Work Text:
Delusional
The beginning
Lumine thought finding her brother was goal from the very start however the sudden meeting of the Balladeer made her freeze in her steps.
Their first meeting when he pretended to be kind, to when his facade broke, ready to attack to her.
She knew this feeling well. She had fallen utterly in love with this Fatui Harbinger at first sight and refused to admit it. After all they were enemies.
(1)
The Flowers
Lumine slowly walked over the Mondstadt bridge. It has been a few months since she last seen Scaramouche and she often wondered where he had gone. Paimon was talking to her about Sticky honey roasts that she couldn’t wait to have when Lumines eyes slightly widened at the sight of a short figure with indigo hair and a large hat walking past in the direction of Floral Whisper, the flower shop.
Lumine turned to Paimon and whispered, “You can go ahead and order some Sticky honey roasts at the Good Hunter. I must do something quick.”
Her traveling companion held a hesitating expression before nodding and floats in the direction of the Good Hunter.
The traveller quickly stands next to Quinn and Beatrice to see that it was indeed Scaramouche standing there talking to Flora.
In the Fatui Harbinger’s hand was a bouquet of Cecilias.
She wondered for who the flowers were for and deep down hoped they were for her. Suddenly she noticed the Fatui Harbinger had started walking away from the flower shop and continued walking towards the fountain.
The traveller followed closely behind and ignored Paimon’s call to her.
The Fatui Harbinger had turned a corner where it was isolated from the public eye. The moment Lumine entered the same alleyway, the Fatui Harbinger held a sharp knife to her throat.
“Why were you following me, traveller?”
Lumine stared into his bright indigo eyes feeling herself feel flustered before finding her voice and spoke, “I don’t trust you. The last time we met you tried to kill me and my friends.”
Scaramouche scoffed before moving away from Lumine and put away his knife. He had picked up his bouquet of Cecilias and gave the traveller a glare.
“In case you didn’t know, the Fatui and Mondstadt have an agreement now. I was simply minding my own business as should you.”
The traveller wanted to say something else, but the Fatui Harbinger had already walked off seemly in a hurry.
After reuniting with her emergency food, the two decided to head to the Knights of Favonius building to talk to Jean when they noticed Scaramouche standing outside the Goth Grand Hotel. He seemed to be ordering a lower rank Fatui subordinate and shoved the bouquet of Cecilia’s at him before the subordinate hastily walked off probably delivering the flowers to someone.
Lumine felt sad that she wasn’t the receiver of the flowers or that Scaramouche would have personally given them to her.
(2)
Dragonspine
A month later Lumine was knocking on Mona’s door. Mona had sent in a commission of needing someone to traveller with her to the mountaintop of Dragonspine. After a few knocks Mona opened the door and smiled once she saw the traveller.
“Oh, Lumine? What are you doing here?”
Lumine smiled before saying, “. Your commission? You needed someone to travel with you to the peak of Dragonspine?”
Mona nodded before saying, “Give me a moment. I must pack something and then we can go.”
A few minutes later the astrologer emerged from the door with a bag.
She gave Lumine a nod as the two began walking.
After a few hours of walking, they arrived at the Adventure Guild camp. The mage seemed to be shivering a bit, but Lumine tried not to judge the outfit choice of her friend.
One of the Adventure Guild members warned them that there was chance of an icy storm but the two still continued forward.
The two had been walking in Dragonspine for some time when they saw up ahead some Fatui camps. Before the two could ignore them, a familiar voice spoke, “What a surprise.”
The two girls turned around to face Scaramouche who was wearing his warm cozy Fatui white coat. His eyes traced quickly to Lumine causing her cheeks to heat up before his eyes stayed on Mona.
Paimon was the one who spoke first.
“Don’t sneak on Paimon like that!”
Scaramouche let out a soft chuckle which fluttered Lumine’s heart as Mona scoffed.
“Lumine, we should continue our way to the Dragonspine peak. I am getting cold.”
The traveller could only nod as she began following however, she wasn’t the only follower. Turning around she saw the Fatui Harbinger was walking with them.
Her friend noticed too and even through shiver Mona snapped at him, “Why are you following us? Go back to your Fatui work.”
