Il Dottore X Reader - Tumblr Posts

Blasphemous Rumors - V

“Marry me.” He said it with such blasé that you weren’t sure you heard him correctly.  Silence surrounded the two of you and he leaned down and tilted his head, watching you like a specimen under a microscope. “Just for a year.  A marriage of convenience.  Consider it nothing more than a harmless experiment for the sake of curiosity.” Il Dottore/Female reader with established personality.  Slow-ish burn.  Semi-enemies to lovers. On AO3 here. Likes, reblog, and comments appreciated.

You peered out between the crack in the doors at the back of the cathedral.  Every pew was full.  Breakfast, what little you had of it, churned in your stomach.  Your hairpins were too tight and you fought the urge to fix them. 

The front steps were packed to the brim with common folk shivering in their coats and furs, eager to get a glimpse of you despite the bitter cold.  Why would the inside of the church have been any different?

Everyone seemed accounted for.  You had gone through the guest list extensively; it was far too long for your liking.

And it was far too late to back out now.

The high collar and long lace sleeves of your dress were soft, rather than irritating; you were right to have chosen the shop you worked with.  Your final fitting had induced tears, both of lamentation and awe; you only wished you shared such a moment with anyone other than the Tsaritsa.  Who were you to deny an Archon, after all?

She gifted you the veil that now covered your hair and face, as light as freshly fallen snow.  

Part of you wished, hoped, that perhaps you might catch a familiar shape in the crowd.  But as far as you could see, neither of your parents were present.  As expected.  Your father wouldn’t have been in good shape to attend, at any rate.

All that waited for you was a Harbinger, dressed in white, and the Tsaritsa beyond.

You rehearsed this for the past few days with the Omega Segment acting in its master’s place.  The very act did nothing but weigh on your nerves like your boss weighed his mora.  It was infuriating, actually, that Lord Dottore did not deign to show up to his own rehearsal ceremony.  He had that luxury.  You were required to appear.  After all, you had no copies of yourself to delegate tasks to and you were the only one in the ceremony who would do more than just stand and speak.

Typical Harbinger.  Others suffered while they reaped the benefits of their positions.

Running would get you nowhere except a shallow grave.

You agreed to this.  You gave your word.  And such a position would give you plenty of information to pass on.

The music started, the doors opened, and on beat, you began the long trip down the aisle. 

Your grip on your flowers tightened as you went.  The bouquet in your hands was a monstrous thing, flowers practically spilling out of it in an array of irises, cecilias, glaze lilies, and an overabundance of greenery.  The florist had gotten far too overzealous and you wish you hadn’t been so tired during those meetings.  Around you, the church was sparsely decorated except for the long carpet you walked on.  All eyes were, inevitably, be drawn to you.

 Brides were supposed to smile, you reminded yourself.  You hoped your smile only felt tighter than it looked.

Lord Dottore was dressed in mostly white and, naturally, not without that feathery mechanical thing draped over his shoulder like a mink pelt.  His mask was black with blue accents, different than usual mask he shared with Omega.  The tails of his coat were accented with bright blue, matching his waistcoat, and it even looked as though he repurposed the usual dangling tubes into accessories for his suit jacket.  Across his chest, a red sash, not unlike the Tsaritsa’s, denoting his station and affiliation.  A bright and luminous aquamarine gem was nestled into a pin at the base of his throat, floating above a white cravat. 

Despite the upper half of his face being covered, he did a decent job of appearing enamored: a tilt of the head; a charismatic smirk that passed for charming; a shifting of his weight as he fixed his cuffs.  If you didn’t know any better, you might have believed it yourself.

As you approached, you realized his shirt wasn’t black but a deep blue, almost as deep as the midnight sky back home.

You caught the quickest glance at his sharpened teeth when he attempted to match your smile.  It came off more like a snarl as you passed your flowers to an attendant and took Dottore’s awaiting hands.

You shared his sentiments.  Your feet were already aching and the event had barely begun.

The Tsaritsa spoke of a blur of sentiments that, perhaps in any other situation, would have brought you to tears.  Selflessness (impossible for the man before you), a reciprocity of compromise and challenge (only out of necessity to keep your job), sharing in the accomplishments of another (again, impossible for your future husband) were things that, surely, the crowd collected here knew to be absolute bullshit.  Il Dottore, Second of the Fatui Harbingers, was infamous for his ruthlessness, his lack of humanity, unwavering resolution for knowledge at any cost.

Hell, you even severely compromised on traditions that might have added authenticity.  Normal couples celebrated in Snezhnaya for at least two days; a marriage for a high-ranking military official would have warranted far more.  Back home, it was still common to practice the tradition of ransom for the bride but that required your parents and you caught a muttered remark about the cost of your ring.  Betrothal and Crowning were replaced with a simpler ceremony that would not insult the Tsaritsa while remaining true to Dottore's sentiments towards godhood (absolute bullshit, in his opinion). 

He cared little for ritual.  Ritual was nothing more than unsubstantiated nonsense to explain a world instead of looking closely for answers.  So long as everything was legal, it didn't matter to him otherwise.

In exchange, both of you would instead endure a tour of the main city for photographs before the reception.  Pantalone's idea.  Of course.

Would anyone really believe the two of you were serious about this…

The Tsaritsa did though. 

Didn't she?

You tried not to marvel at Lord Dottore's long fingers when he removed his gloves to exchange vows and rings.

His recitation was, of course, perfect.  If he wasn't a scientist, you were certain he might have been a stage actor in another life.  Dottore's touch lingered as he carefully arranged both of your rings and slid them home, ensuring they nested into one another perfectly. 

Compared to your pair of rings, his appeared plain when you slid it on after affirming your vows in return.  Then again, this union meant nothing and his adornments were always more about his rank and their functionality.  An unassuming band of platinum suited him just fine.

Touching him was less a sparking jolt at the sensation of skin on skin and more akin to a burn, as if thawing one's hands in front of a roaring fire after a day in the tundra.

The Tsaritsa spoke again, giving closing remarks.  You wanted to pull away already but there was little choice in the matter.  Dottore's fingertips were curled into yours, the smallest amount of contact you could get away with already, and it wouldn't take much for him to decide that you weren't playing along.

"…your union will be sealed with a kiss."

Lord Dottore's shoulders squared instantly and you felt the tension run into his fingers, now feeling more like curled claws.  Fuck.  Of all things you had discussed…practiced, even (you stepped on his feet more times than you cared to consider and yet still had your feet).  Had both of you truly forgotten…

The longer neither of you moved, the worse this was going to be.  You felt expectant gazes and heard a soft wave of whispers.  Convincing.  This needed to appear true—

You let go of Dottore's hands and you were thankful that he took the cue to lift the edge of your veil.  Disappointment sunk in your stomach as he kept his head as level as possible, preventing you from sneaking a look up his mask.  You stepped forward to close the distance, cupping his cheek with your left hand before you tilted your head to the side and pressed your lips to his.  Fluid, smooth, natural.

That was your role, you reminded yourself.  It would take both of you to make this work.

His lips were soft, as warm as his hands (warmer, perhaps, you considered).  As human as any other person you kissed before.  You pulled away, catching a glimpse of his ears turning pink, before he ducked down and captured your lips again, finally back on track. 

He turned his head to break the kiss but didn't pull away immediately.

"Quite efficient, Accountant," Lord Dottore whispered.

His words tickled your neck and threatened to send a shiver down your spine.

The closest you would never get to gratitude.

Touring the city was excruciating.  In-between trying to put names to faces and track who was speaking to whom, you waved and smiled from the carriage window, thankful the gray clouds were holding off their inevitable snowfall.  Every stop meant a photo, meant standing too close to your husband, all the while hoping you came off as shy and dutiful rather than stiff and uncomfortable. 

The schedule left little time for breaks.  You managed to nurse a glass of water, fix your makeup, and gather your remaining strength as an attendant bustled your dress before you entered the Palace Ballroom, arm in arm with the Harbinger.

