logs | november catch-some!

(( conceal don't feel don't let them know ))

[ Kaito said he'd be ready in an hour, but he's sitting on a bench near the entrance to the Hinterlands roughly fifteen minutes before the scheduled meet-up time.

He doesn't know much about this D person, and it's not really his prerogative to scour the Netherwork's old threads just to get snippets of their conversations. Going by their messages, he wouldn't be surprised if they were curt and to the point. Which is fine.

...It's fine, says the serial rambler.

Every few minutes, golds peek up from his phone to see if anyone besides the guards is walking around. Nevermind the fact that his empathy would pick up on the other's presence long before his eyes catch on. ]

[ Per usual, Kaito's early. Maybe he was just paranoid about being late, or maybe he never slept. Regardless, he's loitering about near the Hinterlands exit, keeping warm by... Squatting. Repeatedly. He's going for a new high score!

The empath's attire rarely changes significantly. Even if the details on his threads differ, the color scheme is almost always the same: black and gold, with the occasional whites or grays. Very rarely, he'll pull out something blue (like the group of men). An olive green rucksack is slung over his shoulders. It's a bit on the large side, but not to the same degree as, say, a Pokemon Hiker. ]

[ The next morning, Kaito paces near the exit to the Hinterlands. Gloved fingers flex and relax, and he's tempted to conjure a weapon or two to exercise.

Mm, maybe not. The Hierarchy guards posted at the gate seem particularly skittish, and watching some guy dressed in all black probably isn't doing much for their anxiety.

So, he waits. It's a solid twenty minutes before the designated meeting time. Maybe Kaito can run a few laps to warm up. It's not like he was up all night working, y'know? ]

[Kaito can in fact feel D coming, though it’s not the kind of presence anyone would like to sense.

It’s a dark aura swelling out before him, something immensely unsettling and a little carnal. The fright of it belies the strength beneath. The embodiment of a nightmare which strangles someone’s heart, or the wail of a shadow. Old. Ancient. The echo of what existed almost before time did.

But what’s spit out at the entrance where Kaito sits is only a tall, black-clothed and beautiful young man with a pale face and funny hat. His expression is much more somber than the reputation which preceded him. He stops nearby, peering at Kaito from under the hat’s brim.

Then he inclines his head in a slow nod. His voice is more level and quiet than the presence too.]

Hello.

[ A chill rattles down Kaito's spine, and his gaze instantly snaps to where the other has yet to appear. The sensations that blanket over him would frankly be overwhelming if not for two factors. In un-life, his perception is a touch neutered. He's been able to tell by the fact that contact with other people hasn't sent him straight to Sakura's clinic.

But the other, perhaps much more relevant factor is that above all else, the cloying aura that creeps over him carries a certain hint of familiarity. It's not that Kaito is familiar with the one approaching, far from it. But that ghastly, primordial presence...

It's something that he would have described with many words before the one he settles on for today: comforting. Comforting in the fact that he hasn't felt Izanami's shadow lingering over him since his arrival in the Netherworld. He almost misses that suffocating aura.

So when the bearer of that ages-old energy finally makes himself apparent, Kaito stands up, flashes a small smile, and allows the terse stiffness that usually accompanies meeting someone new to dissipate. The man standing before the dhampir carries his own unique presence, and while it is far from foreboding, there is a distinct undercurrent of intangible energy that makes it clear to those with honed perceptions that he is anything but a simple mortal.

The source of said energy, however, is hidden—much like the depths of the seafloor. ]

Hello. D, I presume.

[ she, for one, doesn't look like she's the type who goes on these types of commissions. what kind of adventurer would dress up in all white and then trek through a forest full of unpredictable restless and other creatures?

but there she is, showing up on time with no weapon and just a small messenger bag slung over her shoulder. the guards are unfamiliar to her; they weren't the same ones posted when she and childe headed over to the hinterlands last time. still, already looking high-strung from another person's pacing (definitely the guy she's supposed to meet) and not wanting to startle them or give them cause to suspect her, lumine offers them a slight smile.

a friendly greeting of sorts, you know, to assure them that she's not one of those, uh, restless slowly getting mad—unless mad means getting annoyed over her own shadow's babbling. ]

Hey. [ she waves at the guy in black, slowly making her way towards him. ] Kaito, right?

[ Kaito senses the blonde's approach long before he sees or hears her. His idle pacing continues, however, and he only stops when he catches a glimpse of white and gold out of the corner of his eyes. The guards are probably sighing in considerable relief. Seriously, who just hangs around the border to crazytown like that?

A gloved hand lifts to wave in turn, and its owner flashes a smile. ]

That would be me. [ There's a knapsack slung over his shoulders, its dark green hue the only contrast to his black, white, and gold ensemble. ] Glad to see you, Lumine. I thought the guards might jump me out of sheer nervousness, y'know?

[Hmm. His eyes study Kaito without roaming Kaito’s figure at all.

