[karmasuna]

welcome to the bakery ☆

— mona, (she/her), suna liker, genshin

opening hours: semi open! owner is (slowly) coming out of retirement

𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘂

˗ˏˋ fresh out the oven ´ˎ˗

↬ breads mlist                          ↬ pastries ao3

↬ the time machine past works      

↬ tip jar 

# yours truly — personal thoughts/ drabbles

# customers — anons

# regulars — asks off anon

# test products — ask games

# custom made — matchups/ in-character asks

# mona’s favs — fic recs

[karmasuna]

“you look like shit,” is all diluc says when lets himself into your shared home, sitting down to remove his boots caked with snow before coming to stand in front of you and your heap of blankets piled up on the couch.

“i feel like shit,” you retort back, weaving an arm through the layers of fabric to create an opening, inviting your lover to join you.

he eyes you, languidly removing his coat. ignoring your mumbles of “hurry up, you’re letting the heat out” as he folds it neatly and drapes it over a nearby chair, unfazed by the desperate grabby hands you make at him as finally, finally, his fingers brush against yours and he allows you to pull him into you.

he lands awkwardly, splayed across the exterior of your cocoon. there’s some awkward shuffling as diluc tries his best to wriggle through, your intertwined hands his only guide towards the reward that he’s been anticipating all day–you.

you mumble a small “i missed you” as you make it face to face with him, his arms wrapping around you with practiced ease. pressing his lips against yours to reciprocate the sentiment, warm and yearning.

diluc’s embrace feels like home, warming your body to the core with fiery kisses that leave you feverish and dizzy with desire. his hands roaming around your body sets you ablaze and leaves blazing trails in their wake, holding you close to him as if never wanting to let go. he is your home, your solace amidst the chilly winters.

[karmasuna]

“you look like shit,” is all diluc says when lets himself into your shared home, sitting down to remove his boots caked with snow before coming to stand in front of you and your heap of blankets piled up on the couch.

“i feel like shit,” you retort back, weaving an arm through the layers of fabric to create an opening, inviting your lover to join you.

he eyes you, languidly removing his coat. ignoring your mumbles of “hurry up, you’re letting the heat out” as he folds it neatly and drapes it over a nearby chair, unfazed by the desperate grabby hands you make at him as finally, finally, his fingers brush against yours and he allows you to pull him into you.

he lands awkwardly, splayed across the exterior of your cocoon. there’s some awkward shuffling as diluc tries his best to wriggle through, your intertwined hands his only guide towards the reward that he’s been anticipating all day–you.

you mumble a small “i missed you” as you make it face to face with him, his arms wrapping around you with practiced ease. pressing his lips against yours to reciprocate the sentiment, warm and yearning.

diluc’s embrace feels like home, warming your body to the core with fiery kisses that leave you feverish and dizzy with desire. his hands roaming around your body sets you ablaze and leaves blazing trails in their wake, holding you close to him as if never wanting to let go. he is your home, your solace amidst the chilly winters.

[falconcoast]

pocky day! | various genshin x reader

it’s november 11th, aka pocky day! how will your lover react when you suggest a game of pocky!

a/n: had no one to play the pocky game with, so had to write about it T-T take it and enjoy it! (also. like lowkey. isn’t the pocky game a choking hazard)

masterlist

you have to explain it to them at least six times until they understand what the game is: and for archons’ knows what reasons, they still don’t really get it when you pull out the box of pocky. they sit awkwardly next to you, holding your hand. they’re bashful as you look straight at them, eagerly chomping on your end. you’re the first to kiss them at the end, and while it didn’t go exactly as planned, you still found their fluster very cute. 

— GOROU, sara, albedo, xiao, eula, shenhe

they catch on pretty quickly with what you’re about to do. they’re kneeling next to you, keeping a level eye contact with you. they also aren’t averse to using underhanded tactics, like tickling your sides or leaving feather-light touches on your arm. at the end, they quickly leave a kiss on your lips before chewing on the rest of the stick. “wanna play again?” they ask, smiling innocently before holding up another stick. 

