INTRO: Hello Iâm 358Jours! But please refer me as either Jour, or Cat. Slow fan-fiction writer for different fandoms, Iâm over 18, They/Them, though Iâd rather not use any pronouns at all. English isnât my native tongue so I apologize for any mistake you might encounter from here-on. Please enjoy !
BEWARE: DMS and submissions are off all year; asks will open if/when I open requests.
AO3 - BYF - MASTERLISTSÂ - MISC
RECENTLY:
⤠ăTartagliaăStarconches by the seashore TUMBLRâ˘AO3
⤠ăJing YuanăBird in your hands TUMBLRâ˘AO3
Hello! Jours / Cat here :) Iâm planning on doing a self indulgent series of one-shots but Iâm not omniscient. Which is why Iâm asking for your help! I have turned on Asks and Anon.
Could you please send me an ask with your favourite character(s) from HSR/Genshin and what would you like to tell them the most from the bottom of your heart? Multiple are ok! Just please be clear about what youâre saying to who. Example: to Tartaglia: Iâm sorry for what youâve been through but Iâm glad youâre here / to Venti: You are my favourite
itâs been a while but Iâm still writing, and new layout yay! I love Ebenholz although Iâm not really into AK haha. Venti is still my big favourite, and heâs the star of my side blog @offjours so no worries there
Genre/Tagsâ˘SFW, fluff, Reader is a big introvert and is sleep deprived, shopping dates, PDA, written and posted before game launchâ˘Crossposted on AO3
You stifle another yawn as Yanqing drags you around. Youâre holding hands, fingers laced together. He walks ahead of you, loud joy in his steps. Heâs almost always sporting a smile in public, but the happiness radiating off of him right now is something else. He forced you out of your room today, and though you love his presence, your social battery can only last so long. At this point, youâre practically dead weight heâs carrying on his own.
Genre/Tagsâ˘SFW, fluff, Reader is a big introvert and is sleep deprived, shopping dates, PDA, written and posted before game launchâ˘Crossposted on AO3
You stifle another yawn as Yanqing drags you around. Youâre holding hands, fingers laced together. He walks ahead of you, loud joy in his steps. Heâs almost always sporting a smile in public, but the happiness radiating off of him right now is something else. He forced you out of your room today, and though you love his presence, your social battery can only last so long. At this point, youâre practically dead weight heâs carrying on his own.
Genre/Tagsâ˘SFW, fluff, Reader is a big introvert and is sleep deprived, shopping dates, PDA, written and posted before game launchâ˘Crossposted on AO3
You stifle another yawn as Yanqing drags you around. Youâre holding hands, fingers laced together. He walks ahead of you, loud joy in his steps. Heâs almost always sporting a smile in public, but the happiness radiating off of him right now is something else. He forced you out of your room today, and though you love his presence, your social battery can only last so long. At this point, youâre practically dead weight heâs carrying on his own.
Genre/Tagsâ˘SFW, fluff, Reader is a big introvert and is sleep deprived, shopping dates, PDA, written and posted before game launchâ˘Crossposted on AO3
You stifle another yawn as Yanqing drags you around. Youâre holding hands, fingers laced together. He walks ahead of you, loud joy in his steps. Heâs almost always sporting a smile in public, but the happiness radiating off of him right now is something else. He forced you out of your room today, and though you love his presence, your social battery can only last so long. At this point, youâre practically dead weight heâs carrying on his own.
Yanqing is an energetic young man, extroverted, optimistic, though perhaps a bit naive. He enjoys anything that has to do with swords the most such as taking care of them, training, competitions. Heâs also a big spender on his hobbies, always ending up begging his father âor even youâ to finance his basic needs. Many people are aware of who he is due to all that, and also the fact heâs the lieutenant.Â
You are the opposite. An introverted soul, sleep deprived, fond of staying inside. You tend to stay up far too late into the night, kept up by good video games, and bad decisions. âI can still play, like, fifteen minutes moreâ, cue three am beeping on your alarm clock after hours passed unnoticed. You could count on one hand those aware of who you are too. First General Jing Yuan, the leader of the Luofu himself, then an unnamed accountant, whose existence only matters for a single reason (your pay), and Yanqing himself. Perhaps Marshal Hua might count as well as she knows about everything, but you never met her personally.Â
Yanqing is the only person able to drag you out of your room for more than an hour, and the only person able to drag you out outside at all. Perhaps âdrag you outâ is too strong a word as you always consent to going out with him, but your mood is a bit sour from your dead social battery and the fatigue in your body. As far as youâre aware, everyone on the Luofu market street has dubbed you âYanqingâs sleepy partnerâ (You canât really blame them, it would be quite awkward to ask âso whatâs your name?â while your self-proclaimed knight in shining armor is right by your side). You have a very âcat and dogâ personality contrast that makes people laugh, opposites attract or so they say.Â
.
