#paradoxdriven

date everything pt. 1 // accepting // @paradoxdriven

She's still trying to find herself. Novoselic would never again have a monarchy; whatever was left of it was and would continue to rebuild after the tragedy that Sonia had been instrumental in causing. But she had spent her entire life putting her own likes, dislikes, and dreams on the back burner in order to be a princess for her people above all else. Without that, what was she?

She had chopped off lengths of blonde hair upon waking from the simulation, desperate to shear the tresses matted with blood and tangles. It has been cleaned up since that initial, panicked cut, but it still sat well above her shoulders. Her ears and belly button have been pierced, courtesy of Kazuichi. And now she sits, pliant and willing, beneath her lover's hands as they decorate her with makeup.

She had always envied Gundham's style, the confidence they wielded, the way they truly knew themselves in a way Sonia never had. And even now, knowing their weaknesses and them knowing hers, she was all too willing to let them try their more dark, witchy style on her cheeks and lids and lips.

If it weren’t for the cool breeze, Signe might have gone straight back inside, electing another Knight to go on patrol with the Captain in her place. It was sweltering, but patrols still had to be done, and any potential threats dealt with. Signe sighed gently, fanning herself with her hat as they tried to stay under the shade of the fir trees that lined the trail into the Whispering Woods.

“I’m practically melting,” she remarked, though one look at her expression would be able to glean that she was hardly serious. They stuck to the trees, offering a prolonged respite from the overbearing sun. In all seriousness, of all the Knights available for such a patrol, Kaeya was likely the best for the job.

"Are you insinuating that I'm a quitter, Baiheng?" Dan Feng asks, sliding the bottle of wine that she asked for across the table. She catches it and smiles brightly at him.

"No... I'm insinuating that maybe you just have to be drunk enough to follow through," she says cheerfully. The foxian pilot pops the cork on the bottle and inhales deeply, and Dan Feng sort of wilts as he takes a seat.

"I had something made already, actually," he confesses, and Baiheng nearly chokes on the sip she'd taken.

"Well... What'd you-... You can't just say that."

Dan Feng reaches into his robe and produces a black bracer of distinctively Vidyadhara make. Baiheng gasps. The high elder gestures for her to examine it however she sees fit, and after lowering herself to get a good look at the gold details, she slips it onto her arm. It's terribly oversized on her despite the muscles built up in her arms from archery. It also feels oddly warm to the touch, but doesn't seem to warm up with her body heat.

"Do you think he'll dislike it?" Dan Feng asks. She's hesitant.

"I think it's beautiful," Baiheng replies matter-of-factly. The dragon's brow furrows. "It's a little... simple. And they usually come in pairs. But it's nice! I think it's nice."

"There are two."

"Well... That's good!"

Dan Feng sighs and takes both of her hands in his. Baiheng suddenly identifies the cool feeling of the bracer on her arm as Dan Feng's gentle grasp, and when she looks down at their hands, she sees an identical bracer peeking out from underneath his flowing sleeves.

"Do you think he'll like it?" he asks again, urgently, his face growing rapidly warmer. Baiheng tears the bracer off of herself and presses it to his chest.

"You need to give this to him right now," she says, rising from her seat and downing the rest of her wine in big gulps.

"Now?"

When pushed to speak on the subject, it would be clear that Miro's beliefs certainly align with Lauma's. The world doesn't work if respect for each other's autonomy is lacking, and credit should be given when someone's determination is worthy of respect. Monstrous as they know themselves to be, they're not so heartless as to belittle someone else for what most will consider a good thing.

They can, however, be annoyed by it. Especially when those traits lies in the hands of a squirrel.

Pale eyes narrow at the fluffy little villain perched comfortably on Lauma's shoulder, and the petty urge to just eat it rises to the forefront of their mind. She may just see a squirrel, but Miro sees a menace. If not for its constant prodding and insertion of its nose where it didn't belong, they really wouldn't have minded how it hovered around them for what felt like hours as they scoured the island for ingredients. But it was like every time they turned around, the meddling thing would sneak another nut or fruit from their basket, or insist upon crawling over them like a child in a tree. Once or twice was fine. Enduring it beyond that was just unfair.

