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.

["Another kind" can only be poking around where he shouldn't, aggravating more strangers, or horny stuff, but sure, leave Reim to decide which one is the most likely. Maybe it's all three... even though it's been a few days... can't rule out the possibility!

That said, put a pin in comparing notes—]

Somehow, were I in dire need... I suppose you would be the logical choice to call for help. [The only other person he knows here is like a shorter, grumpier version of himself, which just won't do. Nerds, right?? Dang.] Don't let it go to your head.

[Ha ha. Jokes.]

You've been experiencing taverns, but what else? This city is a lot to take in without getting a headache.

[From the neon. And the electricity. And the tiny text on the phone.]

[ooh, the logical choice. love that, mr. practical! really, hence another light laugh as kaeya leads them around a corner. he is respected, back in his world; people know that he is a capable captain (tm), but thanks to his wily ways, he is not, like, the first person most come to for help—so this is just funny, really. it, like holding hands, is the sort of thing that reminds kaeya he is definitely not in teyvat.

and, you know. all of this neon helps with that, too, because damn... wild...]

How cold! And to think I was hoping for a compliment.

[he wasn't, but let him joke.]

But this city is strange, isn't it? Far different from the city I'm used to. [ye oldes, unite. but as kaeya is kaeya:] I did find a few interesting shops, at the very least. Oh—and a bakery, not far from here.

[sweets man, who currently has him by the hand... he's watching you...]

That wasn't a compliment? [It was half of one... give him time. His preferred strategy is just to stay out of the dire straits in the first place, but look: Kaeya's Okay. Reim is holding his hand in public and everything.

He holds up his other hand, though, like wait, thank you, do not sass his Cake Tier List.]

Tell me about the bakery later. [And he will take notes, thanks, but his burgeoning tiny text migraine only wants ye olde commiserating right now, so first:] These differences— Is it... the colorful decor?

[please he is suffering]

[you have to hold his hand in public and tell him that he's pretty, duh? his looks directly correlate with his ability to help someone out of a pinch; it's, like, science or something. but hmm, yes, the bakery was not outright ignored, which means that it is something to file away for a later time. first, though: these bright lights.]

Ha! That is one difference. [let him just gesture to the shopfronts they're currently passing.] I wouldn't call Mondstadt quiet, but it is certainly less... vibrant.

[electricity? what? never heard of it. stoves? we cook over open flame like real men. but while kaeya can connect the dots here, he still cants his head, giving reim an openly curious look.]

Is it the same for you?

[Telling Kaeya he's pretty is a third date activity, please understand. Reim has an itinerary for precisely this kind of gentlemanly courtship. But more importantly, thank god, understanding about the many lights... now he feels real kinship...]

Yes... It's the evening and it's still so bright out on the streets. [Wild! Where's that good old Victorian Grimness! There should at least be a few pockets of pitch darkness between every oil lamp that illuminates only a couple feet in diameter, obviously. This is so much.]

It is quieter at home, however. Now that the recent excitement has passed... [and he shakes his head slightly, since they do not have time to unpack The Recent Excitement,] Well, it was finally starting to be peaceful.

[And he didn't have to hold hands to eat, but jury's out still on whether that's a pro or a con.]

[damn! yeah! where are the shadows... how is a shady man supposed to Lurk... 😔 but oho. "recent excitement" sure does sound interesting, hence the way kaeya studies reim after taking in that short shake of his head—but while he's nosy, he's not, like, tactless. something to ask about after a few more get-togethers, and/or a few more drinks...

...but that requires planting some seeds now, huh? or: when it comes to fun details, you only get as much as you give! and kaeya has given very little, really, so.]

That, I understand, [he says, as though he genuinely prefers peace and quiet. spoiler alert: he doesn't, but listen:] We recently went through our own troubles, as well. Dragons have quite the temper.

[he says it so casually, tbh, because guardian spirts/creatures/whatever going a little wild... it happens, right? it happens. anyway:]

But even without such surprises, Mondstadt is a city of bards—and wine, of course. A gift, from our beloved Anemo Archon. [venti, somewhere: sneezing.] Our late evenings tend to be... boisterous.

[and he's part of the problem, lbr, but it's fine. just take these fun facts (tm) for what they are: an attempt to show that, cagey though he may be, he isn't above bonding.]

[Dragons... eaux. Reim gives him a look for that, curious— but in a distinctly tired way. Already, he is exhausted hearing about dragons, and he has heard only the word. Weird wonderland monsters truly were bad enough just to make eye contact with, he needs a month off before he can hear about dragons.

If anyone turns into a dragon in his presence here, they're on the shit list!! Anyway.]

Boisterous... well, it sounds like fun. [So obviously not his kind of fun, here on their way to drink. Suddenly, Reim wonders if this tavern is going to be Rowdy... oh no.] In moderation.

[Mentally, he circles "in moderation" a few times. Underlines it. Draws an arrow pointing to it. Please, take note... it's implied.]

You know, you strike me as more of the bard type than a knight.

[it's the tits]

[dragons!!! sometimes it do indeed be like that—but if reim is going to look Tired, then kaeya is going to take full advantage of it. truth be told, he doesn't want to explain mondstadt's history; that isn't his specialty, so: a laugh, instead? not mocking, no, but... oh, it's genuinely amused! and why shouldn't it be? both because mondstadt sounds like fun (true) and because dragons are pains (double true!).]

Do I? [hahaha.] I'm afraid I've never had an ear for music.

[most bards play, like, a harp; far be it from kaeya to play anything at all, but as he hums, pretending like he isn't too amused:]

Though when it comes to love poetry... [hmm!] I've heard I'm not too shabby. Should I write a poem just for you?

