♡

“How generous. Maybe you just make good tea is all.” You still opt to tease him as you slot your hips down on top of his, thankful that he chose a particularly large chair for his office so that it may fit both of you.

And almost immediately you feel Wriothesley’s other arm reach up to accompany the first, clasping his hands on your lower back as he keeps you seated tight on his lap. You feel his next breath against your skin when he leans in to nose at your jawline, “Well, you would be right about that.” His voice purrs, and you find yourself wriggling a bit closer.

“Though, you wouldn’t want the tea to get cold now, would you?” There’s a suggestive sort of lilt to Wriothesley’s voice and it makes you feel so terribly warm on top of him as he tips his head towards the two teacups on his desk. “And after I went through such effort to brew that special batch for you.” But you snap your head back around to frown at him almost too quickly when his hand seems to settle a little lower on your back this time, dangerously so as his fingers tease the hem of your pants.

You roll your shoulders back as you try to regain control, “I don’t know what you mean I’m just getting comfortable. Mind in the gutter, your grace?” And that little act seems to make Wriothesley chuckle, a charming enough sound to have you reach up to wrap your arms around his shoulders and he relents with his teasing. Resting his hands on the dip of your waist instead.

You hug yourself in a little closer as he welcomes you, and the next press of his lips against your throat makes you shudder. “Hah, very funny. Though you do seem to be quite comfortable, I think your poker face could use some work.” He eventually opts to respond, a little smug as his fingers squeeze into your waist and you smack playfully at his hands before taking a more comfortable position, nuzzling into the crook of his neck this time.

Maybe it’s the warmth that Wriothesley always seems to radiate but you can’t help but suddenly feel sleepy in your new found position. Your lashes flutter as you fight beneath the sudden weight of your eyelids, and your lips pout out to press against his skin. “Mind if I stay like this then?”

The adorable little tone of your voice makes the Duke hum, and the sound makes you curl even deeper into him as his hands begin to squeeze and massage at your waist. He gives the documents on his desk another look, and then pulls you a bit closer before he’s leaning down to smear a kiss against your shoulder.

“You won’t hear me complaining about the company. Seems your methods are just far too tempting.”

⭒ DILUC

You’re careful as you push open the door to Diluc’s quarters in the Dawn Winery, finding him sifting through various contracts and pieces of paper as he rests on his desk. He sighs before he sees you, and you find it to be quite charming the way that the tension in his shoulders seems to melt when he eventually notices you.

“Yes, my dear?” His voice drawls as he greets you, probably a little strained and tired given how long he’s been working. But you’ve found yourself to be quite bored in your lovers absence, hence the impromptu visit— so instead of responding, you opt to make your way across the room instead.

You’re quiet as you find yourself standing next to Diluc’s seated figure and it’s quite adorable how quickly he seems to pick up on what you want when you nudge at his forearm. So he pulls it back from the table for a moment, and gives you a curious sort of look as you push yourself up into his lap as he helps you balance on there.

It’s only when your thighs are dangling to one side of his own that he questions you, your butt settling quite nicely atop his legs from where they rest on his seat. “Is everything okay? If you’re hungry, I’m sure Adelinde will have dinner ready for you soon enough.” It’s a comforting sort of question as he rubs his fingers up and down your thighs, and the look that accompanies it is just as gentle— like he’s offering you a space to talk to him should something bother you.

But instead, you give Diluc a reassuring sort of grin as you let one of your hands wrap around his shoulders. “Is it so bad to want to keep my lover company while he works?” You hum as you kick your feet, leaning in to rest your cheek against his broad shoulder.

Your affection makes him clear his throat as he begins to sort through the documents on his desk again, pushing them into a neat pile. It’s not like he’s even paying attention anymore anyway, not when he’s got you so close. “Oh, not at all. I just didn’t expect to see you in here, is all. Though it’s quite well timed, I actually could do with a break from my work.”

His words make you smile, though you’re almost beaming when Diluc turns around to emphasis them with a kiss smeared against your forehead. You have to clear your throat before melting into him entirely,

“What’re you working on?” You ask earnestly as you motion to the documents on the table, and he breaks his attention away from you to follow the gesture before readjusting you on his lap. He’s holding you a bit closer as one of his arms securely wraps itself around you.

“Nothing too interesting, simple contracts for the winery. I hate to admit I’ve fallen behind with them recently, though it’s due to finding myself caught up with… something much more interesting as of late.” The second half of Diluc’s sentence seems to take a much more gentle tone of voice, and when you tilt your head up to look at him the answer is written in the way he’s already looking back.

But still you ask anyway, pushing yourself up a little closer and he welcomes the proximity as his arm around you tightens. “And what might that be, Master Diluc?” Your lips pout out and you watch the way his gaze drops to admire them.

“I think you already know the answer to that, my dear.” Diluc’s next blink is accompanied by the shift of his free hand, lifting it up to rest his fingers against your chin and its soft the way his thumb moves up to swipe against your lower lip. Gently, as you find yourself holding your breath for a moment.

Though only for a moment before your lover seems to clear his throat himself, not wanting to get carried away too quickly as his hand drops back onto the table of documents. And you feel the way he readjusts himself on his seat again before turning away to look at his work, “Feel free to make yourself comfortable. I won’t be occupied for much longer then my attention is all yours. If you’d be so kind enough to wait, that is?”

But still Diluc’s hold around you is tight and maybe that’s why you can’t help but give him a little kiss on his cheek before making yourself comfy on his lap.

“Okay. I don’t mind waiting for you.”

⭒ ALHAITHAM

The living room is soundless when you step into it, being greeted by a quiet, gentle acknowledgement from Alhaitham as he lifts up his gaze from the book he’s reading to offer you look. It makes something curious, but also mischievous spark in your brain as you find yourself pushing a little closer and you notice the way the scribe seems to have left space for you next to him.

“What’re you reading?” You ask softly, breaking the silence in the room as your lover turns his attention back to his book and he clears his throat before he answers you. Expecting you to crawl by his side much like you normally do no doubt.

“Just something I picked up from the Akademiya. I respect your curiosity but I’m sure you don’t care much for the details.” But you don’t do as Alhaitham expects actually, instead— you wind up pushing yourself a little closer than you usually would, though it’s a movement he seems to react to quite quickly.

He lifts up his arm to aid you in crawling beneath it, and he doesn’t question why you’re suddenly crawling your way into his lap until your thighs are spread over both of his own. He simply readjusts himself to hold the book in one hand while the other rests on your hips, holding you there as you tilt your head down at him.

“That wouldn’t be true. I like listening to you talk.” You hum, honestly and Alhaitham shifts again. He gives you another glance, though it’s a more inquisitive one this time— like he’s trying to figure out your motive… or if somethings wrong. Anything to explain your current position.

He opts to ultimately just ask, “Then might I ask what this is all about then, hm?” but his fingers in your side squeeze as if to assure you he’s not at all bothered by it. It makes you shift yourself in a little closer as your own hands rest on his shoulders.

“I’m just making myself comfortable, is that okay with you?” You’re smiling as you respond, and the expression urges Alhaitham to look back at the pages of his book again as he clears his throat. Suddenly a little too aware of how pretty you look accompanied by how warm you feel on his lap, and that’s a combination that seems to be a little too bothersome for him.

He plays it off as he strokes his fingertips along your waist, “Oh really? I don’t mind. I was just simply curious is all.” And he shrugs his shoulders as if to emphasis the fact, “It’s not often you ask for my permission to do these things anyway.”

But his honestly still makes you giggle as you bring yourself a little closer, nuzzling into the crook of Alhaitham’s neck before you respond to him. “Maybe it’s because you never tell me no.”

And that makes him scoff before he’s turning his attention back to you again, placing his finger between the pages of his book to make sure he doesn’t lose his space. “Well, to put it simply that’s because you seem to enjoy spending our free time together in similar circumstances, and having you upset would be too much of a hassle.” His lips press against your cheek as he turns ever so slightly to meet your gaze, and you meet the motion by pulling back to give him a look of your own.

It’s a cheeky, affectionate look that makes his eyes drop to your lips, just for a moment before he’s humming. “Unless, you would rather I moved to the other couch?” Alhaitham tilts his head at you before he pretends to shift, acting like he’s going to push you off and move away and despite the way you know he’d never dream of it, you react anyway.

Your arms wrap tight around his shoulders as you push yourself close enough to have your chest flush with his, and your words take an almost whiny tone as you grumble. “No! I didn’t say that.”

It makes Alhaitham chuckle gently before he’s leaning back against the couch again, and his fingers on your waist squeeze you a bit before they’re stroking along the skin. “Hm, my thoughts exactly.”

⭒ NEUVILLETTE

Neuvillette is exactly where you expect him to be in his office when you visit him during his break, resting on the couch with a glass of water as he sips at it politely. Though his attention is almost immediately drawn to you the moment you step into the room, commanding every part of him as his body shifts to face you a bit.

You offer him a soft sort of smile as you close the heavy door behind you, dropping your bag at your feet before going to join him on the couch. But not without offering him an acknowledgment as you glance at the clock, “I hope i’ve not kept you waiting long.” You say, shyly almost.

But Neuvillette meets the apology with a soft sort of huff, like he’s chuckling— though unbothered by whatever you seem to deem worthy of such an explanation. “Not at all. I was expecting your arrival about now, my dear.”

