#{muse: aether}

Al-Haitham's perspective was always an interesting one, the traveler thought. Perhaps there were those that might see it as pessimistic, but he wasn't one to assign deeper meanings so easily. One thing about being a traveler was that he'd met far too many people to know such things were black and white.

Freedom in predetermined migrations patterns, huh? The traveler thought on this, humming. It took him awhile, to come up with the exact words he wanted to convey his thoughts in the Teyvat language sometimes, but he didn't rush.

"Isn't there a kind of freedom in knowing where to go when in search of safety? There is no chain keeping them to the hunt for such a thing." This was certainly not about birds anymore, but it was nice to pretend. Perhaps he should see about purchasing some bird feed one day, just to hopefully get a better look at the ones here in Sumeru.

"I think I spent more time crashing into you than getting any coins."

It was as Hubert was retrieving the wallet he kept the group’s gald in that Aether offered to cover his purchase as well. Blue eyes flickered with intrigue. Aether was a rather generous young man if he was willing to cover that cost, especially when Hubert could have done so himself. Nonetheless, he decided to go with it.

“I appreciate it,” Hubert said. “I suppose that makes us even in regards to helping one another.” He started to put away the apple and peach gels, followed by the bananas in the bag he carried with him. A moment later, Aether’s question was offered up. Did he have a lift or a wheelbarrow?

“I could carry the smaller belongings or things that can be easily folded in my bag,” he offered. “As for the larger items... hm.” A bit of better planning was clearly required in this much. He looked around, hoping to find something, but didn’t immediately see anything other than the shopkeeper putting the gold Aether had paid with away. Well, it certainly couldn’t hurt to ask her if there was anything they could use.

“You wouldn’t happen to have any large bags we could use, would you?” Hubert asked.

“Oh, well... how about one of these?” The kind shopkeeper retrieved a couple of different bags one could carry on their back. They did look like they would hold a fair bit more than the shoulder bag Hubert used.

“What do you think, Aether?” Hubert tilted his head. “Will any of those suit your needs?”

Aether had no problem with it. Well, other than the fact that it was nearly half the size of his entire torso. Though, a bag like this was meant to be big. He nodded. 

He felt the bag closer to him and glanced at the other one. He started packing his things into one of them. He wouldn’t bother with Hubert’s things, though as he didn’t have permission.

“How much for them?” 

She probably thought it could ease the tension.

Reading non-sense for the sake of it, huh? Aether couldn't find it in themself to disagree. Though they knew the young god meant well, and her methods tended to work, they couldn't help but sometimes wish to skip to the point.

Aether couldn't help but find their newly found impatience to be rather amusing, at times.

Setting aside the papers, they stood up to stretch and shake the sleepiness from their bones. Ugh, their foot had fallen asleep.