Lumine felt quite irritated by Mona’s hostility towards Scaramouche however she couldn’t blame her since Scaramouche and Mona had opposite opinions on things.
“I am tagging along to see if you two are not up to something. I don’t want to have reports of Fatui camps being mysteriously destroyed.”
The astrologer could only shiver in response as she turned around and continued walking.
Lumine and Scaramouche followed.
Along the way to Albedo’s camp Mona and Scaramouche started bickering about random stuff. Honestly Lumine just wished she and Scaramouche could have a peaceful conversation in the hopes of her getting to know him better. The bickering continued until Paimon had enough.
“Can you two be quiet! Mr Fatui Harbinger why don’t be nice for once? Mona, don’t edge him on.”
Lumine stared at Scaramouche as he smirked and undid his harbinger coat. He then wrapped it around Mona’s shivering form. He whispered something in her ear which caused the girl to glare at him but accept the coat anyways.
Lumine felt slightly hurt that Scaramouche didn’t give the coat to her but took it as that Mona needed it more since she was shivering a lot.
When the four made it on top of the peak of Dragonspine, Lumine noticed Mona was excited. It had become dark and thus the stars were appearing.
Lumine heard Scaramouche scoff as he leaned against a stone pillar watching them.
She decided to approach him and stood next to him.
“So, Scaramouche what was the real reason for you to join us?”
The Balladeer gave the traveller a hard stare before speaking, “Fatui business.”
The traveller then watched as Scaramouche left his spot by the stone pillar and walked over to Paimon and Mona. She saw that Mona was staring at the sky before Scaramouche stood next to her. A feeling of jealously filled her heart before she joined the rest to stargaze.
(3)
Mona is….?
Lumine was sitting with Fischl, Bennett, Razor, and Mona at Good Hunter.
Paimon was stuffing her face with Sticky honey roast as the others were talking among themselves.
Lumine noticed that Mona was the only one not eating anything. In fact, the girl looked rather stressed and tired. Was she having mora problems? Was her rent not paid? She did look rather sick.
Fischl had turned to Mona to ask something when the astrologer had quickly excused herself. Lumine wanted to know what was wrong with her friend. She quickly got up and walked after her only to see Mona emptying out her stomach in the bushes a few meters away from where the rest was.
“Mona? Are you alright?”
Lumine asked as she watched Mona turn to her with a conflicted expression.
“I am fine, Lumine. We should head back towards the rest. I think I just had food poisoning that is all.”
Lumine watched the astrologer make her way back to the group before she joined them.
Bennett had asked the group to help him with some hidden treasure near Wolvendom.
Lumine watched him fish out a folded paper with a vague map and showed it to the rest. Soon the group were walking in the direction of Wolvendom.
Lumine kept glancing at Mona noticing the girl was rather sluggish in response.
“Mona are you sure you want to come along?”
Bennett asked as even he noticed the girl’s lack of energy.
Mona shook her head before saying, “This will keep me occupied.”
Lumine felt as if Mona was hiding something.
The treasure Bennett was looking for ended up being a chest full of cabbages.
The group all groaned at the fact, but Bennett was happy about it. It was getting late and Paimon suggested they would all camp out. Razor was hunting and came back with some meat as Fischl and Bennett got the fire started.
Lumine and Mona had set up the soup pot they were going to use when fast footsteps approached them.
“Fucking, really? I told you I would be back from Snezhnaya today and I have been knocking on your fucking door for an hour.”
The Balladeer appeared and was now standing across from Mona and Lumine.
Lumine watched Scaramouche give her a surprised expression before he seemed to look like he was sulking.
Lumine turned to look at Mona who looked like she rather wanted to be anywhere else than here. She watched her friend getting ready to say something when Mona excused herself and rushed off into the woods. The Balladeer followed her.
A few minutes later the two emerged from the bushes as Lumine finished making the soup. Razor, Bennett and Fischl waved to them not caring that there was a Fatui Harbinger among them.
Lumine quickly sat down next to Scaramouche who gave her a glare but said nothing as Mona sat down next Bennett.
Lumine couldn’t help but glance at Scaramouche who was rather silent. He only looks up at Mona a few times which made the traveller think that maybe the two were more acquainted around each other and set their differences aside. She brushed off the feeling thinking they probably had a disagreement about astrology.
