. Are you hurt?" You ask in worry, leaning on the rock as forward as possible, like you were trying to reach out to him.

Xiao had to stop himself from falling to his knees in tears. "Would that have been me?" He asks voice harsh yet fragile

"If i had entered the water to be with you would i be like that human too?"

You looked confused, brow furrowed.

"Whatever do you mean? Why-?"

"Was this all I was? A fish to hook? A prey to drown? Did I mean anything else?" He exploded in tears as he walked on the shoreline, water lapped at his feet and soak him as much as his salty tears did.

He continued to walk forward, ignoring the fact it would be dangerous. This was you! This was the only comfort he allowed himself. It blinded him from potential danger. 

"Xiao no! How could you think that?" 

"Don't lie! I saw it, I saw everything, I thought I could trust you!"

His calves were deep in the salt water and then stopped, his sense of awareness kicking in and not allowing himself any closer.

"I refuse to hear your lies. How could you? I thought… i thought-'' he choked and let his head fall, his cries diluting into the ocean water.

All of a sudden he heard a crash, loud and alarming. With no time to react you lunged onto him, pulling him into the water and overpowering him. Xiao was a moment away from thrusting his spear into your chest when he suddenly noticed the position you two were in. Unlike with the human he was above water and still able to breath, back in the shallow water and unlike what he saw you were not attacking him, you grasped his waist and held your head in his chest, hugging in close and nuzzling into it as your tail splashed behind him.

"No! No! You aren't a filthy human! I'd never do that to you. You aren't like them. I could never even imagine it."

You weren't attacking him, in fact you beached yourself to be with him. He could tell, the water was too shallow for you to easily slink back into the depths, no doubt your tail was sunk in the sea sand. "Xiao please. I've never seen you like that. I want you to be my mate! I want to continue hearing your stories and to sing for you. I want my voice to belong to you."

Xiao calmed down, he knew he was at an advantage right then, he could easily overpower you in this shallow water so there was no reason for him to not believe your words, why else would you let yourself be so vulnerable for him?

"You promise?" A weak question asked as new tears ran down his face, not in anger or sorrow but relief.

"I do, I swear. I'll do anything to prove it." You take your head away from his chest and look up to see him in the eyes. 

"Don't leave me please" you cry.

Xiao hugged you deep, embracing you above him and just allowing himself to accept the love. Finally he could hold you, to touch you, it may have not been the best circumstance but he could still enjoy it. 

It took a while, just to lay in the calf deep water holding each other, the waves sweeping against your combined forms.

Xiao broke the silence. 

"Why did you do it then?" You raise your head to look at him for a moment before resting it back onto his chest.

"It feels natural. Humans feel dirty and deserving of death. It feels like the waters cry for them to join its depths and as the waters people we carry out its demands."

"Do you have to?"

You stayed silent for a bit until answering

"No but humans aren't much to worry about anyway. If I can satisfy the call, it's not like much to sacrifice." 

Xiao felt a little unnerved by what you were saying, his whole existence was to protect the humans so to hear you speak of them like this scared him. He needed to try to change your ways, if he couldn't… he would have to uphold his duty and get rid of any threat against the mortals, even if that meant getting rid of you though it would destroy him.

"Stop. Don't do it anymore. My duty as an Adeptus requires me to protect them. I can't have you killing them."

Silence echoed until you finally sighed, shifting your weight and leaned on your arms off of Xiao above him to look him dead in the eye. 

"I promise. I will no longer hunt humans if it makes you happy. If it will keep you by my side then so be it. All I ask is that you become my mate. Be mine and i will give you my all in return and in doing so ill follow your word." Your eyes shimmered with emotions and your face blushed slightly but there was a calm sorrow on your face, you didn't want to make Xiao feel hurt.

He closed his eyes for a second, considered your words over and over in his mind. This is all he had wanted, to be with you like this, to be your mate, he can continue being with you. It made him so happy he felt he didn't deserve it. 

He opened his eyes, raised his hands out the water and held your cheeks, brushing against scales. 

"Then we can be mates. Please allow me such honour to be yours"

You smiled and dove back into him creating a splash and laughed. The air filled with laughter, of yours and his small ones. He laughed… you got him to laugh.

The future days were eventful, you began to dig into the beach bank and lay large rocks you found around, creating a small dock where you and Xiao could be together comfortably. Xiao helped where he could but he felt such euphoria to see you work so hard for something that meant you two could be together, the fact you'd do so much for him warmed his soul. Within a week a place was created where you would not be beached in sand and he would not be drowned, a place you two could lay together and simply enjoy each other's company. A happy world was created, a happy space for just you two.

Xiao was scared. He searched in Liyue Harbours shadows with pure fear in his mind. He heard you call his name, distressed and in pain but it was here in Liyue Harbour, not where you always were at the Stone Forest in your cove. Xiao looked to the docks from the shadows to see many fishermen huddled and in joy and a familiar ginger he had seen around Zhongli, all together smiling and laughing. His heart shattered as he saw you, in a metal linked net, arms severely wounded and bound behind you and blood seeping your hair and tail, your eyes unfocused.

Xiao held every part of him together to not rush in and rescue you, he couldn't harm the humans but his eyes caught the sight of Zhongli standing to the side also watching the event. He quickly teleported beside him.

"Xiao, this doesn't seem like your scene, why appear here?" Zhongli asked without flinching or looking where Xiao appeared.

"Why are they in that net? Why are humans so happy?"

Zhongli turned to look down on Xiao in curiosity.

"What interests you about it?"

Xiao kept quiet

Zhongli sighed and looked back at the humans that cheered and spoke of what they would do with you. Some said to keep you alive as a decoration while others wished to have you stuffed as a trophy, at the end of the day it was Tartaglia's call, he was the one who caught you after all.

Xiao was sick, he wanted to save you but Zhonglis looming presence overwhelmed him, he couldn't possibly act against him.

"Such putrid stench. That is a merperson, they are known to drown humans. For a long while fishermen going to Guyun Stone Forest in search for deep water fish have not returned, it's been a while since the last case but the unknown deaths of the others still lay heavily on the fisher folk who wanted answers. Tartaglia said he would investigate, hoping for a monster or great fish to fight or catch and he got both. I joined him and the moment I saw the merperson I knew where all the missing people went, it was only right to let Tartaglia have his battle with them."

Xiao knew, he knew it was you who had killed in the past but he only wished it never caught up with you.

You lay on the ground unmoving.

"(Name)" Xiao whispered gently at the sight.

With that your head moved hesitantly to his direction, the moment your eyes met his you lurched forward and cried for him. "Xiao! Xiao! Please, help me!" You reached, webbed fingers getting caught in the nets strings. 

He wanted to vomit, he couldn't help you but the look of pure desperation on your face pleading for him scarred him. Tears fell and he began to shake but made no move towards you.

Zhongli took notice no doubt of your calls to the Adeptus and turned in question.

"Do you know them?"