If your husband was a different person, you would have pushed back on his insistence to get the first dance out of the way as soon as you were in the room.  But you agreed with him and it was better to get it over with.

As rehearsed, you took your position, thankful all the while he had slid his gloves back on as soon as you were in the carriage hours ago.  Bad enough you had to be essentially pressed up against him for this.  You would rather eat glass than touch him again, especially if he was going to feel warmer than he truly was.

He smelled more pleasant than you usually experienced.  The lack of viscera and disinfectant helped.  This close, closer than you had been all day as he led exactly on beat, you caught hints of musk, along with sandalwood, mint. 

Dottore pulled you flush against him after spinning you out, angling his head towards the crook of your neck.

"Relax your shoulders," he muttered.  "You're resisting the rhythm and making this harder than necessary.  All that convincing work earlier can be undone quite easily, Accountant."

"Is that a threat, my lord?" you teased, passing off a playful smile.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth but it didn't stay long.  He was quiet in the carriage, professional.  Other than his vows, he barely said a word to you all day.

"For once, not from me."

You schooled your face, instead resting your chin on his shoulder as the mantle's feathers brushed against your cheek.  It was much softer than you expected.

What had you missed?  Other than perhaps appearing, as any person might, a little weary during the tour, you had been nothing but polite and warm during any interactions with guests. 

"Even one as erudite as myself knows to move with the music and the flow of the event.  Stop thinking, Accountant."

You tried to ignore the slight squeeze of his arm around you; it was a little too tight to be assuring.  Focusing on the music, a song you could hum in your sleep by now, you tried to relax your shoulders and hips and follow through with the sway of each step.  The song ended; its final note was cut short by the sharp sound of knives on glass.  You fought a grimace, realizing your guests were goading you to kiss again.

This time, the Harbinger was quicker, stealing your lips as soon as you lifted your head from his shoulder.

"Better," Dottore whispered as he pulled away.  "By the end of this, you might even fool yourself."

You threw him the same smile and demure look as you did in the jewelry store and fixed his cravat to stifle the urge to punch him.

"Are you sure I won't fool you, Lord Harbinger?"

"I'd like to see you try."

The socializing took the longest.  The Harbingers themselves, although never without a quip to throw, were civil enough.  You led most of the conversations once the two of you reached the tables of dignitaries and nobles, Dottore falling back to either have more in-depth discussions or to observe, as he often did.  Eventually, it was just you when he muttered something about getting air and you were determined to get greetings and gratitude off your plate before dinner.

Your head swam as you recalled every single face, every name, every seating arrangement.  It wasn't that different from data, from account numbers, balances.  No one would call you an extrovert by any means but the only thing keeping you going was the very knowledge that Dottore was not going to do it.  Such things were not worth his time.  Without his Segments in normal situations, he was protective of his time; now, it was your turn to fill in the gaps.

It took everything in you not to roll your eyes at yourself.  Your duty was to the people of Snezhnaya and beyond.  Your duty was your family.  This marriage was a means to an end.  You only played your part because if you didn't, the consequences were far, far worse than you wanted to consider. 

You were partway through the final table when you felt a hand on your elbow and you saw everyone at the table straighten considerably, as if they were puppets ready to perform.  Instead of any kind of introduction or pleasantry, however, Dottore turned his attention to you, his hold gentle.

"Dorogáya moya, come eat before your plate gets cold."

You felt your face flush at the use of the term, both at the familiarity and the double meaning.  Over the last few weeks, you learned that he was not a native to Sneznhaya, as you were, but he spoke the language so fluently one would never know.

With a smile, you let yourself be taken to the head table, where the first course of many sat waiting for you.  Your stomach grumbled at the sight of food.  You'd been hungry since before the ceremony.  Now that you looked, you noticed that the wait staff were well into bringing out dishes, carrying trays over their shoulder.

Funny that he would come find you when he left you alone to tackle the ridiculous social obligations of his station.  Then again, Lord Dottore couldn't exactly have you fainting at your own wedding. 

"So, I'm expensive, am I?" you asked, glancing through your peripheral at him as you took a long sip of water.

You half-entertained wine earlier but you needed your faculties and wits about you.  Water was best.

"If time was a currency, yes," Dottore turned his head to you, fork and knife still poised on the plate.  "Surely you can quantify how much of my time could be better spent on almost anything else."

"And surely you know how easily anyone could read into a Harbinger calling his new wife expensive as establishing an amazing matrimonial foundation."

Dottore tilted his head and raised a shoulder, a gesture you always took to mean silent acquiescence.  If you could see his eyes, you imagined his eyebrows would be rather expressive as well.

“I never cared for the opinions of others, especially those who never had to try to improve their life, such as most of our guests who were born into their position.  There is little reason for you to be anything beyond polite.  It is those closest who must be fooled, not the rest of the country.”

“All it would take—” you hissed.

“You’re forgetting who you married, Accountant.” Dottore gave you what anyone else would have called a charming smile. “Unlike you, they fear me.  Now eat.”

He needed you to cooperate but if he thought he was going to spend the next year commanding you around...arrogant, self-important, manipulative ass…

You kept your face neutral as you lifted a utensil, pushing away the thought of driving your fork into his leg.  It was the least he deserved. 

Flavor exploded in your mouth as you took a bite to eat.  Any other time, you might have reacted beyond simply reaching for another forkful from your plate.  The finest thing you tasted in months, years, and just like everything else, it was wasted on this moment.  A moment you would never get back. 

Funny how right he was.

Food helped.  Each of you played the part of doting newlywed, dancing, smiling, laughing.  You only ever heard Lord Dottore chuckle but never outright laugh.  It was almost sweet, how genuine the sound was.  Did he even realize it, you wondered, when the mask slipped and for a moment he appeared almost human?

Of course he did.  Nothing would ever get passed him.

Except you.

If you made it out of this alive.

It was no secret that a Harbinger's station meant a certain quality of life.  Estates of their own, entire wings within the Palace for work and for leisure.  After all, the Cryo Archon only had her Harbingers to dote on, who else would make use of the space, you often wondered.  Staff were well-compensated and taken care of but the stark contrast between your dormitory and living spaces compared to the soaring ceilings and marble pillars and gilded frames turned what little food you managed to keep down.

You weren't in charge of auditing the annual operating budget (that was exclusively for the Ninth himself) but you could estimate.  More than what you would make in your lifetime thirty times over, probably.

The walk from the ballroom to the far reaches of the Palace was shared in silence.  Exhaustion was woven into the very layers of your gown and by now face-planting into the bed, makeup and all, sounded like a wonderful idea.  After all, it was not as if anything about this arrangement was normal and Lord Dottore himself expected nothing, he had been quite clear about that from the beginning.

He was impossible to read right now, even for you.  Mouth in a flat line, shoulders back, arms behind him as he walked as if he were simply out for a stroll.  Without the context of a common discussion topic, mostly regarding his funding, you couldn't tell if he was simply bored, exhausted, or annoyed.  All three in a stormy cocktail seemed likely. 

The rooms themselves were as lavish as the rest of the Palace.  Opulent furniture that was dusted but never used filled the sitting room that you walked into, the walls lined with filled bookshelves.  Floor to ceiling windows revealed the usual white landscape and the mountains beyond while projecting your reflection back at you from the illumination of a nearby lamp.  Your bag, the singular container of all of your packed belongings sat on a sofa, as if discarded hastily.

Through a set of double-doors was a second private sitting room and the bedroom, as large as half of your entire dormitory floor.  Dark wood, flowing lines, clearly hand-crafted rather than assembled on a factory line.  Too many pillows on the bed. 

Did he even sleep?

The only details the space was even occupied were the books piled haphazardly on a coffee table, on a bureau, scraps of paper and blueprints scattered but clearly organized in a way that made sense to someone.  A coat strewn across a couch arm.  Mechanical parts and a small set of tools on a table where one might ordinarily hold a private dinner party.