Yanqing pulls you forward amidst the crowd. âFinally, weâve arrived at the Artisanship Commission!â
You take a moment to take in the sight. The sun is high, barely two in the afternoon, and illuminates the red city radiantly, this shop as well. The view is beautiful, yes, but honestly your mind is so jaded, itâs hard to grasp reality. Hopefully this is the last stop for today, Aeons know you wonât survive if you donât get your afternoon nap. You hear Yanqing's voice andâ oh heâs talking to a vendor, nevermind. They seem to know each other, by the way they laugh at least.Â
You look over to the swords on display. Theyâre all impressive, a vast range of different colors and sizes. The one you like best is mainly clear blue and has a yin-yang on its guard, it looks pretty though perhaps a bit heavy for Yanqing? The second one is thinner, itâs mainly black with white and blue accents. It would look good in his hands. The one beside it is ew full-gold yellow, and though the color is less than attractive, the details forged on it are stunning.Â
You donât notice the vendor handing Yanqing a sword. He lifts the hand youâre holding, and looks at you curiously. You let go sheepishly to which he only smiles. The vendor giggles. Ah, embarrassing.Â
You space out once more while Yanqing listens with grand attention to the explanations about the ki-controlled attacks the sword can perform. Youâre kind of staring at him as he tests the sword through different movements, touching the blade with the tip of his finger. It looks alright, but the swords on display are prettier. He hands it back, the vendor leaves for a moment, and comes back with another. The same happens, and again, and again, and you feel your legs more and more. Trying not to yawn becomes harder and harder.
Your interest is peaked when the vendor brings him the sword with the yin-yang guard. They talk about the features again, he moves it a bit. He hums, does bigger movements, it seems he likes this one too. You rest your head against his shoulder âI like this one.âÂ
He shifts his head slightly. âReally?âÂ
âYeah. Itâs pretty and it goes well with your outfit. You should take a dark gray scabbard to go with it.âÂ
Yanqing hums. He looks at the sword one last time before handing it back. âAlright, Iâll take two, and two dark gray scabbards.âÂ
The vendor looks very surprised, but happily obliges. They shuffle, occupied in preparing his purchases. Your partner sports a smile on his face, his happiness showing through his proud stance. You donât fight your yawn this time, and close your eyes. You open them soon after at the sound of a pathetic whine and your name however. Yanqingâs face is contorted in dread. Youâre a bit confused about what is wrong, your mind foggyâ oh.Â
.
His wallet is completely empty.Â
You laugh loudly, which makes him even more embarrassed. âHey, come on! How am I supposed to pay now? And I already said I was taking it home tooâŚâ But it only worsens your fit. You grip onto his arm to not fall. The vendor comes back, and Yanqing hastily hides the hollow pouch. He looks at the vendor worriedly as you continue laughing against him.Â
âYou two are adorable together. Mind repeating your joke?â The vendor smiles at you both.Â
âYeah, thank you. Uh.â Yanqing let out an embarrassed laugh as he scratched the back of his neck.Â
You recover enough to hand your credit card to the vendor. âHe forgot his money at home.â Yanqing stutters as the vendor snorts. Youâre handed back your card, and your partner receives his new swords. He carries them with his left arm while his right hand is occupied, as he refuses not to hold hands with you whenever you are out.Â
You walk together for a bit, saying nothing. Heâs not dragging you everywhere like before anymore, thankfully. The sun is still high, but at least forty minutes have passed, if not more. Yanqing is the first to break the silence, âYou should name it, the sword. But itâs important so you should think deeply about it, yeah?âÂ
You hum, your mind occupied by other priorities. You pull him in a direction. âNap time.âÂ
âWhat?!â Heâs taken aback, clearly confused and in shock. âNo way Iâll let you name it that!â
You pull him again andâ push him to sit on a bench? Heâs still lost, looking at you for clarification. Heâs by the far side while you go sit in the middle. Heâs about to ask more when you suddenly lay down. Your head goes to rest on his lap. âNap time, wake me up in one hour or if it starts raining.âÂ
Yanqing opens his mouth and closes it, still confused although now flustered. âReally? Right here, right now? I thought you disliked being in public.â
You hum a bit, shifting, making yourself comfortable on the hard bench. It would take longer than one hour before getting sunburned right? So this is probably fine. Between the sun high in the sky, the soft breeze, and the comfort of Yanqing, you donât think youâll have much trouble resting in public. âBed is too far, and Iâm so âeepy.â
He huffs, although thereâs a smile on his face. âAlright.âÂ
Genre/Tagsâ˘SFW, fluff, Dan heng has anxiety, first meetings, pining, written and posted before game launchâ˘Crossposted on AO3
Though reserved, Dan Heng is completely in tune with his body, his emotions, and most importantlyâ his intuition. His instincts are what made him run from Xianzhou, what made him run from the IPC, what got him boarding the Astral Express. It kept him away from the wrong people, itâs what made him join the ones worthy of trust and heâs now in an environment that doesnât force him to face his past. His intuition is the reason he is still alive this far, so he never doubts any of it.Â
Or had, until this very moment where heâs not so sure of himself anymore.
