Dance With Fireflies

dance with fireflies

alhaitham x reader convincing the acting grand sage to accompany you on a little midnight journey and it was then he realised that you mean much more to him

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convincing the acting grand sage alhaitham to accompany you on a little midnight escapade to the mawtiyima forest went a lot smoother than you had anticipated. sure he hesitated at first, his reserved nature resisting the pull of your enthusiasm. but there was something in your eyes, a spark of excitement and wonder that intrigued him. reluctantly, he followed, steps cautious yet undeniably drawn by your infectious spirit.

as you ventured deeper into the forest, the darkness was illuminated by the flickering lights of the fireflies. their dance was a mesmerizing symphony of light, weaving through the night like a thousand shooting stars. you couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the moment, your eyes reflecting the enchantment of the fireflies' glow.

alhaitham watched you, his gaze lingering on your face as you gazed in awe at the tiny creatures. there was a softness in your expression, a genuine joy that seemed to dissolve the icy walls around his heart. in that moment, he realised that he was not just observing the fireflies; he was witnessing the reflection of your soul, illuminated by the gentle light of the night.

“fireflies have always intrigued me," you ventured, breaking the silence with a whisper, your voice as soft as the fluttering wings of the luminescent insects. "their dance is so fleeting, yet within that brief moment, there is a beauty that lingers in the heart."

alhaitham regarded you with a measured glance, his expression unreadable. "their light is but an illusion," he replied, his voice as cool as the night air. "a fleeting spark that fades into darkness."

you smiled gently, undeterred by his aloofness. "perhaps," you said, your tone thoughtful, "but isn't it the ephemeral nature of their glow that makes it all the more precious? like a hidden gem that reveals itself only to those who take the time to appreciate its brilliance."

your eyes met his, and for the first time, alhaitham saw his reflection in the depths of your gaze—a reflection that revealed the vulnerability he had long tried to conceal. for a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes, a subtle shift as if your words had struck a chord within him. he turned his gaze back to the fireflies, watching their dance with a newfound intensity.

alhaitham felt a strange warmth spreading through his chest, a feeling he couldn't quite comprehend. it was as if the fireflies had ignited a spark within him, illuminating the depths of his emotions.

in the quiet of the night, with the fireflies as witnesses, he realized the truth that had been veiled from his understanding—he was in love with you. the revelation settled in his heart like a gentle whisper, filling the void that had long existed within him. he found himself entranced not only by the fireflies but by the way you looked at them, your eyes alight with wonder and fascination. and as the night deepened, the both of you continued to watch the fireflies, your presence a comforting presence beside him.

© zhongrin | 2023  ✼  no repost・translations・plagiarism of any kind・ai data mining. rebloggers get a free cup of tea ♡

after a hectic day of being pulled around in a tug-of-war by every single person in existence seemingly wanting to congratulate him on this special day, wriothesley returns to his office with countless stickers on his person and piles of presents and trinkets within his taped arms.

yet, as soon as his sight falls onto your familiar profile, the tired lines on his expression melts into sweet genuine mirth despite the muscles on his face protesting from exhaustion.

with the gift boxes and miscellanies tucked safely onto his desk, he pulls you down onto his seat, stubbled chin nuzzling onto your collarbones. a contented sigh leaves his lips much like the satisfied purr of a pleased canidae as your fingers bury themselves into his hair. truly, you never fail to soothe his frayed nerves and thaw him into an affectionate puppy behind the icy illusion of a three headed monster guarding the gates of hell.

and he thinks that perhaps, this birthday is the best one he's ever had so far.

for this year, he's found home and solace in your embrace.

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-; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU. / IT'S ROTTEN WORK.

(NOT TO ME, NOT IF IT'S YOU) ; in which wriothesley lets you tend to his wounds after the dramatic affair with the beret society.

CW: not beta-read. cerberus chapter spoilers! gn!reader, slight hurt/comfort, fluff, mentions of blood, injury, and violence. mention of scars (+ my headcanons of how wrio got some of them), & finally, lovesick loser wrio!

