#mcuntainborn

Rumors of an abyss mage in the area have Chongyun searching. They’re not sure where exactly, the only lead they have to go off on is that it’s somewhere near Jueyun Karst. Out of respond, Chongyun had mostly avoided this entire area, but perhaps he can get a pass just this once.

     ❝     oh , it’s you again !     ❞      venti’s voice sings out upon the wind as they hop down from their perch -- they remember this woman well enough ( after all , in their eyes , she does stand out from the people they’re used to seeing within the city . ) a hand raises in a brief wave as the other is placed upon their hip , wasting no time to make their way over to her .

     “ .. Alastuh did it,” because usually when cute girls came around him, it was because he was in trouble and this time, he hadn’t done it.

"I wonder if you will lend me an ear for a moment."

Trembling hands can barely grip onto their claymore as Chongyun swings at yet another bush, trying to vent their frustration with the world. Disillusioned is hardly the description Chongyun would pick, as he feels completely and utterly shattered by reality.

However, when she asks to have a word, Chongyun can’t bring it in him to say no. They want to, they want to verbally lash out at her and cause her the same anguish and turmoil he feels inside. But there’s something about her posture and tone that has Chongyun cooling down, albeit barely.

He really should’ve brought more first aid supplies. Not that they’d do much against a definite broken ankle, but it’s the stray thought that counts. Chongyun’s resting against a tree, leg stretched out in front of them as they use their last popsicle to try and ease the pain and swelling. The melted stickiness against his shoe and ankle doesn’t feel great, but it’s better than nothing.

He’s not alone, either. Chongyun can see a familiar face not too far from his spot, so he just nods at her. “Hello again,” they mumble. “I’ll leave shortly.”

They really were such fragile things, humans...

"...everything alright?" perhaps he was simply in need of reassurance, or comfort - there was a chance that perhaps his most recent expedition had experienced unforeseen complications.

Chongyn has no idea how to explain the feeling to Maggie. It’s one thing to have an innate knowledge of the concept and action, but to describe how it makes them feel is something else entirely. For them, it’s not just the fact that he’s holding hands with Maggie. It’s...

Sure, she’s a bit prickly, but they have a decent connection with each other, they hope. She seems to tolerate him, at the very least, never actually pushing him away unless to remind him she doesn’t like physical contact. Which... this is.

“I feel like...we’re making progress,” he says slowly, trying to settle his thoughts and put them to words carefully. “You don’t let people close, and...” they glance down at their hands, where he wiggles his around some. “This makes me feel happy.”

They don’t know how to explain properly that they feel trusted and accepted completely. It might only be a temporary action, but to Chongyun it feels like a massive breakthrough in their relationship with each other.

“I...I don’t wear a bonnet,” Chongyun blurts out, strictly from confusion. It takes a few seconds for them to realize that it’s probably an expression, and not something to be taken literally.

“Er, nevermind. Do you not like me coming out here?” Chongyun tries to refocus on the actual topic, feeling a little bit of dismay. Chongyun loves it out here, constantly drawn here by the powerful adeptal energies that seem to just call to him. It’s almost soothing, something Chongyun very much enjoys basking in.

But if Maggie has an issue, Chongyun supposes he could find somewhere else to meditate and visit, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. “I can always find somewhere else to go instead.”