summary : khaenri’ah was a nation without a god, not because it had a god that died or abandoned them. but because it never had a god to begin with. so, rhinedottir, playing as the god, created both of you as her adam and eve.
word count : 1.9k
tags : mainly fluff except act iii.i , second person point of view , the reader is not the traveler , possibly out of character rhinedottir ( so, she is not really mentioned ) , no beta we die like nabu malikata , no use of ‘y/n’ , use of ‘adam&eve’ symbolically ─ thus, the reader does not have a specified gender nor a religion , albedo is down bad , spoilers from ‘shadow amidst snowstorms’ event + one-sided love ( only in the act iii.i, from subject two to reader ) , takes place before 4.8 therefore no mini durin is mentioned , no dialogue , all lowercase , prose poetry(?) type of writing ─ i honestly do not know.
⠀⠀⠀⠀act i⠀—⠀nigredo⠀the blackening , melanosis⠀the first step in alchemy, drawing from primordial forms.
⠀⠀⠀⌜⠀ as beings who live in this world, we must find our own meaning.⠀⸝⸝
many, many years ago, yet not so long after the godless nation of teyvat was brought to ruin; for without any worship, a soil is full of sin— stood there a woman, her lips curved upwards to an amused grin. a hand on her chin while thinking of how to let the story begin. something that would get under many people’s skin, and crossing a line that is ever so thin.
people often wondered: was khaenri’ah the pride of humankind because its people were proud, or were its people proud because khaenri’ah was their pride?
rhinedottir, a great example for the former. from the numerous noblesses of the dahri— she, who is a transgressor, one of the five sinners if no lesser. ruthless, harsh, and cold. fingers stained with blood and gold, a woman who has strong ideals for the world.
people do say that her hands are anything but celestial, as they are the maker of creatures that are bestial. yet from those very knuckles and palm was born a kin bearing the same kind of a mom— something that leaves no space for a qualm.
now, standing on the very core of the dragonspine— where the heavy heart of one of your kin confine.
with nothing in hand, but vague memories of the tales you still can not understand. thinking about him— whose mind was pure and divine, yet body so malign. a soul you had not known back then; but wept to this day, and will do tomorrow again.
your, very much older and somewhat brother; durin. and all that is left behind him is now a ruin.
the remains are kind of your sanctuary in this cemetery. looking at the bones that no one could or dared to bury— and the blood stain painting the snow whites to a fresh cherry. praying to god that he is not so lonely.
the approaching footsteps cause your attention to shift towards the sound; only then do you remember the person who is the reason for your visit to the infamous ground.
ah, yes, albedo.
the chalk prince; sculpted with utter care from head to toe ever since. one who was not born from regret or love in any sense but from disdain and sins, to be precise. there is just one thought that makes the others cease, and it is that you are not different from him in this case.
you remember the first time you ever saw him, or rather; the turquoises that are filled with curiosity to the brim— in a silken robe that is shining in limn, as if he were a son of a saint showering in good deeds rather than of a sin.
only another chalk to bring him company, like a perfect harmony— as if it is a part of a scripted destiny.
placed in the garden decorated by gold, without the rule of eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge to know the evil and the good— for it had already been done the moment the two souls were brought to the world. despite everything, you are very aware that the one who shaped your clay was not a savior but simply your mother.
may it be just a play for her to watch in a theatre; you do not mind being there. because when it comes to understanding one another to utter, the cast of two has only each other.
the thoughts only bring you agony, yet you know deep down that the feelings you harbor are very far away from remedy.
so, you simply chalk it up to fate — even then, and especially when your hopes to interrelate with him will not abate. you shall walk away from the very core of the dragonspine— where the heavy heart of one of your kin confine, towards your heart’s desire.
⠀⠀⠀⠀act ii⠀ — albedo⠀the whitening , leucosis⠀the step in which change begins. clearing away the excess so we can take on all the knowledge that is available.
⠀⠀⠀⌜⠀would you like to investigate this world with me?⠀⸝⸝
from the very beginning of his existence, the certain blond of the knights of favonius was very fond of sketching. it was undeniably similar to alchemy— in his perspective, understanding what lies before you and then welcoming the act of recreating.
to whoever; it was clear that he was one of the greatest art pieces gold has ever created. even with that, art birthed art as soil birthed chalk. the calculated strokes of the brush were not a new thing for the kreideprinz now, for he became the master of it.
lately, though, he swears, paint will not stay still. leaning towards you, that is its will. well, maybe it is not only necessary for the tip of his quill, but rather the thoughts of you which his mind can not have its fill.
because, with time, he came to learn that art is something done by following one's heart; and there lies a color chart instead of a map. therefore, his palette is full of shades for you, but there is only so much a mere material can do. this is something entirely new for him, that is very much true.
so, in the white, fresh new canvas, he draws a line. there is not a single brushstroke he can make that captures how your lips curve when you smile, eyes crinkling with such softness and beauty so divine.
( he wants to capture every angle, without leaving anything to untangle. )
yes. no such hue in teyvat shows the blues of sadness in your eyes, and the redness trailing on the edges. he sighs, then places the uncompleted drawing in the pile of sketches.
( he hopes he never makes you rain, for it would wash away the prettiest paint and cause you pain. yet he swears you would still be a masterpiece even in full of watercolor stain. )
and, sometimes, he wonders if he were to be a blank sheet of paper— would he have the honor to be adorned with the soft hues of your irides, colored by your pretty eyes?
longing for anything in particular is a new thing for kreideprinz, though; he feels like he might become the master of it in no time.
⠀⠀⠀⠀act iii⠀— rubedo⠀the reddening , iosis⠀refers to the refining of feeling.
⠀⠀⠀⌜⠀i feel the refining of my own emotions is also thanks to you.⠀⸝⸝
flowers are delicate in a way that resembles humans.
they rise, all being unaware of the world that is beyond their knowledge of soil. they bloom, for their urge to be explored, and they wilt in rue due to their inability to explore. and they die, hoping the west wind will carry out their seeds to a different earth this time in hopes of either finding a piece from the past or forming a future.
flowers are very delicate indeed; they easily meet their end, and they are so hard to tend. albedo comes to realize that you are very fond of flowers regardless. on a summer day with even sunnier feelings, that is what brings those of the chalk to windrise.
the process that involves the art of khemia is somewhat familiar, you notice, and the reason why is not hard to figure. so, within the hands carved from the same forbidden knowledge ( though he finds them the embodiment of pure ) — glows the sinful act akin to a cure.
seeing the bright golden light that is so polite, his cheeks turned red in delight. ( you started coloring him finally, such a sight. )
this… this is new birth. one he would and does swear is greater than his.
a cecilia, sprouted forth from the ash, one that is torn from the stem. between your fingertips ( — just like he is. )
they represent the true feelings of the prodigal son. ( — indeed, a flower choice that was very much bold. ) a sentiment as sweet and warm as a gentle spring breeze, poems sung by the bards told.
not caring that they should have only grown where harsh winds blow without mercy; unyielding and unrelenting — he is certain that they will and do flourish whenever you are nearby, surrounded by your glory; pliable and benevolent; reserved for one and only, his beloved.
⠀⠀⠀⠀act iv⠀— citrinitas⠀the yellowing , xanthosis⠀the final stage of the alchemical transmutation process. the meaning of the object being transmuted has finally been brought to light, becoming gold and revealing its true value...
⠀⠀⠀⌜⠀i too have found my own meaning.⠀⸝⸝
albedo does not know when he realized it, or if there was a moment of realization for it at all. neither does he know if he spent a day without thinking of the feelings, let alone the person causing them.
did it happen when he saw you sleeping on the couch, just yesterday? the way the yellow hue of the dimmed candlelight fell upon your figure. he felt the softness, also very much of intrigue. taking notice of the two empty plates sitting on the table, the leftovers of the dish ( a spider) he made, nowhere to be seen. it does not take a genius ( even though he was already called one by many ) to conclude that the little girl was not the one behind it. because one of the plates was very clean, and the chocolate smudges near her mouth were clear evidence.
maybe it was when the two of you arrived mondstadt, maybe it was when you looked at him with a smile on your face during the recent windblume festival you had attended.
or maybe it was when he saw you for the first time, many years ago? looking at him in a way he still does not know how or what to name. but still makes his heart go faster all the same.
all he knows is that every moment stuck with him because you exist within them, and they will continue to do so— for he will cherish any memory of you like a gem.
thus, he decides that love is golden, for he who pursues gold.
yet, in a way, you are worth more than what is told. greater than all gold, or any value a diamond can hold. and to cut it short, he is simply sold.
⠀⠀⠀⠀act iii.i⠀—⠀magnum opus falsum⠀the false piece⠀the imperfect creation. a being without a meaning, place, and a purpose. clearly doomed to cruel nothingness.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⌜⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀⠀⸝⸝
petals drift from the snow-covered paths to wyrmrest valley in no time. within the perpetual chill of dragonspine, a man stands with his lips pressed into a thin line. taking one of the blossoms in his hand— his gaze grows dull, even the softest leaf turns to ashes beneath his freezing fingertips.
he always knew your visits were not for him, even though that did not stop him from hoping they were.
because more often than not, he found himself dreaming of being dust again; his thoughts were out of control. to fall for each other in the hourglass as one through time, not split by fate’s cruel patrol. even if you were ever reconstituted to two instead of a whole, there could be the chance he would wake up with pieces of you within his body or soul.
for now, though, all he can do is watch amidst snowstorms. all while accepting that in a not-so-long distance, there is a summer full of flowers.
( he comes to the conclusion that his cecilias are out of season.
though the heavy winds in his mind provide a suitable environment for them to exist at the start, they seem to be yearning for warmth.
Summary: Albedo has been frantic about keeping you far away from Dragonspine for reasons unknown but when Sucrose asks you to go to Dragonspine to gather some ingredients for her you can’t help but go there however when you arrive Albedo doesn’t seem at all upset over your sudden arrival in Dragonspine… rather he seems uncharacteristically enthusiastic.
guys this is my first fic so erm I'm sorry if it’s really bad :[
Warnings: typical yandere behaviours, non-con kissing, both Albedos being little creeps, Y/N needs a break and has official permission to execute them both, Y/N is a smidge naïve, Manipulation, gaslighting
The brisk air of Dragonspine doesn’t sit gently in your lungs, instead its crispness demands your attention. Each breath is invigorating. You were never one to focus on meditation or breathing techniques, seeing little interest in self-reflection or mindfulness however on mornings like this one on Dragonspine with the bright morning sun rising to full mast you couldn't help but feel rather contemplative.
Admittedly you were not as alchemically inclined as your lover, the chief alchemist of the Knights of Favonius however when sucrose entered Albedo’s office late at night in a state of utter disarray as the samples of flora she had procured from Dragonspine had seemingly vanished from under her very nose you couldn’t help but take pity on the poor girl in her panic. Tomorrow morning she would be too busy refining the remaining electro hypostasis’ lightning prisms from her last journey outside the walls of Mondstadt for yet another experiment… She simply wouldn't be able to make the trek to Dragonspine and back while also completing all of her tasks but despite her pleading the knights were far too busy to waste their time collecting mere greenery.