Xiao was quiet, his voice came out like what he said were words meant to be unspoken and yet filled to the brim with emotions of love and sorrow.

"They are my mate." He simply said.

Zhongli immediately took a look of shock, physically turning his body to Xiao to look away from the harbour and let the Adeptus take his full attention.

"Your mate? What do you mean by this?"

"(Name) is my mate. For these many months, I've given myself to them and they have to me. They give me peace not only in voice but their mere presence. I- I can't-" he broke down and cried at the words.

Zhongli knew this must mean a lot for Xiao to react as such, so he closed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows.

"They may be your mate but they have become a threat to the people of Liyue-"

"They've stopped!" Xiao interrupted before retreating in shock at his own outburst.

Zhongli too had to recover, never imagining that Xiao would ever oppose him.

"Even so they have still committed a crime and must be punished as such, I cannot let the injustice the people who lost their lives had to pay because of your mate. I apologise." Zhongli turned and walked away.

Xiao sank to his knees and cried. He cared not that the public eye could see him, he wished to wallow in pity and sink in the pain, his body and mind broken and never recover. Such pain which made him refuse to look at your scared form, to see your tears and the face of betrayal you would have for him as he made no move to save you.

“I thought I could trust you” the soft whisper came from you, those same words he said to you those many months ago but unlike then there was no resolution for this, he cannot beach himself and display just how far his love for you goes, he cannot save you. It made him finally snap, to know your last thoughts of him will not be of fond love but of his treachery.

How could he be such a cruel monster, unable to do a single thing to save the one that gave him their loyalty and love? He should be punished but his role as an adeptus, a duty to uphold, a god to obey will forever hold him back. He only wished he could do something to comfort you in that moment, your moments of struggle but he was in no position to do as such. He allowed himself to look up once more, to see you for one last time before he retreated to darkness and let yet another part of him die off until he became nothing but a soulless doll. Perhaps mother mercy will be kind to him and in death be allowed to join you again.

#farewell-love #yahooworks #genshin impact xiao #xiao x gn #xiao x gender neutral reader #angst #genshin angst #x gender neutral reader #genshin x gn reader

[stormii-writes]

not meant to be || farewell, love writing collab

【writing event by】: @versadies

【summary】: you were walking through the woods, completing one commission or another, when you come across the traveler and his companion. You quickly become close to the mysterious man, but there are still lots of things you do not know about him...

【character/ship】: gn!reader x dainsleif

【prompts】: 

“kill them/him/her.”

 “you don’t love me, do you?”

“i hate you! i hate you so much!”

【warnings】: angst, slight gore, spoilers for both dainsleif archon quests(chasm and we will be reunited)

【word count】: 8356 words

【author’s note】: this is my first time writing angst and reader-insert fics, so i’m not sure how well it turned out,,, but i hope you like it! i was really inspired by the prompts and immediatley thought of dainsleif lol

...it all starts at the beginning...

You two had met through the traveler.

You were walking through the woods, searching for Wolfhook berries for a commission you had accepted, when you stumbled across the two men. Aether smiled and gave you a quick hug, happy to have seen you again after so long. He'd been busy with saving the other nations, and you… well, you'd been occupied with running errands for people, getting your pay as an adventurer, and waiting for something interesting to happen.

So when you saw the man with your friend, dressed in unusual clothing, with an equally unusual demeanor, you instantly became curious.

Aether introduced you, and you shook the man's hand, albeit a bit awkwardly. Dainsleif… you thought as you each went your separate ways, after some small chatting. He came from a faraway place and used to be a sort of 'knight' for some royalty.

I don't think he likes me… you later complained to your friend, but Aether assured you that that was just how he behaved.

The second time you met, things were less awkward. You had been bargaining with Marjorie for a trinket or other when you heard someone call your name. "Diluc…?" you wondered, turning, only to notice Dainsleif approaching. Your eyes widened in surprise. He was the last person you were thinking would be here.

After exchanging formalities in front of a confused Marjorie, he asked what you were up to. You told him that you didn't have enough mora to pay for something you needed, so you were trying to convince the seller to lower the price, but to no avail. She wouldn't go lower than 10% off, no matter what arguments you brought.

Dainsleif put a hand to his chin, thinking, and then, a moment later, told Marjorie he'd buy 5 at the original price. You gaped, shocked, as he completed the transaction and handed you the items. The woman bid you goodbye, all smiles, probably happy with her pay, but all you could do was stare at the man who was now leaving.

You realized you'd soon lose him if you didn't run after him now, so you sprinted and caught up fairly easily, as he wasn't walking that fast.

"Why would you do that?!" you had asked.

"Hm? Do what?"

"Pay for my items..?" you had explained, a bit exasperated.

"Ah. That… I just wanted to help. I'm not in need of mora, and you're an… acquaintance of mine, so I saw no problem," he had replied, still walking.

You had grabbed his arm to stop him, and he turned towards you. "How can I pay you back?" you asked, all seriousness.

"…there's no need," he had simply said and went on his way again. You were not about to give up, though, so you followed him around the city, offering different ways to repay him, each crazier than the last. It had become a game: you, trying to convince him to accept something, and him, refusing everything. In the end, you hadn't managed to repay him, but he did crack a smile at one of your suggestions, which you considered a win since getting emotions out of him was rare. Your banter slowly turned into a normal conversation, and you were glad to say that you two clicked pretty well. Your awkwardness had faded, and you were able to discuss freely.

Something you were a bit embarrassed to admit was how you had stared at him for two long and had forgotten what you were talking about. He does have a pretty face and beautiful eyes… you thought, before snapping yourself out of it and trying to continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.

After that encounter, you met him much more, mostly around Mondstadt. He usually walked around with you, Aether, and Paimon, talking or just enjoying each other's company. You'd grab a drink or a snack and then they'd be on their way, going whoever knows where to do whoever knows what.

About two weeks later, you got a message from Aether. He had left it with Katheryne, and she handed it to you when you came to claim your rewards.

Come to the Chasm! We'll be waiting for you down. We've already explored a bit, but I remembered you said you were aching for an adventure!

- Love, Aether

You roll your eyes at the final words, but still think excitedly: Finally, an adventure! It had been a while since you had last tagged along on Aether's quest, and you were glad to have a reason to get out of Mond. This was how you arrived in front of The Chasm, looking for a miner to help you descend into the gaping hole.

"Are you sure it's safe?" you ask for the millionth time as the shabby elevator descends. The man rolls his eyes and assures you, once more, that the lift is safe enough, just as you reach the bottom. He ushers you and then goes back up, leaving you to look at the menacing cave system. What can you even call this? You wonder. 'Cave system' doesn't sound right…

As you walk deeper and deeper, you hear someone call your name. You round the corner and come across Aether, Paimon, and Dainsleif, who you hadn't expected to be here.

He's always where you expect him the least… you think with a small sigh, before smiling back at them, waving, and picking up the pace. Dainsleif raises a hand to greet you as well just as you reach the group.

