feeling gross on your period around Mydeimos is near impossible. the moment you mention anything about it he scoffs lightly and kisses you on the top of your head: āplease. iāve watched as all the blood drained out of those whoāve wronged me. this is nothing.ā
hii can you do where like the genshin impact boys lovers are like taller than them?
featuring: albedo, alhaitham, ayato, baizhu, cyno, diluc, gorou, itto, kazuha, kaeya, kaveh, tighnari, venti, xiao, zhongli, (separate)
tw: light foul language (scattered throughout), mention of violence/fighting (childe), mention of chronic pain/illness (baizhu), haitham is autistic because yeah.
type: fluff, sfw, hcs
reader: tall, gn, no pronouns, no use of y/n
a/n: i was GOING to do literally all of them but i gave up after tighnari sorry i just did NOT have it in me. if you want hcs of this same scenario with different characters, do feel free to request that!
also not using canon heights for this bc they don't . make sense to me so you get mY HEADCANONS. (close to canon at least i promise)
ALBEDO
not hard to be taller than him tbh, he's like 5'4
i can't see him particularly caring about height in an s/o, rather just personality. if he likes you, he likes you and that's really it, you could look like just about anything
you could be three feet tall and he wouldn't care as long as you were understanding about the unholy hours of the night he has to stay up to in order to do his work
he won't deny the fact that dating someone tall has its advantages, though.
for one example, he finds it particularly difficult when an ingredient he's trying to get to is too far up for him to reach
and yes, he could just summon his geo flower and have it elevator his ass up the tree or whatever, but it's so much more convenient AND so much more comfortable to just have you pick him up so he can get higher
also, it's insanely hot
probably would be into it
DILUC
he's probably just a bit taller than average, i'd place him at about 6' or so
so it's not rare that he meets someone taller than him, it just doesn't happen every day
has no qualms about your height other than he finds it slightly annoying to look up at you when you're having a conversation
it's hard to be intimidating when the person you're talking to is looking down at you with an adoring smile, as you can understand.
other than that, if need be, he has the winery mansion adjusted to suit you
just some basic things like carving a bit out of a doorframe if you're prone to bumping your head on things. nothing too drastic
KAEYA
thinks it's hot
he's kind of a slut for people taller than him, i think. or just a slut in general maybe. either way, thinks it's hot
he's probably just a bit shorter than diluc, maybe at 5'11. diluc won't let him hear the end of it and it pisses him off
looks are the first thing he sees in a person. it isn't nearly the end-all be-all of choosing a partner for him (he really looks for someone with more mental acuity and wit), but it does play the part
being tall helps you with this
is the type to DEFINITELY be able to reach the top shelf and pretend he can't anyway so he can grin at you while you get things for him
asshole
VENTI
did someone say short-ass twink?
he's like 5'3 sorry i don't make the rules. short.
so yeah, again, not hard to be taller than him.
he's so playful about it too
"oh nooooo~ they put the apples all the way on the top shelf so i can't reach them~ whatever shall i do!"
bitch, you can fly. be fr
it doesn't matter. if there's something you can do (even if he can also do it) for him because of his height, he'll bat his eyelashes and flash you a grin so you can't help but show off and do it for him
also makes sharing the bed a hell of a lot more difficult. venti already flails around all over the place, and having someone taller sleeping next to him...? forget about it. you're both waking up on the floor.
BAIZHU
tall
probably like 6'1, and lanky too
there is no cabinet he can't reach, and besides he has changsheng to slither up in the rare situation that he actually can't reach something
however, the tables are turned on him completely when he's having a flare-up. a lot of the time, if he tries to exert himself reaching for something (or just getting out of bed at all), he'll dissolve into a fit of coughing and have to sit down
this is when having a tall partner really comes in handy, and you're more than happy to get him whatever he needs to help him calm it down
extremely grateful for your help, and lucky that he has you. anytime you get him something, especially when he's not feeling well, he'll thank you and give you a kiss
XIAO
joining the "it's not hard to be taller than him" club at a whopping (not really) FIVE FOOT TWO
bro is SHORT short
this doesn't bother him as much as you think it might. in xiao's own words, "height has little effect on one's ability to fight," and therefore he can protect you and fight for you even despite how small he is
will pretend not to be thankful if you help him with reaching things, but instead sends you a short glance that only you can decipher as being grateful
going out with him is a little bit like walking with a small but on edge dog
ZHONGLI
taller than REX LAPIS?? REX FUCKING LAPIS??? THE LORD OF GEO???
i think in his human form he's about 6'3, but he gets to like 6'8 with his draconic features out. no, i'm not counting his horns, i think he actually grows when he relaxes and stops hiding his features
is impressed that you're taller than him, and, honestly, a little worried about your back
with this tall of a couple, he definitely has to adjust his living situation. for sure has his ceilings raised and doorways sanded so the both of you can fit
walking around liyue harbor with him is a SIGHT. two giant sized folks casually going out for a stroll along the waterfront, enjoying their date as if they aren't big enough for a seagull to accidentally fly into their faces
also likes having you do things for him. he's tall, he can do them himself, but he's lying if he says he doesn't like watching you reach to screw in a lightbulb or the like.
AYATO
he's probably around 5'11, so he's tall but it's not unusual for someone to be taller than him per se
he's kind of a cheeky lil bastard? he puts everything on ridiculously high shelves on purpose so that he can watch you get them for him
"oh, sorry to trouble you my dear, but it seems the brown sugar is just a few inches out of my reach. could i trouble you to grab it for me?"
"there are like eighteen other different shelves you could have put it on."
