not rover pulling the "we can get discounts from the vendors if we go as a couple/together" BRO LIKE CASUAL RIZZ? (I'm like sure I've seen that line in a kdrama or something ISTG)
casually calling him Yao
the headpat option for xianglee? and his little stutter when you do choose the option??
xiangli yao is so subtle in his flirting, it is so casual, so soft, bro can you be any more boyfriend codded like???
seeker of truth but the only thing that held him back was the desire for companionship (veritas ratio you haunt me in every universe)
obvious love languages are quality time and gift giving that man would do anything to grant a wish in this essay I will-
that man is so soft spoken, so gentle- for once someone didn't jump our bones, but casually knew who we were and subtly spoke his admiration for us and desire to meet us
"you do have a gentle soul" "ever thought about becoming fhe mysterious wish granter..." OFFERING HIS PRIVATE JOB HELLO? okay casual flirting, okay (it's giving boyfailure with that type of flirting ngl but he isn't boyfailure)
yes, allow me to rant about you, to you, in third person, to brag about you and go on a whole rant full of compliments to state that you, rover, are a whole ass hero
"there's no need to look far"
and he has conversation sense, bouncing off of rover's jokes and flirting smoothly they just match each other's vibes; rover needed someone chill istg
rover saving xiangli yao FINALLY A NONTOXIC YAOI LETSGO, and he is so caring and patient; immediately asking if rover is okay once outside of the sphere (biting a couch pillow rn)
the girls call rover over to come early- rover -_-, xiangli yao calls rover to come over- 🏃🏻
xiangli yao calling the rover "my friend" to partner pipeline is so real (right after that is the pat the bot's head option), rover when chatting with the kids referring to yao as their "mecha arm partner" THE FIC WRITES ITSELF
"maybe I should include it in the employee handbook" "we have a handbook already?" WE? the work unit of the TWO OF US? WE is this kinda domestic or am I tweaking- like yes, my partner, I've joined your start up, non-profit, no funds company and I'm your one and only employee (not counting the kids / his bots) and therefore it is now WE, cos I feel so comfortable at this job and with you, my PARTNER-
also, rly cute thing is xianglee and abby hanging out in the bg (the kids get along I'M NOT OKAY)
the parallels to ratio haunt me send help I cannot escape that man
going mildly insane over the CN VAs and the 1st year anniversary celebration video.
Featuring:
Brant having a new play idea and asking Rover to play the lead role.
Xiangli Yao wondering what new adventures Rover has been on and wanting to hear the tea
And then JP has Jiyan talking about protecting Rover which is very much, okay. Rover does not have enough hands for this. (I weep in multishipper as I get more plot buns)
🌙 Xiangli Yao x F!Rover 🌙 The Huanglong Moon is Beautiful, isn't it?
Rover trudged up every rickety stair and uneven mound on her way up to the wishing tree. The night was still young after the successful display of the Loong lantern, so there should be some time left for her to catch him before he retired for the night.
"Xiangli Yao!" she called out.
Hopefully, he would at least still be up working away at fulfilling any wishes that have been left under the tree since they last checked. Sentinels forbid yet another citizen silently voices their plea for a death sentence as a cover-up for what truly ailed them. The source of error and lack of wishes being granted may have been rectified, but Xiangli Yao could not take any chances, and so he had decided to personally fulfill whatever further wishes the people of Huanglong bought to their tree tonight.
Rover was very much aware of his secret to granting wishes, but that didn’t stop her from confronting him. Her wish wasn’t something that a piece of paper could do justice to, and it certainly wasn’t something a robot could fulfill.
Xiangli Yao was standing at the base of the tree, gazing down at the bustling festival out of view of the general public. From the gentle smile on his face, he seemed fairly confident that all had gone smoothly with the Loong dance and plans for the fulfillment of any remaining wishes. After what horrors she and Yao were subjected to within the Sonoro Sphere, it was a relief to see that the light had not dissipated from his eyes.
"There you are!" Rover said, dragging her feet the rest of the way up the hill.
Xiangli Yao turned towards her, and he smiled a little more upon seeing Rover.
"Ah, a delight to see you like always, Rover," he said. "Is there something that I can do for you?"
"Yeah," she said as she was still catching her breath, "you still owe me a wish.”
"You didn’t need to run all the way up here to catch me. Signing your name on the paper and hanging it on the tree would’ve sufficed.”
Rover shook her head. “It’s something unfit for a piece of paper, something that only you, personally, can fulfill.”