He shifts from where he sits a bit, as if he’s making room for you by his side and he motions to the second glass of water on the table before placing his back down next to it. “I hope it’ll be to your taste.” His voice sounds again, and maybe it’s the soft lull it takes that convinces you to not drop down on the couch next to him.

Instead, you can’t help but place your hand on Neuvillette’s shoulder as you step one of your legs over his own, earning you a curious look before you’re dropping your weight down on his lap, and it’s almost nervously that the Iudex reaches to steady you. Though it’s rather clumsy at first, he seems to regain his composure quite quickly as he clears his throat.

“Something the matter, my dear? It’s unlike you to normally be so brash.” He hums as he gives you a gentle blink, though you find the soft pink flush that accompanies it to be quite adorable. It makes you reach your free hand up to rest on the other shoulder as you wiggle a bit closer.

“Nope, I’m good. Unless you don’t like it, I can just leave if you’d prefer.” You’re teasing him, and whether Neuvillette picks up on that or not isn’t exactly obvious. But you do pick up on the way the next shuffle of your body on his lap makes him gulp, and he decides to turn away from you for a moment before his hands settle on your hips.

They seem quite restless as they press you flush against him. “Quite the contrary. I look forward to your visits during my afternoon break.” Though his response is as honest as ever, you can’t help but find yourself feeling warm at the confession.

You hum as a means to play it off, but the tinge of pink that still decorates Neuvillette’s cheeks makes you lean in a bit to appreciate it with a kiss. A soft sort of one that makes his fingers twitch into his side as you giggle, “Even more when our time is spent like this?”

The Iudex answers quite quickly to your question, though he clears his throat first to make sure his voice doesn’t shake. “Well, you could say I am quite fond of our current position.” He’s smiling when he opts to keep you in that close proximity with his hands, not allowing you to pull away too much just yet as he looks up at you.

Instead, Neuvillette mirrors the motion that you’d made earlier— though when he leans in he begins by grazing his lips up the column of your throat first. To your jawline, then the shell of your ear and the way he exhales against the soft skin almost makes you arch as his fingertips squeeze at you.

You almost forget where you are for a moment before he’s breathing out a long, pent up sigh.

“With that said however, I can only hope we remain undisturbed so that we may truly enjoy it.”

⭒ CHILDE

Some may assume Childe to be sleeping as he rests on your couch now, his arm is outstretched to reach across the back of the furniture and his head is leaning back against it too. Not to mention his chest is rising and falling gently, and his breathing is just as soft as you take a quiet step into the living room to take a closer look.

Yes, some may expect him to be asleep, but you know better than anyone that he had a cheeky habit of trying to trick you with these things. But thankfully after so much time together, you know the exact way to test out that little theory as you continue closer with gentle steps.

Though Childe could be doing with the rest after all of the missions he’s been on recently— you also know not to let your guard down. So you almost find yourself holding your breath as you come to stand over where he rests on the sofa, admiring the rare softness to his features as he snores softly.

It almost makes you rethink your plan for a second, even going as far as to take a step back to let him rest, but your thought process on that comes to a close quite quickly when the arm suddenly wrapping around your waist stops you from going any further.

“Going somewhere?” Childe hums as he quickly guides you back to close the distance, almost too eagerly making space for you on his lap and pulling you into the very position you’d planned to take for yourself. Except now he’s looking awake and far too smug, even a little teasing aswell despite the fact he was so quiet a moment ago.

It makes you wish he really was asleep as he helps you straddle him. “And here I thought you were coming over to accompany me.” The Harbinger sends you a playful sort of pout as he comes in close, resting his chin against your chest when he’s got you close enough to blink up at you from there.

And if he wasn’t giving you such a cute, faux-heartbroken expression you’d flick his forehead to get him to let you go.

But you know better than to try and fight against his strength as you opt to melt into his warmth a bit instead. You sigh, grumbling a bit “I knew you were awake.” and Childe’s sad-looking expression is quickly morphing into a subtle sort of smirk before he’s turning to press a kiss against your skin.

Even through the fabric of your shirt, you feel his words vibrate through the space. “Oh I was definitely sleeping.” He huffs, followed by another kiss before his lips are travelling a bit higher and you can’t help but find your hands combing through his hair as you bask in him. “And now you’re the one scheming to wake me— it’s only fair you make it up me.” Though his kisses aren’t without a little teasing, when he pulls away to give you another blink.

“So? Anything you’d like to offer?” There’s an ulterior motive to Childe’s words and it’s painfully obvious when you feel his hands creeping their way beneath the hem of your shirt. The first press of his fingertips makes you keen and bend at his will as you watch the expression on his features morph into something…. hungrier.

And that makes you swallow before you finally find it in yourself to answer, huffing as you pretend to turn away from him.

“This isn’t enough for you?” You say, feigning hurt much like he did earlier but that doesn’t do much to stop the way your body is reacting to Childe’s fingertips. Not when they’re grazing up the length of your spine now and he presses his lips up against the base of your throat as he holds you there.

“Actually, I’d say this only makes me want even more.” He responds quickly, chuckling like he’s just told you a joke, but you don’t think jokes are supposed to make you this flustered. If your thighs weren’t straddling his own you think they’d be squeezing themselves together by now.

But all you can offer as it stands is a whine, “Ajax, you were so tired a moment ago.” And it’s a sound that Childe seems to take much joy in as he lets his teeth tease along the skin of your throat next. Just as his hands begin to toy and palm ticklishly at your skin, and just enough to make you press yourself a little closer as you feel him grin against your throat.

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ve had more than enough rest to deal with you.”

♡ albedo ♡

♡ Albedo does NOT care about halloween at all. Like if he could, he would stay out in dragonspine the whole of October just to avoid the festivities.

♡ But since he met you, he's realised that's no longer an option

♡ Drag him to a haunted house, oh boy, he's not impressed.

♡ Will be super out of it at first but then get really intrigued at how everyone has pulled it off.

♡ Like he's interested in the special effects, and is even cooking up ideas on how to make it even better

"Hmm, if they utilised a bit of... perhaps they'd be able to produce and aroma more fitting..."

♡ He only snaps out of this mode when you involuntarily squeeze his palm a little too hard after being spooked.

♡ He'd pull you in closer and would divert all his attention to you

♡ Now he's analysing what's causing you more/less stress.

"My love, are you okay?"

♡ You assure him you're fine but he's able to tell that you're lying, but he won't point it out.

♡ Wont tease or make fun of you, simply keeps an eye on you and reassures you that he's here.

♡ Lends his jacket since he knows keeping you warm and full of his scent will calm you down without you even noticing!

♡ His thumb is always soothingly rubbing the back of your hand and he'll always find a sly way of distracting you before a new scare pops out at you both to diffuse the blow.

♡ So sweet to you and kisses your forehead when you both make it out.

♡ Asks if you want to stargaze after (he still wants to calm you down and will do everything he can to clear your head before you sleep so you don't suffer from any unwanted nightmares).

♡ alhaitham ♡

♡ I feel like this one would be really difficult to convince into going into a haunted house.

♡ Like he does not like the unnecessary attention or noise produced by these events.

♡ What he does like is you, and so, he ultimately does tough it out.

♡ I imagine he'd go in adjusting his whole earpiece so he doesn't have to bear a single second of it, but seeing you so terrified that he literally just malfunctions.

♡ For the first time in his entire life, Alhaitham might just take his headset off and plop it onto you, swiftly adjusting the settings so it mutes out most of the noise and chaos.

♡ You're so stunned, you almost feel like crying but he acts all nonchalant and tells you that he's wanting the full experience, so he doesn't need them for tonight.

♡ Let's you cling onto him - to him, this is his own reward for giving away his most prized possession.

♡ Will absolutely hate the whole experience - again, the noise is just not it for him, but he wont show it at all. He knows damn well you'd blame yourself if you found out.

♡ After the whole thing, he'd pat your head and tell you that it was an "interesting" experience, but he doesn't think he wants to do it again.

♡ baizhu ♡

♡ Do NOT take this man to a haunted house if you value his health.

♡ I am DEAD serious (haha that was a pun btw).

♡ A lot of:

"Oh my!" "Oh goodness me! Apologies, that was a little loud, wasn't"

♡ He is not having fun, and even Changsheng is tightening her grip on his shoulders looking away.

♡ I think you both would be equally afraid and just plead with the scare actors to lead you the way to the nearest exit.

♡ They will feel bad for you guys, especially when Baizhu looks like he's one cough away from entering the afterlife.

♡ childe ♡

♡ This guy would love a good haunted house.

♡ I feel like he's been to plenty so he's at a point where he's really just here for the vibes.

♡ The type to act spooked and then chuckle and CLAP whilst praising the actors lmao.

♡ May even score them each on how well they did and give them pointers on how to improve.

♡ If he sees you getting spooked oh his ego would be higher than Qingyun Peak!

♡ Goes into hero mode and wraps an arm around your waist all smug.

♡ Totally abuses this new power and makes full use of the fact you're relying on him to get you thru to the end.

♡ Nothing but praise, love and kisses for you after.

♡ The type to also tell staff that they did a great job!

♡ cyno ♡

♡ Totally deadpan general mahamatra mode till he's completley alone with you in the dark.

