yep, I'll definitely need more of this hehe (I really like it!)
A/N - Hey there! This is my first time writing for Genshin Impact, and thats what this blog is gonna be, starting with this series. I'll most likely eventually create a masterlist and taglist if this gains traction, but in the meanwhile, enjoy!
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Despite having a female Archon, the Ton of Fontain, or at least the higher society of Lords and Ladies, remained as sexist as could be. I knew this, the other women knew this, hell even the Hydro herself knew it. So, when my father announced his retirement and promptly announced that my hand was up for marriage, I was unsurprised.
I mean, after all, how was a little lady like me- despite my advanced training and having already done so- supposed to take over his company? Surely I needed a man, no, a lord to guide me in this troublesome endeavor of running the most successful food production companies in Fontaine.
That's what brought me here. To this eerily lit elevator of rusted metal descending beneath the depths of the Hydro nation. The ever-illusive Fortress of Meropide. Truth be told, I’m surprised that Neuvillette allowed me to go to the Fortress, but something about owing my family a favor let me slip through the secure cracks of this place.
Two guards greeted me once I arrived at the bottom of my journey, and a short ferry ride later I was standing in front of a desk. A rather grumpy looking lady looked up at me from her seat. “Name?” She asked, barely glancing at me before filing papers on her desk.
“Oh, I’m not here because… I’m here to visit Duke Wriothesley.” I responded as she looked up at me, abandoning the papers beneath her. Her eyes glanced at the two guards behind me who confirmed my statement.
She rolled her eyes before groaning, “Fine. Down that hallway and to the right. The center building, you can’t miss it.” She reluctantly instructed as I gave a brief nod of thanks before setting off on my way.
The stares and whispers of inmates were eerie as I approached the… office? Two guards stood outside of the doors and looked at me as I approached. “I’m here to see the Duke.” I stated as I stopped before the door. The two guards looked at one another, almost uncertain as they opened the doors to me.
I wasn’t expecting to be greeted to an empty room, spare the spiral staircase that followed the circular room and a few boxes here and there. The guards that were my escorts had decided to wait outside, so the doors closed behind me and left me alone in the room. “I thought I told you to knock.” A male voice called from the second story.
I bit my cheek in thought before responding, “You never told me anything.” I called back and was met with silence for a moment. I debated going up the stairs, but instead a man appeared at the top. Duke Wriothesley. I had seen him before, albeit briefly, at certain social gatherings, but he looked more disheveled at his place of work. His shirt unbuttoned at the top, a loose fitting tie, his hair a mess, and his blazer being swapped out for a black and red coat lined with fur.
He looked me over for a moment. “You’re not a convict.” He declared, perking an eyebrow. “And you’re not a guard either. What are you doing here?” He questioned, his icy blue eyes almost penetrating a hole through me.
Almost. “Monsieur Neuvillette sent me.” I half lied as he stared at me unimpressed. “Well, he let me down here. Truth be told, I’m here to speak to you, your grace.” I curtsied formally as this seemed to pique his interest.
He folded his arms and looked interested. “Well, then by all means, come up and let’s talk.” He motioned to the bottom of the staircase before heading up himself. I walked up to find an office, and the Duke with his back turned to what looked like a makeshift bar cart behind his desk.
“Do you drink tea?” He asked, reminding me of the package that was held within my coat’s pocket. I nodded as he made a pot. He turned around, deciding it had steeped enough as he poured a cup for both me and himself before sitting down.
He brought the porcelain up to his lips, taking a sip before smiling to himself as he looked from the cup at me. “So, what’d you want to meet about?” he asked, this time his tone was far less interrogative.
I huffed a small laugh before grinning and taking a sip of my tea, all in attempts to reassure myself. “As I’m sure you know, or maybe you don’t,” I commented before placing my tea cup back onto the table, his eyes not moving from mine, “My hand is up for marriage. While I understand that you are one of Fontaine’s top…” I trailed off in thought, biting my cheek as I searched for the word.