"are there? i hadn't noticed! oh, well :)"
also likes to show you off. pulls up to the function (important dignitary meeting) with his tall ass partner
GOROU
little guy! he's probably around 5'4-5'5 so if you're even like average height you're probably a little taller than him
embarrassed about it, almost as much as he is about the whole tail cuddling thing
that isn't to say he doesn't love how gorgeous and tall you are (he does for sure!), he just is a little self-conscious about his own height
he WILL hide behind you if he sees yae miko approach. benefit #1 of having a tall partner: meat shield
also bonus for you: he is a dog, so when he wants you to grab something for him, he'll look up at you with the most adorable puppy eyes you've ever seen
ITTO
good lord you must be insanely tall . i think he's probably around 6'3
the first time he meets you he's blown away. bewildered. incredibly flustered. possibly already in love.
he's used to being the tallest guy around, used to being the big guy in charge. so when he finds you, and has to look up at someone else for a change, he's stupefied (in a good way)
there are no shelves he can ask you to get things from that he can't already reach. instead, he likes to watch you just pick people up
he'll gather some arataki gang members and ask them to stand in a line and have you go back to back with each one just to measure how tall you are compared to other people
he WILL give bear hugs. if you're more lanky, they may break a few bones... so, beware of that
KAZUHA
another almost short-stack, probably around 5'6
he hasn't ever really thought about his height, he isn't insecure about it or anything.
to him, your height is just another thing that he loves about you! he doesn't care much for physical appearance, it's what's inside that counts to him
and once he gets to know you, he finds everything about you stunning!
probably writes poems about how you look standing strong in the wind or something. really he'll write poems about you no matter what.
since you're taller than him, he enjoys being the little spoon. let him recite lines to you while you hold him!
ALHAITHAM
tall ass guy. prolly around 6'1
is surprised that you're taller than him, but other than that doesn't really care all that much
while he does care for physical traits such as height, he mostly values intelligence and wit, so as long as you can keep up with him in a conversation, you're good enough to date
he has parameters, you understand. you have to fit to a certain standard in a series of specific categories, including age, wit, compatibility....
he might be a little autistic.
my point is, height doesn't really factor in there
still enjoys being the big spoon, even if there's more of you or if you don't quite slot together ideally in that position
it doesn't matter if you're 8 feet tall, this guy Will hold you
CYNO
putting him in around 5'5
despite his small stature, he's a force to be reckoned with. everyone around him knows it, even if he sometimes wishes they didn't care as much
has absolutely no trouble asking you to get things for him if he can't reach them. unbothered king.
this comes less from a place of him not caring about being short and more of a place of him knowing his limitations and understanding when he needs help!
doesn't really care about being shorter than you. well... unless you tease him about being short, then he gets a little miffed. he doesn't mind being the shorter one as long as he isn't just called short
doesn't mind being the little spoon if you suggest it
KAVEH
i wanna say he's about average height, 5'8-5'9 ish!
he's comfortable with his height. he doesn't really think about it very often
that being said, i do think he would be very into someone who's taller than him. i just get those vibes
PLEASE please lean in a doorway and look at him or something. he thinks it's so attractive
probably will ask you to reach up and get things for him just so he can like... poke you in the side??? for no reason?? while you do it
likes to show you off but is also shy about it. will hold your hand when you walk around in public but also really doesn't want anyone to notice. there are two wolves inside of him.
TIGHNARI
I AM A 5'6 TIGHNARI TRUTHER. idk. he gives 5'6 vibes and i don't know why!!!
honestly couldn't give two shits about his height. As long as he can get to the samples he's trying to study, he doesn't care!
Thinks every part of you is stunning, so to him your height is a part of that!
Looks come second to personality to him. This isn't to say he doesn't find you attractive, just that the second he actually starts to like someone all of a sudden oh, they're really pretty actually.
lowkey wants to do like, a family gene chart of you? He wants to learn everything about you, down to where all your different traits come from!
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in which one late night conversation spirals into many, many more.
pairing. danheng x gn!reader
tags. no warnings, slice of life, fluff, slowburn, friends to lovers, healer!reader
notes. yes this is a repost <333 i adore this fic so much
Screeching metal, the glint of a blade, a sickening stab and a pierce through his heart. Panic stricken, he whirled around, barely able to retaliate before he was pulled down under.
Then, there was nothing.
Dan Hengās eyes flicker open, calm despite the pounding in his heart. He was never one to dream, and more of the kind who never woke up fully rested. Yet, they were always similar in nature when he did, phantom pains ghosting over his chest in their wake. There was no point in trying to get back to bed now ā his body had already had its fill, it seemed.
He heads to the kitchen, suddenly parched.
Clattering noise resounds from his destination, and he tenses, the residual fight or flight instincts kicking in immediately. Who could possiblyā¦?
It was only you.
You were new. He didnāt know much about you, actually. The day before was your first day as a passenger of the Astral Express, and he had watched from the shadows as you flit about, chattering and bubbling and sunny. He left for the archives before March dragged him out and introduced him to you.
You wereā¦ baking, humming a cheerful little tune as you did.
āWhat are you doing?ā he asks anyway.
You startle, neck snapping around to see him. Batter spills from the whisk in your hand and onto the ground. Your eyes widen at the sight of him, looking him up and down, but he supposes he must seem a mess, having crawled out of bed post-nightmare.
āOh,ā you say finally, āIām making cookies.ā
ā... At this hour?ā
You snort, using the whisk to gesture between him and you. āPot, kettle. What are you doing awake at this hour?ā
āI wanted water,ā he replies. āThatās nothing like baking.ā
Shrugging, you turn back to the counter. Itās a right mess, with crockery and ingredients scattered and strewn across. Still, you move with practised ease. You must do this a lot, he notes. His observations are confirmed when you speak again. āI like baking when I canāt sleep. You?ā
āI work.ā
You chuckle, and itās a warm thing. āTo each their own, I guess. Anyway, you getting that water or what?ā
Ah. Right. He moves from the doorway and toward the tap when you whirl around, eyes alight. He doesnāt have the time to be startled before your hands are firm against his shoulder, guiding him toward the seat at the aisle.
āNo,ā you seem to decide, āIāll make us both hot chocolate.ā
Amusement bubbles in his gut. You were endearing, in a way. He canāt seem to get angry at the flour stains on his sleeve, too. You work fast, and in no time thereās a steaming mug of goodness being offered to him. Itās warm, he thinks, but your expectant eyes might be warmer.
Your head jerks toward the cup, so he drinks. Itās good. Better than good, actually. He can feel the heat seeping down his throat and through his chest, pooling near his naval. When was the last time he had a drink this comforting?
āGood, isnāt it?ā you ask, taking the seat across him. You sigh contentedly as you sip on your own mug, drink cradled in your hands. āMy best friend used to make it for me.ā
Then you slap a hand over your mouth, eyes comically wide. He frowns faintly, curious and wary. āI still donāt know your name! And you donāt know mine either! Damn, you must think Iām weird.ā
Compared to March, or even Stelle, he feels youāre pretty tame. He doesnāt say that, though. āMy name is Dan Heng. I am the guard of the Astral Express and its archiver.ā
You introduce yourself in turn, grinning sheepishly. āSo youāre the one I hadnāt met.ā
He nods slowly. āI suppose I am.ā
You stand then, stretching as you do. Your mug clinks as you set it down in the sink. āIāll finish my baking now. You can leave your mug there after youāre done. Iāll clean up.ā
Glancing down, he realises his hot chocolate has long gone. He stands too.
