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misterewrites · 2 years

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Wrap-up: The Salt-Irons Case

Hello! E here with the next chapter, little late but I had to deal with a head cold and i freaking hated it! Yay! So here we go the finale of Finn's case and the start of the next arc. Who will get the spotlight? What's going to happen? Find out soon!

I hope you are all doing great, being safe, keeping your loved ones safe and all that jazz. Keep wearing masks because no, despite what everyone wants, the pandemic isn't over especially for a lot of places that need the vaccine. Stay safe, keep your loved ones safe, get vaccinated if you can and stay extra safe if you can't. Push for global vaccinate because a lot of places still need it. Keep Ukraine in your hearts, in your thoughts even if it gets a lot to keep track of. I get it. Also keep your eye on any bullshit somebody is trying to pull cuz right now a lot of places are trying to fuck over everyone but if you want to just exist, i get it. I do I really do. Just keep your health in mind alrighty?

That's it for me! Seriously I cannot thank you all enough for reading my story, for taking the time out of your day to give this a read. I am so surprised and happy how many views this story gets and I am so grateful for them especially since it's an original work i know how really hard it is to get any success out of it. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Tell your friends, recommend it, comment likes, reblogs I love them all! and appreciate every single one. Stay safe, have great days untill the next time I post and thank you for reading. You're the best!. E is out!

So we’re at the part of the tour where I shamelessly plug myself. Yes I know but I have to or else no one will read. I gotta try at least you know?

If you want to read my story on a more user friendly site that doesn’t hate me and where, fun fact, i sometimes correct my work typos and all, here’s the link right down here

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/97939368

If you need a refresher cuz holy snap it’s been a month. I meant it to be two weeks you can click right here https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/96221044

If you are curious about what this is or bored and need something to do, here’s the story from the beginning. I promise it’s actually not bad. evidently. Who would’ve guessed! not me I’m way too modest for that.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/75486005

And here’s link to my page where I have various different stories ranging from some Vi/Cait from Arcane, a story involving Jinx, Soul Eater, Genshin Impact, Owl House and some Red Hood among other stuff because I like to write and let me tell you I do it way too much yet not enough.

https://archiveofourown.org/users/MrE42/pseuds/MrE42

And that concludes this portion of the tour. if you are disembarking here have a great week and be safe. take care of yourself.

For those of you joining us beyond the keep out sign, enjoy!

Summary: Still alive, Finnrick meets up with Eden and Garrus to debrief the M.R.R.D on what happened and answer any lingering questions. Due to his injury, however, he'll be forced to sit out the next adventure which may be sooner than anyone hopes. Luckily there's someone who can help with that. Probably.

-----

“You gotta be fucking kidding me.”

“I am, in fact, not.”

“Hey ya’ll” Maddie cut the conversation with a soft smile, a long line of plates running up her arm in impossible fashion “Make room so I can feed you.”

Given it was a typical day of cheery chatter and utensils hungrily scraping plates to ensure every last bit of food was consume, it was fair to assume Finnrick had survived his deadly encounter with the being from another reality.

The detective awoke several hours later under the care of Doctor Carmichael, a cleric of Altruism and close family friend. Despite both he and Casey’s best efforts, Finn’s injury hadn’t been a clean enough break to mend properly by either cleric. Healing magic, while powerful, included certain requirements to be used safely. So until the bones realigned properly to heal with magic, Finn was on mandatory vacation which meant arm in a sling and no cases for at least three weeks.

Finnrick did not like that but there was little he could do as when he reached to take his plate Jaime smacked his hand away.

“No.” She said firmly “What part of taking it easy do you not understand?”

Finnrick chuckled softly “Jai it’s a plate of eggs. I think I can manage.”

“Mhm. Like you managed to walk out of the cemetery on your own.”

Finnrick opened his mouth to argue but Jaime continued “Because you did not walk out of there on your own. Case and I had to carry you out.”

“Well…” Finnrick tried to chime in.

“You got fat.” Jaime nudged his stomach playfully “Too much of Ma’s food.”

Maddie pretended to be scandalous “Mind your tongue or I’ll take back your French Toast and eggies.”

“Sorry ma’am. No disrespect meant.”

The other occupants of the table began to let out a cheery laugh as Jaime smiled sheepishly.

Maddie pinched her cheeks lovingly “Only joking sweetie.” Jaime let out a sigh of relief “Oh thank god because after the fucking scare my brother gave me I need to treat myself.”

“You.” Maddie pointed accusingly at her “Are just as bad as him. Every day you used to be in here and now I hardly see you!”

“Why we picking on me? He’s the one that did something dumb.”

“Stones and glass houses dearie. Casey, honey, here’s your order.”

Casey smiled gratefully as he carefully leaned over Finn to take the plate.

“And officers: Miss Eden and Mister Garrus. Your orders as well.”

Finn felt an odd mixture of annoyance and gratitude as his closest friends and allies were surrounding him in a protective cocoon: Casey and Jaime on either side of him with Garrus and Eden sitting across. It was unlikely someone would attempt to take a swing at the detective in his current state. Injured or not, he remained a powerful spellcaster but people weren’t always logical and sometimes a bad idea was too tempting to pass up.

Jaime had been allowed to take time off until Casey could properly heal him in few weeks time and Casey, who couldn’t take as much time given he was the entirety of the Neighborhood Watch, at least agreed for today. Eden and Garrus claimed they chose Ma’s so Finnrick didn’t have to come all the way down to City Hall for the debriefing but the detective wasn’t fooled: Between two clerics, a wizard, a sharpshooting badass and Maddie herself, Ma’s was probably the safest place at the moment.

And given the fact Eden insisted that they pay for everyone’s meal meant they probably felt guilty about Finn’s injury.

“I can’t believe it.” Garrus mumbled unhappily, his silver-gray eyes still wide “He transferred his soul into another body? Are you sure?”

Finnrick gave a quiet nod, digging into his meal.

Garrus ran his hand through his hair nervously “How is that possible? Drift, how is this possible?”

“I was surprised myself when I confronted him. I was expecting a simulacrum with his personality copied over, an imitation thinking he was the original. I wasn’t expecting….”

He could still remember the dangerous glint in Richard’s eyes, the spark of insane creativity only humans could achieve. Copies lacked the flame of existence, the drive that burned bright in living creatures and it always showed.

“I’m not sure what I was expecting but it sure wasn’t that.”

Eden scoffed in disbelief “Come on don’t be so fucking modest Finny. You must have some idea. You’re Finn! You know everything!”

“Yeah no.” Finnrick chuckled lightly “Fun fact I do not actually know everything. I’m only human guys.”

“But….you’re a detective. Isn’t your job to detect, to know everything?”

“Well yeah but sometimes I just don’t know.”

“But you’re Finn.” Jaime shot him a sideways glare “You always know. That’s like your thing.”

“No.” Finn corrected, playfully tugging his sister’s cheek “It’s not my thing. Guys I’m very good at my job but I’m not a bloody psychic.”

“But you’re Finn....” Eden couldn’t keep the confusion off her face.

“You know most of the time I have the case solved like 80% but for some reason everyone thinks I know everything so by the time I confront them, they assume I already have their entire plan in a notebook somewhere and just blab. It’s honestly very refreshing. Makes my life way easier.”

A hush fell over the table, a quiet realization as everyone present began recounting all the times they just casually revealed their secrets to him under the assumption it was pointless to hide as he would discover it sooner or later.

Eden was the first to recover, eyes narrowing in mock fury “You are so ground…”

“Any theories then?” Garrus cut in gracefully. Eden openly threw a death glare at him but he paid it no mind.

Finnrick paused for a moment, digging into his wizardry knowledge for an answer.

“I suppose...”He started slowly, ideas still poking and prodding at his half formed thoughts “The soul of something could be made out of an energy we don’t understand. I guess with the right spells and tools one could theoretically transfer it into a body though it’s probably insanely dangerous. Too many factors like keeping your sense of self intact, making a human body, souls getting rejected. I mean spirits and ghosts are real but they’re still the person they were in life and don’t require a body to stay in this plane of existence but possession is a thing. Spiritualism isn’t really my cup of tea. I have a friend I could call. Maybe she figure an answer for us but as of now I have no idea how the fuck that works or how to even begin to answer that question.”

“But Richard did.” Eden answered darkly.

“Good thing he’s dead.” Casey replied in kind.

“Worse than dead.” Finnrick corrected.

Garrus glanced out the window thoughtfully.

“Da?” Finn asked, his concern clear.

Garrus took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a whisper. “When I was growing up Mister Valka was very...adamant about certain things. Souls were one of them. I suppose I am just curious how angry this news would make him. I admit it’s affecting me more than I was expecting.”

Eden and Finnrick shared a look, a quiet understanding passing between them.

“So.” Eden cleared her throat loudly “What were the creepy dolls for? Creepy shit right?”

“Oh totally Ma. He was using model art dolls to get his new wooden body’s movements down. Probably freeballed it the first go around and people noticed.” Finnrick explained while popping a piece of bacon into his mouth.

Garrus snapped back to reality “What about the creature getting here? Any ideas on that mystery?”

“Amos” surprisingly Casey was the one who answered.

Garrus shot him a curious glance.

“Sorry.” Casey grinned nervously “Felt a little left out. No I didn’t figure it out” he quickly added “Finn told us on the way. We kinda pestered him about the case too.”

“Amos?” Eden raised an eyebrow “Wasn’t aware he was in town.”

Finnrick gave a hearty chuckle “We’ve long theorized that the Fae Realm is probably whatever connects all the different realities together. To get any other existence means you gotta through the Fae. Amos had been tracking a fae folk creature in London and he told me when he tackled it through a portal and landed here. Distance and time are funky in the Fae so it’s possible the creature was just waiting there, looking for some way in.”

“And the little bit that attacked you outside the Salt-Irons? Inkwell is the name you gave. What about it? Any chance it’ll get punted out of this reality?” Garrus asked hopefully.

“No” Finnrick answered honestly “It seemed to have its own sentience, its own existence. Big daddy ink was aware I fought it but didn’t seem to know where it ended up. My guess it was ‘born’ here so it’s native and reality won’t kick it out.”

