by virtue and beauty

                       @vvaeritas & @mendakium

      On one hand, isn't it sweet that she's turned to him for safety and had it readily available? On the other...   ‘ What did you do this time? ʼ 

　　“Whatta you mean, 'this time?!' Like I'm constantly in here hiding from someone?! Pretty sure this is a first!”

‘ Hiding is a first, it isn't a first to hear of you being in some kind of situation. Most of which is easily avoidable, mind you. ʼ He smoothes her hair down, taking liberties with the act to card his fingers through it a bit too. ‘ What happened? Are you hurt? ʼ

　　Flees to his room all the way in Sumeru to hide from the law.

      On one hand, isn't it sweet that she's turned to him for safety and had it readily available? On the other...   ‘ What did you do this time? ʼ 

　　“W-well! Don't surprise me!” She can't even say "sneak up on," because he was already sitting next to her.

      ‘ ...Was that really necessary? ʼ Ow, wow. He massages the aching site, gently applying pressure with his fingertips to gauge how likely it is to bruise. He's quick to scoot away to the opposite side of the divan and then up.

Anaïs Nin, from The Voice

"i think i might hang out for awhile. there's tons of water everywhere, i'm not hard-pressed to find a pool deep enough to sink into. i just want to make sure it's cold enough first. but i'll come running back to you when i figure it out. if you still live where i think you live, then i shouldn't have any trouble tracking you down."

      ‘ Ah. You're welcome to see me in my studio anytime. If you eventually find it hard to locate, you may reach out to Barmak and he will know the best way to give you directions. ʼ

"i didn't think too much about it at the time, but i wonder if it's worth experimenting with in the future. to just go sit in a lake somewhere and contemplate the..." he frowns. "i guess, results? to see if we actually can feel anything."

      ‘ I can't say I haven't done the same, though for less disciplined reasons. Regardless, recalling the experience was a perfect cue to offer a counterpoint. ʼ Something else to think about, too. ‘ It isn't my field of expertise, admittedly. So if you get different results in your future attempts, I'm inclined to invite you to share them at your earliest convenience. ʼ

"what about when we take showers or baths? don't we instinctively know we're wet then?" chongyun presses his hands together in front of his mouth, deep in thought. "my brain always tells me that i know i'm getting wet, but i never stopped to to think about how it actually feels."

      ‘ Hmm... ʼ Interesting debate and introduction to a new observation, but, still, Kaveh is true to the bit of information he's presented. ‘ We would know once it changes the aspect of a given thing, like turning it malleable in the case of our hair or clothes. But feeling wet, that isn't well translated. Take being completely immersed in water for example — would you say you can still 'feel' it despite knowing you're soaked? ʼ