❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬.

the⠀𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜⠀have⠀been⠀e͟n͟d͟l͟e͟s͟s͟⠀to⠀𝒎𝒆⠀ while⠀y𝘰𝘶⠀were⠀𝒈𝐨𝐧𝐞﹐ @gIacialwaItz .

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀༻✧༺
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝑻𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝑺𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝
⠀⠀⠀𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐊͟𝐄͟𝐄͟𝐏͟𝐄͟𝐑
⠀⠀⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
"It is a change of pace."

He offers up a meager shrug, with a quiet laugh under his breath. "One I am not entirely opposed to. The ducks are far more favorable to me than any creature of the Abyss could ever be."
⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
His head lowers as Aether’s ministrations begin, an almost unconscious response at this point, and one he does not notice happening until he notes that he can see the amused glint in the other's eyes. Unsurprising. Aether tends to find enjoyment when he's in odd situations.
⠀

[⋆ 𝔸𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ ☀️✧˖*°࿐ @starlithero]

⠀
One final, amused huff before Aether gives into his urges and reaches to fuss over the sopping wet man, plucking twigs and dirt out of the soiled vest.

"I'm sure she'll forgive you eventually. Maybe even name one after you."

Stealing a glance, then another.
⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
A child? Walking around with his name? Perish the thought.

The sudden question causes him to pause, something close to surprise flickering across his features.

"It is not as if I have stopped entirely, but. . ." He trails off, taking a moment to consider his next words.
⠀

[⋆ 𝔸𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ ☀️✧˖*°࿐ @starlithero]

@SERPENTKNlGHT

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
As if to prove his point, he peels off a stray feather from his arm that had been mixed in with the mud.

"It made for quite the pleasant experience. Remind me to never get between a mother and her four children."
⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
There's a small twitch of his lips, a mixture of his own amusement and disappointment upon seeing Aether's poor attempt at containing his laughter.

"Yes, but I suspect that she believed I was the cause for the separation because she flew at me for some time afterwards."
⠀

[⋆ 𝔸𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ ☀️✧˖*°࿐ @starlithero]

⠀
Mud clots weigh down his collar. The formerly majestic, forked cape wraps around his legs like strips of seaweed with nowhere else to go. To dot the I over Aether's scan, a droplet plops from Dainsleif's pointed nose.

He lost his balance—and a set of clean laundry.
⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
"To simplify a long story, I bore witness to a mother duck being separated from two of her ducklings, and in a ridiculous attempt to reunite them, one of the duckling flailed in my hand and nearly fell."

He motions to himself.

"I caught it, but at the cost of my balance."
⠀

[⋆ 𝔸𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ ☀️✧˖*°࿐ @starlithero]

ㅤ
His brows slowly rise.

“It wouldn’t, but now I need you to walk me through it.”

The potential mental images are just too good.
ㅤ ㅤ

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
. . . . . . . Would it be difficult for you to believe that ducks were to blame?
⠀

[⋆ 𝔸𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ ☀️✧˖*°࿐ @starlithero]

ㅤ
Care to explain why you’re covered in mud and leaves, @SERPENTKNlGHT?
ㅤ ㅤ

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

@starlithero https://t.co/mBc8qFoCLb 🥺😭

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

https://t.co/mBc8qFoCLb ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE???????? IM??????? HELLO????????? LOOK AT THEM IM ON MY HANDS AND KNEES RN

[⋆ 𝔸𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ ☀️✧˖*°࿐ @starlithero]

⠀
Perhaps it's cruel to let him go on for this long, but Aether is helpless in the face of Dainsleif's fumbling, so is it really his fault?

Each passing, flustering thought presses his lips to a line. The fold between his brow deepens, and his hands seem unsure what to do.
⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
how very. . . ( a pause, carefully choosing his next words. ) dedicated. i wasn't aware the fatui were keeping up with their training. whenever i see them, they tend to be lounging around the hotel.
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
i was out by the lake, running drills with the rest of the fatui. nothing beats a workout and getting to watch the sunrise !