Eden straightened up, a bit of professionalism seeping into her posture “Is Inkwell going to be a problem?”

“Well…..”

-----

Somewhere hidden in a forgotten alleyway long thin inky tendrils spread out like spider webs, clinging onto any and everything it could grab: bottles and empty bags, discarded newspaper and bits and parts of random junk. The ink shimmered and pulsated.

Inkwell was weak but soon it would be strong. Soon it will be strong.

All it had to do is wait.

-----

“I’m sure it’s fine.”

It was impossible whose stare was more deadpan: Da or Ma’s.

“You really believe that?” Their voices spoke as one.

“No. but there’s not much I can do about it, is there?” Finnrick gestured to the sling “Besides the city’s huge. There’s no way we can check everywhere and be sure we did. As much as we hate it we’re going to have to wait for Inkwell to make its first move.”

Neither Eden or Garrus liked that answer but they knew Finn had a point. Until Inkwell showed up it was a waste to hunt for it.

“There’s one thing I’m curious about.” Casey piped up after a moment of silence.

Jaime stared at him with a playful grin “Only one?”

“One that I’d admit to yeah.” Casey stuck his tongue at her before continuing “Why did you go alone?”

Finn could feel every pair of eyes fall on him, their gaze half irritated half expectant.

He cleared his throat theatrically “Well it was better that way: It could shatter my shields with little to no effort so taking you Case wouldn’t have been ideal. You’re not exactly graceful on your feet.”

Casey opened his mouth to argue but Jaime had beaten him to the punch “Hey! He’s an excellent dancer and you know it!”

“Naturally” Finnrick agreed “But in an uneven graveyard with fog everywhere? Way more cause to trip up.”

“True….” Casey mumbled unhappily.

“And you Jai.” Jaime jumped back in surprised as her brother whirled around to face her “You are more than agile enough to hand the terrain but you don’t have much experience fighting stuff out of this world. I can’t be worrying about you tucked away in some corner and trying to make sure I don’t get skewered. Either of you actually. Without my shields to cover you I’d be too worry to focus. Better to take less targets than getting everyone killed.”

“And you two.” He faced the officers as they opened their mouths “Red tape. All the fucking red tape. No signal to call out there and no time to wait.”

Garrus and Eden frowned but said nothing.

“And there are my perfectly legitimate reasons why none of you could come with me.” Finnrick gave a short nod, allowing a smug smirk to grace his face.

“Fuck you son.”

“I still think I should’ve been there.”

“I was worried all fucking night bro!”

“With my rifle I could’ve been in the forest. No one had to know.”

“Guys, guys.” Finnrick raised a hand in surrender “It’s over. It’s done and everyone is safe. If a dislocated shoulder is the price I have to pay for it, so be it. Now we gotta get a move on.”

“Another case son?” Garrus stared disappointingly towards the detective.

Jaime scoffed “Not with me on watch. He’s going to get a lot of rest but he wants to make a stop first.”

“I have an idea where to find our little helmeted vigilante.” Finnrick admitted “Going to drop something off and then head home. I’m sorry what my injury is going to do to the streets.”

Garrus waved him off “We’ll do our jobs. Same as always. You get better.”

Casey let out a sigh of relief “Thank god. I got the monthly Watch meeting tomorrow. I need to ask Evan if he could watch the neighborhood.”

“Bye kids!” Eden gave a friendly way at the departing trio “Don’t get into trouble but if you do make sure to kick its ass!”

“Why must you encourage them?”

“Builds character” Eden answered with a smirk “Now pay the bill.”

“Why do I have to pay the bill?” Garrus mumbled grouchily “You’re the one who invited the kids for breakfast.”

“Yes but you’re their ‘father’. You need to show some responsibility for them.”

“Pfft you’re the one that adopted them.”

“We, we adopted them.”

“Then you should pay for our ‘children’.”

“Oh what’s that? Sorry Maddie’s calling me. I’ll just be over here.”

As Eden began making her over to the counter, Garrus shot her a halfhearted glare before pulling out his wallet, a small smile gracing his face as he shook his head in disbelief.

-----

It was 11 at night when there was a knock on the office door.

Frankie, a younger member of the Troll’s Toe Neighborhood Watch, was on call. At first she thought it was the soft pattering of the rain hitting the pavement streets but the tap became increasingly louder and louder, uneven with the torrent outside.

It wasn’t uncommon for members of any Watch to answer calls at all hours of the day but Frankie wasn’t used to anyone seeking help at this time. Most people in the Midtown magical neighborhood were already cozily tucked into bed especially with the sudden thunderstorm.

Frankie drew her weapon, a large wrench she kept under her desk, and slowly inched her way towards the convenient store styled door of the building. She tried to peer outside to see who it was but the shifting shadows from the storm made it impossible to see.

Boom!

Without warning, thunder echoed impossibly loud out of nowhere, rattling the office violently as a streak of lightning bolted across the sky and lit up the figure standing in the doorway.

Frankie screamed at the sight of the tall shadow that stood before her: Covered head to toe in a long black riding cloak with ghostly green eyes peering at her with a soulless gaze. Chains wrapped around their torso tightly as a large stone slab simply hung on their back. Long, wild gray hair hung in front the stranger’s silhouetted face. One hand was outstretched to knock again while the other held onto some sort of walking stick as a rusty faded unlit lantern hung from it and swung menacingly in the breeze.

“Back!” Frankie’s voice squeaked, raising the wrench high in both hands “I armed and not fear to use!”

The figure reached for their hood and Frankie could feel her heart drop at the sight of how toned and muscular this stranger’s arms were. In a straight fight Frankie didn’t like her chances.

The figure pulled back the hood and shook the hair out of her face.

Her face?

“Hi!” the woman smiled brightly as she gave a cheery wave “Sorry to bother you I just got into town.”

“What?” Frankie let the wrench fall out of her hands.

The woman gestured to her ear “Yeah sorry I can’t hear you. Can you open the door?” she pointed at the door between them.

Frankie nodded and opened the door to let the strange woman in.

“Much better” She let out a sigh of relief as the warmth of the office filled her bones “Sorry about that. I just got in and I was told this is where I could get some help.”

“Umm…..what kind of help?”

“Well you see.” The woman began hurriedly “There’s a powerful spiritual disturbance here. I could feel all the way in India!”

Frankie opened her mouth to say something but all she could do is stare at this tall, freckled faced green eyed woman who carried some kind of stone strapped to her back.

“And as The Gravekeeper of Souls, I take my job very seriously. I mean if it’s that powerful that I felt it on another continent, it was going to be bad!”

“Excuse me.” Frankie finally piped up “I’m sorry I don’t follow.”

The woman gave a cute sheepish grin “Oh right. Sorry. I travel a lot so I forget who knows me and who doesn’t. I’m Yorrick! Yorrick the Gravekeeper of Souls!”

“Okay. And you are here….?”

“Oh.” Yorrick gave a little nonchalant gesture “Some powerful spiritual entity is about be unleashed and probably raze your city to the ground.”

“WHAT?!” Frankie could feel her blood pressure rise.

“Raze. You know destroy, obliterate, consume. Hee consuuuuuuume. Fun word.”

Frankie’s face paled “Are you serious?”

Yorrick smiled brightly “As the grave. But I’m here so it’ll be okay. Probably. Anyway I need to call a meeting of the Watch. Can I do that here or…?”

“There’s one tomorrow.” Frankie weakly answered.

“Excellent! I’ll come back then. Good night! Thanks for all the help!”

and just like that, Yorrick vanished into the storm, swallowed whole by the dark though Frankie could hear her excited laughter amid the rain and thunder.

“This is going to be fun!” Yorrick’s voice called happily from the shadows.

Frankie decided it was better to sit on the floor.

For the rest of the night.

#Mirror's Edge #Original Work #original story #my stuff

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aethxr-ash · 2 years

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Hiya! I would like two platonic matchups from genshin and spy x family if that's possible. If this is closed then please ignore this

I'm aroace and agender, brazilian, 16, i don't have a gender preference! ^^

I consider my personality pretty basic I'm very random and my humor is extremely broken like I'll laugh at a bread piece falling, and my laugh is extremely loud and according to other people sounds like a maniac or a villain that just defeated the hero, i act more as a big sibling or parent to my friends even though I am extremely touch aversed to the point i flinch when touched, i am sorta quiet because people say to them my voice is way too loud though to me it's at a perfect volume. I also like to dress up as a knight and yell “FOR HONOR AND GLORY!!” i cannot see a sword. No matter how big it is i will try to pick it up and act knightly in my own way, my mind is a mess. If someone tried reading my mind they would just see static and rapidly changing images / videos and a million thoughts.

I like cats, pepsi, apple juice and garlic bread. I am addicted to Pepsi and if i don't have it i will sob (sometimes) I dislike one thing only and it's strawberries i cannot see one because I'll start gagging.

I am quite tall about 6'8, though my face looks like a 5 year old, i am about as pale as the moon because i don't get vitamin D. I have curly hair with heterochromia (yes heterochromia on the hair exists) my hair is black with lightish brown strands, i wear glasses and cannot see a damn thing without them i have to get uncomfortably close to see someone's face. i usually wear only red clothing (guess you can tell what my favorite color is) and own an oni mask i like to wear it's a traditional hanya oni mask actually!

I love cats so much though I'm deathly allergic to cats to the point where i have to carry around an inhaler, that doesn't stop me from cuddling in their fur and eventually dying from a million sneezes. I like to go to bars just to order water because if i do drink alcohol my skin will turn red with a lot of hives,, basically i am ALDH2 Deficient. Also i have solar and heat urticaria which is why I'm so pale, I'd love to teach people about my cultural dance a.k.a Samba!

⊱┊platonic personality matchup for anon !

hi ! you sound really cool. i hope you like this and i'm sorry it took so long !!

⊱┊genshin impact

yun jin !

✧ she'll never hesitate to act, dance, or sing with you

✧ she enjoys learning samba from you !

