#|frozenambiguity|kaeya

[protectivemuses]

Aether turns to look as the voice chimes in, reminding him he's no longer alone. Not that he couldn't tell the voice by the first moment of hearing it, aside from knowing Kaeya had accompanied him as well. Kaeya's voice was distinctive, after all. Just like each domain set up was now becoming distinctive- And along with that, becoming more of a pain in the ass. While Kaeya takes his time to overlook the parchment, Aether looks back at the valves although he can feel his brain is fried by this point.

Hearing Kaeya speak up again, he looks at the valves once again. "Color.. theory? I know the basics, but not much more than that, I'm afraid. What is it you're thinking?" Perhaps he had overlooked something in the instructions. "And if you're thinking maybe we need the elements to move the valves to open the door, I tried but it didn't work. Well, I can only get two of them, but I don't know how they'd play color theory into this unless we have to activate all three at the same time."

He didn't have cryo like Kaeya did though, so even if he had to hit all three at once, it wasn't like he could until Kaeya had gotten there anyways.

starter for @protectivemuses ( aether ) | starter call.

«If you are taking the instructions at face value and all you’re being met with is needless frustration, then that is a pretty good sign that something is amiss». Light steps echo within the room as the knight approaches the other. Domains were becoming more complicated with time. No longer were they simple rooms inciting combat with specific foes. Now, rooms and corridors intertwined, levels mixed, and contraptions and puzzles hindered one’s progress and exploration like never before. At times like these, patience was required, with a hint of critical and creative thinking. If they wanted to escape the cursed room, they would have to decode the mysterious message in the parchment.

«Give it here». Extending his hand, the knight waits for permission to retrieve the parchment from the blond. Once granted, he takes the time to investigate it thoroughly, gaze slowly scanning each word as he searches for patterns, clues, and more. Although not complicated, the information seems somewhat twisted, intending to incite confusion.

«It seems it is a puzzle we must solve, should we wish to escape this room…» Words are spoken more to himself than the other. Then, he raises his head, eyeing the far end of the room.

«Look at those valves. Is it not curious how there are three of them, and all come in different colors…?» A peek at the parchment once more, before a smile appears.

«Well – enlighten me, dear partner. How versed are you in color theory?»

[melodicbreeze]

Are you nice to Kaeya because you feel indebted? Because of what you did in the past? (I'M NOT DONE)

You can ask me anything and I’ll answer honestly, but only with yes and no.

This one was tricky to answer, because it was partially true... but only partially.

"No." Venti eventually decided on. While yes, he felt guilt, and part of him offered extra sympathy... it wasn't the only reason. It wasn't the majority of the reason. This was a child, abandoned in their lands, who has taken to the country as his own, defending the people within. He loved all of his children, of course, but Kaeya? He's earned that kindness a multitude of times over, even if he never had to earn it in the first place.

[ccaptain]

@frozenambiguity: «Twin, would you ever think about betraying me?» Now, he must reconsider ALL of his allies...

  -he kind of feels like he just walked into the Kaeya Council room and everything is on fire.

   ' AH? we don't... we don't betray eachother, right? '

   ' ━WE DON'T BETRAY EACHOTHER, RIGHT? '

[tenebriism]

«... How much do you remember?» To invoke a dead nation's glorious past in broad daylight may not seem like the wisest approach. At first. In Kaeya's defense, this man had been the one to confront him with what had long haunted him. It was only fair that he helped to satiate his thirst for knowledge, for something... more. 

«Tell me a story... From back then». His voice is quiet as he eyes his drink, playing with the glass's rim. Not a shy request, but a cautious one.

[ surprise, here's one for Dain too! www ]

The Boughkeeper supposes it was... expected. Eventually, this one would begin to inquire as to his OWN identity and backstory, their fates and stories intertwined more than, mayhap, even Dainsleif understood. " My memories are... selective, " he begins, CAUTIOUS as he speaks to the man with matching irises. 'Tis not that he does not TRUST Kaeya; if anything, Kaeya should not trust HIM, with how secretive he's been, and how OFT he has kept, mayhap wrongfully, to the shadows.