♡ Its so quiet and then you hear him go,

"Why are graveyards so noisy? Because of all the coffin"

♡ You hear laughter in the distance and you can only assume its one of the workers. You cant quite see Cyno clearly, but you can already imagine the smirk on his lips.

♡ Honestly, you would not even get the chance to be afraid when you're with him, he'd be so chatty you'd be distracted all night with his jokes.

♡ will constantly remind you that if its ever too much, all you need to do is to tell him you want to leave and he's literally ready to go.

♡ But hypothetically lets say you do get super frightened, I would say the best place to run is right to Cyno - arms wrapped around his gorgeously tanned, built and very bare waist, face in his chest.

♡ You can feel his warmth which calms you down and his heartbeat which quickens because of you, not the jump scares!

♡ Is actually flustered but will not ever admit it!!

♡ Will cover it up with yet another joke,

"Why did the skeleton show up to the party by himself? He had no body to go with."

♡ You giggle into him for and he literally meltttssss!!!

♡ Will cup your face with his palms and kiss you quickly, his eyes are super determined now,

♡ "Lets get out of here" grabs your hand, throws you over his shoulder like a sack of rice and bolts!

♡ dahlia ♡

♡ Loves it. How can he not? The theatrics of it just get him excited.

♡ Like Childe, everything amuses him.

♡ Would be so chatty might even strike up a conversation with the scare actors who are a little confused.

♡ So now you're here standing off on the side, wondering if your lover will be taken away by a 7ft half-mummy-half-zombie.

♡ If you get scared and say you want to leave early, he may pout and whine about it.

♡ Will get concerned when he sees tears in your eyes, he hates tears!!!

♡ Will pull you in and kiss you all over your face, and smile super bright.

♡ Starts to tell you all about how Lord Barbatos would never let anyone in his town get harmed and how he has faith in all his supporters.

♡ Once he's calmed you down a little bit, hed help you up and hold onto your palm. He'd likely be skipping beside you, swinging your arms up and down with a small hum - he's trying to lightened up the mood in his own way.

"You know i heard the lady wearing the red corset is actually dating the half-mummy-half-zombie, but she also got with the man with the chainsaw..."

♡ *gasps from a few of the workers*

♡ And then there's Dahlia smirking beside you, knowing he's done is due duty for tonight.

♡ diluc ♡

♡ Would rather not, but he cant resist you when you look up at him with puppy eyes.

♡ Big sigh.

♡ Super protective but also very embarrassed.

♡ Like he's toughing it out but also he's got this blush taking over his cheeks from the sheer embarrassment of it all.

♡ (imagine loid in that episode where he rented a whole castle for anya - and had to act out the part of a spy saving a princess)

♡ Will give you his arm and you'd be hugging onto it all throughout the walk.

♡ He wouldn't even care about the jump scares, his eyes are literally just on you.

♡ Whispers to you every now and then, checking in if you're all good - even a soft kiss or two if he senses you're really not doing well.

♡ Takes you out to eat straight after.

♡ Will not make fun of you if you want to sleep with the lights on that night (he will turn them off when he's confirmed that you're asleep - yes, he'll wait).

♡ flins ♡

♡ Its his birthday!!!!

♡ He secretly likes halloween even more because its like the mortals are celebrating his birthday with him (he wont ever tell anyone this).

♡ Will be happy to celebrate alongside with you. Though he doesnt frequent the city much, he adores how the people decorate the streets.

♡ Its all very heart-warming to him, he'll be the most giggly on this day.

♡ If you take this man to a haunted house, expect your hand to be held all the way through. Even when you get scared and unknowingly try break apart, he will just pull you back in.

♡ Very gentle and sweet, will keep affirming that he's right here beside you.

"The ghosts here are rather embarrassed, some are even offended. I must apologise to them after..."

♡ Like Diluc, his eyes are on you the whole time, doesn't even pay attention to the people who jump out.

♡ Really enjoys it when you cling onto him all fearful, he wont ever tell you that part tho.

♡ Might pull a few sneaky fae tricks to scare some of the actors back - he just can't help himself.

♡ Will be congratulating you when you make it out and even extends his thanks to the staff (they have no idea why he's being so polite everyone usually runs away after that point).

♡ kaveh ♡

♡ Is almost too engrossed in understanding the architecture, decor and the ambience of said haunted house to actually get into the mood of being spooked.

♡ For this reason, I can see him getting spooked because its easy to catch him off guard!

♡ Will pretend he isn't scared but he totally is.

♡ Is looking at his feet and then to the shelf which distracts him and then oh no, you've left him all alone in this freakish place!

♡ With huff and puff at the betrayal, he'd call on mehrak to keep him company (he's afraid your honor!!!).

♡ Will literally scold you when he finally catches up to you and then not talk to you.

♡ It will last a whole two minutes before he has you back in his arms (you both ran into each other after a jump scare).

"I love you, don't leave me with these freaks! Oh hey... those lamps look really unique I wonder where they got them-"

♡ kazuha ♡

♡ He's done the test of courage before this man is likely not going to be afraid of anything that may come his way.

♡ Like he'd feel the wind if something was coming his way, and he'd definitely know if its harmless or not.

♡ Like the Kazuha in the test of courage, he will be a total sweetheart and act like he's scared to make the workers feel less awkward for playing their role.

♡ If you're the one getting scared, he'll be extra attentive, his palm in yours, never letting go - he'd squeeze your palm every now and then just to remind you he's there.

♡ Wont tease you, he doesn't want you to feel embarrassed on top of being scared.

♡ Will kiss your forehead and praise you for doing so well.

♡ kinich ♡

♡ There's absolutely no reason to feel scared when you're in a haunted house with him because the all mighty 3rd wheel - is mean - dragon lord, Ajaw is with you.

♡ Ajaw would be such and earful, the workers would slowly back out of their attempted jump scares after being scolded.

♡ I can see Kinich scolding Ajaw for ruining the experience and telling him to stay put.

♡ Ajaw would roll his eyes and float to your shoulder instead - truthfully, Ajaw only did this because he knew you were a scaredy cat, and it was his own way of helping.

♡ Kinich didn't realise that till midway when Ajaw had distracted you from a scare with his yapping.

♡ Its then that Kinich grabs onto your hand and pulls you closer to his side. He's apologising to you and you're super confused like, "what are you talking about?"

♡ Ajaw would scoff right in his face and let Kinich take over.

♡ I can see Kinich being super sweet and attentive for the rest of the night, even a little more affectionate than usual (he doesn't usually kiss you in public but today he did).

♡ Would probably suggest you both celebrate halloween differently next year.

♡ lyney ♡

♡ He'd probably be one of the biggest supporters of this event.

♡ Absolutely adores halloween and will theme his magic tricks/shows to suit the occasion

♡ Haunted house? He'd probably be the one setting everything up and helping with the magic (special effects).

♡ There's no reason to be scared since every time something pops out, he'd point out at it and begin explaining how it was made.

♡ It distracts you so much that you're genuinely more interested in his work than how spooky it is.

♡ Another gentleman who would never let go of you and keep you close.

♡ If you ever get scared he'll start whipping out some of his most romantic magic tricks, ones he's saved for a special occasion - but that's okay, he'll just think of more later!

♡ scaramouche ♡

♡ Another unnecessary festivity that he could care less about - but its at least a little bit tolerable since its spooky.

♡ I can see him not caring a single bit about a mere haunted house and would even be offended at you suggesting you try it out.

♡ The workers would NOT want to piss him off.

♡ In fact, they don't even try because they probably heard one of their workmates screaming.

♡ (legend says that scaramouche was smiling as he walked into the next hallway seconds after said scream)

♡ Honestly the only thing you should be afraid of is the man walking beside you.

♡ tighnari ♡

♡ He's rarely in the city so he doesn't even realise its halloween - he's probably forgotten about the whole celebration to begin with until you come into his room decked out in your costume.

♡ Is a little stunned, he'll look you up and down and really be in his head.

♡ Because, why are you dressed so differently today? Where you going through a crisis? Did he forget a recent aesthetic change of yours?

♡ You remind him its halloween and you can literally see his tail and ears flop down in relief.

♡ You drag him to a haunted house and he's confused, and when he enters, oh this man is not impressed.

♡ Its like he's secretly seeing every flaw in every single decision they've made and is all too embarrassed but he wont show it.

♡ In fact, all that embarrassment leaves when he looks over to you, realising you've gone pale.

♡ Is shocked that you're this scared but softens immediately.

♡ Walks up to you and bobs his head down,

"Go on, you can pet me. It's only for tonight."

♡ You have to blink twice, no, three times before you stutter out if he's sure and he nods his head, still bowing. It was a rare opportunity to ever pet his head, you were definitely going to take it.

♡ It seemed to distract you a whole lot because you had a huge smile on your lips when he faced you.

♡ Will kiss your cheek and tell you that there's an emergency exit that you can take if you want to.

♡ You're stubborn so you say no, but you're still scared so you end up holding onto his tail as he leads the way - the fur in itself is super soft and distracting enough for you to not pay attention to your surroundings.

♡ Tighnari will also yap about his recent findings in the forest just to keep you entertained.

♡ venti ♡

♡ Anything his people love, he loves, anything his lover loves, he loves even more!