✧ and she'll teach you how to sing chinese opera in return if you're interested

✧ she's able to keep you grounded whilst still being fun

✧ she's a lot smaller compared to you (i think she's like 5'2"?)

✧ she'll do your hair if you'd like her to !

✧ encourages you to be yourself but won't push you past your limits if you're uncomfortable !

⊱┊spy x family

anya forger !

✧ she sees you as an older sister

✧ loves to play knights with you !

✧ knights, spies, assassins, she loves to be a hero and help people

✧ she had a difficult time reading your mind for a few months, but gradually learned how to decipher your thoughts

✧ talks very highly of you to loid and yor, who treat you as if you're their daughter too upon seeing how kind you are to anya

✧ she thinks you're one of the coolest people in the world (tied for first place with loid and yor ofc) and aspires to be as cool as you when she's your age !

#aethxr's matchups #anons welcome #requests open #matchups #matchups open #platonic matchup #platonic matchups #genshin impact #spy x family #genshin impact matchups #genshin matchups #genshin platonic matchups #spy x family matchups #spy x family platonic matchups #platonic headcanons #yun jin #yun jin genshin impact #anya forger

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dragonsinkwell · 15 days

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*me, crawling backward into your dms like a horror creature* I am here to revive the life of random asks. Mwhaha. Tell us all a random fact about two of any of your AUs~? Any AU that has been nagging at you recently will do!

*me, greeting your twisted, eldritch approach with the warm smile and open arms of a beloved friend*

look i can answer these all day, i cannot overstate how much i miss blabbering on to questions like the single happiest labrador in the state!

first that comes to mind is the blacksmith-goddess!reader setting concerning genshin impact and our beloved troll archon: rex lapis aka zhongli. for exactly no reason, i've decided she's quite fond of seafood, favorites being (you guessed it) octopus and squid, a funny chuckle to go with zhongli's need for specifics regarding tentacles.

having lived in what is now the chasm for most of her existence, that being her territory, she doesn't have much access to it so when she has time closer to, or even in liyue harbor, she tends to go a little wild with her feasting.

(he also thinks it's kind of adorable to see such excitement in her given her general closeting of emotions and things she likes)

one day i'd like to post smth regarding that bit, it's such a fun concept and like this beautiful millenial slow burn, y'know?

and then obv on top of my head is the princess' deal dragon!satanael au because you've got that brewing once again.

in honor of a deal with dragons there's 100% going to be a magical cooking instrument that does one and only one thing that's good but not exactly ever what you're after. what it is idk yet but it'll be funny. i love some good humor.

aside from that another fact i kinda like is, again going with a slow burn feel, it takes quite a few years before reader finds out that satanael can take a human form. 'oh but rae, why not sooner??' because it's funny too, hehe. that and like, i have the scene so vivid in my head, because it's when he decides she's strong enough and built enough to finally start training her sword skills against a living opponent and he just Shows Up, Out of Nowhere, and she's got no idea who he is.

and yes, this 100% implies and proves that dragon!sat wants his princess Built TM and he'll help her put some muscles on that she'd never get as a castle royal.

#anunclassynerd #chatter

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pharaohbean · 5 months

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get to know meeeeeee

thanks for the tag @xxluckystrike!

three ships: currently: caeheng (caelus & dan heng; honkai star rail), akitoya (akito & toya; project sekai), and chilumi (childe & lumine; genshin impact)!

first ship: puzzleshipping (yugi & yami; yu-gi-oh!) they will forever hold a place in my heart

last song: on spotify, "Intertwined" by CircusP! on yt, "Snowman (ReRec)" by haylosy!

currently reading: cannot remember the last time i picked up a book that wasn't for a class (it was a youth retreat like a year-ish ago, i believe it was called the Tomb Quest series? five books, young kids, and LOTS of ancient egyptian mythology... correct me if im wrong lol)

currently watching: NOPE- oh wait! the original precure series! :D

currently consuming: all the caeheng nonsense (affectionate) on ao3 (also hsr in general; just finished the belabog trailblazer series and about half a level away from starting.... whatever dan heng's arc is LOL)

currently craving: more caeheng (and maybe some sleep but whoops im caffineated)

current obsessions: YOU GUESSED IT CAEHENG

currently up to: after this, im gonna import some random lyrics into my random lyrics doc (yes its called that) and then head home and do SCHOOL

no-pressure tags: @xxluckystrike @busybussinbee @sunflowerrosy lets ignore that the first two already did this :shook:

#zero asks #caeheng has my by the throat rn #its great #they're very narumitsu (ace attorney) coded #also bronya and seele are very akitoya coded #i love finding comparisons between hsr and my boys and their partners LOL #hsr is Bringing Me Life rn #(should be working on other things #(but anyways)#honkai star rail #caeheng

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thefangirlthatwaited · 5 months

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Autumn Morning (Chapter 51) - A Genshin Impact Story

Zhongli x Original Character

I was shivering as the pod opened, waking me from my slumber. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, and when they did, I realized I was back with Dottore. No... It couldn’t be. I was in bed beside Zhongli, and he wouldn’t let anyone take me again.

“Get her here now!” Dottore ordered. Two lackeys grabbed me and dragged me to the table. There were a few clanks, and then my legs and arms were bound, preventing my escape.

“L-Let me go.”

“Oh, you’re awake?” Dottore chuckled. “This will be fun.” He approached with a long needle, and I tried to struggle against my restraints. “It’s no use. I’ve made improvement since I discovered your secret.” Secret? “I would never have guessed. Khaenri’ah.” No. I channelled those blue flames, but all it did was cause me pain.

“See. Now, be a good girl and stay still. This new special cannot go to waste.” I watched in horror as the needle pierced my stomach. I let out a blood-curdling scream and woke up back in bed, covered in sweat, with Zhongli holding me close.

“Shhh. I’ve got you, Chyou.”

“H-He”

“Breathe. Then you can tell me what you saw.” I nodded, sobbing into his chest. Zhongli rocked me back and forth until my heart rate returned to normal. “Water?”

“Yes.” He went to get out of bed, but I didn’t want to let him go. “I’ll be right back. I promise.”

“Okay,” My heart rate began to settle as I looked around and remembered where I was.

“Here you go. Drink slowly.” Zhongli said as he came back to bed. With shaky hands, I took the glass and slowly drank. Considering we went to bed after a fight, Zhongli was caring for me, and it was comforting. “Better?” I nodded. “Good. Want to talk about your nightmare?” I shuddered, remembering it. “Then I won’t force you. Come here.” He pulled me to his chest and started to hum a song. I looked up and found him with his eyes closed, looking content. I cuddled into his chest, my eyelids fluttering closed, hoping I wouldn’t have another nightmare.

I woke up a few hours later, still in Zhongli’s arms, to the soft sounds of Chao-Xing cooing in her crib. I hated to pull free of the warmth, but if I didn’t act now, Chao-Xing would start screaming, which I would like to avoid. Zhongli grunted as I stood up, slowly opening his eyes.

“Chyou?”

“I’ll be right back. Our daughter is awake.”

Zhongli squeezed my hand and smiled. “Go.” I ducked out of the room, grabbed Chao-Xing, changed her diaper and returned to our room.

“Morning, my stars,” Zhongli said, pulling us close.

“Morning.” I cuddled into this chest, wanting the warmth from before.

We stayed cuddled up as a family, enjoying a peaceful morning, but I knew what loomed on the horizon. Zhongli will want to know what was in my nightmare, plus our argument before bed.

“I love you,” Zhongli whispered, kissing my neck right above the bite marks.

“Love you too.” I wanted to lean into the kiss; I wanted more, but Chao-Xing was with us, and a talk still needed to happen.

“Shall I order some breakfast? He asked.

“Yeah. I want to stay in bed a bit longer.”

“Okay,’ He Untangled from our hug. “I’ll be right back.”

I relaxed in bed, feeding my daughter until Zhongli returned with a delicious-smelling breakfast tray. “I see someone is happy.” He chuckled.

“Who wouldn’t when they are being fed?”

“True.” Zhongli kissed my head and placed the tray on my lap. “I’ll take her once she’s done so you can eat.”

“It’s fine. I can do both.”

“I know you can, but I’m here to help,”

“Alright. But you eat too.” Zhongli nodded and took a bite of his food, making me smile. By the time Chao-Xing was done eating, so was Zhongli, allowing me to hand her off with no fight.

“This is delicious.”

“I ordered a Sumeru breakfast, so I’m glad you like it.” I devoured it all, starving all of a sudden. “Slow down, love. You don’t want to make yourself sick.”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled through a bite.

Zhongli chuckled. “Don’t choke.” After finishing my food, Zhongli and I went to the living room and let Chao-Xing play while we thought of a way to start the conversation.

“Chyou, was your nightmare last night about Dottore?”

I sighed. “Was it that obvious?”

“No. I only assumed.”

I looked at my daughter playing with a toy slime, not a care in the world. “I was captured by him again, and he continued his experiments on me.”

“Chyou,”

“It’s a silly nightmare. I know he won’t ever lay a finger on me again. But the terror...”

“The terror is valid.”

“I know. I wanted to replace my experience in Sumeru with a happy one, and we’ve been plagued with problems since we arrived.”

“I feel guilty about that. I caused some of your strife.”

I turned to Zhongli, looking apologetic. “You were correct to assume that I am afraid to be intimate with you again. In my mind, all I have is my rut and the horrible things I wanted to do to you then.”

I cupped his cheek as a tear ran down. “I know the real you, Zhongli. You don’t have to worry that I’ll run from you.”

“I worry about hurting you.”

“I know, and I can say you won’t till I’m blue in the face, but you need to remember I am not made of glass.”

“I try,”

“That’s all I can ask.” I leaned up to kiss the tear away. “I love you.”

“Love you too, my star.”

Zhongli scooped me into a kiss, and I giggled against his lips. “Chao-Xing,” I reminded him.

“Right.” He let me go as our daughter looked at us, confused. “Later?”

“You mean it?”

“Yes.”

