[He lifts his head up off the stone and both ears pop up. Kaeya sits up. One more twitch and his pupil widens.]
Go on. [His tail bushes up and swishes but, it's not in agitation. A smile is stealing itself across his face. It would be a return to what he knows and that's something. Something good.]
I can walk. [Kaeya says but he accepts the hand up. He reaches back to gather his hair together, letting it spill back over his shoulder again.]
But I plan to be unable to by the night's end. [He's going to get utterly, stinking drunk. There's no work to worry about (other than work he puts on himself) and no one to give him looks for being tanked to the gills.
Other than Takame. Oh well, sorry new technically co-worker.]
[Contact with the alliance always had to be done through messengers, they were a busy lot and couldn't be expected to meet with the Warrior of Light at any time. And he wasn't fully aware of the situation in the other cities either, given the Towers and now the Abyss Order making a mess of things.
Regardless, Takame was a man of his word. Once contact was established, he led Kaeya into Ishgard, seeing to it that both their birds were tended to before making his way to the Forgotten Knight.
A quick greeting to the proprietor he requested that some subtle arrangements be made to ensure privacy. After some words exchanged muffled under the volume of general (likely drunk) conversation, he bowed in thanks then took his seat at one of the tables in the far back gesturing for Kaeya to follow.]
[A lazy, relaxed smile spreads across Kaeya's face. He presses a hand to his chest and bows his head.] You're too kind.
[He drapes his tail around the back of his chair. He gets a few wines just to try them. They're not bad. But he finds a nice chill red he polishes off several bottles without feeling even slightly tipsy.]
[Kaeya seemed the sort to enjoy the finer things in life. In heavy supply at once. But Takame made the offer and he would stand by it.
For Takame's part, he sampled one of the wines that was the most recently opened but only took the occasional sip. One of them needed to be lucid and in honesty he preferred wine or something stronger served in a shot over Eorzean ale.
Seeing Kaeya go through a few bottles and noting that none of his inhibitions were lowered... well either he had a better poker face than Takame or this ascension was worse than Takame imagined.]
Even Barbatos can get drunk! Maybe there’s a threshold? [He grumbles as he sips his wine. It’s bottle four and he hasn’t seen the end of this tolerance yet.
But by the end of the sixth bottle he tucks himself closer to Takame, his tail lazily swaying as he holds the bottle in one hand. His head is bowed but his ears are still upright.]
Oh, there it is. [He says with a slight slur and his left ear twitches several times.]
[There's a soft hum in lieu of a "Maybe". There were legends of kami drinking the finest sake but no specification on whether they could get drunk off of it. But he didn't know much about said legends either.
He ought to ask his mother some time, he thought idly as he noticed the increasing worry and aggravation of the proprietor and servers respectively. It's with a small shrug of his shoulders and shake of his head that Takame tried to ease their concerns. He certainly owed some kind of explanation later.
Where Kaeya was on bottle six, Takame barely finished with his second glass when the Miqo'te scooched in close to him. He didn't shy away, but didn't lean into it. And he definitely took note of the slur.]
Mmhmm, [He drags the words out in a smooth almost sing song tone. His tail brazenly brushes against Takame then settles. He lets go of the bottle and grabs his own tail.
Nope. This isn’t someone he knows super well. If it were Lisa he’d just lay his tail across her lap. She’d pet it as if it was just a thing they did every day.]
Found it. You should tell the nice worried people, I’m fine. My tolerance is just very high and I’m no danger to myself.
[There’s a pause as his tail curls around his own hand.] Mm, it’s warmer here. None of that low grade Cryo energy in the city. Nice to rest.
Ah, of course... [That's what they all say, Kaeya. He wouldn't believe it if he didn't see the man gain an influx of power right before his eyes.
But maybe he didn't have the right. The delays in his sips only allowed the alcohol to sink in deeper, and finishing off the second glass finally he did one more swift head shake and his vision blurred afterwards.
Perhaps he should have gotten something to eat before drinking. When he felt Kaeya's tail drift over his, his own tail hovered briefly over Kaeya's in response. It drooped some after he pulled it back.]
Mm. The Forgotten Knight is kept warm enough. [Takame wasn't slurring, but he was letting a few more words slip. Opinions.] It is still far too cold.
[Kaeya nods, cracking open a seventh bottle and pouring more for himself. He takes his cup and swirls the contents. Like someone very, very used to wine and how to open it. He takes a sip.]
It’s the ambient magic. Whatever happened to this region...when we crossed into it I felt the energy blanketing everything. It would be green without it.
Closer to Mondstadt’s temperatures, maybe? [He gestures loosely,] caused me so much pressure and pain. On the other side of it I’m just...aware.
