𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆.

@lightricks (yingxing) asked: SENDER carries RECEIVER when they can no longer walk. @ jing yuan

             ⊹  ࣪  ˖  ――  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐈𝐍  his  limbs  pulsated  with  each  time  𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆  jostled  him  on  his  back,  but  he  couldn't  bring  himself  to  complain.  The  battle  had  been  won,  but  the  wounds  on  his  body  took  immediate  affect  after  the  adrenaline  left  his  system.  Despite  that,  𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍  felt  secure  knowing  he  had  someone  who  would  watch  his  back  during  a  vulnerable  moment.  His  eyes  fluttered  shut.  He  could  feel  the  pounding  of  his  chest  in  his  ears.  It  was  only  a  matter  of  time  before  he  was  scolded  by  the  others  for  being  reckless  on  the  battlefield,  but  what  else  could  he  have  done?  The  flow  shifted  suddenly  and  there  was  no  time  for  him  to  warn  others.  He  was  alive.  That  was  all  that  mattered.  The  𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓  was  looking  forward  to  the  long  nap  that  was  awaiting  him  after  he's  patched  up  and  meet  with  𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋  𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐆  𝐗𝐈𝐀𝐎.  His  thoughts  then  trailed  to  how  the  other  was  taking  his  appearance.  It  would  be  a  lie  to  say  he  didn't  look  like  he  came  out  of  a  tornado.  Rather,  his  clothes  were  torn,  cuts  and  bruises  all  over  his  frame.  He  could  feel  the  tip  of  an  arrow  buried  into  his  side.  𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍  wanted  to  keep  the  atmosphere  light,  so  he  did  what  he  did  best.  Joke  around  to  lighten  the  air  around  them.  A  hoarse  laugh  rumbled  from  his  chest  as  he  pressed  his  cheek  onto  the  others  shoulder.  His  voice  barely  above  a  whisper  when  he  finally  spoke  up. 

                            ❝  I  feel  pretty  lucky  for  𝐌𝐑.  𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓  𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐍                                  decided  to  carry  me  back.  Are  you  going  to  feed  me  too?  ❞

          “   because of your reckless endeavours, we couldn’t reach a field medic, or a member of the damn alchemy commission. instead you have me.   ”

the craftsman knew the intricacies of any machine and ingenium better than he ever would another person. wherein their mechanical bodies followed order, precision, and even the most complicated of problems - mirroring the faults of the human body - could be categorised, recorded and tucked away in the pursuit of greater perfection. he didn’t know how medics and healers didn’t struggle with the idea they worked on a canvas in a constant state of disrepair, that the futility of the body began the second they started breathing. he damned himself constantly for the restraints his own short life put upon his goals and ambitions, that he could not even hope to entertain another path like healing with the time he had left.

he’d once thought that even a silly first aid class, specifically for warside injuries, was a waste of time when he had multiple deadlines to achieve. now he’d been glad it was part of the curriculum, no matter how small the opportunity was to utilise these skills.

despite almost being the same size now, yingxing managed to carry the lieutenant without much jostling, trying to keep an ear out for jing yuan’s breathing. the steady whir of the ingenium protecting them both was a comfort amidst the distant sound of battle, at least until they could properly reach the healers stations. he grit his teeth, black hair obscuring his vision as their goal came into view. like jing yuan, the craftsman would also be scolded for leaving his station, the fall line of ingenium repairs possibly falling into disarray, but out of all of jing yuan’s companions, he had been the closest, even if the least capable, and he had to try.

a bark of laughter, incredulous, bemused.

( from @ lightricks / childe ) “ partner ! ” at this point it was a win / win whether aether would let himself get swept in a hug or intercept childe’s approach as an attack, but he figured there was no harm in trying. the chill of nod krai’s icy shores had little effect on the harbinger, warm from recently sated bloodlust, and filled with the delirious glee of seeing one of his favourite rivals. the harbinger’s touch did not hold back either, sure and firm and bone-crushing with newly revived strength. his recovery post the fontaine flood had done him a world of good. “ you look tired, have you eaten yet ? let’s get lunch. my treat. ”

THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THE WAY TRAVELLER ONLY TURNS TO FACE THE SOURCE OF THE SHOUT. A blink, a second one, and then, in the very next moment, he finds himself attacked by torrent tide in human skin wrapping his arms around him with all his strength. Huh. Hmm. It's not like their sparring matches have never gotten physical at times, but if he were to be honest, a hug is one of the least expected ways to be greeted. A pat on the shoulder or an arm thrown over it, sure. Full-body bear hug, though? Now, that's unexpected. ( And so, Aether wonders for all of five seconds if this is some kind of trap or maybe a prank before throwing the ideas out the window from how unlikely they seem. )

Little time is given to settle under the heavy weight of sudden contact before he's given another shock -- genuine concern for his health. Or, well, as sincere as he can bring himself to believe it is, although Childe's never given him any reason to doubt their interactions... aside from the first time they crossed paths, that is. Sheesh, couldn't you just keep looking the other way? Ah, no matter. No point in getting mad at what has already happened.

Thoughtful hum indicates he's thinking about whether he's already had breakfast or not. ❝ Well, the Lightkeepers were nice enough to let me sit with them this morning. ❞ read: Illuga insisted he had a healthy and filling meal before departing and didn't take no for an answer. He still has treats wrapped up securely stashed away in his bag to eat while he's out and about if he gets hungry. ❝ But that was hours ago at this point, and I was debating setting camp to make something to eat. ❞ or find a suitable tree to have a depression nap in before trudging onward.

❝ Between the two of us, however, ❞ and here Aether actually laughs, tired, but amused ❝ I'm getting kind of sick of eating mandragoras and other assorted khuuvaki-infused beings. Don't get me wrong, they are absolutely delicious, but I just miss the taste of actual meat, y'know? ❞ which is saying something given that he has an iron stomach. He's eaten plenty of suspicious-looking things and survived with at most a terrible stomachache as a consequence.