You seem like a loving soul, so caring in every way you exist. Your soothing aura only makes the beating of his heart more erratic. Thatâs what he blames this odd feeling on, your kindness.Â
Dan Heng has laid his eyes on plenty of beautiful partners in his life, he knows what lust entails. The way heâs drawn to you? itâs something deeper than simple attraction, something instinctual. Something that has never happened before. Something heâs scared of.Â
He wishes he wasnât on babysitting March Seventh duty so often so he could approach you and yet â even in his free time, his apprehension keeps him a distance away from you. Thatâs the best he can do, look at what you do, listen in on any conversation youâre having, gaze at your form, avert his eyes when your face turns in his direction. Itâs a bit like dancing: one step forward, two steps back, except the steps are very very small.Â
He thinks heâs slick about it but his self-doubt makes him second guess himself. He hopes nobody has noticed, and especially not you. (Though he secretly wishes you did, so you would take the leap heâs so scared of, so you would approach him. Until then heâll keep away, waiting.)
Dan Heng stares at the charm in his hand, lost as to what to do. Itâs not from a passenger, as itâs been lost in the private lobby of the Astral express. But the place is completely empty now, except for himself. Itâs obvious itâs a cherished item, as seen by how used it looks. It has a bit of a weight, despite being made of fabric. Heâs dubious on who would own such a keychain however. It doesnât seem like something March would own, neither Welt, nor HimekoâŚ
His mind halts when he realizes itâs probably yours.Â
What should he do? Leave it here? Heâs not too sure about which places are considered âyoursâ, where would only you find it. March is a troublesome girl, if she found out anything the whole Astral Express would know of it by the end of the day. Himeko is a perceptive woman, if she had any idea of his inner turmoil about you, she would probably chastise him about it. Welt is a bit more respectful, giving it to him would have lesser consequences unless you asked who found it backâŚ
âDan Heng, youâre here!â The boy closes his fist at the sound of March Seventhâs voice. Defeated by the circumstances, he pockets the charm. The girl grabs his arm, full of energy as always. âCome on, Himeko called for us in the control room.â
Heâll deal with the keychain later, if he doesnât forget about it.
He forgets about it. Well, not completely at least. His subconscious reminds him of it when he canât sleep at night, when all his worries come for his throat. Otherwise, it doesnât cross his mind unless youâre in the same room as him, which isnât too often. Whenever that happens, youâre usually busy with someone else, occupied with your phone or the time simply isnât right (read: he didnât have the courage to approach.). He carries the charm with him most of the time, unless heâs out of the Express.Â
He blames it on being occupied, on not being sure itâs yours. Of course, fate has other plans.
Dan Heng follows March Seventh into the private lobby of the Astral Express. Heâs a bit tired, his step quieter than the pitter patter of his companion. âWeâre back! Everything went well we gotâ whatâs wrong?âÂ
Three âwelcome backâ rings out in response. Welt and Himeko are, as usual, sipping tea as they sit facing each other. What caught their attention is youâ whoâs under a table searching for something. You shift around to look at them. âAh, the strap of my phone charm broke earlier and I donât know where the keychain ended up. Iâm hoping itâs somewhere here, but I canât find it.âÂ
âOh no! Iâll help you find it!â March jumps out to join you.Â
âReally? You donât have to, but thank you. We will definitely get it back if thereâs two of us. Youâre kinder than the elders.âÂ
Himeko snorts at the jab. âThink about our poor old backs. Besides, we have to finish our tea while itâs still warm.â Welt smiles as you laugh.Â
Dan Heng averts his eyes. Of course itâs yours, of course. He shouldâve known better, that right at the perfect opportunity to give it back to you, he doesnât have it on himself. March will definitely talk about the mission in high detail, thereâs no need for him here. He sighs quietly, opting to go back to his bedroom.
