a lovely sound

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ALBEDO LAYOUTS ?! ☆

“klee?” albedo called out as the door which moments before had been locked was opened, a slightly concerned note to his voice that would normally be rather uninterested. 

the genius alchemist had been informed by sucrose about klee getting into trouble again when he stepped back into the city to pick up a few supplies as well as submit a few reports. if he wished to continue doing research unhindered then the least he could do was turn in some evidence that he’s doing things that are useful. 

instead of taking off against after speaking with jean, the geo user found himself hovering outside the door he knew he would find his sister. he was, of course, in agreement with the acting grand master that klee shouldn’t be causing things to explode so close to the city. ruining the population of fish in the lake was probably.. not useful. but he disagreed when it came to the punishment the young girl was given. 

it’s not right to continue to stunt her growth with her vision and abilities. never mind the fact she’s still so young and albedo would disliked how this would upset her. 

except when involving klee. his younger sister in all but blood is one of the very few who can draw albedo out of that cold shell of his. he was tasked by alice to take care of the little girl and he swore he would do it. but he never would have guessed that he would also find himself caring for her. 

she is, by far, the most important thing in his life. and that’s saying a lot as he has dedicated himself to his craft.

“hello, klee.” there’s a small, but warm smile pulling across his face. the slight softening of his eyes as his arms come to return the hug. touched that she’s so happy to see him and feeling a little guilty that he doesn’t spend enough time with her. too busy exploring and testing things on dragon spine. 

…good morning.

…goodnight.

…goodbye.

…where it hurts.

…where it doesn’t hurt.

…on a falling tear.

…to shut them up.

…in secrecy.

…in public.

…desperately.

…in joy.

…in grief.

…discreetly.

…casually.

…passionately.

…lazily.

…to distract.

…as encouragement.

…for luck.

…on a scar.

…on a place of insecurity.

…in a rush of adrenaline.

…in relief.

…in danger.

…as a ‘yes’.

…as an apology.

…as a suggestion.

…as a lie.

…as a promise.

…as comfort.

…after a small rejection.

…to wake yours up.

…forcefully.

…to pretend.

…to gain something.

…to give up control.

…without a motive.

…because yours is running out of time.

…because mine is.

…because the world is ending.

…because the world is saved.

…out of pride.

…out of greed.

…out of lust.

…out of anger.

…out of envy or jealousy.

…out of spite.

…out of habit.

…out of necessity.

the tattoo shop is an easy walk from his flower shop, nestled just a little down the road and across the street. not so far that when he steps out to the front of his shop to tend to the flowers there he can’t see the shop. it’s a comfort, being so close to the one he cares for so deeply. knowing that at the end of his day when he’s closing shop that san lang is right there for him, letting them have the chance to walk home together. 

today is a ( not so ) rare day that xie lian finds himself closing the shop early. sometimes he wonders if he should hire help just so he wouldn’t need to close to have a social life. and he knows he has a few friends who said they wouldn’t mind but he always feels a little bad about asking that of any of them. even if he was planning to pay them. 

it’s an idea to consider more so though as having someone to cover the shop meant he could spend more time with san lang. 

a small smile forms as he thinks of the younger while hanging his apron near the door and making sure to lock up. his whole reason for closing early today was because of said man. xie lian still couldn’t really believe he had agreed to this but between mu qing constantly poking at him about how he would never dare do something like this, and the fact that san lang always looks so nice with his own. 

and well, xie lian finally decided to get a tattoo. 

he wonders if his nerves are obvious as he steps into the familiar tattoo parlor because even if he’s sure about this there’s still a bit of trepidation about it all. the permanent marking on ones skin. he’s not really worried about the pain but well he isn’t one who enjoys it either. regardless, he finds himself smiling more as he see’s the very reason he was even doing this. 

his smile only brightens as they pull apart, eyes instantly finding the others face. soaking in the feeling of once more being around san lang. he forgot briefly why  he had specifically come here too caught up in the warmth blooming in his chest. 

“mhm, i have!” he replies, confident now that he was actually here. trusting of the man before him to not give him an amazing tattoo. any nerves he had before washing away and he wonders why he had been nervous in the first place. san lang would take care of him, he always has since the moment they met. something that took some time for xie lian to get use to as he’d always been the one helping others ever since his parents passed and he lost his inheritance--no use digging into dark pasts right now.

his hands move to lightly lace fingers with san lang, expression never once shifting off the happy one despite the brief dip into darker thoughts. he was too happy with the other to let it get to him. to happy with the life they have. “i was thinking that maybe..” he started, head tilting to the side a little though his eyes never strayed from the others face as he wanted to make sure he would see his reaction.

back then, xiao wouldn’t dream of seeing himself crossing lands with another all on his own, making a major decision that would effect his future, separate from his duties. but he’s here now, somewhat at peace, agreeing to share a part of his life with aiding aether on his quest. right now, they’re staying over at an inn, taking a long-awaited break. with a knock on the door, xiao lets himself in, strolling inside as he had done a few times before. although their arrangement is still an hour or two away, the adeptus sees nothing wrong with arriving early, if it’s possible.

he’s about to call out to aether, when he stops in his tracks. it’s unusual for xiao to witness aether’s hair untied—but he’d be lying to himself if he doesn’t find the other beautiful at this very moment. xiao does nothing that could so much as disturb the traveller, keeping himself rooted to his spot. there’s a peaceful air as he watches aether work on his hair, forming a braid. it was only when aether is nearly finished that xiao finally approaches, visible before the mirror reflects aether’s features.