“Bachelors?” He offered before taking another drink from his porcelain teacup.
I met his smirk with my own smile. “Yes.” I nodded, picking up my own drink but not bringing it to my lips, “You aren’t exactly in the best of favor with the ladies and lords of Ton.” I informed him as he nodded with a certain admittance on his face.
“So, why are you here then?” Wriothesley asked, not necessarily in a rude tone, but rather defensive without aggression. “I’m not exactly looking to repair that relationship.” He spoke, his eyes now holding a certain fire to them.
I took this time to sip my tea and spoke as the ceramic left my lips, “I’m aware. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the people of the court are not exactly the… easiest… to get along with, however they do hold a certain power here, in Fontaine.” I nodded, looking from the brown liquid to the Duke.
His icy eyes not leaving mine for even a moment. “To put it plainly, they don’t like you.” I admitted as he took in the information without shock. Or without anything, really, he had been stoic since his last speech. “They haven’t made any plans yet, but there has been talk about finding a new Duke of Meropide, one that may observe their traditions.”
The man before me folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, looking at me with a certain amusement. “So, that’s why I’m here. To put it plainly, I hate the other Lords that are vying for my hand in marriage, and you need to be in favor of the Ton.” I spoke firmly, placing my teacup on the table as if it was the final piece in a game of chess.
He puffed out a small laugh. “You’re here because you want me to marry you?” He asked, a playful smile now evident on his face.
“I’m here because you’re the best option. This can be a mutually beneficial affair.” His smile didn’t leave his face as he drank his tea. “As I’m sure you know, my hand is only up for marriage because my father is retiring. That leaves me to take over the company. I see no reason why Cafe Lutece cannot have a partnership with the Fortress, given your welfare meals are… Well, we can supply you with better ingredients at least.” I informed as he seemingly thought it over.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but typically the Lord is the one who will take over the company, what’s to stop me from doing that?” He posed, setting his teacup down.
“You seem happily occupied here in your fortress.” I commented, looking at the walls around me before setting my eyes on his, the smile dropping from my face. “But make no mistake. If you decide to take me up on my offer, and take advantage of me, I have no problem with saying what I need to in order for the Ton to turn on you.” I spoke coldly as Wriothesley’s happiness seemed to fade, being replaced with the Duke’s coldness and strength.
He narrowed his eyes at me as I smiled at him. “Relax, your grace.” I commented, picking up my teacup before taking a sip. “You asked me what I’d do if you’d betray this deal. I have no intention of doing any of this.”
He takes a moment to think before going to speak, “I-” He was interrupted by the door downstairs closing. We both looked to the stairwell and saw a Melusine. Neuvillette told me about her, if I remember correctly her name is- “Sigewinne.” Wriothesley addressed her.
The melusine looked surprised to see me, as she moved her startled gaze from me to Wriothesley. “I can come back at a later time.” She responded as I stood up, causing the pair to turn to me.
“No need, I was just taking my leave.” I spoke before grabbing the sticker book in my coat pocket. “This is for you.” I spoke, handing the book to the melusine, much to the Duke’s dismay.
She smiled up at me. “Thank you.” Sigewinne then turned to the Duke, “I like her.”
Wriothesley lifted his eyebrows in amusement, nodding. I then turned towards him, pulling out the neatly wrapped purple package that had been sitting in my pocket as well, placing the item on his desk. He looked up at me, confused as a small smirk held place on his face. “What’s this?”
“Well, I figured if I wanted you in my favor, I’d come down bearing gifts, your grace.” I smirked back as he responded with ease.
“Call me Wriothesley.”
“Alright then, Wriothesley.” I tested the new word on my tongue, “This is a package of Sakura Blossom Tea from the Grand Narukami Shrine in Inazuma. The best you’ll find on the market.” I nodded, before walking to the staircase.
“Goodbye Wriothesley, and do think about my offer.” I smiled as he gave a nod and I left, the doors closing behind me.