"Hi guys, how are you…" your voice trails off as you notice the blood on Aether's chest. You gasp and run to your friend, inquiring about the wound. "Just how did you get this, Aether?!" you ask, your tone accusing and worried at the same time.

"We might or might not have run into some enemy knights while exploring…" he responds, chuckling lightly.

As you fuss over him, trying to make sure the wound is healing properly, you fail to notice Dainsleif's expression darkening. He starts feeling grumpy all of a sudden, even though he was happy at your arrival but quickly brushes it off.

"Didn't I tell you to keep healing potions on yourself at all times? You've gotten way too arrogant, mister!" you chide Aether while checking for infection.

"I've already taken care of everything," you hear Dainsleif say. "Come on, we've got places to be." With that, he turns and starts walking away. You exchange a glance with the traveler, rolling your eyes, but he just shrugs.

All four of you start walking in silence, the atmosphere awkward.

"So… what do you think about the Chasm?" Aether asks you.

"Creepy," you say simply. Dainsleif doesn't comment but continues walking in front. Aether and Paimon sigh and the traveler approaches you, touching your arm and asking, "Everything alright?"

You look at him and hesitate, before releasing an angry puff!

"What's his problem!?" you reply, throwing your hands up. "One second he's happy, the next he rushes his hurt friend along? UGH!"

"Well," Aether scratched the back of his head, thinking of the right words to calm you. "You know how he is… grumpy all the time. Plus, I'm ok now!" he smiled softly.

You cast him a glance before sighing in defeat. "Maybe it's just me… and I'm overthinking it…" you think out loud, just as you see Dainsleif stop in place before a ruined building. Aether nudges you along.

"This is the place we reached before I sent the message," he explained. "We've already gone up and cleaned the place of monsters, as well as learned some…" he sucked air through his teeth, "…weird stuff, to say the least."

You look at him curiously, wondering what he was talking about, but your attention is taken by the high building you can only guess used to be a tower, vines snaking up through holes and over walls. It's so high… You can barely see the top. Dainsleif comes next to you as you gape at the once-impressive structure. You can feel his gaze on you, so you turn.

"Whatchu' looking at?" you ask, trying to keep the earlier anger from your voice. He quickly averts his gaze.

"Nothing…" he replies, "…just wondering if you can keep up," he adds, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

You decide to take him up on the challenge. "Oh you bet, old man," you smirk and sprint through the building, on the stairs, and across the branch that connects it to the other structures, not even knowing if that was the right way.

Aether and Paimon watch you two racing to the top and they both sigh. Paimon crosses her arms.

"One moment they're mad at each other, the other they're racing like some school kids," she says, shaking her head. Aether chuckles and adds, "It's like they're already married…"

