[ While he's had one round with searching for some elusive alcohol, he's not ready to give up yet. Surely, there had to be something around, right? So, this man and his tiger are currently standing at an intersection, debating his choices.
He's also since upgraded his attire from nun to ... jeans with a shirt that has no sleeves. ]
[ kaeya, now suitably dressed up, has been scoping out the city perimeter with polaris at his side, now in very serious business wolf form. the daemon has had enough of kaeya joking about just walking into the mist!!!! it's not a joke! very foreboding stuff! so he's been dragged to this intersection by his shirt tail in his daemon's mouth.
and small miracles. in a city of strangers, familiar faces are always welcome. ]
So our paths cross again, how wonderful. Where are you off to?
[ Kotetsu is walking through the city streets, giving a few sparing looks at things as he passes by with his limp. Finley stalks near him, currently in her lion form, head hanging low.
He stops in front of one of the buildings and stares for a long moment, not noticing anyone else around. ]
[ kaeya is on yet another (as it's turning out to be fruitless...) patrol with polaris at his side, one of his hands curled in his neck ruff, the other loose in his pocket. there's nothing, absolutely nothing beyond what they've already torn this place apart for and it's exceedingly frustrating to know that people are missing and it's as though they've vanished. ]
[ hmm it's not every day you wake up in bed with a stranger, especially not one that definitely just had a really rough sunday. kotetsu isn't really a stranger anyways, so kaeya is at least not as startled as he could be.
instead he's just going to wait for kotetsu to wake up at his own pace, just resting his cheek in his palm with his brow raised.
did he sleep in his eyepatch? who knows.
but when he does wake up he gets a very cheery: ]
Good morning, Mr. Kotetsu. We've arrived at our new destination it seems.
[ watching him while he sleeps? wow, what a creeper.
but yes, kotetsu eventually starts to stir and with the voice, one eye properly cracks open to peer at kaeya. well, this is massive progress from last week. ]
It would appear you're right.
[ finley lazily lifts her head, in tiger form, peering around at their surroundings. ]
[ kaeya's only wrapped the shard he found in fabric because he was trying to preserve his fingers, but as he opens the door to their shared room and speaks ]
Hey, Kotetsu, have you seen these glass--
[ he lifts said scrap of fabric, fingertip brushing the glass directly-- ]
by the time you reach the caravan, the sky has opened up and the heavens are weeping. The rain sinks into the many layers of your clothing--jacket, doublet, shirt beneath, clinging to you with the cold realization as you watch diluc crouch over his slowly disintegrating father. your father. your... foster father.
crepus ragnvindr is dying, was already dying, if the glove on his hand is any indication of precisely why. all around you there are bodies belonging to the caravan itself, sprawled and shredded. the only thing that's whole is diluc, and even then, his pristine white gloves are stained crimson with blood, and you're almost certain that while he has survived, he has not been spared.
one of the knights behind you speaks, just loud enough for your group to hear over the torrential rain and the somber music that wafts through the air, it's one of the few things you hear: ]
Even someone like Master Crepus would submit to such a dangerous and evil power...
[ you're here for a reason, you remember. the hands on your shoulders that night had been tight, biting into the bone, pushing a father's wish into your skin, into your being. what will it be? truth or happiness? your father had thrown you into a pit of vipers and hoped you would thrive--the only reason you did is this man who is slowly fading in diluc's arms.
father, you think of the man who left you in the middle of the muddy wet road in your already threadbare traveling clothes and told you to save your home. what more has he given to you but grief?
father, you think of the man who stopped his carriage and stepped out into the ankle-deep mud to pluck you up and take you to his estate, who fed you and clothed you, held you when you sat up shaking from nightmares.
whose eye do you dare to spit into?
blood or bond?
your voice is trembling as you speak above the music once more. ]
This world is truly... fascinating.
[ you're too late to save crepus ragnvindr. you're too late to save diluc who is shaking and trembling on his knees. what makes you think that you could save your own country? your own home? that you could even possibly come close to doing what your father told you that night so long ago.
you're even too late to save yourself, and inside of your heart a dam well, overflows, and then breaks from the pressure.
the guilt burns like a fire inside of you, it melts everything away. were you too late on purpose? was this always meant to be? if you'd been just a bit faster, would you have been able to save diluc and his father both from certain destruction?
diluc is sobbing as his father disintegrates into nothingness and you close your eye.
you might feel tears, or is it just rain? perhaps there's comfort in not knowing which it is.