Tighnari shakes his head, eyes fixed on the comb he runs through his tail, but he already knows that he has to answer Cyno. Not only is the General Mahamatra quite experienced with interrogation, he's as stubborn as they come, and he knows Tighnari too well. There is never lying or hiding from him. Not for long, anyway.

"Nothing. I took a back seat while everyone did all that work in the desert... and now I'm on vacation," he smiles, but it's more like a grimace. "In Mondstadt."

It sounds ridiculous out loud, even to him. It isn't like he took a nap while his friends were out saving the world. And they have a good reason to be on vacation in Mondstadt!

[ To: Hajime ] Okay...

[ To: Hajime ] I probably won't be great company but you can come over if you want to!

[ To: Hajime ] Just let yourself in. You remember the gate code?

[ To: Hajime ] The front door's still broken, haha...

Outside, a buzzer sounds as the security gate creaks open, and Nagito frowns as he sits up from the couch. Hajime walks in and slams the door behind him before Nagito can even get up. Not that he really wanted to get up in the first place...

Jing Yuan's reassurance is minimally effective. While he's glad he didn't disturb him, Dan Feng's tail swishes behind him. "You need to be resting," he complains. The general smiles gently at him, fond amusement and mischief painting his features.

"But I am not," he replies.

"But you aren't," Dan Feng snaps. Jing Yuan's smile doesn't falter. Dan Feng is first to look away, gaze shifting pointedly to the nearest window before softening at the reflection in it.

"What were you out looking for? Perhaps I can be of help," Jing Yuan says.

"No." He shakes his head. He can't ask him to help retrieve anything even remotely related to his time as high elder. Or prisoner. Really anything to do with their past is out of the question. "You've done more than enough. I just need you to be well. That's all."

"I'm feeling better already."

Frankly, Jing Yuan is lucky he's already so preoccupied; he doesn't even grace that with a response. Part of Dan Feng is so grateful for the light-hearted banter that he could kiss him, but a far larger part of him is distraught at the state of his research, his collections, his home. He ruined it. All of it. And he knew that, yet... The air grows thick and humid around them as he thinks of all the loss.

"They destroyed it all. Or locked it away. It's all gone," he all but growls, pitch rising into more of a pathetic wimper, tail curling around himself. "I'm not a fool. I didn't expect to get anything back, I just-..."

His friend walks towards him with slow, careful steps, until they're standing shoulder to shoulder. "Have you eaten or slept recently?" he asks quietly.

"You are so... diplomatic," Dan Feng hisses.

"You know where I stand. My home is open for you, Dan Feng. My staff will attend to you if you should need them. Yet, it's the middle of the night and you keep trying to pick a fight with me. Was the shackling prison not punishment enough for you?" Jing Yuan rumbles. He flinches not at the harshness of the general's words, but the emotion bubbling behind them.

"Sorry."

"Give it time. You will find more allies than you expect. Take Yanqing to the market tomorrow, and while you're gone I'll see what I can do. Might as well, with Diviner Fu acting in my stead."

Evidently, Dan Feng's will is weaker than it used to be. He sighs. "I can't stop you."

"You're catching on." The playfulness returns to the general like nothing had ever happened. Perhaps nothing did.

"I don't want them to hurt you." Or me. But if they know me, and they do, they will get to you first.

"The preceptors have been dealing with me for centuries now. I'll be alright," Jing Yuan insists. He's so confident Dan Feng almost has no choice but to believe him, skeptical as he is. If there is anything the both of them are experienced in, it's being a thorn in someone's side. "I trust Yanqing to keep you safe in the meantime. Just... Do your best to keep the number of purchases he makes to a minimum. If his sword collection expands into another room, there won't be anywhere for you to sleep."

It's a bit of a joke, but it seems like there's more truth in it than Jing Yuan wants to admit, and having met the young lieutenant even briefly, he can believe it. So, if he wants to secure a place in the general's home, he must be the one to chaperone Yanqing while Jing Yuan takes up the gargantuan task of confronting the preceptors for whatever remains of his personal possessions. Dan Feng has the distinct feeling that he just doesn't want to tell his son no, and this is his ticket out. Like young knights swapping their least favored chores. It's so absurd, he has to laugh. It doesn't take away the heavy pit in his chest, but it feels nice.

"I don't know that I'll be able to get any sleep anyway," he confesses.