You caught sight of a large closet and beyond it, a washroom, each room with their own set of double-doors to close the space off.  For a man as arrogant as Il Dottore, perhaps even vain (after all, who made clones of themselves if they weren't?), you expected far more clothes and shoes.  His budgets rarely, if ever, accounted for clothing unless it was for a specific occasion but that didn't mean much.  And you doubted he would have made room for your pitiful amount of belongings.

On one side of the closet was a large three-way mirror, the kind you dealt with at the seamstress, complete with a platform.  Obnoxious.  This felt out of place compared to the amount of space in the closet itself.  Unless, of course, he did his own tailoring or a Segment did.  Would explain the lack of receipts and mentions of it for his budget reviews.

You locked eyes with your own reflection and saw where your make-up was thinning, how your hair had finally succumbed to the weight of the product in it.  No matter how hard you tried to keep your eyes open, they seemed to have minds of their own; you were beyond tired at this point.

And the dress was finally taking its toll.  The lace was scratchy and the corset was digging into you.  Without thinking, you finagled your feet and removed your heels without bending over.  You closed your eyes, instantly relieved at the sensation of your heels sinking into the carpet.  The pain was still there but it nice to be on even ground again.

Your eyes snapped open when you felt slight tugging on the buttons of your dress and it took everything in you now to jump, nerves frayed and split.  Dottore looked up from behind you, mask still in place, and you could only presume he was making eye contact.  Harder to determine without facing him.

"Don't tell me you expected to reach every single button yourself, Accountant," he sneered.

"More like I didn't think you would help.  Not without prodding."

Dottore scoffed as he undid the buttons running the length of the dress and loosened the back stays of your corset.  He tugged slightly at your dress' sleeve but not enough to reveal your shoulders.  Never once did you feel the brush of his gloved hands on your skin. 

Dottore stepped back when he finished, your gaze remaining fixed on his mask.

"Polite for a man who stepped foot into my office covered in blood on more than one occasion," you remarked.

You were graced with the wide, vicious smile you knew so well, sharpened teeth gleaming.

"Go wash up, you smell like you wandered through a florist's nightmare."

He nodded his head in the direction of the bath but made no attempt to leave the dressing room.  You held back a grimace as a sound of disgust escaped your lips.

"You have such a charming demeanor, Lord Harbinger."

You gathered up your dress and entered the bathroom before he could remark further, shutting the doors behind you with the resounding clicks of the latch and lock.

The bathroom was tiled and just as ornate as the rest of the rooms: a large vanity with more counterspace than you ever saw in the dorms; a water closet for the toilet; a standalone shower; a tub that stood on its own feet and looked as if it was intended for at least two people, maybe more.  You were beginning to think there was no in-between in the Palace; either everything was utilitarian and functional or overly-decorative and wasteful of resources. 

Here too, you could only see a smattering of personal effects.  Signs the room was occupied but not necessarily used.  Curiously, you picked up a bottle and read the label once, twice, and then again, realizing it was actually some kind of acid and not a mouth rinse solution.  Whoever brought your things over from your dorm had at least been insightful enough to unpack your toiletries and you were thankful you would not risk burning off your scalp to wash your hair.

Just as you were rummaging around for your things, you noticed a bundle wrapped in soft tissue on a chair near the door.  Weird.  Was this for you?

You removed the rest of your jewelry and tugged gently on the lace sleeves, the upper body of the dress coming free without further resistance.  You stepped out of the dress, arranging the pile of tulle and lace neatly nearby before turning your attention back to the small package.

Gently, you pulled apart the paper.  From the pile of cloth, you plucked the top piece and held it up, frowning.  It left little to the imagination.  Same for the other half.  On the bottom was, you presumed, what was meant to be worn over the lingerie, made of the same fabric with a small bow on the back and ruffles on the hems.

To the credit of whoever put it there, it was very fine material.  The kind that was befitting of your newly acquired station.  Lace this soft and sheer was painstaking to make and couldn't be machine-replicated. 

There was no note in the packaging.

Lord Dottore held no expectations, you reminded yourself.  Had a servant put this here?  If so, on whose behalf?

You put the lace back down and ran the shower, adjusting the water as you ran through scenarios in your mind.

Was Dottore testing you?  Could he have only said such a thing to get you to agree?  If he'd changed his mind, it would have been more prudent to tell you.  On the other hand, telling you would allow you to prepare and he wasn't in the habit of allowing anyone, subject or not, to have time to skew results.  Plausible enough.

Or perhaps Pantalone, in his ever-insistent and nosy nature, had this planted here?  Considering the state of your ring situation, this was also viable.  He wasn't above planting evidence, arranging scenarios so they worked in his favor without fail.  From Lord Pantalone's perspective, Dottore acquiring a wife so soon after their deal was struck would have been immediately suspicious and potentially short-sighted, subject to various tests of his own...

Maybe it was neither and a servant or even a Segment thought the notion would be funny.

But it was too expensive for that.  No one paid that much mora on something without a purpose…or at least, most people didn't.  Your boss was, as always, the worst exception.

You stepped into the shower, ridding yourself of your makeup and perfume and the rest of the day's trappings.

As you stepped out of the shower, feeling at least a little more human, your stomach sank.

In your frustration with Dottore, you never grabbed a change of clothes. 

Because your bag was in the sitting room.

Your heart squeezed as you lamented your poor planning.  Really?  At this rate, you would be found out.  How the hell could you possibly think this was going to work when you didn't even grab your things and put them in the closet?

Why hadn't the one responsible for the task done that?  That just made sense!

You could walk out in a towel, go grab your things, and make it even more obvious that you were only doing this because, perhaps, you might get better intel. 

And while Lord Dottore wouldn't care about any of that, was it really necessary to make a show of how much you didn't want to show skin around him?  No. 

He thought well enough of your professionalism.  And part of that would be embracing the role you were supposed to play.  If a servant were to see you not in lingerie as befitting a wedding night, but in drab pajamas…whispers usually spread like wildfire on a good day.

You dried your hair as best you could, freshened up, nestled the lace against your skin.  While you weren't used to the cut of certain things, it wasn't uncomfortable per se.  Altogether, it was quite lovely. 

Another thing wasted on the wretch in the other room.

When you stepped back into the bedroom, you found Lord Dottore laying on the bed, covers pulled back as he scribbled into a book.  Even now, his mask was still present.  His hand stilled and he turned his head to you briefly to acknowledge your presence before he went back to what he was doing.

Steeling yourself, you crossed the room, crawled onto the bed, and straddled him.  He hadn't changed at all, only bothering to remove his jacket, cravat, and waistcoat.  Deftly, you grabbed the book from his hands and tossed it to the floor to force him to look at you.  He was solid and warm beneath you, the same as any other, and you tried not to think of how little separated the two of you, how bare you were under the lace.

Dottore tilted his head, lips pulling into a smirk for a moment before it spreads into a full-toothed grin, his hand reaching for and gripping your thigh.

A leg wrapped around yours and you met the bed quicker than you expected to, soft sheets and a firm mattress under you.  You blinked, Dottore's grinning face above you, never far from reach.  You felt a hand ghost over your side, your breast, your collarbone, before it settled on your neck, caressing your pulse point.  Despite your proximity, you never felt him press against you, not even when he brushed his lips over your cheek, where the faintest scar remained.

"I hardly you know, my dear.  Besides, I already told you that I have no expectations beyond those in public.  Such acts between us are quite unnecessary," he said.

Dottore rubbed his thumb up and down the column of your neck before he angled his head so his lips were near your ear.

"Unless, of course, you're simply needy enough to put yourself in the maw of a wolf so easily for a quick reprieve.  You never struck me as the sort but I suppose there's a first time for everything."

Heat flooded your cheeks at the insinuation but before you could protest, the Harbinger rolled off of you and out of the bed.  He bent down, picked up the book, and made his way to the door to the sitting room.  For a moment, Dottore looked at the leather-bound cover in his hands before he turned his attention back to you.

"There is little need for someone as lovely as you to give more than is asked to a monster such as myself.  We leave at daybreak."

Oh.  Right.  Honeymoon.  He took care of that and you still had no idea where you were even going.