[ after everything finally settles down and the injured have been properly fussed over, kotetsu works to help get his roommate back to their room. he's mostly quiet, just watching kaeya closely to make sure he's okay ... enough. ]
You should sit on the bed, I can get a bath going.
I'm a mess, we share that bed, Kotetsu. [ and then a shitty little smile ] It wouldn't do to ruin the sheets.
[ he's okay, ish. but tired also. he was definitely going to creep off somewhere, but going back to their room is good, great even the closer they get. once inside, kaeya will ease himself onto a chair slowly. he's covered in dirt and dust, blood and. is just gross so better that than the bed. courteous. ]
[ in his wanderings of the new area, he finds himself coming to relax in the courtyard. it isn't too surprising that he'd find someone else also taking refuge from the heat there. ]
It was kind of strange not waking up to your face this morning.
[ there's an amused little tease in his voice as he approaches. ]
[ oh! delightful! kaeya is resting with polaris curled up at his side in peacock form. the daemon's eyes open and his head lifts to greet both kotetsu and finley. ]
I quite missed yours this morning, [ kaeya responds in kind. no eyepatch, but a colorful scarf in place of the old ripped cloth he managed to use before. ] Come and have a seat with me? [ pat pat eagerly on a cushion beside him. there is a pile! ]
[ having coffee today, sitting side by side and shoulder to shoulder, kaeya hums, pushes his elbow into him briefly and swings his head around conspiratorially close. ]
Hey, Kotetsu... will you tell me about your wife?
[ it's still early and the sun isn't too hot yet. the fountains in the courtyard are a whisper of white noise. at his feet, polaris lays in wolf form, dozing contentedly. ]
[ well, he doesn't mind the proximity and shifts a little at the question. with the cool air still lingering, he doesn't mind having a little bit of sharing warmth, either. so, his arm drapes around kaeya's shoulder, leaning his head to rest against the side of kaeya's. ]
Sure... I don't mind.
[ he lifts his hand looking at the ring with a very fond, slightly vulnerable expression. there's an obvious ache simply from his expression. ]
She supported me with her whole heart. Believed me in and gave me so much strength. Every day she encouraged me to keep on, being who I am. Being a hero like I'd dreamed.
Truth is, she was also my hero. My constant. That's why when she got sick, I wavered... And despite that, she made me promise to keep being a hero. For her. That's why when I got the call... while I was out there...
[ He gives a very weak, halfhearted sound. ]
I came back and saw her in that dark room. I felt my world drop from below my feet.
[ Since Kotetsu left the trial area in a burst of anger, he's been wandering around aimlessly, trying to find his bearings.
That's when he runs into Kaeya in the courtyard, glancing in his direction, but not offering a proper greeting. Finley is tense by his side, settled into her lion form. Does one approach the tense pair? ]
[ one does. polaris in wolf form, remains close enough for kaeya to keep his fingers in the fur at his neck as he approaches, stops perhaps a pace away. his heart feels tight when he sees him, so drawn into himself. ]
May I join you?
[ their house has burnt down anyways and he has no intention of stopping his own antsy wanderings. if accepted, they're gonna walk in the void? of the city? sure. ]
[ standing in the middle of the market, kotetsu can't help but take in a deep breath at all the delicious smells. his tail sways back and forth, matching finley's.
ah. a new place. hopefully this will be better than the way the desert turned out.
he's also sporting a pair of ears that are peeking out from under his hat. ]
[ in his wanderings around, he comes across kaeya, in the tavern. maybe he was heading to his room, but who knows. either way, he's going to stop by the man to see how he's doing. ]
I'd ask how you're doing, but...
[ pretty sure everyone is shitty right now
he also has a crutch that's too small for him and finley is trailing by him in a tiger. his own tiger tail flicking around in frustration. ]
[ bah. miserable. he's just finished cleaning and he's indulging in a drink... his first? second? third? who knows. he's gonna put himself out like a light maybe. he just looks over at the familiar voice. polaris is just on his side, breathing slowly, looking over once at finley and rolling to just lay his head on his paws and watch her. ]
[ kaeya is in the ice garden! and he is? making something? pat pat pat pat. bandages peek out of his turtleneck and jacket and he's not moving his right shoulder so well, but he's still patting a very symmetrical mound, bringing it up just a little higher and higher. doot doot. but he'll see kotetsu approach and lifts his head up, smiling. ]
Good morning!