The next time heâs out of the Express, heâs accompanied by you and March. Itâs a simple errand run, nothing as strenuous as some other missions. Heâs not really needed but Welt insisted, âYouâre more perceptive than March, itâs simply so she doesnât get in trouble.â
Said girl has her arm linked with yours as she blabbers endlessly. You donât mind, commenting here and then to show youâre listening. Dan Heng keeps to himself trailing behind you both, simply making sure youâre going the right way.Â
Despite the anxiety of running into someone from his past, heâs content being present. He could count the times you were out of the Express on a single hand, and never with him. Itâs nice to see you out, how you react outside, how you interact with March, what shops and items catch your attention. Youâre relaxed in the way you walk, andâ Dan looks up to the sky. Heâs only a man after all.
âWe better find you a new charm before we get back!â March exclaimed. The boy curses under his breath, ânot this damn charm againâŚâ He left it in his bedroom this time.
âBut why? Thereâs no need if it doesnât mean anything special.â Your face expresses your confusion.Â
The girl shakes your form with all her strength, faking anger. âAw come on, donât you buy things just because you like them? Take it as a gift from me, thatâs special enough. Besides, you seemed really bummed out about losing your old one.âÂ
You only chuckle awkwardly but Dan is sensitive to your unease. Youâre kind, and you enjoy caring for others but it seems you dislike when someone helps you in return. He sighs when he feels his heart warming up. âMarch, you need to stop making people uncomfortable. That charm held a lot of dear memories, replacing it with a new one just like that wonât cut it.â
You both turn around, surprise on your faces (he wonders, did you forget about his presence?). The girlâs gaping mouth turned into a pout. She protested, but all went from one ear to the other when he saw your smile. You nod in gratefulness, your eyes softening. His lips curl up ever so slightly.Â
Marchâs voice shakes him awake, heâs forced to look away. âHey come on, are you listening to me!? Youâve been so quiet this far, somehow quieter than usual!âÂ
âYouâre so loud, itâs hard not to. Besides, you talk enough for the both of us.â
As she lets out an astronomically comical gasp, your laugh rings out.
He makes his way out of the lobby, toward his bedroom. The Express wonât arrive at its next destination anytime soon. It means he gets some time for himself, to think, and to decompress.Â
He reminisces about his past, what he has accomplished since he got on the express, where he would go if he had to leave again. He ponders about his companion⌠Itâs been a while since he last saw you. The weight of your charm is almost none in his pocket, but itâs still there. Itâs probably better to give up at this point.Â
He should think about something else.
His steps are quiet as he walks through the train. The cabins to his right look all the same: classic green seats, light brown and black walls, dark gray floor, completely empty. One, two, three, four, five, six cabins per wagon. He opens the door connecting to the next car, and goes in. One, two, three, four, andâ he stops.Â
This cabin door is open. He didnât expect for you to be there. Seems like thinking about the wolf got him seeing the real one. Youâre reading a book, sitting sideways with your back against the window. Your current outfit is more casual (and probably comfortable) than what he usually sees you in, but it fits you just as good.Â
You turn the page, look up, then back to your page andâ you do a double take when you notice him at the door. Youâre a bit surprised, but your smile tells him itâs not the bad kind. âDan Heng, hello! Please donât simply stand there, come sit down. How are you, is there anything I can do for you?â
âHello. Iâm fine, what about you?â His steps are just the slightest bit uncertain, smaller than his usual walk. He comes to sit down on the opposite couch.Â
âReally? You seem a bit tired though, are you sure youâre getting enough rest?â Thereâs something in your smirk, as if you know what he does not. Your eyes have a glint of mischief in them, and he wonders if you see right through him.Â
He avoids your stare, opting to close his eyes for a moment. âNothing a couple nights cannot fix.âÂ
âHm.â You look at him a bit longer, your expression relaxing. Your head turns sideways, akin to a dog. A moment passes, until you shift back to continue your book. âIf you have trouble sleeping, I have medicine and concoctions from Xianzhou that are rather effective. Donât be a stranger, Iâll give you some whenever you ask.â
Dan Heng doesnât answer. All people aboard the Astral Express are kind, but your kindness is not something heâs used to. Your care seems so familiar, something he hasnât felt in a long time. He stopped getting too close to those generous-types, sheltering himself was a matter of survival. But youâre a part of this crew for a reason, he reasons.Â
And suddenly, heâs not too sure of himself. Heâs lost on what to talk about. He really would like to rest, get back to his room, but he doesnât get up. His instincts scream at him to stay with you longer, and leaving now would be pretty awkward. The air is slightly stuffy between you two, or perhaps itâs just him given how deep in your book you are.
