circuitice | a thing for gil

a thing for gil

[ 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?

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[ 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?

[ 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?

[ 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! ]

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?

[ 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?

[ 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.

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?

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?

[ 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?

[ 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.

[ 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?

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

[ he teases lightly in response to her playing along ]

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.

[ he laughs lightly, inclining his head towards her, enough for her warmth to radiate onto him.

ah, he did like being indulged sometimes. but now, he'd have to up his ante. ]

Well, it's a good guess. You see, once this land used to be a warm and welcoming place. And that was where the white lady and her lover made their home.

You know, even after seeing all the ruins, it's still hard to imagine people making this place home. Even if not for all the snow.

I think the snow adds a bit of... something to it.

[ he says as he leans closer, gleaning off her warmth. ]

It makes it easier when you think the vengeful spirits of jilted lovers may come grab you, after all.

[ She leans in; it's much more comfortable to share body heat. It really is cold. Besides, he's doing a pretty decent job spinning his tale. It just feels appropriate for the moment.

Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper, ]

Jilted! So the white lady was abandoned then?

[ and of course, he counter leans in, his cheek brushing against her hair as he turns to speak more conspiratorially, ]

That is what the rumors say. That her lover, upon seeing disaster, turned and ran away as fast as his feet could carry him.

[ it doesn't matter that he's making it up as he goes along, she's playing along, and well... he loves a good ghost story. ]

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a thing for gil

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