You shifted on your feet, you always thought she held herself to a far harsher standard than she deserved, constantly focusing on her shortcomings as Albedo’s apprentice rather than acknowledging what an accomplished and gifted alchemist she was in her own right. You walked towards the distraught green-haired alchemist, firmly grasping her on each shoulder. At your steady grasp sucrose looked up at the reassuring smile you gave her “Sucrose! Don’t fret so much, you’ve already done more than enough. I’ve got it handled, I’ll head to Dragonspine first thing tomorrow morning and I'll have the samples for you before lunchtime.” For the first time since Sucrose entered the room you could feel your lover's eyes rising from the notebook where he had been scrawling away his recent findings for the past few hours, his turquoise eyes piercing into your body as though if he stared hard enough he’d be able pierce your subconsciousness and reprogram you, as though if he impressed his vision into you long enough you would eventually be remade in his vision, as though staring could somehow convince you to rescind your offer.
Although Albedo was typically indifferent about how you spent your time and who you associated with, you couldn't help but notice that recently he had been very clearly trying to shepherd you away from the snowy peak of Dragonspine. Any ideas of visiting him while he was working was quickly shot down with a “It’s not worth the trek, most of my work in Dragonspine will be done soon enough, there is no point in journeying all that way”. Any mentions of stopping by to drop off some warm food for himself, Sucrose and Timaeus was quickly halted with a “we pack more than enough food and there are plenty of braziers around the camp, please don't worry yourself” much to the dismay of Timaeus. It felt as though every attempt to come see him working had been instantly stopped by some rebuttal he had regarding it as a waste of time and energy.
It would be a lie to say your heart didn’t ache with every blatant refusal to your attempts to visit him on the mountain. He let Kaeya, Klee and Sucrose visit him freely but he seemed particularly insistent that you do not come to Dragonspine, that you don't even entertain the idea. In spite of Albedo's recent reluctance for you to venture to the frozen mountain, you refused to be deterred. This particular voyage was not a selfish endeavour for your own entertainment… no! Sucrose needed your help and you refused to let her down. It would be a breeze to wander about the mountain picking flowers for a little while before meandering back to Mondstadt to what would likely be a hero’s welcome from the young woman, besides with your pyro vision strapped to your waist you sincerely doubted any hillichurls would be causing you issues and you knew well enough to steer clear of any Fatui outposts placed along the winding frozen pathways.
The mint-haired woman let out a deep sigh of relief, her breathing steadying as she looked at you hopefully “really?! You will? Thank you so much Y/N I- I don't know how to repay you I-'' you laughed warmly at the girl’s gratitude “think nothing of it! It’ll be a piece of cake, besides I haven't left Monstadt’s walls in weeks, going out and exploring will do me some good.” It seemed as though this past month almost every commission took place within the walls of Mondstadt, if you had to clean that blasted statue of Barbatos or tell that creep Albert to knock it off one more time you were going to go crazy, on the rare occasion you were given a commission that left the walls of Mondstadt it was something mundane like a food delivery to Springvale and back. You hadn’t had a single combat commission in weeks. you had filed several complaints to Katherine about the distribution of commissions and despite her promises to reach out to her higher ups regarding potential flaws in the commission distribution system, she still hadn't gotten back to you.
With Sucrose’s issue resolved and her mind soothed you gently guide her to the door of Albedo’s office “It’s getting late and I’m sure you’ll have a busy day tomorrow” you say to her, clasping the bronze door handle and holding the door open “I’ll see you tomorrow, verdure in tow!” you exclaimed as you watched the girl amble over to the exit of the Knight’s headquarters, waving you a polite goodbye.
You softly shut the thick oak door to Albedo’s office not wanting to disturb the diligent genius, taking his silence during your conversation with sucrose as a sign of him returning to his work. Ever the academic, Albedo rarely allowed himself to be distracted from a task once he had dedicated himself to it, however upon turning around you were greeted by Albedo still staring at you intently, his eyes having never once left your frame. His pupils were dilated, the darkness engulfing his iris leaving only a sliver of blue as an outermost ring. He didn’t blink as though afraid you would slip from his grasp the moment he shut his eyes. His body was still, his entire being focused on watching you as though he was waiting for something to happen. He hadn’t written a word since your mention of Dragonspine, his studies completely paused as his pen stayed pressed on his crisp white notepad, a thick ink blot seeping into the page and staining it but in spite of this, the observant Albedo didn’t make any effort to move the pen.
Seeing Albedo so on edge subsequently had you unsettled. You gently walk across the plush red carpet approaching Albedo, taking the pen out of his hand and setting it down on his desk before he could further sully his work. Only upon your contact with him did he seemingly snap out of the daze he was in, blinking softly. His eyes still zeroed in on you but they seemed softer, less frantic. Upon setting the pen down you began to wrap your coat around your shoulders “you know what i said to sucrose is right, i should be heading home soon before i have to bump into the crowd of tavern crawlers on their way from The Cat’s Tail to The Angel’s Share” you joke gently attempting to lighten the mood, Albedo barely manages a smile at your jest. instead getting up and shoving his arms haphazardly into the sleeves of the jacket he stripped off hours ago “let me walk you home. It’s getting far too dark for you to be wandering about Mondstadt alone. I wouldn't be able to rest well unless I knew you made it back safely.” You smile bashfully at the consideration he's shown for you.
“Oh Albedo, i don't want to be a bother I'm sure you have plenty of things to-”
“I insist.”
“Well if you insist” you smile softly, your heart fluttering at his show of chivalry
You nodded and fiddled with the buttons of your coat, your fingers trembling as Albedo stood by the door waiting for you to be ready to leave. Upon noticing your battle with your buttons Albedo quickly faced you as he placed your hands by your side to instead button your coat up himself. The moment you were suitably clothed to brace the cool Mondstadt evenings Albedo’s arm snaked around your waist as he ushered you out of the Knight’s headquarters. Your cheeks warmed at his gesture as the reserved alchemist’s hand enclosed your waist tightly, pulling you closer into him as though he was trying to mould you together, unable to be separated by anyone or anything. You attempted to initiate some small talk as you wandered through Mondstadt, however Albedo hardly noticed. He muttered vague replies or made noises of affirmation as you discussed your day and how cold it had been recently and how excited you were for the next Windblume festival. Instead Albedo’s eyes were fixed intently on the shadows the dim streetlamps of Mondstadt cast as though a ghost was about to peer out from one of the alleys. As you reached your home you opened the door yet Albedo's hand didn't move from your waist. You stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to release you from his grasp but he didn’t move his hand until several awkward seconds had passed before he hesitantly allowed you to walk through your front door. “Goodnight Albedo” you whisper gently before pressing a gentle peck to his cheek. You disappear behind your door trying to forget about Albedo’s peculiar behaviour tonight, fretting about what could have possibly made him so troubled. In spite of your concern about Albedo’s recent behaviours you slipped into an uneasy sleep, unaware of how he remained steadfastly on your doorstep like a statue keeping watch until the sun began to peak over the rolling hills of Mondstadt and he reluctantly retired to his own abode.
●・○・●・○・●・
The crunch of the fresh layer of snow beneath your shoes invigorated you as you continued your trek along the mountainside. Your head felt light as you inhaled the overwhelming saccharine scent of the half dozen sweet flowers you had found, your hand clutching the stems of the flowers gently, determined to bring Sucrose back the best possible samples. Alas you couldn’t help but feel as though your luck had all but run out when you began to search for mint. Perhaps some traveller had plucked the last of it in this area or maybe you were just unlucky. You bent over in the snow, your head almost grazing the ground as you sifted your hands through the snow hoping your fingers might latch onto even a mint sapling, that perhaps the constant winter snowfall had simply covered up all the fresh mint. After a few minutes of sifting through the mountainside snow you began to instinctively reach for your weapon as a distinctly humanoid presence loomed over you… there shouldn't be Fatui this far from the main path but perhaps these were scouts for a larger group. You held your breath not wanting the person to realise you were aware of their presence until you were ready or you were forced to act, likely the latter. As several minutes passed and you still pretended to be focused on the frost dusted ground beneath you rather than the presence looming over your form you were confused as to why they hadn’t approached yet… perhaps it was just some freezing adventurer too sheepish to ask for help so they were simply waiting to be noticed… or perhaps it was an inquisitive little snow fox or boar who would scurry away the moment you acknowledged it yes, that sounded much better. You would turn around and be greeted by some shy little forest animal who would flee the moment you acknowledged it. Yes. That was it. Nothing bad is behind you. You began to repeat in your head as you rested your numb hands on the hilt of your weapon before taking a deep breath and turning around.
Of all the potential scenarios you imagined being greeted by, seeing Albedo staring at you in utter shock was not one of them. You exhaled softly before you began to chuckle in relief, pressing your hand over your thumping heart as you chastised your over-active imagination. You smile gently “‘Bedo I didn't think I’d bump into you, what are you doing on this part of the mountain?” You awaited a response yet you weren’t greeted by one, you looked back up at Albedo but instead of him offering you a small smile or him trying to usher you off the mountain he simply stood there staring at you as though it was the first time he had truly seen you. He drank in deep breaths, his mouth slightly agape as his eyes danced across you, blinking softly as though trying to dispel some sort of illusion “Albedo? Everything okay?” you ask gently, your mind already on slight alert after his peculiar behaviour last night. Suddenly he let out a deep gasp as he stuttered out “what are you doing here? I thought… i thought you weren’t fond of Dragonstone…” you look up at Albedo in utter confusion “Not fond…? Albedo what are you talking about, you’re the one who practically forces me off the mountain” you say, half joking, half serious.
Albedo’s gaze becomes cold as he spits out “of course I do” with a venom unfamiliar to his voice, his eyes glaring into the ground with such profound hatred it startles you. He quickly remembers your presence and haphazardly attempts to regain his composure with a deep breath and a few blinks before he says in an even tone “then what are you doing here then Y/N? Shouldn’t you be in Mondstadt?” Your heart beat steadily accelerates as you feel your skin crawling as Albedo stares at you, his gaze seeping into your skin as he drinks in every little detail, his eyes fixating on every mole and birthmark and freckle, desperately imprinting them into his mind like this is the last time he might ever see you “we discussed this last night remember? I’m looking for some flowers for Sucrose’s experiment” you state, your voice tight as my body tense like a coiled spring ready to launch itself out of the grasping hands of the alchemist.
Albedo puts his hand on his chin as he begins to mutter “Sucrose… Sucrose… Sucrose… Sucrose!” he had sounded utterly befuddled by the mention of her until the final mutter of Sucrose seemed to ignite some spark of familiarity, like Sucrose was more of a passing acquaintance rather than his most promising protégé.
“Yes of course Sucrose needed some flowers like we discussed last night”
“Yes that would appear to be the case” You giggled breathlessly, trying to ignore the pit of bile bubbling in your stomach “I just want to find some mint and then I'll begin the trudge back to Mondstadt”
“Oh… some mint? I think I know where you might be able to find some”
“O-Oh are you sure I don't want to be a bother and I don't want to get in the way of anything or be a nuisance or knock something important over in your lab” You stuttered out sheepishly, trying to find any way to get back to Mondstadt.