His hand goes into his pocket, grasping at the cause of all of this. The weight of the charm is almost none in his hand, but the weight of what it implies sparks up his anxiety. âExcuse me,â You look up at him curiously. He slowly extends his hand toward you. âIs this⌠yours?â
âMy charm! You found it back!â The happiness on your face is something he doesnât get to see often. Your grin, the light in your eyes, the way your attention is on him, itâs all a bit much. Your hands touch his to grasp the keychain. Thereâs sparkles on your face as you inspect it. âThank you so much. Youâre really a reliable person, Dan Heng.âÂ
âItâs nothing.â His hand scratches at the back of his neck, ears blushing at the compliment. All the pressure on his shoulders evaporates, perhaps it was all him from the very start. Youâre easier to approach than what his apprehensions told him, always returning each gesture no matter how small. Your consideration of others is a virtue he has always liked about you. He was wrong to count himself out because of his past, youâre ignorant of who he used to be.
He exhales, his first attempt at a conversation starter. âThat keychain seems to mean a lot to you.âÂ
âYou noticed? This lilâ guyâs got quite the story.â You look at him kindly.
 And as you start explaining why that charm is so special to you, as he listens to it all, Dan Heng realizes it was wrong of him to dub you as a stranger. You were more than that since the very start.Â
Genre/Tagsâ˘SFW, fluff, Reader has wings, wing grooming, softness and non-sexual intimacy, written and posted before game launchâ˘Crossposted on AO3
Jing Yuan, now labeled âDozing Generalâ behind doors, used to reign upon the battlefield in his younger days. His awareness, his foresight, his strategy, his instinct, his strength, all made him terrifying to fight. With the aid of the lighting element, few were the enemies he wasnât able to take down. Perhaps the no manâs land was waiting to be claimed by him, to be renamed âJing Yuanâs landâ.Â
He wasnât perfect of course, he had his share of lost battles. But he had led his men to victory far many more times than he ever had defeat.Â
Peace has claimed Xianzhou since then. Everything has changed, and no longer does he need to kill for victory. The battles moved from warfronts to conference rooms. Through diplomatic negotiations, treaties, alliances, trades, the living conditions of the citizens improved. His did too.
He has adapted, and every day still uses the many skills he learned on the battlefront. He is meticulous in his routine, planning everything so that no problem arises. Perhaps another person wouldâve complained about the mental toll. But he is Jing Yuan, to deal with the consequences rather than preventing them is not his style. Better be safe than sorry as many say, and surely, all of this is why he follows the path of erudition.Â
He savors peace in his own way. Taking a nap, laying in the sun, going on a stroll, enjoying the way he can just be boredâ those are all the fruits of his hard work. His drowsy demeanor makes him appear lazy in the eyes of others, but he is content knowing none have to deal with his âactually acting like a generalâ persona. It is much less enjoyable for everybody.Â
He was often compared to a lion back on the battlefield, and it still fits him now, in different ways.
You were attributed to his flagship, the Xianzhou Luofu, not as a soldier but as a scout for reconnaissance and investigation. After all, there is little use in making you a regular fighter when that pair of wings on your back gives you many other opportunities. Bird people arenât the hybrid norm in Xianzhou as it is the known territory of Foxians.Â
Perhaps this is why you caught his attentionâ his subconscious feline instincts reacting to your rare avian attributes. Natural prey and predator, or something along those lines. He had listened to his urges onceâ to tease you for one of your miscalculations despite being barely acquainted general and subordinate. The face and noises you made had been far too entertaining. Playfully bothering you and seeing your honest reactions to his banter became one of his favorite pastimes.Â
Which is why when he finds you squirming around, he doesn't announce his presence. You are trying to reach something on your back, stretching yourself into unspeakable positions to achieve your goal, but with no luck. The curses leaving your lips constantly make the general raise an eyebrow. He has never heard you swear this much in a single instance.Â
As much as your floundering entertains him, it is getting a little painful. âMay I help?âÂ
âAh!â To say you jump in surprise would be an understatement. Your wings flap instinctively, and bam, into the ceiling. Your landing is quite off too. You grasp at the top of your head with your hands, âow ow ow ouchâ. Yanqing, passing by right at that moment, laughs his heart out. The loud sound rings out throughout the halls, even after he is gone. Your embarrassment deepens.Â
Finally you turn around. âIs there anything amiss, General?â
âIt seems you are struggling with something. I was wondering if you needed my aid. Iâd rather you donât end up with a concussion.â Jing Yuan laughs.Â
âIâ Iâm pretty sure a concussion is harder to get than simply this, sir.â You look at the floor, abashed. He only chuckles, his trademark lazy smile on his face. One moment pass, another, and finally you cave when your eyes meet his. âAs for help, well⌠Something in my wings is bothering me and I donât know where I put my brush. Just combing through with my hands is usually fine but my arms are errr too short for this I fear. If you have the spare time I would appreciate the help. Iâm a bit embarrassed to ask you that as you are my superior though.âÂ
All in one breath. Jing Yuan smiles a bit more. âOf course, to be allowed to touch a bird-personâs wings, isnât that the highest honor possible?âÂ
Your hands scratch the back of your head sheepishly before you turn around to lead him somewhere else. He follows, nonchalant. Though youâre trying your best not to open them in enclosed space, he sees your wings flutter every now and then. He wonders how long it has been bothering you, where youâre taking him to. The only sounds covering the silence between you two are the clanking sounds of his armor and your footsteps.