The two companions follow after you, albeit at a slower pace.

~~~

You stop in place, face red and breathing shallow, trying to calm down your racing heart. Dainsleif catches up quickly, having stayed not far behind you.

"I… won…" you pant, putting a hand on the wall to support yourself. Dainsleif says nothing, and you raise your head to look at him. He doesn't look even the least winded, and you narrow your eyes at the knight.

"Hey! You let me win on purpose, didn’t you?!" you accuse him, putting a finger to his chest and pushing slightly. He raises his hands defensively and tries to hide his smile.

"I wouldn't dare~," he says as he looks away. You look at him again, eyes still narrowed, before sighing and straightening. "If you say so…" you comment.

Just then, Aether and Paimon rounded the corner and came into view. The traveler took one look at you and approached. "You look tired, do you need to rest?" he put a hand to your shoulder.

"I'm fine!" you reply cheerily, then run over to Dainsleif, who had already started walking away. He glances at you but stays silent. Your footsteps are the only sound in that old building. Then, you both say "sorry about earlier" at the same time, and you chuckle, then fall silent again.

"Soo… how've you been?" you say in an attempt to start a conversation.

"Not much… mostly fighting the Abyss Order."

"Oh." You're about to add something when you stumble across a group of unconscious hilichurls.

"Are they-" you turn to Dainsleif for confirmation. He nods gravely. "There were some other fighters here, but we took care of them."

You continued walking for a while, Dainsleif telling you about the curse of Khaenri'ah's people and the involvement of the traveler's sister in this grand scheme. You can't help but sympathize with the poor creatures. How will I ever complete commissions again while knowing this…? You think sadly.

You snap out of your thoughts to look at the chamber you're now in. It's a wide room with no holes in it except the one you came through. It is the same as the multiple other rooms you've seen today, but the structure in the middle attracts your attention. It looks like a fountain or a… well? You start approaching it, mesmerized, when you feel someone grab your wrist, bringing you to a halt. You turn to look at the person, and you see Dainsleif, frowning.

"Be careful. There might still be some Abyss Order monsters around…" he says. Aether nods as well. "Dain's right. I'll go check it," he adds as he starts for the center. He lifted a hand to touch it-

It lit up!

You hear a scream behind you and Dainsleif falls to his knees, grabbing his head in pain.

"Am I too late?" the knight says through gritted teeth.

You drop beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Dain, Dain! Are you ok? What's happening?!"

He raises his head and looks at you, eyes unfocused. "They're in agony…" He shuts his eyes closed, sweat gathering on his forehead. You look around, desperate for a way to stop his suffering, and see Aether sprinting back towards you, just as another man, a knight, stumbles towards the well, almost tripping on his way.

Dainsleif opens his eyes and tries to go after the man. "Halfdan!" Understanding suddenly blooms on his face. "No, don't do it…" tears well in his eyes as the knight throws himself on the beam jutting from the fountain, stopping whatever magic it was spouting. Dainsleif collapses, his breathing heavy, and you help him lean on the wall.

"I thought he would've turned to ashes in an instant… Halfdan's soul is extremely resilient," he says. You're about to ask if he's okay, when an Abyss Lector enters the room, startling you. Aether summons his sword.

"Meddling foul! Encumber us no more…" the creature says in a voice that sounds like a hundred beings talking.

"Don't you have a greater encumbrance to worry about?" Dainsleif chuckles. "Come on, this is your grand opportunity to get rid of me."

The Abyss Lector turns towards you and the knight, murder in his gaze. "…Dainsleif!"

The man beside you turns to Aether. "Take him out, and deactivate the device!" he shouts.

"I'll help him!" you offer, and Dainsleif makes a move to stop you. "No. I can take care of myself, Dain. I've fought beside Aether many times in the past!" you say and run towards the creature, not waiting for an answer.

The Abyss Lector looks at you and fires a ball of electro, and you dodge by rolling to the side.

Aether charges from behind, hitting the enemy with his sword and then dropping a boulder on top of him. The Lector angered, sends out a big explosion, and shards of electricity fly in all directions.

You get out of a shard’s way and look back, worried about Dainsleif being hit. Just then, a shard impales in your thigh, and you cry out in pain.

Aether looks at you, determined to help, but Dain shouts at him to take care of the Abyss creature. The shard dissipates into a puff of electro, leaving a trail of blood behind.

The knight calls to you to get out of the battle, but you wave him off, making another attack at the lector. Between your slashes and Aether's elemental hits, you manage to beat him into putting up a shield, which meant he was close to being defeated. Your strength was ebbing fast, and the wound wasn't helping. You almost fell a few times but decided to keep going, much to Dain's displeasure.

One last push and… your thoughts trail off as your vision clouds. You suddenly feel dizzy, close to fainting even. You look down at the wound in your thigh, which was throbbing slightly. Okay, I'm not stupid, this is enough fighting for now… You've lost way too much blood. Plus, Aether can finish the shield alone, as you can't summon elements to react with the electro shield.

You hopped to Dainsleif, who was currently glaring at you. Deciding to ignore him, you sit down and search for a strip of material you can use. Maybe I should rip it from my clothes…

You're about to try to get one from your shirt when you hear a ripping sound and feel someone wrap a piece of fabric around your thigh. You see Dainsleif, kneeling in front of you, tying the material to stop the blood still flowing from the wound. "You've lost way too much…" he mutters as he applies more pressure.

Having finished that, he raises his gaze toward you. "You look pale…" he put a hand to your cheek, then grabbed your hand in his. "And your skin's clammy," he frowned. You tried to ignore the blush rising to your face, but you're too dizzy to truly register anything.

"What do we do now? The Abyss Lector's gone, but the device won't stop…" Paimon says worriedly from near the well. "And Halfdan…" you hear her almost sob.

"Let me take his place. The cleansing won't have any effect on me," Aether says with determination. You weakly raise a hand to object, just as Dainsleif gets up and marches toward the traveler. "No," he says. "As long as the device is active, the cursed are rendered powerless. Only you can take on the Abyss." Dainsleif crossed his arms. "If you value his sacrifice, do not waste any more time here," he pointed to the portals that you haven't noticed until now. "See all these rays of light and portals? They must've installed several of these energy devices in various locations. Find them! Quickly!"

"What about… them?" Aether pointed to you. You pushed yourself up, almost tripped due to the rapid movement, but steadied yourself against the wall. "I'll be fine," you say. "Somebody has to stay and take care of poor Dain, no?" you smirk teasingly. Aether doesn't smile back. He just nods and starts for the portals.

"So we have to… go through these Abyss Portals?" Paimon asks before she realizes Aether has almost gone through the first one. "Hey! Wait for Paimon!"

Dainsleif steals a glance at you and walks over, sitting down and leaning his head on the wall, eyes shut. You follow suit, feeling a little awkward. You fidget a bit before sighing.

"Are you feeling better now?" Dainsleif says suddenly, looking over at you.

"Hm? Oh, uh, yeah…" you stammer a bit. "It's just that… I can't help but feel useless staying here while Aether and Paimon fight those… monsters," you add.

The knight sighs heavily. "You can't help others when you're hurt. Focus on healing yourself first, then assist others."

A few moments of silence follow… and then, "You're pretty good. At fighting, I mean," Dainsleif comments.

You whip your head to look at the man. Had he just… complimented you? And on your fighting, no less, something he looked to be against when it broke out. You smile in return and thank him. The rest of the time passes in silence, both of you trying to regain their strength.

About 20 minutes later, you hear voices.

"So, that's it, right?" Paimon says as she comes into view, Aether close behind her.

Dainsleif gets up and dusts off his clothes. "The burning sensation has indeed stopped…"

Paimon squeals excitedly, "So we managed to stop the Abyss Order's plan of reviving Khaenri'ah?!"

Aether glances at the corpse of Halfdan, sadness in his eyes. "But… Halfdan…" he whispers. "He seems to have breathed his last…"

Dainsleif slowly approaches the device. "Let me check…"

You get up and go to the two companions. Aether notices you and asks how you feel. "Way better," you respond. "But Dainsleif…" you sigh.

"…he must be really upset," Paimon says, completing your thoughts. "Of all the ways to be reunited with a former comrade after so long… This must be rough…"

Dainsleif approaches you three and shakes his head. "Let's go,"  he says simply. You feel the need to say something, anything to comfort him, but your mind goes blank. From the look on Aether's face, your friend feels the same.

Just as you thought it was all over and preparing to go, a light shines from behind you. You see Halfdan's soul, in the form of a simple human. All of you gasp, and Dainsleif approaches the man, who salutes.

"Apologies, Captain Dainsleif, Twilight Sword," he says, "back then, I failed you and I failed to protect our people."

"No," Dainsleif replies, "for 500 years, you have faithfully done your duty. To this day, I am proud of you all," he saluted back.

Halfdan hesitates, then adds, "Khaenri'ah didn't fall, did it? Since you're still here…" he smiles softly. Dainsleif nods as the knight's soul dissipate in a trail of light. "Correct…" he mutters.

You and Aether watch in reverence. Dainsleif joins you, and Aether puts a hand on his companion's arm. "I'm so sorry…" he says.

The knight shakes his head. "No. We must leave the past and move forward. Ensure that what happened before will not happen again." You notice his expression darkening and wonder what he's thinking about.

Aether turns to you. "I would like to go deeper. There might still be mysteries we have not yet uncovered, and I'd like to take the opportunity to do so while the Abyss Order is still recovering."

"I should go rest," says Dain, and you nod your approval. "As much as I'd like to come with you, Aether, I must recover as well," you add.

"Well," Aether thinks for a second, "I'll see you off then!"

~~~

"I'll miss you! Please send me some letters of your progress," you say as you embrace Aether and move on to say goodbye to Dainsleif. "Will do," the traveler replies, letting go of you. "Hey, Paimon too!" the fairy shouts and flies over to you, giving you a quick but warm hug.

As you turn to Dainsleif, you notice that the knight has somewhat of a sour expression. "What happened? Brooding again?" you ask teasingly. He shakes his head with a small smile. "Just thinking about some events…”

"You should try being more cheerful," you reply. "Well, I'll see you around… I guess?" you say, unsure if you should hug him or not. "You too…" he replies and extends a hand. You shake it, a smile growing on your face. "Bye guys!" you wave as you walk away, ready to crash in bed.

Aether and Dainsleif wave back, and, once you're out of sight, the traveler turns towards his friend. The knight groans, already knowing what to expect as Aether waggles his eyebrows. "What was that about?" he asks teasingly.

"I have no idea what you mean."

"Oh, you definitely know what we mean!" Paimon all but squeaks. "You were panicking so much over them getting hurt," she laughs.