“Nonsense I’ve set up a temporary second camp just a little ways up the mountain, follow me. I’m sure we’ll find plenty of flora up there”
“Okay yes you’re right” You beam trying to ignore how tight the grin feels, like your skin is cracking underneath it. He holds out his soft cool palm waiting for you to grab it. You gently settle your hand in his unable to hear how his breath hitches softly as your numb fingers are clutched by his, a barely noticeable flush spreading across his complexion. Each step in the direction of this second camp makes your foot feel heavier until eventually you’re practically shuffling through the snow. As you wind through the passageways of the mountain you can’t help but feel like you’re going far too high but each time you ask Albedo about the new camp’s location you’re greeted by the same excuse “just a little ways further.”
“‘Bedo…” you stutter out “I should turn back, I need to get these flowers back to Sucrose soon. I promised she’d have them by lunchtime and the sun is getting rather high”
He stopped in his tracks, the hand that had been grasping onto yours tightens with an unnatural grip “but we’re almost there” he smiles out, the smile far too large and toothy to look natural on him, mimicking a lion baring its teeth far more than a reassuring grin “just a little further” he repeats once more as he continues up the path, your hand still held tightly in his. You had followed him for as long as your reason had allowed but now you were venturing into parts of Dragonspine unknown even to you as he dragged you up yet another beaten path. You smile half heartedly, trying to ignore the primal sensation of fear when Albedo smiles at you, the undeniable emotion of something being deeply wrong every time he tightens his hold on your hand.
You stop walking and begin to try to coax your limb out of his grip but the gentle tugging of your hand out of his makes his smile drop. He balls his now empty fist as he pauses and stares down the offending limb as though it had personally wronged him. you stare at your feet, your eyes darting between your snow scuffed boots and the sweet flowers clasped tightly in your other hand as you try to avoid albedo’s gaze permeating through you. Albedo’s lack of social adeptness was often something you found endearing, another quality which raised the alchemist’s standing in your eyes but right here in the crisp morning air of Dragonspine with the sun shining far too bright, there was never another quality you despised more. The chief alchemist simply stared. you tried to move. You could apologise to Albedo for your behaviour later but as you were about to move your legs his fist grasped onto your wrist with a bruising grip. You reflexively dropped the sweet flowers that you had kept grasped securely in your hand as Albedo’s cold hand fixed around your wrist. You couldn't find it in your panic stricken haze to even think about the flowers that were now resting on the cold mountain snow.
You yelped out in pain before looking up at Albedo for an explanation for his sudden change in demeanour. He offered none, instead he shifted his cold, stiff body closer against yours so your fronts were pressed together, chest to chest. He breathed down on your face, his breath wasn’t warm or wet like you had expected, instead it felt cool on your skin. Snowflakes settled on his long lashes as his pupils dilated, flickering to your lips. You stood stock still as confusion began to cloud your mind. Albedo’s gloved other hand rose to your lips, gently caressing them. “So warm…” he muttered absentmindedly as he traced the curve of your cupid's bow before his finger fell down to your lower lip. You enclosed your only free hand around Albedo’s, coaxing his fingers away from your lips instead you placed it down by his side “‘Bedo… I promised Sucrose those flowers, I need to get back to Mondstadt soon” his expression hardened before he finally acquiesced. Albedo’s dismay at you having to leave so soon was apparent until a mischievous glint alit in his eye. He tightened his grip on your arm before he whispered against your lips “I'll let you return to Sucrose if you promise me adequate compensation…” you could have laughed at the absurdity of Albedo’s demands “compensation?” you guffawed “You can't be serious Albedo.” he pulled you closer, no space was left between you as he tittered airily, running his hand softly through your hair “shh shh shh… I don't want mora and I don't want favours, I just want” his cheek flushed pink in spite of the confidence he exuded as he breathed out “I just want a kiss. That's all.” You were perplexed at Albedo’s request, since your relationship with the chief alchemist had been formalised he had rarely felt the need to formally ask for permission to kiss you but the Albedo here and now was blushing like a virgin at the mere thought of it.
Typically you might have questioned his sudden change in behaviour but with some divine intervention seemingly handing you a way out of this awkward exchange on a golden platter you didn’t feel inclined to throw it back in the face of whichever archon had decided to bless you with this opportunity. Instead you leaned in softly before pressing a gentle, hesitant kiss to Albedo’s lips. To your relief his remaining grip on your hand loosened as your lips skimmed his but the sudden slackness didn't seem to affect just his hand but rather his whole body as he didn't kiss you back. Instead Albedo kept his eyes tightly shut as his entire body froze, the only part of his body that seemed tense was his furrowed brows. It was as though he were in a state of deep contemplation, focusing only on memorising the feeling of your warm lips on his. With his attention completely on the feeling of your mouth slotted against his own and his arms resting loosely by his sides, you took the chance to quickly separate yourself from him, turning away and fleeing along the frosty pathway down the mountain in a desperate attempt to escape the unnerving encounter.
You couldn’t hear Albedo calling out to you or following behind you so once you had made significant distance between where you and Albedo had been standing you turned to face him. To your surprise Albedo hadn’t moved an inch, he stayed exactly as you had left him, as though suspended in the moment in which your lips left his. The only difference is that this time his eyes were ignited with a cold determination, a look you knew to be unique to Albedo when he made a breakthrough experiment, when he found an ingredient he had been scavenging for months to find, when he finally located a dusty old tome or scrap of paper which had the information he needed and now when he stared at your frame scurrying down the mountain. As the base of the mountain came into view and your nerves began to settle you realised that in your desperation to get away you had left the flowers on the snowy ground. You halted for half a second, your foot pivoting as you prepared to venture back up the winding path but as your eyes met the incline up the mountain you were filled with paralysing nausea. Every single instinct in your body was fighting against the idea of going back up the mountain. Whatever interaction you and Albedo had shared up there, a raw, primitive, instinctual part of you knew that it had been wrong, that it had been off, that if you went back up the path then you truly believed you would not make it back down the mountain for a second time.
●・○・●・○・●・
Almost slipping down the mountain in your haste to escape your peculiar encounter with Albedo you didn't dare stop until you reached the Adventurer’s camp on the outskirts of the mountain where you finally felt the hammering of your heart slow for the first time this morning now that you had escaped the sheer cold of Dragonspine but even then with Albedo’s peculiar behaviour these past few weeks and in particular today you still couldn't feel at ease, even as you began to trudge out of the Adventurer’s camp and back towards Dadaupa Gorge.
You almost did a double take when you saw a frantic Albedo hurrying towards Dragonspine, his hand resting tightly on the hilt of his cinnabar spindle, his body tensed and ready to pounce. “...Albedo…? How did you get down here so fast?” you called out, eyeing the alchemist wearily. You had never felt more bewildered. Upon hearing you call out to him Albedo’s hand loosened on the hilt of his blade. He ran to you and wrapped you tightly in his arms, one arm wrapped around your waist so tightly it was suffocating you, the other clawed into your hair, his fingers digging into your scalp. He pulled you close as he had on the mountain however this time he buried his head into your neck as he inhaled deeply.
As you stood there embracing the startled alchemist you could feel just how intensely his hands were trembling but you couldn't help but pry for answers in your state of bewilderment. You were certain Albedo had been behind you as you descended the mountain and even if he had followed you down (which you suspected he had) how would he have gotten ahead of you? Albedo hadn’t been leaving Dragonspine when you met him here but rather he had been approaching, he had to have come from the direction of Mondstadt. You asked louder this time “Albedo, how did you get ahead of me?” You were up on the mountain last time I saw you.” At your declaration Albedo finally peeled his from your neck, his manic eyes darting across you assessing for any damage before he finally seemed to regain some semblance of awareness “how did i… i know dragonspine like the back of my hand Y/N. it wasn’t hard to overtake you” Albedo stated trying to steady his voice. Although it’s likely the Alchemist knew the Mountain far better than you did… you didn’t fully believe him. You couldn't fully believe him. Not when you saw how terrified Albedo had seemed as he bounded towards the mountain in such a distressed state you almost didn't recognise the alchemist, not when you felt just how tightly he had clutched onto you as though you were about to slip through his fingers, not when you could feel how frantically his heart was beating as he held you to him.
You continued to insist Albedo explain what had happened, why he had been acting so strangely. The expression in Albedo’s eyes was unreadable, something you had never seen in the chief alchemist’s eyes before, something almost reminiscent of fear. As you both traversed down galesong hill towards the city of freedom you stopped Albedo and turned him to face you as you whispered in a pleading tone “Albedo please… just explain to me what happened up there. I’m not upset with you, I'm just confused. What happened up there? You seemed rather out of sorts.” Albedo’s lips grew into a thin line, the expression on his face was a grim one but instead of any explanation he simply pressed the back of his palm to your forehead “you’re burning up” he mutters. Yet again Albedo’s actions fill you with nothing but confusion.
“Burning up? What are you talking about Albedo? I feel fine just please, answer my question” you cry out, frustration beginning to rise as he dances around your question yet again
“Yes, you’re shivering too and it’s clear you’re in a state of confusion, from these symptoms I’d estimate that you’re suffering from the early stages of hypothermia” Albedo says in an even, methodical tone
“H-hypothermia? Albedo what on Teyvat are you-?” you pause as Albedo begins to take off his coat, wrapping it tightly around your shoulders
“Honestly you should have dressed warmer if you were planning to go to Dragonstone, you need to take better care of yourself Y/N. now come on, you’ll need to be treated for this but I'll only be able to do it back in Mondstadt where we can warm you up” Albedo said wrapping his arm around your waist as he began to walk even faster towards Mondstadt, keeping you tucked closely into his side. You didn’t feel weak and you didn’t feel tired, the rational part of your mind wanted to doubt Albedo’s diagnosis but an equally significant part of you wanted to accept what Albedo said, to dismiss this whole morning as some strange illness induced hallucination. yes that must be it... You insisted internally. You’re unwell and this illness is messing with your head like Albedo says. You’re not being completely rational so right now just need to trust Albedo and head back to Mondstadt for treatment and you need to forget how Albedo keeps glaring at Dragonspine with pure loathing as though daring the mountain itself to come and try to take you from him, It must just be the cold getting to you.
it makes me sick to the very core of my being that the majority of subject two x reader fanfiction is one-sided, forces him to share with albedo, or just makes him a second choice in any way (not that yall shouldn't write fics like that) so this word vomit is my contribution to rubedo nation
characters: subject two/dorian/rubedo, albedo
tags: reader insert, gn!reader, reader is not traveler, y/n is used sparingly, subject two is called rubedo, rubedo is somewhat whimsical, rubedo is insecure, canon divergence ig
wc: 2,068
Canon Revision
first and foremost, let's fix that tiny little error in hoyoverse's writing. albedo totally went to durin's heart for some samples and just found subject two plotting and scheming with a bunch of mimics, all of whom stared blankly at him upon being discovered
he was quickly surrounded by the creatures with subject two at the lead and, having realized it would be a losing battle, just asked, "Is there any chance we can come to a compromise?"