He gets his answer when you two walk into a somewhat large room. Judging by the furniture, itâs half a lounge. But by the hammock suspended in the room and personal items scattered all over the place, itâs half a private bedroom. Itâs not located in the living quarters either. He sees you remove your shoes and put them in a shoe rack by the door. The tension in your body seems gone in an instant. He inquires then, âIs this your room?âÂ
âTechnically itâs no oneâs, but Iâve furnished it and have been living in it the longest. Please remove your shoes and come here once youâre done.â You walk to a chest in the corner, and take out a bunch of pillows that you throw on the fluffy rug.Â
He does as you say and puts his boots by the rack. Itâs odd, having to remove his shoes in a bedroom, itâs a habit he lost with time after he was assigned this ship. Itâs something he does when he gets back to the mainland, something he does when he visits friends. Even in his own room, he has grown out of it.Â
The wooden floor creaks under his weight, until his feet land on the soft and fluffy rug. He arranges the pillows around before he sits down cross legged. Heâs honestly surprised by how nice it feels.
âYanqing and I found this room together, it was pretty much empty back then. I was sleeping in the shared quarters, which was quite a problem since every time my wings would move in my sleep, itâd wake someone up. I asked him if I could have it as my own. He already has his own quarters, so I could have it as long as he could visit anytime. He likes to nap in the hammock and take care of his sword here whenever it rains.âÂ
You come to sit before him, your back facing him.
Jing Yuan blinks slowly. His mind is computing what you just told him. He hadnât considered that aspect of you having those wings, he had viewed them âand you by extensionâ as an advantageous asset, and forgot to take other situations into consideration. This is proof that he still has shortcomings, even in his meticulous planning. âI apologize, I would have prepared something had I known sleeping arrangements were going to be an issue.âÂ
âAh no, no, itâs me! We didnât tell anyone about it and besides, it worked out in my favor at the end of it.â Nervousness suddenly takes over you, afraid you accidentally offended your superior.Â
âDo not worry, you have not offended me. Besides, this is your personal space, we are equals here. Please donât treat me as your superior when we are alone, yes?â He only laughs. The second information is something he has to verify himselfâ âIâm glad you are so close to Yanqing.âÂ
âAh I wouldnât call it âso closeâ, Iâm not sure if weâre even true friends. Heâs a good lieutenant when he needs to be, but the rest of the time heâs⌠Iâm not sure how to say it, I donât think Iâm anyone special to him. Heâs so extraverted and friendly, itâs hard for anyone to dislike him, or to not tell him whenever they need help with something. He probably knows all the latest gossip too.â you laugh too. Â
âThat is true. Iâm lucky to have him as my lieutenant.â With your back facing him, you donât get to see his relieved expression, or the way he smiles at you so fondly. âAre you ready?â
âAh! Yes, of course!â Your wings stretch wide, and Jing Yuan is impressed with the size of them. No wonder sleeping has been a problem for you. âYou can pretty much go through the feathers like how you would with your hair. Though theyâre pretty sensitive, theyâre also sturdier than what most people believe. Do not hesitate if you have to use strength.â
The general hums in response. His hand slowly touches the base of your wings, curious. He has pet small birds in the past, those who didnât fear him due to his laidback aura. But your feathers are different, for obvious reasons. They are all lined up almost perfectly, their colors much more vibrant up close. Theyâre incredibly soft to the touch, the smoothness surprising him somehow.Â
While heâs very tempted to, he has to do more than simply pet your wings. Heâs smart however, and figures he can go at a slower pace so he can enjoy this feeling a bit more. Itâs a guilty pleasure he wonât mention.Â
Itâs his first time doing this of course, but somehow it feels like he has much more experience. He starts combing through the feathers with much care, paying attention to each bump and irregularity. He massages the wing bone before his hands go back through your plumage. You told him he could use more strength, but heâs skilled enough not to. He removes dead feathers so very softly that you donât feel it. He notices your form relaxing gradually. Your back slumps bit by bit, your wings slowly getting closer to touching the ground. Pride blooms in his chest.
