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[Continued from here]

[There's a small smile appearing on his face, as he appreciates the sentiment. It may be just a few simple words, but to Aether it still means a lot. That pleasant feeling is soon replaced with dread. A dark thought that he may never see his sister again, that he'll be stuck here, in this room for his entire awfully long life.

Right, they also talked about food. He needs to use that distraction.]

Then you need to try it. I have a friend, who absolutely loves it. It's a popular dish in Liyue Harbour.

[He wants to think back to his friends, the places he's seen. If he focuses on that, maybe he can keep going.]

[ to be honest, rafayel isn't sure why he says it.

maybe it's because he could relate to it, or maybe it could be a small shred of gratitude he may have felt not to be alone in a situation like this. not that he wasn't accustomed to being alone, but he wasn't used to all these other emotions. the apprehension, or the way in which he feels like the walls are closing in on them, and that this was the last glimmer of freedom they'd ever have.

but, seeing the small smile, however brief does seem to ground him. a reminder for him to also not display his own vulnerabilities so easily. he wears a similar sort of smile, albeit more practiced. ]

A friend? Here? [ he tilts his head. ] Liyue, huh. I can't say I know it, but if it's a place with shrimp, I'm guessing it's a goodie.

[Aether smiles a little more, as if encouraged by the other's expression. Then he shakes his head.]

She's not here. She's back home, where she should be. [It's better like that. He wouldn't want more of his friends suffering like this. Experimented on, tormented with thoughts of what else might happen to them. The less people experience it, the better, though, it actually makes anger boil in his blood that anyone has to experience this at all.

But Liyue... Yes. They should talk about Liyue now.]

It's a nice place! They have a lot of seafood dishes so I think you would like it there. The sea looks especially nice during the Lantern Rite. It's a celebration when countless lanterns are set free into the sky carrying the wishes of the people and their glow reflects in the water below.

[He plays the scene over and over in his mind and it seems to calm him. Even if he won't see it again, he's still so glad he was able to witness it.]

[ "she's back home, where she should be."

those words seem to resonate with him, and despite him normally being able to mask his thoughts quite well, he feels it may have unintentionally slipped. his lips twitch just slightly, before he course corrects. he fixes his eyes back on aether, as if nothing was amiss. ] Not gonna lie, this place is kinda...

[ ...

well, he doesn't have to finish that sentence. just like aether, he is all too comfortable with the prospect of letting this newfound topic overrule any of their present thoughts. instead, he wills his imagination, his thoughts already focusing on the lanterns. he can already picture the ocean without much help, thankfully. ] Funny, we have a similar celebration where I'm from, too. Do you decorate your own lanterns?

[Rafayel doesn't have to finish the sentence. Aether understands. There's so much needless cruelty in this place, even looking at their confinement, but thankfully the traveler doesn't get too much time to focus on that. Instead, his mind drifts off to the lanterns.]

Really? I wish I could see that. I wonder how different they are.

[His expression softens, like that thought alone is saving him from the fears and worries. The thought of celebrations in another world, their similarities, their differences. It always fascinated him, no matter how much he has seen in his life.]

You make your own lantern and then you write a wish inside it, before setting it off into the sky. I know how to make them... so maybe I could make one to show you.

[Maybe it's the drug wearing off, but he... feels calmer somehow.]

[ it's funny how a single question could lead his thoughts down so many different avenues, and how his brain travels through so many memories in the span of seconds. in turn, it softens rafayel's features for just a second, before he clearly shakes it off. seamlessly, he wears his usual mask of nonchalance with a touch of controlled whimsy. ]

What did your lantern look like? [ there's a lot you could tell about a person's preferences from how they create something, after all. with that thought, rafayel doesn't even notice that their racing thoughts finally seem to be slowing down in tempo with aether's own calmness. ] Like, what colors and decorations did you choose? [ and most of all... he wonders what he wished for? but, rafayel doesn't actually ask. intuitively feeling like it's something he shouldn't. ]

[Aether easily allows his own memories to show in his mind. He can see the faces of his friends celebrating the Lantern Rite. He can see a lone figure watching from the distance, protecting the city when needed. He can see a boy performing an impressive dance before a vast audience. He can see an elderly lady preparing some tea as her students gather around her.]

My lantern was really simple. Small, round base, then widening on top. I'm not really sure how else to describe that shape. [He laughs. A clear sound that is yet another proof that the panic is slowly going away.] It was the colour of warm light - orange and yellow. The decorations were really simple as well... and then the wish...

[He pauses, smiling to himself, but somehow more melancholic than before. Eventually he shakes his head and gives a grin to Rafayel.]

That's only for me to know.

Edited 2025-07-07 11:16 (UTC)

Some claim that simple is best. But, I think that's only the case if it actually aligns with what the artist desires. [ ... ] The most important part is what memories it leaves you with, and if you'll actually recall them no matter how much time passes.

Which you seem to be doing a good job so far. [ he says with a slight cock of his head. ]

Are you superstitious? You think your wish will escape if you say it?

I'm no artist, though. Just a traveller.

[He laughs a little.]

I befriended gods and other supernatural beings in the past, so I'm not sure if I can call myself superstitious. That has nothing to do with the wish, though.

[He closes his eyes.]

It's a wish I made for someone else, so maybe I just want it to stay a secret. That person should be the first one to hear it.

[ the bit about befriending gods and supernatural beings does get a brief pause from rafayel. so brief in fact that it could have simply been a trick of lighting. ] If you create art, are you not an artist? Are you actually the type who gets caught on typical conventions? I'm surprised.

[ obviously, that's not the case if that's who he keeps as company. but, at the statement, he does shake it off. ] So instead of a wish, it's a secret between just you and that elusive someone? That's not bad. [ ... ] Though, I've never thought about that before, obviously.

[ he has.

maybe it's because he's made enough wishes that he can't bring himself to believe in them without a certain someone, either. ]

Hm... I can make a lantern, but I don't think it makes me an artist. Maybe I think this way because I know people who are real artists: an illustrator, an architect, a musician, a writer... I have many amazing friends. [He laughs a little. Gods, supernatural beings and exceptional humans to add to that!]

Never? I see. [He smiles.] Well, I guess I can reveal one more secret. That "elusive someone" is actually my twin sister.

[It's a sibling secret! Except she is yet to know about a wish he made for her.

Maybe one day their conflict will end and they can wish for something upon the lanterns together.]

Inbox - Karteria

May TDM - Rafayel

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comes back to this after a long time, sorry for the delay!

no worries!!! welcome back to us both ehe

♥

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