Full Chapter on Ao3

#ao3 #zhongli #archive of our own #zhongli fanfic #zhongli genshin impact #genshin impact zhongli #genshin zhongli #zhongli x oc

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lumenoidian · 3 years

Text

I love playing Gender Envy Impact

#3am rambles with lumen #bro wtf mihoyo why you gotta make me envy all of the character's genders wtf #my enby ass looks at albedo and goes 👁👁#my more masc leaning envy is diluc and my more fem leaning envy is yomiya #if you cannot guess yes this is about genshin impact

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bailey-reaper · 3 years

Note

Can you write about Iris hanging out with the ghost of her father? It’s sad these two never got to know each other in canon.

Apologetic Apparition

Notes: It's very sad that the story unfolds as it does and that we know so little about Klint or Lady B (it's an utter travesty that Capcom couldn't even be bothered to give her a name or some sketches in the artbooks). Perhaps if we'd gotten to see more of Iris's parents, it would have given us an idea of what they'd have been like as a family...

Content Warnings: angst; GAA spoilers

"Well here we are!" Iris announced proudly as she took off her welding goggles and looked down at her latest creation, "They're finished at long last, now I only need to test them to make sure they work!"

"I say, Iris, you've been busy at that crafting table of yours for some time," Herlock observed as he reclined on the chaise lounge in the centre of the room and propped his legs up on the fortified, locked trunk that acted as their coffee table, "What have you been up to, dear girl?"

She twirled around in her spinning chair so she could regard her roommate, "I've made something quite marvelous this time, Hurley!" in her hands were a pair of goggles.

"Goggles?" they hardly seemed 'marvelous', but he knew better than to assume such things; after all, one cannot judge a book by its cover, for to do so is to ignore the richness that lies within, "And what is special about this particular pair?"

"They should, if I've calibrated them correctly, give me the ability to see the lingering remnants of the deceased!"

"Oh ho! So you've crafted glasses that will enable you to see ghosts, have you? Quite an interesting idea, dear girl! Whatever inspired you to do such a thing?"

Iris fell silent for a few moments, then offered a small smile, "Oh... just a little personal project. I should very much like to test them! Could you possibly do me a favour, Hurley?" she tilted her head and looked at him with pleading eyes.

"...." how could he resist the dear girl's plea? Iris was the only person he truly considered family (of course his partner occupied a place that was quasi-familial, but it was an entirely different beast). With a fond smile, he held open his arms and nodded, "Of course, what can I do for you?"

Her reply was not what he had expected...

──────≪⊰✥⊱≫───────

It was the dead of night, and they were crouched outside the imposing building where agents of the crown worked tirelessly to bring wrongdoers to justice –- or, the Prosecutor's Office by any other name. Hurley had his reservations when Iris told him where she wanted to go, but he also had a pretty good idea of where in the office she wanted to go and why.

He would not question it, this was something the dear girl needed to do.

After he had infiltrated the building and obtained a set of security guard clothes, he set about on a mock patrol of the premises; taking note of the number of other fellows currently present and making a few educated guesses with regards to their routes. It would be easy enough to smuggle the young girl inside if he did so swiftly and via the western exit.

It was as easy as he'd anticipated to bring her inside, "Right," he said softly, "Where are we heading?" despite already knowing, he would play the fool for now.

"Um... Hurley... would you mind if I went inside on my own?" she asked gently as they walked down a long corridor with numerous doors and plaques beside them. They had come to a stop outside one particularly imposing, nigh-medieval door; with a plaque that read: [Lord Barok van Zieks].

Sholmes smiled, "Of course... just knock on the door three times when you are finished, alright? I shall knock similarly if I sense danger. You must come with me without delay if I knock, alright?"

Iris nodded.

Then, she turned to the door and opened it with a key that Herlock had taken from the security guard's office. Stepping inside was a daunting prospect -- Mr. Reaper's Office was as imposing as him, perhaps more so in the dead of night with nothing but the moonlight spilling in through the large arched windows along the far wall. After taking a deep breath, she donned the goggles and activated them.

At first, nothing happened and she started to fret that maybe her calculations had been off and that she ought to have tested them somewhere more accessible before embarking on this particular visit-- then, she caught some faint glowing traces in the air.

She looked around the room and found a glowing figure stood with its back to her, looking up at the large portrait that took pride of place overlooking the office. It was difficult to tell anything about the form, save for that it was humanoid in shape.

"Why do you insist on keeping this portrait here, brother?" the figure said, in a voice that she discerned to be a male one, "Surely you ought to have had one of your own commissioned by now?"

"Um... excuse me? You there, by the portrait."

She'd never seen a ghost jump before, but this one certainly did twirl around with a start. As he turned, the form seemed to take a clearer shape and she realised he was the same as the man in the portrait – Klint van Zieks.

It was her father, just as she'd hoped.

"Goodness! You gave me quite the fright, young lady."

"Oh... I'm sorry," she looked down bashfully, only to be surprised when he laughed heartily.

"No, no, don't be! I'm simply surprised you can see me..." he cocked his head to the side, arms folded, "Might it be that curious apparatus you're wearing that enables you to see and hear me? No one else seems to..." she nodded, "Ah, I see... Pray, do forgive my presumptuousness, but, you remind me a great deal of my darling wife... I cannot think that is a mere coincidence."

It made her heart shiver to hear that, "... Um... yes, well, that would be my mother, sir, and you.. you are..."

"Then I'm... your father," Klint breathed, eyes wide, "Oh... So you are our sweet little starling..." for a moment he looked off to the side, smiling almost wistfully, "... Truly, you are a good man Genshin..." then he returned his focus to the girl, "Would you tell me your name, child?"

"Iris, sir, Iris Wilson..."

"Iris," he said, "A lovely name, very befitting of such a charming young lady. And, well, it seems you already know who I am..."

"Yes... I do," she knew full well, "I... I have so many things I want to ask you about..."

Klint nodded and walked over to the desk that had once been his and was now the place where his brother spent most of his time in stony silence, deeply engrossed in his work. He sat on it, legs dangling over the edge, "I'm sure you must have, I will try to answer to the best of my ability."

"... Thank you," she took a seat at the table that was currently home to the beginnings of a new diorama, presumably Mr. Reaper's latest case. For a few moments, she fell silent: her mind had gone blank. There were so many questions, but how to pick out just one? Where to begin?

"Perhaps I might start?" he offered, having clearly picked up on her overwhelmed state of mind. When she nodded, he started:

"As you know, my name is Klint van Zieks, I was born in North Devon. You've already met my little brother, Barok, your uncle, and much like you... he suffers a certain wistfulness when it comes to matters of family. It seems I've left you both somewhat at a loss. Do forgive me, Iris, I never intended to cause either of you the turmoil I have. I had always thought that keeping the truth from the two of you might spare you the embarrassment and stigma that knowing who I was would bring..."

She listened quietly, studying his face as he spoke. It was clear that his words were earnest, judging by their tone and the look of genuine remorse on his face.

"... I committed several heinous acts in life, and though I thought it was the right thing to do... it was misguided and naive. I sought to solve a problem by fighting fire with fire, but such an approach can only result in a destructive end. It cost me everything – including your mother, my darling wife... I was so thrilled when she told me she was pregnant, but at the same time I was terrified of what impact it might have had on her were I to tell her the truth. I did not want her or our unborn child to suffer... in the end, she died during childbirth. I cannot help but wonder if things would have been different if we'd been together in the family home with the necessary staff on hand to help her... I suppose I'll never know."

At some point as he spoke, tears had begun to bead in her eyes; then they spilled as she thought of the mother she would never know and the father who had tried to protect them – albeit with a limited degree of success.

"My apologies are meaningless, but I would like you to know how sorry I am for my failings as a man and a father, and the impact that has had on you, Iris... Your mother and I... we were delighted by the prospect of having a family, and I couldn't be more proud to see you before me as radiant as she was. You are so very like her..."

"... Thank you... I--"

Suddenly there were three sharp knocks on the door.

Iris covered her mouth, "Oh! I'm so sorry... I have to go!"

"Mmm," he nodded, "I understand, this office isn't the best place for a reunion... would you mind if I came to visit you at some point, so that you can ask me the questions you wished to?"

"... Yes, I would like that... please do come and visit me, I should like to get to know my father better -- not The Professor."

Klint blinked, then stood up from his perch and bowed, "As you wish..."

#klint van zieks #iris wilson #herlock sholmes #angst #request

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savarii · 3 years

Text

II - Unknown God

this is an analysis that may contain spoilers

"The arrogation of mankind ends now." - Sustainer of Heavenly Principal, Unknown God

Hm yes, this sus looking lady that looks like Kiana from Honkai Impact. She stated herself as the Sustainer of Heavenly Principal, or better known as Unknown God by the traveler. This lady is responsible for whatever the hell happening in Genshin Impact.

She's the one that stopped our traveler and said "Outlanders, your journey ends here."

Her words could indicate a lot of things and one of it is that this might be indeed the twins last destination, or in simple word they should not travel further because there's probably no other world left for them to go, whatever thing that they're looking for is here in this world, not beyond.

Unknown God most likely think the twins as some sort of threat to her so called 'heavenly principle'. Because she also stated "The arrogation of mankind ends now" which subtly hinted that unknown god really is hiding some sort of truth by blaming it to mankind arrogation. If the twins manage to go beyond, the truth might be revealed and that's why Unknown God stopped them. The twins are the peak of that arrogation she mentioned, and she wants to stop their ambitious trespass to know what's beyond.

I think... I think there could be a misunderstanding between Unknown God and the twins. My pinpoint to this is :

1 ) Unknown God see the twins as mankind that chases to know what's beyond divinity

2 ) The twins... were only other world travelers that just wanna go to other world...

She could just let them go and none of this all would happen, but she decide to stop them and trap them here.

Unknown god did NOT (or cannot) destroy their power. She simply sealed/reduced their origin power temporarily, and that caused the twins unable move to next world. There're 2 possibilities upon her intention why she's doing this :

IF her intention is really just because of that misunderstanding, then this action is a huge mistake. The twins are definitely not for this world "law" or her principles if she trapped them here. Even though we may not know where the twins origin is, we know that they have external power. It may not be as powerful equal to Unknown God, but that's enough reason for them to revolt, but on top of everything she's literally separating the twins from each other? they only have each other and she's doing THIS? like- bro??? this is a war declaration that you'll definitely lose. Unknown God is sticking her own death flag here.