subject two reaaallly wanted to kill albedo and move forward with his original plan to assume his identity but he was willing to listen
the compromise was this: if subject two a) quit trying to kill albedo, b) stopped conspiring with durin's... corpse, and c) helped albedo with his little project, albedo would allow him to live a normal life in mondstadt as his twin brother
of course, subject two was more than willing and together they dispatched the imitations, who were displeased but not exactly surprised by subject two's betrayal
once the mimics were dead and the samples had been collected, they went back to the campsite together to craft a backstory that didn't involve multiple counts of attempted murder
Before Moving to Mondstadt
subject two was desperate to leave the frigid mountain but albedo insisted that he needed to learn how to be his own person before talking to new people. he was great at impersonating albedo but had no personality (or style) of his own, something that might arouse suspicion
in the months that followed the formation of their alliance, rubedo, finally bearing his own name, worked hard to discover things that were unique to him and not just echoes of albedo's character
after long hours running numbers in the lab and calculating the necessary quantities of the materials they sought for their experiments, he would stay up reading every night, hoping to gain some insight about the human experience from literature
his favorite genre by far is mystery, especially whodunnits, but he occasionally reads romance novels if they find their way onto his designated bookshelf. the best one, in his opinion, is called The Wind Whispers Her Name, which is a story about barbatos falling in love with a mortal. strangely, the book has no cover. almost like a manuscript, it's bound by punched holes but written lovingly by hand, albeit with poor penmanship and many grammatical errors
(he likes the genshin impact equivalent of 13yo wattpad fanfiction)
whenever he got frustrated, sad, or even just bored, he would leave the camp to feed the foxes. they were cute and he didn't feel self-conscious about his lack of personality when they kept him company
nearly a year after joining forces with albedo, rubedo had made significant progress. not only had he leaned into his more charismatic and emotional demeanor, his wardrobe had changed as well. he started wearing more red and black clothing and began to adorned himself with moons, not stars. he had also developed an interest in social experiments, which he read about when he tired of fiction
since rubedo has no job and is quite veritably broke, albedo suggested that he move into an apartment that he keeps for when he visits mondstadt. he really only uses it a few days every month so it's perfect for rubedo
When He Meets You!
albedo wants to wait until dawn to start the trek but rubedo is mad impatient. like bffr, this man has been stuck in dragonspine for so long with his oh so perfect brother when there's a whole world out there, he wants to leave NOW, even if it's midnight
rubedo doesn't have a lot of stuff to take (it's mostly just books and clothes) so, as soon as they arrive in mondstadt, he dumps everything at the apartment and runs off, leaving albedo to chase after him
it isn't long before the mouth-watering scent of food that has actual flavor reaches his nose. as talented as his brother is, albedo rarely cooks anything appetizing so this is the opportunity of a lifetime for rubedo
his intentions are pure when he approaches the stand but once he looks up and sees your face, his objective changes
"Good morning, Mr. Albedo!" you greeted him warmly, not realizing this was a different person. "Would you like to order something?"
Too eager to care that you had misidentified him, he summoned his romance novel wisdom and responded in kind.
"That depends... are you on the menu?" he asks, elbow resting on the counter and his face contorted in a smolder that could rival Flynn Rider's.
The Albedo you know is always polite and never says anything untoward so to say that you're shocked is an understatement. As you stand there with your eyes peeled wide open, the real Albedo catches up and quickly infers that Rubedo has Misspoken™.
"Good morning, (Y/n), I see you've met my twin brother, Rubedo. I apologize if he's done anything to offend you, he doesn't get out much," Albedo explained before turning to Rubedo and quietly scolding him. "What did I tell you about flirting with random people?"
"I only called Swan 'hot stuff' because I thought it would be fun, this is different!" he whined not unlike a child.
When they finish arguing with one another, Albedo turns to you to order. "Sorry about that, (Y/n). I'd like two of my usual order."
You count the mora he hands you and confirm his order. "So two egg white omelettes with spinach and bell pepper, no tomatoes, cheese, salt, or pepper?" He nods and you respond, "Coming right up!"
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Rubedo grimace. Maybe he's not a huge fan of flavorless food? you think to yourself.
When you bring out Albedo and Rubedo's food, there's only one bland omelette to their confusion. "There weren't enough egg whites to make two omelettes,” you lied, “so I made one omelette and fried up some bread in the yolks. I won't charge you extra of course. I hope you like it, Rubedo!"
Albedo has a contemplative expression on his face but Rubedo looks at you like you put the stars in the sky. Before his brother has a chance to respond, Rubedo blurts, "It looks great, thank you!"
the serving of french toast is super cute, the bread is dusted with powdered sugar and topped with sliced strawberries; you even used chocolate syrup to write out "Welcome :)" on the plate
after he takes his first bite, his eyes well with tears and he looks back up at you because this is literally the best thing he’s ever eaten?? and it’s coming from someone who knows he’s not albedo?? (and is gorgeous?????)
suffice to say he has a crush on you from day one
Rubedo's Day-to-Day
after your first encounter, he stops by Good Hunter every morning for breakfast (which burns a hole in his pocket), partly because the food is good but mostly because he thinks you're cute when you laugh at his pickup lines
albedo is glad rubedo is adjusting so well but he's like bruh,, can you get a JOB your allowance is cutting into my research funds
he starts working with the knights of favonius but in a more administrative role. he's basically an HR rep but he uses it as an opportunity to observe people's behavior and collect qualitative data (ik this is unethical without consent but dw he's not publishing anything, it’s more like a diary)
rubedo with his bag up is something to behold. he likes to toss mora in bards' hats and instrument cases, pay for rounds of drinks at the tavern, and tip extra when he goes out to eat, all in the interest of being mondstadt's preferred twin
he does things for himself, too, though; the man was deprived of everything that being human entailed and now he’s greedy for any and every kind of human experience. when he he’s not working or currying favor, he volunteers, he participates in community events, sometimes he even goes to the church of favonius to people watch. if it rains, he’s splashing puddles with kids. if it snows, he’s helping them build a snowman or DEMOLISHING them in all-out snowball fights
he likes giving you flowers. he could use alchemy to make perfect flowers but he still looks down on alchemical creations so he mostly buys them from flora. occasionally, he’ll give you a random one he found while walking around the countryside that reminded him of you. he gives you one every day because he thinks you deserve them, not so he can upstage albedo.
Your First Date
he's very sweet to you but, until he asks you out on a date, you think he's just Like That
other people ask him out all the time but he only has eyes for you. the only reason he hasn't asked you out is because he's insecure that he's not perfect, not human enough for you
what finally pushes him to ask you out is when he overhears someone else planning to do so. the minute he hears them talking about it, he hurries over to good hunter and just asks if you want to spend the evening with him
the two of you go to the cat's tail tavern and play genius invokation well into the night, leaving only a few minutes before they closed
it’s late but the two of you are having so much fun that you leave the city and chase each other around in the whispering woods. your game of tag turns into a firefly catching competition and that gradually turns into the two of you murmuring about whatever comes to mind-- dreams, anxieties, loose ends you don't think will ever be tied up
yall totally would’ve slept beneath the stars if laying in the dirt was any bit comfortable but it’s not so he walked you home to springvale. he has the most euphoric grin on his face as he walks back to his apartment and it only fades when he goes to sleep. even then, a smitten little smile remains on his visage
Dating Rubedo
the MOST affectionate; holds your hands, links pinkies with you, hugs you (from the front, side, back, any way that a person can be hugged). many cheek, nose, and forehead kisses await you, you just have to get to that point in your relationship first
olympic gold medal in spoiling you!! uses alchemy to make extra mora so he can afford to buy you all the nicest things in teyvat <3 albedo quickly grew wiser to his tricks so he has to use real mora when he's in mondstadt but anytime you travel to another nation, he turns into mr. mora
makes sure that his apartment is to your liking; he cleans, tidies, reorganizes, repairs, repaints, and reupholsters his home and everything in it to make you feel comfortable. has a drawer set aside for you but hopes you'll need more than just a drawer one day
he's always there for you no matter what you're going through. he's empathetic, good at problem solving, and a true believer that you deserve nothing but the best. he's your ride or die (even if you're being problematic and pushing over senior citizens)
does NOT let you be there for him. he 100% subscribes to the whole "errare est humanum" ideology but doesn't allow himself the same grace. he tries to make up for being an artificial human by having fewer flaws, which is part of the reason he's so generous (i.e. trying to embody virtue)
you can tell he's upset when he starts acting like albedo. all of his flair disappears and he speaks monotonously
terrible at communicating his feelings en vivo; he writes so eloquently but if you make him explain what he's feeling in the moment he'll have a meltdown. he apologizes whenever he snaps at you but he doesn't always tell you why he was so upset in the first place
he's afraid to tell you about his true nature. the thought of you finding out keeps him up at night, even when he's tangled up in your warm embrace
when he tells you/you figure it out, there's a lot of sniffling and hugging but you don't dump him so he considers that a win
realizing that you love him for who he is and not what he is helps him feel more secure but isn't an instant cure (obvi). you're there for him though and he adores you for it
a/n: that's all i have, i hope i captured his character well enough. i probably won't make revisions to this, i just want it out there
"Kiss me, now", Rubedo looked so serious and you would have done it without a second thought, if only you weren't in the middle of of lunch at Good Hunter's while everyone else was also eating their meal.
"W-What?", it was a spontaneous response, you heard what he said but the words blurted out of your mouth before you even realized it.
"Kiss me", he repeated without fail, the same seriousness he held from the first time he had said it.
"W-We can't...n-not here..."
"Why not?"
"There are too many people around! And we're eating!", you embarrassedly whispered at him, trying to push his face away from yours. You could literally feel his breath on your face!
"And? Why do they matter?", he had the audacity to raise an eyebrow at you.
You try with all your might to explain to him how it wasn't the right time or place, nor was it appropriate to do so. It was a bit difficult to explain when he had eagerly embraced the idea of PDA upon first learning about it. He still didn't quite grasp the concept of your intimacy 'making others uncomfortable', that or he just doesn't care what other people would think...he'll kiss you if he wants to kiss you.
"It'll be gone by then...", he suddenly said, brows furrowing in distaste at the idea.
"What will be gone?", now you were curious. He clearly had something in mind when he asked for that kiss.
"The taste"
"The taste?"
"The cake"
"Huh??"
"You wanted to know if a kiss would actually taste sweeter if I ate something sweet. That's why I ate the cake", he explained, a bit confused at your own confusion.
"Is that why you ate it even when you don’t like sweets?!"
"Yes. Now hurry!"
"Wha-mmpf!"
.....oh, he actually does taste sweeter...and like cake.
liturgy — zhongli, raiden ei, childe, kazuha, albedo, imposter albedo/subject two, scaramouche x fem!afab!reader
creed — i am so going to hell for this
communion — comment or send an ask to be added to the taglist!