At least the aura returned to him is reassuring. Not that he assumed a man asking for combat-ready people to go into the Hinterlands with would be someone without any skill. But reassuring all the same.]

Yes. [He stands there very much like a cryptid statue, waiting, the black cape draped nearly closed around him.] I’m ready.

Is there a reason you’re looking for the shards?

[ ...It's actually a really cool cape. Kaito's more of a scarf guy, but he thinks he might be able to pull it off. ]

Good. I'll answer your question on the road.

[ With that, Kaito takes off. The guards give both Restless withering stares as if they're watching a pair of rabid dogs depart their squeaky-clean neighborhood. When the city vanishes amidst the vast wilderness, Kaito finally tosses a glance over his shoulder. ]

Part of me was curious to see what can be forged out of a star shard, but I don't know how much will be left for us to bring back. So, I've shifted my primary goal to obtaining a shard for one of my friends. She fares very poorly in cold weather, and I've heard the stone constantly retains a high temperature. It won't nullify the effects of the cold, but it can help.

How about you? Got any particular motives, or are you just looking to cash in the reward with the blacksmith?

[Kainé may be late, but she's fashionably late. Okay, she's wearing what she usually wears, but it's not bad! She's carrying a bag slung across her torso when she sees him and struts over.]

Waiting long?

[ Well, at least she's easy to spot in a crowd. Look for the lady in lingerie with two giant hacksaw swords. Kaito shakes his head. ]

Nah, not really. It's not like anyone really comes here to socialize anyway, so things have been quiet. Ready for a completely uneventful stroll through the forest?

[ she quirks a wider smile at that remark. ]

And escort you through the gates?

[ just in case they mistake him for another one of the restless who needs, well, some form of salvation that can only be found beyond the wall dividing the entirety of stygia from the hinterlands. not that lumine doesn't understand the sentiment of the other restless; being plagued by your own shadow, pushed to the brink of one's sanity isn't exactly safe for anyone.

and a person finds safety if sheltered and protected behind a wall, right?

she walks up to him, glancing at the guards from the corner of her eyes and lowering her voice. they seem to have relaxed for a bit, which is good. ]

It's a one-way trip for anyone who goes past those gates, though. I hope you're ready to sneak back in later.

I'd go kicking and screaming.

[ Kaito shoots a pointed look to the guards, almost as if to challenge them. They do not appreciate the gesture, and their auras radiate an impatience that screams "cross the damn gate already you crazy [planet-agnostic expletive]."

When she steps in, he leans forward and nods his understanding. ]

So I've heard. I'm always happy to sneak past unsuspecting patrols, but I have other options. You seem to have made it back just fine, so I imagine I can pull it off too.

I've ... had my share of sneaking past guards before.

[ to steal, to spy, to pretty much do all kinds of shady things to complete an errand. the things she does to learn more about teyvat.

lumine doesn't miss the look the guards send their way and she starts ushering her companion toward the gate, giving them a reassuring wave that they'll be fine, thanks for their hard work, have a great day. it's really only when they're a few meters past the gates that she can finally relax, stretching her arms over her head.

still, isn't she way too relaxed like this, or is it just because she's finally getting comfortable with the thought that she'll eventually be swallowed by obli—

pushing those dark thoughts aside, she glances at kaito: ] What made you decide to pick up this request? That fishing request seemed pretty easy ...

...Hm. Are you actually a troublemaker?

[ There's a teasing lilt to his question, but he doesn't mind either way. Kaito joins in the farewell gestures as he's escorted off the premises. If he's teasing Lumine, he's definitely trolling the guards.

On cue, his one posture seems to relax considerably once they're out of bounds. Less people means less emotions to be bombarded by, even though he has a very brief brush with something sour from the blonde's aura.

Eh. It's not really worth making a big deal out of right now. ]

It is. That's why I left it up for other folks. It wouldn't be fair to hog all the simple jobs. Besides, I needed an excuse to get a lay of the Hinterlands. You can't learn everything about the Netherworld from books alone. Eventually you'll have to broaden your horizons. Literally, in this case.

[As surprises would have it, D also has a scarf! A striped thing twined about his neck beneath the stiff pauldron collar. They are now buddies by scarf association. Kaito can have a scarf and a cape.

Kaito goes, and he follows after at the side, stride easy. The star could very well vanish, but he doesn’t think it will, so he has little hurry.

The looks from the guards don’t even get his attention; he’s accustomed to having people look at him in worse ways. He walks on, quiet and not pressuring Kaito to answer.

But getting it finally makes him realize it’s quite a wholesome one. Not a bad thing.]

I heard it can be used to forge in place a soul. I would like to find out if that’s true.

[ lumine feigns a shocked look but eventually lets out a laugh instead, amused. troublemaker is an understatement, but in her defense! ]

Not by any conscious choice. Things just happen.

