DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD

DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD

big feelings

💫

Carry the Moon / Part 1

Xiangli Yao x Reader

Part 1 ~~~ Part 2 ~~~ Part 3

Summary: From first meetings to searching your voice in every room, how very intriguing you’ve become to him.

As a spirited adventurer, you’re used to a life of action and impulse, having little interest left for the world of data and deduction. But when you stumble upon a rare mineral, you find yourself drawn to the unexpected warm soul that resides within the logic-stricken researcher Xiangli Yao. And as your practical instincts clash with his world of science, sparks fly in more ways than one.

“I would advise against entering that room if your life is dear to you.”

The sudden voice yanks you out of your thoughts and you tense up.

Shit. There goes the plan of being quick and sneaky.

You let your hand slide down from the door handle while trying to come up with a plausible excuse. Not that the truth isn’t plausible on its own, it's just… more on the embarrassing note.

Your grip tightens around your bag as you turn around slowly, a careful neutral expression on. Only to come face-to-face with the Xiangli Yao himself.

‘Thank you, universe,’ you think dryly to yourself.

“I can assure you; it won’t be a pleasant experience to try and sneak into the room,” Xiangli Yao continues. “For neither of us, if I might be honest. Mortefi likes to protect his personal office quite well and I’d be the one having to drag your unconscious body to the infirmary.”

He says all this with a measured calmness and poise you wouldn’t exactly expect from him under these circumstances. After all, if you were to find a stranger lurking around the sacred workshops of Huaxu Academy in the dead of night it wouldn’t exactly offer the picture of the most good-natured intentions.

‘Oh, just why did you have to procrastinate this task out of all?’ You scold yourself. Explosives, my ass. Then you speak out loud, giving him a sidelong glance. “You’re bluffing.”

The renowned Researcher crosses his arms, a challenging quirk to his brow. “Am I?”

“You’re Xiangli Yao.” Since when do researcher have that much sass? You shift slightly, the bag in your hands has gotten uncomfortably cold by now.

“Positive.” His eyes flicker down to your bag, before they return back to you, studying your reaction carefully. “And who are you, if I might ask? I can’t recall you being one of the students, right?”

“I’m here to drop this off at Mr. Mortefi’s office,” you explain and gesture to the bag hanging from your arm.

“At this time of the night?”

“You’re also still here.”

“I am a researcher.”

“And I’m a commissioned Questor,” you dart back. “And these Glacio herbs need to get into a cool environment before they freeze off my pouch entirely.” Then you point towards Mortefi’s office door with a deadpan expression, not buying his ‘warnings’. “But apparently it seems I might explode upon entering. So, I’m in a bit of a dilemma.”

Instead of the expected annoyance you are used to from members of the academy there is an amused glimmer in Xiangli Yao’s eyes. “Indeed, security got extra tight lately.” He studies you for a moment, as if searching for a reason to alarm security.

You hold his gaze, even if his calculating expressions make you feel sort of bare, like he was aiming to make an X-ray of your mind.

Then, finally, he relaxes his stance and steps closer, a key glistening in his hand.

“Allow me.” There is a click and Yao steps inside, holding the door open for you.

When the room in fact does not get blown up and also no alarm goes off, do you actually enter the room, but that doesn’t keep you from frowning anyway, “You’re just letting me in without further evidence? Perhaps the security isn’t as tight as you said, and you guys do need some explosives around here.”

You hear him huff in amusement as he follows you further into the neat and spacious workshop. “As you mentioned, these Gravedos need to be preserved in suitable temperatures as soon as possible.”

You feel his eyes on you as you enter Mortefi’s en suite refrigerator room and search for an adequate location for your gathered herbs.

“Besides, I was aware that we were expecting a delivery of Gravedos. Although Mortefi hinted at it being supposed to arrive last evening.”

You grimace. A fracture of you had hoped, your overdue delivery could’ve been missed. But of course not, given you’re surrounded by a bunch of nerdy researchers and scientists. When you turn back around, you find Xiangli Yao leaning against the door, his keen eyes observing you. Again, you shift slightly under his gaze, a bit of embarrassment creeping into you.

“Well, yeah, about that… I ran into some trouble on the way there. I hope none of your research or important projects will suffer too big of a loss because of that,” you half-ass an apology and can’t help but cringe a bit at the mocking tone in your voice.

But against your expectations, the wariness in Xiangli Yao’s eyes melts away and he shakes his head. “Personally, it won’t trouble me. Mortefi on the other hand is quite strict on his schedule as you might have noticed. But do not worry, he’ll be fine. Eventually.”

You nod, rummaging around the pockets of your bag. “Fortunately for my head, he paid me in advance so I can avoid him in the next couple of days. Unfortunately, though…” You find what you’ve been searching for and display the materials on a table. “I was planning to ask Motefi if there’s anything that could be of value or interest for ‘the science’ or for him personally here, but… perhaps you could help me out instead?”

