[ the courtyard walls are telling a story that has long faded. kaeya places a hand against the old divots in the wall and squints. the symbols aren't very recognizable in the state they're in, the whole place in disrepair, just as was reported.
taking a step back, kaeya bumps into polaris, in the shape of a brilliant whit peacock. the daemon, nearly backed into, squawks and fans out his feathers with a rustle that is probably supposed to be menacing.
kaeya lets out a frustrated noise but finds the emotion dissipating in an instant as he looks towards the entry to the courtyard. he's mostly talking to polaris. ]
Blaming it on the spectres feels too easy, but it's all we have. [ as he speaks, he catches sight of revali just a bit away and calls over. the more the merrier, right? ] Revali--hey!
[Huh. Well it's the one with the peacock. Revali had just gotten there, intending to maybe get back on the balconies to search from a higher place, when he heard Kaeya calling for him]
Found him yet? Or anything at all?
[Won't lie, Revali is pretty damn concerned. Not that he ever crossed a word with Marius, but hey, if something happened to him then the situation has gotten veeeeery dicey!]
[ the concern in revali's voice is sharper, and it's warranted. one of their number is missing or worse and while kaeya would like to be optimistic, this place continues to make itself more of an enigma. kaeya shakes his head. ]
Nothing here, unfortunately. There's more ground to cover, though. Mind if I accompany you?
[For a moment Revali considers telling him to not come along. They need to cover as much ground as possible, sticking together won't help with that.
...
On the other wing, something's afoot. Revali doesn't feel any danger -- yet, maybe -- but that could change at any moment, and if it does, then anyone who is alone would be an easy target. Hm. Perhaps, for Kaeya's sake, he should keep an eye on him]
Fine. Keep your eyes open -- at this point this is no game.
[Not that it ever was, really, but until last night it felt like they were finding about stuff that was now gone. Now the danger is present and around them]
Do you have a weapon? Anything you can use, just in case?
[ he reaches for his hip on instinct, as if he'd find the loop his sword is usually hung from, but instead there's only air. there's the rub, something kaeya would like to get ahold of somehow in the future. for now he closes his eye and gives a sigh. ]
Unfortunately, the only thing on me that could constitute a weapon is useless at the moment.
[ he pats the bauble-looking thing at his hip, his vision. ]
But I won't endanger you if something happens--I can hold my own well. As can Polaris. [ who snaps into the shape of a wolf, more mobile than his other form. he shakes his large head and gives a soft nod to revali, accompanied by a slow, calm blink. ]
My archery skills are second to none! Now that I have my bow back nothing is getting in my way.
[Indeed, that's one hella big bow on his back! How can he use it? How can he even carry it? Who knows, he's just doing it!]
Although I haven't tested my aim yet, I have no reason to believe my skills have gotten removed as well. Even if you couldn't hold your own I would have absolutely no issue defending both of us.
[ kaeya isn't usually one to be the first to scrub up, but after the events of the opera house and being led by polaris through the hotel's grim halls, the only thing he wants to do is something mindless. he doffs most of his outfit except for his white shirt and trousers and rolls up the sleeves, setting to work.
the counters are being scrubbed while the pots are soaking to try and get rid of whatever has been burnt into them.
polaris supervises from his place on the counter in ermine form, curled up in a small, disused fruit basket. when revali enters, polaris chirps in greeting loud enough to alert kaeya to lift his head. ]
Oh. Evening, Revali. Unfortunately if you came to use the kitchen, you'll find it's still in a state.
[Popcorn isn't nearly as good as he had hoped. Of course after the trial he'd want to go get some real food, having forgotten the kitchen was pretty much a disaster zone. Look at this mess!
Now that he thinks about it...]
Nobody admitted they did this abominable mess, right?
[If someone did he probably missed it amidst the confusion of the trial. A million things happened at the same time!]
But we'll need to use to the kitchen so, best to get it in order, right? If this was Qi Rong's doing, it isn't as though he's here to clean it up at the moment.
[Revali, some people would offer to help without needing to be asked. Several threads have happened in this destroyed kitchen and not in a single one he offered to help.
The offer catches him by surprise, though]
Really? At a time like this?
[He's not saying no! But the offer surprises him quite a bit!]
Although you are right, I believe it's plain to see I lack these 'emotional wounds'. However... [...] ...I'd be willing to accompany you. For safety reasons.
[He says it's for safety reasons -- and it's not entirely untrue, Kaeya's safety is important -- but it also is because he's worried about the wellbeing of everybody he has encountered. Kaeya is right, this is the sort of thing that causes emotional wounds, and truthfully, Revali does have empathy, he just doesn't tend to act upon it.
Tonight, though...he's willing to, even if he'll deny it to hell and back]
[Well! Can you believe how quickly things seem to have gone in a handbasket to hell? We have gone from one single person dying to one more dying and four disappearances that may or may not be dead. Who knows!