"i'm telling you, sunshine, i can handle it myself."

at his words, your hands still, pristine rolls of gauze and bandages already soaking in red blood. a frown breaks across your countenance as you glare up at wriothesley, eyebrows furrowed. there will be no stopping this, you know; there will be days where your beloved duke returns to your arms with a new wound that you're sure will scar. days he brandishes blooming bruises on his knuckles, and you'll eventually press butterfly kisses to them. perhaps, he will crawl into your loving embrace, his warm home, with blood dripping from his fingertips. (grimly, you wonder how much of it will be his own. you know you'll thank the archons when it's not all his.)

with a sigh and a dab of the alcohol-soaked cotton against his exposed side, you mutter: "you always say that. look where that's got you now."

"it's just a scratch."

"wri, it's a bullet wound. you're lucky it only just grazed you."

"so... what i'm hearing is that it really is just a scratch."

now that earns him another glare (which he sheepishly smiles at).

"look, as stupid as it may sound," he sighs, clear blue eyes finding your own, "i didn't think dougier would have a gun with him." the duke's expression contorts ever so slightly, a weak hiss slipping from his gritted teeth, as you rub a cooling ointment against his angry, red wound. "didn't think he'd have that many gardemeks either."

(another comment, much quieter: "and i thought it'd be cool, really.")

and with that, you both fall into relative silence. the classical music playing from the office gramaphone, your steady breathing, and the occasional pained hiss from wriothesley (followed by your whispered string of apologies) permeate the space between. in the quiet, your mind eventually runs rampant with thoughts of your love getting injured. wriothesley may have proven to you time and time again that he would always return to your side, but he wasn't invincible. your gaze wanders, frowning further when you soak in the sight of the scars that mar his chest. they do nothing to comfort you.

"hey," wriothesley starts, when he notices your stare on the claw marks etched into the skin of his neck. they stretch downwards, the cruel tally marks stopping right above where his heart would be. you try not to think about how they could've easily torn out his throat. "i know you'll still worry about me, but i've been through much worse." he raises his own hand to trace the scars, playing with the black wraps around his neck; "and, as you can see... i fought and won."

( you know he has. he's told you all about them, once. on a sleepless night, where you two lay in bed and traced designs on each other's skin. his calloused fingers against your softer flesh, your touch along the lines of his many scars. some were from fierce sea creatures, he tells you, with a teasing lilt in his voice that makes you giggle. others from his time serving his sentence, fighting for his life in the ring. when you trace one along the back of his arm, smaller than the rest, his voice gets a little softer — he got it on the day he spilt his first blood. you had kissed along all his scars that night, and he had returned the favour with a shower of kisses along your cheeks.)

"promise me you'll be more careful." you say, as you unroll a new roll of gauze and begin wrapping it around his torso. it's a beat, and then two, and when he doesn't respond you turn your gaze back to him.

wriothesley frowns, now. he could do cheeky proclamations of victory, tell you he'll always crawl back to your side alive... but he can't promise you that. not with your current lives in meropide. "you know i can't—"

"wriothesley." the syllables roll off your tongue and he quickly seals his mouth shut—it's been a good, long while since his full name has graced your lips. (he much preferred wrio, or sweetie, or darling; something from you that made him kinder. softer.) "please?"

the silence comes back for a heartbeat. you think you feel tears pooling at the corner of your eyes—

"alright, alright. i'll try." he says, quickly relenting to your teary-eyed gaze. and when that's not good enough for you, highlighted by the pout of your lips and the slightly-aggressive tightening of his bandage wrappings, he says: "fine. i promise to be more careful. as best as i can."

a smile graces your lips. (wriothesley thinks he's seen the sun. you, his darling star, whose mere presence lights up his gloomy underworld.)