In centuries time, this blanket will just be part of the energy of the land. Mm, but that’s just a theory. [He leans into Takame with a hum as he lets go of his tail.]
I don’t want to think too much. Been thinking without end for months. Usual vices were out.
[Vaguely tipsy or not, Takame listened carefully to Kaeya as he poured another cup for himself as well.]
A product of the Calamity. I hail from Doma and did not come to Eorzea until five years after it happened, but along my travels and the word of the people here I did learn that Coerthas was indeed once a verdant land. I've only ever known it to be cold. [He took a sip, the more he spoke a faint slur could be heard. And his tail wandered, looking for something to touch.]
Ah, my knowledge of aether is rather limited however.
[Without his hands on it, his tail brushes Takame’s. He doesn’t seem to be paying attention to it. His mind is on what he’s heard.
At his heart, Kaeya is a strategist.]
I’m not the knight with a study in it. But she always told me that there is...depth to magic. There are layers we see and feel and then those deeper, beyond them. Again not my field. Give me men and a strategy and I can chart a path.
But I think I see what she means now. It’s like I was deaf and blind before. Eddies and currents. A storm that only some can see.
[Even when sober Takame only had loose grip on how his tail acted. His tail was the most honest part of him the way it touched Kaeya's. Too honest.
He was the one that complimented strategists. Poor at planning but good in executing the ideas of those that come up with them. Give him a job and he'll see it done.]
Even in this realm seeing the flow of aether in the air is not common. The Echo grants me the ability to do so unconsciously. Though without knowledge of the subject the ability means next to nothing. [A useless ability in his hands. There's a sharp breath let out through his nose as he takes a bigger sip of his wine then slumped a bit in his chair.]
...we feel elemental energies and can trigger the sight to see traces of elemental energy. To use such powers without a Vision is for those outside our world or, gods.
[He leans into Takame so they're hip to hip now as he says,] But I would never be so quick as to assume an ability is useless. You dodged my attacks when we first met. I assume seeing the energy gathering and it's path is what led you to avoid them.
That's quite useful for the biggest goal of all. Surviving.
I would be a rather poor warrior if I did not know how to evade. Ah, but perhaps you have a point... [Quick to fold, this one. But even he could admit such thoughts were spurred by his desire to be useful outside of a fight. Growth in one's self is the hardest to see.] So long as I'm... needed, I will do what I must to survive.
[He hasn't heard Her voice, but Hydaelyn won't allow anything less than his survival. He finished off his cup and set it back on the table, but didn't move away from Kaeya. In fact now his tail was pointedly lingering over Kaeya's.]
[His tail winds around Takame’s as he rests his cheek against Takame’s arm. He raises an eyebrow as he stares up at him.] Oh? I wouldn’t call myself a cold person.
I’m quite warm. Unless you mean my body. That’s probably just a temporary side effect. I’ll be warm and hung over tomorrow.
Ah, no, your body... [Corrected quickly, muscles tensing up. He didn't want to cause offense. Fearing that he might have anyway, he tried to change direction.]
You don't seem like a cold man. [... steer further.] Your hair and tail are soft. [There's an unconscious swish of his own with Kaeya's coiled around it.
Then the reality of how much he had to drink set in. And the morning.]
Hung over... [Ah. Takame mumbled something under his breath, some kind of swear in his first language. And then more notable slurring.] I suppose we both are.
Like I said, a temporary side effect. I am slightly colder than most people, all with Cryo visions are. We’re not like those Pryo users.
[He sighs and the tip of his tail curls.] They’re always so warm. But Mm, don’t worry about hangovers. Just enjoy right now. You’re warm.
[And he is utterly drunk. It’s nice to turn off his thoughts. He doesn’t have to feel responsible for anything.] Nice to have a vice back.
For a little while, anyway. I’ll make us ice packs in the morning. I am handy in some ways... [He smiles a little, eye shut. He doesn’t seem offended at all. He might even look very relaxed.]
That would make sense... [For what little he understood of these visions, being saddled with an element would make one's temperature run one way or another.
He would prefer to be warm, but no warm element would ever capture him. He was far too listless. There's a soft huff as he rests his cheek against one of the warmer parts of Kaeya, his hair. Enjoy right now, he says. His sister spoke similarly, he couldn't help but comply.]
Mm, you have my thanks. [And let some curiosity take over greater sense.] ... what vice?
Drinking. Oh, I'm 'responsible' about it despite what a certain someone thinks. [He makes a wide sweeping gesture and he laughs without any humor to it. Will he ever see Diluc again? Who will keep him nailed to reality without him around? Would he care if he's missing?
