#divitaclara

♢  — @bogachs said: " "'Betwitched'?? I am hardly 'betwitched.' Pay no mind to the foolish prattle of that boy. My world does not answer to your orbit, Docteur. It is occupied with concerns of far greater consequence and discourse of far greater merit than yourself." (Pantalone getting slandered on the dash, he has things to say 😂) EXPERIMENT IN PROGRESS: SOMEONE SNITCHED ft @divitaclara

A deep rumble of laughter escapes upon the predictably swift delivery of a vehement rebuttal. Certainly Pantalone would never willingly confess to a matter nor accept the accusation regardless of the validity it held. It would be shot down like a bird under the scope of a hunter's rifle. Dottore's elated grin does not falter ; all teeth as he circles around the ninth like a vulture using the air currents to stay up high above what it bears witness to below. That is to say, it is an unhurried, leisurely pace till he stops in front of him.

" I think it's been QUITE A WHILE since I've seen you so ruffled. " A sharp toothed tease, amusement heavy in the air that the second does not WANT to hide. ( He could, if he wished. But it is more rare for him to traverse that path than allow for his opinions to be known. ) It is nothing so serious, but Pantalone has answered, engaged in the topic to add fuel upon flames that might otherwise have been ignored. Or not? Who was to say? The sharp detachment and rejection of the notion might have settled ill with another, but Dottore only smiles.

A gloved hand lifts, hands that are capable and HAVE committed acts of great violence now gentle when he lifts a lock of meticulously cared for hair. Delicate enough not to ruin the style for which he knows well there would be a lengthy scolding if he did, but an act still defiant enough to be well fitting for the doctor who so often does as he wishes. He plays with the strand, grin still fixed upon his lips like a gash in the flesh.

" I know you're not bewitched. " Dottore replies with the calm of open oceans, watching how the light reflects of silken hair before his own face angles itself more towards Pantalone's face. " Bewitched implies a loss of individuality and freedom of choice. YOU WOULD HARDLY INTEREST ME IF THAT WERE TRUE. I have no desire to be a singular focus of someone's life to be fawned over at the cost of them abandoning who they are. " It would never be a sentiment he could share. His pursuit of knowledge and experiments, of tearing out secrets locked away and defying the confines of this world would always draw his eye like a moth to a flame. AN ENTICEMENT HE COULD NOT AND WOULD NOT GIVE UP. " A loss of agency would make you quite lifeless. " Both of them understood that, and that is what made it work.

He lets go of the strand of hair, retracting his hand to join the other behind his back while he leans closer to Pantalone's ear. " Concerns of far greater discourse and merit? Why, that sounds like a challenge, dear Pantalone. I'm certain I could eclipse all of them. " A promise, a threat against this world, it was both blended into the confidence of a man willing to pursue it whispered into the ear of a man just as ambitious ; TO DEVOUR THE HEAVENS ABOVE, to force the laws to kneel and bow to him. One day. But not today. Not yet.

This one is definitely more popular than unpopular but I'm feeling slightly salty so I'm gonna let it out.

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ . 𝒥𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝒟𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂𝓈 ◞ 𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖊 . ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ @divitaclara ⤸ an abrupt ,  heated kiss during the middle of a fight . [ For Lumine ^^ Maybe it's a more cheeky and brief kiss at her cheek or hand. Could be fighting together as allies or against one another! ]

Blade KNOCKS out of place, grip weakened with the strike but in a heartbeat, she recovers; too close. Dendro, the new ability in her arsenal, is quick to spread, to regain her falter, with a grace worthy of someone with hundreds of years experience. Heels tap, if not with a slight stumble, to composurer, and with a sharp exhale she sturdies her grip. 

       There was no doubt that Childe had already gotten stronger. It was incredible, && terrifying. But the race of her pulse, her calculated gaze which bore into his, reminded her how much she enjoyed when they fought. Sparring was never the right word for her, not with him. Had it been anyone else, she would have to hold back; they too would weaken their hits, never to go all out with her and vice versa. With Childe, often, it felt like a true battle. In where she had to concentrate with all her might. As if one slip up could be the end. If he wasn't pinned to the ground with a blade against his neck, it wouldn't end. 

            It was a strangely comforting thought, and one she didn't quite wish the share with anyone else. 

❝  You won't get that close again.  ❞   She had meant to taunt, but, with how serious her expression remained, it was often hard to tell. Perhaps she too could lose herself in the battle. It thrilled her in ways people wouldn't get. It was rare to have her skills tested, and ever since Teyvat that opportunity presented itself time and time again. Despite the danger, there was also a comfort knowing Childe wouldn't kill her. Not here, not now; for what was to be the future was still unknown. She could fight, but not for her life --- but she could go all out, as if those were the stakes. 

