allweather | noctium inbox

[let it be known that reim is able to enjoy a few days of peace after their cheesecake factory adventure? like, three of them. wow. but kaeya, you see, does wind up hanging that portrait in his cozy apartment, when he returns to it—and thus kaeya is reminded of the, ah, mind behind the masterpiece, from time to time, so.

...so.

it's, like, an hour or so past dinner™ when kaeya shoots reim a nice little text. he at least has this going for him, because surely, surely, even a man such as reim is not already tucked into bed.]

Would you say that this is the right time of day for a drink?

[Reim is not, as luck would have it, tucked into bed. He might be considering it, if only for lack of anything better to do - man cannot entertain himself on internet research and note-taking alone! Or rather, man could, but the phone screen is small and he's actually 85, so he's given up on that endeavor for the evening.

So. Lucky, that he is doing nothing of import, although squinting at his phone like an elderly person isn't the convenient activity he would have hoped for... ah, it's the curator. You know, he kind of thought Kaeya would've collected a legion of drinking buddies by now... Hmm.

Allow him to hunt and peck his response, still:]

Such commendable patience. I would say this is late evening, which is a decent time.

[oh, kaeya may have a few—but just as kaeya curates his art collection, kaeya curates his contact list. calling up someone every once in a blue moon is not the way to make a friend! and reim is interesting, in his way, so.]

Decent? I see.
Perhaps one day I'll stumble upon the perfect time.

[once again implying that there will be more of This, but you know. don't worry about it. anyway:]

Are you free?

Having goals is good for you.

[Ha ha, just gotta slip a little nerd content in there, don't mind him. Anyway, how would he like to spend his evening: squinting at things in his new apartment, or squinting at Kaeya in a doubtless dimly lit, weirdly decorated establishment, just like the last one?

... Well, don't come for him, he does think about it. A little.]

I have some available time. Where shall I meet you?

[yeah, well, that bit of nerd humor means that kaeya is going to text reim, like, ten minutes later each and every time he invites him out... until he forgets about this little game of his and/or it's no longer fun, but you know. it's the Energy of it all.]

That depends. Are we planning to hold hands on the way there?
I did give you my word...

[holding hands!!! this is so delightfully juvenile.]

[Maybe it's Kaeya who should just ask to hold hands if he really wants to, damn. Or: Reim may or may not pause here to check his Funds, because he most certainly does not stop to think about how many hands he wants to hold. Absurd.]

Yes, alright. I don't mind.

[Watch as he makes it seem like this is Kaeya being needy... Let's go, bucko.]

[maybe it's reim who should just admit that maybe, just maybe, he likes holding kaeya's hand, damn. or: this goes both ways, bucko. kaeya will keep being like this so long as reim keeps being like that, so:]

Such enthusiasm! I'm touched.
Then why don't we meet at [insert something near the apartments here] ?
I won't keep you waiting.

[because he is, despite his Everything, a gentleman when it matters! one is not voted the top candidate for grandson-in-law for nothing, so—yeah, he'll be wherever he needs to be. a touch early, even.]

[How can Kaeya be early if they're both early! Just kidding, Reim shows up precisely on time, which is weird, because they didn't set a time beyond more or less Right Now? And yet, the energy accompanying Reim's arrival is that he is precisely on time, hello, thank you for coming.]

There you are. Were you waiting long? [no, Reim is On Time, but it's the asked thing] You mentioned picking the tavern, last time...

[Sooo, does he get to know in advance? Is this a surprise tavern??]

[listen: time is a vibe, and they are both Feeling it. kaeya was probably only standing here for, like, a minute or so before reim showed up, so all is well; all is good; he both is and is not surprised that reim did not drag his feet, hence that small smile on his face. why even pretend to care about his nonexistent wait when the exciting topic is right there...]

I did, [he agrees, so easily that reim should immediately Know he's not about to learn shit.] And I have—but you're not hoping for a hint, are you? I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

[which should also tell reim plenty, but it's fine? just take his hand, buddy, because here he stands, holding it right out. palm up. like he's about to ask for a dance.]

[Ooh, this guy!! Of course Reim wanted a hint, maybe in the form of a puzzle if Kaeya isn't just going to tell him so he can noctigoogle it one-handed on the way there— which, of course, means he was never going to get any of that. He's already learned to expect this much, which is... hm! Well, familiarity breeds something or other; for now, it's fine.

He settles for rolling his eyes, but like, in a grudgingly endeared way. It's that evening air.]

This may be our second meeting, but I know you know that I like to be prepared. [That's his most obvious trait... Anyway, he takes Kaeya's hand in a hold that is not too spicy but not too loose, like - a buddy system kind of hold. Endure.] And that I prefer not to dawdle, so please...

[kaeya loves nothing more than crafting elaborate puzzles, actually, so we are putting a pin in this for later consideration. anyway, though: of course kaeya knows that reim, he who spent ten minutes jotting down desserts in his tiny notebook, likes to be prepared; it's half the reason kaeya has elected to keep their Very Cool Destination a secret, but he simply hums as reim takes his hand, pleased that things are off to an easy start. and, you know, hand-holding... he's still tickled...]

Of course. Your time is valuable.

[is he teasing? probably. no, definitely, because as he turns, gently tugging reim right along with him:]

In fact, I'm curious as to what you were you doing before I messaged you. Organizing another list?

[this is good-natured fun.]

[Please seduce him with an escape room made in his own apartment, that won't be weird at all. But listen to this sass! Reim should demand his hand back. No, no-]

I was doing research, so yes— of a kind. [He refuses to be embarrassed by his Useful Lists, like the smartypants ones; the cakes, those are more free range...] Just to get the lay of the land before stumbling into something I shouldn't, out here.

[It's a big wide monster gem people world, after all, and he is but one pool noodle trying his best. In fact:]

I should thank you, actually, for contacting me when you did. There's always more reading to be done, but not all in one sitting.

[Which he would attempt, so. Take his should-thanks.]

What have you been up to?

[reim sure is a pool noodle, huh. it's fine; in fact, it might just be one of his charm points. who can say! but oh, thanks for this perfect set-up:]

Research. Of another kind.

[no lists here!! smartassery aside, though: kaeya's been out and about, meeting people and noting important places—but does he really want to tell reim that he's spent a majority of his time poking around the ruby underground? tricky.]

I find the best way to learn about something is to experience it. There are many interesting places in this world. [hmm—] Perhaps we should compare notes, one day?

[show him ya lists, sir, or accompany him to even more mysterious places. it's the give-and-take—but also, with both a light laugh and a light squeeze of reim's hand:]

And of course, if you ever do stumble into something, you do know a knight.

text; un: kaeya - don't ask me the date, time is a myth

so it begins

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text; i forgot this other thread was 50 comments, jesus

this riddle is so gay? kaeya

he's having fun 😌

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