— THOMA, YELAN, kazuha

they’re actually the one who brings it up first. as soon as you’re in position, they tilt your head up so that you have to look up at them. they’re all up in your lap, wrapping their arms around your neck. they never lose eye contact with you, probably having more passion than anyone else you’ve ever played the pocky game with. at the end, they swiftly delve into a fervent kiss with you. after they pull away, you’re the one left flustered. they only chuckle in response, discarding the box in favor of kissing you once more. 

— AYATO, KAEYA, childe, ningguang

they don’t really see the point in doing it, but go along with it anyways. they’re probably the most normal about the game. they sit close to you, balance the pocky stick between their lips. they get a little closer, and a little closer, until both your lips eventually meet. you both pull away, dizzy in the head and heat on your cheeks heavily. you both confirm that it was, in fact, a draw. 

— ZHONGLI, JEAN, tighnari

absolute menace. they begin the game normally, before snapping the pocky in half accidentally. after seeing your pout, they continue to break off the pocky before you can kiss them. eventually, you have to put your hands on their cheeks and pull them in for a peck. 

— CYNO, itto 

[karmasuna]

“you look like shit,” is all diluc says when lets himself into your shared home, sitting down to remove his boots caked with snow before coming to stand in front of you and your heap of blankets piled up on the couch.

“i feel like shit,” you retort back, weaving an arm through the layers of fabric to create an opening, inviting your lover to join you.

he eyes you, languidly removing his coat. ignoring your mumbles of “hurry up, you’re letting the heat out” as he folds it neatly and drapes it over a nearby chair, unfazed by the desperate grabby hands you make at him as finally, finally, his fingers brush against yours and he allows you to pull him into you.

he lands awkwardly, splayed across the exterior of your cocoon. there’s some awkward shuffling as diluc tries his best to wriggle through, your intertwined hands his only guide towards the reward that he’s been anticipating all day–you.

you mumble a small “i missed you” as you make it face to face with him, his arms wrapping around you with practiced ease. pressing his lips against yours to reciprocate the sentiment, warm and yearning.

diluc’s embrace feels like home, warming your body to the core with fiery kisses that leave you feverish and dizzy with desire. his hands roaming around your body sets you ablaze and leaves blazing trails in their wake, holding you close to him as if never wanting to let go. he is your home, your solace amidst the chilly winters.

[kazumist]

യ. mornings with them .ᐟ

യ. dckz + thoma / fluff / wc 0.3k / pls do reblog :')

childe being the one who will laze around every morning, wanting the little moments to last longer for he doesn't have a lot of chances to have these times with you. the way he wouldn't budge from the bed if you shook him awake, mumbling something incoherent everytime you try to wake him up.

diluc being the one who will always be giving you breakfast in bed every morning. he'll get up earlier than you, making use of early mornings as a time to prepare. he doesn't mind making this a part of his routine, if it means to see that one lazy and soft smile you'll give him everytime he walks into the room with the food.

zhongli being the one who will kiss your temple as a way to say good morning. his soft lips gently touching your head; one kiss on the temple, one kiss on the crown of your head, and one kiss to your lips. every morning he's like this - always showering you with kisses as much as he can.

kaeya being the one who will smack you with a pillow to wake you up. his long hair covering up the eye that he ever so hides from the world as he cheekily grins at you. you hit him back with another pillow and your morning became a pillow fight between the two of you.

thoma being the one who you will always wake up next to, that sunshine smile of his is one of the first things you see from him. but he's clingy, try to get out of bed and you'll get pulled back in! his grip on your waist wasn't that tight but you can't escape him when he's literally giving you lazy kisses everywhere. however, surely ayaka wouldn't mind him getting up late, no? it's his day off, after all.

mornings with him is different in it's own way, as well as how they show that they love you.

