Hi there!! For your event, may I ask for Xiao w/ ghost reader? Like, I’m pretty sure he can see ghosts (since he saw that girl that traveler saw?..) so it’d be cool to see!
-Xiao & ghosts are an interesting combo, I at first wondered if he had anything to do with them (like exorcising) but from a bit of research, i can say no.
-Now, for Xiao, he will immediately know you’re a ghost. You don’t need some dramatic thing to catch his attention because he’ll sense you’re there (that or Verr informed him you’d be around).
-I’d imagine he ignores you whether you try to socialise with him or not, seeing as he spends a lot of time fighting demons.
-If you follow him around, he won’t really say anything, he might spare a few judging looks but will eventually get used to a ghost not far behind him on most days.
-May eventually answer a question of yours, something along the lines of ‘what’s your name’ then very slowly open up to you.
-You may be a ghost, meaning you cannot die again, but that doesn’t mean he’s jumping at the chance to be friends.
-He will come to appreciate you over time though, subtly engaging in small talk over time.
-Now, I’m not entirely sure if you can touch ghosts but I have seen people say they have felt ghosts touch them or bumped into ghosts. I myself have mixed feelings on the idea of ghosts so I’m not an expert, bare with me!!
-So, going on the idea that ghosts can touch/be touched, he may not mind if you place a hand on his back whilst he’s gazing up at the sky during nighttime.
-If you tell him you like flowers or nature in general, he may just take a trip to a lovely field and sit on a nice rock with you, you never know..
-Actually doesn’t really mind that you’re not human, seeing as he too isn’t and there’s a bunch of things that you can bond over.
-Will avoid Hu Tao at all costs if you’re with him, he isn’t looking for her to tease him about having a soft-spot for a certain undead or to offer to take you into the afterlife.
-He isn’t trying to be selfish or anything by not wanting you to accept the other, he’s quite sure you would’ve gone to the afterlife already if you wished to.. But he grows to like you, not exactly stating so but showing it by engaging in chats and paying more attention to you.
-Pretty unsociable so whether you are too or not, you’ll probably find yourself gazing at nothing in a comfortable silence.
-Isn’t thinking about relationships nor does he notice whether he grows romantic feelings for you, seeing as he’s never experienced such feelings to know of them for himself.
-He does eventually get it, much like a child in the way he discovers the feelings.
-He has observed married couples over the years for a few seconds, checking over Liyue and silently wondering if that was a silly thing to do, devote your life to another who has done so little for you.
-But he slowly gets it, wondering if it’s a possibility for him to ask you about these feelings or whether they’re just silly emotions.
-Eventually goes to Zhongli privately, asking about these feelings and what to do.
-It confuses Xiao, in all honesty, the revelation of how it works and the fact it’s natural for any species giving him comfort despite the confusion.
-He’s awkward, if you’re flirty or teasing he will go bright red before huffing and putting his mask back on.
-If you’re awkward too then… well, you’re probably both gonna dance around the subject until you can no longer.
-Asks you out rather formally either way, a tint of red on hai cheeks as he speaks, crossing his arms as if he didn’t care of your answer.
-You saying yes almost knocks the life out of him (well, you can be ghosts together..?).
-Not one for physical touch but will indulge you if you wish for some, since you’ve probably not touched anyone or had any touch you in ages, being a ghost and all..
-Enjoys knowing there’s someone close to him that’s immortal too, unlike the many hundred years he spent alone.
-Is rather sweet, won’t have arguments with you for multiple reasons, one of which being that he’s had enough violence in his life & only wishes for you to be okay.
-These hcs honestly aren’t very Halloween-like but yea that’s it 😭