Without another word, the doors shut, leaving you alone in the large bedroom.  Light bled in through the bottom of the doors.  No doubt he would be awake a while longer. 

You clutched at the bedspread, embroidered with silk and stuffed with down.  It gave easily under your hands, as such soft feathers often did, providing nothing substantial to squeeze.  You weren't insulted or even hurt, as many others in your position would have been.  Confused, certainly, but your ego was intact.

Seduction wasn't precisely a skill you practiced.  Numbers told stories in unique variations and patterns and provided more consistency than people.  People were unpredictable.  Il Dottore especially.

You fell asleep, wondering when all of this would come back to bite you.

foaminf at the mouth

Blasphemous Rumors - VII

“Marry me.” He said it with such blasé that you weren’t sure you heard him correctly.  Silence surrounded the two of you and he leaned down and tilted his head, watching you like a specimen under a microscope. “Just for a year.  A marriage of convenience.  Consider it nothing more than a harmless experiment for the sake of curiosity.” Il Dottore/Female reader with established personality.  Slow-ish burn.  Semi-enemies to lovers. On AO3 here. Likes, reblog, and comments appreciated.

Could you please write about the Harbingers and their voice lines for the reader? Like them telling the traveler about you and stuff :)

♡𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 ♡

synopsis: The Traveler expected the Harbingers to be cold and ruthless in pursuing whatever the Fatui's goals were. Hearing their loving voice lines on you was certainly the opposite of what they predicted.

includes: all harbingers (platonic pulcinella) w/ gn! reader

notes: I've wanted to do something like this for a while. It was rather cute and fun to write! Includes five voice lines about you for each Harbinger.

Pierro:

About You - His Lover:

“So you’ve already met [Name], Traveler? I’m not surprised, they like to talk to people, especially when they see me speaking to others. They’re quite energetic and bouncy, aren’t they? But I can’t say I dislike that about them. They are a bright light in my life.”

Chat - Walks:

“Much of our time spent together is on walks outside in Sneznhaya, with the snow gently melting on us. It’s a rather simple activity to most, but irreplaceable to both of us. I hope, after everything is said and done, I can take them on walks in other places.”

About Your Patience:

“They never comment on it, but I know they get lonely without me. For most of the day, they do not see me due to my work, and even when they try to stay up late for my return, they end up falling asleep sometimes. I truly wish I could spend more time with them. But I know, after fulfilling the Tsaritsa’s dream, I will give them everything and more.”

Something To Share - Meals:

“I don’t think about what I eat or when I do very often. It doesn’t matter much to me, but [Name] clearly disagrees. Instead of the maids preparing my meals, they started cooking everything for me and adding little notes too. It’s very endearing of them, but I don’t think I’ll ever live it down when the other soldiers saw me eating heart-shaped cookies with smiley faces on them…”

About You - A Second Home:

“I remember the destruction of my homeland clearly. It is something I will never forget. But even though I have only a small portion of time with them, they never fail to make me feel… content. With them, I can forget about everything, even if it is just for a few minutes. Heh, sometimes I foolishly wish they lived in Khaenri’ah with me for a bit, if only to experience a normal life with them.”

Capitano:

About You - His Lover:

“There is nothing I cherish more than [Name]. Many people often comment on our relationship, after all, we are quite different in all aspects. But I have them to thank for many things. They have taught me many things I could have never learned on my own.

Chat - Souvenirs:

“Traveler, you have been to many nations for extended periods of time. Would you share some items that would make good souvenirs? I always make sure to bring something back for them. If you have any recipes to share, that would be greatly appreciated as well. Whenever I am back home, [Name] always insists on having all of our meals together.”

A Special Item - The Kamera:

“You must be wondering why someone like me carries around something like this. I never cared for the device until [Name] told me about it and asked me to take photos on my expeditions. I guess I’ve unintentionally become a master without knowing it because they always praise the pictures I take when they organize them in their scrapbook.”

Something To Share - Smiles:

“I am not adept at smiling at all, or very expressive in general, something [Name] has an issue with. Oftentimes, they sit on my lap and try to get me to show some emotion on my face. Reading stories, telling jokes… they try it all quite frequently. While I don’t think it’s working very well, I enjoy their antics.”

About You - Reminiscing:

“I remember once I walked in on them trying on my helmet and coat. They hadn’t noticed me yet, and I couldn’t help but notice how small they looked buried under my clothes. But quickly I worried about whether their head could take the weight of my helmet. Before I could say anything, they saw me and scurried away in embarrassment. I never brought it up again, but it was rather cute.”

“Huh… Paimon would have never guessed Capitano was like this. When we go to Snezhnaya, we have to find this guy’s mansion somehow! Paimon wants to meet [Name]!”

Columbina:

About You - Her Lover:

“Hmm~hmm~♫ Oh, hello there, Traveler. Ah, I see you’ve brought [Name] with you too, come here, my dear. Hmm? Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you. They are my partner in love, music, in everything. Perhaps you should come to one of our shows one day. I’d say we are quite good.”

About You - Favorite Pastimes:

“I love going to watch plays with them. The theater is one of the places where we spend a lot of time. I always end up humming along to the songs. Sometimes, when the theater is unoccupied, we act out certain scenes together. Say, Traveler, have you ever heard of Romeo and Juliet?”

Chat - Naps:

“Hmm… what time is it? The weather just feels perfect for a midday nap. [Name] always indulges me whenever I want when I want to doze off. This surface is no match for their pillowy softness, but it’ll have to do for now…”

“Hey, you can’t just fall asleep in the middle of- oh… Paimon doesn’t know how she can knock out that quickly.”

Secret Hobby - Poems About You:

“Your bright smile that can go on for a mile,

Unmatchable style with a laugh that never ends for a while.

Sweet lips that I want to savor,

Ah, I am so glad I am in your favor.

Or should I say “For you make me ever the more braver”...? What do you think, Traveler?”

Something Interesting - Liyue Opera:

“Traveler, I hear that there is a talented opera troupe in Liyue with beautiful music and songs. Oh, you’ve met them yourself? I would love to attend it with [Name]. They love listening to music from around Teyvat, and I have to agree with them. Haha… I can’t wait to take them out of Snezhnaya for a bit.”

Dottore:

About You - His Lover:

“Hmph, you wish to know about [Name], I hear?”

“Yeah! Paimon wants to know what kind of person would stay with a madman- I mean! A Fatui Harbinger! You know, since that’s quite dangerous and all.”

“Hehe, is that so? Too bad, because I have no obligation to tell you. But they are truly… ah, never mind.”

“Aww… Paimon really wanted to know what he was going to say.”

About You And The Segments:

“Some of the segments are quite fond of them, while some do not know them very well. After all, they were cloned at different parts of my life, before and after I met them. I must say… it’s can be hard to get some of the other segments away from them. I didn’t think they would hoard [Name]’s attention so much…”

“Is it just Paimon, or does Dottore’s attentiveness towards them grow as each clone gets older? And hey, is Dottore jealous-”

“Shush Paimon, before he hears you!”

About You - Whereabouts:

"It's time for their medicine... Hmm, have you seen them, Traveler? You saw them leave and go into the city? And you didn't stop them? Tch, useless. I must simply go and find them myself... Now that I think about it, I wouldn't want you talking to [Name], anyway."

About You - Health Concerns:

“Ever since our Akademiya days, [Name] has been plagued with an unknown and virtually incurable disease. It is essential that they take their medicine every day, but they often try to avoid it, after doing it for so long. This is why I and the clones always keep an eye on them.”

“Aw, so that’s why [Name] always looks so tired whenever Paimon sees them… That must be so hard.”

“… I don’t care what methods or tactics I have to employ, or if the Gods or even you, Traveler, get in my way. I will cure them of their sickness. Nothing will stop me.”

When The Sun Is Out:

“Hm, it’s a perfect day for [Name] to take a walk. The fresh air is always good for their health. Perhaps a boat ride is in order as well.”

