#royalstorm

To most, Keqing is strong. Confident. Sure of herself. Authoritative. Assertive. Intimidating. She demands and receives respect. She is not one to be condescended or patronized. She is the ultimate girlboss.

So, one can’t help but wonder how it is Xiao views her as so…delicate. So soft. Something he could break if he wasn’t careful. It’s even more questionable considering what he found so appealing about her in the first place was how persistent and brave she was in challenging him to open up to her when no mortal ever did so.

Xiao sees Keqing as if she were a doll, almost literally. He wants to hug her close to him like a life-sized Barbie and would dress her up like one if not for Keqing’s assertive level of independence preventing him from acting upon these desires. While he’s certainly not opposed to seeing her wear something more form-fitting and sexy, his preference for her are clothes that are as fluffy, frilly, and pink as possible. One of his favorite foods is Golden Shrimp Balls, not because he cares for their taste, but because he likes to watch how Keqing’s eyes light up when she eats them.

It’s not that he’s unaware of how the public views her, it’s just that the side of her that she’s shown to him and only him is paramount in his perception of her. Regardless of how your average citizen might describe her, she is the only person Xiao has reserved his use of the word “cute” for.

He wants to wait on her, hand and foot. Serve her so that she doesn’t have to lift a finger or move an inch. If she needs to go to another room, he’ll carry her so her feet never touch the floor. Feed her by hand, brush her hair, do her nails, bring her flowers…if it can be done, he wants to do it for her. He knows she’ll go mad being waited on to such an extent but part of him can’t help himself.

He doesn’t, by any means, consider her weak or helpless. And it’s not necessarily about her lineage or wealth that makes him want to treat her this way (he’s largely oblivious to just how rich she really is). But his desire to protect her. To keep her safe. To be the one to keep her safe.

For so long he has wanted something to hug and hold and care for. Something that would not run away from him when he approached or crumble when he wanted to touch it. Something that could reassure him that he isn’t a monster, that he’s capable of loving someone with his entire heart and would trade his life for if it meant seeing her smile. He has needed something that he could treasure, and he found it in her.

‘ keqing of the liyue qixing . ‘ the statement sounded less like a greeting and more like accusation . not that xiao really cared, especially considering who it was he was talking to . ‘ i didn’t take you as the type to have business here . ‘

he’d just finished his nightly meditation session on the wangshu inn’s rooftop . and had it not been for this uninvited visitor, he’d probably be halfway finished with a serving of almond tofu .

xiao crosses his arms and looks her over once, twice before sighing. he decides to stare at the wall behind her. it’s easier to focus on that .

‘ unfortunately, sir huai’an isn’t here at the moment . he’s bound to return eventually - just not anytime soon . ‘

“ miss ke- ahem . KEQING . i can’t help but notice that you have been sitting at your desk all day long . “ ganyu averted her eyes . although she and the yuheng were on better terms now, she still felt strange referring to her more casually .

SMASH OR PASS / ACCEPTING

↳ @royalstorm​ said: smash / pass beidou

“ if you so much as breathe word of this, i will hang you at mount tianheng by your pigtails, keqing. pass. ”  

 @royalstorm​ sent:

 I have to believe it means something different to you than it does to me.

Rex Lapis. He -- or rather, their view of him -- was the primary source of discord between them. Keqing’s comments about him had incensed her in the past. She couldn’t deny it. And yet, despite the Yuheng’s criticisms, the Archon himself assured Ganyu that Liyue needed someone like Keqing... ..and, ever since he took a step back and away from the safe harbor he had nurtured for eons, she was slowly starting to understand why. It was easy for a long-lived creature like her to grow complacent with time, but humans were ever bold, ever daring. They struck fast and fierce, striving to squeeze every last drop of potential out of their tragically short lives, and that ambition allowed them to accomplish truly marvelous feats.

Keqing was the epitome of that drive. Becoming a member of the Liyue Qixing was not an easy task, especially for one so young, and while the Yuheng could be a bit too overbearing at times, there was no denying her capabilities. Still, that wedge remained between them, even if it had started to shrink recently... As bold and efficient as Keqing was, she could never truly understand why Ganyu was so devoted to Morax. Unless, of course, the half-Qilin opened up. She was never particularly keen on sharing personal details, but, for the sake of their working relationship as members of the Qixing, and for the sake of Liyue as a whole, she could spare some details. Rex Lapis did mean something different to her than most.

                         Almost like magic, Albedo was entranced by a new scenery. Being new to Liyue, the alchemist was taken aback. He's always been aware of Liyues beauty, but never thought he'd come around to see it himself. Quickly pulling out his sketchbook, Albedo began sketching the nine pillars. Wondering what the purpose was, if there was some deep history he was unaware of.

with time, the void in his chest had grown to feel less empty whenever keqing spoke . it was strange to the adeptus at first . he’d been too used to feeling less than whole . thousands of years too used to it, actually . so now that he finally understood what it’s like to be complete, he refused to let go of it .

xiao doesn’t think he could let go of her if he tried . 

‘ i’m aware of that, ’ he begins . taking note of the proximity of their hands, he loops a pinky finger around hers . even this small bit of touch is enough to make him go red in the face but there was no use hiding it anymore . ‘ you’re stubborn - possibly one of the most stubborn humans of the countless i have met . ’ at that a note of a chuckle leaves his throat . 

his ring and middle finger slowly make contact with hers . he can physically feel himself get redder but he does his best to ignore it . ‘ in fact, to this day i find myself wondering why you were given an electro vision and not a geo vision . ’

the adeptus is silent again after that . this feeling thrumming in his chest, it didn’t make sense and because of that, he didn’t make sense . holding full conversations was one thing but laughing and bantering . wistful staring . learning how to smile . these were unknowns that xiao thought would always be unknowns . 

did keqing have some other sort of power? how could she have this hold on him? not wanting to explore that - not yet at least - xiao grounds himself by intertwining their remaining fingers . he can feel her palm tense at the gesture but barely for a second . from the corner of his eyes, he can see the yuheng’s posture let loose . 

he feels like his chest may burst at any time .

‘ it would be selfish of me to keep you here for the length of time i desire . ’ xiao’s voice is quieter . instead of averting his gaze, he looks at keqing directly . ‘ and if not selfish, then impossible . ’ he sighs and tightens his grip on her hand as if she would vanish into nothingness before his eyes . 

no . it wasn’t one or the other at this point . it was both . keqing thought she understood . she didn’t . he knows and swears on the residual emptiness of his chest that if she truly understood, she wouldn’t be here with him . 

xiao sighs again . his breathing is shakier this time . ‘ as i’ve said, there is no use in me relaying this to you . you won’t listen . ’ he didn’t want her to listen . it’s him who’s selfish and impossible . 

he rubs his thumb against hers in soft motions . except now he’s silent again, and now he’s looking away from her . suddenly, it hurt for him to say anything more . but he still tries . his voice is barely audible when he says,