a thing for gil

[circuitice]

[ Well! When he was asked to come with the Traveler to Dragonspine, he didn't think they'd actually be staying overnight. He would have brought a few more provisions. But, well, you know. Hindsight.

Luckily, he's not overly bothered by cold. So it could be worse, as long as they've got a fire and a good ghost story to share... ]

Have you ever spent the night here before?

Comments

[glidinglight]

[ For her own part, she almost regrets not bringing a pyro vision holder along--but finding a lit torch they could "borrow" from some treasure hoarders was still probably a lot easier than convincing Diluc to come along on a three-person mission with Kaeya. She looks up from where she's finished securing the last corner of the tent. ]

I was game to, but Paimon always insisted once it started getting dark not even the hottest soup could warm her up.

[ Which was why Kaeya was here with her, instead, and Paimon was snuggly tucked away in the cozy Adepti's Teapot Realm. ]

Have you?

[circuitice]

[ convincing Diluc was so obviously a poor choice, but thankfully, Kaeya can politely ignore that she ever considered it. Or pretend he never knew she would consider it. All reasonable, valid options. ]

Hahaha, or she was scared. There are plenty of ghost stories surrounding this place. I wouldn't be entirely surprised to find that even she picked up on it.

[ which wasn't a direct answer-- ]

Would you like to hear one?

[glidinglight]

[ Listen. Maybe she just thinks the two of you need an opportunity to patch things up! Camping in a forest with no distractions would either be great for that or disastrous.

Luckily, she came to her senses in time. ]

Oh, you think you can scare me huh? Go ahead, bring it.

[ She's interacted with the REAL thing a few times now. It's going to be hard to scare her, Kaeya! ]

[circuitice]

Oh, far from it. You are, after all, the brave and powerful Traveller. But... I suppose I should tell you the things that truly frighten me, hm?

It's only fair, since we have to keep distracted for the rest of the night.

Tell me, Traveller, what do you think happens to the regrets of this world?

[glidinglight]

[ A puzzle, hm? She sobers up and considers carefully what he's asked her. ]

To the regrets of this world? ... I guess they probably end up in the same place as the grudges.

[ Which is to say-- ]

They linger, festering among us, until they can become something tangible again. Is that it?

[circuitice]

[ he laughs lightly, a little at odds with the subject matter he's discussing. ]

Of course. And Dragonspine... Well, it's a land full of regret. So much so that it infects the land... and the people around it. Often, unfortunate guests say they feel the weight of an entire civilization.

[glidinglight]

Given the ruins here, I'd say that they're not all that far off. Have you explored much of this place in the past?

[circuitice]

I'm often very busy in Mondstadt.

But not so busy I don't hear rumors of the white lady.

[ he leans in, almost conspiratorial, at that.

not because of warmth, obviously. ]

Have you heard her legend, Traveler?

[glidinglight]

[ Clearly, clearly. ]

"The white lady?"

[ She arches an eyebrow. ]

No, the books failed to mention anything about a woman in white.

[ She's not sure that this isn't just Kaeya trying to pull a fast one on her. But... it's entertaining enough, and she doesn't get to spend that much time with him. One tall-tale seems like a fair trade in exchange for that. ]

Who is she?

[circuitice]

[ guilty as charged, but there's something exciting about the way she's playing along with his jests. the children, and the nuns, would have already been scandalized. but this? this is an important performance. and so, he outstretches a hand gesturing over the snow. ]

No one entirely knows. Ah, if we had a name, perhaps we could put her to rest.

[ he steals a glance at her ]

But some say she's the first person to have frozen here on the mountain, as she waited for someone who would never return.

[glidinglight]

[ She is indeed playing along, eyes going faux-wide and doe-like as she considers the story. ]

Goodness. In order to be willing to wait that long in a place like this... it must have been a very important person she was waiting for. A lover, you think?

[circuitice]

Are you sure you haven't heard this story before?