♡ Thinks halloween is great solely because he gets to dress up and gladly follows you into the haunted house.

♡ Had been in a few, hundreds of years prior, so is super keen to see how things have developed since then.

♡ Is very impressed and proud of his people!

♡ Again, totally one to chuckle and applaud the scare actors when they spook you both.

♡ Isn't easily spooked, but is very amused.

♡ If he sees you growing distressed he'd be super gentle about it.

♡ I imagine he'd whisper affirmations that you're doing well even after you let out an embarrassing yelp.

♡ Will start singing softly, hand in hand with you as you walk thru the hallways.

♡ There's absolutely no reason to feel afraid, you have a whole archon with you - though he may seem soft and sweet, you know how he can get when things get serious.

♡ wanderer ♡

♡ Doesn't care about halloween.

♡ Will have to care about it because of you but really wishes he didn't.

♡ Sees you dressed up and kind of gets distracted, like he's staring blankly and wondering wow maybe halloween should be a once a month holiday!

♡ Because of this and only this, you're able to drag him into the haunted house. He doesn't realise its that till the door shuts and he's in the dark.

♡ Is about to give you an earful put then the special effects start.

♡ Yeah, he's not impressed.

♡ Super embarrassed but may accidentally laugh right in front of a scare actor. You jab in his stomach and he scowls in your face.

♡ If you get genuinely scared he will scowl at the staff instead and they back away SO fast !

♡ He says he doesn't get scared but every now and then he might jump back and let out the nastiest string of curse words (Nahida would not be impressed).

♡ Will tease you relentlessly at the start for being a scaredy cat:

"Why'd you drag us in here if you're just gonna cry, huh?" "Aw, don't tell me this ugly looking doll got you all shaken up"

♡ But then he'll start to soften up and feel bad,

"You're such a baby, relax will you? I'm right here""Don't cry, you'll ruin your makeup... you'll end up looking like one of them-""Hey... no one's going to hurt you, especially when I'm around"

♡ Takes your hand forcefully because you're too prideful (only because he was so mean in the beginning, teasing you and all).

♡ wriothesley ♡

♡ The moment the door shuts behind you both, Wriothesly would speak,

"Its dark"

✦ You completely know where this is leading so you only hum in agreeance,

"Mhm"

♡ He takes a few steps closer and you feel his chest bump into yours, his palm already sliding down to the curve of your hip,

"We're should-"

♡ Yeah this is no place for that.

♡ In a matter of moments a loud roar.

♡ Wriothesly and you jump apart and his hands are up as if hes been arrested.

♡ The poor scare actor is stood there super awkward and embarrassed they had interrupted something. Luckily they are hidden behind a mask.

♡ Thankfully, the two of you both behave afterwards.

♡ No reason to be afraid, Wriothesly is more than equipped to handle danger.

♡ But you still cling onto his bicep like your life depends on it and he absolutely thrives on it.

♡ Teases you about it but very lightly since he doesnt want you to pull away.

♡ Will get handsy the moment you're out of there.

♡ Yeah. The scare actors will be gossiping about you two when you leave.

♡ xiao ♡

♡ I think he'd be weirded out by the way mortals have a whole day dedicated to spooky and creepy things.

♡ Like he spends every minutes of each day defeating these things, and you're telling me they're celebrating it?

♡ Is a bit huffy about it till you explain it properly and might just sigh as an acknowledgement.

♡ Now this is why you don't even invite him to a haunted house.

♡ But!!! You get so spooked 3 minutes in that you accidentally yelp out his name (you don't even realise you've said it).

♡ Xiao appears in an instant and is ready to go but pauses. There's a look of pure confusion on his expression,

"My surroundings look... eerie, but i sense no danger"

♡ Will look at you all lost and cute and you are just so embarrassed!!

♡ You explain and he scrunches his eyebrows,

"You are willingly putting yourself in an uncomfortable position, why?"

♡ You explain again and he just sighs and pulls you in. You assure him that you're fine and that he should return to his duty but he refuses.

♡ His hand hovers over your chest and he looks in your eyes, deeply. Explains that he can hear your heartbeat, and that he knows you're frightened, even if you deny it.

♡ Will give you the softest and most sweetest smile, a palm stretched out to you, assuring you that he'd get you to the end safe and sound.

♡ And truly, who are you to deny your beloved yaksha?

♡ He's obviously very concerned for you but finds the whole experience overly confusing (maybe even a little bit amusing).

♡ If he sees you shaking he'd call it a night and start carrying you bridal style. Won't teleport you away because he knows you're fixed on finishing the whole thing properly.

♡ Will subtly ask you to invite him next time so he can keep a proper eye on you (he doesn't want you to bear a frightening experience alone ever again).

© kurapikapikachuu | Please do not feed any of my work into AI. Please do not copy, repost, or translate my work anywhere else.

likes, reblogs and comments are always appreciated <3 lots of love, chuu!

There wasn’t much that Lohen couldn’t handle in his daily work. Take a letter to the Honorary Knight? Sure. Train the rookies in hand-to-hand combat? Bring it on. Face down the Wild Hunt in Nod-Krai? They’d better hope they didn’t land in his sights.

Talk to the cute librarian girl that had been running through his mind for the past week like its free real estate?

Pft. Talk about easy. No problemo. Certainly not a difficult task at all.

“Hello, Vice Captain,” you said, your eyes trained on his without a shred of hesitation. “Can I help you find something?”

“Find something?” he replied, blinking. Then, with a start, “Oh, you mean, like…like a book, right?”

You blinked. “Er, yes. This is a library, so…”

He heard the lilting of Lisa’s laughter behind him, but when he whipped around to glare at her, she casually strode out of earshot. Her heels clicked into the upper floor, punctuating Lohen’s excruciatingly long, stifling silence.

His plan had been simple: walk into the library and just talk to you. He figured the rest would come naturally, like how his instincts took hold of him in the middle of a fight, telling him how to move, and when to do it. Lohen was not a coward, and he wasn’t scared of you, so talking to you should have been easy. Light work. As simple as breathing.

Still, he was fumbling.

“A book,” he said, one corner of his mouth curling up in an awkward smile. “I mean, I don’t…I don’t really read, so…I dunno.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck—why was that the best he could manage? Why did he sound like such a bumbling idiot?

Your expression turned grave. Clutching your book to your chest, you said, “Please don’t tell me you’re here to pull a prank on me. Or to poison me. Or whatever else it is that you torment the others with.”

“What?” he asked, wincing. “No, I’m not here for that. Trust me—if I wanted to poison you, you’d be vomiting your guts out in medical by now!”

He laughed, but you didn’t. Perhaps he had stuck his foot in his mouth with that one, because you withdrew even further into yourself, your jaw unhinged. Your eyes were flicking between him and the staircase, like you were trying to find a route for escape.

While he kinda didn’t mind that, it definitely wasn’t his intention. Snapping his cackling maw shut, he felt his throat squeeze.

“A book,” he sputtered. “I’m here for a book.”

“O…kay…” you replied slowly. “Um…what kind of book…?”

(Think, Lohen, think. You haven’t read anything since your parents forced those fairytale books on you when you were a kid. If you go saying something like ‘The Belle and the Behemoth’, she’ll laugh at you. That wouldn’t be cool at all, so think, goddammit, think. Something cool!)

“Sex,” he blurted. “A book about sex. ‘Cause I’m, like…the sex master. Yeah.”

You looked embarrassed. “I’m…afraid we don't have any books like that here, Vice Captain…”

“Oh.” He crossed his arms over his chest, pensive. What else was he a self-proclaimed master of? “Murder?”

“Are you referring to murder mystery novels?”

“Huh? No, like, a book on murder. As in, how to do it. Preferably detailing various methods.”

You winced. “We don’t have books like that either…”

“What?” he replied, one eye twitching. “How boring. What the hell do you guys even have, then?”

“Um, normal books?” You flipped the book in your grasp around, showing him the title. “For example, this is a fictional novel titled Fate’s Glimmer. It's the long-awaited series of an Inazuman author who’s been quite popular in Mondstat as of late. It’s new, so I ordered it to be expressly delivered from Yae Publishing House, and I—. Um.”

You hesitated, your eyes falling to your desk. Repeatedly, you tapped your thumbs together over your bridged hands.

“Sorry, I’m oversharing. And we honestly have more nonfiction than fiction, so…I probably should have started with that.”

Halfway through your ramble, Lohen’s heart had started to act up. It was pounding like it did when he was on the battlefield, cutting down foe after foe with each swing of his lance—not like he was attempting to communicate with a pretty girl in the Mondstat Library. Why did he feel such strain? Furthermore, why did that strain come with such joy?

He turned away from you, a light touch of warmth settling across his face. He lifted a finger, pointing at the book in your hands. “Do you…have any other copies of that one?”

“Of…of Fate’s Glimmer? You…want to read it?”

He chanced a glance back your way, but he really shouldn’t have. You were beaming from ear-to-ear, your teeth poking through your radiant smile, and with your big, shimmering eyes, you said, “I actually ordered two copies! Just in case anyone else wanted to read it at the same time as me! It’s really good, I swear!”

He was having palpitations. Stammering through his sentence, he replied, “U-um, I, uh, yeah! Yeah, I…definitely wanna read that. Fate’s Shimmer…or whatever it is.”

