✦ twilight sword

@twiilite asked: "Traveler?" He must have slowed down considerably since his injury, Dainsleif figured, for how else could they have tracked him down so soon? Defeated, and far too tired to even make attempts at a hasty exit, he throws his head back where he is sat, enjoying the warmth of the campfire that crackled at his feet. Dainsleif was never very good at admitting fault, and this was no different... But confronted with the presence of his companion in the here and now, he has no choice. "I owe you an apology. I failed you."

It's not an often occurrence for him to take initiative on his own behalf; aside from searching for his sister's whereabouts, many of his actions since arriving to Teyvat stem from one of two sources: his innate desire to help others, and the hope that the results will be fruitful in his own goal. Yet little by little, the lack of payout was chipping away at Aether's sunny disposition. Just how much longer can he keep up the facade that all is well when his world continues to crumble piece by piece, failing to grasp the remains that slip away. Yet The Traveler must continue onwards with a smile on his face, with a hand extended out in an effort to help others, for that is their role in this world. Despite that resolve, he can only push himself so far before there's a crack in the mask he adorns willingly.

Waking up at Vimara Village had been strange, the sensation that something was missing itched at the back of his mind — and coupled with the strange picture now in his possession, Aether had more questions than answers. Caribert had divulged some information, but there was one other person who could help shed some light on the matter.

Upon learning that Dainsleif had left the area not too long ago, the Traveler immediately set out on the hunt; the morning sun was slowly rising above the treetops, but the Twilight Sword was nothing if not elusive. Despite finding signs of the other's trail, night fell long ago before the scent of a campfire attracted the blond's attention. Was that perhaps? . . .

"You had been deceived, simple as that." While it had been uncharacteristic in his opinion, Aether couldn't really fault Dainsleif for losing the Eye — if the latter had intended to part with the item from the get-go, then the false memory had simply been implanted at the opportune time. Yet that also meant one of two things: either his sister was more powerful, or something else had occurred during the battle.

In fact, Dainsleif had been acutely aware of attempts to tamper with the ley lines up until that point. But never had he expected for things to change right under his nose.

Even now, the memory of handing over the eye to the Traveler was one so clear and natural to him that he found it difficult to reconcile the images with what he now knew to be the truth. It disturbed the Bough Keeper greatly.

This complicated things significantly -- made him an unreliable narrator to his own story. Over the last 500 years, he'd always been able to depend upon himself, if nobody else.

And now even that much was questionable.

"I will heal."

Physically, at least -- that much was guaranteed. Though, he'd suffered a far greater blow to his pride, and it began to show in the way he turns his head away from the Traveler, as if to look upon him is to witness a reflection of the object of his own shame and humiliation.

"What 'happened' is that when it came down to a physical confrontation... I hesitated."

The admission comes with no small amount of misery on his behalf, star-shaped pupils focusing back upon the flames before him. Dainsleif moves to busy himself, idly turning a pair of skewered fish upon the fire so that they might cook equally on both sides.

quotes from the first book of carissa broadbent's crown of nyaxia series . might be spoilery but i didn't include names . tw for cursing , death , suggestive content . for all your vampire , enemy ( to lovers ) & reluctant allies dynamics . * feel free to change roles , pronouns .

𝙸. 𝙳𝚄𝚂𝙺.

" don't look away. " " this place is a fucking disaster. " " never guessed you were pretty under all of that. " " i take no criticism from a drowned rat like you. " " which reminds me, i have something for you. " " made me think of you. " " it's a good color for you. " " youth is wasted on the young. beauty, too. " " you're sweet. prickly, but sweet. in an acidic sort of way. like a pineapple. " " i'm tired. tired of being afraid. " " crazy old bitch. " " don't drink yourself to death. " " you're dead here. try again. "

𝙸𝙸. 𝙵𝚄𝙻𝙻 𝙼𝙾𝙾𝙽.

" you are prey in a world of predators. " " may the Mother guide you. " " i was trying to save your life. " " i'm not a fool. " " are you deaf, or just stupid? " " you're unfriendly. " " ally with me. " " top of the eastern tower. if you change your mind. " " you'll be easy to kill later. "

𝙸𝙸𝙸. 𝚆𝙰𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙼𝙾𝙾𝙽.

" a gift from a goddess. " " i have a gift for you. " " you're a demanding little thing, aren't you? " " becasue i'm nice and pretty. " " OPEN. THIS. FUCKING. DOOR. " " remember right now exactly how lucky you are. " " i feel sorry for her. " " that was a foolish decision. " " i taught you better. " " i would have been there, if i could. " " keep those teeth ready, little serpent. " " watch their back, but don't let them see yours. " " use him. but never allow him to use you. " " what in the seven fucking hells is wrong with you? " " we can't cooporate if you won't let me get close to you. " " i won't even dignify that with a response. " " you're working against me, not with me. " " you are afraid of me. " " i'm not going to hurt you. how close do i have to get without splitting you open to make you believe that? " " i don't know how i ever thought this was gonna work. " " don't let them take her. "

𝙸𝚅. 𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙵 𝙼𝙾𝙾𝙽.