Dainsleif huffs and looks away. "I thought you had somewhere to be?" he asks pointedly. Aether shrugs and calls to Paimon. "You're no fun, Dain," he says, sighing, though he did notice the knight's ears had become a bright red. He chuckles under his breath as the traveler and Paimon go into the Chasm yet again.

~~~

A few weeks have passed, with no contact with Dainsleif. You've met with Aether and Paimon, but neither of them knew where the elusive knight was. You decided not to let it affect you.

Now, you are doing commissions, trying to get some more resources, as well as your daily pay. You finish off the towers and decide to go back. There was no need to fight the monsters as well.

Should I use the waypoint…? You wonder. Aether had taught you how to teleport, and, to your surprise, it worked. It seems that traveling with him had rubbed some elemental magic on you, or at least that was your reasoning, aside from the multiple other theories you had about the traveler's past.

Just as you're about to touch the waypoint, a hand grabs your shoulder. You yelp and turn back, ready to strike the monster you thought was waiting for you. "Dain…?" you ask, mouth agape. What's he doing here? You notice him trying to suppress a smile at your surprise. Just then, an arrow flies directly toward you, but Dainsleif raises his hand and destroys the arrow mid-air. You marvel at the colors that followed his power. Dark blue, swirling with purple and multiple other colors you couldn't quite place.

"Were you planning on destroying the towers and fleeing, just like that?" he raises an eyebrow in challenge. You scoff.

"Of course not. I was just resting a bit."

"Resting? I didn't know you got tired that easily…" he said in teasingly. He's in a really good mood today, isn't he? you think. It's very unusual, but I could get used to this.

"Let's see if you can do it better, old man!" you taunt.

"Not the 'old man' insult again…" he sighs. "Fine. Challenge accepted," he adds and quickly sprints over to the closest hilichurl, cutting it in half with a blade infused with power. I wonder what element that is… 

You snap out of your thoughts as a berserk hilichurl charges you, and dodge to the side, hitting it from behind when it passed you. You run up to another one and slash at it with your sword. It doesn't manage to parry because of the crossbow in his hands and fires an arrow that was too hurried to actually hit you. The fight continues like this, you and Dainsleif fighting sometimes back to back, other times on different sides of the battleground. You finish off the last hilichurl, and you find yourself panting. The man approaches you.

"That was fun," you say to him.

"It was. I haven't fought like this in… well, it's been a while," he explains.

After a second of silence, you say, "You're much livelier than before… Did something good happen?" you inquire.

"I've been rested pretty a lot these past few weeks, and also finished taking care of some… loose ends, I guess you could say."

You fidget slightly. "Want to come with me to the adventurer's guild?" you ask. "I've got some commissions to claim."

Dainsleif nods and you two start for the waypoint. He touches it, and you instantly get teleported to Mondstadt. You two walk together to Kahteryne to request your daily rewards, catching up in the meantime. Apparently, Dainsleif hasn't done much in his 'vacation', but you have a few stories to tell him. It was awkward at first, seeing as you hadn't seen each other in more than two weeks, but you quickly warmed up to each other.

"Ad Astra Abyssosque! Thank you for completing your daily commissions!" Katheryne says cheerily with a smile, then asks, "Oh, who is that gentleman with you? Is he the man that you met with in the Chasm?"

You blush slightly and throw a frown Katheryne's way, but she just smiles back. "Katheryne, this is Dainsleif. Dainsleif, Katheryne," you gesture to the woman. "Now that I've claimed my stuff, we'll be going," you add.

"Have a nice day!" Katheryne sends another smile your way. You push Dainsleif along and go on your way, letting out a sigh.

After a few seconds of silence, Dainsleif asks, "You… told her about me?"

"W-well not about you specifically… I talk to her every day so I recounted our adventures in the Chasm," you stammer slightly. Dainsleif nods and mouths a small "ah", then you both stay quiet while walking towards the gate. You stop before exiting the city. "…want to go get a drink? It's been a while since I've gone to Angel's Share," you explain your sudden request. Dainsleif agrees and you start for the tavern. As you walk, you say hi to Donna and Flora, and stop when Quinn calls your name. You tell Dainsleif you'll come back soon and go see what the man needs.

Meanwhile, the knight approaches the little girl selling flowers. He scans the flowers and, having found the ones he wanted, told Flora his order and quickly paid. You come back to see him holding a Cecilia in one hand and your favorite flower in the other. He approaches and offers you the flowers, putting one behind your ear. Your breath hitches as his hand brushes your hair aside, and you blush slightly.

"You remembered," you mutter. You had told him your favorite flower when you were walking around the city a few weeks ago, before the Chasm adventure. You don't understand something, though. "Why Cecilia?" you ask, curious.

"It reminds me of Inteyvat, the flower from Khaenri'ah," he explains. "If you took it out of its territory, it would never wither, but if you brought it back, its life cycle would resume."

"Wow…" you marvel. "I bet it was beautiful."

"It was," Dainsleif says softly. "Ready to go?" he then asks. You nod and start towards the tavern again.

You enter and see a red-haired man at the counter, cleaning glasses. You cheerfully walk to him and he greets you. "Hello Master Diluc!" you say and wave, sitting down on the chair and beckoning Dain to come closer. "How is business?" you add.

"Fine as usual, thank you. How have you been? Any interesting adventures to recount?" he asks, curious.

"Well, there is one… Oh, by the way, I don't think you've met my friend, Dainsleif!" you say as you gesture to the knight who was sitting down.

Diluc looks him up and down. "Oh, I've seen him before. You were here to talk to the traveler, correct?"

Dainsleif nods curtly. You then request your order and chat a bit with him while waiting. Once it's done, you go upstairs, waving back to him. "I'll see you around, Master Diluc!" you smile and then choose a table. "Are you ok with sitting here?" you ask Dainsleif, who had been quiet all this time. He nods.

"Sorry for that… It's been a long time since I've last seen Diluc, and we had a lot to catch up on," you apologized.

"I don't mind it. He's your friend, after all," he replied, taking a sip of his drink. "You seem to know a lot of people in Mondstadt…" he continued.

"Well, I've spent my whole life here, in the City of Freedom, so I've definitely met most people who live here. Some like me, some don't…" you explain. "Have you ever been to Inazuma? Or Sumeru? Fontaine? Natlan maybe-" you ask, excited to talk about other countries.

Dainsleif chuckled. "I've visited all of those, though I can't say I've gotten to know them much. What do you want to know? I'm willing to tell you most of what I know, but I've got to say that my opinions might be biased…" he trails off at your excited nodding and clears his throat. "Well then, if you insist…"

~~~

You and Dainsleif are walking outside Angel's Share. You had been talking long into the evening, and it was nearing 10 PM. However, you don't want the day to end yet. It seems that he feels the same because you had only walked a little when Dainsleif turned towards you.

"Do you want to… go somewhere?" he asks, hesitating slightly.

"Sure!" you reply. "Got a place in mind?"

"There's a place I think you'd like… Right here in Mond."

You chuckle. "I don't think there's somewhere in Mondstadt I haven't been, Dain."

He smirks and starts walking. "Challenge accepted." You sprint a little to catch up and resume your previous conversation. You feel very free with him, being able to talk about whatever, and he'd never judge you.

Once, when you let your hands fall to your sides, they brushed against Dainsleif's and you quickly pulled away, hoping he wouldn't notice the blush rising to your cheeks. You didn't dare look at the man, though if you had, you would have noticed how his ears had become slightly redder than before.