<*>
“Who was that?” Sigewinne asked, placing the drink she had made for Wriothesley on his desk, still staring at the spot where the woman once stood.
Wriothesly didn’t look up from where he sat, staring at the package while he smiled. “My future wife.”
⋆。˚ ❀ pairing: wriothesley x gn!reader ⋆。˚ ❀ wc: 1.4k ⋆。˚ ❀ summary: you play a harmless prank on your close friend, neuvillette, and he decides to retaliate by sending you to the fortress of meropide for your so-called “crimes”
You weren’t exactly a hardened criminal.
Sure you had some bouts of harmless thievery as a child but even then you always returned the item to the owner out of guilt. So, how you got sent to the Fortress of Meropide for messing with your friend was beyond you.
Naturally, it just so happened that your friend was the Chief Justice, and your little prank happened to be pouring out an entire salt shaker into his water as he took a small trip to the restroom. But in your defense, Neuvillette had ordered the last La Lettre a Focalors on the menu and wouldn’t even share a bite with you.
You huffed at the memory. Salty water was too kind of a punishment, looking back at it.
Still, you didn’t expect such a petty thing would have you branded as a criminal. If you had known, you would’ve added the contents of the nearby pepper shaker into Neuvillette’s water as well. That way, this sentence would have at least felt more justified.
After your paperwork was processed, Madeline told you to enter the lift and wait for someone to give you a tour. This would be your new home for a whole…seven days. You hoped you could survive it.
You tapped your foot as you waiting for your tour guide, eyes scanning across the dark, metallic room. Despite the dim lighting, the Fortress sounded more lively than you would have expected.
Just as you were starting to grow impatient, you spotted a familiar figure walking your way.
Wriothesley, you recognized. You had a brief run-in with him only one before in your life— When you were hanging out in Neuvillette’s office waiting for him to finish the last of his work, when Wriothesley decided to pay the Iudex a surprise visit. Judging from the amused expression on his face, it would seem he remembered you too.
Now, whether it was a good or bad memory, you couldn’t exactly say. Though, for the sake of your time here, you sure hoped it was the former.
“Prisoner 8072,” he greeted with a chuckle.
You waved sheepishly. “That’s me, reporting for duty, sir.”
“At ease, solider.”
You rolled your eyes, secretly please he went along with your antics.
He beckoned you to follow him as he began to show you around the fortress. “Now, before we start the tour, would you like to tell me how you landed here?”
With an innocent look on your face, you shrugged.
Wriothesley raised his brow expectantly. “My sources tell me it was an attempted poison of the Iudex.”
Your jaw dropped. “Is that what Neuvillette is telling people?!”
“Just me,” he admitted.
You almost laughed in disbelief. “Well, it’s a little too late to defend myself now—not that I had a fair trial in the first place, mind you—but I at least have to say that poison the Chief Justice speaks of is measly table salt!” With a huff, you folded your arms across your chest. “Powerful Dragon of Water my ass… If he thinks table salt can poison him…”
Wriothesley chuckled at your pouting, patting your shoulder as a sign of sympathy. “For a week-long sentence, I would have expected that you put pepper in there as well.”
Your eyes lit up. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking!”
He nodded in agreement, humoring you as he showed you to the cafeteria, offering you a free meal that you graciously accepted.
“While a week-long sentence may be unjust for your the level of your…misdemeanor, I do still hope you can enjoy your stay here,” he said as the two of you finished up your food.
You considered your thoughts before stating, “I might. If you keep treating me to these free meals.”
Wriothesley laughed, the noise coming deep from his chest, and you grinned in return.
“Oh, what would the other prisoners think if they saw their duke playing favorites?” he said in mock despair.
“So you admit I’m already your favorite?”
“Do you find pleasure in putting words in my mouth?”
“Amongst other things.”
His eyes widened and you flushed as you realized the implication of what you had said.
“Salty water,” you clarified as you cleared your throat. “That is all I was referring to.”
He nodded solemnly, trying his hardest to keep a straight face. “Of course. Words and salty water.”