Lumine should have known he'd take that as a challenge. Maybe that's what she'd wanted. He's a lot faster then her, so she's prepared to counter that with geo, or anemo; but she'd really underestimated his growth. Barely do eyes widen before his hyrdo blades clash against her sword once more. She should have know better. Gritting teeth, she tries to summon the element of wind, a way to push him back so she could get her bearings, but suddenly, her blade is once again pushed-- come on!--to the side. 

She expects a hit. After all, he'd got her, in all her arrogance. Lumine was preparing for the damage, to see how capable she'd be to take it, and she was determined to get right back up despite the panic which shook her expression. 

         Instead, his lips find their way to her cheek, and all preparations go out the window. 

❝  You-  ❞  Lumine falters. Heat rises to her face, lips part as she WANTS to say more but nothing can form, and she fears if she tries, a pathetic, pitched noise would instead squeak. Not a noise someone should make in the middle of a fight. He'd already been making her battle with adrenaline before, this was just ... unfair. Once tense shoulders immediately melt, and it's almost humiliating how easily she gives. Lumine swallows. Looking at him, she knows exactly what he's thinking, and that cheek will be his downfall. It would also be her own. 

       Gaze leaves his, the only sound she can make is a huff, choked and struggling for any relevant expression. He couldn't do that to her in the middle of a fight. She couldn't think straight! It was a much softer blow then she'd been expecting. She can't even take advantage of his own cocky behaviour, because she herself is ... not thinking right. 

Instead, she shoves his shoulder and forces a frown. It doesn't help that her face was beating red, nor that she could look at him. Instead, she goes towards her sword which she ... must have dropped. Did she hear it clank? Everything seemed to stop in that moment, she can't quite remember. 

Okay so my thoughts on this got away from me so this may be a little longer than planned and a little rambly but I hope it makes sense.

Espionage is one of Ekaterina's primary skillsets, while she can and is capable of being a combatant, she tends to keep that skillset more undercover among her fellow agents and used as a tool for when Tartaglia needs it, rather than one actively shown to be in use. In other words allowing herself to be perpetually underestimated in that field. Colleagues who don't work closely with her would be able to assume easily that she only really has basic combat training. (Those who know her and know that she's Tartaglia's right hand would be able to laugh in the face of those assumptions, of course.)

And the rest of this is under the read more:

@divitaclara​ asked: "Can I kiss you?" [ Гора~ ]

RANDOM QUESTION PROMPTS | accepting!  

soft laughter, an easy smile, even as the former archon leaned in close to his dear friend. to hear him ask after all the time they’d been together was actually something that zhongli quite cherished; perhaps it was the knowledge that despite neither being entirely human, this was something that truly seemed...well, human.

“老铁, you can kiss me as much as you please.” a gloved hand raised, a finger over zhongli’s lips before he winks. “but i will have to return them tenfold.”

ℒ  ╱  𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙏 ,  ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫   CHILDE     ✐― @divitaclara​ ♥༻     “I just had to stop you from toppling over. You’re not okay.” [ Please take your time! ]

         ❝  But I am ━━━━  ❞  

Paimon, not completely surprising, is the one who jumps on her case ; to which she offers a flat glare ... to BEGIN with. Perhaps since now she was dealing with both Childe && Paimon teaming up on her, and this wasn’t an ideal situation. Nor was it one she ever wanted to happen again, thank you very much. 

She wasn’t being blindly stubborn. There was simply things ... she didn’t want to voice out loud / circumstances she didn’t wish to dwell in. Even her closest travel guide could never reach into the depth of her troubles, nor the present turmoil in her heart. Sleepless nights were not uncommon in her travels, but it wasn’t what kept her awake. 

❝  In that case, Paimon can go scout ahead for me.  ❞  WHAT?! But Paimon’s reaction immediately dies down, fumbling her words as she tries to wipe away the present confusion, && mild concern, from her face. With a final, dramatic sigh, and an inkling she wanted to be alone ( regardless of the noticeable hesitation ) she complied, && flew down the path they currently travelled. 

❝  ... ❞  Lumine remains quiet, but, eyes flicker down to his hold. Had she really tumbled⁇  She can’t quite recall. Even she needed rest, but ... the endless nightmare which plagued her for 500 hundred years ... some days, when forced again to acknowledge the depth of her journey, && everything with the Abyss, of her brother, and that god ━━━━ would she be casted into an enteral nightmare again⁇  Was such a thing even possible⁇  

She doesn’t move from Childe’s touch, but instead, rests a hand over his. The hold on her arm is light, enough that she can pull away if she wanted, && still firm enough to keep her from toppling over had her next step been her last.  ❝  I really am fine.  ❞  She pats his hand, and forces herself to stand up straight. Fatigue was new to her, and she’d once been arrogant enough to believe she’d be fine on MANY separate occasions; these days, she made sure to rest just like anyone else. That’s why, on days like these, she wasn’t being so recklessly stubborn without good cause. Lumine swallows, nervously. 

