#winterfes 2022

She can feel the other's eyes on her, and pointedly tries not to meet them. The child's blunt attitude strikes her as amusing, gaze shifting to the earmuffs held in the young man's hand. She certainly doesn't expect him to turn and offer them over to her so easily and it shows in the way her tight expression loosens a fraction. Without thinking Nicolette accepts the item and assess it before commenting, ❝ He's right. They're hideous. ❞

The insult holds no bite as she looks towards the child, nodding in agreement. Still, there's a softer edge to the smile on her lips as she gratefully slips them over her ears. Warmer already.

the day before, the sight of a giant soup bowl had captivated Paimon like a moth to a flame, and its seemingly endless supply had been reason enough to spend hours in the area. if not for the fall of night and plummeting temperatures, it wouldn’t have been a surprise had she suggested they simply stay, with a handy excuse of something far more poetic such as watching the sun rise. inevitably it had been that her first concern was returning, practically dragging Lumine by the arm back into Fibbonaci to resume their indulgence and use the opportunity as a means of gathering information about the city, all its impossibilities included.

so enthralled to see the cauldron just as it had been the night before, Paimon had wasted no time rushing forth, allowing details to fall by the waysides — such as the new aroma. measures strides brought the Traveler closer, affording a peek at the contents. while certainly, the colour resembled the prior day’s soup, it was unmistakable the differences between them. not the most bewildering thing she had come across on this island, but something difficult to process all the same. and if it were a replacement, she’d hoped the proper procedures had been followed — some people took their food very seriously (not to mention, she would be the one to hear Paimon’s complaints if they were to be had).

" You! Mister! With me! "

A small boy suddenly comes to grab Albedo's sleeve and then proceeds to drag him forward to where the snowmen building by several kids and one adult has just started.

" He'll build with us. "

Eiden who's in the process of molding a big lump of snow looks at the guy who the kid dragged with him.

" Toll, what did I say about dragging strangers in with you for no reason? " Eiden sighs.

" ......sorry you this is--- you don't have to join or anything--- hey Toll don't--"

Toll's lips start quivering and soon a tears start pouring out. He clings to Albedo's sleeve even heavier now, dramatically so pulling his arm towards the ground. He's very loud.

" Toll -- " Kick. " Look. " Swing. " Hey-- "

Eiden firmly grabs the child then showing a sheepish smile to the guy.

" If you want to make your escape now's your chance--- I 'll somehow deal with this-- OW!! "

It’s a little too early for most people to be wandering through the icy halls of the palace, which is exactly why he is here now. Him swaying to the beat of his soul’s music, the tiles under his feet glowing a soft gold is not a sight for anyone but him to see, nobody to entertain here but himself.

What a relief. For all the cool stuff he’s seen in this city so far, there are way too many people in here. It’s hard to get a moment of solitude even in his own home (especially since Sun found out where he lives). But this, right here, is nice. The music is light and airy and fun, the lights dim and even the chill in the air isn’t bothering him for once. And, most importantly, he is alone.

At least until he hears the footsteps at the entrance to the ballroom. Of course. Well, it was fun while it lasted. He sighs and turns to the doorway, locking eyes with the-

the closest they’d seen to sculptures had been snowmen, making the experience of observing the structures, and the process of crafting them into envisioned shapes, a fresh sight. rather than partake, it had been Lumine’s suggestion to remain audience — oftentimes she would be volunteered but considering her artistic ability when it came to drawing... maybe it was better she didn’t try to get the hang of crafting something much larger and breakable right off the bat.

Paimon hadn’t complained — she was indulging the heat of being carried in the Traverler’s arms, keeping the frigid winter chill at bay across at least much of her body. taking part would means occupying her friend and losing that blanket of bodily warmth.

a giant tree... its feature was commonplace in stories, and most nations they had crossed in Teyvat bore their own, so to see one here was little of surprise. but it did sting... so soon after the root of Irminsul, a memory she alone carried. a frigid breeze swept through, a reminder that staying still in current conditions was not the wisest decision — and that was without the added factor of the flying marshmallow causing a stir.

examining the scene alone had given a picture as to their attack patterns (random and with no apparent planning. so at least they weren’t about to adapt to outsmart resistance). and luckily, they weren’t alone. though many in the area were pedestrians just passing through or hoping to ascend the grand tree, there were those retaliating — and more than once had Lumine sighted the captured troublemakers chewed on. “I’d question if it’s strange to eat what you fight, but we’ve had Slimes before”. so no room to talk there. the judging look was an expected reaction — the man evidently took no pleasure in getting wrapped up in herding the marshmallows, but their hindering anyone from getting so much as close to the tree made them more a hurdle that couldn’t be walked around.

not that it was an issue to Paimon, who had taken the opportunity to make a contest out of it. ✦so what do you say? loser buys the winner a big dinner! don’t worry, Paimon will still have room after she eats all these squishy sugar cubes.✦

✦oh no... the Balladeer is here. guess he woke up...✦

calling it far from ideal was an understatement, but things could have been worse. going by Nahida’s assurances, the harbinger shouldn’t have remained a threat to the same extent he had through his Inazuman and Sumerian operations — if she had been reduced to a state adjacent to her journey’s genesis, reason stood the same might apply to him, putting them on equal footing. neither a god nor a harbinger in possession of a gnosis, but someone stripped of power just the same. rather than fret about his appearance, Lumine had every intention of taking advantage of it.

first tailing him to wherever he was headed — it began with a museum. not to be caught up in an enclosed space with the enemy, Lumine held back, keeping watch of the level upon which the other disembarked, and triggering the vessel to return immediately after acquiring the answer. juggling the numbingly cold sphere between her hands helped to keep her mind busy, enough so that the unnatural chill of the museum and its underneath hadn’t registered. something about this place... it was unsettling and alien. whimpers from Paimon conveyed she’d understood quickly the disturbing ambience, however, Lumine had allowed herself be haunted by ghosts of another variety.

when the name Scaramouche came to mind, associations were tethered to it — the Raiden Shogun, for one. but she would not be the only, and unpleasant as it were, there were others who had inextricably been connection, for their memory — and what he did to them — was all that remained. no sooner had the elevator opened that Lumine honed in on that unmistakable figure, pushing aside the shadowy figures which populated the venue’s walls, and took the opportunity. rooting a step, she launched the snowball with all her might — the projectile shattering against back of his head.