(That morning, he rises to a box of fresh cookies by his door. Chocolate chips. He decides those are his favourite sort now.)
ā
The first time he officially meets you is two days later. Somehow, your schedules hadnāt aligned until March was physically pounding on his door.
āDAN HENG!ā March shrieks, excitement coating her tone. āMuffins! Come on! Have some with us ā theyāre great!ā
āIām coming,ā he assures her, āWould it kill you to relax?ā
She blows him a raspberry, grabbing his wrist and making a break for the parlour carriage. And these muffins really do smell great, itās buttery scent wafting through the express even from where they are. He has a sneaking suspicion on the identity of their maker.
The first thing he sees stepping inside the parlour is Stelle unceremoniously stuffing her face. āWhaā?ā she asks, mouth filled to the brim. āāeyāre very gooā.ā
A laugh draws his attention from Stelle to you. A bashful smile sits on your face, whilst you hold out a tray of blueberry muffins. āIām glad you like them, but donāt eat too fast ā what if you choke?ā
Stelle waves your concern away and your gaze finds him, your smile widening. Youāre wearing an apron with the words Kiss the Cook printed on, hair tied in a messy bun. Honestly, itās adorable.
āYou want one?ā you ask, holding the tray out to him.
March bounds forward before he can reply, swinging an arm around his shoulders with a force that makes him stumble forward. āThis is Dan Heng!ā she chirps. āHe looks mean but heās really not. Heās all sweet and mushy inside, but donāt tell him I said that.ā
āIām literally right beside you.ā
You snort, and he takes a muffin from your tray, thanking you softly. Grinning, you look him up and down like you did that night, eyes are tinged with amusement. āBet you fight well too.ā
March nods eagerly. āOne of the best Iāve ever seen! Itās like ā Hiya! Kapow! And everyoneās down.ā
āHuh. What Iād give to fight like that,ā you muse, more to yourself.
āNah. You keep making these and weāll keep you here for life,ā Stelle pipes up, having inhaled the last of the muffins.
Laughing brightly, the three of you begin chattering away, drifting to the other side of the parlour. He takes a seat near the window and a bite of your muffin. Damn, itās like biting into a piece of heaven. He canāt tell if he wants to devour everything you have or squirrel it away to treasure it later.
Himeko sits on the seat beside him, eyeing the muffin in his hand and following his gaze towards the three of them. āY/N really has a knack for baking, hm?ā
You do, he agrees. You must practise a lot. Admiring the curve of your lips as you smile, the glittering warmth in your eyes, he wonders where you are headed. Most passengers donāt stay long, excluding the Nameless. Heāll miss you, he thinks.
āY/Nāll be joining the crew,ā Himeko says, as if reading his mind. āIt was time someone who follows the path of Abundance joined our ranks, anyway.ā
Youāve been hopping from world to world, different IPC ships and had been just about everywhere, helping people affected by the Fragmentum, before Himeko approached you on Hertaās Space Station, she explains. You had never accepted money, only food and shelter and enough to get by before youād move on.
How noble.
āThatās a lot of work,ā he comments. If that was how it was then itās no wonder youāre so warm. You carried that air of self-assurance that most healers had, something he hadnāt quite placed before.
Himeko nods, smiling faintly. āY/N is a good person. I think weāll help them as much as theyāll help us.ā
He didnāt quite understand what she meant by that last statement, but she didnāt elaborate, and he never asked. Instead, he directs his gaze out the window and at the winking stars. He wonders how many are worlds youāve helped before.
ā
Screeching metal, the glint of a blade, a sickening stab and a pierce through his heart. Panic stricken, he whirled around, barely able to retaliate before he was pulled down under.
Then, there was silence.
Dan Hengās eyes flicker open, his chest raw like the moment he first received the wound. The same dream twice in a week? He sits up, breath escaping in shallow puffs. Standing, heās out the door before he even realises it, body moving on its own accord.
Water would be good, he decides. Maybe youād be there too, call it a hunch or call it hope.
He was right. There you were, puttering about the kitchen under the lampās golden glow, a soft tune dancing under your breath. Resting a shoulder against the doorframe, he canāt quite decide what to say.
What a coincidence was too snarky, yet what are you making was too blunt. He couldnāt just walk in without saying a word either, that was too rude. Perhaps he should simply return to his room.
āIām starting to think neither of us sleep.ā
Your voice startles him out of his thoughts, and he finds you leaning against the counter, smiling at him with soft amusement. Unwittingly, he begins to smile too. Just the slightest.
āNo, I guess not,ā he agrees.
āRough night?ā you ask, turning to reach for two mugs. āIāll make some hot chocolate.ā
āYou donāt have to,ā he says, mostly out of courtesy. Just the thought of the warm drink reveals a slight craving for it. āNightmares,ā he finds himself admitting, something in the atmosphere drawing the confession that much easier. āNo, memories, to be precise.ā
āAh, I get it,ā you murmur, and he feels like you really do.
He seats himself in the same seat he did three nights prior, and you do as well. The mug of hot chocolate you offer him is accepted gratefully. They might become his favourite drink yet. You have a knack for making them feel like drinking warm hugs.
āIām making cupcakes tonight,ā you explain, noticing the way he glances at the batter on the counter. āRed velvet, one of my favourites.ā
He nods in assent, and the both of you settle into comfortable silence. Youāve relaxed into your seat, he observes, resting your head against a hand as the other taps on your mug rhythmically, the porcelain clinking as you do. He maps out the lines of your face whilst you map out each constellation outside, gazing into the eternal night.
āDo you believe in fate?ā you ask suddenly, in the moments just before his mug goes cold. He had finished the drink ages ago, he realises. He frowns faintly then, bewildered at the change in the conversationās direction.
You must sense his confusion, and youāre continuing, āYou know, when everything in your life happens because it was meant to be, and all that.ā
āI know what fate is,ā he replies, āButā¦ why?ā
āWhy not?ā you answer, a playful smile on your lips. āJustā¦ hell, even gods are real, but no one has an answer to it, fate, destiny, or free will?ā
You seem to be serious despite your lighthearted tone, so he tries to give you a serious answer in turn.