[karmasuna]

“your hands are freezing,” xiao mumbles discontentedly. 

and yet, he allows you burrow yourself deeper into his embrace, hands slipping under his shirt to find solace in his warmth. 

he shudders when you press your icy fingers into his sides, poking at his slender waist. gaze flicking up to his to see his reaction, only to meet his own already locked on your curled up figure. you offer him a cheeky grin, warmth blooming across your body as xiao envelopes you with his body heat.

pulling you in closer into his chest, xiao presses a kiss to your forehead, warm breath fanning across your face. you hum in content, feeling his lips curl into a small smile as he pulls back to look at you. 

“feel better now?” he asks as he feels you relax into his touch. you nod, though there’s a mischievous glint in your eyes as you bring your knees up into your stomach. 

“better now,” you echo, toes meeting his warm skin, “but my feet are still cold though.”

xiao cringes, hissing at the sudden cold sting. “you’re lucky i love you or you would’ve been dead by now,” he grimaces, glaring at you.

“oh i know,” you retort cheerfully, bringing your cold nose to brush against his, “love you too.”

[karmasuna]

“your hands are freezing,” xiao mumbles discontentedly. 

and yet, he allows you burrow yourself deeper into his embrace, hands slipping under his shirt to find solace in his warmth. 

he shudders when you press your icy fingers into his sides, poking at his slender waist. gaze flicking up to his to see his reaction, only to meet his own already locked on your curled up figure. you offer him a cheeky grin, warmth blooming across your body as xiao envelopes you with his body heat.

pulling you in closer into his chest, xiao presses a kiss to your forehead, warm breath fanning across your face. you hum in content, feeling his lips curl into a small smile as he pulls back to look at you. 

“feel better now?” he asks as he feels you relax into his touch. you nod, though there’s a mischievous glint in your eyes as you bring your knees up into your stomach. 

“better now,” you echo, toes meeting his warm skin, “but my feet are still cold though.”

xiao cringes, hissing at the sudden cold sting. “you’re lucky i love you or you would’ve been dead by now,” he grimaces, glaring at you.

“oh i know,” you retort cheerfully, bringing your cold nose to brush against his, “love you too.”

[karmasuna]

zhongli’s favorite thing to do is linking pinkies with you. walking so close to you that your arms brush and linking your fingers together, pulling you as close to him as humanly possible. reaching for your hands under the table at dinner just to lace his fingers through yours before settling them in his lap, perfectly straight-faced and feigning ignorance when you ask him what he’s doing.

he lives for the moments when he greets you from behind, the small gasp escaping your lips as he curls a gloved finger around yours before you turn around to greet him with a smile, instinctively reciprocating the gesture.

it’s a small gesture but it never fails to make you flustered nonetheless, a special little sign reserved for just the both of you.

soon a small gold band makes it onto said finger of your lover, the tint looking suspiciously like the shine of mora. its identical counterpart making it onto your own, and you don’t mask your gasp of awe as zhongli slides the ring onto your finger, a perfect fit.

the ring’s your pride and joy, his clinking against yours as you swing your interlaced fingers as you stroll through the bustling streets of liyue, glistening in the sunlight with an almost otherworldly shimmer. 

sometimes you catch him staring too, eyes drawn to the matching bands when you interlace your fingers. he coughs when he realizes that you’ve caught him staring, eyes darting away, embarrassed. 

you bring your connected fingers up, gaze locked with his as your lips press against the cool metal. zhongli flushes with pride, rose dusting his cheeks in a rare display. to him, you look ethereal like this, the prettiest he’s ever seen when you show him exactly just how much you love him. 