1ST MASS ♱ zhongli & ei
homily — you’ve been the most devoted servant of the anemo archon since the end of the war, not noticing the heated looks by two gods that have followed you for millennia. in your moment of loss at the sudden slumber of barbatos after the battle with durin, they don’t hesitate to take the opportunity to convert you to their religion.
dubcon, power imbalance, sub reader, praise, subtle manipulation, fingering, oral f-receiving, dom ei and zhongli, implied venti x reader
2ND MASS ♱ childe
homily — he often wonders how you managed to end up as a harbinger. you’re so sweet and naive, letting your guard down around him and always inquiring about his health and wellbeing whenever he goes on lengthy missions, greeting him with a smile when he returns to zapolyarny palace. archons, you’re practically begging to be taken advantage of. he hopes the tsaritsa won’t mind if he temporarily takes her 12th harbinger out of commission for, say, nine months?
dubcon, breeding, mentions of pregnancy, humiliation, manipulation, oral f-receiving
3RD MASS ♱ kazuha
homily — he tells himself it’s fine that you left him. except, that’s not true in the slightest sense. he wants you back, needs you back like dying man in the desert looking for an oasis. now, if you had just stopped seeing that man who lives down by the road, he wouldn’t have ended up taking such drastic measures. you don’t want him anymore, but it’s fine, he’ll just have to make you see things his way. you’re so kind, he’s sure you’ll forgive him for it.
yandere kazuha, dubcon, hate sex, stalking, oral f-receiving
4TH MASS ♱ albedo & subject two
homily — your creator has told you countless times how dangerous the outside world is. blizzards and monsters and every bad thing you could imagine all lay outside the little cabin you call a home. however, albedo failed to include in his calculations just how curious you truly are. it’s fine, you tell yourself, he’s not even the slightest bit mad to see you out and about, except… there’s something strange about your master’s behavior today.
homily — you look good when you cry in the middle of the hall after he deliberately humiliates you in front of everyone. but he thinks you look best when you look up at him through teary eyes as you choked on his fingers in the school’s public restroom.
Summary: Albedo is struck on Dragonspine and asks Subject Two to get help. But when he runs into you, your warmth causes him to fall for you. He knows your relationship can't last; you've mistaken him for Albedo. Yet, he continues to desire to be by your side, even if the one you long for isn't him.
Other Info: Subject Two/Fake Albedo/ Rubedo x f!reader, Albedo x reader (one-sided); fluff and angst with happy ending; 1.0k; lightly edited
Notes: Felt like sharing what's basically the outline of my Subject Two idea here. I don't think I have time to write this one even those I love this idea. Maybe one day.
*****
You have a crush on Albedo and you see him frantically running around Mondstadt looking for someone. You wonder what's wrong with him. He's actually Subject Two and he's looking for Lumine for help because Albedo is in trouble. He's currently in a sort of hibernation mode in Dragonspine so he won't lose control and destroy Mondstadt in the process.
When Subject Two comes back after finding Lumine, you offer him a meal and a rest after his long search. He's touched by your smile and the care that you give him – before he remembers he needs to pretend to be Albedo.
Your insecurities eat away at your insides. You think that Albedo is in love with Lumine because of how much he sought after her, and with a heavy heart, you admit to (Fake) Albedo that you're in love with him.
After that day, Subject Two runs into you often at the restaurant while he's working with Lumine and some of the Knights to help Albedo. You're still kind and friendly with him, but despite his aloof and slightly cynical personality, he can empathize with your unrequited love for Albedo because of his own unrequited familial love.
He often wants to see you because you radiate a warmth that he never experienced. Yet he knows you treat him this way because you think he's Albedo. As a result, he continues to act kind and friendly like Albedo would.
One day, you tell him you're going on vacation and plan to take a trip to Liyue. Surprisingly, Subject Two asks to come with you. (He tells himself it's not out of character for Albedo to ask this.)
You chat with him as you stroll through the streets of Liyue and you buy little souvenirs for people back in Mondstadt. You ask him when is his birthday, and he tells you he doesn't know, forgetting that he's supposed to be Albedo. You decide you can celebrate his birthday today and buy him a red scarf.
He's surprised you thought to give him a present. But because you misinterpret of his reaction, you ask if you shouldn't give it to him because he likes Lumine. Subject Two recalls how much Albedo talked about you and wouldn't be surprised if Albedo did love you back. He tells you that he likes you too.
From that day on, your relationship with each other grows. He gives you a necklace on your birthday in return for the scarf and you bring him along on your days off to wherever your feet would take you.
But Subject Two continues to deny the fact that he isn't really Albedo. He had pretended to be Albedo before, so why take his identity like he did before?
However, it had been years since he created that cryo whopper flower and he began to have a good relationship with Albedo after that. In fact, Albedo was the one who told Subject Two to pretend to be him while he was locked away on Dragonspine. He didn't want people like Klee to worry. Yet, Subject Two wanted to continue to be by your side, causing the turmoil inside his heart.
Lumine comes to Subject Two, telling him they've found a solution for Albedo. Knowing he can't continue with his relationship with you, he tells you that he needs to break up with you because soon he's going to forget everything that happened with you. You urge him to explain himself but he can't bear to tell you the truth that he wasn't Albedo. You were in love with Albedo, not him.
He disappears on you, telling you to forget him and you are left in despair. When Albedo returns to Mondstadt, he really doesn't know anything that happened between the two of you. But it's too hard for you to pretend as if those times together never existed.
Several months later, Subject Two is at Albedo's camp in Dragonspine. He's been hiding out in the mountain ever since. It's where he always lived anyway.
He opens the trunk full of his belongings, sees the red scarf you gave him and wraps it around his neck. You walk up from behind him and he stuffs the scarf in the trunk and closes it.
You say you recognize him and he admits it's true. He has met you once as Subject Two but he didn't really talk to you.
You say you wanted to see him, but he says you barely knew him. In a sense, it was true you never knew him. He pretended to be Albedo the whole time without showing his true personality. You tell him that you can start to get to know him now. He brushes you off and tells you to do whatever you want.
Little by little, you come to visit him on Dragonspine. And little by little, Subject Two would slip up on things he's not supposed to know about you until you finally tell him, "Albedo, never lost his memory, did he?"
He snaps at you and pretends he doesn't know what you're talking about. But he sees that you're wearing the necklace he gave you, hoping the Albedo you knew would come back. You ask him again if it was him, if he was the one you spent all that time with.
You tell him of all the things you missed about him and it dawns on him that you listed things related to his personality and not Albedo's. More and more of his personality slipped through the more he spent time with you and he didn't even notice.
At this point, Subject Two is still in denial that you'd still choose him over Albedo. "Then why is it that, after only meeting you a few times, I only think about you? You won't leave my mind," you tell him.
He finally gives up and tells you all about who he is. That he was a failed experiment. That he had tried to kill Albedo before. That Albedo was stuck in Mondstadt and asked him to take on his identity.
He doesn't know how to take all of this in. He doesn't understand why you'd want him over Albedo. So you tell him you'll stay by his side until he's convinced that you really do love him.
*****
I hope you liked this even if it's not a full fic like I usually do. Please check out my other fics if you enjoyed this one. :)
characters; Rubedo (Subject 2, also known as Dorian but I refer to him as Ruby), gn reader
cw/tw; mentions of injuries, very fluffy, comfort, there’s a kitten, mutual pining, let me know if I missed anything
word count; 3.4k
notes; wow this is the longest thing I’ve ever written, but it’s been a while and this should’ve really been updated a lot longer ago so I hope this makes up for it <33 It’s tooth-rotting fluff because he deserves it and I love him. I will most likely make a part 3 to this so let me know if you want to be tagged in the next work.
Part one here; “Made with love.”
Please reblog if you like this!!
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
It’s raining.
Why was it always raining, whenever you weren’t here?
A crash of thunder made the blonde pause in his pacing around the room, his eyes shifting to look towards the window at the miserable display of weather. You were supposed to be back by now, what was the hold up? Why weren’t you back? Were you in danger? The thought made his chest tighten with an unfamiliar, uncomfortable emotion. He wasn’t quite sure what it was called, even though you had already tried to explain it to him. Emotions were difficult to grasp, but not impossible to understand. Or feel, unfortunately. Exploring new ways to feel the world around you was an exhausting task, especially when those emotions weren’t exactly positive.
He remembers the first time he experienced relief while he was with you. When he finally opened up about who he was, or what he was, to be exact. Instead of the reaction he was expecting, instead of the bitter sting of rejection he had grown so used to feeling, he was accepted. For once in his sordid life, he was welcomed with open arms. Not because he was Albedo, not because he was a successful experiment, but just because he was him. Ruby- your precious gem. Even though the feeling of having that heavy weight being lifted off of his shoulders was euphoric, the vast amount of new sensations was too much for him to handle. He remembered how his throat constricted with each desperate gasp of air, how his eyes filled with so much water his vision began to blur, how it felt like he was drowning in oxygen. But he also remembers the comforting feeling of your arms wrapped around his trembling body, and the new-found warmth blooming in his chest that replaced the unbearable tension. How he wishes he could feel that now.
The doors lock starts to click and he swears he’s never moved faster in his life.
“Sorry I’m l-“ You were cut off by a hand ungracefully pulling you into the house, and straight into his chest.
“You’re not hurt?” He asks hastily, hands beginning to roam around your body as he pulls away to get a proper look at you. You shake your head, but he’s not convinced. Especially since one of your hands seems to be obscured from his view. You’re drenched - shivering, cold to the touch, but other than that…
“Good. You’re not injured.”
“Did I make you worry?” You asked quietly, eyes trained on his face. Ever the enigma, you couldn’t tell what he was feeling, not until he told you directly. It was silent for a moment before he nodded his head hesitantly.
“I think so.” He confirms, but his eyes aren’t on you anymore. Instead, he’s focused on the squirming movements that were coming from inside of your thick coat. He flinched when he heard a high pitched cry, his gaze immediately flitting back up to you.
“I thought you said you were fine.”
“I am, but…” He heard it again, this time louder, and it definitely wasn’t coming from you.
“Ruby… Don’t freak out.”
“Freak out?” He questioned, raising an eyebrow. Ah right, you hadn’t taught him that phrase yet.
“Um… Don’t panic. Better?” He nodded, and with that you moved your coat off your hand slowly. In your palm was a small, squirming lump of soaked fur. It cried out once more, head raising up to look around its surroundings.
“What is this… Creature?”
“It’s a kitten. I found it on the way home, that’s why I was late.” The so-called ‘kitten’ squeaked, alerting him of its presence. It was tiny, trembling from head to toe, how it even survived was a miracle itself. Stiffly, he reached his hand out to take it from your own, holding its minuscule body in his grasp. He turned it around, looking at it from every angle as it continued to mewl.
“I thought we could… Keep it here.”
“Why?”
“Because it doesn’t have a home, and it’s cold outside… And it reminded me of you.”
His head raised to look at you for a moment, shock painted on his pale face for just a second before he looked back down at the small animal. “It’s your home… It’s your choice.”
Surprised, you stepped forward towards the pair. “Really? You don’t mind?”
Your friend shook his head slowly, taking another step closer to you so there wasn’t much space between the two of you. “It would be cruel to dispose of it, would it not?”
You couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face when you heard those words. How much he had grown, to admit that action was cruel, when just a month ago when you had met him, he would’ve thought the complete opposite. He didn’t seem to notice you grinning from ear to ear at him, his glacial eyes glued to the squirming heap in his hand. He seemed to be a little lost in thought, or lost on what to do.
“It’s shivering.” He mumbled after a moment, walking away from you and grabbing a nearby towel, wrapping it around its tiny body. You knew he was trying to help, but the poor thing looked like it was drowning in the fabric, squealing as Ruby tried to dry it with the thick cloth.