āI donāt,ā he says slowly. āFate isā¦ complicated. To believe your future is set in stone is foolish at best. What I do believe in is the existence of free will. Life is filled with countless possibilities. Everyone has a path to walk, but it is the individual that chooses their direction.ā
āWhat do you believe in?ā he ends off, looking at you piercingly. Youāre sitting upright now, alert but pondering all the same.
You hum. āI thinkā¦ some things really are meant to be, but in the end, itās your own hands that forge your destiny, no? Fate, free willā¦ whatever it isā¦ It might simply be just what we make of it.ā
āYet if there is no right answer, why ask anyway?ā he counters.
Your eyes sparkle, and at that moment, you just might have the universe in your eyes. āMaybe some questions are meant to be asked.ā
āAnd some things arenāt meant to have an answer?ā
āExactly,ā you say, with the vigour of a bursting sun. āNothing matters. Everything matters. Maybeā¦ā
You trail off, an embarrassed chuckle sounding in your throat. āYea, I have no idea what I just said.ā
He canāt quite stop the laugh that leaves his lips.
(Some time later, you stand, stretching as you do. āDamn, I might leave the baking for another day,ā you say, voice thick on the cusp of a yawn. āAll this philosophical stuff is making me sleepy. You should get some sleep too, I think both of us need it.ā
When he returns to his room, something in him prompts him to heed your advice. He sleeps.)
ā
Somehow, both of you had taken to āmeetingā in the kitchens during the twilight hours, once every few days. Heād wake up after a nightmare or when sleep simply eluded him, and found you with your sun-like eyes, the songs under your breath and the hot chocolates that felt so much like hugs. Youād speak about anything and everything under the stars, of questions with no answers and answers that meant everything and nothing. Then youād part ways with his mind swirling and chest bursting, all traces of that phantom wound gone.
(There were days you werenāt there, of course, and heād be faintly disappointed, but you did still need sleep.)
Heās computing data on Jarilo-VI when someone knocks on his door. It canāt be March, as sheād simply forgo all etiquette and barge in after the first knock. Stelle was out exploring the planet they were currently stationed at, and both Himeko and Mr. Yang were busy. That leftā¦ you.
āCome in,ā he calls, hearing the door slide open and click shut.
Youāve been an official member of the Astral Express crew for a month now, and this was the first time youāve specifically sought him out. Youāre smiling slightly sheepishly, hand picking at your palm. āAre you busy? I can come back another timeā¦ā
He sets down the files, looking up from the monitor. āNo, itās fine. What do you need?ā
āI wanted to learn more about Yaoshi,ā you tell him, sidling up to his side.
āYou can use this,ā he says, tilting the screen to you and standing up. He can complete archiving later. The work never ended, in any case. āSearch up whatever you need.ā
āThanks!ā
He makes himself comfortable at the other corner of his room, picking up the half-finished book on his desk. Vaguely, heās aware of his bed on the ground and the mess that is his half area of the room. He hopes you donāt think too much of it.
A while later, you stretch, letting out a sigh as your hands drop back to your sides. Your gaze darts around the room inquisitively. āSo, this is the archivesā¦ā you murmur. Then your eyes meet his. āAnd your room?ā
āI hadnāt planned on staying for long,ā he says quickly, an odd need to explain rising. āThen, I suppose I got comfortable.ā
You smile, a tad bit wry. āItās definitely got charm ā like that map!ā
And youāre getting up, fixated on the large map on the wall. Your eyes are starry, mouth slightly parted as you study the endless abyss that is the observable universe. āThatās, wow, has the Express been to all of them?ā
āNot even a fraction of it.ā His reply is soft, much like the moment itself.
Your hand raises, reaching for the blank areas at the edges. āSo Iām guessing these are the parts yet to be.ā
āThe universe is always expanding,ā he says in lieu of an explanation. āAnd the Express will trailblaze along with it.ā
āThat sounds rather pointless, doesnāt it? Mapping out the infinity?ā you muse. āBoarding a train whose line never ends? Or does that make it poetic?ā
āI suppose it depends on how you look at it.ā
You swivel around, eyes bright and blazing with delight, and he canāt quite place why his breath catches. āMaybe thatās just how the universe is meant to be. A line with no end. A atlas which always has two blank pages at the end.ā
You seem to catch yourself then, gaze darting downward and a chuckle leaving your lips. āSorry, I always get weird about these kinds of philosophical stuff.ā
āItās alright,ā he assures you, it really is. Life would be that much duller if he had to do without these types of conversations with you. You meet his gaze then, almost bashful, and in that moment, he canāt seem to tear his eyes away.
Then you blink, clearing your throat, and the moment vanishes.
āRight. Iāve been here long enough, though, so Iāll justā¦ go now,ā you say awkwardly, sending him a dizzying smile before youāre bounding out the room.
ā
Weirdly enough, despite everything heās seen in this life and before, this was certainly one of the oddest situations heās been in.
Heās in Marchās room, a room bursting with colour and vividness, a stark contrast to his. Youāre here too, along with Stelle and March herself. Positioned in the fluffy armchair in the corner, heās got the best view of the entire place along with the door. Stelleās made herself comfortable, spread eagled on the bed whilst March and you are seated beside her cross-legged.
Heās not too sure how it came to be so. The three of you turned out to be quite the trio, and he had been in his room as per usual when you three burst in, manhandling him into joining you. (With that grin and your hand on his wrist, heās partly sure heād follow you anywhere.)
āWait, so your name isnāt Stelle because of the stellaron in you?ā you ask, head tilted to the side.
Stelle shrugs. āIt could be? I donāt remember much of anything before I woke up on the space station.ā
āAnd Marchās name is ācuz she was found on March 7thā¦ā Then, you pout. āNow I want a cool made up name. Is Dan Heng a made up name?ā
āAll names are made up,ā he tells you dryly.
March blows a raspberry at him. āDonāt be such a wet blanket āā Her eyes light up, and she visibly straightens. āI know! I know! Stelle also means star, I think? We can be the sun, moon and stars! Uhm, Iāll be Solar and youāll be Luna.ā
āThatās kinda dumb,ā Stelle adds in, throwing a plush toy in Marchās face.
It was kind of dumb. You were definitely more sun than you were moon. He didnāt quite know how he knew. It just was.
