prompt: stargazing w/ dainsleif as requested by @teyvatstories
pairing: dainsleif x gn!reader
warnings: 1.4 spoilers for the archon quest
words: ~0.8k words
a/n: usually stargazing requests leave me kinda clueless as to where to go with him but my brain was like "haha remember the unreconciled stars event?" and it went off. thank u for the request, lumi!!!! <3333 song inspo
“some may say that the answer to all of one’s problems can be found within the stars.”
the man’s words are softly spoken, yet you feel the reverberations of them throughout his chest as he says them with conviction. for once, you remove your gaze from his as he speaks, instead electing to set your sights to where a single finger of his points upwards. above you, in the vast expanse of the night sky, unfamiliar constellations glisten in the black, velveteen fabric of the cosmos. they taunt you with riddles of a world you have yet to figure out, yet the firm arm wrapped around your shoulders grounds you from floating headfirst into their false enchantments.
“do you believe such tales, dain?” you ask, finally sneaking a glance at your lover. his eyes are already cast downwards, looking intently at you. they swirl with the icy hues of the tsaritsa’s blessing, yet you know dainsleif would never seek such a gift from a false god -- not after what he’s seen, not after what he’s experienced. dain’s darkened arm, corrupted with abyssal energy, wraps itself further around you as you nestle further into him and lean into his chest. the smooth expanse of your skin is shielded from its rough texture by the thick fabric of his coat.
“the ability to make choices of belief for others does not rest within my capabilities,” dainsleif responds, ever the one for cryptic words. “yet, if you must ask on a personal level, i do not believe that the stars influence oneself to the extent that others may insist upon.”
such an answer fails to surprise you. the blonde had never been fond of the archons nor celestia. why would he find fondness within the constellations that have been blessed by the gods themselves? the stars that celestia has kissed, the ones that form a falsified heaven amidst the hellish landscape that teyvat's history has attempted to bury, are not ones that provide dainsleif comfort. each pale dot that twinkles in the night sky is not one that assuages his fears, but rather serves as an eye of the gods, reminding him that his personal rebellion against the abyss and celestia alike are to be fruitless efforts.
yet, in the strong arms of your lover, you believe in him anyways. should you be unable to trust the lonesome bard who continues to smile, despite solemn eyes, or find yourself wary of the knowledgeable funeral parlor consultant, whose eyes glow with the stories of a thousand lives that have yet to be told, you know that you shall always find sanctuary in the arms of the man who holds you as if you are the culmination of his failed duties. dainsleif's vibrant irises look at you as if you are his only chance at salvation. therefore, he points his finger once more, pointing upwards and over the both of you.
if the stars cannot provide him with the solace he once believed them to provide, dainsleif hopes that maybe, just maybe, celestia will turn a blind eye to his own sins and allow for you to find happiness amongst the constellations within their jurisdiction as well.
"what rests in the sky before us is your constellation," dainsleif explains. "should you fall, the stars will shift in their formation and be reassigned to a new soul."
you do not ask if he has a constellation. you already know of the answer. questions form on your tongue and die before they can exit your lips, causing a chain reaction of silent supernovas within your mind as you struggle to form the words of what you wish to say next. dainsleif, however, is content with the silence that falls between the two of you as he lowers his hand. a soft kiss is placed upon your hair before he looks up at the heavens that forsake him so long ago once more.
"in the realm of the seven, their constituents proclaim that one should find courage if they see their constellation within clear skies. it is said to be an omen of good fortune," dainsleif explains. your softened breathing pattern signals your gratitude for his explanation. the two of you are both outsiders in this land -- land that dain once knew like the back of his hand and land that you are experiencing for the first time, not yet having sunken your toes into the terrain below.
"if it instills confidence within an individual," you ask slowly, struggling to find the words to describe the question you wish to ask your eternally cryptic lover. "what do you seek out when you need guidance instead?"
dainsleif lets out a soft chuckle at your question. "i call you 'starlight' for a reason, my love."
if diluc and childe played genshin and were rolling for their characters, diluc has the patience of a saint and eventually gets his character. however, childe whales hard and never gets himself. he brushes it off as he wanted a challenege and playing himself would be too easy, but anyone can tell he's both sad, mad, and frustrated and about to break into mihoyo's company to get his hands on his character
Me, culturally Protestant, walking into a Catholic church filled balls to the walls with paintings sculptures candles and god knows what else: why’s there so much stuff
Me, vampire, walking into any denominational holy place: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I’ve been playing Genshin Impact for a while and he’s my favorite one so far, love him so much <3 His birthday was yesterday so i did this to celebrate \o/
1.) Describe your f/o’s voice. Is it deep and rough, or smooth and sweet? Does it happen to have an accent or a lisp?
2.) What chores is your f/o good at? Maybe folding laundry, or mowing the lawn/gardening? What chores do they do that you usually don’t?
3.) Is your f/o a cuddler, and do they get more cuddlier in private?
4.) What ways does your f/o show their love for you? By surprising you with your favourite snack once in a while, or giving you back massages when you’re in pain?
5.) Who’s more spontaneous? Would your f/o randomly want to go on a midnight drive out in town or would they be the one to complain that they’re tired?
6.) Is your f/o fussy over you if you have any self-destructive behaviours? What are their ways of making you care for yourself?
7.) What’s their signature thing they like to do when annoying you? Putting their cold hands on your skin? Poking you right in your ticklish areas?
8.) What do they usually do to take care of you when you’re ill, and vice versa? (More importantly, do they burn the soup?)
9.) What texts or phonecalls do you expect from them during the day? What do you text them during the day?
10.) What’s their contact name and assigned picture? What do they have for you?
11.) Would they be up for a date inside the animal crossing museum?
12.) Describe their hugs/cuddles.
13.) What would you cook them when you’re trying to surprise them? What gifts would you get them?
14.) Can the two of you act like functioning humans inside a grocery store together or are you both too good at getting off track and making the other laugh?
15.) What’s an inside joke between the two of you?