“Oooh, Paimon loves the sound of that! Maybe we can fish and eat it too!”

“Why would I ever invite you to be with us? I’m sure your very existence would give them a headache.”

“Hey, how rude!!”

Pulcinella:

About You - Relationship:

“You were fighting some hilichurls when someone called [Name] joined you? And they ended up lighting an explosive barrel? Wherever that child goes, they always bring trouble with them. But don’t hold it against them. They are a lovely person to be around.”

Stories To Tell:

“They always pester me to tell them stories. Though, this is not a bad thing at all. Not many are willing to listen to this old man ramble on willingly. Ah, youth is a wonderful thing. Would you like to join us next time, Traveler?”

Chat - New Things:

“Indeed, they have taught me many things. The latest trends, songs, books, and more that their generation is into. Sometimes I struggle to understand some of what they say too… the world is changing so quickly.”

About You - Baking:

“We bake together quite often. Most of the time, I have to direct them, otherwise, they will burn down the kitchen which has happened multiple times before. Pantalone was not happy. I have never seen a youngster with such little aptitude for cooking, but surprisingly, it is great fun.”

About You - Family:

“Ever since they were young, they were quite rebellious. Running away from the castle, pretending to be asleep after bedtime, beating up all the Fatui soldiers during sparring without hesitance. If anyone else besides me had to take care of them, it would not have ended well. But, I am truly glad they are in my care. I have thought of them as my own child for a long time. If it wasn’t for the possible danger, I’d have officially adopted them long ago.”

Scaramouche:

About You - His Lover:

“Huh? How do you know about [Name]?”

“Well, we just happened to see them with you once. You were actually smiling! And later we went up and spoke to them for a bit, and they were really nice! They told us that they were your-”

“Ugh, that idiot! Always trusting people so blindly… Anyway, I don’t need you to know anything else. It isn’t your business.” 

A Little Secret:

“I wonder if they could make dango for me again… it’s been a long time since I’ve had it. But how do I get them to make it without directly asking? How bothersome… huh? How long have you been there, Traveler? You didn’t hear anything, did you?!”

Something To Share - Burdened Feelings:

“I once tried to wipe my emotions and feelings of them away into nothingness. It felt preposterous to me that I could feel something for a human, one that could barely fight nonetheless. But when I lost the Gnosis, when I lost everything, as I fell down, the only thing that I saw in my mind was their stupid smile…”

When It Rains:

“Whenever it rained, they would always huddle themselves close to me under my hat. At first, I pushed them away, but the look on their face made me allow them to continue. Sometimes, I make sure to take them out on a day that’s expected to rain just to see them do that. Don’t you dare tell them that though, Traveler.”

About Beelzebul:

“[Name] is always telling me to reconcile with her, but what would she think of me, or of them? How would she act toward me? Would she even remember me? There’s that irritating shrine maiden too… Hmm? It’s nothing. Let’s keep moving.”

Arlecchino:

About You - Her Lover:

“[Name]? Yes, they are my partner. I suppose those Fatui recruits can’t keep their mouths shut about other people’s business for very long. Hmm? You’re surprised that I was so direct about it? Well, there’s no reason to hide it. But I would prefer that this discussion ends here. I like to keep my time with them private.”

When It’s Sunny:

“This weather is not my favorite. I prefer the cold much more than this blistering heat. But I did hear [Name] say that they would like to visit a beach someday. Hmm… say, Traveler, is Yaoguang Shoal a good spot?”

Something To Share - Quietly Loving:

“I’m sure you have realized by now that I am not very good with words or emotions. These things are far from my expertise. However, they seem to not mind my behavior, talking enough for both of us. But if they ever requested anything from me, I would do it without hesitance. No one else comes close.”

Chat - Coffee:

“One cup of coffee, with whipped cream, syrup, and sugar please.”

“…Eh?!! Arlecchino, what are you saying? You always order your coffee black!”

“I know. To be honest, I could not care less about all these extra ingredients. But… they always used to try and add things to sweeten the drink behind my back. I suppose I… miss them. This reminds me of them, a bit.”

“Aww… Paimon guesses that even the scariest and coldest of people can have someone special to them.”

About You - The Orphanage:

“They often spend their time with the orphans. I was initially surprised at first, and so were the other soldiers, but it worked out in our favor. The children love them far more than they will for me or the recruits. [Name] is a gentle and patient soul, after all. Reading stories, putting the kids to sleep… they are quite hard working despite having no need to.”

La Signora:

About You - Her Lover:

“My darling [Name] is the most perfect lover one could ask for. They are beautiful, inside and out. How I love to pamper them so… actually, there are a couple of new outfits I want them to try on. I can’t wait to see how they look. They are all mine.”

When It’s Windy:

“Tch, this wind is messing up my hair and clothes. [Name] used to always brush and take care of my hair after a long day, after I showed them how to do it correctly of course. Traveler, I’m afraid I have to go now. I must see them again.”

About You - Letters:

“Hmm, hmm, hmm… and it’s done.”

“Hey Signora, what are you writing?”

“Just a letter to my dearest. They are expecting something from me soon.”

“Wow, so you can send letters with your fire moths? That’s resourceful!”

“Of course. I always let a few stay around [Name] as well. If any of them happen to be extinguished, I’ll know if anything happened to them.”

About You - Favorite Pastimes:

“There’s nothing that pleases me more than seeing them all dolled up in the latest fashion. They look simply exquisite, especially when we do each other’s makeup. But I also adore seeing them lounge around in their favorite hoodies. They look great in anything, really.”

Something To Share - Past Grief, New Happiness:

“Sometimes, it feels just like yesterday when I lost him. Grief and bitterness wrapped around my heart like a cocoon that would never hatch. But when I fell in love with them, I felt something that I had not felt in far too long. That cocoon started to shatter little by little, as I started to remember how to love again. I truly love them wholly with whatever’s remaining of my heart.”

Pantalone:

About You - His Lover:

“So, you’ve met [Name], I hear. What do you think of them? Beautiful, am I right? Of course, they are nothing short of perfection to me. Hardworking, determined, helpful… I could go on about them. Say, Traveler, would you be so kind to direct me to some of the best shops around here? I would like to find some gifts to send to them while we’re here.”

Worries - Financial Concerns:

“Traveler, I have a great issue on my hands. [Name] has apparently forbidden me from spending any more Mora on them. They keep saying that they do not need anything else, but how can I restrain myself from spoiling my darling?”

About You - Favorite Pastimes:

“Oftentimes, we like to end off the day with some leisurely reading. The feeling of them laying against my chest, legs intertwined, as I whisper certain parts of the book softly into their ear, delighting as they turn warm- oho, your face is all red. Did I make you embarrassed? Apologies, I get carried away when talking about them.”

About You - First Meeting:

“My childhood is not something that I like to remember. But, despite everything, it is pleasant to think about the first time I met them. They were poor, just like me, barely scraping by, though they never failed to greet me every day with a big smile. [Name] would take over the grueling working shifts for me and the younger kids sometimes, and sneak bits of food out the window to me. Even with the fact that I was surrounded by poverty, I couldn’t help but think I had a true gem right in front of me. ”

When It’s Cold:

“I confess, I do enjoy the cold, but most of it is due to how adorable [Name] looks all bundled up in my fur coats. Or how they always dive under the covers and refuse to get up for anything. It is always a struggle for even me to get up from bed when they are so warm, too.”

Sandrone:

About You - Her Lover:

“They are my loyal assistant and lover, always willing to help out with any experiment I ask. I have known them for a very long time. They have always been the one to drag me out of the lab to get some fresh air… as a matter of fact, I think it’s about this time when they come to harass me. Somehow they’ve gotten half the robots on their side, too.”

When It’s Raining:

“This weather is good for testing how waterproof my robots are and the joints of my Automatons. A long time ago, I built a feature for an umbrella into some of my creations so whenever [Name] and I went for walks and it rained, we would be fine. Huh, you’re asking if you can use it? No, you can’t.”

About You - Favorite Pastimes:

“Eh? Sandrone, what is all this? You’re all dressed up!”