Heâs not sure how much time has passed, but once heâs done with both wings youâre sitting asleep. You stir, and when he realizes youâre about to fall, he catches you in his arms. It doesnât seem to bother you all that much as you try to make yourself comfortable against his armoured chest. He thinks about his options carefully, what were his planned duties for the day. But⌠he is the Dozing General for a reason. Â
Heâs careful when he moves to lay on his back, avoiding big sounds made by his armor. You, already in dreamland, donât seem to mind it and only protest when he moves your head to put a pillow under it.Â
With the both of you comfortable, Jing Yuan finally closes his eyes.Â
Tartaglia x GN!Readerâ˘Starconches by the seashore
Word Countâ˘1782
Genre/Tagsâ˘SFW, fluff, so much fluff youâll die of sugar overdose, beach date, sunset, Tartaglia is a show-offâ˘Crossposted on AO3
Originally, you would have been on your own. Originally, you had planned to make a short one-day trip to the shore east of the Sea of Clouds, the one facing the Guyun Stone Forest. Originally, you had brought a polearm with you because itâs the only weapon you know how to handle. Originally, you were just there to get starconches. Originally, you were supposed to be back in Liyue Harbor right at sunset.Â
Originally, youâd have been on your own, lost to your thoughts and empty of any feelings.
That changed when you saw him right at the city gate, until he saw you at the city gate. One wave, a hello, the start of a conversation, âWhere are you going dressed like that? Iâm free today so let me assist you.â, thatâs how little it took for your plans to shift.
Itâs not like you feel bad over it, itâs not like it was some incident you were trying to avoid, not at all. It simply happened, as most of your interactions with Tartaglia did.Â
His public name is Childe, but youâre not too fond of it somehow. You know Tartaglia is not his true name either. However it feels slightly more personal as only you and the fatui address him this way. That name rolls off your tongue more easily, the g silent. Still; itâs one syllable too long, a sound too hard to pronounce for your liking. So youâve made it your own, shortened it. âTaglia, pronounced âTalia. Itâs much cuter and easy to say, as all things should be. Itâs sweet tooâ just a bit of mundane to water down his turbulent life for a few seconds whenever you call out to him.Â
The first time, he simply laughed at how unaffected you were by his status. Now, he gets worried when you address him as anything else. Maybe he has grown fond of it just as you have. Maybe he has come to understand you better too.Â
You removed your shoes and socks where sand overtook soil and only weeds survived, down the hill under the archway of a large cliff. Contentment filled your chest once you noticed your companion took his off as well. Originally, it was supposed to rain and you would be on your own. Yet here you are, both barefoot. With him by your side, the sun high in the sky shining down and no clouds on the horizonâ you only feel warmth.Â
The sand here is dense and wet, but it still sinks under your weight. Each step you take leaves a footprint, which will be smoothed over once the tide changes. You make your way through the beach, following the dividing line between ocean and land with your feet in the water. It comes up to your ankle.
âYou know.â starts Tartaglia, as he walks beside you. âIn some regions, they have beaches where the sand isnât as thin. Itâs more so made of tiny stones.âÂ
âReally? Wouldnât that hurt? I can hardly imagine how it feels.âÂ
âAh well, the stones are smooth so it doesnât hurt, itâs just not as pleasant? I was there to exterminate a den of lawachurls so I didnât really pay attention to the general scenery. It does remove the dead skin off your feet though.â Â
You snort. Of course, Tartaglia and the thrill of the fight go hand in hand.Â
Youâre no battle or strategy expert so you let him talk about his fights. He even shows off his bow, Polar Star, handling it a bit and even letting you hold it (Itâs a pretty weapon with incredible details that matches his colors.). You question him about his different victories, which regions he went to, the foreign food he got to try since the last time you two met up. The conversation takes turns, shifts, pauses, takes off again, without any disturbance. Itâs so easy to talk to him, even your silences are comfortable.Â
Thereâs no pressure to talk, no need to cover up the sounds of waves and wind around you, thereâs nothing awkward in this atmosphere. You donât notice the time passing by, you donât count how many starconches you collect, you donât pay attention to the tide change. You donât think about the future because the thought of his inevitable departure doesn't even cross your mind at all.Â
Perhaps you should question your connection to him a bit more, because youâre now both playing in the water like a pair of eight year olds while still clothed.Â
You smile, eyes closed with your face turned away, blindly trying to send water his way. Heâs too good though, merciless in his assaults against you. âFeel the power of Monoceros Caeli!â Heâs smiling even harder than you.Â
âNever!â You make a bee-line for the land, and heâs swift to follow after you. One step after the other, you try your best to push your weight against the ocean current despite how heavy your legs feel underwater. He gets closer to you rapidly, heâs more experienced after all.Â
Your knees buckle under you as you laugh, boisterous and unrestrained. You let yourself fall back against the (mostly) dry sand. You managed to get to the shore first âor perhaps he allowed you to. You hear him approach soon enough. You open your mouth, try to say something, but itâs hard to talk at all through your howling. âAre you gonna make it, comrade?â No, I don't think so.Â
Each breath comes from deep within your chest, your exhales are loud. your eyes are staring straight up, to the orange sky. Itâs close to sunset already. As you slowly recover, Tartaglia crouches beside you. He waits for you to calm down, a fond expression on his face and a warmer smile to accompany it. âCan I show you something?âÂ
âSure.â You sit up, a bit puzzled by his request.Â
Tartaglia summons Polar Star in his left hand and pulls on the string with his other. Extending his arm, three arrows appear in his right hand. Heâs about to shoot at the sky but does not release his hold on the string. Rather, the vision by his hip starts to glow. Water flows out of the handle, until it covers the bow itself and the arrows. He releases his hold on the string, and you watch as three trails of glowing hydro mark the landscape.