"sigewinne and i will keep you to it then."

he can't help the way he leans into your warmth as you press a quick, gentle peck to his temple nor can he help how he almost whines when you step away from him. his gaze is on you even as you pack up the first aid kit and make your way to the stairs (how cruel you are, leaving your lover while he toils in pain!) wriothesley stands from where he leans against his table, just as you reach the bottom of the stairs. he stands up a little straighter, smiles as you shout out:

"oh, and i heard from the traveller! your stunt did sound pretty cool."

a/n: happy birthday wriothesley! here's a very short, indulgent, not beta-read thing to celebrate his birthday and his c1 coming home during his banner! sorry if he's a little ooc or this is just. a really oddly worded / structured fic — this was very much so written in a haze after seeing his story quest cutscene... he's so dreamy. . ..

happy birthday, your grace

happiest birthday to my favourite genshin character, wriothesley! 🫶🏻 a ‘lil something for his special day, i hope that you all enjoy it <33

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“what is all this?” wriothesley inquired, his tone a curios mixture of sternness and genuine interest.

his office, once adorned with rich tapestries and antique furnishings that held an air of refined elegance now carried a different note—a note of celebration and warmth. it was wriothesley’s birthday, and against the backdrop of his meticulously organised desk, you had orchestrated a small surprise. a modest tea set adorned the polished surface, delicate porcelain cups reflecting the soft glow of the antique lamps. a simple yet decadent cake, adorned with intricate icing that mirrored the patterns of fontaine sat in the center, waiting to be enjoyed.

as the day drew to a close, you ushered wriothesley into his office, a conspiratorial smile playing on your lips. the surprise in his stormy eyes was evident as he took in the unexpected scene before him. his office did not look like this when he left earlier.

“it’s a celebration, your grace.” you replied, a mischievous glint in your eyes. “a modest affair but a celebration nonetheless.”

a flicker of surprise crossed wriothesley’s features before being replaced by a measured composure. “i see,” he said, gaze lingering on the tea set and the cake. “and what is the occasion?”

you couldn’t help but chuckle at his feigned obviousness. “wrio…,” you declared with a mock solemnity, “it’s your birthday.”

he regarded you with a raised eyebrow, a hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his lips. “very well,” he acquiesced, taking a step closer. “shall we proceed with this…celebration?”

the two of you settled into the plush chairs, and you poured the fragrant tea into the delicate cups. the room was bathed in a arm, golden glow as the lamps cast their light upon the scene, creating an ambience that felt both regal and intimate.

“you do realise,” wriothesley remarked, taking a sip of tea, “that celebrations of this nature are not a customary affair in fontaine.”

“consider it a deviation from the customary, then,” you suggested, a playful twinkle in your eyes. “a chance to break free from tradition and enjoy the simpler pleasures of life.” he hums, and for a moment, the weight of his responsibilities seemed to lift.

you clinked your tea cup against his, and the rich aroma of the tea envelopes the room, filling the space with a sense of tranquility. after a while, you signalled to the cake, it’s tempting allure impossible to ignore. “shall we indulge in a slice of fontaine’s finest creation?” you suggested, gesturing towards the cake adorned with edible depictions of the nation’s iconic landmarks.

wriothesley nodded, and you carefully sliced a portion for each of you. the cake was a masterpiece, it’s layers a harmonious blend of flavours that elicited a quiet hum of satisfaction with every bite. as the last crumbs disappeared, you couldn’t help but notice the genuine smile that graced wriothesley’s lips—the kind of smile that was rare and precious. the atmosphere, once steeped in the formalities of the fortress, now held a warmth that transcended the grandeur of the office.

“thank you for this,” wriothesley said, his voice carrying a sincerity that reached the depth of his stormy eyes. “this has been an unexpected but pleasant deviation from the usual routine.”

the glow of the lamps seemed to intensify, casting a soft radiance over the room, “it’s the least i could do,” you replied, own smile reflecting the joy of the moment. “birthdays are meant to be celebrated, even the almighty duke’s.” wriothesley chuckles as he takes another sip of tea.

“happy birthday, wriothesley. i love you so much.”

“i love you too”

wriothesley likes to play this game with you called "what chapstick are you wearing today?" it comes as a result of you being gifted a variety pack of chapsticks and in light of his curiosity for taste, you end up trying all of them. and now, you don't tell him which chapstick you've brought with you for the day so it's up to him to guess which one it is. and guessing comes during the time that you join him for a meal or tea. when you finally enter his office, his pretty eyes flicker between your eyes and lips as a wolfish grin breaks across his face.

"you're not going to give me a kiss?" he tilts his head to the side as you sit across from him, raising your brows as you stir your tea.