" One, in particular, that remains ever constant in my mind... is the day Khaenri'ah fell. I remember where I was. What I was wearing... who I was with, how my hair was styled. I remember how the sweat burned as it trickled into my eyes... how raw my throat felt as I yelled out for citizens and compatriots alike... "

Is this what Kaeya is seeking? A REMINDER of their fallen nation and a tragic recount of it? Mayhap not, but it is one of FEW memories that Dainsleif has that he can vividly recall, and retell, with confidence. Another one, more pleasant, comes to mind... just before the fall, of a life long lost to tragedy and time. A life where he knew how it felt to be human, and not the husk of the man he once was.

" I had a home... " He begins, voice quieting even more, if such was possible. He's never been particularly loud spoken, but vulnerability has seized what little volume he normally manages, " ... one with a garden. Friends who would bring me seeds to plant. A kitten who would bat and bite at the leaves... a man who would warm my bed from time to time. He would weave the blossoms into the strands of my hair, and amidst sweet bliss, I would forget they were there... only to show up to training that very next day looking like a flower myself. The laughter that would ensue... it is quiet, distant, but I do... remember it. "

All of it, gone... all of THEM... g o n e. The alcohol clutched betwixt his own fingers won't do anything--- nay, he shan't be found stumbling over himself from a couple glasses of liquid poison, but oft does he wish it would. These knights are able to forget their own hardships, however briefly, with the very thing Dainsleif currently swirls around in the glass he clutches a tad too tightly--- but that, too, is merely something else that makes THIS ailing knight less human, and more a shell of his former self.

@frozenambiguity ;;

[captivemuses]

@frozenambiguity

[squidsavior-m]

@frozenambiguity | NAOMI, HOW COULD YOU...

Take back what you said..... and maybe she will help her brother out. :)))

[poohwhin]

goddamnit i promised myself i would NEVA give hype to hoyoverse but now my ass is considering downloading genshin 😕

[sadistic-sakamaki]

Happy New Year from your favorite local bully!!!!

[voyage-inferno]

"it's nOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE-"

[zorkaya-moved]

And if she believes he did not have a few more tricks up his sleeve... Allow him to color her surprised. Linguistic proficiency has always been his forte. «Ты прекрасно выглядишь сегодня вечером. То, как лунный свет отражается на твоих чертах… изысканно.»

@frozenambiguity

The night had finally arrived in Mondstadt, a date prepared and planned in advance. She was glad to dress up, to allure, to indulge. Seeing herself dolled up was a nice moment; she liked seeing herself in the mirror, but her mind was more occupied with the thoughts of how this evening would turn out. Would it end with a kiss on the hand, lips, or will she be able to bring the Cavalry Captain to her hotel room? Who knew. It was interesting, it was fun, it was intriguing on its own. The sight of his eyes, his sly smirk, his fingerless gloved, and his touch. Both shared a Cryo Vision; she could only imagine the reason for his vision's receipt.

The moon was high, and it shined down, overlooking everything that happened in the depths of the night. People turned their heads to look at the one standing outside, waiting for her date to arrive. It's not that cold; if anything, it felt quite warm (others would disagree). Sokolova made sure to look at herself in the mirror, noting on how the choice of her dress today was gold to match her eyes and her manicure of a similar color. It all spoke: treasure, enchanting and deliberately dolled-up treasure. They did say that women who were confident in their beauty were the most dangerous. Her hair was down, cascading down her back like silver waves and the moment they caught the moonlight, it would only underline her ethereal beauty. Truly, as beautiful as she was dangerous, but not many should know about it. Or the extent of it. She was, after all, just a scholar from Akademiya who "cared too much about her beauty." It was better that way.