IF her intention is something else, she probably know what's going to happen upon her action. Then this is actually her small step of plan to bring her intention come true but didn't want to do the dirty work. She may meant her words for herself too, maybe she's also at her last stage of journey, and the twins arrival is here to finish her last mission in her journey. The world will change and this is by her last action.

for the sake of Genshin Impact, I think the first one is more possible for our game lore.

If it's the second one that's true,

we might as well relate this to Honkai Impact, like seriously there's no other explanation but this. :")

Let me tell you a bit about why it would relate to Honkai Impact. Their lore is huge just like Genhsin, and is not yet finished but here's a the brief explanation from what we know so far. Their lore is about futuristic advances, mechanical battles, world reset, and doom. Yes. you can guess for your own how it will be related. (world reset = different world = different alternates = different ending) Whatever possibility that can happen, it is... quite undeniable that we've seen familiar faces and story from these 2 games, so... they could relate somehow.. but okay let's just wait for MiHoYo to surprise us.

Anyways back to our main discussion, her action is very impacting on Teyvat's coming days, and we know for sure the twins are the reason why Teyvat is changing. However there're many hints that indicate Unknown God is gone ever since this action and the last cataclysm (500 years ago). Her whereabout is a big question, because there is so many changes to Teyvat yet she did not do anything? maybe she did something, but this time is totally different than all the times before.

Another thing to note is that we don't know if she's even still alive or not. Because so far in the game, there was no sign of her appearance or existence in present time. Most of the story only focused on The Archons and humanity. Which lead to a speculation that Lumine's mission is already progressing far as convincing living beings in Teyvat to throw back upon Unknown God, and divinity (Celestia).

In the end, we don't know for sure about Unknown God in present time. Our poor boi Aether only wanted to find his sis, but look at all this drama. Everyone is fighting over each other and drowning our boi here for their errands.

a/n : this is original from my head but you're very welcomed by my ask box if you would like to share something with me. ty for reading ^^

= Masterlist =

#genshin impact #genshin impact headcanons #genshin theory #genshin spoilers #unknown god #savariitheories

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thehonesthopeofastrawberry · 3 years

Text

Snippet (Genshin Impact)

„What’s wrong?“ After watching at the sunset in silence for so long, Xiao decided to ask her the question he had on his mind for some time now. Only a few weeks ago he had admitted his feelings for her and confessed. Afterwards they became what humans called a couple. Lumine would come visiting him as often as possible during her journey through the lands and he tried to at least send her some dreams to show her that he was thinking about her and that he was fine.

Whenever Lumine came for a visit they watched the sunset together. It wasn’t unusual for them to not say a word during this time, but this time Lumine seemed absentminded and even a little bit sad. “Nothing. I was just thinking.” “About what?” Tenderly Lumine placed her head on his shoulder. “I cannot remember much of my home land or of my childhood. But I remember my brother very well. We have been together since we were born and we were holding hands for a long time until it suddenly wasn’t appropriate. Together we travelled through worlds and fought enemies – always protecting each other.” Even when travelling through many worlds, in the end it always was just them. To them there was no use in making friends, because sooner or later they would leave and never come back. Over the years their home was no longer the place they had been born in, but right next to their twin. Aether was her home and she was his.

“I miss my brother. I miss holding his hand and watching the sun rise and set. I miss travelling with him. I miss my home. At the same time I feel bad, because I’ve met so many nice people here and made friends… and I have you now. But I would give up everything so Aether and I can be back together with him.” A singly tear fell down. Aether had been her home and only family for so long and now, for the first time she was homesick and felt lonely. “You shouldn’t feel bad about that. I think, it is understandable. He was everything you had until recently. In the many years of my life I lost many people dear to me. People I considered family. People that were my home. Well, I guess, for you it must be even worse, because Aether was your only family for so long, while I at least had always someone to catch me, even when it still hurt.” “Do you dream of those people sometimes?” “Yes. Not only sometimes. Every night I dream of them. Sometimes those dreams are pleasant, but often they only show me their suffering. Yet, I still am happy to have them, because it shows that I still remember them.” “You fear forgetting them?” “Yes, I do. Memories is all I have.” “I hope, I can share my memories of this place with Aether soon. I am sure he would love you all!” Lumine let out a deep sigh.

“Lumine, I may not be good at those feelings things and I am sorry that I cannot give you the comfort you need. However, I can be there for you until the end. I will help you find you brother and until then I will hold your hand as much as you want. I won’t let go until you want me to.” Softly, Xiao placed a kiss on his girlfriends head. His grip around her hand got tighter. He wished, he could hold her hands forever. He never wanted to let go, but he knew that he had to let go someday. “Thank you, Xiao.”

#genshin impact #lumine #xiao #xiaolumi #genshin impact lumine #genshin lumine #genshin impact xiao #genshin xiao #fanfiction snippet #tumblr writing #tumblr fanfiction #snippet #genshin snippet #genshin impact snippet #lumine x xiao #xiao x lumine #MyOwnFanfiction

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pexterambles · 3 years

Note

Could you tell us about ur handaconda?

(sorry for the muddy image in advance)

My Handaconda's is called Claw and is Sergio's number one understudy, among other things.

lets see.. what counts as fun facts....

claw and lup (my stapler) are besties.

based off of an eel! can stun people. and grab em.

lives in the shadows. when mario meets claw, claw pulls mario into the shadows and they fight in there. claw can slither out of the shadows if they so wished, but- there is just so much Body which means you have so much mass and that makes slithering is so SLOW. so they prefer travelling via dark.

an extremely distorted shadow of what once was & a very cryptic embodiment of buried memories.

mouth is angular. never curves. so they're always just :< and :> and the like.

very curious about Sergio, especially since they're sort of... melded? connected? something like that. unlike the other soldiers, claw has always been a figment of something in Sergio's mind and just so happens to become reality. their whole world revolves around him as his creation.

body patterns can glow!!

i dont know if you can see it very clearly, but claw has many hands on their body. one pair around the neck, one around the ribs, and one on the hip. those can MOVE. they can extend those ,, i guess imagine doctor octopus but less robotic and very much connected in the body. so all in all they have eight arms!

their main two arms are very floppy. like wacky wavy inflatable tube people but they can control it. literal noodle arms on a danger noodle.

uses Blue (the big blue eye at the end of their hair) to look around, cannot see through their face as it was purposefully ripped. not to worry though, Sergio still has that ripped piece somewhere on him. claw also uses Orange (the eyes on the back of their head) to see who's behind him. the other green eyes are optional.

Blue can also move around! it's always in an upward stance like the picture above.

the... what are those things. i guess antennaes? you know those long one piece strands? those are used as sensors for surrounding as well as hearing (as it's their ear. or part of it). think of whiskers, but really long.

has a big ol hand at the end of their huge tail. its huge! and claw often buries themselves in their tail. so. just picture the game handaconda but with the image of claw upside down, don't worry though. they're comfortable.

claw and sergio knew each other for a loong time. sergio just hasn't come to terms with it yet.

speaking of their bond, its very strange! sergio acts like he don't care and looks the part, but nah, he is there for claw. he's intrigued and fearful of claw's spitting image. but he isn't running away from it. he would love to bring claw for the long haul unless claw wants to leave his side. except that might never happen as claw feels so much sympathy for sergio.

did you know? claw is normally looking after tivonne. they push his wheelchair wherever it needs to go despite it having an automatic function for it to move.. and wheels. but sergio insists on having at least someone there that tivonne can trust as backup and protection while tivonne kicks ass.

oh my god lads you have no idea how many times i brainrotted over claw third wheeling tivonne and sergio. its so sad and hilarious but so cute. they are very supportive.

that yellow line on their body can open up!! it normally shows a lot of hands and eyes and tentacles and generally just body horror stuff. the only person who has the same messed up alive insides is Erebus, but with more horrifying implications, who has eyes and mouths n stuff. people ponder over what helps these two stand..

can see the in the dark! obviously.

really really excited to play any sort of hand games!! or physical games! they love talking to others and learning more about the world around them. they want to adventure across the lands and go on journeys.. they have a very optimistic and curious view on the world.

has very broken grammar. they say stuff like "very nice. me like that too" and "you play game with me? want? yes!" ...hm... imagine razor from genshin impact.

huehue

i like claw a lot

#answerpat #the pexions #claw the handaconda #pexdraws #pmtok #pmtok handaconda #and YES sergio boops him #sergio likes to boop animals #claw also bleps #pexworld lore

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glassworkspiderlilies · 3 years

Text

come, come, fly into my palm, & collapse

Genshin Impact | Lumine & Albedo | AO3 Summary: Lumine and Albedo, ft. Paimon—a blizzard is avoided; a stew, an orange, and a night are shared. Observations are made, studies are conducted, some results are obtained Notes: Albedo grew on me FAST and i am filled with so much softness and tenderness for him....i care him so much....

He doesn’t realize that a blizzard has truly whipped up outside until the Traveler breaks through the snowdrift accumulated at the entrance to his camp, brushing off the white crystals and stamping her feet free of the snow.

“Albedo!” Paimon greets as she flies past him, practically careening directly into the fire, “Boy are we glad to see you! We almost got buried out there.”

“Hello,” Albedo greets, blinking soporifically. He’d been so focused on compiling his research that he doesn’t know what time it is at all, and with the snowstorm darkening everything further, he can no longer tell. “You were looking for me?”

In response, Lumine holds out her hand, and the strap of a bag materializes within it, weighing her hand down as the bag itself drops. Albedo recognizes its worn make, and understands why she is here, though not quite how the situation in particular came to be.

“My materials,” Albedo identifies, taking the hefty bag, “Thank you. How did you come to be the one delivering it? Timaeus should have been on his way back.”