“Glimmer,” you corrected him, still smiling. “Here, I’ll check out a copy for you right now. Do you have your Knights’ ID on you?”

“Uh, yeah. Here.”

The way your fingers brushed his sent a chill down his spine. Odd, considering that he was rarely susceptible to the cold.

“Here you are, Vice Captain,” you said, holding out a thick book between both hands. “You’ll have to swing by from time to time and let me know what you think of it.”

Swing by from time to time? Wait, did that mean you wanted to see him again? Wait—that meant you were totally into him, weren’t you?

“Heh.” Lohen cracked a grin. “Guess I’ll come by again later, then. Since you asked, and all.”

“That would be wonderful! I’m so curious to hear your thoughts on Act One…there’s such a massive cliffhanger at the end of it! Ah, but I won’t spoil anything.” You smiled, your long lashes fluttering over your bright eyes. Ever so cutely, you said, “Come back soon, won’t you, Vice Captain?”

Lohen was deceased where he stood.

Another routine patrol in Windrise had somehow led him straight into you—and the pack of hilichurls encroaching upon you.

You yelped as you scrambled backwards across the grassy field, your novel splitting open beside you. There was fear in those eyes of yours, which took in the horde before you like they were harbingers of doom. The vision on your hip glinted in the sunlight, but for some reason, you were far too petrified to make use of your only weapon. Ordinarily, a sight like yours would have annoyed Lohen more than anything—what a weak woman—but something about the situation felt just right.

With a chuckle, he crossed the field, brandishing his lance before him. One stroke annihilated the hilichurl in front of you. The second struck the two flanking the first. And on the last stroke, hilichurl blood sprayed into the void, both archers befelled by a single strike. Such easy, light work, yet you weren’t even capable of it. Surely you’d look upon him with admiration, as the valiant knight who came to your rescue.

“Good thing I got here before things took a turn for the worse!” he chirped, pushing his hair back with a rake of his hand. “Not that I would have minded getting the chance to see you beg and plead for your life.”

You gawked at him, your eyes wide. He blinked, his chuckles dying in the wind.

“What?” he asked. “It’s not an insult. I mean…you’d probably look good doing it.”

His face burned, but your silence persisted. You had the same look in your eyes that you had worn when the hilichurls ambushed you, but this time, it was directed at him. Lohen watched as you scrambled further backwards, your dress skirts dragging along the grass beneath you.

 “I-I’m not a strong person, you know?!” you squeaked. “Even if you try threatening me…I doubt I could give you the kind of fight you’d enjoy!”

“Wh—? I’m not threatening you! I’m giving you a compliment!”

“Please!” you wailed, your hands pressed to your head, tucking your face towards your knees. “I just wanted to read in peace!”

“What are you getting all freaked out for?” Lohen scoffed. “The hilichurls are dead! Now you can read Fate’s Shimmer all you want.”

“Glimmer!”

“Er, yeah. That.” He lifted his hand to the back of his neck, rubbing awkwardly. “Jeez…would it calm you down if I told you I read the first couple of chapters?”

Immediately, your head sprung up from your hiked knees. Your eyes were wide, and in only a second, it was as though you had no recollection of the panicked state you were in before. You scooped your book out of the grass, smiling from ear to ear, and patted the space beside you.

He looked from your hand to your face repeatedly. Jubilant, you said, “Sit down, then! I want to hear what you think about it so far.”

“Wh…huh?” He pressed his pointer finger to his chest. “You want me…to sit with you?” His eyes flicked upwards. “Under this…giant tree? With…with all the crystalflies floating around and everything?”

“Why, it’s the best place to sit in all of Mondstat. It’s perfect for reading—and for discussions about what we’ve read.”

The way you smiled was wrapping his throat tighter than the choker around his neck. He pulled at it a bit, and blamed the heat bathing his cheeks on the blazing sun overhead. Perhaps in response to his desperation, he was blessed by an incoming bout of pure anemo.

Dandelion spores washed through the air. They danced along the wind, and as they floated around your face, surrounding you like a feathery halo, you grinned with your teeth and laughed.

His heart was doing that irrational pounding again. Like he hadn’t just fought some low-level churls. Like he was in Nod-Krai, fighting with Varka and the others, half-conscious and two wrong steps away from death.

A spore flew into Lohen’s nose.

“Achoo!”

His shoulders jerked with his sneeze. He sniffled, rubbing his finger under his dripping nose, and you ever so sweetly said, “Bless you.”

He was suffocating and suffering cardiovascular collapse at the same time. Ironically, it felt kinda good.

“Come on,” you said, your hand still extended beside you. “Sit with me, won’t you, Vice Captain?”

He swallowed.

“Just call me Lohen.”

He wasn’t expecting to come across you in Varka’s office of all places.

“—please?” you were saying when Lohen opened the door. “I really want to see the flora for myself! It would help me visualize it so much better!”

Varka was grimacing. When he and Lohen met eyes, the Grand Master perked up and lifted a hand in greeting.

“Hey, Lohen!” he exclaimed. “You actually came like I asked you to! Good job, sport!”

Lohen rolled his eyes, but he was more focused on you than Varka. You were wringing your hands together, your shoulders rife with tension. Just like always, you had that thick novel of yours at your hip.

“Sorry,” you said. “I know you’re busy, Varka. It’s a silly request anyway, so I’ll just go.”

“Wait,” Lohen said, turning to track you as you made for the door. “Library girl. What were you two talking about?”

He didn’t really care that you had made a request of Varka and not of him, but he still wanted to know. For some reason.

“Oh, I…” You looked back at Varka, then at Lohen. Shaking your head, you said, “Don’t worry about it, Vice Captain. It sounds like you two have a pre-arranged meeting, so…I won’t interrupt you.”

“The meeting can wait,” Lohen said, following you out the door (which prompted a loud “Hey!” from Varka). “And didn’t I tell you to just call me Lohen?”

“You…did,” you mumbled. “Sorry, I’m just not used to it. I never really call anyone by name.”

His brows furrowed. “But you just called the Grand Master ‘Varka’.”

“Um. Yes.”

You continued pacing towards the library, and blatantly on the pursuit, Lohen followed you. As you both crossed the headquarter’s main foyer, one behind the other, Lohen could feel the stares and hear the whispers.

“Should we help her…?” someone mumbled.

Ignoring them, Lohen asked, “Why are you running away from me?”

“I’m not,” you said, but the way your shoulders were up by your ears as your heels played staccato beats across the floor told a different story. “I’m just getting back to work.”

Lohen’s eyes narrowed. His gaze fell to your swinging arms, and when you tried to escape behind a bookcase, he grabbed your wrist.

You stopped suddenly, turning to look at him with wide eyes. His hand burned around your wrist, like you were possessed by the power of pyro. Quickly, he released you.

“...Sorry,” he said. “Seriously, though, what were you trying to say back there? Something about flora?”

“It’s silly,” you replied quickly. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to bug you with something like this, Vice Captain—.”

“Lohen.”

“...Lohen.”

It fell from your lips, soft. It tickled the rims of his ears. You glanced up at him, rubbing your arm.

“It’s really childish,” you said. “And it would be a waste of the Knights of Favonius’s resources. I only asked Varka because I knew he wouldn’t laugh at me.”

“I’m not gonna laugh at you.”

Hesitation was written clearly across your face. After a beat, you visibly swallowed.

“I…want to go to Dragonspine,” you explained to him. “I’ve gotten to Act Two of Fate’s Glimmer, and it takes place in a snowy region similar to it. There’s some descriptive bits of ecology that I can’t quite picture, so I was hoping that if I went and saw it…I would be a little more immersed.”

Your voice fell to a mumble by the end of your sentence. Lohen raised an eyebrow.

“You went to the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius…because you wanted to see flowers in Dragonspine?”

You buried your face in your palms. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you, Vice Captain.”

“Stop calling me that,” he groaned. “And I’m not laughing at you, am I? I’m just trying to figure out where Varka fits into this.” He paused. “You…seeing him or something?”

“Huh?” You looked up from your hands with a wince. “No, no—what? Varka’s practically like a father to me. Or…maybe an older brother. I’ve known him for a long time, that's all.”

“Oh. I see.” Lohen crossed his arms. “So…flowers in Dragonspine. You couldn’t even fight to save your life back in Windrise. Don’t think much would change over some flowers.”

“That’s why I was asking Varka,” you mumbled. “But he’s really busy. So is Lisa. And I don’t know the other knights well enough to have the courage to ask…”

“I’ll go with you.”

Silence fell between you both. The longer you stared at him, the hotter Lohen’s face became.

“What, you don’t want me to?” he asked. “‘Cause I’m a busy guy and all, so—.”

“No, no!” You held your hands out, taking a step towards him. Your eyes held fast to his as you said, “I’m just…really happy that you would offer.”

Someone really needed to open a window in the library or something, because all of a sudden it was stifling. Awkwardly, Lohen laughed and threw his gaze to the books that encased you.

“I just think it would be interesting,” he chattered. “Seeing you running around in the snow. Getting chased by monsters, I mean. Probably even begging me to help you…haha…”

Slowly, he pressed his palm to his smoldering face. The image of you running from a cryo abyss mage with your book clutched to your chest, wailing for him to save you, was a bit more enticing than he had thought it would be.