[ polaris' tail wags happily at the sight of FRIENDS. ]
[ this dumb tiger man luckily does have some extra layers on him, though, the jacket and whatever is underneath is absolutely soaked in blood. it's fine. don't worry about it.
he's still missing his leg, leaning on his crutch which is now set for his size. it has a strange starry type pattern, but it's dim. magic, woooo.
but speaking of tigers, a good girl is walking along beside him with with a dragon perched on her back and peering around. it's about chihuahua sized. ]
[ coming at you in the void with two mugs of steaming tea whenever kotetsu is inside of the hotel. polaris pads in after him, head and tail low and pushed in close to kaeya's side.
he holds out one mug to him. ]
You don't need to say anything if you don't want to... I just wanted to see you.
[ he's sitting somewhere with finley crushed behind his legs in hiding while in rabbit form. he looks up from whatever he was contemplating and nods absently at kaeya. he reaches out to take the mug. ]
[ welcome to the ice bar, kaeya is already sauced as hell and going strong. there's a bottle of something strong and sweet sitting there and he's already draining his glass when kotetsu arrives.
he hooks his ankle around the tall bar chair beside him and yanks it closer, pats the seat a few times. ]
[ now that some time has passed, kotetsu goes to seek out kaeya once again. he wants to see how he's doing. probably not great, but... given that he can vaguely understand some of what he's doing through, he wants to talk to him.
and so, he finds him in the dinning hall and walks over to join him, making sure it's okay to sit first. ]
kaeya's just kind of staring into it for a while, occasionally pushing the swirls of this or that around when kotetsu arrives. he lifts his head up and doesn't stop him from having a seat, even nudges the leg out from under the table, like unspoken permission. ]
[ this pair has been looking around the city, enjoying the familiarity of some of it. it's not quite the same, but the general feeling... is so similar. it gives him an odd sense of longing and that looks is obvious on his face.
when he sees kaeya sprawled out with polaris in the park, he can't help the smile that spreads on his face. ]
[ he's just slowly rubbing polaris' neck, a giant stick that has been thoroughly chewed up and mangled off to the side. he opens up his one eye and smiles softly. ]
Yeah... it's the only patch of green here, I'm not really used to so much... noise and light.
But I can't say it's not fun, there's so much to explore. [ he sits up slowly. ]
[ moisture wicking clothing does not exist in teyvat, which is why kaeya is excited to try it out in the park. polaris and kaeya are waiting in the lobby of the apartments for kotetsu to meet him for a run in the park. sneakers? what are sneakers? they're so funny? polaris in ermine form keeps trying to bat at his lace and he just kind of laughs and dances away from him each time. ]
Stop, stop! Hey! Po, stop it!
[ it's the excitement bleed, they're both just feeding off of one another. ]
[ kotetsu looks ... pretty good in jogging clothes, actually. he probably also has a hoodie on, but Finley comes padding along with him. the excitement off of the both of them is actually really cute. ]
[ working hard builds up a sweat okay, which is why kaeya is taking a break by the river. he's piled his shirt and jacket to the side in a folded pile, his vision resting atop it as well as his sword. of course, on top of all of that is polaris, paws folded and tail curled, head resting on them.
down his spine, the words WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON, TRAITOR?. bruh this week sucks. it's all about avoiding staring at the words on someone's body, isn't it? haha. wow. ow.
he only turns when polaris gets to his feet and announces kotetsu being nearby, tail wagging and a happy grumbly canine-talk noise leaves his throat. kaeya just turns, quickly replacing his eyepatch over his right eye as he does, and offering him a smile. ]
[ finley pads along at kotetsu's side, comfortably back in her tiger form as opposed to her role form. he does notice that along his back, curious, but let's leave well enough alone. ]
I was thinking about it. Probably should.
[ with that, he's pulling whatever he put around his neck off. the words "I let her die" at on his throat. he peels his jacket off as well. ]
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[week 0 ; sunday]
He's also since upgraded his attire from nun to ... jeans with a shirt that has no sleeves. ]
Hmm.. my gut says this way.