“Oh, it’s you. I’m simply preparing for my favorite event with my dear lover. We’ve just finished repairing an ancient Automaton, and they’ve decided a tea party is in order.”

“Wow! Even the robots have spiffy suits on! It smells so good here too, hehe, Paimon wants a taste of the tea and cookies too- w-woah! Where’d all these big robots come from?! Hey, let Paimon down!”

“This is for [Name] and I only. Now shoo. The tea party is set to begin soon, and I must welcome my honored guest…”

Inspiration - New Creations:

“Before I met them, I had never thought of using my skills to create mundane things that weren’t war machines or destructive Automatons. I thought anything else would be a waste of time, but surprisingly, it is not too bad. It’s quite nice to feel their fascinated face in the crook of my neck while I work. I usually gift these creations to them, anyway. They’re not much use to me, but [Name] likes these kinds of things.”

The Future - Fontaine Frenzy:

“I hear that I am set to head out to Fontaine soon. I would love to see the faces of those poor souls when they realize their technology is nothing compared to what the Fatui has created. Ah, I guess that means I’ll be seeing you there too. Will you be able to keep up with [Name] and I, Traveler? I must warn you, they are a formidable foe, with their refined skill and raw power from my mechanical attachments. Now that I think about there, there were some new weapons we wanted to try out… hehe, I can’t wait.” 

Childe:

About You - His Lover:

“Oho, interested in [Name] are you? I don’t blame you - they are truly an amazing person. Sweet, kind, and caring, not to mention, they are incredibly strong as well. Teucer loves them too, always wanting piggyback rides. I can’t wait to introduce them to the rest of my family.”

About You - First Meeting:

“I clearly remember the first time I laid eyes on them. I was passing through Liyue when I heard of an archery competition, and naturally, I was eager to test my skills. I was sure that I would win first place, but what did you know! Someone called [Name] had stolen that spot from me. Long story short, I pestered them until they fought me, and they really did beat me down. Haha, it feels so long ago, now that I look back on it.”

When It Snows:

“I once took [Name] to Dragonspine, because they wanted to see the snow as it was a rare occurrence in Liyue. You should have seen them, hah! Shaking and sniffling like it was the end of the world. And it wasn’t even that cold, as least compared to my homeland. Why didn’t I take them to Snezhnaya? Don’t worry, I plan to, very, very soon…

About You - Whereabouts:

"Have you seen them, Traveler? No? Haha, they must be hiding from me again. I guess I’ve asked them to spar too many times. Comrade, if you happen to see [Name], tell them I’m waiting at Northland Bank for them. Xinyue Kiosk, my treat.”

About You - Safety:

“Heh, I wonder what they’re doing right now. I hope they haven’t been roped into any strange commissions again. They are too helpful for their own good. If anything happened to them while I’m gone… Traveler, if you happen to be around, please help them. I’ll owe you, comrade.”

you pace outside the closed doors of the grand hall, thumbs nervously fumbling with each other. the harbingers’ meeting has lasted over two hours already—how on teyvat could all those… eccentric personalities stand being in one room for so long? and what could possibly be of such urgency that all of them must convene? 

the doors then swing open and your shoulders jump at the loud creaking noise. you quit your pacing and stand off to the side, head down and eyes on the ground as pierro is the first to exit. a couple of the other harbingers file out as well bringing a solemn air with them, but you don’t recognize any of their footsteps or the shrill giggle that echoes down the hall.

but you do recognize that dottore’s footsteps were not amongst them, so you stay put, staring at your feet.

“waiting for the doctor?” says a familiar voice.

you look up to find bright blue eyes gleaming at you. tartaglia is the only other harbinger that ever greets you kindly and it still doesn’t make sense to you how the young man found himself among those ranks. dottore has warned you several times that tartaglia is not as he seems, but it’s hard to think otherwise when he smiles so warmly in this land of endless winter.

you greet him as well. “there’s something i need to report to him.”

Keep reading

PLS HES SO SILLY

tw - implied kidnapping and borderline shit-posting.

"Why all the sudden questions, little rabbit?"

You drum your fingers against the metal slab of his worktable, letting your eyes fall to the scrawled reports he was currently sorting through. The medical gibberish was above your head, as was the scribbled mix of short-hand and abbreviation unique to him and his other sections, but the fact that you were allowed to wander his laboratories rather than locked in your sterile bedroom proved that it was nothing particularly important to him. Or, nothing particularly interesting, at least.

"I'm just curious," you assured him, doing your best to keep up an easy smile. "Wouldn't anyone want to know where the greatest mind in Teyvat got his education?"

He hummed, drinking in the praise unabashedly. He was a narcissist, first and foremost, his self-obsession nearly overshadowing his sadism at times. "Sumeru's Akademiya, of course. I was under the impression that my history was common knowledge."

"I mean, everyone knows you went to the Akademiya. I want to know where you graduated from, though."

His grin took on an odd quirk. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."

"Well, you're a doctor, right?" He opened his mouth, but you didn't give him time to respond. "Did you go to another university after getting expelled from the Akademiya? Was it in Snezhnaya? I might've gone there, too - I transferred a few times before..." You trailed off, gesturing vaguely towards the metal collar wrapped around your neck. "What was your dissertation on? I'm guessing 'The Benefits of Excessive and Unrestricted Human Experimentation' wasn't a board-approved topic, just yet."

He pursed his lips.

"You did write a dissertation, didn't you?"

he turned his head to the side.

"You did graduate, didn't you?"

His response was low, grumbled, barely audible. "Her Excellency bestowed me with an honorary doctorate. It's the highest distinction a Snezhnayan scholar can receive."

"When they don't have an actual degree, you mean."

"Little rabbit," he started, abandoning his reports completely in favor of resting his cheek on his fist, narrowing his eyes and letting his grin widen into something malicious. "If I hear one more word out of you concerning degrees and universities, consider my next available vivisection table yours and yours alone. Is that understood?"

You nodded, putting on your most obedient smile. "Of course, Mr. Dottore, sir."

"Why don't you head back to your room?"

"Why don't you go back to college?"

"Get on the fucking table--"

Salutations, dearest reader.

Welcome to my blog. Here you may request me to write anything for your favorite harbingers! So long as you follow the rules that is, but we'll be getting to that later.

As for now, allow me to introduce myself.

I am called Cyhiraeth, but you may simply address me as "Cyra.", you need not know anything else except for the fact that I am of age (according to japanese law.) and that I do not tolerate rudeness. That will be all.

You may send dan ask or a request whenever you wish, but only if you respect the following:

I- NO requests of SEXUAL CONTENT.

II- NO verbal abuse.

III- REQUESTS must be sent through ASKS, I will not take requests from comments.

IV- In the case of a READER fic, said reader must be EIGHTEEN OR OLDER.

{C_H_O_O_S_E _ W_I_S_E_L_Y _ }

When I see someone hot

I'm not going to lie, but this story grabbed me in a way that almost no other story does. It's already the seventh or eighth time that I've reread it and I never get tired of reading it.

HELIOTROPES

pairing: dottore x fem!reader & segments

summary: the gods were sick and twisted. for five hundred years, he believed he was fated to be alone. he had long accepted it—embraced it, even. that is, until a midwinter night when that elusive red thread finally appeared on his finger. but as much as he wants to ignore it, the pull of a soulmate simply cannot be ignored.

genre: soulmate au, canon compliant for the most part, forbidden love, slow burn.

warnings: fem!reader, age gap, lots of worldbuilding for snezhnaya & the fatui & fontaine, dottore is his own warning, angst and romance, none others that i can think of off the top of my head. each chapter will have its own warnings, it is self-ship coded, and i will take liberty with dottore’s known lore.

status: incomplete. updates sporadic, at least monthly.

taglist: 50/50 (CLOSED. if you would like to be on it, still comment here—i’m going to periodically go through and remove people who don’t interact, and then i’ll add you)

notes: sigh i wanted to give my beluved a little series. this is something i’ll be working on in my free time for fun, so updates will be sporadic, i was gonna post the reincarnation fic butttt that one is a little too dear to my heart ALL SEGMENTS THAT SHOW UP IN THIS SERIES ARE MINE ‼️ i created them, do not take them to use for yourself.