(4)
It’s not a date?
Lumine knew today was the day she would ask out Scaramouche. The Balladeer had been in Mondstadt more often. Some would say his new home was Mondstadt. She had sent Paimon away to spend the day with Albedo. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Scaramouche who was talking to some of his Fatui subordinates. Quickly she rushed towards him.
“Scaramouche? Are you free? We can eat some dinner at the Good Hunter since it’s rather late.”
The past few weeks Scaramouche seemed to less rude to everyone in Mondstadt. Even the Mondstadt people had noticed his change in attitude. Lumine would like to think it was because of her.
Scaramouche seemed to be thinking for a moment as if trying to remember something when he nodded.
“Sure. I will notify Mona.”
Mona?
Lumine was confused as her crush walked off.
A few minutes later Mona and Scaramouche appeared.
Lumine felt jealous at the sight of the two. Why did Scaramouche invite Mona? Since when were they friends? She asked out the Balladeer and not Mona.
After the three were seated and ordered their food, Lumine was surprised with the number of salads the astrologist had ordered. While staring at Mona she realized the girl did look like she grained a bit of weight. Once their food arrived Mona began eating her salads as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
Lumine wanted to talk to Scaramouche but noticed he was rather busy watching Mona. He too had a salad and was eating it. Once everyone finished with their meal Lumine noticed Mona was taking out her wallet. When Mona realized her lack of mora, she slowly turned Scaramouche who gave her an expression Lumine never saw on the Fatui Harbinger. Soon Sara, the waitress at the Good Hunter came to collect the money and Scaramouche quickly handed Sara some mora. Lumine thought Scaramouche paid for all of them until the waitress coughed and stated Lumine still had to pay for her meal.
(5)
Help, my sword is broken
“Lumine, I think you will need a new sword.”
Paimon looked at the damaged sword that Lumine was holding.
Lumine had just murdered some hilichurls when her sword broke. They were in Windrise so the closest city would be Mondstadt.
The moment she and Paimon arrived at Wagner they noticed Scaramouche was working on some swords. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him. Wagner was nowhere in sight as she approached the Balladeer.
“Hello Scaramouche.”
Scaramouche looked up from what he was doing and gave Lumine a nod.
“Hello Traveller. Wagner is on a break if you need him for something.”
Lumine showed Scaramouche her broken sword. He just looked slightly confused but said, “You can put it down here. I will inform Wagner once he is back.”
Lumine nodded before saying, “I didn’t know you can make weapons.”
Scaramouche just stared at Lumine with a closed off expression before saying in jokely manner as if it was an inside joke to him, “I can do many things, traveller.”
Lumine felt intimidated by his cold gaze before excusing herself. She continued to watch Scaramouche, waiting for him to start working on her sword. A sword made by Scaramouche was a dream.
However, the longer she waited, her sword stayed on the table forgotten. Wagner had already come back from his break just as Scaramouche left. It seems he was just there doing errands for the blacksmith.
Lumines heart sank as Wagner picked up her sword and started working on it.
(6)
The Ring
There was a rumour spread around in Mondstadt that a certain Fatui harbinger the Balladeer had bought a ring from Marjorie. This news made Lumine feel happy inside. The past few months she had gotten close to the Fatui Harbinger. She would say they became friends. To learn that Scaramouche bought a ring made her only think that it was for her.
Lumine was silently wishing that Scaramouche would approach her soon but as the days continued the Balladeer never came to her.
It was only a few days later when Lumine encountered Mona in Lisa’s library. The astrologer was looking at the books on the shelf. Lumine noticed Mona was deep in thought while looking at books and scanning them. Lumine also noticed Mona had gained some weight. Her stomach was slightly showing which Lumine concluded that Mona finally was eating normally.
Suddenly something sparkly dropped onto the ground which caught Lumine’s eyes. She rushed forward and grabbed it from the floor.
In her hand was a silver necklace containing a ring with a star.
Lumines eyes widened at the ring. It looked like a engagement ring.
‘Mona? You dropped this.”
Mona turned to look at Lumine before seeing the necklace with the ring.