March splutters, hurling the plush dog back with vigour. Stelle returns it, hitting you instead, to which you gasp in mock offence to and somehow the three of you end up flinging pillows and plushies at each other. You laugh, bright and delighted, and heās drawn to the curve of your neck as you throw your head back, the glitter in your half-closed eyes, and the carelessly toothy grin on your face.
He doesnāt notice March staring at him thoughtfully, cogs whirring in her head.
āYou like Y/N.ā
Itās a week after the pillow fight the three of you had, and itās one of the times everyoneās gathered in the parlour, with the extra bonus of your delicious baking. Cookies, this time, buttery and vanilla and sweet.
The statement startles him from his thoughts, and he turns to see March in the seat beside him, so close their shoulders brushed. Thereās steely determination in her gaze, and a triumphant little smile on her face.
ā... What?ā
āYou like Y/N,ā she repeats, and his eyes dart to where you were, conversing with Himeko and Welt a few tables down.
He didnāt quite understand what March was hinting at. Of course he liked you. Everyone liked you. He tells March as such. "Do you not like Y/Nā¦?"
She facepalms, groaning softly.
"No! Of course I do! But you have a crush on Y/N," she explains, gesturing wildly with her hands. She beams excitedly, bouncing in her seat. "Like, you know, you wanna date and stuff. It's so cute!"
"Iā¦" he blinks, utterly puzzled, mouth slightly parted. "Noā¦? I don't."
The sound of your laughter draws his attention away from her for the briefest second. Snorting, March slugs his shoulder, rolling her eyes as she does. "Funny. It's so obvious! You're literally giving Y/N heart eyes right now. Even Stelle noticed."
He huffs, fixing her with a glare. "I do not have a crush on Y/N."
March sighs, a knowing smile on her face. Standing, she tousles his hair as she says, "Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night!"
She flounces away, leaving him there to scowl and fix his hair. Still, he can't help but feel as if he's missing something important, like a book without its title, or the sun without its moon.
ā
Screeching metal, the glint of a blade, a sickening stab and a pierce through his heart. Panic stricken, he whirled around, barely able to retaliate before he was pulled down under.
Then, there was warmth.
Dan Hengās eyes flicker open, a hand instinctively rising to his chest. This was getting ridiculously repetitive, to be haunted by the same memory for nights on end. Stillā¦ Something felt off about it, as if there were pieces of the puzzle that had yet to make the scene. He doesnāt realise when he got to the kitchen, but he does, and the sight of you chases the worries out of his mind for now.
āDo we ever sleep?ā he asks rhetorically, taking his usual seat at the aisle.
You grin, setting down two mugs in front of him. āSāpose not. Iām gonna have to take a really long nap soon, though.ā
Your nails clink against the porcelain, a habit of yours heās gotten used to, but whatās curious is the way sparks are emitting from your fingertips. He frowns, concerned, but you donāt seem to notice ā or mind.
āYour handsā¦ā
Looking down, you let out a soft āohā, and wiggle them. āEh,ā you say nonchalantly, rubbing your thumb and index finger together. āPart of the package deal with my powers. Theyāll go away soon.ā
āIt doesnāt hurt?ā he questions, just to make sure.
āNope,ā you say, popping the āpā ever so slightly. āBut the insomniaās a bitch.ā
Youāre rolling a ball ofā¦ fire(?) in your palms now, eyes golden with the reflection of it. His confusion grows by the second. Glancing up, you notice it, and you smile a little wistfully.
āWhen I started following the Abundance, I gained some sort of fire powers? But thereās always a catch, isnāt there? The energy kind of accumulates inside of me until I use it. When I donāt use it, this happens āā you hold up your hand to show him, summoning a wisp of a flame before snatching your palm back āā along with the insomnia. But after draining the energy, I get really sleepy and black out for a few days. It depends on how much I drain, of course.ā
āAnd your energy hasnāt been drained sinceā¦ā
āSince I joined the Express,ā you finish for him. āNo oneās needed healing since then, anyway. Which is a good thing.ā
āNothing in the data bank stored any information on this type of power,ā he says, mostly to himself. Heād do another search later. There had to be something. āAre you sure youāll be alright?ā
āYep! Our next station is Penacony, isnāt it? I can stop by the hospitals there or something.ā
āAlright,ā he replies, albeit rather dubiously.
Then your eyes gleam wickedly, and you rub your palms together in imitation of some storybook villain. āWanna see something cool?ā
And as you showcase your talent in manipulating fire, he canāt help but admire you. The minute he thought he knew all there was to know about you, you had gone and revealed something entirely fantastical about yourself.
Literal healing abilities that stemmed from pyrokineses. That explained quite a lot, actually. Sunny eyes, sunny smile, sunny demeanor. You were practically the embodiment of the sun, and this simply perfected it even further. Warm inside and out. He brings the cup of hot chocolate to his lips, taking a small sip. You could even create warmth too.
Your smile is wide and expectant as you present to him a fiery image of the Express, which morphs into Pom-Pom, then Stelle, Mr. Welt, Himeko and finally March.
Intrusively, his mind conjures up the image of Marchās excited, knowing announcement. You like Y/N.
Preposterous. He didn't like you in that way. You were a good friend, and he was merely close to you. Sure, you were sweet, baked really well, funny, a great conversationalist, bubbly yet not overbearing like March herself and utterly sunny andā Oh.
Oh.
He liked you.
ā
Nothing changed. Much. Realising he had a little more than platonic feelings toward you only seemed to heighten his awareness of you. Your laugh. Your eyes. Your warmth. You, in general.
Except March seemed to know too, if her shit-eating grin and horrendously concealed inneundos were any indication. You should ask them on a date, she had squealed once.
He couldnāt just ask you out. How would he even go about doing that? Any train of thought in that direction just left him feeling incredibly awkward. Being your friend was enough, he decided. Your night-time meetings. Your hot chocolate. It was more than enough.
āHe almost kissed me,ā Stelle wails dramatically, shaking your shoulders. āYou know how shocked I was? I woke up to a random dude in my face! Never let him do CPR ever again.ā
March nods along solemnly. āYou can do all the first aid, right Y/N? That man doesnāt know any to save his life.ā
āAs if you know any more than I do,ā he snipes back, faintly horrified they were telling all of this to you. He remembers that day. March and Stelle were definitely overselling it. āAnd it wasnāt that bad.ā
āOf course not,ā Stelle says dubiously, shooting him a dirty look.