“About that,” Paimon says, floating back up now that she is a bit more thawed out, “It looks like the Knights of Favonius ended up having some trouble, so there was suddenly a large request for potions….so Timaeus needs a bit more time before he comes back! But Lumine and I were on our way here anyway, so we brought your precious materials, too!”

“Ah, I see,” Albedo says, inclining his head in acknowledgement, though he is seeking more information and glances at the Traveler.

“A slime infestation,” Lumine supplies, moving towards the fire herself now that her task is done, “But nothing the knights cannot handle.”

“Ah, but better to be prepared, and hence the potions. I agree,” Albedo catches on, nodding, then glances outside. “I hadn’t realized it was coming down so hard. It is remarkable that you managed to find your way.”

Lumine smiles faintly.

“One becomes good at finding things when the conditions are unforgiving. You won’t kick us out, will you?” she asks, tilting her head, and his eyes widen despite knowing she is joking.

“Of course not. That would be more than cold of me,” he says, aghast even at the possibility, and her eyes crinkle.

“Great! We’ll even let you put us to work, as thanks!” Paimon exclaims, clapping her hands, and though Lumine gives the spirit a look that so clearly says but I’d be the one doing the actual work, nor does she decline.

His own eyes crinkle at that.

“No need,” he says, patting the papers on his table, “…For now, anyway. Please, make yourself comfortable. I’m sure you’ve had…a harrowing journey to get here in this storm.”

“If you say so! Don’t need to tell us twice,” Paimon cheers, floating back to the fire.

“Thank you, Albedo,” Lumine says as she sheds her coat.

“Certainly,” he replies, and this time, when she smiles at him, he smiles back.

It is comfortable being with the Traveler, more comfortable than he could initially tell when they wandered all over the Dragonspine to conduct experiments. She’d had something to gain, then (though some of it was at Paimon’s behest, and it seemed mostly like she was simply going along with both his and her own companion’s whims) but now, she is here by her own will.

Another couple hours passes before he remembers that she is here. While he’s been quite absorbed in his work, Lumine has been quiet too, and he doesn’t even remember hearing Paimon. He looks around, blinking blearily, then closes his eyes briefly and looks around again to make sure he hasn’t suddenly moved locations.

Everything…is organized. Books are back on their shelves, beakers and test tubes cleaned and lined back up on their racks, scattered ingredients returned to their jars, the tables wiped down. His paints and sketches have been untouched, as well as other research that he had left lying out, and he is grateful for that. It must not have been an easy undertaking, cleaning everything up despite the small space, but she did it admirably anyway.

Still—where is the young woman herself? He doesn’t see her at all, though surely she did not wander back out into the blizzard.

Albedo stretches, his joints popping, and walks around to the other side of the camp—finding her sitting behind the table with his distillery, back against the wood, a book propped open on her lap. She looks up at him when he appears, putting up a hand in greeting, and he gives a half-smile at how comfortable she looks.

“My gratitude, for cleaning up,” he says with true appreciation, and she smiles. He looks around again, not seeing Paimon at all. “Where is your floating companion?”

“Hmmm…” Lumine hums, considering how to answer this question. “Sleeping, perhaps? I suspect she will appear again when there is food.”

“Did someone say food?”

Paimon materializes with a twirl, her eyes twinkling.

“Oooh, can you make black-back perch stew, pleeeeease? It’s perfect for this climate, and Paimon is tired of goulash!”

Albedo puts a hand to his chin, understanding, now, why such a question might have been difficult to answer. Lumine’s floating friend is quite the mystery, and Albedo wants so dearly to study the spirit. But no; they are not close enough for him to ask such a thing, and he fears the rejection he will receive were he to ask now.

“Your thoughts?” Lumine asks, and Albedo blinks again.

“On black-back perch stew? I must confess, it’s a dish I’ve only had once. But I should like to eat it again, I think. It would be rather delightful in this climate.”

“Yay! It’s a consensus! C’mon, Lumine, get cooking!” Paimon exclaims, hovering excitedly and clapping her hands.

The Traveler puts her book aside, standing and stretching too before making her way over to the fire. Albedo follows, curious, suddenly, about her methods of preparation and cooking. Last time he had not watched when he requested a Sunshine Sprat, merely consumed the (very tasty) contents.

Lumine glances at him, questioning, but she seems to know the answer already—that he wants to observe—and holds out her hand in front of her. Another bag shimmers into existence—her own this time, from which she begins removing carefully packaged ingredients. Fish filets, Jueyun chilis, violetgrass…

Another thing that he finds fascinating and would like to study—this ability of hers. It is, seemingly, similar to Paimon’s ability, or perhaps even related. Very belatedly, he realizes that he should have offered to help her cook, though it seems that she is perfectly comfortable taking on the duty alone. Paimon hovers dangerously close even though nothing has been put together yet, and Albedo can guess that on the two’s travels, Lumine is primarily in charge when food must be made.

“Do you require assistance?” he asks anyway despite the timing, as she is seasoning the fish.

Lumine blinks at him, and gestures to the stalks of violetgrass.

“If you’d like something to do, you can turn the flowers to powder,” she says, and Albedo nods, the task perfectly suited to him.

“Might I keep a stalk or two for an experiment?” he asks as he walks back to his table, and Lumine nods her agreement.

“Lumine….Paimon is hungry now….Fisherman’s Toast…” the spirit laments, floating down until she sits next to the Traveler.

“Hmmm…then let’s make some chicken and mushroom skewers, too,” Lumine says decisively, and Paimon perks up extra at that, shooting up again.

“Paimon wants five!” she exclaims, and Lumine sets to preparing said food again without complaint.

Fascinating, Albedo thinks, before turning to his mortar and pestle. Both are small people, but their capacity for consumption is…large. Albedo himself dislikes food in large quantities, especially meat, but such meals that he’s experienced in the past seem like they would be no challenge for the Traveler and her floating companion.

It might be nice to share an extravagant meal with them, he thinks, and see the extent of their capabilities in person. Perhaps, if he must attend a conference again where food is often ordered in advance, he could bring Lumine and Paimon along so that his portion didn’t go to waste…

“Albedo! Want one?” Paimon asks, floating over with a skewer.

He looks over, the delicious scent of perfectly cooked chicken and mushrooms tickling his nose. He is hesitant to be eating something right before a meal, but the spirit looks so proud and expectant.

“Thank you,” he says, taking it from her hands, and gingerly slides off the topmost piece of meat with his teeth.

With his free hand, he takes the mortar with the now-powdered violetgrass in it, bringing back over to the cooking fire and setting it near Lumine’s bag for when she needs it. All is quiet for a while, save for the usual bubbling noises of Albedo’s alchemical device and the cooking pot. Paimon eats her skewers and toast with big eyes on the stew, and Lumine stirs the pot patiently as she chews on her own skewer.

Albedo watches it all idly, lulled into a sense of calm as he finishes his last piece of mushroom, declining another skewer in favor of the stew.

Eventually, Lumine dips a regular spoon into the pot and tastes the broth, her expression unreadable. She takes another spoon and dips it in again, coming out with a larger amount this time. She blows on it for a bit before offering it to Paimon, who blows twice more before shoving the whole thing into her mouth.

“It’s soooooo good!” she exclaims, eyes twinkling, “Yes! Yes! C’mon Lumine, it’s ready, let’s eat!”

Lumine smiles, taking the powdered violetgrass and sprinkling it over the top before doling out the finished stew. She serves Albedo first, with a normal amount, while her own portions and Paimon’s are huge. He suspects they’ll empty the pot just fine.

It’s an excellent stew.

He’d been worried about the spice, truth be told, but the amount if just enough to give the dish heat and warm the body through without being overpowering at all. The fish is so tender and juicy that he finds himself eating eagerly, and finishing his bowl quickly.

Lumine, already spooning more into her own bowl, offers him a full ladle, and he hesitates. He does want more, but…he really does hate overeating, as it always ruins the experience even if he had enjoyed the food initially.

She cocks her head a little, then tilts the ladle until half of it flows back into the pot, and offers the remainder again.

Albedo makes a sheepish expression, and holds out his bowl. Her eyes crinkle, and she pours the half-portion in.

He’s quite full, after the second helping, but pleasantly so. He’s certainly drowsy now, though he's insistent on helping in the clean-up, as she had done everything else. Paimon flops at Lumine's side, already half-asleep, while Albedo and Lumine rinse out the pot and utensils with melted snow. The clink of metal and wood as they do so is pleasant, and between the two of them, the task is completed quickly. It's almost a shame, somehow. It is pleasant to work alongside her, even for something to simple.

“Back to research so soon?” she asks, when they set the pot back over the fire full of snow to melt down for future use.

Albedo considers.

“A break is in order, perhaps,” he allows, glancing over at his easel, though he frowns when he looks outside again.

The blizzard is unrelenting, and though he could use some alchemical items to brave it, it is also...not quite worth the trouble it would be to paint in such conditions.

A novel, then. Lumine watches as he picks one out from the shelf.

“Reading more after all that research you were doing?” Paimon asks drowsily, turning over to her side to face him, “Don't your eyes and brain hurt?”

“Fortunately, I have very good eyes,” Albedo says.

“And a very good brain?”

“Hmm...well, people call me a genius, but I don't think I am any such thing. But I suppose I can concede to having a good brain. We all do.”

Lumine looks at Paimon with her eyebrow raised, who gasps in affront, though she is still too lethargic to float.

“Hey! Why are you looking at Paimon like that?!” she says, and Lumine pats her companion's stomach gently.

“I'm just thinking that Paimon has the very best brain,” Lumine says, very seriously, and Paimon puffs up a little.

“Hehe...well, that's okay, then. Even if your tone is suspicious!”

Albedo meets Lumine's eyes, then looks away quickly as laughter bubbles in his throat.

How odd. He does not laugh often; the sensation is warm and ticklish. He clears his throat as quietly as he can before taking the book of the shelf, and considers where to read it.

Lumine goes back over to the spot she was at earlier, behind the table with his apparatus, and waves him over. She pats the spot beside her when he approaches, and he blinks before settling down beside her, the two of them sitting close but not quite touching. Paimon remains by the cooking fire, now dozing entirely.