Finally, you arrive at Starsnatch Cliff. You glance over at Dainsleif, chuckling lightly. "I've certainly been here before," you say.

"Wait until we get to the top," Dainsleif smiles softly and you start walking again, marveling at the beautiful Cecilia's growing there. Halfway to the top, Dainsleif stops you by grabbing your arms and covers your eyes with his hands. You jump slightly, taken by surprise at the gesture, and can't help but blush again. I've lost count of how many times I've blushed today… you think to yourself as the knight carefully guides you to the top of the cliff.

"Ready?" his breath is warm against your ear as he whispers to you. You only nod in response, and he removes his hands. You gasp at the beauty of the night sky and the stars glittering and reflecting in the water. "It's… beautiful…" you whisper, not wanting to disrupt the silence of nature. After taking it all in, you turn to Dainsleif.

"Thank you so much for bringing me here…" you say. "I don't come here often, especially not in the middle of the night…" you hesitate. "…with someone else…"

Dainsleif smiles warmly. You've never seen him like that, and you get butterflies in your stomach, realizing how much you care about this man. He comes next to you to watch the stars shimmer. You two sit down, and you take the opportunity to glance over at him, admiring him openly in the moonlight.  Suddenly, you feel bold, so you move your hand to his and intertwine your fingers before you could change your mind. You hold your breath, afraid of his reaction, but when he doesn't pull away, you sigh contentedly and lean your head on his shoulder. You hear him chuckle. Such a beautiful sound…

Suddenly, you remember the two lovers who always stay here, guarded by that other person, and imagine yourself in their place, smiling at the sight. You look at the sky and think about how lucky you were to meet Dain and to have such an amazing friend as Aether. If something happened to any of them… you think, but stop yourself before it ruins your mood. I shouldn't think like that during such a pleasant moment.

You feel your lids closing on their own, the tiredness of the events of the day catching up to you. You mutter a small "I love you, Dain," before falling asleep. Your last thought was, oh, I forgot to ask him about Snezhnaya… and then the welcoming darkness of sleep overwhelmed you.

Dainsleif glances at you with an expression of wistfulness and places a small, quick kiss on your forehead. "I love you, too". He's afraid about what's to come and wonders how best to proceed but decides to focus on the moment. Who knows when I'll be able to enjoy this again..?

~~~

You wake up at your apartment and yawn. How did I get here… Oh. Dainsleif woke you up a while after you had fallen asleep on his shoulder and helped get you home, then went to his own. Happiness fills you up as you think of the knight you watched the stars with. I wonder where he is now? Come to think of it, you never asked him where he was staying…

You go through your daily routine and go out, planning to ask Katheryne if she had seen Dainsleif. Instead, you see the man in question talking to the receptionist. You approach, excited, but slow down once you get closer, feeling the urge to hug him, but not wanting to be too direct. You come up to him and greet Katheryne, then turn to Dainsleif, unsure of what to do. Perhaps sensing your hesitation, he opens his arms and you happily oblige. After the quick embrace, he asks you how you slept.

"I slept like the dead," you chuckle and feel Katheryne's gaze on your back. You turn to her, but she just smiles innocently. You decide to change the subject. "So… what were you guys talking about?" you ask.

"Oh, I was just inquiring about some recent Fatui operations in Mond. We wouldn't want them to get out of hand," Dainsleif explained.

"Are you sure it's nothing too serious? I could help out a bit…" you offer.

"No, everything is under control. As long as they behave, it should cause no problem," the knight shakes his head and motions to you to follow him. You wave goodbye to Katheryne and go after the man. "Did you want to… tell me something?" you can't help but feel a bit worried.

"Yes, I have to… go away for a bit," he says softly.

"But you just came back!"

"I know, I'm sorry… but duty calls," Dainsleif explains. You feel sad, but decide to let it go. You can't force him to stay if he has important things to do. "I'll miss you…" you mutter.

"Me too. I'll try to send you letters every once in a while, so you don't forget me," he chuckles.

You put your hand to your chest in mock offense. "How could you even think that!" you say, then laugh. "Of course I won't," you add, this time with a genuine expression. "Do you know when you'll come back?" you ask, hopeful.

He shakes his head. "No. It could be days, weeks, or months."

"Well then… Can I at least see you off at the border?"

Dainsleif nods and you two start on your way, defeating the occasional hilichurl or abyss mage. You pass Dawn Winery and stop at the lake. "So…" you start, "guess I'll see you another time?"

He scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah…" Neither of you knows what to say. You hesitate and then place a peck on his cheek. He freezes, and you push him softly as a blush rises to your face. "…you should go…"

That seems to wake him out of his shock, and he waves as he starts walking away. You stay there until he's out of sight, then head back home. I should do my commissions for the day… you think, trying to distract yourself from your longing.

~~~

3 months later…

You finish your 4 daily commissions and speed back to Mondstadt. You approach Katheryne and request your rewards.

"Ad Astra Abyssosque!" she says with a smile. "Thank you for completing your daily commissions!"

"Thanks, Katheryne," you reply, returning the grin.

"What's gotten you so excited?" she asks before you can go on your way.

"Dainsleif is coming back today! I got a letter yesterday saying he'll be back today afternoon, at the place we separated last time," you explain happily.

Katheryne's mouth forms an 'O' and she nods. "I won't keep you then. Best of luck to you too!" she waves and you return the gesture.

You check the time. You'd rushed through your commissions and daily routine, and it was still around 11 AM. I've got more than an hour or so to burn… you think impatiently. You think about where you could go to spend the remaining time. Aether isn't in Mondstadt right now, if I remember correctly…

After thinking for a while, you settle on going to the Dawn Winery. Diluc might be there, and it's also close to the meeting place. I should check Angel's Share first, though.

With this plan in mind, you go to the tavern. When you enter, you see only Charles serving a few customers, but no sign of Diluc. He must be staying home today, then. The road to the winery will be a bit long, but you have lots of time to spare. You go on your way immediately, though.

Half an hour later, you're almost at your destination. You slowly and carefully glide down from the hill and reach the manor. You raise a hand to knock when the door opens to reveal a frowning Diluc. You smile sheepishly and his expression softens once he realizes who's standing in the doorway. "Welcome, what brings you here?" he greets you.

You explain the situation to him. "Well then," Diluc says after you're finished, "what would you like to do?"

You go through some suggestions with him and decide on a few. A bit of training, coupled with some grape gathering and helping around the manor. It was a nice way of spending your remaining hour, but you can't wait to go meet your… friend? …boyfriend? You blush slightly at the notion. I don't even know what we are… you think and chuckle. We'll discuss things like this when he comes.