[karmasuna]

how you fall out of love

- ft childe, scaramouche, diluc, albedo

CHILDE

he’s the ultimate family man. he cooks, he cleans, and is a loving brother to his family. what is there not to love about him? maybe except for his penchant for violence that more often than not leaves him coming home all beaten up, but it’s something that can be overlooked when he litters your face with apologetic kisses after you patch him up.

the problem is that there’s never enough of him to go around. you barely see him as it is when you’re both home- but after he becomes a harbinger, it can’t be helped that he’s sent on even more expeditions all across tevyat.

it’s not easy, barely being able to see your lover. every goodbye with him feels permanent, heavy with the risk of finally losing him to a particularly cruel fight. the two of you try your best to keep in touch, but it’s just different when you can’t hold him in your arms the way you so yearn to.

keeping the flame burning brightly is hard, especially when you’re separated by an icy blizzard. Eventually it gets harder to even recall how his touches feel, harder to remember how it feels to be loved.

in the end, your passion doesn’t beat the storms. the letters become shorter, becoming more scarce between and eventually die out, ending with a final letter that you send, sealed with the last kiss you ever intend to send his way. it starts and ends simple, “thank you for loving me.”

childe does not put up a fight. after all, how could he? he understands more than anyone your frustrations, knows how hard it is to be separated from your other half for so long. if letting you go means you’ll be able to find solace, then maybe it’s for the better.

you don’t cross paths after saying your goodbyes. rarely could he ever find time to spend with you in the past as lovers; it is just the same as friends. your occasional encounters are filled with empty promises of meeting up to reminisce, but it’s more than obvious to the both of you that regardless of how much you may love each other, what you had with him will stay in the past.

Keep reading

[karmasuna]

“stop moving, you’ll get polish all over your fingers.” 

albedo’s tone is kind yet firm, the languid brushes of his brush stopping as you shift in your seat. “are you uncomfortable? we can switch seats if you’d like.”

you shake your head, though instantly you shudder as soft fur brushes against your legs yet again. 

“it’s the cat again,” you say and albedo follows your gaze down to look at the white ball of fur curled around your legs. he chuckles, reaching down with his free hand to pet the feline. it lets out a small purr, and the two of you share a smile before he returns to his original task.

your hand feels soft in his as he paints your nails meticulously. the paint feels cool even through your nails. his thumb swiping gently over your cuticles to rub off excess streaks. the gesture feels nice, your boyfriend’s attention to detail allowing for nothing but the best of his work be left on you. 

albedo smells nice, like the tea he likes to share with you in the morning and the lingering scent of your freshly washed sheets.

he brings your hand near his lips, blowing gently once, twice and pressing a kiss to the back of your hand before settling it back in your lap. the gesture leaves a warmth blooming in your chest, heart simmering with a quiet adoration

“all done,” albedo announces, a hint of pride in his voice as he sees you beam, lifting your hands up to the sun to admire his work.

“they look great,” you grin, “thank you, love.”

“of course. i enjoyed it too.” it’s not a lie. there’s nothing more he loves than seeing you happy. a fond smile hangs on his lips as he watches you catch the attention of the cat before patting your lap as an invitation.

“you think they’re pretty too, little kitty?” you let it nuzzle into your hand, careful not to let the fur mess up your freshly dried nails.

“oh!” you gasp in surprise as it stretches itself up, front paws on your shoulders as it nuzzles its face against yours, an imitation of a kiss.

“you’re pretty smart, hmm? good kitty,” you coo, looking up at your boyfriend to see his reaction-

only to see that he’s pouting. there’s a small frown on his face, an unreadable expression in his eyes as he watches the cat cuddle up to you.

“you alright, love?” your voice snaps his attention away from the cat back to you. he nods, but here’s still a hint of a frown there as he glances away, looking anywhere but at the feline in your lap.

“tell me,” you press, ushering the cat away with a wave and turning to face him. “you know i won’t judge.”

“i want one too,” he mumbles, still not completely looking at you, “a kiss.”

“awww,” you laugh in realization, “were you jealous?”

“absolutely not. i wouldn’t be jealous of a cat. i have no reason to-”

“you can have as many kisses as you want, you know.”

albedo visibly brightens at your words, eyes hopeful as he looks at you expectantly.

“even right now?”