“Exactly.”
“Noted.” After a brief pause, Wriothesley quickly changed the subject. “Before I lead you to your dormitory, let me show you my office.”
You followed along dutifully, making sure your mouth was glued shut until the embarrassment wore off. When the door closed, he beckoned for you to have a seat on the chair in front of his desk.
“To earn your keep here, we use a currency called Credit Coupons,” he explained. “Now, typically, the most steady and secure way for an inmate to earn these is by working in the production line–heating an shaping metals. A physically demanding job even for the strongest of individuals.”
You almost broke out into a sweat at the thought. Neuvillette would definitely be getting an earful from you once you were free from this injustice.
Wriothesley laughed at the horrified look on your face.
“But luckily for you,” he said, “by special order from the Iudex himself, it was request you do administrative work in the office with me instead.”
“Oh, my gods,” you sighed in relief. Neuvillette was safe for now.
“Don’t get too excited yet,” he warned with a teasing lilt to his voice. “Are you sure it’s better to be trapped in here with me for seven days than to brave the production line?”
You quirked your head to the side. “You seem friendly enough.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He stood up from his chair, pushing it in and waiting for you to follow suit. “Though brief, I look forward to working with you.”
“You as well.”
He nodded. “Now, it is getting late. Allow me to me conclude this tour by showing you the dormitories.”
The thought of seeing your new bed for the week excited you. You were tired from walking around so much and you couldn’t wait to shower and collapse on a mattress—no matter how thin it may be.
Wriothesley dropped you off at the door of your room, watching as you examined the place. You blinked slowly.
He laughed. “Not to your liking?”
“I’ve seen hotel rooms that look worse,” you said while shaking your head. “I can manage!”
“If it is too uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to let me know. Perhaps I can provide you with some special accommodations.”
You hid a smile. “Such favoritism already. Is this what being friends with the Chief Justice does for you here?”
“Connections don’t quell you any favor in this part of Fontaine,” he said. “This treatment is based on your own merit.” He paused. “And the fact that the Iudex specified that he didn’t intend for this to be a genuine prison sentence.”
You almost snorted at the revelation, the pieces clicking together. “Is this his prank in retaliation for me adding salt to his water?!” you groaned, only upset because you didn’t think of this first. “What an abuse of power.”
Wriothesley chuckled. “Such is the life.”
As he got ready to leave you to your bed quarters for the night, he paused at the exit. You looked at him expectantly.
“Did you need something?”
He shook his head. “No, not at the moment. I only wanted to say, I look forward to your assistance around the office tomorrow.”
You smiled in agreement. Who wouldn’t want a break from real life and escape to a prison ruled by a surprisingly benevolent duke?
“Also—“ you looked up to see his sideways grin “—tomorrow’s breakfast is on me.”
With a chuckle, you found yourself agreeing to his offer. “I’ll look forward to the morning then.”
“Have a good night in your temporary home.”
As Wriothesley left the dormitory, you couldn’t shake the smile from your face. If you were going to be here for a week, you might as well make the most of it. At least with the Duke, your time wouldn’t be so bad.
Maybe even after your sentence, you would still come and visit him.
You closed your eyes as your head landed on your pillow. It was harder than you expected. Quite uncomfortable, actually. You made a face.
Perhaps Wriothesley could come up and visit you when this was over instead.
hawks taking a lil trip🪶
Some photos I took of this pretty boy eheh in Natlan
Another ones ehe
If you wonder, shes from liyue and is cryo too (maybe I'll make a post talking about her ^^)
Ah, yes...me, my gf and her giant Hawks-themed cockatiel
Contents: post-war. Hurt/comfort. Fluff. Very sappy.
Word count: 1.8k
Pairing: Hawks x reader
“I look…sick,” Keigo mumbled, looking in the bathroom mirror hanging over the sink. You were both getting ready for bed, and you almost choked on toothpaste as you brushed your teeth when he said that. You rinsed out your mouth and glanced into the same mirror he was staring into. You didn’t see what he saw, you knew that much.