You say goodbye to Diluc and go down to the lake. You slow down as you reach the canyon with the stone arch, suddenly feeling anxious and afraid. What if he… doesn't love me anymore? I feel like I'm being stupid for thinking this, but I can't help but worry… 3 months is a very long time…

You try to snap yourself out of those thoughts. The letters he sent should be enough confirmation, but it was also easier to lie through written words. You sit on a nearby rock and wait… 

                                                and wait… 

                                                                                      and wait…

Half an hour has passed. You think about going back, that he wouldn't come. There's still some time before evening, though… your rational side says, but your heart thinks only about the fact that he'd abandoned you.

Suddenly, you hear some noise. The sound of boots on soil and clothes swishing. You look up, expecting to see a hilichurl, but instead, see a person standing in the archway. You gasp, not believing your eyes. Dain…! Your heart skips a beat as you gaze at the beautiful man that's just a few paces away.

Dainsleif, who had been looking somewhere behind him until then, turned towards you, and he smiled. You suddenly get emotional and run towards him, barreling into the knight and hugging him tightly. At first, he was taken aback by your reactions, but he soon wraps his arms around you.

"I missed you so much…!" you say through tears. "I-I thought you wouldn't come and I was-" you stop short when he raises your head, wiping a tear from your cheek.

"Shh," he whispers softly. "I'm here now."

Both of you fall quiet. You look into his eyes, the ones you missed so much. They look sad as he stares back, and you wonder what he'd gone through during his absence. All of a sudden, Dainsleif dips his head slowly and places a kiss on your lips. You kiss back, trying to make up for all of the months he'd been gone. Around you, birds fly as the sun moves low, and some time passes before you both pull back.

~~~

Dain has been acting weird these past few days… you think, a week later, as you pass by Katheryne. He seemed more nervous and serious, though you couldn't imagine why. Nevertheless, he behaved well with you, and you were happy to be able to spend as much time with him as possible. He'd been going on 'errands' much more lately, but at least he'd always come back by evening.

Katheryne waves to you and you approach her. "Are you looking for Dainsleif?" she asks and you nod. "He looked lost in thought when he left Mondstadt," she explained. You're taken aback, but thank Katheryne for the information, and go on your way.

He left Mond? You wonder. He said he had something to do In the city, but then he goes out?

You look at the list of commissions you'd grabbed from the Adventurer's Guild receptionist. Maybe completing them would help clear your thoughts? I might also see Dain somewhere…

It's decided, then. You choose to grab Flora's flowers from Dragonspine first. A bit of chill might help, you chuckle and go on your way.

You collect two of the three plants and arrive at the three when you hear voices. You hide behind a mound of snow tall enough to conceal you and listen closely.

"…you think the traveler found out about our mission?" a male voice asks. "He always seems to get wind of our plans."

Are they talking about… Aether? 

Another person, a man with a deeper voice talks next. "Could it be that… the so-called 'knight' is leaking information?"

Knight? You wonder. Dainsleif calls himself a knight… But there are many people out there who are 'knights' as well… What are the chances they were talking about him? You almost scoff, but stop yourself before the two hear you.

"…don't trust him…" one mutters, and you lean closer to get a better look and hear what they were saying. "Anyway, the traveler won't be able to interfere anymore once we're through with this," the other snickered.

I must warn Aether! You think and get up slowly, when a small fox runs between your legs, making you trip and throw snow around. The two fatui soldiers turn abruptly. "Who's there!?" one of them shouts and they both close in on you. You quickly get up and draw your sword. One of the fatui growls and takes out his gun, while the other one gets a hammer. He swings it at you, infused with electro, and you roll to the side while grabbing a bunch of snow. You slash at him and throw it in his face, momentarily blinding him. A bullet grazes your shoulder and you hiss in pain, drops of blood dropping onto the pure white snow. You glare at the fatui who had shot you and charge him, managing to get a hit and draw blood. The other one, already recovered, kicks your leg from under and makes you fall face-first on the cold snow. You turn over to see the two hovering over you. You grab some more snow and hurl it into both of the fatui's faces. They shout and turn, but slowly enough to give you time to sprint away. You pant slightly and think about what to do. Should I run back to Mond? That seems like the best choice. However, there's one problem. The only way to get away from here is to go through the two fatui or jump from very high up. Gliding might help, but you don't want to risk getting lost in the blizzard that is sure to come. Taking the path is the best option. You turn to the two who are now in position, ready to fight again. You sigh and make a run for it, managing to dodge a bullet that had come your way. You almost pass the two with success, when you hear a very familiar voice follow a pair of footsteps. You stop in shock.

"What's with all the noise?" the voice says in a cold tone.

The two fatui take advantage of your surprise and the one with the hammer hits you straight in the stomach. You cough and drop to the ground.

"I thought I had told you to keep a low profile-" the person growls before gasping lightly. Your eyes meet and you gasp as well. You didn't want to believe it, but now that you've seen him…

"Dain!" you shout desperately. "What… do you mean?"

His expression becomes neutral, even annoyed. You look at him, shocked. How could he have put that façade on so quickly? You wonder. Maybe this was just a ploy to get the fatui to reveal information…? You hope against hope.

He walks around you, saying nothing, and approaches the soldiers. "We caught this one snooping in on our conversation, my lord," the one with the gun salutes. My lord…?

"Is that so…" Dainsleif says coldly, no waver in his voice. You feel tears start to form, but keep them back.

"Dainsleif!" you shout in a strong voice. "What are you doing?" you try to keep your voice steady, but it doesn't seem to work. "Are you really going to betray the traveler like this?" Has he been giving Aether's information to the Fatui?

Dainsleif remains silent, his back to you.

"My lord… shall we silence them?" one of the soldiers asks. Dainsleif says nothing but turns towards you, a glare in his eyes. Where is the warmth he used to greet me with…?

You struggle to your feet, but fall back down and cough blood. "Why aren't you saying anything?!" you shout. He continues to approach silently and puts a hand to his chin.

"I didn't think you'd intervene in my plan…" he mumbles, more to himself than anyone else. You feel a surge of anger. "I was only thinking of keeping you around as a safety measure in case Aether realized something," he explains.

You glare at him, feeling adrenaline and anger course through you, and manage to get up and look him in the eye. "I loved you!" you shout. "I still do…" you wipe away tears. "And you betray us? Me? To the fatui?! Were all those moments we shared together… fake?!" You cough again and stain the snow, then fall to your knees. I'm losing way too much blood to keep going for long…

"You don't love me, do you?" you ask, not ready to give up. Dainsleif bends over and grabs your chin, bringing your faces close as if to give you a kiss. Is he-

He pulls away. "So naïve…" he says. "The fatui have given me the opportunity to make sure no god ever destroys another nation… I wouldn't give up my life's work for a nobody," he walks back a bit.

Your tears start spilling freely, and you feel them hot against your cheeks. "I hate you, I hate you so much!" you scream with rage and grab your sword, which was lying close by. "You'll pay for deceiving me and Aether!" you try to attack him, and the fatui get close, ready to defend their master. "My lord…?"

Dainsleif raises a hand to stop them. "No. I'll deal with them," he says and comes closer to you.

"Don't come any closer!" you scream and wince at the wound. Dainsleif glares at the two fatui who were ready to intervene again. You fall from the effort and look into his cold eyes. "You… are a monster," you say through gritted teeth and stare defiantly, ignoring the ice spreading through your body. Come on, I dare you to kill me. "I wish…" you add, coughing, "I wish I never met you." Dainsleif merely stares at you, unyielding, and turns to the fatui. "Kill them." he simply says.

Your eyes widen and you shout again, but to no avail. The last thing you see before your world goes black is Dainsleif, the man you gave your heart to, walking away without looking back.