And so he and Lumine read together. He's not sure how much time passes before he realizes that he's being watched, and that Lumine is the one doing so. He ignores this—or rather, lets it happen for a while, but after a bit more time passes, a sharp, tangy scent suddenly permeates the air. He does turn at that, and is somewhat startled to see in Lumine’s hands an orange. It’s an uncommon fruit in Mondstadt, but considering her recent travels to Liyue, whose harbor never stops bustling with trade, it should not be so surprising. He watches closely as she continues to dig her fingers into and underneath the thick rind and peel the skin away, the citrusy scent growing more powerful as she does so. Carefully, she picks away the majority of the white pith before splitting the fruit down the middle, and holds one half out to him.

“…Thank you,” he says, staring at it for a moment before taking it. “A snack, so soon?”

“It’s refreshing,” she says, with a slight shrug, “And it helps digestion.”

“Hmmm.”

He tears a segment off with his teeth, the juices bursting sweet and summery on his tongue. He feels her watching again, and Albedo suspects that this is part of…something. But he watches her out of the corner of his eye too, fascinated by the way she peels each segment from the middle delicately with her fingers.

When they finally meet eyes, she continues to stare unabashedly, smiling a little when he turns to face her completely.

“Are you conducting research?” he asks, unable to equate the weight of her gaze with anything else.

“I am,” she replies.

“Oh? And are you obtaining results?”

“I am,” she says again.

He pauses, considering whether or not to continue the game and ask for the results of said investigation. In the meantime, she tosses the orange peel into the fire, a pleasant aroma filling the space as it wrinkles in the heat.

“I hope the returns are favorable, then,” he says instead.

“They are,” Lumine replies, and she smiles at him, full and bright.

Inexplicably, he feels himself flush.

“Oh,” he mutters, turning away, confused at his own involuntary response.

“Very favorable indeed,” Lumine says, and turns back to her book, seeming pleased.

He returns to his own research soon after, only a little bit attempting to escape his embarrassment. A new feeling too, this self-consciousness. He has had many, many eyes on him, much attention turned on him for his alchemical skill. And, apparently, his looks as well. Yet he has never given another thought about it; it has never bothered nor interested him.

He cannot quite say he is bothered or interested now. But this...awareness...is quite new, different.

Nevertheless. He has work to do, though the suspects that he will not have much time left in the day to do so. Time is harder to measure on the Dragonspine, especially with the storm, but it is important that he maintain at least the semblance of a schedule so as not to disrupt the workflow involving other people.

The next time he comes back into the world from his research, he sees that Lumine has already set up a rather large sleeping bag. Paimon has also been moved, and she continues to sleep on Lumine’s right, the content so evident on the child's face that Albedo cannot help but be amused.

When Lumine notices him looking, she once more pats the empty space to her left.

He stares at her this time, and she tilts her head, considering what it is she wants to say, and Albedo wonders just what the combination of words is going to be.

“Care for another study?” she asks, and Albedo raises an eyebrow.

“You're conducting another experiment?”

“Yes. Shall I call it a study in warmth?”

Albedo crosses his arms, furrowing his brows at this rudimentary implied thesis.

“It is evident that two people sharing a space will produce greater heat than one alone,” he says, and Lumine nods sagely.

“Indeed. But that is not the kind of warmth I'm studying.”

He blinks at her, somewhat unsure of her meaning. He opens his mouth, closes it again.

“So,” she says, smiling a little at his speechlessness. “Will you help me derive results, or not?”

“I...will,” he says, slowly, curious as to what exactly she is trying to do despite himself.

Sleeping beside someone does not deter him. He and Klee have often fallen asleep together. He and Sucrose have slept in their lab before as well. In the Dragonspine, when Timaeus is here for an extended stay, they sleep back to back too. One cannot forgo extra warmth in such a bitterly cold area. While there are some alchemical adjustments that Albedo has made to his camp so that he can conduct his experiments in peace without having to worry about freezing to death, he does have to be careful with his resources here, as it is much more difficult to transport or to request materials to be transported for him.

So he does not feel odd when he slides into place beside Lumine, who throws an additional quilt (a gift from someone, perhaps?) atop them. They lie down and stare at each other, face to face, for a while before Albedo turns to his side. After a moment, he feels Lumine do the same, her back pressed against his.

“...Is there a reason behind this experiment in particular?” he asks.

“I dislike sleeping alone,” Lumine replies easily, as if she were prepared to answer this question. “It doesn't...feel right.”

He remembers, now, that she had been cruelly separated from her brother, whom she traveled her whole life with. He supposes this must also be why Paimon, despite being able to fold herself into some other space, is out and about much of the time.

“I see,” is all he says.

“And you?”

“I suppose...I have never quite thought about it. Klee will come to my room, sometimes. And sometimes I will stay with her in hers. I sleep when I need to. If I cannot, I work. I suppose I have not considered being lonely in sleep.”

“And otherwise?”

“Hm?”

“Have you considered loneliness, otherwise?”

He can feel that she has turned again, facing his back now. After a moment, he turns, too.

“As I said. Dispelling it is not essential for life. But it does not hurt.”

“And has it hurt before, oh Kreideprinz?”

He is not sure he likes to hear that title from her, no matter how softly she says it.

“I do not always notice until I am without it,” he admits after a while.

...Ah.

He blinks in realization. Lumine notices, and her lips curl up into a little smile.

“I’m glad,” she says, not to his words but what his expression reveals.

He pauses.

“Why….should you be glad?”

She raises an eyebrow.

“Are you so quick to take back our friendship?”

“Oh, no,” he says frowning a little at the thought of losing her regard as such, “But even as friends…there are greater things to occupy your mind, yes? Especially for you. To be concerned for my loneliness takes up unnecessary space in your mind that would be better spent on more important matters.”

She blinks at him.

“Ah, but important by your standard and not mine, isn’t it?”

He pauses.

“Perhaps. But does it change nothing if I say you need not be concerned for me?”

Her turn to pause.

“I suppose it could change a little. But by that logic, if I say that you need not be so…academically interested in me, does that reduce anything?”

“Ah, but you have questions about yourself that you cannot answer, and so even you are not uninterested in yourself. So how will you be able to convince me that there is nothing of interest about you?”

“Are you so uninterested in your own self, then?”

“Questions that I used to have have been answered. Perhaps there are new things here and there to discover. But I no longer find myself an interesting subject of study.”

She stares at him for a moment, not speaking, then her eyes grow ever so slightly amused.

“I think,” she begins, considering her words again, “I should like to give you a new question about yourself to ponder.”

He blinks, waiting for the said question, but it does not come. Instead, she yawns.

“It’s gotten even later,” she murmurs, eyes half-lidded, “You, Sir Albedo, are an unexpectedly noisy bed partner.”

He blinks at the wording, though her tone is light.

“My apologies, I got carried away,” he says, and she smiles a little at that.

“Do you dream, Albedo?” she asks, after a few heartbeats, her voice growing quieter.

“…Not often, no,” he replies.

“Then you’ll have to forgive me for mine,” she says, turning to the other side and drawing Paimon closer, “Wake me, if I…if it gets to be too much.”

The end of the conversation is clear, though he wishes to ask what she means. And yet, he thinks he may understand.

By her breathing, he knows that it takes her a while longer to fall asleep. He thinks about their backs pressed together, the slight difference he feels in this contact compared to other times he has done such a thing.

When her breathing slows, Albedo finally closes his eyes, and rests.

He is a light sleeper.

Albedo wakes to a distressed murmur, and he half-rises before he realizes it is coming from Lumine.

“Wait!” she cries, “Aether…don’t go!”

She reaches out a desperate hand, and reflexively, he grabs it. The contact seems to ground her, and though she lets out another strangled sob, she quiets.

Albedo stares. Again, he is not so unfamiliar with this type of thing; Klee has had nightmares before too, and takes comfort in his presence those nights. But the feeling is different now, and he is not so sure that he should be…allowed…to do this.

Another soft noise, and he looks over to see Paimon sitting up, peeking at him from Lumine’s other side.

“Keep holding her hand?” Paimon requests, as she closes the small gap that has formed between her and Lumine throughout the night, snuggling close.

“Alright,” Albedo says, and lies back down.

After a moment, he touches his forehead to the top of Lumine’s head.

“Don’t go,” Lumine whispers again.

Albedo does not answer her; he cannot promise her that, and nor is he the one meant to be answering. But he closes his eyes and continues to hold her hand, and thinks about the warmth generated between them.

Albedo wakes before her; he does not need as much sleep as many others, and quietly slides himself out of the sleeping back to get his day started. The blizzard has quieted overnight, and he is glad that he will be able to go back out into the field with some proper preparations.

He begins making breakfast, adjusting the setup over the fire to accommodate a frying pan for pancakes. When he flips the first one over, he can hear Paimon floating towards him already. There’s a slight initial sound associated with it, and he wonders about the source—and reason for it. Another thing to research, if he gets permission one day.

“Pancakes!” Paimon exclaims, her tone still a little sleepy. “Paimon wants…hmm…fifteen!”

Albedo glances at the bowl of batter, calculating the portions.

“Might you have more ingredients in Lumine’s bag?”

“Sure do! Hold on a sec.”

He watches as Paimon floats back over to the still-sleeping Traveler, patting her cheeks a little.

“Lumine! Lumi, bag!”

The girl in question mumbles, holding up her hand. Paimon catches the bag as it materializes, and carries it over to Albedo.

“Here! Careful, though. Even Paimon doesn’t know everything that’s in it!”

Questions, questions, questions abound. The bag too seems to follow the odd principles of the Traveler and her companion, in that it carries far more than it looks like it should. Or is it Lumine’s power, or perhaps a combination of hers and Paimon’s, that allows for the bag to do so?

He glances at Paimon, considering asking, but decides against it, as he does not think she will be able to answer.

Nevertheless, pancakes. He quadruples his usual recipe, and by the time he is done flipping and Paimon has eaten five with copious amounts of honey and berries (procured once more from the Traveler’s mysterious bag), Lumine has gotten up, yawning.