Sure, suppose you looked hard enough his skin was paler, and dark circles under his eyes from a lack of sleep. In that case, his now often night terrors waking the both of you up at ungodly hours of the morning-, the red angry scar that ran down from the peak of his cheek to his neck and exploding across his back where his wings used to reside. Angel wings stained with blood that you used to love to run your fingers through so much now gone, leaving only red scar tissue behind on his once unblemished skin. And he had a problem with it all, you knew he did. But you didn’t; you didn’t take issue with a single thing about him.
“I think you look handsome,” You insist, kissing the scar on his cheek gently, your hand gently running up and down his bicep. “C’mon, we need to put your scar cream on and blow dry your hair. I don’t want you going to bed with wet hair, you might catch a cold.” You giggle softly but there’s no trace of amusement on his face causing your smile to falter.
You take his hand, pulling him back into the bedroom, the wide windows that encompassed most of the left wall gave a view of the expanse of the entire city below. Rain gently tapped against the glass and the moonlight made a soft light in the room. You sat him down on the edge of the bed and flicked on the lamp that was on the nightstand, warm light illuminating the room better so you could see what you were doing.
You gently pulled out the drawer of the nightstand and took out a tub of off-white cream that the hospital had sent you home with for his scars to ensure they healed the best they could. Of course, they’d never leave his skin, it was important to make sure they healed properly to lighten the color of them and prevent any possible infection and such.
You try to take his hand in yours, always working on the scars on his palms first and then his cheek along with the small scar on his forehead and working to his back which required the most care. But he pulls his hand away stubbornly, making you sigh.
“I don’t like the way it feels…it’s too thick, it never rubs into my skin fully and it’s uncomfortable.” He complains. You understood, you didn’t like when your scented lotions were too thick because it also seemed like they never actually rubbed in fully. But there’s a difference between wanting to put scented lotion on and needing to put a cream on for burn scars. He debated you every time. It was practically part of the routine. It was more concerning when he didn’t debate, that was when you had to check up on him to make sure he was doing okay.
“I know you don’t, but it needs to go on. Please, for me?” You plead softly, kissing his cheek softly. You watched as he thought it through before he huffed softly and turned his head from you with a soft whine.
“Fine…You can do it…” He pouts. It’s so cute but you don’t push your luck, you could shower him with affection in a little. In a way, this was affection you supposed. Take care of him like this, how he did with you before the war. You took care of each other, it was mutual. That’s what you do for people you love. You and Keigo have a special kind of love.
You slab the ointment on his open palm, rubbing it into the lines of his palm. If you could palm read you’d say something sappy about heart line or fate line. But you don’t, so you stay silent as you focus on gently massaging his palm. When you’re done you glance at him, his soft gaze focused on your hand in his and you brush your thumb against his knuckle and his eyes snap up to yours.
“Hey,” You smile softly.
“Hey, pretty,” Keigo whispers, moving in to kiss your neck but you stop him. Your palm is flat against his chest.
“Not yet, later. Let me finish first, baby.” You giggle softly. He was always quick to try and distract you before you got the scar on his cheek. Even if he had to play a little dirty by trying to distract you with sweet words and kisses.
He pouted, about to protest before you gave him a quick peck on his cheeks and quickly put some ointment on his cheek before he could stop you. You can see the instant look of irk on his face. But you make fast work of gently rubbing it into his cheek and down to his neck. Moving behind him.
He was already shirtless from the shower you both took, only in his boxers which were old and worn barely hanging on by the seam. Maybe it was a thing with just Keigo, or maybe all men, But he clung to boxers and socks until they were nothing more than a string. You had to harass him to toss them and then drag him shopping to pick up new pairs.