Xiangli Yao was rather perplexed by Rover’s words. She hadn’t even begun to tell him, and she already felt herself slipping up. When she thought about it for longer than three seconds, the implications did sound rather questionable. At this point, though, there was no turning back for Rover.
Thankfully, Xiangli Yao spoke up before she could utter any more dangerously questionable nonsense.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
Rover looked around to make sure the coast was clear. Normally, one wasn’t supposed to reveal their wishes to others, otherwise, it would not come true. Should anyone overhear them, it could spell great humiliation for Rover, and unfortunately Xiangli Yao as well.
Plus, given the nature of her request, out in the open was not an ideal spot for any sort of confession anyways.
She glanced over the edge of the cliff to see that nobody had bothered to look up at the tree that towered over them. They were all too distracted indulging in festival games and chowing down on Moon-Chasing Festival specialties at the food stalls.
"Everyone’s preoccupied down there,” Rover said, grabbing his metal hand and gently pulling it, “We can sit by the wishing tree and have it all to ourselves for the time being.”
A little too, straightforward, perhaps? If she said any more, Rover would end up blatantly confessing the feelings she had for Yao. Any less, and it would only leave him with confusion, and Rover with more humiliation.
Xiangli Yao smiled and closed his hand around her fingers. "I can’t say no to helping a good friend with her wish, now can I?”
He turned around to once more gaze at the bustling stalls below.
“Besides, I could use a break from the excitement myself.”
A break from the excitement. Temporarily, for him anyways. Rover doesn’t get a break. She hasn’t had one ever since heard Yao speak those painfully sweet words for the first time.
Rover led him to spot against the trunk just far enough away from the edge of the cliff that nobody without an eagle eye could spot them from below. She didn’t see any stray onlookers around, or take note of anyone appearing to make the wishing tree their next visit. If anyone were to catch Rover in her current position, she would probably turn into a Gulpuff and have Xiangli Yao fling her halfway across Huanglong.
Rover’s body felt rather stiff as she was sitting next to him. She wasn’t deterred by his cold metal arm, but was rather frozen stiff from sheer nerves. Xiangli Yao was seemingly unaware of Rover’s rather awkward stance, as he was gazing up at the moon lost in his thoughts.
‘Rover,” Xiangli Yao said, “it’s been a while since we last had a Moon-Chasing Festival on a night as clear as this one.”
“Really?” Rover asked. “You’ve had Moon-Chasing Festivals…without a moon? What were you even chasing, then? Daybreak? Clouds?”
Yao laughed a little at her confusion. “Well, the clouds would often obscure at least part of the sky. The display wasn’t as spectacular without the natural beauty of the moon and the stars.”
Rover leaned back on the wishing tree’s trunk and took a deep breath, gazing up at the sky as well. To tell the truth, she hadn’t had a moment of respite where she felt as if she could breathe without any TDs or freaks on her trail. Only now was Rover realizing just how beautiful the night sky was.
“I never really had the chance to see it for myself,” Xiangli Yao said, as if he were reading Rover’s thoughts. “Most of my long nights were spent inside the research lab, in the windowless rooms surrounded by machinery and computer screens.”
He looked down with a glint of regret in his eyes.
“Even during the festival, I am working behind the scenes more than anything. At most, I am but a witness from the sidelines, having no one but Patty and Xiang-LEE to pass the time with.”
“You’re not alone tonight at least,” Rover reassured him, patting him on his steel shoulder.
It had only just occurred to her that his metal arm was most likely unable to feel anything, let alone her touch. Nevertheless, Xiangli Yao looked at her with a smile on his face yet the glint of sadness still lingering in his eyes.
“I’m deeply thankful to be with you tonight. I haven’t spent this much time with a friend since…”
He once again looked down and sighed.
“The display was a success, Patty was fixed, and everyone is off doing their own thing at the stalls. I’d say you’ve earned some time to yourself,” Rover said. “This isn’t something that comes around very often.
She looked up once again at the clear night sky, a faint glow of reddish-orange radiating around them from the festival lanterns. Rover hadn’t realized it, but the tension that was previously stinging her body into motionlessness dissipated. Her original reason for pulling Xiangli Yao aside had somehow managed to slip her mind completely. Mending the feelings of loneliness, the two of them were finally at peace, sitting together under the same tree and gazing at the same night sky.
Still, Rover had a lingering tinge of guilt that his artificial arm was unable to feel her touch. Inconspicuously, she stood up and walked over to Xiangli Yao’s other side.
“I can get a better view of the sky over here,” she said before he could question her.