But it doesn't stop Revali from going out there to search. Which is why he's going around. As usual when he's out there or he has reasons to be wary of stuff, he has his bow ready with several arrows. It'd be impressive if it wasn't for the penguin waddling behind Revali! In fact, she's waddling slowly enough to make Revali have to go around slower than he'd like to -- and she's refusing to change form to her honey badger one, too. Pretty much chaining him down, really.
When Revali hears the sound of someone approaches, he turns his head around, not the bow. Oh, good sign! He's willing to talk!]
...do you need something?
[Seems like he's a bit impatient right now. As much as Revali may seem distant and actively refuse to play nice with people, it really is obvious he's not as unaffected by this all as he'd like to be, although he's channeling it all into an irritable mood]
[ he eyes the bow, but shows no signs of unease because revali has the decency not to point at anyone coming up to him. good. still sensible. polaris is at his side in his wolf form, practically glued to kaeya's hip, but his eyes are steady and hold firm. ]
You're not going to be able to protect anyone if you exhaust yourself. We're all working hard.
[Definitely not the kind of person that rests when he feels there's something to be done, hah. Honestly he's lucky they're all gone and missing for just one day, because if it was for longer then he'd be out there every single day]
You recall how they altered our perception somehow, don't you? With the blood?
[ he definitely gets it. if anything it feels like the time to go into overdrive, but at the same time, they can't work efficiently like this. ]
They may very well be well beyond our sight or reach until tomorrow, unfortunately... this is what I think after reviewing what happened to us before. [ a pause ] I'm not saying to stop looking.
[ he will just pull in beside revali quite cheerily then, flanking him. polaris will join at a casual pace, especially because medli is in such a delightful penguin form. the wolf gives a soft huff, as if perhaps taking note as daemons do, of behavior. the work is never done, but sometimes one must tug the lead of an earnest soul to save them from driving themselves into the ground. ]
If anything, I'm quite safe in your company, with your bow--you must be quite skilled an archer.
[Medli sure welcomes the company! She has spent all this time restraining Revali from being his usual, terribly abrasive self -- with mixed success, clearly, but it seems he got the point because at least he's accepting Kaeya around. Character growth! Via your own soul dragging you by your nonexistent ear to be social!]
'Quite skilled' is an understatement. You get to have... [Revali poses] ...the best archer in a century to protect you!
[Never a bad time for boasting, apparently! Five people are missing and he's searching for them and stuff yet he still finds the time to praise himself. What's this bird]
Perhaps you shouldn't underestimate yourself. Archery involves far more than just depth perception. You should try it at some point and see if you do have a hand for it after all.
[Just some advice! Revali is one to encourage others to take archery, really. He used to have a private archery range, only for him to practice, but he decided to open it up to the public because these were dangerous times. If others want to take archery, he's definitely going to encourage it]
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w0, friday - the courtyard
taking a step back, kaeya bumps into polaris, in the shape of a brilliant whit peacock. the daemon, nearly backed into, squawks and fans out his feathers with a rustle that is probably supposed to be menacing.
kaeya lets out a frustrated noise but finds the emotion dissipating in an instant as he looks towards the entry to the courtyard. he's mostly talking to polaris. ]
Blaming it on the spectres feels too easy, but it's all we have. [ as he speaks, he catches sight of revali just a bit away and calls over. the more the merrier, right? ] Revali--hey!
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Found him yet? Or anything at all?
[Won't lie, Revali is pretty damn concerned. Not that he ever crossed a word with Marius, but hey, if something happened to him then the situation has gotten veeeeery dicey!]
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Nothing here, unfortunately. There's more ground to cover, though. Mind if I accompany you?
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...
On the other wing, something's afoot. Revali doesn't feel any danger -- yet, maybe -- but that could change at any moment, and if it does, then anyone who is alone would be an easy target. Hm. Perhaps, for Kaeya's sake, he should keep an eye on him]
Fine. Keep your eyes open -- at this point this is no game.
[Not that it ever was, really, but until last night it felt like they were finding about stuff that was now gone. Now the danger is present and around them]
Do you have a weapon? Anything you can use, just in case?
[Not discarding a Spectre can pop up at anytime!]
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Unfortunately, the only thing on me that could constitute a weapon is useless at the moment.
[ he pats the bauble-looking thing at his hip, his vision. ]
But I won't endanger you if something happens--I can hold my own well. As can Polaris. [ who snaps into the shape of a wolf, more mobile than his other form. he shakes his large head and gives a soft nod to revali, accompanied by a slow, calm blink. ]
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[Indeed, that's one hella big bow on his back! How can he use it? How can he even carry it? Who knows, he's just doing it!]