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and small miracles. in a city of strangers, familiar faces are always welcome. ]
So our paths cross again, how wonderful. Where are you off to?
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[week 1 ; friday ; after check-in]
He stops in front of one of the buildings and stares for a long moment, not noticing anyone else around. ]
kicks down door
Looking for more trouble, I take it?
[ sir?!??!?! your leg sir??? sighs. ]
NOT MY DOOR
here comes ur weekly dose of fruit
delicious
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screams in speedrunning info before trial
eyes flash open
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w2, room 18
instead he's just going to wait for kotetsu to wake up at his own pace, just resting his cheek in his palm with his brow raised.
did he sleep in his eyepatch? who knows.
but when he does wake up he gets a very cheery: ]
Good morning, Mr. Kotetsu. We've arrived at our new destination it seems.
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but yes, kotetsu eventually starts to stir and with the voice, one eye properly cracks open to peer at kaeya. well, this is massive progress from last week. ]
It would appear you're right.
[ finley lazily lifts her head, in tiger form, peering around at their surroundings. ]
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w1, monday night memshare (1/2)
Hey, Kotetsu, have you seen these glass--
[ he lifts said scrap of fabric, fingertip brushing the glass directly-- ]
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you're too late.
by the time you reach the caravan, the sky has opened up and the heavens are weeping. The rain sinks into the many layers of your clothing--jacket, doublet, shirt beneath, clinging to you with the cold realization as you watch diluc crouch over his slowly disintegrating father. your father. your... foster father.
crepus ragnvindr is dying, was already dying, if the glove on his hand is any indication of precisely why. all around you there are bodies belonging to the caravan itself, sprawled and shredded. the only thing that's whole is diluc, and even then, his pristine white gloves are stained crimson with blood, and you're almost certain that while he has survived, he has not been spared.
one of the knights behind you speaks, just loud enough for your group to hear over the torrential rain and the somber music that wafts through the air, it's one of the few things you hear: ]
Even someone like Master Crepus would submit to such a dangerous and evil power...
[ you're here for a reason, you remember. the hands on your shoulders that night had been tight, biting into the bone, pushing a father's wish into your skin, into your being. what will it be? truth or happiness? your father had thrown you into a pit of vipers and hoped you would thrive--the only reason you did is this man who is slowly fading in diluc's arms.
father, you think of the man who left you in the middle of the muddy wet road in your already threadbare traveling clothes and told you to save your home. what more has he given to you but grief?
father, you think of the man who stopped his carriage and stepped out into the ankle-deep mud to pluck you up and take you to his estate, who fed you and clothed you, held you when you sat up shaking from nightmares.
whose eye do you dare to spit into?
blood or bond?
your voice is trembling as you speak above the music once more. ]
This world is truly... fascinating.
[ you're too late to save crepus ragnvindr. you're too late to save diluc who is shaking and trembling on his knees. what makes you think that you could save your own country? your own home? that you could even possibly come close to doing what your father told you that night so long ago.
you're even too late to save yourself, and inside of your heart a dam well, overflows, and then breaks from the pressure.
the guilt burns like a fire inside of you, it melts everything away. were you too late on purpose? was this always meant to be? if you'd been just a bit faster, would you have been able to save diluc and his father both from certain destruction?
diluc is sobbing as his father disintegrates into nothingness and you close your eye.
you might feel tears, or is it just rain? perhaps there's comfort in not knowing which it is.
you know what you must do. ]
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[week 2 ; friday ; after cyoa return]
You should sit on the bed, I can get a bath going.
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[ he's okay, ish. but tired also. he was definitely going to creep off somewhere, but going back to their room is good, great even the closer they get. once inside, kaeya will ease himself onto a chair slowly. he's covered in dirt and dust, blood and. is just gross so better that than the bed. courteous. ]
But a bath. I'd be most grateful for. Water.
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[week 3 ; monday]
It was kind of strange not waking up to your face this morning.
[ there's an amused little tease in his voice as he approaches. ]
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I quite missed yours this morning, [ kaeya responds in kind. no eyepatch, but a colorful scarf in place of the old ripped cloth he managed to use before. ] Come and have a seat with me? [ pat pat eagerly on a cushion beside him. there is a pile! ]
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w3, wednesday morning?