Youāre cackling, wiping tears out of your eyes. āNo way. None of you know first aid? I can teach yāall some.ā
March squeals, clapping her hands. āYES! Letās do CPR. I volunteer Dan Heng as tribute.ā
āI donāt want CPR on me again.ā Stelle nods in a āfine by meā gesture, humming as she does. āDan Heng, you do it.ā
āMajority wins,ā you sing, grinning, and shrug at him as his gaze meets yours rather helplessly. āGet on the ground, on your back.ā
March does it for him, practically shoving him on the ground. He glowers at her, to which she deftly ignores. Stelleās only snickering from the bed. You settle down near his side, and all he can see is your back and hair as you turn to speak with the other two.
āRight, so first, you make sure thereās nothing dangerous around you, the casualty and anyone else. Then, you check whether theyāre responsive or not, and for major wounds and whatnot. Call for help if you can.ā
You shift him flat on his back, and kneel with one knee near his shoulder and the other at his waist. You lift up your palms and show everyone how you put one above the other, interlocking them, positioning them. He canāt quite stop the small hitch in his breath when you lean over him, hands hovering just above his chest.
āMake sure your knees are positioned like this, and your elbows are locked. The heel of your palm should be right in the middle and your middle finger should align with the nipple.ā
March and Stelle both giggle at your last statement, and he wills himself not to react. He can feel you roll your eyes at them. You lean away from him then, and there's a small pang of disappointment which he wholly ignores.
You continue to explain how to count each set, and how to time them, and rattle off some songs they could follow the beat to.
He's hit with a strong, strong sense of admiration for you. He hasn't seen you out on field yet, but with the way you teach and demonstrate everything with practised ease makes him that much surer of your capabilities.
Then you turn back to him, a sheepish look on your face. āOkay, time for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.ā
Oh.
"No! Not actually!" you practically screech, with the way March and Stelle start howling and the widening of his eyes. "I'm just going to explain how it works ā Stelle, shut up."
"Fine, fine," the girl in question says, voice thick with amusement.
"After you're done with the first set of CPR but the casualty still isn't breathing, you'd want to do something called a head-tilt chin-lift."
You place two fingers under his chin, literally tilting his head upward. He sincerely hopes you can't feel how shallow his breaths are.
"Then you're gonna have to pinch the casualty's nose, and well, breathe into their mouth. If their chest rises on the first breath, yay, youāre done! If not, you breathe into their mouth again, and..."
You carry on with the impromptu lesson, walking everyone through a few different scenarios. He'd be committing everything to memory if only his mind would stop flashing back to how your hands were so closeā
Soon enough, the conversation changes its course, and everyone moves on except for March, whose grin is ever wider and the sparkles in her eyes like fireworks.
'Stop it,' he mouths at her.
She sticks her tongue out at him.
("Hey, we're good, right?" you ask him the next day, a faint furrow between your brows. "The CPR thing yesterday, you just seemed a little uncomfortable."
"It's alright," he says, because it really was. "It was fine."
"Okay then.")
ā
Screeching metal, the glint of a blade, a sickening stab and a pierce through his heart. Panic stricken, he whirled around, barely able to retaliate before he was pulled down under.
Then, there was a gentle voice, hushed and comforting.
āYouāre gonna be fine. This is no place to die.ā
Dan Hengās eyes flicker open. That dreamā¦ how odd. That was certainly something different. He raises a hand to his chest, feeling at the scar through his clothes. There was no sting, no burning sensation. It didnāt hurt, not one bit.
He stands easily, to the kitchens, by now a well rehearsed habit.
You were there, as always, somehow as it should. It brings him comfort all the same.
āRough night?ā
āMemories, is all.ā
āAhā¦ā
Setting down a mug in front of him, you turn back to your baking, an odd deviation in routine. Sparks dance down your hands and fingers from time to time. āNo hot chocolate for me today ā I want to finish these cookies. Any requests?ā
āChocolate chips?ā he suggests softly. āI like them.ā
You chuckle. āSure.ā
He watches as you putter about the kitchen, waltzing to the rhythm in your soul. Humming again, bright and airy, that same old tune. He never did get the name of that song, did he?
āWanna talk about it?ā you ask suddenly. āAbout the memories? Talking with someone usually helps.ā
āTheyāre not very happy stories,ā he tells you in lieu. Would you want to hear about how he almost died? How that memory plagued his sleep? His past was a miserable, miserable tale.
āThey never are, are they?ā is your reply.
He chuckles humorlessly, watching the bubbly foam in his cup swirl and swirl and swirl itself into a vortex. āWhen I first ā long before the Express, I was on an IPC ship affected by the Fragmentum, helping to clear it out. I was too inexperienced, and got myself outnumbered. I shouldāve died then, but I didnāt.ā
Letting out a soft, frustrated exhale, he takes a swig off his drink. āThatās where the memory ends ā where I wake up. I never got to seeā¦ When I woke up, the doctors told me the person who helped me had already left.ā
āWhat a shame,ā you comment. āBut cāest la vie, I guess.ā
āWhat does that mean?ā he asks curiously. He never knew you spoke another language.
āItās a saying I got from one of the worlds I visited! It means āthatās lifeā, I think,ā you say brightly.
āYou know the worst thing?ā he asks, and after your prompting, continues, āThe only thing I have left from that day is a scar.ā
Youāre moulding the cookie dough into shape now, its scent wafting through the air delectably. Sighing, you turn back to look at him with a small, sad smile. āSome say scars are the tapestries left on your skin from the victories you win. That kinda applies there, right?ā
āTechnically it was a lossā¦ā
āWell, you survived against all odds. That seems like a win enough.ā
The fervour in your voice isā¦ surprising. Heād never know youād defend his honor this passionately, even if it was to himself.
āYeah,ā he says quietly. āI guess it does.ā
The both of you fall into an easy sort of silence for the rest of the night. It was, admittedly, another thing he loved about you ā how simple it was to talk to you, yet at the same time to be silent with you. Spending time with you was something he loved, point blank.
ā
His new form wasā¦ jarring, to say the least. Or was it his old form? There had barely been anything to process anything whenā
"Dan Heng," you breath out, hushed and hasty, eyes sweeping over his body. You're bloody and bruised, he notes, breathing hard through your nose. A gash on your cheek that's half healed, and the odd angle your wrist is in.
Your first fight, he realises. The way you held your own is no mere feat, but you weren't a fighter, you shouldn't have had to. And against people that could've killed you a thousand times over? All because of him, and his past.