Although I haven't tested my aim yet, I have no reason to believe my skills have gotten removed as well. Even if you couldn't hold your own I would have absolutely no issue defending both of us.
w0, saturday - post-trial
the counters are being scrubbed while the pots are soaking to try and get rid of whatever has been burnt into them.
polaris supervises from his place on the counter in ermine form, curled up in a small, disused fruit basket. when revali enters, polaris chirps in greeting loud enough to alert kaeya to lift his head. ]
Oh. Evening, Revali. Unfortunately if you came to use the kitchen, you'll find it's still in a state.
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Now that he thinks about it...]
Nobody admitted they did this abominable mess, right?
[If someone did he probably missed it amidst the confusion of the trial. A million things happened at the same time!]
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[ kaeya's face is grim! this is a huge mess??? ]
But we'll need to use to the kitchen so, best to get it in order, right? If this was Qi Rong's doing, it isn't as though he's here to clean it up at the moment.
[ ah. more grim on top of the grim. ]
Bastard.
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[Bastard, indeed]
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[ he pauses, leaning against the counter. ]
Maybe we can go catch and fry up some fish after if you're hungry. My treat. I'll do all the catching.
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[Revali, some people would offer to help without needing to be asked. Several threads have happened in this destroyed kitchen and not in a single one he offered to help.
The offer catches him by surprise, though]
Really? At a time like this?
[He's not saying no! But the offer surprises him quite a bit!]
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[ kaeya lets a wet rag drop onto the counter with a slap. ]
Besides, food tends to help with most emotional wounds, and I believe we've all been wounded quite a bit.
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[Revali, seriously?]
Although you are right, I believe it's plain to see I lack these 'emotional wounds'. However... [...] ...I'd be willing to accompany you. For safety reasons.
[He says it's for safety reasons -- and it's not entirely untrue, Kaeya's safety is important -- but it also is because he's worried about the wellbeing of everybody he has encountered. Kaeya is right, this is the sort of thing that causes emotional wounds, and truthfully, Revali does have empathy, he just doesn't tend to act upon it.
Tonight, though...he's willing to, even if he'll deny it to hell and back]
Week 1 --- City
But it doesn't stop Revali from going out there to search. Which is why he's going around. As usual when he's out there or he has reasons to be wary of stuff, he has his bow ready with several arrows. It'd be impressive if it wasn't for the penguin waddling behind Revali! In fact, she's waddling slowly enough to make Revali have to go around slower than he'd like to -- and she's refusing to change form to her honey badger one, too. Pretty much chaining him down, really.
When Revali hears the sound of someone approaches, he turns his head around, not the bow. Oh, good sign! He's willing to talk!]
...do you need something?
[Seems like he's a bit impatient right now. As much as Revali may seem distant and actively refuse to play nice with people, it really is obvious he's not as unaffected by this all as he'd like to be, although he's channeling it all into an irritable mood]
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[ he eyes the bow, but shows no signs of unease because revali has the decency not to point at anyone coming up to him. good. still sensible. polaris is at his side in his wolf form, practically glued to kaeya's hip, but his eyes are steady and hold firm. ]
You're not going to be able to protect anyone if you exhaust yourself. We're all working hard.
[ polaris gives a soft whine. damn it. ]
You can take a moment.
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[Definitely not the kind of person that rests when he feels there's something to be done, hah. Honestly he's lucky they're all gone and missing for just one day, because if it was for longer then he'd be out there every single day]
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[ he definitely gets it. if anything it feels like the time to go into overdrive, but at the same time, they can't work efficiently like this. ]
They may very well be well beyond our sight or reach until tomorrow, unfortunately... this is what I think after reviewing what happened to us before. [ a pause ] I'm not saying to stop looking.
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[...well, he's not discarding the possibility one or more of them is dead too, but still]
I'm not saying you're not correct to some extent -- but I'm not one to sit around and hope for the best.
[...]
I suppose I'd welcome the company, though. If you're so concerned I'll run myself dry, then come along.
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[ he will just pull in beside revali quite cheerily then, flanking him. polaris will join at a casual pace, especially because medli is in such a delightful penguin form. the wolf gives a soft huff, as if perhaps taking note as daemons do, of behavior. the work is never done, but sometimes one must tug the lead of an earnest soul to save them from driving themselves into the ground. ]
If anything, I'm quite safe in your company, with your bow--you must be quite skilled an archer.
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'Quite skilled' is an understatement. You get to have... [Revali poses] ...the best archer in a century to protect you!
[Never a bad time for boasting, apparently! Five people are missing and he's searching for them and stuff yet he still finds the time to praise himself. What's this bird]
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You are a wonder, Revali. Truth is, we have many skilled archers back home, though I never really picked it up. Terrible depth perception.
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[Just some advice! Revali is one to encourage others to take archery, really. He used to have a private archery range, only for him to practice, but he decided to open it up to the public because these were dangerous times. If others want to take archery, he's definitely going to encourage it]