“i suppose so.” rolling your eyes fondly, you lean in to let your lips find home.

—a day in the life; albedo

[karmasuna]

zhongli’s favorite thing to do is linking pinkies with you. walking so close to you that your arms brush and linking your fingers together, pulling you as close to him as humanly possible. reaching for your hands under the table at dinner just to lace his fingers through yours before settling them in his lap, perfectly straight-faced and feigning ignorance when you ask him what he’s doing.

he lives for the moments when he greets you from behind, the small gasp escaping your lips as he curls a gloved finger around yours before you turn around to greet him with a smile, instinctively reciprocating the gesture.

it’s a small gesture but it never fails to make you flustered nonetheless, a special little sign reserved for just the both of you.

soon a small gold band makes it onto said finger of your lover, the tint looking suspiciously like the shine of mora. its identical counterpart making it onto your own, and you don’t mask your gasp of awe as zhongli slides the ring onto your finger, a perfect fit.

the ring’s your pride and joy, his clinking against yours as you swing your interlaced fingers as you stroll through the bustling streets of liyue, glistening in the sunlight with an almost otherworldly shimmer. 

sometimes you catch him staring too, eyes drawn to the matching bands when you interlace your fingers. he coughs when he realizes that you’ve caught him staring, eyes darting away, embarrassed. 

you bring your connected fingers up, gaze locked with his as your lips press against the cool metal. zhongli flushes with pride, rose dusting his cheeks in a rare display. to him, you look ethereal like this, the prettiest he’s ever seen when you show him exactly just how much you love him. 

[karmasuna]

heyhey if anyone has any requests for genshin hmu! no guarantees i’ll write all of them but i need inspo so yea :D

[karmasuna]

zhongli’s favorite thing to do is linking pinkies with you. walking so close to you that your arms brush and linking your fingers together, pulling you as close to him as humanly possible. reaching for your hands under the table at dinner just to lace his fingers through yours before settling them in his lap, perfectly straight-faced and feigning ignorance when you ask him what he’s doing.

he lives for the moments when he greets you from behind, the small gasp escaping your lips as he curls a gloved finger around yours before you turn around to greet him with a smile, instinctively reciprocating the gesture.

it’s a small gesture but it never fails to make you flustered nonetheless, a special little sign reserved for just the both of you.

soon a small gold band makes it onto said finger of your lover, the tint looking suspiciously like the shine of mora. its identical counterpart making it onto your own, and you don’t mask your gasp of awe as zhongli slides the ring onto your finger, a perfect fit.

the ring’s your pride and joy, his clinking against yours as you swing your interlaced fingers as you stroll through the bustling streets of liyue, glistening in the sunlight with an almost otherworldly shimmer. 

sometimes you catch him staring too, eyes drawn to the matching bands when you interlace your fingers. he coughs when he realizes that you’ve caught him staring, eyes darting away, embarrassed. 

you bring your connected fingers up, gaze locked with his as your lips press against the cool metal. zhongli flushes with pride, rose dusting his cheeks in a rare display. to him, you look ethereal like this, the prettiest he’s ever seen when you show him exactly just how much you love him. 

[tofutobios-deactivated20231016]

─── ⠀ *         ONE KISS WON’T HURT.

─── ⠀ * INUMAKI TOGE.

content warnings : gender neutral! reader, inumaki uses his quirk on reader, tooth rotting fluff

back to the jjk masterlist .

“Kiss.”

Your body moves before your mind can comprehend what’s happening, leaning forward to press your lips to his. Moments later, when you pull away and meet the mischievous twinkle in his eyes do you frown, huffing as you sit back and refocus your attention back on your studying. When he had sat down across from you, you thought it would be nothing more than him keeping you company while you finished one of your study sessions.