Ah, but who could imagine that Alberich would be able to speak to her in such a way. Her eyes appreciated the sight before her, noting his appearance and outfit style. She was quite impressed with his knowledge of her own language, the light accent only making his words sound all the more pleasant. How smart of him to impress her by bringing up the language of her region... Didn't Mondstadt want all Fatui and Snezhnayans out? It almost made her laugh, but she appreciated it. She was indeed homesick once in a while, missing the sound of her language and the sights of snowy mountains.

Her golden eyes sparkled in the light of moonlight, underlying his compliment. A hand is brought up only to twirl a lock of silver hair around her index finger, acting just a bit more coy-er than she'd ever would. But her immediate smirk and appreciative hum would signify that his words stroked her ego instead of making her bashful.

"Как мило," Zarina bites back an even bigger grin while wrapping her around his offered elbow, stepping closer without looking away from his face. She'll answer tenfold if he wants to play around and be flirtatious. Maybe today will be even more fun than she'd expected, but maybe he'll tell her that he figured out her identity and it'd be hilarious. Not as long as he was in cahoots with the Abyss Order, naturally. "И как мне отблагодарить тебя за такие красивые слова? Неужели пытаешься заполучить поцелуй до начала нашего свидания? Какой вы хитрый, капитан, просто неотразимы."

Certainly, she will use her charms without any shame today.

"Shall we keep each other entertained now on our date?"

*How cute. *And how do you want me to thank you for these beautiful words? Don't tell me you're trying to get a kiss before our date even began? How sly you are, captain, absolutely irresistible.

[the-wayward-snowflake]

«If you were stranded on a deserted island, which three things would you want to have with you?»

"I don't understand. Why would I be on a deserted island?" She asks, taking the question a bit too literally. In no situation would she find herself alone on some island when he can effortlessly fly off of it? "And why would I only get three things?" It seems this hypothetical is a bit lost on her.

"I can turn into a bird, I have no reason to be stranded on a deserted island with three objects."

@frozenambiguity

[delusionaid]

@frozenambiguity sent: [ 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 ] ― sender wraps a soft blanket around receiver’s shoulders , for baby ajax, during their time in the abyss.

It's cold, so so cold; colder than any winter Ajax remembers. Even on the days where your tea would freeze in your cup within minutes you could guess the sun's presence behind the clouds and trust it to come back eventually to warm your cheeks - at least for a short moment. Down here it feels different. This place, whatever it is, feels colder and darker than any place he's ever been to; here the absence of the sun is palpable in the air and leaves a chill in his bones that refuses to fade no matter how much he shivers.

And shiver he does as he's crouched down, tired from standing but too cold to sit on the ground. He doesn't cry anymore. For a while he did but soon learned that nobody will come to save him, no matter how many tears he sheds; just like he learned that calling for help will sooner lead the monsters to his location than anyone able to help. No one here is going to help him.

Except for one.

Ajax startles when the weight settles on his shoulders and he looks up with wide eyes, relaxing only when he recognizes the boy with the stars in his eyes. Kaeya. Almost greedily he pulls the blanket tighter around himself as soon as he realizes what it is, desperate to feel a bit of warmth. It's soft and instantly makes him feel less miserable and for a moment Ajax allows himself to daydream that he's back at home in his bed, cozied up in his duvet and ready to wake up from this nightmare any second.

But there is no waking up from this.

"I want to go home.." he whispers, looking at Kaeya as if telling him is all it takes.

[tenebriism]

«How about a little game? To pass the time». Without an interesting topic to debate, this would be a long, silent journey. Having been dispatched to investigate a certain occurrence, they might as well use their time wisely.

«If you tell me one of your secrets, I'll tell you one of mine.~»

[ for Albedo! ]

" ... I was not aware that imposing upon one's privacy was considered a ' game, ' Sir Kaeya, " the Chief Alchemist softly notes, though if he's BOTHERED any by the jokingly implied invasion of said privacy, he does not show it. " I will admit, I... do house a certain level of curiosity towards you that I do not for most other people. I will bite, then. " Kaeya, after all, is something of an ENIGMA to many, as is the Alchemist who regards him.