[ which is somewhat ... true. things do just happen that she has to make, you know, morally grey choices that brand her as a troublemaker. though she can't deny that it's, well, sometimes very exciting making said morally grey choices. conflicted feelings are conflicted.

but she agrees with his sentiment on exploring stygia in person with a nod. books can't teach you everything, and after practically consuming the content of various written information in serene, lumine's decided it's time to take a walk. ]

I found that there's a number of settlements out here. I guess there are some Restless who found their peace here with their Shadows and decided not to return to the city.

[ she can't tell if that's comforting or what. ]

[ Kaito cracks a small smirk. ]

I've given that same answer, almost word for word. I guess you're in good company. Or terrible company. [ Kaito very much carries the qualifications to be your run-of-the-mill shounen protagonist... just not always for the other humans. It's a fun time.

...It was a fun time. ]

That's a good way to look at it, but from the bit of digging I've done it almost sounds like the Hinterlands serve more as a home for those who get banished from Stygia. People who aren't clean enough for the Hierarchy's liking.

I'm sure the reality falls somewhere in between, but I'd prefer not to have to personally find out, y'know? I'm no fan of the governing body, but if I'm going to get anything done, I need to fly under their radar.

[ For now. ]

[ hi5 for morally grey shounen protags

at the mention of the hierarchy, lumine finds herself pursing her lips and wrinkling her nose. she's mostly indifferent towards those who comprise that organization, unwilling to get roped into their shenanigans; she's in the netherworld now, she has no reason to meet and greet its leaders unlike she used to back in teyvat.

at the same time, she doesn't understand their motivations. on the one hand, they seem to be concerned about shadows and the oblivium, enough for them to create a matchmaking app. on the other hand, they've said nothing else. ]

Sounds like a group of people I know ...

[ keeping information, ostracizing people who have afflictions—hubris at its finest. if only someone else ruled— ]

Not planning to relocate to the Hinterlands, are you?

[ Opinions on the Hierarchy are subject to change, but in this very moment Kaito doesn't see them in a very good light. He recognizes now that they aren't overtly trying to fuck the emerging Restless over, but he also thinks they're rather useless. "Find your own way," they say. How inflexible.

But he's used to inflexible systems. He'll take care of himself (and anyone else he needs to look after).

Kaito grabs a satchel from his coat, gloved fingers plucking some dried mango pieces to chomp on. ]

Mm. No. I have plans with my business partner to open a facility in the Shadowlands, close to the River of Death. We'll have to gather the materials and build it ourselves. ...Well, we don't have to, but the less I have to rely on institutional services, the better.

The library in Serene is vast, and I've read through a lot of it. I'll learn how to build the house from the bottom up.

[ are they eating already?

lumine rummages through her bag and takes out a pita bread wrapped in oil paper and stuffed with whatever vegetables she could find from the marketplace, handing half of it over to kaito. and since meat can be a little questionable in a place where they're all dead, she's sadly just stuffed in fish. it's the simplest dish she could make without spending too much. ]

Oh? What kind of facility?

[ and in the shadowlands, too. color her curious, especially when she's planning on going back and forth to that region. ]

[ Kaito has a bad snacking habit. When he catches a whiff of that wrap, he has to make a concerted effort Not to Drool. In exchange for half of her dish, he hands over the satchel. It's not just dried mangoes on the inside—there are various roasted, salted nuts, other fruits, and some oats?

A whole-ass trail mix. ]

Thank you. [ Chomp. ] ...Double thank you. This is very good. Chef-approved.

[ He takes a few more bites, chewing slower this time to properly evaluate the flavor and texture... and it's only by the grace of the Archons (and the blonde's question) that he doesn't start rambling about all that mouth feel. ]

A training dojo. My partner plans to teach hand-to-hand techniques. I'll teach magic principles and creature negotiation skills. Our objective is to educate Restless old and new who want to learn how to defend themselves.

...I might also try to build a restaurant into it. If we can afford the extra materials.

[Well, she's wearing lingerie, but she doesn't currently have her swords summoned.

She snorts at his invitation.]

God I hope not. This better not be boring as fuck.

[Kainé motions for him to get moving.]

Lead the way.

[ her smile widens at that compliment. ]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it.

[ cooking has become second nature for someone like her who constantly travels and is always on the go. that, and having paimon as a companion pretty much made it mandatory for her to learn how to cook good food. but she's glad that it turned out well despite some of the ingredients she needs can't be found in stygia.

lumine pops a few dried fruits in her mouth, chewing them thoughtfully. she'll have to ask later where he found the nuts. perhaps she can recreate candied ajilenakh nut in this world, too. ]

A training dojo and a restaurant. That'll be very profitable since those who finish their training would definitely be hungry ...

[ and the restaurant would be right next door. what a great business plan that is. ]

Do you know how much more you need? In terms of materials, I mean.

november catch-some!

(frozen comment)

@damnpire, know your star shards

@pissoffbook, seriously how do you keep warm in pretty undies?

@unalign, he doesn't look very fire-resistant...

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