till the wave ends.

Paimon's hands clapped together with the memory of that meal fresh in mind. ✦that's still incredible how you can create food with paint instead of cooking, and it's not even dangerous to eat! the power to create anything like that must save you a lot of headaches. and plenty of people would take advantage of that power to make a lot of money.✦ coming from someone who valued Mora and what she could acquire as a result of it, but her greed had limits.

though she allowed the two to lead the conversation, it could easily be mirrored — Dusk herself had spoken little of her own wants, even if it might be as simple as she could acquire anything to her heart's content with that artistic ability. "I guess... it's not something I think of that much," she admitted. so long as their primal needs were managed, she was content — as a traveler of the stars, she'd no roots to get attached to much. Teyvat and here were the exceptions, giving her chance for such experience and to really think.

and were anyone to inquire, surely they would be surprised to hear her speaking so abrasively of her second eldest brother who had the audacity to meddle with her works. or, perhaps if they knew her well enough, it would be nothing to bat an eye at.

returning her attention to lumine, she can only wonder why she might not have thought of such things much in her journeys, if at all. surely there must be something, the proxy hardly believing she was bereft of any want, materialistic or otherwise. ❝ There must be something. Anything. No? You say there isn't? Then think more on it! Once you do, it will come to you soon enough. And then if someone asks, you tell them like so一 ❞ she starts, taking in a breath before her, frankly put, poor example tumbles freely.

"I suppose that's what makes it so special doesn't it?" The servant said before taking a sip of the newly manifest drink to relax herself and give full attention over to Dusk. "There were a few artists back in my world that my Master contracted. Although I suppose in their case all of their differing opinions could spark some of the most heated of opinions."

At the time to Mélusine it was all really gibberish. But now after trying to find something to strike a cord in her she could understand the passion coming from it.

...Even if it was a little too loud for her own tastes.

still, she could barely help being a tiny bit quizzical about these supposed artists. ❝ What were the artists of your world like? ❞ she would start with something simple, presuming that melusine would be able to answer that in the first place, given her limited understanding of certain phrases and meanings behind the practice itself.

while awaiting an answer, if any can be provided at all, she places the movie in.

He honestly hadn't paid the woman painting much attention. The business of the people in the city wasn't really his concern, which was why he hadn't even noticed the scroll at his feet in the first place. Until it was pointed out to him, anyways. He paused and looked down at it.

"An artist, huh?" The young man grumbled. If she was fishing for an apology then she wasn't going to get it. "If you're really an artist, you should probably take better care of your art." Reaching down, he picked up the scroll in question and took a look at it. The portrayal of a thunderstorm left a pit in his stomach as it reminded him of his creator.

instead, she finally turns to glance his way, a fiery orange gaze sizing him up and down just a smidgen. ❝ To be telling me what an artist should and shouldn't do to what it is they make, ❞ she adds soon enough, perhaps a little curious as to what grounds he stands upon in giving unsolicited advice as this.

so, of course, she steps closer while trying not to startle the other, or disturb the peace too much that prevents completion of such beautiful work. "that's a lovely painting. how long have you been working on it?"

one stroke of her brush passes over an emptied place upon the scroll as the woman approaches, causing her hand to pause thereafter. lifting her gaze, she takes in the other's appearance, noting the striking familiarity to their choice of dress. a coincidence, more than likely, given this place's inner workings, and yet一

And without it the fight with one of the Beasts would have not nearly been as simple. But once she managed to settle down back at their base it all began to hit her rather quickly. Just how absurd the weapon she inherited was actually from a design perspective.

"...I'll be real I have no idea what they were thinking. If she was still around I did want to ask. But I think I'm pretty sure I know the answer."

Because it "looked cool"...

"You seem to know what I'm talking about. Someone just doing things for the sake of doing them."

propping her chin upon her palm, she mulls over what the other presumes. there were a myriad of people that comes to mind. again, her sibling, creating many things that the artist might claim as annoyingly useless.

although she asks, there's no real reason in particular he wishes to leave. they would all be excuses just to walk hand in hand. "no. somewhere quiet away from people is enough." it doesn't really matter as long as she's there. she may prefer her seclusion, but he would still encourage her to leave the scrolls every now and then, even if only for a short time. "we won't be out too long anyway, I only wanted a change of scenery. and to pry you away for a while." a finger gently pokes at her side before both arms rest around her waist.

yet she knows more than enough that alhaitham would either know her mannerisms just as well to understand she would say otherwise or, even more simply, hold her accountable for not doing so.

once he pokes at her side, she simply rolls over, arms shifting to wrap around them as she simply lays there. ❝ You know I would just walk back if I stopped caring for it, ❞ her voice chimes back, whether or not she says otherwise. in the end, she was as fickle as the nature within the various paintings that are lain sprawled about the room's floor. though she was grateful to his consideration about her tolerance of crowds, even if it was likely for his own sake, too. thus, she does not complain in the slightest as she finally gets up, slipping away from arms, turning toward him soon enough to glance down where he rests.

[ ... ]

Well, this was certainly an odd sight. What strange meetings this form attracted..

❝ ... ... ❞

what a strange meeting indeed.

it stares a little longer until...

a puzzle would be right up his alley — an exercise to intrigue him a way much else couldn't hope to. her thoughts turned to the texts in the Great Library, how many were allegedly indecipherable — maybe, between them, Dusk and Alhaitham could start to break down that barrier with such a gift.

"it's perfect. something wholly original that puts a new spin on his passion. nothing else here gives him that chance, for our sake".

now that it was settled, she glances over at the two nigh thoughtfully, tilting her head ever so slightly as if pondering something between the two.