‘Oh, thank you. I was so focused on reading i didn’t know it slipped off.”
Mona carefully grabbed the necklace and put it back around her neck. Lumine felt confused. She never noticed anyone that close around Mona. Did she have a secret lover?
“Mona? Is that an engagement ring?”
Lumine watched the astrologer turn to her slowly and just gave her a smile.
“Yes, unfortunately the stars found it was fate for me.”
Lumine wanted to ask more questions, but Mona had quickly put the books back on the shelves before dashing off towards the exit.
(1+)
Golden Apple Archipelago
Lumine had been planning this for a while. The perfect place to confess to her crush Scaramouche would be on an island far away aka Golden Apple Archipelgo.
She had requested Klee if she could visit the islands again which Klee happily allowed. However, Lumine hadn’t foreseen that Klee would have invited all the previous visitors of the island to join them.
It was a reunion of all the guests who all visited the island previously.
Lumine watched Kaeya, Diluc and Jean talk among themselves a bit further from the camp on the island. Barbara, Razor, Albedo and Klee were looking for seashells.
Xinyan, Fischl and Kazuha were in deep conversation.
Lumine then noticed Scaramouche and Mona standing a bit further away on the beach. The two seemed to be in a heavy discussion. Mona seemed to look rather upset while Scaramouche looked conflicted.
The traveller felt worried and ignored Paimon as she hurried towards the two.
"Mona! Scaramouche! What’s going on here?”
Scaramouche’s eyes flickered with an annoyed expression as he was interrupted. Lumine ignored that expression after all, she couldn’t have made Scaramouche angry. It was probably Mona.
Lumine then noticed that Mona wasn’t wearing her normal clothes. She was more covered in clothes. This was very unlike Mona who she remembered wearing very revealing clothes.
Before Lumine could say anything the rest of the group approached them. Klee had happily exclaimed that they should head towards Fischl’s island to see the play with the raven statues.
Lumine felt a frown appear on her face before wiping it off. Klee headed towards the boat as the rest of the group followed. Soon they arrived on Fischl’s castle island.
They were greeted by a raven statue.
Lumine realized it was Ask-Me-For-Directions Arnold who turned to face the group.
"My fair maiden! I knew you would come back for me, and you brought friends.”
The raven statue moved over to Mona.
The traveller heard Scaramouche mutter out a what the fuck.
Lumine watched Mona sigh, “Let’s just ignore this raven.”
The raven statue quickly called out, “Ma,am! Please give me another chance! The first time we met, it wasn’t the best first impression, but I am a changed raven!”
Lumine watched the Raven try to call after Mona as the group continued their way on the island. She turned to look at Scaramouche who looked as if someone spat in his food.
“Scaramouche? Are you okay? Do you not want to watch the play? We can go somewhere else if you want?”
The blond traveller gave the Fatui Harbinger a soft smile which just caused him to snort and scowl .
“What is the raven statue’s problem?”
Lumine was about to answer when Xinyan spoke up, “Oh, look the theatre is here! This is going to be so cool!”
Lumine quickly looked around to see Scaramouche making his way to one of the benches. Lumine’s eyes widened as he was about to sit next to Mona. The traveller quickly again ignored Paimon and walked over to sit next to Scaramouche. She disliked the fact that her crush was sitting in between her and Mona.
Mona gave her a small wave as her crush just crossed his arms and looked at the theatre.
The whole gang was enjoying the play the Raven statues had prepared for them.
Lumine was feeling rather bored and had turned to ask Scaramouche if he would join her somewhere alone so she could confess when she saw he was busy making out with Mona.
Lumine watched for a few seconds as she felt her heart shatter as tears threaten to fall. Her hands shook as she stumbled to speak.
Her noises grabbed the attention of Scaramouche and Mona.
Mona just looked confused while Scaramouche turned to look at her.
‘I thought you liked m-me!” Lumine stuttered out in disbelief. Scaramouche just snorted, “I have no idea what action of mine had led you to that conclusion. Stop being delusional.”
Bonus scene
“Please help me! Some guy with a big hat kicked me and I cannot get up!”
Ask-Me-For-Directions Arnold shouted but no one heard him.