“Wait, wait, wait.” Your hands slid on top of his to try to guide his movements. “Gentle…”
His eyes followed your hands, his own being manipulated entirely by your tender movements - all he was doing now was holding the animal as it was pampered and dried by you. Wordlessly, he placed the kitten in your hands carefully so you didn’t drop it and disappeared out of the room. You were a little confused, wondering if maybe he was frustrated with the new arrival or the task of keeping it warm, but your questions were answered when you saw another towel in his hands. He stepped behind you while you were busy, making you raise an eyebrow. “What are you-“ You were cut off by having your face covered with the cloth before it was swiftly moved away.
“You’re wet too.” He answered simply, his hands massaging your head with the towel and drying the top of your head. It was subtle, but you could feel that his movements were a lot more gentle with you, almost mimicking what you were doing to the wet lump of fur in your hand. It was soothing, you almost toppled into him from the expert way he was making the tension seep out of your body - you nearly did, had it not been for the hand on the back of your shoulder steadying you when he realised you were losing your balance.
You weren’t sure how long you had been there when he started moving to the ends of your hair instead, making sure the droplets of water didn’t drip down from the tips and then stopping his drying altogether. “Thank you…” You breathed out, offering a tired smile to your friend who was now by your side. He merely nodded, eyes now back on the mewling baby. He held his hand out carefully, silently offering to take it from your grasp. “Are you sure? It’s already dry and I-“
“You need to change out of your clothes or you’ll get sick. I also suggest a warm shower. ” He did have a point, and you had been stuck in them for a while now. But what if he wasn’t sure what to do while you were gone? What if it was injured or it overwhelmed him if it started squealing again?
“I’ll be fine, you don’t have to worry.” Ah, it seemed like you weren’t exactly a blank canvas like him when it came to trying to conceal your emotions. As he had put it once, you were like an open book, but a book he still had interest in, with each chapter still drawing him in no matter how many times he has read the same passage.
“…Please come get me if you need me.” Finally, you relented, and he offered you a nod in reply as you gave him the kitten. After leaning forward and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek as a thank you, you retreated out of the room and straight into the bathroom to change.
If only you had stuck around to see how he stood there with a dumbfounded expression, frozen in place as his artificial blood rushes to his cheeks. He raised one hand slowly, tracing where your lips had been, the contact still burning his skin. That feeling again - the fluttering in his stomach, the speeding of his heart, the tingling in his fingertips. What was this emotion again? One too complicated to fixate on, so he simply dismissed it after a few moments, waiting until he had calmed down to make his next move.
“What do I do with you then?” He mumbled to himself, looking down at the (now) quiet creature, staring back at him with wide, silent eyes. When his head tilted slightly, the kitten mimicked the motion, blinking slowly up at him. Curious, he again tilted his head, this time to the other side. Again, it followed suit. He shook his head, eyes moving away from the tiny fur ball and around the room. After subconsciously worrying himself sick about you, he was feeling drained.
All he wanted to do was cuddle up to you, something you had done once when he couldn’t sleep and now it had become a part of your daily routine. But unfortunately, you weren’t here at the moment, and the blanket he had wrapped around himself once he sat himself down on the couch felt too big for just one person. He released a breath he didn’t realise he was holding, his shoulders sagging as he melted into the comforting warmth of the fabric. He would’ve much preferred you being here with him, with your head resting against his torso, as his hands carded through your hair. Or his favourite, when his ear was pressed up against your chest so he could listen to the thumping of your heart. He couldn’t quite explain it, the sound was the one thing that gave him the utmost comfort - perhaps it was because it was the most damning proof that you actually existed, that he wasn’t just delusional from being deprived of affection and care. He wasn’t on that mountain, alone. He was with you, and really that was all that mattered to him, even if he didn’t show it very often.
He had almost forgotten about the kitten at this point, until it started crawling its way up his chest, nudging at his cheek to snap him out of his thoughts. He hummed questioningly, raising his head from where it had rested on his palm, staring down at the purring little thing. Does that mean it was happy? You liked it when he ran his fingers through your hair, especially after a long, stressful day. Maybe if he… Reaching out his hand, he carefully ran his fingertips over the top of the feline’s head, raising an eyebrow when his hand was bumped against in response. The strange noise coming from such a small body was only growing louder, and he hoped that it really did mean it was happy. Well, he wasn’t getting scratched up or bit, so it was safe to assume he was correct. When the little one curled up on top of his thighs- thigh, actually, as it could barely fit on both - a strange feeling began to settle in his chest. A permanent weight felt like it had been lifted, and he could finally feel the fluttering in his torso. You had once described this phenomenon as ‘butterflies’. Ah, yes, he summarises. He was happy.
But now he was also feeling a new sensation, a familiar one at that. He could feel his droopy eyes begin to slide shut on their own, and the need to sleep overtook his senses. Still, he didn’t want to disturb the newest member of the family by lying down. With the lightest touch, (you had mentioned it once, you described it as ‘featherlike’ when he ran his fingers traced intricate patterns on your back) he carefully lifted it off of his lap while he laid himself down, and set the small lump on his stomach. He released a breath when he didn’t feel it stir. And now, finally, his eyes could close and he could just… Sleep.
-
“Ruby! Are you hungry?” You called out from your bedroom after you finally changed into some comfortable clothes, feeling refreshed after a much needed shower. When you heard no response, you weren’t exactly surprised - he wasn’t really one to shout. Instead, he waited for you to come to him, face to face so he didn’t need to raise his voice. He was quiet in general, silent almost. Sometimes you forgot he was even here, until he curiously poked his head out of his room if he heard you were busy and asked if you needed any help.
He was getting better, sometimes he even initiated conversations. ‘How was your day?’ ‘Would you like me to start dinner?’ And then your personal (and his) favourite, ‘Would you like a hug?’. For someone he didn’t understand emotions, he was an expert at giving comfort when it was really needed. The way he would take you into his arms, how he would say such sweet phrases to you that would make you melt against his warmth, how he would hold you for as long as you needed him to - you would happily label him a professional at it. After a while, you sadly came to the realisation that perhaps he was giving you what he himself craved back when he was alone on that desolate mountain. You were quick in returning the favour whenever you felt like he needed it, which seemed to be quite often. You didn’t have a clue how much it meant to him, how he felt like he didn’t deserve it so he didn’t ask often, but you knew. You knew.
With a tired hum, you stepped out of your room and made your way to the living room, expecting to see the blonde having a staring competition with the kitten. He does that a lot. And when he stares, you know he was confused, his thoughts so loud you swore you could almost hear them. And then he would act on whatever answer he thought was best. Even though he was smart, most of the time he would get it wrong. You couldn’t help but find it cute when his entire body deflated and a pout began to form on his lips. All it took was some encouraging words from you and a demonstration on what to actually do and he was fine again. There were other times, however, when he would cower away from you if you reached out to touch, repeatedly calling himself a failure for not being able to do such simple tasks. It was a little more difficult to get him to calm down if he got worked up into that state, but thankfully, it didn’t happen nearly as often as it used to.
Instead, you walked in on something… Rather unexpected. Ruby, so still you could almost mistake him for a porcelain doll, and the small feline you had rescued, fast asleep together on the couch. You almost didn’t want to move in fear of disturbing them, together in their own little world of dreams. But you could see the both of them beginning to shiver, and suddenly you remembered there was a storm raging outside. Trying your best not to disturb the sleeping beauties, you carefully grabbed the nearest blanket and draped it over both of them, making sure the young creature's head wasn’t covered so it could breathe. You froze when you heard a quiet groan, but relaxed when your friend hadn’t seemed to wake up, only shifting to be more comfortable.
“Sleep well…” A whispered, hush voice whispered in his ear before he felt the gentle press of lips against his cold cheek.
-
“Are we not keeping it?” The blonde questioned, looking to where the kitten resided on his shoulder. After you woke him up the next day and fed him breakfast (Pancakes, one of his favourites), you brought up that you weren’t sure where to start looking for a home for the little one. All you earned was a confused look - from the both of them - and that question.
“Well…” You began, frowning as you thought. You weren’t exactly equipped to have a cat, you didn't have any food or toys, and neither of you knew the first thing about taking care of one. You thought it was the smarter choice to give it to someone who did know those things. You weren’t expecting them to get so attached… “I don’t know… Are we really capable of looking after a pet?”
It was silent for a moment, and you thought maybe you had gotten through to him, until he spoke up. “I can learn.” His voice was quiet, and he was avoiding your eyes now. He never asked for anything he wanted , not even when you asked what he wanted to eat - you had to learn his favourites just from his reactions alone. This was the closest he had come to expressing that he finally wanted something. And who were to deny such an innocent request?
You let out a heavy sigh, making your way towards the pair and running your fingers through the animal's fur gently. “Would you be happier if I let it stay with us?” He nodded his head slowly, still not meeting your gaze. “Then… I see no harm in keeping it. It is adorable, after all.” You giggled, smiling brightly when his head raised to meet your face. He nodded again, but you could tell from the way his eyes lit up that he was incredibly happy. “So… What do you want to call it?”
“I don’t… I’ve never named anything.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, what things are important to you?”
“… You.” He mumbled quietly, and your ears burned from such a sweet, honest answer. You coughed quietly, hiding your surprise before snapping yourself out of it.
“Ah- Yes- right- you’re important to me too…” You rushed, laughing nervously before clearing your throat once more. “Apart from me, what things do you like…? Your favourite things? Start from there.” Again, there was another silence, this time even longer. And for once you could see the frustration forming on his face as he tried to think. He was lost. “Hm… I named you after a gem. So what’s your favourite colour?” Perhaps this would’ve been an easier question.
“I like blue…”
“Perfect! How about Sapphire then?” You suggested with a grin, watching as he thought for a moment.
“Sapphire…” He spoke in his smooth voice, closing his eyes as he let the sound of the name linger in the air. “I… Like it.” He confirmed, looking back up at you.
“Ruby and Sapphire… It sounds like I’m collecting precious things, it suits you both very well!”
“Of course you are. And you always will be, to me.” You responded earnestly, resting a hand on top of his cheek, your thumb caressing the soft skin underneath. Another silence, as he stared in your eyes in awe and bewilderment. He could feel that fluttery feeling again… and heat rising to his cheeks. Was this normal? You caught yourself before you could lean forward to seal the space between you, pulling away abruptly with a nervous smile. “Ah… Well… I’ll go out now to look for the things we need.”
“Can I…?” He asked quietly, reaching for one of your hands. “Excuse me… Can we come with you?” No way was he going to leave his new friend in the house alone. The smile that spread across your face was infectious, since he could feel the edges of his lips beginning to curl up.
“Yes, you can.” You weren’t letting go of either of these precious gems any time soon.
A/N: Finally, the belated Irodori special for Violet has arrived! Let's finally welcome the special LIs for this particular universe :weary: now prepare for some awkward bonus LIs against a dropdead gorgeous MC.
Also! MC is under the alias of Sumire/Violet. And the days here are changed to fit the plot; Kazuha arrives a day early!
“Have you prepared everything?”
Anxiety from leaving the cottage without every necessity finally abated, you lift your gaze to turn your attention towards your friend. Or housemate? Acquaintance?