00. THE SEGMENTS

01. MIDWINTER

02. JOY

03. THE COLOR PURPLE

04. THE FAMILY JEWELS

05. AN INEXORABLE DEATH

06. RISE OF A KING, FALL OF A QUEEN

07. A WARM WELCOME

08. THE DOCTOR

09. THE TIES THAT BIND

10. GENESIS

11. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

12. SPIT IN MY FACE

13. ALEA IACTA EST

… TBA

SIDE STORIES

THREE TIMES THE SEGMENTS MET YOU WITHOUT REALIZING IT,  AND ONE TIME THEY DID.

rbs appreciated!

𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚

back in his akademiya days, dottore (who had gone by zandik at the time), was known for his good looks and morbid personality. he was often seen throwing dirty remarks at the sages and everyone else, giving them cold stares. with his approach, others often steer away from him but that didn’t stop the girls from falling head over heels for him.

in most eyes, zandik was a walking nightmare, or the devil himself. however, one should never judge a book by its cover. as someone who had been by his side for quite the number of years, you saw their viewings as false accusations and misunderstanding. yes, most of his thoughts were inhumane and unethical but you always admired his dedication to science and research.

you met zandik shortly after he had been driven out of his hometown. hungry and alone, zandik had trudged through the sand storms until out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a small house in the outskirts. he knocked on the door and you stepped out. after seeing how dirty and hungry he was, you quickly let him in and that was how your friendship with him started. you had let him stay at your home (your parents left for the city for work). during his stay at yours, you had granted him access a decent amount of books and equipment for him to conduct small experiments and research. bring the curious person you are, you kept trying to get him to explain everything to you.

at first, zandik saw you as a pest whom the archons brought to him only to make his life tougher but after spending time together, he warmed up to you. you showed interest in his work. though you didn’t always agree with his approaches, he saw that you never tried to leave him but instead take a step and try your very best to understand his perspectives. eventually, the both of you made it into the akademiya.

when it came down to being honest, or showing emotions, zandik was the least person you expected to be good at it. he's not one to open up easily. if other's could try to understand him better, they could at least see the zandik you knew.

you were walking out of your classroom when you saw the bluenette at the end of the hallway. arms crossed, he would send death-threatening glares to the other students who made eye-contact at him. as usual, you noticed that his actions were scaring the students. sighing, you sped down the hallway.

“zandik? how long did you wait?” you called out. giving him a teeny tiny heart attack as he had not noticed you. it even took him a few moments to calm himself down.

“were you trying to kill me? at least make some noise before showing up!” he half-shouted, glaring daggers at you. in one swift motion, he grabbed the books in your hand and walked ahead.

“no, i saw you from afar. i wanted to call you but you looked deep in thought. is something on your mind?” you inquired, catching up with him and stopping  after you noticed that his outburst had cause several students to whisper. although he was used to having others spread nasty rumours and whispering at him, you weren't.

a pang of guilt and pain stirred in you. you stopped in your tracks as he continued to walk on, lecturing you while at it. when he noticed that you were no longer next to him, he turned around and walked back to you. "(y/n)?"

facing him in full, you lifted two fingers to flick his forehead. doing that earned collective gasps from the other students as they started worrying about what would happen to you. you knew nothing would happen as he only allowed you to have physical contact with him. zandik furrowed his eyebrows, slightly annoyed that you did that in front of so many other people. he shot you a questioning look.

you shook your head. "this is why others are afraid and think wrongly of you." mimicking his current facial expression;  a menacing look with a ominous aura. he clicked his tongue.

"you think i care?" flicking your hand away from his face, zandik turned his back on you and took a few steps ahead of you. you knew those words were just cover up. you knew that he cared.

catching up to him once again, you opened your mouth to say sorry but he beat you to it. his words clear and audible, making it sure you could hear it.

"hey, your opinion of me.." giving you a sideways glance and then holding his chin up in thought. as he took your hand in his empty one and constructed his sentence, you could see the ends of his mouth etching up into a small grin. with this, you once again thought that it was a shame that others could not see this sight of him.

"..matters more.”

masterlist | apologies if this is out of character for someone like dottore, this fic is a very self indulgent one

𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚

pairing :: dottore x (ghost) reader

part 2

rumour has it that a student’s soul who had died on campus at the time lingers there forever. sages and students alike have seen them. the spirit had h/c hair with glowing eyes and an unfriendly gaze, and often seen in the sumeru akademiya kshahrewar uniform looking neat and tidy.

their appearance was so realistic that if it wasn’t for their see-through appearance, people would mistake her for a living student. however, actually getting a glimpse of them was a more rare occurrence than hearing them.

students and sages claimed to have heard things being whispered to them when no one else was there. were they about how she died? or were they just trying to help with whatever work others had? no one really knows, for the whispers were mostly inaudible.

their name?

y/n l/n.

and there he was, rummaging through the restricted section of the akademiya library.  zandik flipped through the pages of a book, desperately trying to find information he could use for his research on mechanical lifeforms. unable to find it, he circled moved on to the next.

that was when he heard it, a soft whisper in his ear. “such interesting research you’re doing, zandik.”

he turned around, expecting to see someone but he saw no one. he shrugged it off, thinking that it was just his imagination until he remembered what he had overheard the other students talk about yesterday.

what was it again? ah, yes. the famous spirit of the akademiya. however, zandik wasn’t one to believe in ghosts. at least, he thought he didn’t believe in them. his imagination began to run wild. could that have been them? the y/n l/n? there’s no way ghosts exist, right?

“who’s there?” he questioned. nothing. zandik was about to ask again but the whisper came back.

“you don’t know? looks like i expected too much of you…” they whined, voice muffled. zandik could feel the air around him turn sad but it soon became lively again. “anyway, your work looks interesting!”

he blinked and muttered a quick ‘thanks’. he thought it was strange, if he really did meet a ghost, why would it talk to someone like him? besides, weren’t they supposed to scare others? zandik blinked. he was still confused but continued with his research, a little more seriously now. he wondered how they had known his name. hearing their humming getting further away, he spoke up.

“how do you know my name?” his hands started to feel sweaty, and the humming stopped. the spirit let out a small giggle and answered the questioned proposed to them.

“are you for real? your name is very well known around the akademiya…” you stopped talking and hovered around the shelves. pink dusted zandik’s cheeks, and he wondered why he had asked such a silly question. soon, another round of humming started up. you let your fingers linger over some books.

he started to get restless. your humming wasn't horrible, it was just that he was trying to get as much information from the restricted section he could without getting caught. not being able to ignore you any longer, he decided to start a conversation with the ghost.

 "so….l/n" he started, "if you really are real, you're going to need to do more than whisper in my ear to convince me." zandik gulped as he felt the air turning heavy. he could not tell where the ghost was, for you were invisible.

 “of course i am!" you pouted, "and please, call me y/n." you floated behind him and materialised― eyes boring into his, hands behind your back. he saw you, standing on the ground in the akademiya uniform and kshahrewar beret. zandik was convinced that you are real. "does this make you believe?" he nodded and proposed yet another question and the air turned heavy once more.

“why are you still here?”

“because i can’t cross over.” suddenly, an idea popped into your mind. “let’s make a deal.” you had piqued his interest and it was evident in the way his eyes shined. 

smirking, you disappeared, only to re-materialise next to him. “i help you with your research and you help me find a way to cross over to the other side. as a former kshahrewar dastur and someone who has been in the akademiya for many years before you, i will be a lot of use to you.”

zandik roared with laughter. he accepts your deal and makes a final decision mentally. he would achieve his goals and find a way to bring you back to life.

masterlist | part 2

𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

pairing :: dottore x (ghost) reader

part 2 of lingering presence, please enjoy, i hope that this does not disappoint

tag list: @forgotten-blues @rosymetal @ello-its-me-ya-boi @ki--mi

in the many years that had gone by, you witnessed and experienced a lot. for one, you noticed following the agreement with zandik was that the both of you were no longer alone. there was finally someone who was not afraid of you, and there was someone who finally understood zandik.

it was mostly joy that you experienced until the day zandik told you about his expulsion because of an accident that ended up in the death of another student, soreh. that day, you watched zandik breakdown. it was the first time you saw him so distressed, what am i going to do now? what’s going to happen to my research? where am i supposed to go? he asked.