"you're insatiable," you shake your head. "drink your tea first. do you want honey or sugar in it?" you're already moving to grab both but wriothesley is quicker, moving to snatch them from your grasp.

"but darling, i can think of something better to sweeten my tea," he leans forward, daring you to ask him what. it's a familiar game you play, full of flirtatious words and actions.

sometimes you give in, other times you don't. and today you opt to roll your eyes and stand up, rounding the table with your cup of tea that you place next to his. he hums in satisfaction, legs spreading wider so you have space to stand as his hands find their place, resting gently on your waist.

he looks up at you and drawls, "care to indulge me?"

the kiss you press to his lips is warm but quick, gone too quickly, if he does say so himself. he chases your lips as you pull away and ask him, "so what chapstick am i using today?" wriothesley thinks it's unfair for you to ask him a question like that when you've only given him such a chaste kiss. he scowls playfully, lips downturned into a pout as he runs through the possible options.

"cherry," he states confidently. it's a wild guess fueled by false certainty but he doesn't care if he's right or wrong. and when you shake your head he doesn't pout, doesn't show any sort of remorse for guessing wrong. instead he tugs you down towards him, capturing your lips again and holding you close. and when you finally pull away from one another, he licks his lip and hums thoughtfully.

"i think i need another kiss to be certain about my answer—"

you pull away and roll your eyes as wriothesley protests and tries to bring you back towards him.

"pomegranate!" he exclaims, standing up quickly before you can escape his loose hold.

you laugh quietly and move to place one hand on his chest, the other sliding up to cup his cheek. he looks down at you with such soft adoration that for a brief second, you wonder what the world's reaction would be to his displays of affection around you. but no matter that thought, because with a nod of confirmation for his correct guess, he's swooping in for another kiss, and you can feel him smiling into it as your upper body leans back slightly, pushing yourself closer to him.

"so what's my prize then?"

reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated! <3 a/n: i need to get to class in less than an hour, i don't feel good, but the wrio brainrot was too real and i needed to write it down

fresh breezes of dawn.

pairing: jingyuan x reader

synopsis: in the tranquil glow of the early morning, jingyuan finds unexpected solace, entranced by the descent of a single leaf, with you sound asleep in his lap.

tags: sfw, fluff, established relationship. sleeping on jingyuan’s lap when a leaf falls by your body

in the hushed hours of early morning, the world seemed to hold its breath. the sun, still beneath the horizon, sent forth tentative fingers of light, brushing the sky with soft hues of pink and gold. beneath the dappled canopy of leaves, a single leaf, it’s vibrant green now kissed by the first blush of autumn, detached from its branch. it floated gracefully, riding the invisible currents of the dawn breeze, until it found its resting place on the ground below.

jingyuan sat, his frame a study in calmness, with the gentle rise and fall of your breath beneath his fingertips. he observed the leaf’s descent, eyes tracing its path as it falls. in those fleeting moments, the world was suspended in a tranquil ballet, where nature whispered its ancient lullabies to the souls of those willing to listen.

there was a profound serenity in that scene— the juxtaposition of the vibrant life in the leaf against your quiet slumber. jingyuan, gaze fixed on the descending leaf, found unexpected solace in the simplicity of nature’s gestures. the world he lived in, the life he lived, was vast and complex. yet in this moment, everything boiled down to the quiet descent of a leaf and the soft rhythm of his lover’s breathing.

as the leaf settled on the ground, jingyuan’s lips curled into a small, serene smile. his fingers absentmindedly brushed a strand of hair away from your face, peaceful expression reflected in his eyes. in that shared stillness, he felt a profound connection not only with the natural world but also with the slumbering soul nestled against him.

in the quiet cradle of dawn, jingyuan found an unexpected sanctuary— a moment where the world stood still, and the heartache of battles and burdens faded into the background. it was a reminder that even amidst chaos, there existed pockets of tranquility, waiting to be discovered, cherished, and shared. and in those moments, with your sleeping figure in his lap and the gentle leaf at his feet, jingyuan marvelled at the beauty of existence, finding simplicity of the world’s quietude.