The first one lands in the ocean, and illuminates the water as it sinks. Itâs quiet for a moment⌠Until a whale jumps out. What.
Itâs a narwhal actually, and itâs made of water. It seems so powerful and heavy. It glows light-blue in the now pink-and-dark blue sunset. Itâs slow, and too fast for your consciousness at the same time. It rises slowly, cutting through the sky. For a few seconds itâs just that, until it turns on itself to show you its belly.Â
Itâs at that moment that the two other arrows go down as well. But instead of landing like the first one did, they burst in the sky. The hydro they contained is released like a firework, illuminating the beast as it falls back onto the water.Â
Somehow, it doesnât create some kind of small tsunami. Simply a bigger wave.
You donât hear your gasp, or see the look of amazement on your face âBut Tartaglia does. âHow was that?â he asks you after a moment.
âIâmâ Thatâs⌠Incredible.â Your mouth is still agape, and it takes a moment for your thoughts to make sense. âYouâre something else âTaglia. You use those for fighting too right? And yet they were so pretty but harmless here⌠Itâs extraordinary.âÂ
âOf course!â He taps his vision, proud like a peacock. âThis isnât just a pretty thing, Iâm eleventh for a reason you know.âÂ
Naturally. Not just anyone can boast about their power the way he does, he earned it through hard work. Despite the questionable things the fatui do, even with his high position, he is only acting under his superiorâs wishes. Perhaps thatâs why youâve never blamed him for what happened during the Rite of Parting.Â
He has the looks too, a pretty face with freckles. Tall and slender âthough youâre pretty sure his dolphinhide suit is hiding his larger build. The remnant of pink in the sky highlights his hair and scarf, while the blue of the night accentuates the lighter blue in his eyes. He has no rights to be this pretty.Â
âIâm sure you would be the Cryo Archonâs favorite âif you werenât ginger that is.âÂ
The gasp he lets out is incredibly dramatic. He grasps at his chest, right where his heart is, and falls in the sand on his back. âArchons! Mayday! Iâve been struck down!â You chuckle. I donât wanna go back home just yet.
But you donât have a choice. He has his life and own occupations, just as you do. So reluctantly, you make your way back together. Despite the growing dark, youâre left unarmed throughout the walk. Itâs peaceful, silence reigns and while thereâs no awkwardness between the two of you âitâs clear neither feels like ending it yet. Originally, you would have been on your own. But he had changed your plans for the better, made your day much more enjoyable.Â
You arrive back at Liyue too quickly for your taste. Youâre thankful for his company and what he has done already, but you cannot help being greedy and wishing for more. Everyday life is duller when heâs not around.Â
âHere.â You extend a hand toward him, a single starconch sitting in your palm. âIt was my first time at the beach with someone else andâ I donât know. You can give it to Tonia if you donât feel like keeping it. Iâm sure sheâll like it.âÂ
Youâre not brave enough to say what you'd like to say, so you pray for him to get the hint at least. I hope youâll remember this evening the way I will, I hope youâll think about me the way I think I do about you.Â
He seems a bit surprised, but heâs quick to smile. âThank you, Iâll take care of it. Iâm glad you had fun, hopefully we can do something like this again soon. But on one condition!âÂ
You raise a brow. âWhat is it ?âÂ
He seems slightly vulnerable for a moment, his voice a bit softer. âPromise me, someday, youâll call me by another name.âÂ
Youâre only more puzzled. âIâll never ever call you Childe, if thatâs what youâre asking for.â
He laughs loudly and departs, starconch in his hand. You can only watch, heart buzzing and head confused.