“those damned sages!” he slammed his fists on the table. “soreh was already dying, all i did was to put her out of the misery she was in! and how dare they remove me, the one who contributed the most to the research paper, from the author’s list! utterly ridiculous…sheer foolishness if i must say!”

your eyes following zandik as he paced about his dorm room. you felt bad for him, you wanted to help him. remembering something interesting you overheard, you floated down from the ceiling and materialised, placing your hands on his shoulders.

“aren’t the sages exiling you to aaru village? you know…i heard the sages talk about recalling the akademiya scholars who were sent to the eleazar hospital in the desert today, you could start again there. no one would know who you are since only exiled scholars are sent over.”

and that was your new destination. you had followed zandik to aaru village, then to the eleazar hospital. true enough, no one suspected a thing. zandik had lied to the exiled amurta scholars who worked at the hospital, claiming that he was also an exiled student from the amurta darshan.

eventually, the hospital was shut down and the two of you were wanderers. until, a man with a mask covering the right side of his face approached zandik. the man, pierro, invited zandik to join the fatui with the promise of resources for his research. “will you treat me like the akademiya did? will you call me a monster, a madman? or will you treat me as my hometown did, and cause me away with pitchforks and clubs…?” the answer that zandik had gotten excited him and he accepted the offer.

both of you had stayed true to the deal made, or so you thought. now, you sat on the operating table, fully materialised. somehow you could feel the cold of your surroundings, you could smell the remnants of dried blood from zandik’s— no, dottore’s experiments, you could feel the blood rushing in your veins and you could feel the beating of the heart in you.

all these years, you faithfully followed and helped the man in front of you to the best you could, no matter how gruesome his requests were, because he promised that he’d help your soul rest for eternity.

“the deal was to help me cross over, not bring me back to life.” your hands gripped the edge of the operating table you sat on. you assumed that he had made an artificial body for you, one similar to the rest of his segments, complete with an artificial heart. you felt something wet roll down your face. tears? the last time you cried was when you were alive. you felt betrayed.

zand- dottore stepped closer to you. he wiped the tears off your face and chuckled, “how could i not? believe me when i say this. originally, i wanted to help you cross over, but the amount of knowledge you withhold is too much to let go…plus, the research on cloning you did before you died was what gave me the idea of bringing you back. though, i made some adjustments to your new body. unlike my segments, you are immortal. you won’t die, at least not until i do.”

had you known that your old research on cloning would give dottore the idea of bringing you back to life instead of helping you find a way to achieve eternal rest, you would never have talked to him the day you found him in the forbidden section of the library. more and more tears rolled down your face and dottore wiped each and every one of them.

“do not cry, my dear. a smile looks so much better on you,” he took his mask off and leaned in, planting a kiss on your forehead. he pulled away after, crimson eyes staring at you, “you are now mine for eternity.”

masterlist | here is the anticipated part 2 of ‘lingering presence’! apologies if this is not up to standards.

Sleepy Cuddles Part 2

Part 1 here!

Masterlist

Notes: Decided to do a continuation since everyone loved the last one. Enjoy~

Characters: Aether, Ayato, Capitano, Dainsleif, Pantalone, Dottore

Aether

He loves to cuddle!

Prefers to be the little spoon, but if you insist, he’ll let you be the little spoon instead.

He sometimes loves to go cloud gazing with you and cuddle with you while you cloud gaze together.

Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes, when he gets really lonely, and the burden of his journey through the Seven Nations weighs heavy on him, he just needs you to cuddle with him for a bit.

Sometimes, he’ll let you take his hair out of its braid and style it however you want to.

His personal favorite is if you can do multiple braids at once.

I swear his love language is physical touch and acts of service, even though he hates doing everything for everyone else, he doesn’t mind if it’s you he’s doing it for.

Ayato

He won't admit it, but he likes to cuddle with you after a long day of work.

He's a big spoon and no, I won't take criticism on this, although another position he absolutely loves is when he's on his back and has you asleep on his chest.

This way, if there are any other matters he needs to attend to, such as last minute document checks, he can still do that and hold you at the same time.

Ayato's love language is acts of service for the sole reason that it's been ingrained in his mind that he has to work in order to gain the approval of others.

He must admit, though, he does love it whenever you drowsily walk into his office at the ungodly hour of one in the morning, sleepily plop yourself down on his lap, and wrap yourself around him as you fall asleep.

He loves to have you run your fingers through his hair, it's one of the only things that puts him to sleep quickly.

For a while, it was a cause for concern, since it made him feel so relaxed so quickly when he felt the need to be on constant alert, but eventually, he just went with it, and goes to you whenever he needs to truly relax after a long day of signing papers and approving documents.

Capitano

He rarely has the time to spend with you in the first place, but if he could spend it one way, it would be with you in his arms or, on very rare occasions, him in yours.

It's not uncommon for him to go to you if he's just gotten back from a mission and pick you up before carrying you off to the bedroom to hold you.

His love language is gifting you things and physical touch, since he lacks in his ability to give verbal compliments, he shows his love through gifts and small gestures.

However, the most genuine show of trust and love he can give is letting you take off his helmet and see his face.

There are nights where he needs to hold you because he had a nightmare about you getting injured, whereas there are others where he wants to be the one laying on top of you as you hold him close to you.

Another one with sensitive scalp that loves head massages. He’ll lay his head on your lap and let you run your fingers through his hair while you talk about your day or he about his.

He also loves to cuddle after a long day of work, laying his head against your chest to hear your pulse as it lulls him to sleep.

Dainsleif

He usually only shows such vulnerability in the comfort of your home.

it's not that Dain's love language isn't physical touch, because it most certainly is, he just worries for your safety in public if others associate you with him and vice versa.

Which is exactly why he picks you up when you two finally arrive home for the day and sits on the couch with you on his lap.

He loves spooning, he's a big spoon, but he can't deny the comfort that you laying on top of him brings. It helps ground him if he's having a particularly stressful day, and it also helps him calm down as he basks in the wonder that is you.

He won't admit it, but he loves holding your hands whenever he cuddles with you.

He usually does whatever you're comfortable with, though. He tends to put you first.

Pantalone

He likes to be on his side and have you be the little spoon.

Being a Harbinger gets stressful, and cuddles with you seem to be the best type of remedy for that stress.

His love language is obviously gift giving, but he also loves words of affirmation, too.

He’ll lay down with you and whisper words of comfort in your ear as the two of you fall asleep on each other.

He loves laying his head on your lap, being able to look up at you as he talks about his day or whatever you two want to talk about.

This is the only time he takes off his glasses, since he can’t see very well without them, and since he trusts you to tell him if anyone tries to bother the two of you.

As much as he trusts you, you can trust him. He cares about you, and if the only way he can show it is through the way he holds you, then he will hold you until you know how much he cherishes having you in his life.

Dottore

He doesn’t usually have the time to visit you for cuddles.

However, that’s not to say that you don’t have the time to visit him in his office.

His favorite position is when you’re sitting in his lap, so he can still work and show you affection at the same time.

He’ll have an arm draped over your waist and he’ll be leaning over you as he fills out paperwork.

Dottore won’t get up as long as you’re on his lap, unless there are experiments that need his attention and his segments are busy.

His love language is physical touch since he never really knows what you like or what to do for you. You’re the only person he doesn’t know how to properly read.

Although he may seem cold and heartless to others, he has a softer side he saves for you alone, and it shows in the way he holds your hand and his smile is more genuine as he works.