Keep reading

[karmasuna]

how you fall out of love

- ft childe, scaramouche, diluc, albedo

CHILDE

he’s the ultimate family man. he cooks, he cleans, and is a loving brother to his family. what is there not to love about him? maybe except for his penchant for violence that more often than not leaves him coming home all beaten up, but it’s something that can be overlooked when he litters your face with apologetic kisses after you patch him up.

the problem is that there’s never enough of him to go around. you barely see him as it is when you’re both home- but after he becomes a harbinger, it can’t be helped that he’s sent on even more expeditions all across tevyat.

it’s not easy, barely being able to see your lover. every goodbye with him feels permanent, heavy with the risk of finally losing him to a particularly cruel fight. the two of you try your best to keep in touch, but it’s just different when you can’t hold him in your arms the way you so yearn to.

keeping the flame burning brightly is hard, especially when you’re separated by an icy blizzard. Eventually it gets harder to even recall how his touches feel, harder to remember how it feels to be loved.

in the end, your passion doesn’t beat the storms. the letters become shorter, becoming more scarce between and eventually die out, ending with a final letter that you send, sealed with the last kiss you ever intend to send his way. it starts and ends simple, “thank you for loving me.”

childe does not put up a fight. after all, how could he? he understands more than anyone your frustrations, knows how hard it is to be separated from your other half for so long. if letting you go means you’ll be able to find solace, then maybe it’s for the better.

you don’t cross paths after saying your goodbyes. rarely could he ever find time to spend with you in the past as lovers; it is just the same as friends. your occasional encounters are filled with empty promises of meeting up to reminisce, but it’s more than obvious to the both of you that regardless of how much you may love each other, what you had with him will stay in the past.

SCARAMOUCHE

sometimes he’s just too rash, too prone to anger. you’re lucky enough to be on his good side most of the time, but on a bad day not even you can escape from his wrath. 

being with him is stressful. it’s a constant rollercoaster of anxiety, not whether he’ll wake up the man you fell for or just the cold side that everyone else knows him for. 

over time you don’t even know why you’re with him anymore. watching him leave for work in the mornings makes you let out a sigh of relief, where getting into bed with him for the night just feels like sharing with a stranger. 

eventually you pack up your clothes, walk out, and never look back. It’s odd- there’s no goodbyes, no arguments- nothing. it’s like you never knew him when you cross paths, just two strangers who’d never loved each other. 

DILUC

the uncrowned king of monstadt. everyone’s had a crush on him at one point or another- so how could you complain when you can call him yours? 

it all gets a little much sometimes. there’s no doubt he’s the man of the relationship. It starts small- little questions about where you were going, quickly escalating into having to know every single detail about your life. 

it’s hard to breathe. he likes to be in control, to know that you’re safe and still love him. having to utter the same three words every day to him as he leaves for work in the morning is meaningless now when you don’t feel that way anymore. 

he likes being in the know, but it isn’t the same for you. all you can do is sit at home and look pretty when he comes home, questions about how his work went falling on deaf ears day after day. you give and give but get nothing in return, and eventually all the love you can give runs out. 

the glances you share now as you cross paths are searing, brings back memories of how it felt to love him. it’s vivid, happy moments that will be burned into your memory for the rest of your life, you’re pretty sure. but there’s no point in staying when you’ve become more of a plaything for him to pamper than equals, and that’s just the unfortunate truth of how your relationship ends. 

ALBEDO

in the beginning, you were content. 

neither one of you were looking for much- or so you thought. there’s a mutual understanding between you and albedo. an unspoken agreement, that all you needed was each other. no extravagant dates and surprises that were meant to make you flush like you’re high school lovebirds- it’s just you and him, sharing quiet kisses in the cloak of the night. 

it's hard to say when it all started. perhaps you’re the selfish one here; wanting more than what you’d originally agreed on in the beginning. your lover seems perfectly okay with how you are right now, and it feels wrong to say otherwise. sometimes it feels more like you’re roommates than lovers. 

you’d accepted the fact that he probably loves his work more than you, and was okay. as long as you still had a place in his heart, you didn’t mind being second best. these days you can’t help but feel that you’re not even on his mind at all- all he spares you is a smile and a nod when he comes home for the day. it feels like conversing with an acquaintance when he’s supposed to be so much more to you, when he should be your sanctuary but just isn’t. 