“…I’m so determined to go that I’ll choose to ignore that. When are you free?”

“When do you want to go?” he said, to the books.

“How does tomorrow sound?”

“Lohen—tomorrow I want you to lead the training exercises for the rookies in the 7th Company—.”

“Tomorrow sounds great,” he said, waving the echo of Varka’s voice from his mind. “Yep. I’m totally free.”

“R-really?” You were smiling again, wrecking his heart again. “Then…let’s go! It’ll be great for you too, so that when you get to Act Two, you’ll know exactly what the flowers look like.”

Staring into your eyes, he mumbled, “Yeah…I bet they’re pretty.”

“Me too!”

Snapping out of his deluge, Lohen stood upright again. Taking stilted steps to face away from you, he rather stiffly said, “Meet me here at nine, then. Don’t be late, or I’ll set a trap for you at every step of the way in Dragonspine. And trust me—you wouldn’t like that!”

“I’ll be here,” you replied, your voice warm. “Thank you again, Vice—...Lohen.” You laughed. “Thanks, Lohen.”

With his ears burning hot, he gave you a curt nod.

You stood in a field of tiny blue flowers, and with your hands cupped around a cluster of luminescent bulbs, you said, “They’re beautiful.”

Lohen stared after your back, watching the sway of your hair in the frigid winds. You turned to face him with a smile hotter than crimson agate, warming straight through his core when you asked, “Don’t you think so, Lohen?”

“...Yeah,” he said, his eyes flicking away from yours. “Really beautiful.”

“I can see how this would have laid such a romantic scene for the main characters. As gelid as these winds are, and as withered as the trees appear to be…there are still intimate spots of beauty like this.” You grinned. “It’s fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Mhm. Something like that.”

You laughed, kneeling down to observe the flowers. The fact that such a simple, boring thing could bring so much joy to your face was oddly…humbling. He struggled to understand whether you acted this way because of your weakness, or if finding pleasure in the banal was instead your strength.

Wooo…

An increasingly cold wind swept by, and by the sound of its pitch, Lohen could sense danger on the horizon. Immediately on high alert, he brandished his lance, his eyes navigating the thickening snow for the source of the threat.

“Library girl,” he said. “Get up.”

“Huh? Is something wrong—?”

“Oh shit,” he said, his eyes widening. “Run, run, run!”

As he tackled into you, hooking his arm under yours to pull you along, you let out a surprised yelp. The thickening snow was approaching faster, and by the timbre of the wind accompanying it, he could tell that a wave of white-out was about to occur. This far into the mountains with you, he didn’t have the luxury to enjoy battling the stinging cold and burying himself out of avalanches with his bare hands. Not when you were involved.

He practically dragged you into a nearby cave, lurching into a dark and cavernous space that was just big enough for the two of you. You stumbled onto your hands and knees when he stopped, your back heaving up and down with air-starved breaths.

“You…! You run really fast…!”

He winced. “Er. Sorry?”

“It’s…it’s okay.” You rolled over into a sitting position, sighing. “Though I can’t lie…I nearly had a heart attack when you told me to run. It’s not like you to sound so scared about something.”

Scared? He hadn’t felt anything similar to fear in a long time. He just didn’t like the thought of losing you in the middle of a snowstorm, you with your vision, which was practically just an accessory for you. A pretty one that complimented your skin, but still.

With a grunt, Lohen lowered himself to the ground beside you. Outside the hollow of the cave, the snow piled faster than torrential rain. As he watched it fall, he propped his chin in his hand. Taking a glance at you, he said, “We’ll just have to lay low for a while. Once the blizzard passes, we’ll head for the foot of the mountain.”

You nodded. Content with that, Lohen turned his focus to the mouth of the cave once more.

And then it was quiet. Just you and him, sitting beside each other in the snug little cave, silent. As time stretched on, a gnawing feeling ate away at him like a munching caterpillar. He drummed his fingers against his knee, tried to focus on the petrous patterns of the walls. Anything to distract himself.

“...Phoo,” you breathed all of a sudden.

Lohen turned, and as soon as he took you in, his eyes widened. Your body was trembling as you wrapped your arms around your legs, your teeth chattering audibly against the hollow walls of the cave. He glanced at the snowstorm outside, then back at you, and acutely realized that you did not possess his nigh-invincible level of immunity to the cold.

Quietly, he slipped his coat off his shoulders, taking his cape alongside it. Quieter still, he dumped it into your lap. When you looked up at him, he tried not to return your gaze, lest the flames in his cheeks decide to smolder any hotter.

He heard the rustle of fabric. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched you lay his coat over top of yourself.

“Thank you,” you murmured.

He turned his head even further, smirking at the wall. “No big deal.”

“How are you so unfazed by this? It’s f-freezing.”

“Uh, cryo vision, remember?”

“W-well yes, but still.” You shuddered, letting a breath out with it. “I have a vision, but…it doesn’t make me any less sensitive to my element.”

“Probably ‘cause you never even use it,” Lohen drawled. Turned away from you like this, it was a bit easier to talk to you. “Got blessed by the Gods and you spend all your time reading novels. Isn’t that boring?”

“Hm…let me ask you the same question, then. You spend all your time playing tricks on your colleagues and eliminating the enemy, yes? Don’t you find it boring to not have…well…a real hobby?”

“Huh? Those are totally real hobbies, though.”

“I’m quite sure if we went around asking the other knights what their hobbies are,” you laughed, “they would not include poisonings and murder. Aside from that, what do you like to do, Lohen?”

He tapped his finger against his cheek repeatedly, frowning at the wall. If you took away his tasteful pranks and his insatiable bloodlust, then he was left with…

“Well,” he stammered. “Uh. I guess…I did read a bit of that book. So reading?”

“As happy as I am that you’ve made progress, I think it’s a bit early to label that as a hobby.”

His brows furrowed. “What do you even consider a hobby?”

“Something you do for fun. But, it’s also something you can do with others. Safely.”

“I always see you reading by yourself, though.”

You let out a close-lipped laugh. He heard you shuffling, then felt the warmth of your arm against his. Quickly, his head snapped to yours, and with your arms poking out through the gaps of his coat, thick novel bound to both hands, you asked, “Why don’t we read together, then?”

“Wait. Slow down.”

A laugh. “You can’t handle this?”

“Fuck no. Just slow down.”

Lohen’s brows were furrowed, his eyes struggling to absorb the text as fast as yours were. You laughed when you reversed the page, bringing him back to the sentence he was at before your rude interruption. He lifted his finger to the paper, mumbling the words under his breath as he searched for the right paragraph.

“...Ah,” he said. “That one.”

“Oh, that’s when the heroine meets the male lead. You like that part?”

“Well. Kinda.” Lohen shrugged. “He’s, like, a super cool war general, right? Stronger than a thousand troops.”

Your smile curled further upwards. “He is. I suppose he does sound like your kind of character.”

“...What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” you answered. “Just that, well. You’re an incredibly strong man yourself. In a way, you remind me of him.”

“...Oh, yeah? What kinda way?”

You blinked, and ever so quickly, snapped your head away from his. Stammering, you said, “N-nevermind.”

“Huh?” Lohen raised an eyebrow. “Wait…are you embarrassed?”

“No,” you said stiffly.

He smirked. “Looks like you’re embarrassed to me. You thinking something weird about me, library girl?”

“N-no,” you repeated, shaking your head. “And please stop calling me library girl.”

“But you never told me your name, library girl.”

“Ugh, I…” You brought a hand to your head, rubbing it furiously. “It’s because it’s embarrassing. Actually, you know what? Just keep calling me library girl.”

“Well, now I really wanna know.” He pressed closer to you, his shoulder touching yours. “What’s your name?”

“Library girl,” you mumbled.

“As far as I can tell, this snowstorm isn’t stopping any time soon. You really think you can get away with keeping your little secret until it stops?”

“I can try.”

“I doubt you’ll be very successful.”

Your eyes flicked to his. He froze where he sat, realizing just how close your faces had become. This close to you, he could count each and every one of those pretty eyelashes you had, take note of the exact millimeter measurements of your round pupils.

You looked conflicted about it, but after a brief pause, you acceded to his request.

“It’s not the name I go by,” you said in a mumble. “It just happens to be my Mondstatian one. My parents believed in Barbatos’s principle of giving children the freedom to name themselves…so I was hardly old enough to speak when I picked it.”

“Hm. Sounds like a bad idea.”

“It really was. Because I was so young, I decided I wanted to be called…”

You said it, but it was in such a low mutter that he had to crane his ear closer. Brows furrowed, he said, “Huh?”

“B…” You were sheepish. “Bun…ny.”

Lohen’s eyes widened.

“You’re fucking with me.”

“This is why I don’t tell anyone—.”

“You went and named yourself ‘Bunny’?” he asked, snorting. “You mean you have to sign that on your papers and everything every time you want to travel? Stamp all your official letters with it? That’s hilarious!”

“I know!” you complained, your brows furrowed. “You don’t have to remind me!”

“Sorry, that’s just…!” He leaned his head back, laughing. “It’s just so ridiculous! I can’t believe anyone would let their kid name themselves that!”

You let out a groan, plopping your face into your palms. Glaring at the mouth of the cave, you growled, “Why did I even tell you?”

