#ever winter

*stares at everyone tasting rocks, was there something that he's missing?*

*picks up a small blue one timidly to his mouth as tiny needle fangs bite down just a tiny bit*

"....?"

@ever-winter {HSR Scaramouche}~

It turns out that taking care of a—stowaway—kitten was much harder than Kira first thought it would be. Of course she had to work to keep Snow a secret from Pom-Pom and those who would tell Pom-Pom, but she also had to actually take care of the kitten. Water was easy to get since everyone on the Express needed it, but cat food? Not exactly the easiest item to smuggle aboard.

Well, at least Seiko knew about the kitten, so it wasn’t like Kira had to keep the secret from everyone. Besides, Snow really seemed to like Seiko. Taking care of this stray cat with his help made her start to appreciate him. Or at least he didn’t bother her anymore…

Another day, another branch springing forth - no doubt her forebears would be proud at her efforts to uphold the integrity of their family’s business, but how disappointed would they be if they knew the reality…that she saw such endeavors as a mere tools to further her own aims at vengeance? …then again, given the creed of her bloodline, perhaps this too would be a source of pride.

Plain clothes today - those that knew, knew better than to so much as give her a passing glance as she oversaw the case displays and the arrangements of the glimmering gemstones in their settings, no doubt the sight would be dazzling to most, but it was really all mathematical to her, a mere front to entrance and draw in those who sought out tokens of love, honor and self indulgence.

The soft open would be tomorrow, the grand opening next week, and no doubt those on her list of targets would also wind up clients - of any plausible outcome, this was the one that threatened to put a smile on an otherwise lifeless face; scarred fingers grazed the squared shape in her back pocket as she moved towards the back of the salon and out the rear exit, pulling the carton loose and shaking up a single cigarette, moving to light the cherry when a dull roar made her pause.

So much screaming…why? Where was it coming from?

Casually, she meandered to the edge of the alleyway that led to the main drag, noting a lone figure sprinting away from a throng of shrieking women - all this over one person? …they didn’t seem angry at them, no - if anything, they seemed enthused to the point of almost appearing feral - how irritating.

Best to get rid of the source and lead the crowd away before her workers wound up distracted and scratching the new glass display cases; she waited, silently and perhaps a bit too comfortably, cigarette still held lightly between her lips as she seized the moment of opportunity and darted a hand out to close around the wrist of this wild mob’s prey, dragging him behind her, through the door and closing it behind them.

Her freehand rose to her lips to indicate he be quiet for a mere beat, plucking a card from the counter and pressing it into his hand as she removed her jacket and sunglasses, briefly exposing the scar cleaving through her right eye as she slid them on to his face and quickly exchanged the garment she removed for the coat he currently wore, patting down the pockets quickly and lifting the wallet, keys and phone from them and setting them down beside him, “Exit out the front, call that number in a few days - your belongings will be returned to you then.”

Without another word, slipping the coat on and lifting the hat off his head, she twisted her hair up until it fit securely beneath as she ran back out the rear exit and into the corridor - she had been feeling a touch cooped up anyway so she might as well get a jog in; as soon as she was on the street, she whistled sharply between her teeth, drawing the crowds attention as she broke out into a run, leading them off, still screaming their heads off, repeatedly yelling a name that kept becoming a distorted mess.

@ever-winter inquired: [ GAZE ] : sender watches receiver from across a crowded room. - Seiko / Childe

Sexual Tension—No Longer Accepting

Tartaglia noticed the eyes on him immediately. It was something any Harbinger would notice--what mattered was whether or not he would do anything about it. People often stared at him. The mask he wore on the side of his head brought curiosity and uncertainty to everyone around him. Did the mask have to do with the Fatui? Did that mean he was a high-ranking officer? Were they in danger?? Tartaglia learned to mostly just ignore the stares he received.

But this stare felt different from the rest. It was hard to ignore it, like it was penetrating his very soul. Was that a sign that he was in danger? Tartaglia didn't know, but it was that concern that made him glance over to see just who it was staring at him.

@ever-winter / childe

Running into familiar faces in completely different nations, so far from Liyue, is always a surprise. Not that Childe is THAT familiar to Chongyun -- they'd only known the man in passing before he'd up and left Liyue randomly. Still, it's nice to see someone recognizable, though it's hard to say he looks entirely happy.

Chongyun's approaching the man regardless, putting a smile on their face, before the smile fades. What if Childe doesn't recognize them in turn? That thought should've been considered BEFORE Chongyun approached.

"Er, hello," Chongyun says, already feeling their face turning pink. "I'm not sure if you remember me, but I knew you from Liyue. I was wondering how you're doing these days, it's been some time."

✘ ☆ . ⊹ ˗ˏˋ @ever-winter ( Scaramouche ) wants to play ! ˎˊ˗ ⊹ . ☆ ✘

╰ ★ █║ ⁞ —ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤ❛ You look pretty MESSED UP. ❜

╰ ✗ * . ⊹ ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑. Though the other was definitely older, he had held that same lost look when the two of them had first met in the mafia. What had the other expected when he entered those forboding towers. They hoped it wasn't a better life. The manner in which the older boy looked only made the HARSH REALITY of his new life all too clear. The child had already known what would have happened ... but it still didn't make things any better.

╰ ✗ * . ⊹ ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ What'd the mafia make you do today ? ❜

@ever-winter {Arlecchino}~

Vaitiare caught the gaze of the crimson-eyed woman, but neither of them looked away as they stared at each other. The dancer had never met this woman face-to-face before, but she paid enough attention to words on the street to know who this was. She helped with the crisis of Fontaine's 'prophecy'--a time that Vaitiare somehow couldn't remember--despite being a Fatui Harbinger... The Knave.