Hey, Kotetsu... will you tell me about your wife?
[ it's still early and the sun isn't too hot yet. the fountains in the courtyard are a whisper of white noise. at his feet, polaris lays in wolf form, dozing contentedly. ]
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Sure... I don't mind.
[ he lifts his hand looking at the ring with a very fond, slightly vulnerable expression. there's an obvious ache simply from his expression. ]
She supported me with her whole heart. Believed me in and gave me so much strength. Every day she encouraged me to keep on, being who I am. Being a hero like I'd dreamed.
Truth is, she was also my hero. My constant. That's why when she got sick, I wavered... And despite that, she made me promise to keep being a hero. For her. That's why when I got the call... while I was out there...
[ He gives a very weak, halfhearted sound. ]
I came back and saw her in that dark room. I felt my world drop from below my feet.
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[week 3 ; saturday ; post-trial]
That's when he runs into Kaeya in the courtyard, glancing in his direction, but not offering a proper greeting. Finley is tense by his side, settled into her lion form. Does one approach the tense pair? ]
swans in here
May I join you?
[ their house has burnt down anyways and he has no intention of stopping his own antsy wanderings. if accepted, they're gonna walk in the void? of the city? sure. ]
Kyaaa
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[week 4 ; monday]
ah. a new place. hopefully this will be better than the way the desert turned out.
he's also sporting a pair of ears that are peeking out from under his hat. ]
[week 4 ; saturday ; post-trial]
I'd ask how you're doing, but...
[ pretty sure everyone is shitty right now
he also has a crutch that's too small for him and finley is trailing by him in a tiger. his own tiger tail flicking around in frustration. ]
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Tough night, I guess.
[ he laughs, weakly. ]
Sit with me. Please...
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w5, monday
Good morning!
[ polaris' tail wags happily at the sight of FRIENDS. ]
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he's still missing his leg, leaning on his crutch which is now set for his size. it has a strange starry type pattern, but it's dim. magic, woooo.
but speaking of tigers, a good girl is walking along beside him with with a dragon perched on her back and peering around. it's about chihuahua sized. ]
Morning.
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w5, friday
he holds out one mug to him. ]
You don't need to say anything if you don't want to... I just wanted to see you.
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...I'm not the one hurting the most right now.
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w5, saturday post-trial
he hooks his ankle around the tall bar chair beside him and yanks it closer, pats the seat a few times. ]
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Making sure to drink some water with that?
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[week 5 ; sunday ; post-execution]
and so, he finds him in the dinning hall and walks over to join him, making sure it's okay to sit first. ]
It really sucks to be in there, doesn't it?
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goodsoup.kaeya's just kind of staring into it for a while, occasionally pushing the swirls of this or that around when kotetsu arrives. he lifts his head up and doesn't stop him from having a seat, even nudges the leg out from under the table, like unspoken permission. ]
Like nothing I've ever felt.
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[week 6 ; monday]
when he sees kaeya sprawled out with polaris in the park, he can't help the smile that spreads on his face. ]
Comfortable?
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Yeah... it's the only patch of green here, I'm not really used to so much... noise and light.
But I can't say it's not fun, there's so much to explore. [ he sits up slowly. ]
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w6, tuesday morning (early!)
Stop, stop! Hey! Po, stop it!
[ it's the excitement bleed, they're both just feeding off of one another. ]
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[ kotetsu looks ... pretty good in jogging clothes, actually. he probably also has a hoodie on, but Finley comes padding along with him. the excitement off of the both of them is actually really cute. ]
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w7, tuesday by the river
down his spine, the words WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON, TRAITOR?. bruh this week sucks. it's all about avoiding staring at the words on someone's body, isn't it? haha. wow. ow.
he only turns when polaris gets to his feet and announces kotetsu being nearby, tail wagging and a happy grumbly canine-talk noise leaves his throat. kaeya just turns, quickly replacing his eyepatch over his right eye as he does, and offering him a smile. ]
Come to wash up as well?
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I was thinking about it. Probably should.
[ with that, he's pulling whatever he put around his neck off. the words "I let her die" at on his throat. he peels his jacket off as well. ]
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1/2
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