Lohen’s laughs slowed down, and with a swipe of his finger under his eyes, he brought his amused tears away. Observing your frustrated expression with a smile, he scoffed through his nose.

“Oh, don’t be so embarrassed about it. Everyone I know loves bunnies! Especially me.”

You shot him a look, then shuffled a touch away from him. When he realized how honestly he had spoken, his cheeks flared with warmth.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, the corner of his grin twitching. “Don’t look at me like I’m a weirdo.”

You shuffled even further. Obstinately, he shuffled right back next to you.

“I thought you were cold,” he said.

“I’m very much warm now, thank you.”

“Then can I have my coat back?”

“...No.”

You didn’t move away from him this time. That fact alone gave him goosebumps—and also went straight to his head.

“Aren’t I warm?” he murmured, ignoring the flames that erupted in his face because of it. “Huh, Bunny?”

You went ramrod stiff. He adored that.

“Bunny,” he drawled. “Silence isn’t exactly an answer, you know?”

“Wh-what is wrong with you?” you asked. “Is this…your way of messing with me?”

“Huh. Well, I guess it’s one of the only ways I can. You’d probably die of a heart attack if I tried anything else. You know, just like how bunnies fall over at any and everything.”

“I wish I never told you,” you said, your eyes pressed closed. “I really wish I never did.”

“Definitely going to use it to mess with you from now on.”

“I can see that.”

He snorted. “Guess some things are better kept a secret, huh?”

You paused. Turning those eyes of yours onto his, the ones that he’d study forever if you’d let him, you softly said, “No, it’s only fair. It’s easier to communicate when I know your name and you know mine.”

Easier to communicate, huh?

He had only just realized it, but he was cracking jokes and talking to you like normal now. Was this sense of closeness brought on by Dragonspine, which forced even the most seasoned of adventurers to form alliances to weather its storms? Was it a fleeting moment of warmth, a kindle of flame that would extinguish underneath the thick blanket of snow as soon as you parted ways? What was this feeling in his chest that plucked his heart strings, that made him feel nothing but a hollow ache when he thought of leaving you?

“...Are you scared?”

Your voice cut through the silence. You lifted a hand, hesitated, then slowly placed it over top of his.

“Wh…what,” he sputtered, his arm stiffening, “are you doing? I’m not fucking scared. I’m the Vice Captain of the 5th Company, remember? I’m practically stronger than a whole platoon.”

“This part of you reminds me of the character in the novel,” you murmured. Your hand rubbed the back of his, wringing a strangled noise from his throat. “When confronted with fear…challenged by an invisible threat that you can’t wrap your hands around…you try to flee. You’re not very honest with yourself, are you, Lohen?”

Your hand was on his. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? For you to touch him and talk to him like you were his? Why did he feel so bittersweet about how it was proceeding?

He blurted his thoughts as they occurred. “I’m embarrassed as shit. I was hoping this would be…that I’d be cooler. But I think I’m gonna have a stroke if you keep touching me.”

“Aren’t I warm, though?” you crooned back, your mockery setting him ablaze. “Huh, Lohen?”

“Fuck,” he stammered, pressing his palm to his face. “You’re as much of a little shit as I am.”

You laughed. “That’s a good thing then, isn’t it? Maybe you and I aren’t so different after all.”

Your fingers curled through the gaps of his. His shoulders jumped, but you squeezed hard.

“Thanks for taking me to Dragonspine,” you said. “It was very kind of you.”

He had no words. All Lohen could manage was a stilted nod of his head.

“Want to read some more?” you asked. “You turn the pages this time?”

“...Sure,” he mumbled.

You brought the novel back, flipping it open and bracing it halfway on your leg, halfway on his. With your hands still joined, you used your left to manipulate the pages, and with Lohen’s right, he smoothed the bunny ear in the paper back into place.

The snow outside fell soft now, the blizzard having ended long ago. Still remaining side by side in the intimacy of that bountiful cave, you continued to enjoy each other’s company as though you had all the time in the world.

For the first time in a long time, Lohen didn’t mind taking things slow and easy. Not when it was something he could enjoy with you.

i'm matching you with જ⁀➴ ♡ sakunosuke oda !

even though he works for the mafia, oda is, in my opinion, a genuinely good person. (everyone has flaws, okay? working for the mafia is like... a flaw. but it's just one ☝🏻.) oda is kind, not judgemental, he acts appropriately and loves kids, similar to you! he's logical and calm, he'd be able to see the gem inside of you and treat you well... i think. (you can never be sure with people in the mafia i guess... oh well.)

you met for the first time through the children he adopted, five little kids playing in the street together. you were going about your day when you saw them, and wanted to watch them have fun. the kids then started talking to you, and invited you to play with them. they didn't get to meet many people, especially an openly affectionate adult like you, who seemed to understand them extremely well.

what they didn't know was you were an elementary school teacher, and loved your job. when you learned that they were orphans, but a kind gentleman had taken them in, you wanted to help. when you met oda for the first time, he was skeptical and didn't want to get you involved, but a teacher would be very good for the kids. so it was decided.

you grew closer in time. oda was always polite and helpful, and you could see he tried to understand people in general. you really liked him, so you called him regularly, you brought cakes and cookies you baked yourself for him and the kids, you tried to help the best you could.

oda grew fonder of you by the day, too. you were so... so full of love and sweetness. he knew that in theory, people like that existed. him coming across one and even becoming friends though? as a member of the port mafia? as someone whose hands were dirty? he hadn't... really expected so. he didn't refuse the steps you took to progress the relationship though, he really liked you, and as long as he kept you away from the underworld, and never let anyone find out, it would be fine... right?

you definitely talk more than him, he's more of a listener. you enjoy each other's company though. one day, when you prodded about his dreams or passions, after you'd gotten close enough for it, he told you he wanted to become a novelist, and that you intrigued him, so he wanted to understand you better.

he would definitely tell you about his job in the mafia, and his past, if you were to pursue a romantic relationship. i think he wouldn't initiate it, because he wouldn't want to get you involved with himself further, but he would be able to realise that you wanted something more, and you felt something more, even if you didn't tell him. so he would feel obligated to tell you.

and then he'd be surprised that you don't care lol. you're extremely understanding and non-judgemental when he tells you, and not afraid of him at all. you even think he's amazing for refusing to kill even though he's in the mafia?? you do understand the "in the mafia" part, right? ... oookayyy. then he guesses that there are no other obstancles in the way of your relationship? ... what?

give him a moment, his brain is giving 404 error lol.

you definitely sing to the kids, and he secretly enjoys listening as well. you play instruments with them too, they look up to you so they want to learn as well. and, they would be so happy to know that you two got together, they already see you as a mother figure! oda would get to have some normalcy in his life with you; helping you bake sometimes, playing chess for fun, talking about your songs and his books (you force it out of him haha)... he genuinely looks forward to seeing you everyday, and that should be a good thing... right?

also he would be very protective, in my opinion. oda is calm and kind, but when he gets angry, he's definitely extremely dangerous. despite having a reputation for not killing in the mafia, he's still respected. plus, his ability makes it much easier to avoid sudden disasters as well. he would keep you secret and away from the underworld, but if someone happened to find out with an intention to harm you, or tried to harm you for unrelated reasons to him, they would be done for.

i think oda's friends (dazai and ango) would learn of you fairly early on, and somehow get to meet you (through trickery and unethical means, against oda's free will). so they would be there to help oda in an emergency situation like that as well.

you would be honest and reassuring, i think he would feel less guilty about dating you with time because you'd make sure to let him know that you don't care and this was your choice. in the end, you both mean well and try your best to be better, so i think it would work out well.

also, in honor of our finals week(s):

i'm matching you with જ⁀➴ ♡ sakunosuke oda !

even though he works for the mafia, oda is, in my opinion, a genuinely good person. (everyone has flaws, okay? working for the mafia is like... a flaw. but it's just one ☝🏻.) oda is kind, not judgemental, he acts appropriately and loves kids, similar to you! he's logical and calm, he'd be able to see the gem inside of you and treat you well... i think. (you can never be sure with people in the mafia i guess... oh well.)

you met for the first time through the children he adopted, five little kids playing in the street together. you were going about your day when you saw them, and wanted to watch them have fun. the kids then started talking to you, and invited you to play with them. they didn't get to meet many people, especially an openly affectionate adult like you, who seemed to understand them extremely well.

what they didn't know was you were an elementary school teacher, and loved your job. when you learned that they were orphans, but a kind gentleman had taken them in, you wanted to help. when you met oda for the first time, he was skeptical and didn't want to get you involved, but a teacher would be very good for the kids. so it was decided.

you grew closer in time. oda was always polite and helpful, and you could see he tried to understand people in general. you really liked him, so you called him regularly, you brought cakes and cookies you baked yourself for him and the kids, you tried to help the best you could.

oda grew fonder of you by the day, too. you were so... so full of love and sweetness. he knew that in theory, people like that existed. him coming across one and even becoming friends though? as a member of the port mafia? as someone whose hands were dirty? he hadn't... really expected so. he didn't refuse the steps you took to progress the relationship though, he really liked you, and as long as he kept you away from the underworld, and never let anyone find out, it would be fine... right?