[ he teases lightly in response to her playing along ]

[glidinglight]

I'm the Traveler. I've heard all kinds of stories in all kinds of places. But maybe not this one. Keep going, let's see.

a corruption psl starter? yes.

[circuitice]

[ Imagine his surprise when this piece of intel dropped into his lap. And the even greater surprise when he learned that Diluc was... too indisposed to handle it.

An abyss plot-- likely far too difficult to involve the knights in, without creating a sort of quagmire. And jeopardizing everything, really. The knights could be too clunky at times.

But, if he was going to go after it himself, there was a certain lady that he wouldn't mind having by his side. At least for this particular plot. So, he waits near Good Hunter, as he'd heard that she'd been in town recently... And that seemed like a safe place to eventually find her. ]

Re: a corruption psl starter? yes.

[glidinglight]

[ The Good Hunter was in fact a very good bet for finding Lumine--if she was known for two things in Teyvat, it was her willingness to take on odd tasks for treasure and her love of a good, large meal. This morning she was planning to eat her fill for breakfast, especially since Paimon was sleeping in at the inn. If she'd expected to see any of the knights at the restaurant, it would have been Amber, not Kaeya.

So it was with surprise that she found him loitering around the premises. Since he was there, though, she couldn't help but feel there was a purpose to it. After all, Kaeya was the sort of person where any movement had a calculated purpose. ]

Well, if it isn't the Captain of the Cavalry. It's been a while.

[ It's unasked, to what does she owe the pleasure, but she assumes he'll get to in good time. ]

[circuitice]

Oh?

[ he says as though he's surprised-- but he isn't surprised at all. ]

I was just thinking of you, and here you are! How lucky for me. I had something I wanted to discuss with you, actually.

[glidinglight]

[ Well, that just about cinches it then. ]

Over breakfast I hope?

[circuitice]

[ he laughs lightly. ]

I think this may be better discussed on a lovely walk. After all, I do have my rounds that I'll need to see to!

[ though, he is assuming she'll understand the need for discretion, at least on this topic. ]

[glidinglight]

[ Ah... her breakfast.... She pouts just a little but relents. ]

All right. But whatever you've got had better be extra juicy to make up for me missing out on Good Hunter's Tea Break Pancakes.

[ They are the the second best pancakes in Teyvat, after all, save for Noelle's signature dish. ]

[circuitice]

I think you'll find it very interesting.

And, of course, there will surely be time to make up for the lost meal later, yes?

[glidinglight]

[ She's much too curious to stay huffy for long. Kaeya has more secrets than there are cards in a deck, and anything he really thinks is especially interesting is sure to be promising. ]

All right. Where to, then?

[circuitice]

Would you believe that my rounds take us to Starsnatch Cliff today?

[ he says lightly as he pushes himself away from the table, and inclines his head towards the front gates ]

[glidinglight]

That's quite the trip.

[ She nods, taking the first few strides toward the city gates. ]

Let me guess, you're out there gathering a bouquet of Cecilia for some new lady-love and you need a hand choosing the best ones?

[ This was definitely not the case, but it was no secret that Kaeya was very popular with the ladies--and some of the lads, too--in Mondstadt. If she was going to forgo her breakfast until later, then she was at least going to tease him. Besides, if a rumor did break out that he was seeing someone, it would distract most of the town busybodies from thinking too hard about what they might actually be doing out there. ]

[circuitice]

[ he sees what she is doing there, and just laughs lightly as they head towards the gate. It's not a confirmation, but it could be read as one... for those that didn't know him all that well. ]

What an interesting guess!

[ as they walk past the gates, and get further away from prying ears-- ]

The cecilias are quite lovely this time of year...

[ and once he is sure the knights can no longer hear-- ]

But I received a tip today on a certain order that felt too compelling to not investigate.

[glidinglight]

[ A certain order. That could only mean one thing. ]

You don't say. They must have thought if they stayed far enough away no one would catch wind of them.

[ Too bad for them this was the city of winds. ]

So what's the plan? Are we spying?