things aren’t much different even now that he’s gone. you return home to an empty apartment, slipping into bed alone at night. the yearning slowly fades away, and slowly but surely you become content in the solitude. 

his footsteps are familiar as he walks towards your market stall, yet his presence foreign and prickly as he wordlessly comes to a stop in front of you. 

there is no warmth, no words exchanged as albedo hands you his items, and some mora as payment. no longer a spark as your fingers brush against his, an unspoken emotion in his eyes as his eyes flicker up to yours for a brief moment before he leaves. nothing stirs in your heart as you watch his figure disappear around the corner, as if your years of shared memories were nothing but obsolete relics of the past. 

there is no more love between you and albedo, or perhaps there never was in the first place.

[favoniuscodex]

"it's snowing."

your words pierce through the quiet of angel's share. the rowdy tavern has long since stilled, being replaced with the sounds of clinking glass as diluc places a freshly cleaned cup back in its rightful place. you, on the other hand, have forsaken your duty of wiping down the tables. the window allured you much more, with the sight of the first yearly flurries pulling your attention from your tavern closing duties.

there's a lilt of joy in your voice as you speak, dampened softly by the tiredness that occurs when awake this late. it clings to the edges of syllables, frenzying the slithering sounds of s with sharp enthusiasm. despite the chill of standing near the cold glass, wintry winds whistling through the window panes, your expression is blissful and warm.

diluc cannot understand your fondness for the snow. as a youth, when he had finally received his pyro vision, he found refuge on chilly days, when the bitter cold would ease the constant heat of the flames that now seemed to consume him from the inside outwards. now, he shies away from it, preferring to dampen his warmth with the heavy fabric of his familiar black attire. such actions fail to provide any proper thermoregulation, but diluc can't bring himself to change course. the coat shields his past from the world, with few seeing the scarred arms that take shelter within the sleeves.

"is it now?" diluc muses.

diluc has never been one for small talk. if it had been anyone else to comment on the weather outside, he would have replied with a simple hum of acknowledgment. when with you, however, he always wishes to hear your voice. when with you, he'll indulge. whether he's truly indulging you or himself, he isn't quite sure, but the joy that radiates off you is a reward nonetheless.

"yes! first snow of the season, i think!" you tear your gaze from the darkened window, whose landscape outside glows with faint sunset-stained streetlamp hues. the flurries catch in the light, shining a brilliant white as they dance their way down to their fallen compatriots on the ground. instead of watching the disorganized promenade of the snow's descent, you instead observe your lover.

upon noticing the redirection of your glance, he quickly diverts his gaze from you. diluc's cheeks tint with pink as he avoids your glance like a schoolboy not wanting to be caught staring by his crush. the blush on his cheeks deepens as you let out a giggle at his sheepishness, but you use the opportunity to blatantly ogle him. you drink in the sight of your lover, who has now moved on to wiping down the countertop. his hidden muscles ripple as he wipes down the counter, yet your admiration for his appearance tonight is not driven by a lust-filled haze that typically clouds your brain whenever you are reminded of his strength.

instead, you take note that diluc's coat has been cast aside, with short sleeves revealing flame-scarred arms. it is a display of trust, even if he'd never admit it. it simply makes it easier to clean, he'd say if you pointed out. nothing more, nothing less. but he'd put the coat back on and cover his hands with the stiff leather gloves he wears outside. diluc is entirely at ease with you, but not with his appearance, so bringing attention to what he perceives as flaws, even if telling him how beautiful you find the healed traces of novice pyro wielding that paint his arms, would only cause him to close back up once more.

and thus, wanting to see the petals of your glaze lily of a lover, you sing the song that diluc wants to hear. too much sunshine, too much warmth, too much radiance at once will cause him to hide, scrunching up until alone in the moonlight once more. you opt to carry on your simple melodies of idle conversation in hopes that you can one day perform operas dedicated to all of him that you love (his entirety) even if he does not understand why you feel such a way.

thus, you talk of snow.

diluc finishes his cleaning of the counter and looks up at you, eyes widening at the realization that your gaze has never left him. you smile softly, easily, familiarly to him, and he finds refuge, alertness easing into a gaze of fondness.