Rover once again comfortably rested herself against the base of the tree. Her body settled against the side of Xiangli Yao, but he seemed to hardly mind at all. Whether or not it was intended or subconscious, he adjusted himself to be more comfortable next to her, gently enough to not force her off.
“…I’ve been so engulfed in my research that I haven’t bothered to stop and cherish the little things such as this; something as simple as gazing at the moon with dear friend. It’s nice. I wish I could do this more often,” he said.
“Despite all of our unanswered questions that still remain, it brings me a feeling of peace…and comfort,” Rover said.
“Ah…the moon truly is beautiful, isn’t it?” Xiangli Yao said, completely enamored of the night sky, at least, that’s what he looked like to Rover at first glance when she turned to look at him.
She could see the reflection of the moon and the stars twinkling in his eyes. They were filled with a gentle warmth that warmed her soul on this cool night. Or maybe that warmth Rover was feeling was, in actuality, her face turning red. Regardless of the answer, it was hard not to feel at ease around a soul as kind and gentle as Yao.
“Beautiful indeed,” Rover said.
Out of the corner of his eye, Xiangli Yao noticed that she was looking at him when she said that, and not up at the moon. The fleeting thought of Rover directing her “beautiful” comment towards him and not at the sky abruptly set his heart aflutter. For having spent so much time in self-inflicted isolation while forbidding himself from forming any deep, personal bonds, this sort of feeling was all too new to him.
Xiangli Yao can recall the exact moment that this all had started; right when she showed him simple, genuine kindness. No comment about being a renowned researcher, no comment requesting any form of help, nothing. Rover treated him as an equal, not needing any reason to greet him with a smile. He wondered, just how long has it been since he last met someone this genuine?
Has he ever been treated with any real affection at all?
It really seemed like the most basic of gestures, but Xiangli Yao couldn’t help himself falling for a girl who didn’t need a reason to smile when she saw him. He almost felt the need, the desperation, the clinginess that he had managed to keep repressed for so long. He looked away from Rover, in an attempt to save himself the shame of alluding to what he felt within.
“So…about my wish,” Rover said.
“Oh, right. You never did tell me what it was. Helping you make it come true is the least I can do as thanks for all of the trouble you went through for me.”
“It’s not really a matter of you having to help me, but it’s more like…if you want to.”
Rover took a deep breath.
“My wish is to be with you forever.”
“F-forever?” he said, completely caught off guard. “You wish to be with someone who can’t even maintain a singular friendship? Clearly, you don’t know what problems you’re setting yourself up for.”
“I know that isn’t true, Yao. I’ve seen it for myself firsthand. You don’t have to force yourself to go through everything alone.”
Rover placed her hand on top of his, and gently curled her fingers around Xiangli Yao’s hand. It had suddenly occurred to him that his prosthetic arm couldn’t truly feel the sensation of Rover’s touch. If he may confess, the softness of Rover’s hand felt…quite nice. The most warmth he had ever felt from another human came from the accidental run-in with colleagues within the laboratory. This was absolutely nothing like that. It was pleasant. It was intimate. It was all that he could ever ask for.
Would it be selfish of him to accept her love? Theoretically, if he was greedy for caring about one singular friend of his, then that would make Rover far worse than him: a blatant falsehood.
“…Even… if it’s just together as friends,” she continued.
“Rover, would you by any chance, consider…being more than just friends?”
“Consider? Why, it’s something I’ve had my heart set on ever since I first met you.”
“Surely, I can’t be all that,” Xiangli Yao said with a sigh, trying to inch himself away from Rover.
She refused to let him budge, as she gently held his hand tighter.
“Part of you is made of metal when you have the softest heart of any man I’ve met,” Rover said.
“Your kindness remains unmatched, Rover, going out of your way to help a lonesome man out of the goodness of your heart.”
“It’s impossible for me to resist the biggest sweetheart in Huanglong.”
“Ah…you flatter me, truly.”
“I mean it, Yao.”
“I…I thank you,” he said, losing track of his words. “I wish I could better express how much this genuinely means to me.”
Xiangli Yao went silent for a brief moment.
“And… thank you… for fulfilling my wish in return, Rover,” he continued.
"You never told me that you had a wish yourself. I don’t think I’ve even done anything of note for you personally," Rover said, a little surprised.
"You’ve done plenty for me, going as far as to fulfill a wish I deemed far too selfish to share with the world."
how many people in the wuthering waves fandom would appreciate a proship discord server? all ships welcome (ocs included), adults only, and casting judgment or harassing would result in being kicked. there will be a nsfw section for those who want it, and dark fic topics would be allowed.