Yet you're only staggering up to him, concerned etched into your every feature. He meets you there partway, resisting the urge to bring his hand to your cheek.
"Are you hurt?" you ask, a hand reaching for his chest.
Your touch is warm, familiar. It sends sparks flying down his spine and heat up his cheeks, but he wills it away. He murmurs, "I should be asking you that."
"I'll heal," you tell him nonchalantly, batting the concern away. Your other hand wipes the blood off your cheeks, revealing smooth skin where the boy had once cut. "See? Now, what about you? That guy really did a number on youā¦"
Your gaze stray to where his heart should be. Not even his clothes are torn.
"The last time you got stabbed, you ā"
"Nearly died," he finishes. "Don't worry about me. Iā¦ The Vidyadhara are hard to kill."
You snort, smirking slightly. You glance at his horns, gaze trailing down. It feltā¦ different from how you did earlier. "You never told me you had an even prettier form."
He feels his entire brain short-circuit right then and there.
"Iā¦ you ā what?"
You laugh, teasing and delighted. He scowls, to cover his fluster, reluctantly pushing you away. "March is corrupting you."
Shrugging, you turn to Jing Yuan, who he had forgotten was there. Hisā¦ old friend. At least, his past incarnation's friend. The man leads the both of you to a starskiff. It was high time you reunited with the rest, anyway.
You nudge him with your elbow. "You're keeping it, right?"
He huffs.
"That's not a no!"
"Am I dying?" Stelle rasps, staring at her blood-stained hand. She's audibly wheezing, breath shaky as she stumbles to the ground.
You're there in an instant, shooing March away, however much the girl wanted to help. Even her shields hadn't been enough for Phantylia, and one of her attacks had struck Stelle in the ribs.
From the corner of his eye, he sees Stelle clutch your hand. "I'm too young to die!"
"You're going to be fine, you hear me?" you tell her, yet he detects undertones of worry in your voice. "This is no place to die."
That statement. It sounded soā¦ familiar.
He takes his chance in the lull during battle to glance to the sidelines. Stelle's flat on the ground, blood pooling near her waist and your knees. Hands above the gaping wound, red-hot energy spreads from your palms to her skin. That must feel warm, he finds himself thinking inadvertently.
"That tickles," she complains, evidently much better.
"At least you're notā not dead," you retort dryly, punctuated by a yawn.
"Hey, you good?"
"Just peachy."
You help her up, and Stelle takes her place beside him, already raring for another go. His gaze finds you with concern, only to receive a soft yet determined smile in reply.
"Let's finish this."
(Later, you're all on a starskiff headed toward respite.
Immediately, you slump yourself against him, dropping your head on his shoulder. You're warm, and he can feel the way your chest rises and falls with each breath. The way his heart flutters is utterly juvenile, but it does all the same.
Howeverā¦ the battle was over, yet your words couldn't seem to leave his mind. This is no place to die. Somehow, he knew that statement. But where was it from?
He's definitely never heard it from you. He'd know if it were, he could probably recite most conversations he's had with you by heart. And stillā¦
He turns to you, only to find you already lightly dozing. He can't find the heart in him to wake you.)
ā
Screeching metal, the glint of a blade, a sickening stab and a pierce through his heart. Panic stricken, he whirled around, barely able to retaliate before he was pulled down under.
Then, there were warm hands, soft eyes.
āThis is no place to die.ā
Dan Hengās eyes flutter open. That dream againā¦
But how could it be? You? Had you been the one to save him? Or was he just projecting his crush on you into the memory? You would have told him if you had met him all that time ago, wouldnāt you have? He had even told you about it some nights agoā¦
Swiftly, he stands, resolve firm. He heads to your room, a feeling in his gut that told him that was exactly where youād be. Honestly, if you were in the kitchens tonight, heād drag you back to bed himself.
A faint ācome inā responds to his knock on your door, and he steps in carefully. Your eyes are half-mast, hair mussed from sleep, and he vaguely wonders if he shouldāve saved it for the morning. Yet, the sight you make is just incredibly endearing and he canāt bring himself to regret much.
āCome sit.ā You pat the spot on your bed next to you, beckoning him over. He moves almost on his bodyās own accord, settling by you so naturally as if it had always meant to be.
āYou know, they say ācharacter is fateā,ā you tell him, interrupting whatever he had been about to say. āBecause even from infinite paths to choose from, your character makes it so that you wouldnāt have chosen any other way, in every lifetime and the next.ā
āDoes that make the two of us fated?ā you continue softly, playing with the strands of his now long hair. āIf I hadnāt chose to become a healer, if you hadnāt been on that shipā¦ā
āThe whole time, why didnāt you tell me that ā that it was you?ā he asks, gaze meeting yours searchingly.
āThat day I saw you on the Express, I thought that it mustāve been fate, yāknow?ā you explain, smiling wistfully. āYou didnāt remember me then, and I didnāt want to bring up the past since youāve always seemed so uncomfortable about it. I told myself that it would be up to fate if you remembered or not, hah.ā
Your reasoning was entirely, perfectly logical, and yet fantastical all the same. You were always one to believe in fate. Stillā¦ āI justā¦ it had been you all along.ā
You, with the hot chocolates and the sunny-like demeanor and the midnight talks. You, who traversed the universe helping others selflessly, who during your first battle were only concerned with him and his health. You, who he had so irrevocably fallen in love with.
Shit, he didnāt just like you. He loved you. Or at least, he was on the very cusp of it, at the moment just before a star was born, ready to fall, ready to let go.
āI think itās fate,ā you announce seriously. āI mean, I made chocolate chip cookies the day we met and theyāre actually your favourite.ā
āI only decided they were my favourite after tasting yours,ā he retorts without thinking, still faintly stunned by the revelation.
You laugh, sharp and amused and delighted. āThat good?ā
āThe best.ā
āCan I see it?ā you ask suddenly, turning to him in a way your shoulders lean against his.
He swallows, instantly understanding what you were alluding to. Hesitantly, he nods, pulling up his shirt to reveal the spot where there shouldāve been a scar. Your hand grazes along his skin, and heās sure you can feel the way he shudders.
āThis form doesnāt scar,ā he murmurs lowly, almost apologetic. That scar had meant many things. His weakness, his survival. His past, his future.