“Good morning,” she greets drowsily, seating herself beside the fire.

“You slept hard this time!” Paimon says, “That’s good. You should sleep more.”

“Mmm…” Lumine murmurs absentmindedly, then blinks as she realizes what her companion has said.

She turns to Albedo, expression vaguely surprised, her mouth open to say something; he blinks at her unassumingly, and after a moment, she forgoes asking. She looks at the tall stack of pancakes instead.

“Have we cleaned out your supplies?” she asks, and Albedo shakes his head.

“Paimon procured your bag from you while you were still half-asleep; I may have cleaned out yours.”

“Standard occurrence, when one must feed Paimon,” Lumine says, and Paimon protests through a mouthful of pancake. “Fine. And myself,” Lumine chuckles, and Albedo hands her a plate of breakfast. “Oh, thank you. Is there anything else in there that you need?”

As it turns out, he does need more butterfly wings, horsetails, and flaming flower stamens. She insists on giving them to him, saying that she has too many of them right now anyway.

“You should really stop picking up everything you come across,” Paimon chides.

“But you never know when they’ll be needed,” Lumine counters sagely. “Like now, to give to someone.”

Paimon cannot contest that, and relents. Albedo takes the materials gratefully.

The group cleans up and packs up after breakfast; with the storm no longer raging, Albedo wants to make use of the daylight for field research, and Lumine and Paimon must be on their way too. There’s a domain at the summit they want to reach before night falls. They spend the next half-hour or so at Albedo’s crafting table, and he watches with approval as they make a plethora of potions and to aid them on their travels.

After they are all appropriately bundled up, he walks with them partway.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Lumine says at their parting point, Paimon echoing her sentiments.

“It was a pleasure,” he says, “Thank you for cooking, as well. And…I hope your study had a positive outcome.”

Her eyes crinkle.

“There were some interesting results,” she says, “And more questions, perhaps. But such is the nature of research, isn’t it? The answer to the bigger question will reveal itself eventually.”

Albedo tilts his head, wondering about the tone of her voice, holding his hand to his chin in thought.

“A bigger question?” he queries, “So your…study in warmth was part of a more complex equation?”

She looks both sheepish and a little distant at that, hesitating a bit before speaking.

“…Call it a study in happiness, if you will.”

“…Are you not happy?” he asks, surprised.

“Ah, that is not what I said.”

Albedo stares, scrutinizing her expression, and she raises an eyebrow, scrutinizing him in turn. After a moment, she uses her foot to dig a small trench in the snow, as if she is deliberating about whether or not to actually answer him.

“My brother and I traveled together, just the two of us, for a very long time. I have never been without him until now,” she begins, her voice eerily flat, “I dream of him often; I dream of chasing him, unable to catch up no matter what I do, and him telling me that I’ve come too late. That I could be happy without him was inconceivable. And yet, I’ve managed to find joy during our time apart, too. So—was I…were we truly happy, then? Even if happiness is many things…even if it can exist independently of one another…that frightens me. So now…when we meet again, can we be happy together the same way we were before?”

Albedo is silent. She continues.

“So I suppose I am searching for the truth behind happiness. For many people, it seems to begin with what or where they consider home. Aether and I…our home…it has been lost for a long time. And now…?”

“…And now?” Albedo prompts, when she trails off for too long, her gaze faraway.

She blinks, and focuses on him again, her tone blasé.

“A home could be many things, too. It could be a country, or a city. Or a cave.” She pauses. “Or the center of someone’s palm.”

Albedo blinks, feeling…strange. Something in the conversation has turned, and his skin prickles. Paimon, who had been listening in rare silence having been unable to keep up with the conversation, looks between the two of them curiously.

“So…what is a home, and what is happiness? Perhaps you will beat me to such an answer, in your search for the truth of this world,” Lumine finishes, offering him a small smile.

He closes his mouth that he hasn’t realized fell open a little.

“I…will be sure to let you know, if I do,” he replies, uncertainly.

“I’ll visit you again sometime,” she says, waving as she half-turns away, “Or if you see me, please say hello.”

“I…will,” he replies, holding up his own hand in goodbye.

“Bye, Albedo!” Paimon exclaims, seeming relieved that the difficult topics have passed, and the two are off.

Albedo watches them go, only putting his hand down when they disappear into the distance. He stares at his hand for a while, and as he does, a crystalfly flutters into his palm.

Gently, he closes his fingers around it, and transforms it into a bird. The creature, baffled at the change, flutters its wings in rapid, confused panic.

He turns it back into a crystalfly hastily, realizing that such a bird would not be able to survive in this frigid climate. It flies off after that, its path a little off-kilter.

He watches it go, realizing belatedly that his heart too beats a different rhythm.

#genshin impact #genshin lumine #genshin traveler #genshin albedo #genshin impact fic #kreideprinz #albelumi #fanfiction

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dazais-guardian-angel · 2 years

Text

2021 Fanfic Tag Meme

@sixtyfourk tagged me to do this about a week ago; am I only now scrambling to do it in the last few hours of 2021? yes. does that basically sum up my work ethic/productivity in general? unfortunately also yes.

Word Count: 19,423

Words on ao3: 7 oneshots

Pairings written for: none lol

Fandoms written for: Professor Layton, Dai Gyakuten Saiban, and Genshin Impact

Most popular story: So You Never Lie Again, the sole and first Genshin fanfic I wrote this year, which.... well, it’s not at all surprising that one was going to be vastly more popular lol, with such a massive fanbase compared to the other two I wrote for this year. It was a rather spur of the moment story considering that for the most part I’m not invested enough in Genshin to write for it (a lot of what I want to read for that fandom already exists, honestly, and its universe also kinda intimidates the hell out of me), but some of the most recent updates changed that and I do have a few more ideas I want to write for the game in the future.

Funniest story: I.... I don��t think any of these are funny.... I barely write funny things :’D

Story I’m most proud of: Probably Happiness Is..., which is a short, introspective piece about Rupert Chrogray/Ashley Graydon from DGS, my favorite character in the game (duh :P). It’s rather short for me, but I think I did quite a good job at summing up and capturing the beautiful tragedy and complexities of his amazing character in only a few words, and I’m very satisfied with the flow of it and said word choices... With all my stories about him, I want to make people who may have glossed over him before understand what makes him so compelling and sympathetic, and I think I was able to accomplish that perfectly here.

Saddest story: ...probably the aforementioned “Happiness Is”... lol, I mean it does end with me killing Rupert off when he has nothing but regrets, the one time I’ve decided I will ever do that :’)

Least popular story: The Light of Ashen Dreams, but I literally just wrote it on Christmas eve and posted it, and it’s extremely short and hardly my best work, so I’m not surprised lol

Most cringeworthy story: yeah, let’s be honest, it’s the aforementioned “Light of Ashen Dreams” lol (god do I cringe at all my titles in general-) I wrote it on a whim on my phone for about 3 hours Christmas night, having never written a fic on my phone before, and spent a few hours editing it Christmas day before posting it, just because I was frustrated with how long I’d gone without writing anything and wanted to put something up before the end of the year, so... yeah. It was based on an image I’ve had in my head for a long time, so it didn’t come COMPLETELY out of nowhere, but it was still probably rushed, and definitely cheesy smh

Favorite Opening Line(s): The opening of, again, “Happiness Is...”, the first line of which was my basis for the entire fic (along with a doujin on pixiv):

“I simply do what I can. And well, to me, there are some things in life that cannot be bought with money.”

His father had said this, once, when he had asked him how he could go on. Could continue to bear such a miserable existence under such miserable burdens, without even putting up a fight. He had answered without judgement, without patronizing, without a single ounce of naivete; simply stared directly into his eyes with that ever-present, quiet hopefulness, framed by that same, tired smile.

Favorite Closing Lines(s): The ending to my DGS/PL crossover, Like a Flame to a Cold Heart, because something something symbolism about reverting back to your old name something something feels :’)

“…Rupert.”

A hand throws off his hood, sending misty white flying, the other moving to his chest, as he dips into a graceful bow.

“Rupert Milverton.”

Top Scenes from Anywhere You Would Choose to Have Illustrated: The scene that is the main bulk of While You and I, Keep Ourselves Warm... more specifically the hug I guess... I just love Rupert and his dad so so much, I’m dying for more art of them :’) i want to see them happy and soft together... *cries*

Stories I haven’t yet written, but intend to: God, so fucking much. Most ideally, my DGS Gina and Rupert enemies-to-siblings/friends slowburn WIP, that I started earlier this year and already have about 6k of, but then paused in order to wait to play DGS2 in July and then ignored cause of health shit. Something about the Inazuma story arc in Genshin I wanna write, as well as something about the most recent Albedo story developments. Two ideas I have for - god I hate that I’m even saying this - Demon Slayer, focused on Rengoku cause the demon slayer movie is and forever will be the only part of demon slayer i give a shit about. Two ideas I have related to the most recent and now premature final :’) chapter of Tales of Crestoria, and I wanna write more for Crestoria in general. And overall just a lot of vague wanting to write more for DGS and PL in general, cause those are what I focused on the most last year and I definitely have so much more I need to get out about those games.

Fic-writing goals for 2022: write. more. god fuckign damn just write more. My mental health has been so bad this year, due to my physical health sucking and mega anxiety (not just mental anxiety but anxiety affecting my body! which makes my mental health even worse!) and shit with parents, but there was still so much time that I was fine and could have been writing and just. didn’t. because hahahaaa untreated adhd I most certainly do have amiright 👉👉 :’) And I honestly don’t know how to improve on that front, without meds, which I really don’t want because I already take enough freaking meds as it is (and I’m not even officially diagnosed, at any rate), but.... I just... gotta try harder to hold myself accountable and write more.... haaaahhhh.... and also not rely so much on comments to motivate me. My stuff is so niche that it’s never going to get many comments, and I just need to accept that, and not let the lack of them affect me...

Thanks for tagging me, K! I’m not gonna tag anyone cause it’s already basically 2022 fkdls;lkdfglf, but if anyone wants to do, this feel free...!

#tag meme #my writing

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