His thoughts forcibly turn away from that. They both fight for Mondstadt. Diluc will be there if he ever finds his way back home.]
The other one best not to get into here. Back home, one-night stands are fine. Here, a little trickier, I'd imagine.
Someone? [A head tilt, not commenting on the responsible claim and the seven empty bottles he went through.] The young blonde man? [A pause.] His pixie companion?
[She seemed the opinionated, well meaning but judgmental type. Much like Feo Ul, but with less tendency to act on the threats. But maybe it didn't matter.]
... Few in this realm mind from what I understand. So long as it isn't spoken of later on. [Not just Eorzeans either, Othardians too though they're much more strict about their closed door policy. Takame didn't want to imply he knew from experience but... well.]
[Kaeya flicks an ear and sighs, grabbing the bottle on the table and finishing off what was left in it.] Really.
I suppose I have to get used to these ears and tail eventually. [and his current senses. He's stuck with them for the rest of a very long life.] And no, no. Aether isn't that person.
You'll see him in my memories eventually. He's quite hard to miss. [Again his thoughts drift to Diluc. He sighs and leans all his weight into Takame like a cat seeking pets.] It's complicated.
...but I wish it wasn't. [He says softly as he looks away.]
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Go on. [His tail bushes up and swishes but, it's not in agitation. A smile is stealing itself across his face. It would be a return to what he knows and that's something. Something good.]
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He was kind of relieved that he did something to lighten the mood, shown by the natural sway returning to his tail as he stood to his feet again.]
I... can lead the way if you'd like? Can you walk? [He offered a hand to help Kaeya up.]
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But I plan to be unable to by the night's end. [He's going to get utterly, stinking drunk. There's no work to worry about (other than work he puts on himself) and no one to give him looks for being tanked to the gills.
Other than Takame. Oh well, sorry new technically co-worker.]
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What was also concerning is how much Kaeya planned to drink. Well, he was going to need to be the supervisor tonight it seems.
Aaaand tail droop. There goes him forgetting the feelios.]
Ah, there's... no harm in that, I suppose. But... we cannot forget that we must report to the alliance...
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I’ll write my report on the way. Then, if they let me go we can get drunk. [He knows someone badly in need of a drink.]
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Regardless, Takame was a man of his word. Once contact was established, he led Kaeya into Ishgard, seeing to it that both their birds were tended to before making his way to the Forgotten Knight.
A quick greeting to the proprietor he requested that some subtle arrangements be made to ensure privacy. After some words exchanged muffled under the volume of general (likely drunk) conversation, he bowed in thanks then took his seat at one of the tables in the far back gesturing for Kaeya to follow.]
You're welcome to order what you'd like.
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[He drapes his tail around the back of his chair. He gets a few wines just to try them. They're not bad. But he finds a nice chill red he polishes off several bottles without feeling even slightly tipsy.]
...I think this robbed me of one of my joys.
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For Takame's part, he sampled one of the wines that was the most recently opened but only took the occasional sip. One of them needed to be lucid and in honesty he preferred wine or something stronger served in a shot over Eorzean ale.
Seeing Kaeya go through a few bottles and noting that none of his inhibitions were lowered... well either he had a better poker face than Takame or this ascension was worse than Takame imagined.]
... That's unfortunate.
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But by the end of the sixth bottle he tucks himself closer to Takame, his tail lazily swaying as he holds the bottle in one hand. His head is bowed but his ears are still upright.]
Oh, there it is. [He says with a slight slur and his left ear twitches several times.]
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He ought to ask his mother some time, he thought idly as he noticed the increasing worry and aggravation of the proprietor and servers respectively. It's with a small shrug of his shoulders and shake of his head that Takame tried to ease their concerns. He certainly owed some kind of explanation later.
Where Kaeya was on bottle six, Takame barely finished with his second glass when the Miqo'te scooched in close to him. He didn't shy away, but didn't lean into it. And he definitely took note of the slur.]
Are you alright?
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Nope. This isn’t someone he knows super well. If it were Lisa he’d just lay his tail across her lap. She’d pet it as if it was just a thing they did every day.]
Found it. You should tell the nice worried people, I’m fine. My tolerance is just very high and I’m no danger to myself.
[There’s a pause as his tail curls around his own hand.] Mm, it’s warmer here. None of that low grade Cryo energy in the city. Nice to rest.
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But maybe he didn't have the right. The delays in his sips only allowed the alcohol to sink in deeper, and finishing off the second glass finally he did one more swift head shake and his vision blurred afterwards.