~~~

Dainsleif walks away from the scene and takes a flower from his belt. Your favorite flower. He inhales its perfume and then throws it on the ground, walking over it.

"Farewell, love," he whispers without so much as a glance back.

The End.

#farewell-love #dainsleif #gn!reader #dainsleif x reader #angst #genshin #genshin diluc #death #reader insert #y/n #genshin dainsleif x reader #love

[katiky-png]

#farewell jellie i love you queen #jellie #jellie cat #jellie the cat #hermitcraft #hermitblr #mcyt cats #tw pet loss #katart #gtws #goodtimeswithscar #goodtimewithscar #mcyt #mcytblr #tw pet death #gtwscar

[versadies]

farewell, love.

welcome to penpal service’s first ever collab event wherein writers are welcome to participate! 

since october has recently started, i’d like to celebrate my favorite month by throwing a collab event that contains nothing but angst — oh the horror !

if you’re interested (which you should be) already, please make sure to read the rules and guidelines before participating <33

deadline for requests to join: november 10, 2022

deadline for fics: november 20, 2022

guidelines –

participants should only be genshin sfw and yandere writers 

your goal? make an angsty fic! happy endings are not welcome here, make your readers cry 😈😈😈😈

the deadline for your fic is on november 20, 2022 so feel free to finish it before or on the date in your timezone. 

minimum words should be 500, but there’s no maximum of words so feel free to go crazy. 

there are no limits on how many characters and prompts you want to write. however, you’re not allowed to write child characters if it’s romantic. 

it’s optional for you to use 1-5 prompts in one fic!

any kind of formats (headcanons, drabbles, longfics, etc.) are allowed, feel free to do whatever you prefer.

send a message to either in my inbox or in tumblr chat if you’d like to join and i’ll add you to the participants list! (will reblog whenever i update it) 

if you want to suddenly change your prompt, character, or etc. during the event after being accepted — feel free to do so as long as you let me know about it !

rules –

fics should be genshin character x reader !

read my dni first in my carrd before participating. 

please make sure to specify if you’re doing a yandere fic or a sfw fic when you request to join so i could label it in the upcoming masterlist ! 

nsfw is not allowed.

if you happen to see your name in the participants list, please reblog this post with the tag #farewell-love as acknowledgment. 

make sure to tag me as well as use the hashtag #farewell-love in your work/s so i can add it to the masterlist right away !

no backing out once you’ve sent a request (i’ll only allow it if you have a valid reason to leave) 

make sure to specify what contains in your fic (trigger warnings, spoilers to quests, etc.) so readers can know what to expect. 

feel free to ask me questions or clarifications and i’ll happily answer.

instructions –

read the rules, guidelines, and my dni list before deciding to participate. 

send an ask to me in the following format:

“hi, i’d like to join in the farewell love event!

character/s:

prompt/s: 

yandere or sfw:”

prompts –

“why did you lie to me?” 

“i hate you! i hate you so much!”

“stop it, you’re hurting me!”

“i think… i just got poisoned..” 

“i should’ve known not to trust you.”

“you’re… bleeding.”

“was it all worth it?” 

“you’re a monster.”

“i wish i never met you.”

“don’t die on me.. please.” 

“i don’t love you anymore.” 

“you don’t look at me the way you look at them.”

“where are you?” 

“you don’t love me, do you?”

“go away.” 

“everything i’ve done, it was all for you.” 

“why did you do that?” 

“kill them/him/her.”

“i can’t do this anymore.”

“help me.”

“it’s either me or them.” 

“i will never be enough for you.”

“what’s wrong with me?” 

“just leave me alone.”

“i thought i could trust you.”

participants —

@scaralvr @yandere-romanticaa @vamphrs @genshinarchives @psuedo90sdreaming @teabutmakeitazure @flokali @k4iiwrites @witch-hazels-musings @teyvattales @kunikame @frozenangelheart @cherrisma @77th-hutao @minty-stays-tired @baeshijima @lov3rmir @versadies (yes im joining too hehe) @silverwritesthings @aqualesha @user-charisma @somberrock @the-travelling-witch @stormii-writes

© VERSADIES. please do not plagiarize, repost, or translate anywhere. banner in this post is made by me but i did not make up all prompts.

#farewell-love #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact fanfiction #genshin x reader #diluc x reader #kaeya x reader #zhongli x reader #albedo x reader #xiao x reader #alhaitham x reader #cyno x reader #tighnari x reader #childe x reader #ayato x reader #kazuha x reader #thoma x reader #pierro x reader #capitano x reader #itto x reader #pantalone x reader #dottore x reader #jean gunnhildr x reader #lisa minci x reader #raiden shogun x reader #yae miko x reader #kamisato ayato x reader #gorou x reader #genshin angst #ningguang x reader #beidou x reader

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Happy Thistle Debut Day!

#dungeon meshi #Thistle #Old dungeon meshi fans remember the days when it was ambiguous what gender Thistle was. #Now we know Thistle uses he/him pronouns but in my heart Thistle is still non-binary. Clowngender elf with poor coping skills. #I hope the anime-only watchers know that this is a character to keep an eye on. #Love (in it's many forms) and desire (in it's many forms) is the main course of Dungeon Meshi and THIS silly jester? #My goodness. What a perfect encapsulation of how one can hurt other's so deeply in the name of love. #The actions we take to 'protect' other's is often the route to doing the most harm. #Love is letting go. Sometimes that means control and sometimes that means saying farewell forever to someone.

[astearisms]

but it ain’t called love without a little tragedy 🍁

#my art #a love letter to betty and simon #getting to explore simon’s journey post AT finale and the nuances of his relationship with Betty has been an experience #I don’t know what’s next but we can only hope closure for them #that betty maybe learns to put herself first after putting every ounce of herself in simon #or that simon learns to let go? or both of them do #assuming we do see Betty again #i am preparing to say farewell to the series once again after the finale #thank you adventure time crew #fionna and cake #fionna and cake spoilers #simon petrikov #betty grof #petrigrof #adventure time #I forgot to mention #this animation was inspired by ‘autumn leaves’ by yves montand #but a cover of it #I was listening to the song because I wanted to learn it on an instrument #it’s a melancholy song about autumn and lost love #and as I heard the lyrics of course I instantly thought of these guys #and then I started drawing #inspiration had a strong grip on me #thank you for reading #and your support #I hope you guys have had as much fun with this show as I have #I’m grateful for it