[he's half-joking, half-serious.]

[Yes yes, laugh it up. Reim has decided to think about Kaeya the Bard instead of these dragons, even if they are in another world, and Kaeya the Bard does merit a little chuckle. Thanks for appreciating his very good joke, which is definitely what Kaeya is laughing at, as well...]

Do you write enough love poems to have that kind of reputation? I'll pass.

[Ha ha... spare him. That's mostly a joke, just like this next bit is mostly serious, in a conversational kind of way:]

If you wrote me a song, on the other hand... It would only be fair after I painted you that portrait.

[Crap art for crap art!! It's the sentiment of it, because like, he doesn't not believe Kaeya is decent at poetry, but a Terrible Song just because he asked for one is a lot more... hmm! Well! Funny, yes, but also genuine, in its terrible art way.]

[how many love poems does kaeya write? answer: enough. or, well: enough to satisfy the masses, which may be a little, may be a lot. it depends! anyway: god, reim, you sure are asking for a lot. a song... has kaeya ever written a song in his life...

...no, and yet maybe that's what makes it special? just... the thought of writing anything for this particular person who doesn't know anything about him. wild.]

Is that what you want? [hmmMMM—] If it would make you happy...

[there may be someone he could ask for assistance??? someone he could ask for guidance. anyway, he'll file that away for later consideration; for now, as he tugs reim down this street—well! there's an innocuous-looking building tucked off to the side; kaeya tugs reim toward it, and after greeting the bored-looking hosting standing by some plain-looking podium...

...well. at least there is no wait to enter; the hostess leads them right to the bar, situated at the center of the restaurant (tm), and their surroundings are—it's no cheesecake factory? there are tchotchkes on the wall, sure, but they're of the sports variety; there are mittens, and bats, and who knows what else, framing such odds-and-ends as a carousel horse, which no one seems to have any problems with. who cares, you know? what does it matter. people do not come here for the decor; people come here for the absurdly cheap Specials, which the bartender serves up sans smile. take this cheap margarita and go...

so maybe they do! the margaritas/long island iced teas are cheap, as are the appetizers; maybe they order more than their fair share of each, simply to pass the time. it's not like their server cares! their server is too busy loitering by the bar to pay too close attention to them, so they are free to talk, to banter. to argue over who eats the last boneless wings, which are too drenched in sauce to be Crispy.

but eventually—well, you know! they can't loiter forever? that table is their server's livelihood, which is why kaeya leaves a decent tip‐because he pays for it all, of course he pays for it all—before leading reim outside. and this is where they should part ways? they've shared more than enough drinks; reim has every right to turn on his heel and leave kaeya standing in the (flickering) glow of the restaurant's sign, but—ah. what happens, instead, is that reim and kaeya find themselves lingering by the front door for no real reason whatsoever. kaeya should at least offer to escort reim home; that would be the gentlemanly thing to do, but as he lifts his chin, taking in the sight of reim looking back down at him...

...it's just interesting, is all. the way reim looks at him without taking a step toward him, or grabbing him; they're simply two equals exiting a mediocre establishment—after enjoying, like, far too many cheap drinks on kaeya's dime, so:]

Interesting, didn't you think?

[all of it! any of it. kaeya is practically radiating Pleased energy, because reim has made no attempt to leave him in the dust.]

[Thanks, write him a good one, he'll look forward to it. Or he won't, because while the idea that he would be impressed is true, the actual suggestion is just conversation; he will instead be pleasantly surprised, especially if the song is mechanically very bad...

Anyway, put a pin in it, etc. This new drinks place is somehow even more— incoherent? Is that a thing restaurants can be? It's more incoherent and confusing than the last one, which at least had some cohesion in its decor despite the questionable everything else about it. Reim spends an undue amount of time peering at the kitsch on the walls, complete with leaning in far too close and fumbling through taking a photo of that carousel horse once he's a few margs in. It's... lively! For sure!

A very lively outing, one which turns, then, into a quiet sort of suspension when they finally leave and stand there just outside. There's propriety in knowing when to end an outing with someone instead of stretching it out past the point of what was planned or what is necessarily polite, but Reim considers— and he thinks it's been a decent time, and a decent time doesn't merit a politely abrupt exit. Probably.

He considers this while scrolling through his not-very-good pictures of the carousel horse, before looking to Kaeya, and ah— hmm!]

It had... personality. [In a good way! He glances briefly away, down the street, then back again. Hmm!!] I'll concede that it was more enjoyable than the place I found, that first time...

[Anyway. Best not to stand here pretending time no longer passes outside of questionably bad restaurants, so:]

It's still warm for this time of night, so would you like to take a walk?

[i sure did write an applebee's essay last night, huh. the trauma runs deep. anyway: you know, were reim to end this outing here and now, it's not that kaeya would be bothered? reim staying for more than one (1) drink was a victory in and of itself; it gives kaeya hope that, just maybe, he can convince reim to come out with him again, because the nerd vibes are—well! charming, in a way. reim does make for (surprisingly?) good company.

and perhaps reim thinks the same about him, because—oh! an evening stroll. kaeya's smile remains in place, but as he follows reim's lead, his eye sliding to the side as he pretends to study the bit of Street behind the man before him, it does... soften. just a tad. he has no doubt that this walk will just be a nice, quiet Walk, and that's cute.]

I do have the time.

[don't they all. but as kaeya looks back up at him, canting his head:]

Alright, then. I accept. [hmm—] And I won't even ask for you to hold my hand—though you didn't tell me the price of every drink you ordered.

[they were all cheap as hell, so this is clearly just Teasing. accept it, reim.]

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

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