a/n: reference the above photo for the outfit.
[NAME] WOULD always feel safest at home. home was teyvat, and home was liyue. the orange leaves of the trees swayed gently, as if feeling her presence return, almost as a greeting, as the whispers of the wind blew her hair back, her ponytail whipping wildly as the lanterns greeted her and xiao.
lantern rite had always been her favorite time of the year.
not that mondstadt's windblume wasn't better; because, perhaps, in some aspects, it was. but, one couldn't help but feel impartial to their own nation. xiao lanterns floated upwards, a sorrowful look filling his face as he watched the lanterns dedicated to him reminded him of the pain and grief he'd already gone through.
and no matter where she went, mondstadt included, the air felt different. tea and perfume (thanks to ying'er) wafted through the streets of the city, and out in the nature, the offerings to the shrines and statues kept everyone company.
"welcome back, my lady." xiao whispered, hand still gripping her clothing as he stared wistfully at the illuminated sky. "should i fetch your lantern rite robes?"
"yes," she smiled gently. "i think that'd be nice. i suppose i'll meet you at the usual spot, then."
"of course, my lady."
"none of that." she scolded, but it was too late- the adeptus had already vanished.
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╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝
"one thinks it's nice to see you again." cloud retainer bowed respectfully, as [name] sat at the familiar seat on the top of mt. aocang.
"thank you, cloud retainer. are the others well?" [name] questioned, sipping the tea that had been prepared for her, casting a quick glance at the empty seat to her right, with an empty bowl and chopsticks.
here sits guizhong.
"they are." it was rare to see cloud retainer out of her usual adeptus form, but here she sat, with dark red glasses, orange, wispy earrings, and navy hair with white under layers. she seemed young, but, of course, so did [name]. her signature hair pin was tucked into her half-up ponytail. "i see you've changed outfits for lantern rite."
"that, i have." [name] smiled, gazing down at her bare hands that held the cup, thinking it strange to see her bare skin. her typically black and gold hands left only for the special time of the year, and she was sure that, like normal, they would be back the moment lantern rite was over.
"one senses an unwelcome presence." cloud retainer grimaced, shutting her eyes and stirring her tea aggressively.
YOU ARE READING
𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 - zhongli!reader x jjk
Fanfic𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇- a retired god gets much more than she ever wished for, when she wakes up in a room full of talismans and candles, shackled from head to toe, as a man in a blindfold sits in front of her.