There's no definite label.
“Mhm! All done and-”
A golden accessory is raised in front of you, its luster a pretty scintilla beneath the rising sun.
“Your hairpin.”
Eyes dilating at the slightest—so you did forgot something!—you hastily take it into your fingers, only to stammer when the man before you lifts it out of reach.
“-Well, I forgot about that,” a thankful yet abashed smile rests upon your lips as the hairpin is inserted into your twisted bun, where it rightfully belongs. “Thanks, Zeta.”
The man in question grins, leaving a pat on your head as usual. Though it goes without saying that he's meticulous with it this time, not up for the chance of ruining your elegant updo.
Accompanying you outside, he closes the door behind him, humming with a tipped stare towards the brightening sky. It's a little early, but that is to be expected given your nature of work.
“You said you'll be away until Irodori ends?”
“Yes, all slots under my name are filled! This will be quite the arduous week, that's for sure.”
The okiya has always been busy, being one of the most sought-after places for entertainment and relaxation. So, the extra work has been anticipated.
What hasn't been anticipated, however, is the Head of the Yashiro Commission's personal request; an extension of service to co-host the event. Your mother, of course, sends you in—as planned and as requested.
After all, the commission explicitly wrote for 'Violet' to be the one to act as co-host. In other words, you.
You have a feeling that Thoma put in a good word for you, or maybe Kamisato Ayato has always been cognizant of your fame in the okiya. Either way, you are beyond flattered and excited to be able to officially partake in one of the most baronial festivals in Inazuma.
But what makes this week hectic is because you will be roaming the streets of Ritou until daylight has gone; interacting with the people, playing a tune or two, arranging flowers, et cetera, et cetera. And in the evening, you will tend to your personal clients.
The Outlander Affairs Agency has gracefully allowed you to take momentary refuge in their building, up a private space where there's a room for your business and another for your personal lodgings.
“You could've taken a day off…” Zeta murmurs. He sounds subtly exasperated and for an actual good reason.
“Nonsense. I can't possibly leave my sisters alone to work! Besides, our clients nowadays are pleasant to talk to.”
The week before—when you were told of the news—today, you have been way too eager. Mother tells you to take the well-needed rest because the festival will be a hectic week, but you chose to continue working.
Even when you retired to your cottage the past weekend, you couldn't get a proper wink of sleep!
Zeta eyes your face, particularly, the bags under your eyes that are hidden only because of makeup. No one but him is aware of your actual lethargy, masked behind genuine enthusiasm.
Self-conscious beneath his piercing gaze, you turn with a stammer and march off into the dirt roads leading to Ritou. “Well, I'll be going, now!”
The hand landing on your shoulders pulls a tiny squeak out of your lips and Zeta comes into view again, with a bow slung over his back. His quiver is strapped onto his waist, stocked full with self-made arrows.
Since when did he have the time to wear his gear?
“Let me accompany you, at least.” although his words are phrased as though he's asking for permission, you know full well that he won't be taking no for an answer.
After you have found him washed ashore and helped him settle in, he has been adamant about guarding you. Sometimes, when he isn't tending to your field of crops, he will escort you to and from the city.
He does not have a Vision, but he's adept with the bow.
You smile. “Well, if you insist…”
The roads to Ritou aren't always safe, so Zeta's protection is always taken with immense gratitude. There have been cases where you're almost chased by hilichurls and robbed by hoarders.
If it weren't for Zeta's interventions then, you don't think you would've made it home in one piece.
“Let's go, then. Thoma will be waiting for you, right?”
“Mhm.”
It's worth mentioning that the letter details that Thoma will be present for the majority of the festival to check up on things. He's assigned to briefing you about the dos and don'ts and what-to-do-ifs.
Itto as an extra precaution has been thought of by mother, but you turned it down, aware that the oni will want to enjoy the festival with his gang. If he sees you there and wishes to be the mighty bodyguard as he is in the okiya, then that's the only time you'll cave in.
As expected, the journey is all but smooth sailing.
Hilichurls are scatted about Byakko Plains, but they're not that difficult for Zeta to intercept. His arrows always meet their targets, it makes you wonder who he was before he lost his memory.
The stationed guards by the shore—near the entrance to Ritou—bow to you in a warm welcome. It's a flattering gesture, yes, but you feel a little out of it given that you're not exactly someone of great importance, nor are you a leader.
Just a simple geisha—a renowned one, at that—making ends meet.
“Ah, Violet, you're here early!” greets Thoma as he ambles down the stone stairs with a brilliant smile. You turn to welcome him.
He's been a client of yours ever since he came upon orders of Kamisato Ayato, and begins to frequent the okiya in his leisure time. Of course, even though you have a nice relationship with him outside business, your name remains unknown.
“I believe I should check the whole place out before people start coming, I hope it isn't troublesome,” you say whilst patting the sleeves of your kimono, getting off some of the sand.
“No, no. Not at all! Let me give you a tour?”
“That will be splendid.” you thank him a second time when he takes your slung bag before turning to look at your other companion.
“Well, this is me. Thanks, Zeta.”
“Not a problem.” he smiles, leisurely slinging his bow to his back once again whilst arranging the quiver around his waist. His lack of sweat insinuates that combat comes to him with ease.
He then raises a hand to pass on a simple wave, nodding towards the blond at your side then ambling back to the sandy path.
He'll be alone for the entire week—and although it never poses as a problem, you can't help but be bummed out because of it. Yes, you barely see him during the weekdays since you'll be at the okiya, but time with Zeta is never dull. You sort of want to have him around here even if it's just for a little while.
Without a doubt, he'll just meander around the plains or read a book or two in the cottage. Maybe hunt in his pastime or consider a few commissions, but shouldn't he have fun in the festival, at least? Heavens, if he isn't so amicable, you would've definitely thought he's aloof.
“Um!” he stops to look at you from over his shoulder after hearing your unsure call. The timid blink of his honey eyes is a gentle invitation for you to continue, so you do, albeit rather shy.
“If it won't bother you too much, you can come tomorrow evening and we can have a meal together? I don't have much to do at seven.” you barely see him stepping into civilization unless necessary, always choosing to be in solitude.
Zeta's response doesn't come as quickly as you'd hope, and you fear that you may have discomforted him in some way. The piqued twinkle in his gaze, however, states otherwise.
“Alright. See you tomorrow night, then.” he leaves it at that, brief. And you don't mind.
A confirmation is a confirmation no matter how terse!
With a relieved smile, you wave him goodbye, holding back the urge to throw in a little more energy lest you start ugly creases on your apparel and mess up your accessories. You are to be professional throughout the day.
“So he's your housemate?” Thoma queries as you both step upwards into the still empty plaza of Ritou. Regardless of the lack of civilians, however, decorations have already been put up as well as banners and other ornamental paraphernalia.
“Yes, that's Zeta. He's been a lot of help.” you manage to answer, lost in wonder.
The times you've been to Ritou can be counted with your fingers. You've always been in Inazuma City during the weekdays and in your cottage just on the outskirts of the city near the prairies. You're always too exhausted to go out during weekends, and there's no need to leave.
So seeing it be in a festive state is awing.
Thoma is not blind to the excited gleam in your eyes and he laughs.
“He seems like a great guy!” he extends his arm for you to take, a lopsided smile playing on his lips. “Now, shall we head on?”
Aether
The famous Outlander, you have heard of him by word of mouth. Why, he's a hot topic not only in the city but in the okiya itself.
Even General Gorou, a dear client, has praised him in one of your meetings.
You've never seen him, though, the Hero—the liberator.
That is until he comes waltzing in Ritou with a look similar to yours; of awe and wonder. He's rather early, as well, which means he probably means business. Still, you approach him, not wanting to give up the chance of meeting him personally.
It isn't like there's anything else for you to do now that Thoma has gone to check on other matters.
There is a small, floating girl beside him who draws his attention upon your closing distance. She's loud but pleasant.
You welcome the two of them just as the blond is turning to acknowledge your arrival.
✤ Aether is absolutely floored when he swivels only to find himself face to face against a girl with a kind of beauty that lasts an eternal impression.
He isn't even exaggerating.
It is almost embarrassing how he stands there for a complete minute, gawking and speechless. It is like he forgot how to speak.
To his absolute mortification, Paimon decides to introduce themselves on his behalf. Now, if only she dropped that mischievous grin on her face, he would've been thankful.
“It is an honor to have finally met you. I am Violet, a co-host for the festival.” gosh her voice is sweet, “If you ever wish to hear a tune, or mayhap listen to a tale, feel free to come to me.”
That doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.
Judging by her overall appearance, it seems that entertainment is her forte. And this is confirmed when Paimon asks about her services.
In fact, Paimon sounds like she's a second away from personally hogging Violet to herself, far too interested in what the latter has to offer. And he can't blame her for feeling like so.
Unfortunately, they are there on commission, which means there is work to do. He berates Paimon for forgetting about it, who bites back that he probably forgot it, too.
He kind of did.
“Ah, as I expected... then, I shouldn't take up your time. Please, do carry on.”
He feels bad, really, he does.
It isn't always—never, actually—that he's swayed by a pretty face, but here he is. Violet just encapsulates the kind of person you'd not want to disappoint and dishearten at any cost.
First impressions aside, he truly is rather piqued about the tales and songs. He's heard the name 'Violet' be thrown around the city and he's quick to deduce that she must be someone greatly respected.
He gives her his name and a promise to visit and oh—
“Aether...” heavens, he's melting. “That's a lovely name. I'm looking forward to seeing you sometime, then.”
He's looking forward to it, too! Now, where are the guests he's going to guide for today? The quicker he gets it done, the better!
Calx, Albedo
His princely vesture is what draws your interest in him. That, along with a kind of familiarity that you can't pinpoint why—it's the first time you see him, and yet...
It feels like he's always been with you, which is ridiculous. You do not know his name. So, caving in to the curiosity within, you decide to approach him during a time when he is not busy.
With the sketchbook he carries around, he must be the commissioned artist from Mondstadt that Thoma told you of. Calx.
His first artwork is fully displayed on one of the panels at the plaza by the time you decide to indulge in your interests. Introductions come at ease, but what you fail to expect are his voice and whole appearance.
Suddenly, it is as though you've known him for a long time.
✤ “Zeta?”
Albedo has never been mistaken for someone else. As far as he knows, his appearance is most... unique. So, this is a first.
“I'm afraid I am not who you are looking for, miss,” his voice falls short when he comes to see who captured his attention. Luckily, he is quick to get over his awe. “I am Calx.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.” her laugh reminds him of the tunes played by passing bards in Mondstadt.
Her introduction piques him far more than necessary. He learns that Violet is working as a geisha and will be present during the entirety of Irodori to extend her services.
He reckons that she'll be busy when people begin to pour in, maybe later or the day after.
“Excuse me,”
He goes to her just as she's about to excuse herself after her embarrassing mistake. The pink on her cheeks doesn't seem to come from her makeup any longer.
“If I may, would you allow me to paint a portrait of you?”
Violet is flabbergasted, so to speak, [c] eyes wide and cerise lips parted. This reaction befuddles the Alchemist, if he's going to be honest.