" you're many things. but a good actress is not one of them. " " we're losing moonlight. " " don't you worry about me. " " get the fuck away from her. " " i'll be back. don't burn to death. " " i called and called but he wouldn't answer. " " we're surrounded by those who would like to see us dead. " " don't forget those teeth of yours. you will need them. " " daughter of the moon. welcome. " " i'm sorry for what i'm about to do to you. " " i'm glad your bedside manner is about as delicate as i would have expected. " " too late for that. you're stuck with me. " " did you miss me? " " i'm coming for you. " " you worried me. i should have known better. "

𝚅. 𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚂𝙲𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝙼𝙾𝙾𝙽.

" return to the church at sundown. " " you were fucking magnificent. " " something bothers you. " " a dance? " " one more dance. " " give me one honest thing. " " are you going to kill me? " " you might destroy me anyway. " " that wasn't how i'd imagined making you come for the first time. " " you seem to be good at winning the hearts of ill-tempered creatures. " " we have enough if we ration. " " it finally happened. you've lost your mind. " " after everything, you're still afraid of me? " " i'm not a fucking animal. " " didn't think i'd see you again. " " you said it yourself. you don't have a choice. " " you can still say no. " " don't do anything stupid. " " we need to run right now. "

𝚅𝙸. 𝙽𝙴𝚆 𝙼𝙾𝙾𝙽.

" you look them in the eye. " " i gave you everything. i made you all that you are. " " don't look at me that way. " " kiss me. " " we'll probably die tomorrow. " " show me something worth living for. " " i've done a lot of thinking about you. " " i would beg, for you, i would. " " you have fucking destroyed me. " " there she is. " " give me a fair fight and i'll give you a fair death. " " i'm glad it was you. " " end it. " " i know what it is to lose half of one's soul. " " so many mistakes in the end. never you. " " you're safe. "

𝚅𝙸𝙸. 𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃.

As Dainsleif took a slow sip of his water, Kaeya furrowed his brows in mild concern and passed another glance towards Charles, who merely continued to clean glasses while watching the two silently.

With a soft sigh, the Cavalry Captain gave another gentle smile towards the Bough Keeper, nodding at his statement. “I imagine, which is why I’d like to guide you to wherever you’re staying,” he responded, his tone neutral yet gentle. He took note of how the blond was obviously having difficulty trying to remain lucid.

The man truly looked worn down and exhausted, compared to the first time they had met. Granted, Dainsleif looked rather tired then too, but not to this extent. Not to the extent where his lashes continued to flutter because he was so close to conking out. And yet, he stood up tall anyway and even gestured for Kaeya to leave him be.

He had a look of incredulity as he watched the blond with caution, worried that he would topple over any moment—but fortunately, he didn’t, even as he shuffled his way out of the tavern. He knows a dismissal when it’s given, however this didn’t sit well with Kaeya to just…let him go.

With a slow sigh through his nose, the Cavalry Captain pulled out his mora and paid for both their drinks, shared another look with Charles, exchanged small words, and then left the tavern to follow after the blond.

He’s glad to see that Dainsleif hadn’t gotten far—but Kaeya shouldn’t have expected anything else. Perhaps there was some part of himself that thought the other would just up and vanish out of thin air, so he’s relieved to see that’s not the case.

“Dainsleif,” he called out towards the blond, approaching him once more. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d prefer to guide you to your destination. I know that you’re fully capable of taking care of yourself, and Mondstadt is relatively safe where you don’t have to worry about getting mugged or whatever else, but allow me to just make sure you get to where you need to be.”

This man is over five hundred years old, he’s strong as hell and knows how to hold his own. Kaeya is no idiot, nor is he blind. But to leave Dainsleif to his own devices when he’s clearly not doing so hot, again, didn’t sit well with him. Especially when he has the ability to ensure that the blond doesn’t stumble around or get lost.

It was an amusing thought, though! That of this much older man having difficulty finding his way through the city.

Whatever that means.

"You really want to help me get to my destination so badly?"

The elder man gives it some thought -- considers crafting a lie so that the reality of his situation doesn't clash with Kaeya's insistence upon helping him on his way... However, he simply doesn't have the energy to come up with something convincing, not least something that would convince a man who clearly wore so many masks of his own.

The shame upon his face gives him away before he can stamp it back down, anyway.

"...Well, I don't have one."

Although it has been this way for some time, it isn't often that he has to admit, out loud, that he has nowhere else to turn: that when he is injured, unwell, or merely just tired, there is no place in the entirety of Teyvat for him to settle. It wasn't feasible to pay out for room and board in the long term, so he simply finds the safest spot possible and weathers the storm in whatever way he can manage. Sometimes quite literally so.

And that is what he intended to do here and now, though to admit as much came with some degree of embarrassment.

Another part of him envied what Kaeya had made for himself here in Mondstadt, and lamented that he would never have that for himself. A selfish and jealous thought, yes, but he was only human.