you definitely talk more than him, he's more of a listener. you enjoy each other's company though. one day, when you prodded about his dreams or passions, after you'd gotten close enough for it, he told you he wanted to become a novelist, and that you intrigued him, so he wanted to understand you better.

he would definitely tell you about his job in the mafia, and his past, if you were to pursue a romantic relationship. i think he wouldn't initiate it, because he wouldn't want to get you involved with himself further, but he would be able to realise that you wanted something more, and you felt something more, even if you didn't tell him. so he would feel obligated to tell you.

and then he'd be surprised that you don't care lol. you're extremely understanding and non-judgemental when he tells you, and not afraid of him at all. you even think he's amazing for refusing to kill even though he's in the mafia?? you do understand the "in the mafia" part, right? ... oookayyy. then he guesses that there are no other obstancles in the way of your relationship? ... what?

give him a moment, his brain is giving 404 error lol.

you definitely sing to the kids, and he secretly enjoys listening as well. you play instruments with them too, they look up to you so they want to learn as well. and, they would be so happy to know that you two got together, they already see you as a mother figure! oda would get to have some normalcy in his life with you; helping you bake sometimes, playing chess for fun, talking about your songs and his books (you force it out of him haha)... he genuinely looks forward to seeing you everyday, and that should be a good thing... right?

also he would be very protective, in my opinion. oda is calm and kind, but when he gets angry, he's definitely extremely dangerous. despite having a reputation for not killing in the mafia, he's still respected. plus, his ability makes it much easier to avoid sudden disasters as well. he would keep you secret and away from the underworld, but if someone happened to find out with an intention to harm you, or tried to harm you for unrelated reasons to him, they would be done for.

i think oda's friends (dazai and ango) would learn of you fairly early on, and somehow get to meet you (through trickery and unethical means, against oda's free will). so they would be there to help oda in an emergency situation like that as well.

you would be honest and reassuring, i think he would feel less guilty about dating you with time because you'd make sure to let him know that you don't care and this was your choice. in the end, you both mean well and try your best to be better, so i think it would work out well.

also, in honor of our finals week(s):

== Twisted Wonderland ==>

I match you up with…

Silver Vanrouge

✦ Pre-relationship:

It’s not hard to miss Silver at first, but upon second look, he is impossible to ignore. His beauty stuns you from the first moment you meet him. 

You want to get to know him, but… he has a somewhhat intimidating aura, and hangs around Malleus, Lilia, and Sebek, who can all contribute to the difficulty of meeting him, not to mention your shyness. 

One day, you find him sleeping under a tree, surrounded by forest animals, and your heart melts at the sight. He’s almost like a princess!

He wakes up, startled at the sight of you, but before he can say anything, a bunny hops over towards you cautiously.

You crouch down and extend your hand towards it, and as it sniffs your fingers and you smile at it, Silver feels his heart beat a little quicker. 

Suddenly, it seems like you are the princess!

Princess x princess dynamic here.

After that, Silver approaches you slowly, starting with greeting you with a nod when you pass, and working up until you two hang out together!

You two spend a lot of time talking about life, and he’s more than happy to join you in the kitchen when you’ve got something you want to make, or at your place to practice some music. 

He loves to hear you sing, especially. 

He’s a vigilant person, and so he will quickly pick up on your dislike for sudden loud noises, blood, and pain. His training as a retainer for Malleus kick in without thinking about it, and soon he’s shielding you from these situations when he can, and gently caring for you when he can’t. 

He’s always watching out for his precious friend, and always ready to help whenever you ask. 

In the same vein, he will make sure to help you physically and emotionally when needed. When you shut down, he’s reminding you that he’s there if you need him. When you have a bad day with chronic illnesses, he’s there to hold your hand and walk through it with kindness. 

✦ Confession: 

He doesn’t even realize he’s fallen in love with you until Lilia gently introduces the topic to him. Silver is so focused on becoming a good knight for Malleus and a good friend to you that the thought seemed almost heretical. 

And yet…he can’t deny the way his heart hammers when he sees you in cute dresses, or the way he blushes when you turn your radiant smile towards him in thanks. 

It takes him a while to accept his feelings, and even longer to come up with a plan of action for confessing to you.

One day, after the two of you were out in the school’s garden tending to some plants, SIlver tells you how he feels. He’s got dirt on his pants, his face is bright red, and he is undoubtedly nervous, but his eyes never leave yours, and his words are unshakably true. 

✦ Relationship:

Although Silver isn’t exactly playful, he’s certainly much more silly and open around you. He doesn’t have to worry about the pressure of being a perfect knight, and so he shows you his forgetfulness and sleepiness in all its glory. 

On a side note, he feels completely at ease when he falls asleep around you. Your caring nature and gentleness make him feel like he’s safe and sound, no matter where the two of you are. 

If you thought he was attentive before, you’ll be blown away by his dedication to you while dating. Despite the fact that he can be a bit forgetful, he’s aware of what you need before you even need it. He can tell when you’d like help and when you’d like to be on your own, and he’s ready to provide whatever you need at a moment’s notice. 

When he does forget things, you remind him with a laugh. He feels a bit embarrassed at first, but he knows you accept him wholeheatredly, and that makes him fall even more in love. 

Silver knows that you bottle up your emotions, and he does struggle a bit with how to best help you. After a bit of trial and error, you two come up with a system of communication that makes you both feel heard and understood, even if you both can struggle to put your feelings into words. 

Here, his logical thinking helps with knowing what you need, but you may need to encourage him to tap into his emotional side as well. 

and unfortunately for you, you react to everything.

you’re sitting beside him, trying to focus on the map spread across the table. the lantern light flickers gently, casting warm shadows across the wood. lohen leans over slightly to look at the same spot you’re pointing to.

you don’t notice at first.

until you realize how close he is.

his shoulder brushes yours, and you freeze immediately, your voice faltering mid-sentence.

“…s-so if we take this route-”

you lose your train of thought completely when you feel his breath near your ear. it’s not intentional—he’s just leaning in to see better—but your face heats instantly.

lohen glances at you.

“did you forget?” his voice is quiet, curious.

you shake your head quickly. “n-no, i just-” you turn your head but you soon realize how big of a mistake that is because now he’s even closer.

you can see the faint details of his expression—the calm focus in his eyes, the slight tilt of his head as he studies your face, his mole, everything. 

yet he doesn’t move away. if anything, he leans just slightly closer, like he’s trying to figure something out.

“your face is red,” he murmurs.

you immediately look away. “it’s just warm in here.”

“is it?”

he glances around the room thoughtfully, then back at you. his hand moves without much thought, resting lightly against the table beside yours, effectively trapping you between him and the wood.

he doesn’t seem to realize what he’s doing.

but you definitely do.

your heart starts racing.

lohen leans in again, his voice softer now.

“you always do that.”

“d-do what?”

“get quiet when i’m close.”

your breath catches.

he’s still watching you, eyes gentle but intent, like he’s genuinely curious about your reaction.

“does it bother you?” he asks.

you open your mouth, then close it again. your brain feels completely scrambled. “i-it’s not… i mean…”

lohen shifts slightly.

his knee brushes yours under the table and you nearly jump.

he notices immediately, an apologetic look on his face. “sorry.”

but he doesn’t move away.

instead, he studies your expression again, like he’s trying to understand why such small contact affects you so much.

“you’re trembling,” he murmurs quietly.

you look down, embarrassed, realizing he’s right. your fingers are gripping the edge of the table, your shoulders tense.

lohen’s hand moves slowly, hesitantly—like he’s giving you time to pull away—before his fingers gently touch yours.

it’s a light touch, barely there, but your entire body reacts instantly. your breath hitches, and you freeze.

lohen goes still too, watching carefully. 

“…you really are sensitive,” he says softly.

there’s no teasing in his voice, he’s just quietly observing you for any more of your reactions, and somehow that makes it worse.

you try to pull your hand back, but his fingers curl slightly around yours—not tight, just enough to keep the contact.

“is this okay?” he asks gently.

you nod quickly, even though your face is burning.

he relaxes slightly, his thumb brushing lightly across your knuckles. the movement is slow, absentminded, like he’s not even fully aware he’s doing it.

but you definitely are.

your heart feels like it’s trying to escape your chest.

lohen glances at you again, noticing your expression.

“you’re even redder now.”

you let out a small, embarrassed sound. “p-please don’t point it out…”

he tilts his head slightly, something soft appearing in his eyes.

“it’s cute.”

you freeze completely. 

“w-what?”

he doesn’t seem embarrassed by the comment. if anything, he looks rather proud of himself for saying it.

“when you get flustered,” he continues quietly, his fingers still loosely holding yours, “your eyes move everywhere except at me.”

your breath catches as he leans slightly closer again.

“but when i say something unexpected…” his voice lowers just a little. “…you look right at me.” your eyes snap to his automatically. he notices and smiles softly. “like that.”

you don’t know what to do with the way your chest tightens.

lohen’s gaze softens further, his thumb still brushing slowly across your hand. the room feels smaller somehow, quieter, like the rest of the world faded away without you noticing.

he leans just slightly closer, stopping before it becomes too much.

“tell me if i’m making you uncomfortable,” he murmurs.

you shake your head quickly, even though your heart is racing.

lohen watches you for another moment. then, very gently, he squeezes your hand once.

not teasing or possessive. just warm.