It didn’t make it any more dignifiable that said boxers were quite literally his own merch, a limited edition thing his PR did. The same design as his belt on the waistband of them. If you had any say it was a little tacky but whatever made him happy, and people loved them. No more of that. Which saddened you. No more fun brand deals and such. But at least he still had his modeling gigs, now as the president of the commission. Which meant he wore more suits in them, focused on being more professional and sexy and not just ‘hot blonde playboy-esque’.
You weren’t complaining.
You took a moment to appreciate the expanse of his back. The muscles. His shoulder blades. You knew he was self-conscious of the scar tissue from the burns he got when his wings burned off which are now completely gone. But you didn’t mind. You missed his wings sometimes, of course, you both did.
How they’d protectively wrap around you whenever he got a little jealous. How they used to puff up whenever you’d kiss him or do something he deemed cute. His wings were a core part of him, his personality almost. An extension of his body language. And they were gone now. But that didn’t mean you stopped loving him.
You make fast work on massaging the cream onto his back scars, going quickly to avoid making him uncomfortable for too long.
When you finish you gently trace your finger down his spine and giggle when his posture straightens out. Leaning over to kiss his cheek and getting up to grab a towel from the bathroom. You drape the towel over his head, drying his hair with it. You gently comb your hands through his damp hair for a little while, sitting in silence as you play with his hair before you suck in a breath and pull out the blow dryer from under the bed. Plugging it in and taking your time until his blonde hair is poofy and fluffed up before you straighten it out with your fingers so it’s not as messy.
“All done,” You hum, flicking the dryer off putting it back in its box, and sliding it under the bed again.
“Thank you…c’mere.”
You knew what he wanted.
When he still had those bird avian instincts that accompanied his quirk, he’d always preen you. Sometimes when he was bored or if you had come home in a rough state. It was soothing for him, and you alike. Even now that those instinctual feelings left him, it was his way of having a semblance of normalcy even now.
You found purchase on his lap, and he went to work. His hands straightened out your hair and messed with your shirt until it sat evenly on your shoulders and he was satisfied.
You yelped softly when he pulled you up further onto the bed, pulling the covers up over your body and holding your back against his chest.
“I wanna see you,” You whine softly in protest, hearing him sigh as his arm leaves its tight hold on your waist and you turn over to look at him face to face. You lean far over him to flick off the lamp and then lay back down, the only light filtering through the window casting a light blue hue across his face from the moonlight.
He was so pretty.
You wondered what was going on in his head sometimes. You only knew what he told you, or what you could infer from how he acted.
“We should get married…” He whispered.
You stayed silent in thought for a moment before snuggling closer to him.
“Why now?” You ask.
“Why not now? We have peace…or at least we’re in the process of rebuilding it…I finally have some time on my hands. I want to slow down a little. With you. Maybe make a little family, a couple of chicks running around. But that’s an…entirely different conversation for another night.”
Your cheeks flush at the mention of children, not like it’s scandalous or anything but still. You lay in thought for a few seconds. Thinking it through. He has a point; you can both go slow now. Finally. After being the fastest man he can finally take a breath. So it makes sense he’s becoming a bit more family-oriented. And you guessed after everything he’s been through, his multiple near-death experiences. No wonder he wanted to marry you. You’d been together long enough.
“Okay…but just…propose to me properly, yeah?” You smile softly when he chuckles and nods. His hand comes to gently pet your hair.
“Yeah, I will…It’ll be kind of a surprise…I’ll find a way to make it a surprise, which will be hard since I already spoiled it but still…I’ll make it feel special. I’ll make you feel special because you are.”
“I look forward to it,” You giggle softly when he begins to pepper kisses all over your face before his lips lock with yours for a few seconds before he pulls back, tugging you close against him like you’re a stuffed animal or toy.
“Get some rest, baby. You have a long day of work tomorrow.” You whisper softly, hearing him yawn softly before he hums in agreement.
“Goodnight, sweetheart. I love you.”
“I love you too,”
beautiful man✨
📸! selfie
Ok...I feel weird posting too soon, but here you go :b
Ive been working on this one for a while and finally I finished it ( ╹▽╹ )
Just recreating some manga panels 😗