guestservices | AUDIENCE FOR: Kaeya

[ stop gendering my npc

kaeya may stay ensnuggled. ] Maybe you’re not suited to be a bard, actually.

[ stop mean me it was an accident rattles aquila ]

Mmm-mmm. But, a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

This is what I'm meant to do.

Few people see what I am really.

Well, that makes two of us. [ they reply, dryly.

and then glance down at him. ]

And what are you, Kaeya?

A monster, maybe...

[ they reach out

and catch his nose between their shadowy knuckles again. ]

Stop that.

[ after a quiet moment, tugging his nose away this time, but staying close to their wings, he speaks. ]

I think I'm scared. Of what happens next... I'm not even going to say it... give the asshole ideas.

So I have to laugh. [ tilting his head ] You know?

Sure. [ they don't seem to fight being nudged away - they let go pretty quickly, actually. the wing curls a bit around him further. ]

But, I don't think that was a joke, was it?

[ the wing curls and he thinks about it, then remains. doesn't go any further. ]

It's quite a story.

I already have to concoct another, you know...

[ he'll tell them if they want to swap out the second story from before. ]

[ a hum. ]

Which would you rather tell?

If it's just to you. I'll tell the former.

Your secrets are safe with me.

[ they make a gesture with their free hand, indicating. ] Tell away.

[ would you say they're safe with your indifference?

(sisi voice) shut up, percival ]

Then...

[ a beat and then he waves at the shadow: a glass. wine: poured. ]

Hundreds of years ago, there once stood a nation without a god — not because they were abandoned or had lost the god of their homeland, but because it simply never had a god to begin with. This nation was powerful, built solely by the hands of humankind, towering, magnificent. It flourished, and its people thrived.

Some would say this nation was the pride of humankind, self-sufficient, seeing itself as whole without a single blessing from the gods of the world.

But with pride, comes the desire for more with the high of success. This nation was keen, a bastion of technology and science, and yet... it was greedy.

Thus, a great Cataclysm came to be—where the gods above saw nothing but a future of destruction if this godless land was left to continue as it had been. With the perfection of the practice of alchemical sciences... and the growing knowledge of obedient technological designs...

So they sought to wipe out the entirety of this nation. And in the end, only a handful of people survived intact. Most, for their impudence and the gall to challenge the gods, were cursed to become monsters, left to roam the land without a drop of humanity, remembering only their basest instincts.

Only a handful of people survived, able to keep their bodies with minimal taint. And they sought to return this godless nation back to what it once was...

But to do so would mean striking at the very heart of the place that had once struck it down so ruthlessly, so they sent a little spy of their own, not in the shape of a monster, but of a boy. But the intent and the mission itself was monstrous enough. To be the last hope of an entire nation, both hoped for and hated.

A wolf in sheep's clothing, one might say.

[ his voice lowers ]

A monster in his own way, you see?

[ shoots percy across the fourth wall

anyway. they listen to this entire story, staying quiet and still throughout. ]

... In defense of your nation, and your home, and tasked with it a young age, no less.

[ .... ] I can't say that I'd call you a monster, Kaeya. I'd still have to disagree.

Reassuring as that should be... part of myself still waits for it to come.

[ he just

flops to the side, right onto their chest. it feels like a weight has left him, because while scholars know this and while kaeya knows it himself... there's something oddly giddy about sharing this secret. never again. ]

You'll find that I'm very stubborn.

[ they snort a little - their wing comes up and bops kaeya gently on the head. they let him flop into their chest without any trouble, too. (it's very nice) and they reach up to put a clawed hand on his head. ]

[ at the hand on his head, he freezes (haha) for a moment, before quietly going lax. he lets the bonking of his head happen more than easily, instead pressing further in like he could maybe hide for a little bit (he isn't stupid, he knows people are leery after a trial like that.)

he considers the words for a moment, and then just settles in. the drink has made him heavy-feeling, this is the best place to be right now. ]

Do any of you ever see what happens on Thursday night? Or are you all asleep too?

I know you and Gems wake up early Friday morning, but that's it.

[ the claws flex briefly but -

they stroke their fingers through his hair, after a moment, a petting motion. kaeya will find that their hands are a bit cold, but they're warming up through this. ]

We know what happens, but we can't intervene. [ they assume he can fill in the blanks. ]

[ he hums and just sort of. pats their chest very gently. ]

Part of the entertainment... I get it. No fun if you swoop in to save them. Someone has to die. Fuck the Nightman...

[ once again, they have very nice tits. ]

Someone has to die. [ they repeat, a little idly. ] Us taking you for your duties is something of a luxury.

[ a beat. ] You did well this week.

[ he is (lowkey) admiring. ]

Don't know if I should be happy or upset about that, really. I didn't think... I didn't know it was him, it was all him... not until that stupid book showed up.

[ he mumbles ] I'm just grateful he's... smart, that he didn't make us cover for him more than we had to. Dokja is an idiot, however. I'm grateful for him, but Joonghyuk of course would go crashing after him. We're all a group of idiots chained by our feet to each other. [ a shake of the head. ] I'll sing lies for them as long as they need. Part of me feels guilty for pressing Barnes' wounds, but. It was all we had left.

[ there's something about being a group of idiots chained by their feet that makes aquila huff. ]

You protected something you care for. I don't think it's so bad. [ a beat. ] Besides. I didn't particularly like Barnes, anyway, so I don't see any great loss. [ aquila, be nice ]

[ yeahhhhh ]

So the truth comes out... interesting...

[ rolls his eyes ]

But I suppose the bathroom is mine now to do with as I see fit. [ he was rly being polite abt not fuckin' in it but now all bets are off. ] Saves your hot tub.

[ a great put upon sigh that is probably just them being a drama queen ]

Yeah, maybe you'll stop trying to make out with tieflings in it where all of us can see you.

It was once, you ridiculous bird.

Is it because you're jealous that you're so surly about the tub?

[ they snort ]

If I spent my time being jealous of your paramours, I'd be greener than a field full of cabbage.

(no subject)

callalilies - 2022-06-27 16:14 (UTC) - Expand