Perhaps he should have gotten something to eat before drinking. When he felt Kaeya's tail drift over his, his own tail hovered briefly over Kaeya's in response. It drooped some after he pulled it back.]
Mm. The Forgotten Knight is kept warm enough. [Takame wasn't slurring, but he was letting a few more words slip. Opinions.] It is still far too cold.
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It’s the ambient magic. Whatever happened to this region...when we crossed into it I felt the energy blanketing everything. It would be green without it.
Closer to Mondstadt’s temperatures, maybe? [He gestures loosely,] caused me so much pressure and pain. On the other side of it I’m just...aware.
In centuries time, this blanket will just be part of the energy of the land. Mm, but that’s just a theory. [He leans into Takame with a hum as he lets go of his tail.]
I don’t want to think too much. Been thinking without end for months. Usual vices were out.
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A product of the Calamity. I hail from Doma and did not come to Eorzea until five years after it happened, but along my travels and the word of the people here I did learn that Coerthas was indeed once a verdant land. I've only ever known it to be cold. [He took a sip, the more he spoke a faint slur could be heard. And his tail wandered, looking for something to touch.]
Ah, my knowledge of aether is rather limited however.
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At his heart, Kaeya is a strategist.]
I’m not the knight with a study in it. But she always told me that there is...depth to magic. There are layers we see and feel and then those deeper, beyond them. Again not my field. Give me men and a strategy and I can chart a path.
But I think I see what she means now. It’s like I was deaf and blind before. Eddies and currents. A storm that only some can see.
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He was the one that complimented strategists. Poor at planning but good in executing the ideas of those that come up with them. Give him a job and he'll see it done.]
Even in this realm seeing the flow of aether in the air is not common. The Echo grants me the ability to do so unconsciously. Though without knowledge of the subject the ability means next to nothing. [A useless ability in his hands. There's a sharp breath let out through his nose as he takes a bigger sip of his wine then slumped a bit in his chair.]
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[He leans into Takame so they're hip to hip now as he says,] But I would never be so quick as to assume an ability is useless. You dodged my attacks when we first met. I assume seeing the energy gathering and it's path is what led you to avoid them.
That's quite useful for the biggest goal of all. Surviving.
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[He hasn't heard Her voice, but Hydaelyn won't allow anything less than his survival. He finished off his cup and set it back on the table, but didn't move away from Kaeya. In fact now his tail was pointedly lingering over Kaeya's.]
You are very cold.
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I’m quite warm. Unless you mean my body. That’s probably just a temporary side effect. I’ll be warm and hung over tomorrow.
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You don't seem like a cold man. [... steer further.] Your hair and tail are soft. [There's an unconscious swish of his own with Kaeya's coiled around it.
Then the reality of how much he had to drink set in. And the morning.]
Hung over... [Ah. Takame mumbled something under his breath, some kind of swear in his first language. And then more notable slurring.] I suppose we both are.
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[He sighs and the tip of his tail curls.] They’re always so warm. But Mm, don’t worry about hangovers. Just enjoy right now. You’re warm.
[And he is utterly drunk. It’s nice to turn off his thoughts. He doesn’t have to feel responsible for anything.] Nice to have a vice back.
For a little while, anyway. I’ll make us ice packs in the morning. I am handy in some ways... [He smiles a little, eye shut. He doesn’t seem offended at all. He might even look very relaxed.]
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He would prefer to be warm, but no warm element would ever capture him. He was far too listless. There's a soft huff as he rests his cheek against one of the warmer parts of Kaeya, his hair. Enjoy right now, he says. His sister spoke similarly, he couldn't help but comply.]
Mm, you have my thanks. [And let some curiosity take over greater sense.] ... what vice?
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His thoughts forcibly turn away from that. They both fight for Mondstadt. Diluc will be there if he ever finds his way back home.]
The other one best not to get into here. Back home, one-night stands are fine. Here, a little trickier, I'd imagine.
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[She seemed the opinionated, well meaning but judgmental type. Much like Feo Ul, but with less tendency to act on the threats. But maybe it didn't matter.]
... Few in this realm mind from what I understand. So long as it isn't spoken of later on. [Not just Eorzeans either, Othardians too though they're much more strict about their closed door policy. Takame didn't want to imply he knew from experience but... well.]
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I suppose I have to get used to these ears and tail eventually. [and his current senses. He's stuck with them for the rest of a very long life.] And no, no. Aether isn't that person.
You'll see him in my memories eventually. He's quite hard to miss. [Again his thoughts drift to Diluc. He sighs and leans all his weight into Takame like a cat seeking pets.] It's complicated.
...but I wish it wasn't. [He says softly as he looks away.]
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