"you're not going to come look?" you ask. the heavy implication of wanting your lover by your side is softened by your gentle tone, and diluc can only oblige, wordlessly walking over to your side.

diluc doesn't have much interest in the weather outside, but if you told him to leap off starsnatch cliff, he would without a second thought. looking at the snowflakes that quietly flutter outside is of little effort to him, and if it makes you content, he is all the more happy to do it. lost in his thoughts of you as he looks out at the frosty landscape outside, diluc fails to notice the way your gaze has shifted to his calloused fingers. you use the close proximity to him to lace your fingers through his.

startled by the physical contact, diluc jolts, and the loosening of his hand causes you to retract yours. uncertainty quickly mars your once blissful expression as you pull your hand back to your side.

"sorry, i didn't mean t-" you begin. diluc has always been the kind to patiently let you speak, always alert for your next words, but he uncharacteristically interrupts.

"no, please, i did not intend for..." in a rare occurrence, diluc's words are flustered as he loses his train of thought. crimson eyes set their sights on your hand and diluc hastily snatches it back to his side, fingers fumbling their way into the cracks between your own. his heavy palm presses against your own as he firmly clasps his fingertips against the back of your palm, forming an ironclad cage around your hand.

is a cage still a cage if you wish to be within it?

diluc lifts your conjoined hands to his face, lips brushing against the back of your palm. the gesture satiates your nerves as diluc lowers your hands, taking half a step closer to you so that your shoulders are practically touching. he clears his throat.

"my... apologies," he says, words slow as he mulls over them. the two of you have been together enough to share soft-spoken i love yous, but tonight feels more different. tonight feels more intimate, even if the three little words have yet to be uttered by each of you. there is a thick tension that diluc is unwilling to cut through, instead carefully selecting his words to cause it to fester.

"the snow is beautiful," he murmurs.

both of you know he isn't talking about the snow. he pauses, looking back out at the cobblestone streets of mondstadt that are slowly being buried under the intensifying snowfall. his lips part slightly, and the snow outside is forgotten as you await your lovers next words, wondering what thoughts are taking him so long to properly formulate.

"you do not have your coat."

diluc's words nearly make you laugh out of sheer confusion, but you remain silent. you could say the same for him, but conflict continues to ebb into his expression, so you remain quiet, letting him figure out what he wishes to say next.

"do you..." he begins, face erupting into crimson hues, the deepest blush you've ever seen on the winery owner. diluc shakes his head slightly to clear his thoughts. you wonder what he's thinking of. his touches have never roamed beyond your waist and the expanse of your face and neck as he presses kisses to the smooth skin that resides there. yet, his gaze does not divert to the lower parts of your body, instead focusing on your eyes. diluc is ever the gentleman, and you realize that is why he is struggling to formulate his next words. perhaps he will offer you his coat so that you can get home while remaining warm and-

"you cannot possibly walk home without a coat," he blurts, and you wait for his sacrifice of his favorite piece of clothing for the night.

yet, it never comes. you feel diluc's palm warm with pyro energy, threatening to erupt, but the temperature returns back to normal as he clears his throat once more. he diverts his gaze for a brief moment, glancing back at the snow before staring at you once more. crimson irises are filled with love, adoration, vulnerability, and earnestness. you trust the painting of emotion that is stored within them, willing to reveal your entire self to them if requested. diluc isn't offering you his coat, is he? flustered heat overwhelms him and inexperienced words spew forth like magma breaking past the surface, yet they take away your breath nonetheless.

"would you care to stay the night?"