As you look up, you find Yao already stepping closer as well, taking in the various items and minerals spread across the table. You watch as he quietly studies them with an intrigued expression. Then his eyes suddenly narrow, before they widen once again. “Is that…?” He reaches for a blue crystal-like mineral that reflects in the artificial light of the room. His movement halters before his fingers can graze the stone's surface.

“You recognise it?”

“I do. And yet it should be nearly impossible. I didn’t dare to hope that this would find its way into the academy anytime soon.” He looks up and meets your eyes. “If I may ask – where exactly did you find them?”

“The sea of flames. It was more of a coincidence that I stumbled across them.”

Xiangli Yao’s eyebrows rise. “That’s quite the treacherous region. Incredible.”

“Then they must be worth something, right? Do you have any use for it?” You lean back against the desk, eyes shifting between him and the crystals. Might not hurt to try and catch an idea of their market’s price around here. Who knows, maybe this guy would be willing to make a good offer. He is the principal investigator after all, if you remember correctly.

Yao picks up one of those blue crystals and turns it between his fingers with a pensive expression. “They are called Ardores Lapis. Sometime after I built my robot Patty I searched for various ways to modefy its abilities and also combine some techniques in my mecha arm. That’s when I came across this mineral in my research. Ardores Lapis is a wide-ranging phenomenon as its mere existence contradicts many common beliefs in science. It should not exist and yet…”

His eyes gleam with quiet wonder. Or rather not so quiet…

You blink a few times, pulling yourself together as you realise how you’ve drowned in his nerdy yet concise explanation. So, in the heat of the moment, you answer impulsively, “Keep it then.”

At this Yao’s eyes dart to you, clearly taken aback. “Excuse me?”

“I mean it,” you reply sincerely. “I won’t charge you until I figure out what this bad boy is actually worth. Until then, you might as well use it for your… experiments.”

He shakes his head, placing the Ardores Lapis carefully back on the table. “No, that’s not right. You initially wanted to bring these to Mortefi. It’s meant for him to test and decide what to do with it.”

“Maybe. But it didn't come to that. I mean, look at it this way.” You make a point of adding a touch of dramatic element to your facial expressions as you tap your finger on the table. “Fate wanted me to be late on my deadline, missing Mortefi's open-office-time only for you to stumble upon me and just like chess-pieces falling into place, it all aligned so this ends up in your blessed hands.”

Amusement and mirth twinkle in his eyes. “You certainly have a knack for using verbal theatrics, do you not?”

You shake your head, a smile grazing your lips. “Listen, back in the sea of flames there were a whole lot of these. I’ll head back there first thing tomorrow morning and bring some more. Delivery for you and for Mortefi.” You lift your thumb to emphasise your affirmation and also because you really, really want to just leave already and get at least a few hours of sleep in from this night. And like, that would mean even more of a higher payment for you anyway.

Fortunately, Yao must’ve come to the same conclusion as he inclines his head in gratitude. “Then please, accept my payment as of now at least. Give me a price, money is no problem.”

Oh, that guy is loaded, loaded. You sure are gonna eat good this month.

“While I appreciate the gesture, I can’t give you a proper sum without knowing the full extent of its worth. I might need some… research time.” Great, so the academy's air is starting to rub off on you, huh? “Besides I trust you’re the only one at the moment with the knowledge on how to properly take care of the minerals before they wither away, correct? So do it for the big science, or whatever you guys use as motivational speech."

Yao hesitates, debating his morals, which no doubt are on the right side of his heart. Then he nods. “Alright, then.” Reluctantly, but without any further protest, Yao accepts the minerals you hand out. 

“I - you have my deepest gratitude.”

“Careful, if I return empty-handed tomorrow, Mortefi might try to duel you for their return.” You retort with a teasing glint in your eyes.

Yao laughs under his breath, the sound warm in contrast to the cool room. “Yes, he might be prone to do that.”

As you’re ready to leave you reach for your bag and gather your belongings, Yao tilts his head, as if realising something.

“You still haven’t told me your name.”

You stop by the door frame and turn back around to him for a moment. “Maybe next time then, pretty boy.” Something in you (probably the lack of sleep) spurs you on to even wink at him as you quickly hurry away before the last ounce of self-reverence leaves you entirely

Part 1 ~~~ Part 2 ~~~ Part 3

Thank you so much for reading! Comments and reblogs are so appreciated

Random prompts

1. I’m flattered you think about me THAT often. Maybe I should start getting concerned as well

2. Anything else to add to the list of reasons why you despise me or can we finally get started?

3. Now, can someone be so kind and PLEASE explain to me why I’m here? In small words, if possible. I had a long day

4. Huh. I would have thought it hurt more.

5. This snail is off to kill me. I’m being serious here

6. See, a fish on dry land has more class than you.

7. Oh sweetheart, you’re in for a ride.

8. No, of course not. Do I look like someone who is mentally stable?

9. Your taste in shoes is telling me enough already

10. We caused the world to end, and it’s not even 9 in the morning