That surprise only serves to imply that this may be the first time such a request has been proffered to her. It's a little astonishing.
He feels a tiny blossom of pride grow within, having been the one to first offer a portrait. It's a winning situation on his end.
“Me?”
“Yes.” he blinks. “I'd like to capture the sublimity of your appearance on paper if you don't mind.”
It isn't like he has anything to do after having finished one of the artworks for the Five Kasen, after all. And he's still itching to draw on his sketchbook.
“I would be honored.” he finds himself smiling at the acceptance, “In turn, you must allow me to serve you tea and play you music.”
“Understood.” not a bad offer.
He would've drawn her on one of the panels had he not wished for a personal souvenir to take back home.
Kazuha
The last time you saw him, he was your last client for the night.
The roles have been flipped that evening, in which you've become the listener to his wondrous yet subtly tragic tales of adventure. He's still on the run then, actually, and his visit was more of a farewell.
But both the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decree has been abolished now, meaning he's no longer a criminal and is free to return to his homeland.
Given the chance, you don't think that he will, for he always stated that he belongs out there—in a world that he can roam without end.
You still keep his gift around you at all times, the elaborate fan always inserted in your sleeve. Sometimes, you trace your initials that are carved onto it, thinking about the eloquent samurai.
You didn't think he'll be here. So, when he comes to you on the second day of the festival, it is a pleasant surprise.
✤ “A lovely day, isn't it?”
Lovely is an incredible understatement. But as of the moment, he can't find any other words to describe the day and the woman before him.
Kazuha can't be bothered to contain his smile as the geisha turns to him in shock, hands halfway from inserting a glaze lily into the grassy base of the flower arrangement.
“Kazuha.” what a dulcet tone.
Gentle in his mannerisms, he takes Violet's hand in his and presses his lips onto her knuckles. The small squeak he hears makes him chuckle.
He lets go only when he spots an oni from afar giving him a pointed stare, though the smile hasn't quite left his face, still. Even when he tries not to, it is impossible to bring it down.
“How have you been, fair lady?” the blossoming cerise on Violet's cheeks is a sight he delights over and he finds himself laughing once more.
It has been so long since he met her again, nearly half a year. The times he sees Inazuma when he is aboard the Alcor, he'll feel the pull to visit.
Alas, he's but a fugitive then. But now...
“Very well,” he watches with a pleased eye as a familiar fan is taken out of a sleeve, splayed open to reveal its intricate design. “And you, wandering samurai? It appears that the wind has traced you back to me.”
The element in question washes over as though it is a sentient being, answering the words with its timid breeze.
Kazuha answers with a lilt, “It appears that it did.”
Sometimes, he openly wonders about the lovely geisha he made a friend out of in his homeland.
And in truth, there's always been a thought to head to Inazuma, it just so happens that an invitation for him to attend Irodori coincides with his plan of visit.
The ronin takes a gander; seeing the unfinished ikebana, the small gathering audience, as well as the instruments on the side implies that there is some business going on that he has intruded into.
“I will be here for quite a while,” he starts, eyes finding the group he's meant to join with, “If you have some time for leisure, will you spend it with me?”
He needn't even ask. The twinkle in those [c]s serves well. But he asks, anyway—the fluttering warmth from the acceptance is nice, after all.
“Of course.”
Zhenyu, Xinqqiu
The famous writer hailing from Liyue is listed as your first client in the night, you realize after being handed a list of names.
Zhenyu has published books that are well-known throughout Inazuma, though you've never been able to read one, Gorou tells you how much the Divine Priestess is absorbed in the reading material.
Fortunately, there is a small window of time when you're allowed to peruse the books available for purchase, so you decided to buy one and see for yourself.
Albeit you weren't able to read more than three chapters what with your persnickety schedule, it is more than enough to enrapture you.
All of a sudden, you're more than looking forward to your meeting with the author. The sun couldn't fall fast enough.
✤ Xingqiu is flattered as he is embarrassed to find out that the beautiful lady serving him tea is a new fan of his work. Before he knows it, he is almost stumbling in his words, and choking on his tea, flustered at best.
“Y-you read my book?”
The fact that he stuttered is already discomfiting as it is. Oh, Xingqiu, where's the composure you pride yourself with?
The pretty ruby smile lost amid the dim orange mood in the room is ironically blinding. Then, with a nod and a little shuffle to sit more appropriately, the lady claps her hand.
“A Legend of Sword, yes? I just bought one a while ago, I haven't read much of it, but I can see the appeal!”
“Oh, thank you.”
The compliment rushes blood to his cheeks, hopefully shadowed enough by the caliginous room. The redness will be an obvious contrast to the hues of his hair and attire.
Xingqiu accepts the refill of delicious tea—that he learns is out of sakura petals—with a low thanks, quick to indulge himself with its soothing taste. Ah, how he feels the strain from earlier work being abated.
He's almost lulled to sleep with the plucked melodies of the koto and the euphonious voice in unison, but he stays awake, eager to listen more.
Actually, he has no idea that he's going to meet with someone until Xu informs him of it, having revealed himself to be the one to file the alias 'Zhenyu' in the list. Though the swordsman is initially reluctant, he can't say he dislikes this; it is a refreshing pastime.
An unfortunate thing he couldn't stay for long.
“If I may be so bold to ask, can you sign the book for me? It would be terrific if I have something in your memory.” Xingqiu's heart races for two reasons; he's touched and he's panicking.
His handwriting isn't the best but he can't turn down the request, oh dear heavens, how can he?
So with a nervous countenance, he accepts the quill and writes down his signature on the first page, as well as a tiny message.
He expects a look of bafflement, but all he receives is a warm, grateful smile before he's being escorted away into the night.
Venti
You come upon the bard when you are strolling after a koto performance, finding him drunk out in broad daylight, slumped on one of the chairs by an alleyway.
The vibrance of his attire is conspicuous within the environment's palette of grey, ebony, and crimson, and it's what made you look in his direction.
When you shake him awake, he's tumbling onto the asphalt and grinning at you from ear to ear, claiming he's seen an angel. You would've flushed had he not been drunk, and had you not been concerned for his safety.
To your surprise, Aether appears looking for him, saying that Sara has dispatched a small team to look for the 'suspicious' bard.
Your meeting ends there—or so you thought.
✤ “Ho! Ohohoho, well hello there, my pretty muse! I had a feeling it would be you~”
When Venti hears that a customer has taken his name out of the list to meet with Violet, he fought tooth and nail to be able to scribble his own.
He isn't fond of leaving things unfinished! And his conversation with the lovely, lovely lady is by all means, unfinished. How can he leave it like so? It's preposterous!
Even though he's the last client for the night and it's already so late, he can't find himself to be exhausted at all. If anything, he's rather enthused—thrilled!
“It is nice to see you again, dear bard.” ah, a pretty face with a pretty smile. “The last hour is yours, please, what is it that you wish to do?”
“Oh, I can think of a few things~” he winks, feeling a tad bit more playful than usual. To his delight, his half-hearted flirting elicits laughter.
With a flick of a fan, the amused face he's staring into is hidden, as though purposely concealing it to play along. Venti is grinning at this, beyond content with the exchange.
It goes without saying that he would've continued his mischief if there isn't such a stressful time limit above his head.
The clock is ticking and the seconds are being counted, he has to make this worthwhile for both parties.
“Then! How about we exchange a few melodies?” he quips, eager for a duet. “If there is something I can take back with me to the city of wind, then it will be the memory of your voice,”
His lyre appears in his hands, strings strummed to resonate an enchanting tune. He winks again.
“And the ode we shared.”
Another laugh arises, followed by the closing of a fan and the appearance of a bright grin. Then, taking the koto, Violet starts.
“Very well then, bard. Let us sing.”
Zeta, Subject Two
The following night, you've been looking forward to your dinner with your housemate slash friend. There lies an appeal to spending a meal with someone you've been living with yet aren't even fully acquainted with.
Zeta's circumstance remains unfortunate, still having no memories of who he was before he was washed on Inazuma's shores.
You want to reassure him that you will stay by his side to help with whatever you can. The months you've spent are cherished dearly.
Before his arrival, you always return to a dark and empty cottage, alone. But that has changed now; now, there is always light, there is always someone.
You wish to tell him that you will do the same for him and you will be there along the way.
✤ “Zeta, you're here!”
He turns his chin up towards the direction he hears he's being called from and smiles at the arrival of the [c]-eyed lady. She doesn't seem to run out of energy at all.
“I hope your journey wasn't too bad.”
“No, not at all,” he responds, casually tucking a loose strand of [c] hair behind the geisha's ear and arranging the golden hairpin in her bun. “There were some hilichurls, but nothing I can't handle.”
The bow slung at his back isn't even heavy, nor is the quiver around his waist. Paying them no mind, he lifts a basket in his hold, “I brought dinner.”
“You- you didn't have to! I told you, this meal's on me!”
He snickers with a shake of his head, almost addressing her with her real name until he realizes that they're still out in public.
“No can do. Come, we better eat before it gets cold.”
A small, defeated pout is all that's thrown his way before [Name] is sighing into the palm of her hand. He thinks he hears her murmur something about him being a 'hardhead', but he's too amused to care.
“Right, then! There's this really quiet spot a little far away but it's worth it!” he nods, beginning to tail the lady in their short venture.
It may only be for a few minutes, but the elapsing time feels like hours—and the reason lies in his moment of reflection. The more he stares at the back of the warmhearted geisha who provided him a home, the more the guilt starts to gnaw.
His memory loss is a complete lie; he has full knowledge of what transpired back then in Dragonspine. Where he narrowly escaped death at the hands of a certain Traveler and Alchemist.
Is it so wrong to live?
In Inazuma, he is finally living. Finally. And he doesn't want to be taken away. But is he living in the right when up until now he continues to lie?
Lies always catch up to someone.
“Zeta?”
Blinking from his reverie, he goes to answer- only to run into someone. Immediately, he apologizes, holding onto the basket that almost fell.
“It's alright.” he freezes.
And it has caught onto him.
When he turns, the subject of both his interest and horror stands before him in the flesh. Suddenly, there is a voice inside urging him to pull the bow from his back, to fight- to defend-
“What's gotten- oh, do you two know each other?”
Albedo turns to look at Violet, though his bright cyan eyes are quick to move back to his impostor's. Or, well, who used to be his impostor.
As far as he can see... his appearance has changed... and...
So this is Zeta. He muses. No wonder I was mistaken for him, the irony is rather amusing.
“Hm,” the Alchemist smiles, his stare heavy. “Do we?”
Subject Two feels the weight of the world and the burden of his lies slamming onto his shoulders. His grip on the basket is tight.
[Name] looks at him in genuine interest and his throat begins to burn. There is a desperate urge to flee, but his feet remain glued to the ground.
There is a choice to make now and Albedo is pressing him for it.
Whatever he says now... will shape his future as well as his life.
In the distance, a pair of yellow and blue butterflies take flight. The flap of their wings is gentle, but who's to say that their flapping wings won't stir a turbulent storm later on?
a/n: fun fact, Zeta's colors are simply Albedo's but the opposite. also, i had fun writing this one! it was a nice destresser as i was hounded by schoolwork aasdhkahdad