❝  I will be fine. I’d just ━ rather not sleep right now. With that settled, quit ganging up on me. Or next it’ll be you I send ahead.  ❞  Though given Paimon refused to go far, Lumine could still see her just beyond the trees. Not much of a threat, but one to derail from her confession. It was dangerously easy to talk to him. More && more she found their talks could go on for hours, and when Paimon actually gave them some privacy ... she wonders how much about her she ended up revealing. 

There was so much he didn’t know ; there was so much she didn’t know about him too. She could now admit that she WANTED to know more about Childe. His presence on the battlefield was mesmerising to her. That in itself was both good && bad. Facing against him was unlike any other ; nothing like her other friends on simple sparring days, nor could she even compare it to the GODS she faced. His reputation didn’t compare to witnessing it first hand, and to fight with him was exhilarating at times / when she lessened the voice in her head which worried he’d stab her in the back. 

And still, despite all this, what captivated her the most wasn’t his expertise && passion in the battlefield. It was the honest moments, how brief && fleeting they could be at times, but more and more that time together was getting longer, and she found herself watching him  devotedly; she knew a great deal about his family, more then she did about Childe. But that was okay. It’s the rare times his eyes would light up, and not in the way of battle and his ambitions. It was so BIZZARE to her at first, though maybe ... once, her expression would jump with joy when her brother was mentioned / not the bittersweet happiness that shadowed her gaze now.

ℒ  ╱  𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙏 ,   𝓐  𝓕𝓐𝓡 - 𝓞𝓕𝓕  𝓜𝓔𝓜𝓞𝓡𝓨 ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫           ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫   CHILDE ✐― @divitaclara​​​​​ ♥༻ comb .   comb  fingers  through  my  muse’s  hair . + Childe takes a particular interest in the Inteyvats in her hair!

Fingers  gently  entwine  and  brush  away  the  longer  locks  of  hair  ,  an  act  she’s  grown  accustomed  too  ,  and  only  at  each  ,  soft  trace  do  her  eyes  momentarily  flicker  shut.    They  carefully  entangle  blonde  strands  ,  comb  away  at  short  bangs  and  still  at  any  point  of  interest  before  continuing.    He’s  tender  in  every  touch  and  pull  ,  careful  not  to  tug  at  any  knotted  stands  and  she’s  grateful  ,  as  the  winds  of  Teyvat  held  no  mercy  when  taking  flight  ;  even  if  she  could  only  glide  as  she  was  now.    He  was  rather  gentle  with  her  at  times  ,  wasn’t  he ⁇    More  so  then  one  might  think  when  hearing  the  title  of  Harbinger  and  the  codename  Childe  associated  too  it.    

❝    Hm ⁇   ❞    

Lumine  could  have  mused  on  this  awhile  longer  ,  but  she  feels  a  subtle  tug  and  immediately  she  catches  on  to  what’s  garnered  his  interest  this  time.    ❝   Be  careful  with  those.   ❞    A  sudden  spike  within  her  heart  jolts  a  reaction  ,  as  fingers  gasp  at  the  fabric  of  his  gloves.    Oh.    She  doesn’t  move  him  away  ,  however  ,  and  any  embarrassment  by  her  quick  response  dimmers  with  a  small  frown  and  sheepish  look.    Instead  of  pulling  away  completely  ,  her  hand  hovers  awhile  longer  as  shoulders  begin  to  relax.    How  silly  to  get  so  worried  about  some  flowers.    The  implications  of  how  these  ones  in  particular  got  into  her  hair  however  …  anything  related  to  her  brother  often  enlisted  a  reaction  from  her.

❝   They’re  called  Inteyvats.   ❞    She  admits  as  she  finally  breaks  the  silence  between  the  two.    ❝    I’ve  had  them  since  I  arrived  here.   ❞    Perhaps  she  shouldn’t  say  even  that  much  ,  but  it  was  harmless.    Besides  ,  she  too  was  interested  in  these  particular  flowers.    What  she  doesn’t  expect  ,  however  ,  were  the  words  that  followed  after  ,  ones  spoken  softly  through  a  whispered  breath.    

❝   My  brother  gave  them  to  me.   ❞