( ^-^ )
ㅤ ㅤ

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
( deadpan, clearly too tired for a proper greeting. )

childe. should i bother wondering where you even came from this time?
⠀

[‍*̲ ‎‎ ‎ ‎𝐰𝒂𝒓﹒𝒉𖦹𝐮𝐧𝐝. @hydroeIectro]

ㅤ ㅤ
what a day ! ( has been up since six in the morning. )
ㅤ ㅤ

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
what a day. ( it's eight in the morning. )
⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
( he can only recall destruction. clearing his throat, he shakes his head, as if attempting to shake away those very thoughts. )

regardless, it follows you far more happily than any other i've met. i wonder, is it the wind that has brought you to the border of fontaine?
⠀

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
( there's a distinct sour taste in his mouth after kazuha's remark and the downward twitch of his lips makes it obvious that he doesn't quite agree with that statement. the wind can be fierce thing, something that can destroy as easily as it can bring some enjoyment. )
⠀

[‍ ‍ ˏˋ＊‍ 𝐕𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐁𝐎͟𝐍͟𝐃. @windroam]

ㅤ ㅤ
and i am glad for it, dear friend.

( indeed, he lingers in dainsleif’s words, warmed as though kissed by the sun itself. they’ve wanted for nothing more than to ease the burden off of dainsleif’s shoulders— and this was a step in the right direction.
ㅤ ㅤ

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

if your grandmaster was incapable of handling the creatures there, then you would have long heard about it. it is not particularly dangerous if you know what you are doing, and are in decent standing with the fatui.

they have a rather large base there— quite the eyesore, really.

[𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐧𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓 @AQUILAFAVONIUS]

well no - i expect slip ups. it’s part of human nature after all. at least it’s happening in a relatively low stress time.

( a frown of her own ) you don’t seem all that pleased he’s there. is it dangerous?

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

⠀
i cannot say it is something i am used to. the wind tends to remain silent around me except when around you.

( he pauses then, as if considering his next words. eventually, he hums under his breath. )

it seems i have learned to enjoy the occasional breeze.
⠀

[‍ ‍ ˏˋ＊‍ 𝐕𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐁𝐎͟𝐍͟𝐃. @windroam]

ㅤ ㅤ
( the corners of their mouths twitch upwards, knowingly, as their eyes return to dainsleif’s. )

the wind finds much entertainment in its silly tricks, does it not? i, myself, had to chase it down for my hat more than once.
ㅤ ㅤ

[❍𝐮͟𝐫͟𝐨͟𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬. @SERPENTKNlGHT]

Is it really so unbelievable that your knights are not always up to par? I assure you, there are always the occasional slip-ups.

( there's a distinct twitch of his lips, clearly growing displeased. )

Nod krai would be the obvious choice then. I have not been there in some time.

[𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐧𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓 @AQUILAFAVONIUS]

It still feels rather convenient on your part — regardless that’s true. faith in the knights is still strong enough to have people interested in joining. i can assure you those knights now will hold themselves a little better.

He’s gone north west - towards snezhnaya.

[ᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ——— 𝐒𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐎 𝑩𝑶𝑺𝑺-𝐊𝐈 .ᐟ.ᐟ @mrcoldfeetfool]

⠀

⠀ ⠀ 🏛️˚ ͙۪۪̥   ⠀⠀
˖⠀ ݁  ཾ༵⠀. ˚ ༘⌇.  ༘

⠀ ⠀﹠﹠  #⃝𝓚𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑯  ┈──
𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒓！꒱ ⳿
  ⠀︵︵︵ 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖔𝖜𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍𝖎𝖙𝖊𝖈𝖙 ｡
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𓂃ㅤ

⠀ ⠀⠀ #girp // #mvrp

⠀