You hum under your breath, and the way the faint starlight reflects off of your eyes should be considered ethereal. āWell, I guess itās good you donāt. With the amount of fights you and Stelle get intoā¦ā
Glancing up at him, you meet his eyes, and you smile shyly, like the sun peeking through the clouds. āIām glad youāre okay.ā
Suddenly parched, his tongue darts across his lips. Was it just him or had you always been this close? Something delicate was in the air, as if the simplest move would break it, and he couldnāt quite make a sound despite the hammering in his heart. The hand you have on his chest hasnāt moved, warm, but trembling ever so slightly. He ā
āIf you donāt say something I think Iām gonna kiss you,ā you whisper, almost out of breath, and your eyes oh so wanting.
Itās all the confirmation he needs. He dips his head, a hand snaking around your waist as finally, your lips meet. Your hands find its way in his hair, and youāre sighing into the kiss, the smile evident on your face. He feels himself do the same.
Itās no more of a kiss than a simple brush of lips, but itās sweet and shy and promised so much more that he feels warmth unfurl in every fibre of him. You relax against him, nuzzling your face into his neck, and he canāt help but place a kiss atop your head.
āIāve been wanting to do that for so long,ā you confess, muffled into his body.
āSurely not as long as I haveā¦ā
You laugh. āMarch is going to take one look at us tomorrow and scream āI told you soā. Sheās been saying you liked me back since forever.ā
Despite Marchās annoying meddling, he feels a tad grateful toward her. Without her intervention, he probably wouldāve taken much longer to realise his feelings toward you.
āYou asked me once if I believed in fate, and I told you I didnāt. I still donāt,ā he says, musing, rambling, barely putting two words before the other before heās speaking. āBut you do. So if itās any worth, youāre my fate. Infinite paths to choose from and Iād always pick this one, if it gets me to you.ā
You still, and for a moment, he thinks heās messed up, that whatever he had said earlier was too rushed. Then, youāre hugging him, squeezing him so tightly his ribs might cave in. The smile on your face is radiant, your eyes dazzlingly bright.
āThat means youāre stuck with me, yāknow,ā you say loftily, āPossibly forever.ā
Heās sure the look on his face is absolutely, irrevocably lovesick. He wouldnāt have it any other way.
āIām sure Iāll manage,ā he vows. āāTil the end of the line, and not a second less.ā
Doot, absolutely love your writingā¤ I have a request.
I need some angst if your feeling up to it. Can I have an unrequited love scenario with any of the Genshin men of your choosing? How do they handle your polite rejection? Who continues to love you from afar? Who is down for you so bad and takes this rejection to heart? Like "Did I do something in the past to make you upset with me? Do you love someone else?? I promise I could make you happy."
A lot of potential, what do you think?
featuring: childe; neuvilette; scaramouche; tighnari (separate)
tw: some stalkery shit + cursing in scaramouche's, childe not giving a shit????, letting them down ofc, brief mention of one-night stands (non-specified) in childe's
type: angst, sfw
pronouns used: none
a/n: i went through my inbox this morning and saw this and was like. well. forget college im doing this.
ALSO IM SO ANGRY AT HOW THEY PRONOUNCE NEUVILETTE IN THIS GAME.... poor guy
CHILDE
-> the "well, at least i gave it a shot!"
he's prepared himself for this, honestly
being a harbinger and away all the time means that while he does enjoy the occasional dinner date or one-night stand, he'd be the first to admit to himself that he's not the best candidate for a serious relationship
still, he had to give it a shot!
you'd have to be pretty special to get him to even think about asking you out for real, too
so, all this to say he isn't surprised when you let him down gently and give him an apologetic smile
oh, well. he'll find someone else
he can have his pick of who he wants. he travels around for work!
and he knew you'd probably say no, anyway
so... then, why does it still sting a little?
SCARAMOUCHE
-> the confused + furious
what? sorry??
have you been leading him on this whole time or something? what is your fucking problem?
on the inside, he's fuming. he's harbored these feelings for you for months and you're just... what, throwing him out with the trash?
(of course, this isn't the case, and you've been perfectly polite about rejecting him, letting him down slowly with a sweet apology)
on the outside, however, he doesn't let it show. he gives a huff and pulls his hat down over his face, turning away and refusing to meet your gaze
"fine. i never cared that much anyway."
this is A LIE.
for the next week, no matter how much he tries to distract himself, all scaramouche can think about is where he went wrong.
he can't figure it out by himself, so he turns to observation
he watches you, as you go about your day-to-day life, having almost completely forgotten him.
one of these days, he'll ask again. and you'll say yes.
NEUVILLETTE
-> the admirer from a distance
"ah, i see. very well then, i understand. i'll see you around then, i suppose."
he gives you a very curt, polite nod, and turns around, walking away as briskly as he can without appearing too embarrased
it's honestly very cute.
while neuvillette does his best to be respectful of your boundaries, he still can't stop himself from occasionally keeping an eye on you when he's around, just to make sure you're doing okay
if you eventually do find another partner, he does his best to abandon this behavior, able to convince himself that you'll be okay without him now that you have someone else.
if you ever run into him, neuvillette will be perfectly kind to you, but he'll leave as soon as possible. he wants to be as respectful as he can
you never said you couldn't be friends, but he never saw you that way, and it's all he can do not to get on his knees and beg
TIGHNARI
-> the "forget it ever happened"
you'd have to have been friends with him for quite a while to even get to this point, honestly.
so when he asks you out, you're surprised, and a little confused
and when you gently let him down, he's just as surprised as you were when he asked
for some reason, he'd come to the conclusion you also had feelings for him... and now that he knows you don't he's so embarrassed that he feels like digging himself a hole in the forest floor and laying in it for at least the next month.
but instead, he just flushes a bright shade of red and shakes his head furiously to try and ground himself.
"ah, i'm really sorry then, i get it. just forget i ever asked."
tighnari would much rather stay as close to you as he can be. and while "just friends" isn't anywhere close to his ideal label, it would have to do.
STOP PUTTING THE GENDER NEUTRAL TAG IN THEIR FEMALE READER WORKS.
I've already seen 2 works that were EXPLICITLY stated to be fem!reader yet when looking at the tags, they had (series) x gender neutral reader. Like this was NOT Tumblr being broken, this was purposeful tagging.
Like. I NEED y'all to be more mindful of the fact that trans people also partake in fandom and may not take kindly to thinking they've found content that doesn't trigger dysphoria only to get the rug pulled like it's a crypto scheme.
