Winter Solstice | Fatui One-Shots (Genshin Impact)

The Letter | Scaramouche

Scaramouche

-

There was a little parcel tucked under his left arm, wrapped in pale blue, as if a cloud had washed over the packaging. It was tied neatly with a thin white ribbon into a bow on top. Against his dark garbs it appeared as if he'd purposely placed it so that your eyes were naturally drawn to it.

Scaramouche had a scowl on his face as he stood next to your desk, tapping his foot incessantly. "When are you going to be finished?" he asked.

"When are you going to tell me what's in the package?" you retorted.

Silence fell over the room, and you continued to recopy damage reports and other expenditures. With each stroke of your pen he seemed only to grow more impatient. You, however, had a lot of work to do and all the time in the world to keep doing it. This stalemate, though he'd never call it that, would be your victory.

He grumbled something, likely profanities, under his breath before fully turning towards you, his gaze anywhere but on yours. "You weren't supposed to open it here."

You stopped writing, this time completely focused on him. The package was for you? You drew out your words, "...Then where was I meant to open it?"

"We'd have been there already if you weren't so stubborn," he snapped.

You rolled your eyes. "You didn't make it sound like it was urgent."

"How can you—" he let out a frustrated sigh. "What am I supposed to say when you won't even put down your pen to listen to me?"

"Oh," you blinked. I suppose I didn't realize I was being thoughtless. "Well, I have been receiving a lot more work than usual. I might have gotten wrapped up in it."

"Might have?" ever the sarcastic tongue.

"And there's still more work to be done."

He grabbed your wrist before you could pick up your pen again. "No, you're coming with me."

He started for the door and you almost tripped over your feet standing up after him. His grip was rough and his stride was deliberate, but rather than trying to hurt you, you thought he might just be in a hurry. You gave in without a word of protest.

So there the two of you were, standing atop the tallest cliff in mondstadt as you overlooked the vast ocean below. It sparkled like shattered glass scattered over a pale sky that had rained down onto the water, collecting each fragment in a disarrayed mural. Waves rose like a slow breath before exhaling onto the shoreline, a clean break.

"Your insistence on working all the time is annoying," said Scaramouche.

"Your inability to say what you mean is vexing," said you.

A gust of wind ushered between the two of you.

He said, "They call this the land of freedom, but do you feel more free here than you do anywhere else?"

"Surely more free than the stifling gaze of Inazuma's archon. At least in Mondstadt you can run as far as the wind takes you."

"What trivial nonsense."

"Did you call me here just to tell me that?"

"No."

Then do you intend to continue evading what you came here for? You turned to him, who was gazing out at the sea, a sort of forlorn emotion swirling deep within his eyes. "Your expression is always much clearer than your tongue."

He scoffed, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Just that you're a fool."

"Watch your tongue, mortal."

"Then stop with the 'mortal' obliqueness; it doesn't suit you."

"Hah, you always point out exactly what I don't want to hear." Then he motioned towards the ocean. "But you're right. I have been avoiding the point."

You didn't say anything in response.

"You're exasperating and impertinent, and I ought to strike you as you stand. But, I find myself unable to do so."

"Do you despise me, Lord Scaramouche?"

"Now you address me properly?"

"I'm sure you didn't know this, but I was born in Mondstadt," you said. "I believe freedom of the heart is as much a right as any other freedom, at least in this nation."

"It sounds to me as though you already know what I brought you here for."

"I couldn't say for certain."

"This has become a lot more complicated than I thought when I first met you."

"Say, if I were to jump off this cliff right now, what would you do?" You said it in a lighthearted way, as if it didn't have any meaning at all.

"That's extreme. What fool would jump off a cliff just to prove a point?" he spat.

"I thought you'd say something like that."

He added, "It's exactly that I couldn't let you do that which makes this whole thing so complicated."

You paused at his unexpected clarification, eyes wide and any semblance of a response stuck in your throat.

"Stop looking so surprised; you'll catch flies with your mouth hanging open like that."

You found yourself carrying on his earlier thought, "You call this complicated, but you're the one who's not making it simple. So state your intentions clearly as there is no one else but the wind to hear you and I."

"As if I wanted to drag this out so long," he muttered. Then, he handed you the blue parcel. "There's something I want you to have in this box, but should you open it, you'll never be able to escape me. Make your choice."

"There was never a choice to begin with." Without a moment's hesitation, you gently tugged on the ribbon holding the thing together, revealing an edelweiss flower and a letter.

"And just so you're aware, I already knew you were from Mondstadt. It was obvious from the way you prattled on about the wind all the time."

"Hm, perhaps I underestimated you," you hummed. You could practically hear the glare he was giving you, but content enough, you decided to let it slide. You unfolded the letter which was written on Inazuman stationery. His handwriting was neat and clear, much unlike his explosive temper.

When you finished reading, he said, "So? What did you think?"

"I see you were listening to my 'prattling'."

A/n:

Hmm, I wonder what that letter said?