“you don’t have to hurry,” xiao says, settling by aether’s side. briefly, he wonders whether aether had noticed he was watching, but he decides not to ask. “we still have time, there’s no rush.” amber eyes follow the movements of aether’s fingers, his own tapping against his skin—for some reason, he’s itching to reach out. “i don’t think it would be wise for you to rush yourself and somehow ruin all that hard work you’re putting into your hair, after all.”

he would have never guessed that after their meeting and tasks together that xiao would end up leaving the familiarity of wangshuu inn to travel around with aether and paimon. honestly, he figured the adeptus would have stayed put as he has for however long he has been there. there has seemed to be no reason for xiao to change his routine after all. 

yet, here they are. it’s a surprise. not an unwelcome one, not at all, he’s very glad that xiao has decided to venture with him. 

the other was a well seasoned fighter and would prove to be a great asset on their trip. sure, aether knows he himself has come a long way from the place he was when he was first trapped here, but he’s no where near xiao’s level, he knows that much. though thats not the only reason he’s glad xiao is here for the traveler would admit he had come to greatly enjoy xiaos company in the time they got to know each other. 

something about xiao had drawn him in from the moment he met and now he has the chance to figure out what that something is. 

his thoughts are stopped in their tracks when he hears the voice of the very person he’d been thinking about. he’s only a little startled when xiao settles in beside him and he hopes that it doesn’t show on his face. eyes moving onto the adeptus as his fingers slow to a pause in their work. “i do and have done this often enough that it’s very... second nature.” he replies, not missing how xiao’s eyes seem locked on his braid. a thought comes to mind as he finishes off his hair, tying the end and leaving it sitting on his shoulder. 

it’s typical of him, typical of the bard persona that he uses when running about mondstadt, to find himself inside the tavern many drinks of dandelion wine down. the night always starting with him merely amuses the masses with some extravagant musical performance. he claims this is his payment for the drinks he is to have but what the patrons aren’t aware of is the fact his tab normally gets waved. the patrons are also unaware that this is not merely a drunkard bard with very little mora to his name. 

but he likes for it to be this way, for these people to know him as venti the bard and not anything more or anything less. after all, he has never wanted to hold any power in this, his beautiful city. 

mondstadt and all her people are free to live how they want. venti merely watches over them when he isn’t sleeping. 

it’s been many years since he has been awake and for this long though for someone like him who's life goes on for so long, the time asleep and the time awake merely feel like moments. a blink in the eye. with everything involving dvalin being taken care of he supposed they’d expect him to return to sleep. and he had thought about it. 

the bottle of wine he had snagged before almost literally floating out of the tavern is brought to his lips again. he takes a long drink, managing to drip some of it down his chin and making a laugh bubble from his throat. nothing like thinking on his existence in the wee hours of the night to really make a god want to hurl. sea green eyes, cloudy from the drink and his emotions, gaze across the city from his perch. yes, this is typical of him too. to be seated upon the largest statue, in the cupped hands. really, this is the best spot to see everything. 

“beautiful, and vast oh how i hope this city lasts~” he sings, voicing carrying in the wind. trying so hard to keep up his cheerful persona, to keep this happiness he has felt more times lately than he has in a while. he thinks back to another time he has felt happiness, and his voice carry's out across the wind again. knowing--hoping really, that his words reach a specific set of ears. 

surprise is flickering across his expression for the briefest of moments as the wind around him shifts just slightly, signaling the arrival of someone. yes, he had called it with the hopes that the adeptus would hear and come to him but venti hadn’t actually thought he would. at least not fully. a part of him knows alatus is and always has been someone who comes when called. knows the way the younger thinks of himself despite the god trying to gift freedom upon him. 

it’s the very reason he’s sure that alatus had ended up with anemo as his vision. the yaksha who is bound by his duty but yet deserves so very much to be free.

there’s irony in there, no matter how much venti thinks the anemo vision is fitting to alatus--no, xiao--there is irony in the fact it was the guardian yaksha that would pair with anemo. the fact that this vision user is someone who willing gave up his own freedom at one point. 

and perhaps it is because of this he shouldn’t have been surprised. a voice in his mind whispers that maybe the feeling of wanting to see each other was mutual but venti is hesitant to listen to it. xiao came most likely out of a sense of duty, maybe honor. he leans to those ideas even if they make his chest ache uncomfortably. 

“do you know how much it takes for a archon to get drunk?” he questions lightly after a moment, shifting so he was leaning against the side of the hands of the statue. not yet turning his gaze onto xiao but arranging himself so he could see the other from the corner of his eye. unable to help the stray thought of he’s as handsome as ever. “i use to think it was impossible.” he laughs the sound carrying on the wind but not nearly as happy sounding as it normally would be. his hand raising to press against his chest, feeling the emptiness where his gnosis would be. “but these days, for some reason, it happens so much quicker.” 

another breathy laugh leaves the bard and he’s finally leveling sea green eyes onto the yaksha. “you wouldn’t leave me to suffer alone, would you alatus?” he teases, pushing himself to stand.  

"What's wrong? Can't handle the cold?"

genshin impact icons pt. 1