What, though, does he reveal? And how MUCH? There is no guarantee that what he gives will be equal to whatever Kaeya opts to offer; he trusts the Cavalry Captain not to come up SHORT, in exchange, but some individual demons are... rather sizable, compared to others.

How much can Albedo TRUST Kaeya, then, and how much trust is Kaeya willing to place in ALBEDO?

" Allow me a moment to consider what secret I may place into your awaiting palms. " He sets his hefty pad of notes down, and raises a hand to his chin, humming inquisitively. The heaviest, most dangerous one, he shall keep tightly locked away until he hasn't a CHOICE but to say something ( and he hopes he ALWAYS has the choice. ) At the very least, though... he can allude to it, without Kaeya even knowing just how much lies behind it, shrouded in intentional darkness.

" The star on my neck... " He begins, tilting his head upwards so Kaeya may get an easier, clearer look at it, " ... is not a tattoo. Rather, I would say it is a BIRTHMARK, if I had to explain it in a way that will not make me out to be insane, but not a conventional birthmark that just happened to shape itself into a star. Not all is as it seems when it comes to me, and one might say this... mark is just one piece of many in a terribly fragmented story. "

That is all he is willing to give... for now.

" --- and you, Sir Kaeya? "

@frozenambiguity ;;

[protectivemusesmoving]

Diluc was no idiot when it came to Kaeya's body language. Years of growing up together before unfortunate events had given him the opportunity to learn as such. But the sight of a pout on the Captain's face? It was a rare sight, nonetheless. If he were to call him out on it, Diluc knew very well that Kaeya would simply deny it.

And he couldn't have that, now could he?

So here he is, sighing and making his way to take a seat next to the Captain as a small first aid kit is set beside him and a hand extended out. "Hand. Now. You need to get it bandaged up before you go and get it infected, and I'm not letting you touch any of the tavern's counters without it covered."

To most, Diluc would have seemed annoyed. But, in a way, it was more protective than anything beneath the surface. Things weren't perfect between them, but they had sort of reconciled by now so the least he could do is help Kaeya.

Open.

If one were to inquire, one would receive a simple response: it had been a mere moment of misfortune. Or perhaps one of veiled recklessness, encouraged by bravado and adrenaline, that knew only how to guide and beg for more.

Regardless, the tempest had passed, making way for clearer skies, clearer minds. What now lies before one is a rare sight, filled with dichotomy. There is focus in the captain's gaze as he stares at his hand intently, though with no apparent shimmer. And, just a few centimeters below, remarkable sulkiness has made a playground out of delicate lips.

Pouting. Kaeya Alberich was... pouting.

This almost begs for one to rub their eyes! The esteemed captain — sulking!? No, no. Surely not! Surely, it had to be some trick of the light... ... ...!

Still.

The slash on his left hand... Stings.

[captivemuses]

Childe, are you curious about Kaeya's eyepatch? Have you ever wondered about what is truly underneath it? Felt the need to untie it, so you could figure out the mystery?

"Of course I'm curious, I'm sure a lot of nosy people in Mondstat are too, but to the best of my knowledge he doesn't wear it because he can't see out of that eye. It only covers a small portion of his face so it can't be hiding some larger burns or scars. But if I were to just take that off his face without him knowing I'd more than likely no longer have a boyfriend anymore, so satisfying my curiosity isn't worth losing Kaeya over."

[squidsavior-m]

@frozenambiguity | “Are you really expecting a positive outcome out of this?” He may be talking about Diluc's unfortunate comment ( warning? ), or he may have decided to simply be cryptic. That is for Naomi to decide!

“No, considering how your reaction was about learning what Diluc told me. But I think his intentions were to warn me. To not get over my head. Like how you’ve told me not to do something stupid again. Because I was being brave."

She gives the captain a light jab on the arm.

“Why are you still thinking about that anyway?” More light jabs.

“Did you stay up all night thinking about it? Instead of sleeping?”