Puffballs

Kirby AU go brr. Ramble under the cut

(In case it's hard to read, text says Bandana Waddle Dee: Defender of Dreamland)

So nearly a year after I drafted the original story, I've finally fixed up my silly little Kirby AU enough to start posting about it!

It has no official name, though I have been and will continue calling it the Sodium AU (might've mentioned it on here once or twice?). It can be broken into two parts. There's Bandana Waddle Dee: Defender of Dreamland!, which plays kinda like a subgame centered around the titular Dee, and there's Kirby: Heros of the Stars, which plays out more like the main story mode. Though I hesitate to call them the main mode and subgame bc it's more of a Splatoon 3 fake-out situation.

The whole concept of BWD:DoD is that while Kirby was out training* with Meta Knight, a mysterious wanderer by the name of Aeon crash-landed on Planet Popstar seeking help. Since Kirby wasn't there to offer it, Bandana Dee decided he'd step up! The two end up going on a small adventure to find four mysterious artifacts... Though only one is found before Aeon gets fucking murdered and everything goes to shit.

The concept of the Sodium AU in general is a bunch of What-ifs I wanted to mess around with. Mainly, what if we made every single Galactia Knight encounter canon, what if Meta Knight was corrupted by Dark Matter, what if Kirby lost the ability to protect his home and friends, and what if Bandana Dee finally got to be the main character of a subgame. And he doesn't just get a subgame. He gets the entire AU with him as the main character, which would be great if it wasn't completely post-apocolyptic and everyone he ever knew and loved was dead, possessed, or secretly trapped in a basement in a cage in a castle on a Dark Matter infested planet waiting for their inevitable death where Dark Matter will possess them therefore causing the destruction of the galaxy as we know it (cough cough Kirby). There's a lot more to it than just this, as I also go more in depth on the Heros of Yore, Morpho Knight, and a bit of Magolor and Bandana Dee's relationship during BWD:DoD (slaps roof THEY CAN FIT SO MUCH TRAUMA). Arguably there is also a prequel that involves Magolor and Zan Partizanne, but I'm still working on it and it may get scrapped or turned into a separate thing. It (somewhat) follows the plotline of Star Allies' Guest Star mode, and involves a lot of arguing, angst, and poor coping mechanisms.

*It's not actually training. It's Kirby getting fucking wombo comboed by Dark Matter

Guess who just finished the Magolor Epilogue today

@galactia said:

Kaeya waltzed into the library, smile too saccharine, one hand hidden behind his back. "Hello, my love." He intoned to Signe, and with a drift of his brow, produced a fresh, long baguette, "Would you like my fresh bread?"

“I’d love to sample some, actually,” she grinned, shooting him an equally lecherous grin. The implication was far from subtle. With a sweep of her gaze to make sure no one important was within earshot, Signe would wholeheartedly play along.

“…But food isn’t usually allowed in the library, I’m afraid. I’d be happy to sample your fresh bread elsewhere, if you’ll allow.~”

@galactia asked:

The darkness here was inky and suffocating, saturated in Abyssal power, clinging to the weathered stones and stealing what there was of air. This was a place sunlight could not touch; a place where the power of the gods could not bring reprieve. How a door had been opened to this depth was not known to that which crawled in the dark, but the Abyss opened its jaws, welcoming another sacrifice- Blue-black darkness gave way to frost here, like mist from the shadows, and reached, like cold tendrils to coalesce around her feet. It might have been a caress, for the way it ebbed and flowed, but another step, and then another, and the ice turned sharp, freezing at her boots. There was a laugh that echoed on unearthly stone, the echo of which was mad, and a voice, too familiar not to be recognized, too hollow to be right, joined it. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? Little red riding hood, lost in the wood-" Spikes of pure cryo erupted from the floor, closing Signe in, entrapping her in a frigid cage. The breathy laughter seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere, and mingled with a distant scream (everywhere, no where, animalistic, pained). A figure unfolded from the dark, a blade of pure cryo in its hand, "Oh-... what big teeth, I have-" A gold eye (hazy, scarred) and a blue eye and cascading, blue hair, "my dear." Kaeya emerged from the dark, whole, alive (whole?, alive?), and different. Dark veins tore through brown skin, bleeding into his right eye, and disappearing across his neck. His clothes were his, but utterly changed. He drew close (was she real? was she flesh, and blood, and a beating heart?), eyes narrowed, eyes shifting. He watched the ice melt against her touch. Real. He flinched back and tossed his head and a peel of wretched laughter seemed ready to split him in two. (How? Why? No, no-...) "So brave, so foolish-" He leered closer, and a blink sent tears rolling down, seemingly unbeknownst even to him, "Have you come to join me?"

She had torn through the pages of her tomes until her fingers bled from the papercuts, and the dark circles under her eyes suggested that the witch hadn't slept in what was at least a day or two. Her escape from the Abyss had come at Kaeya's expense, and she wouldn't have rested until she found a way to rescue him, too.

Plenty of Knights and common Mondstadters alike had stopped by the library to ask how she was doing. The change in her demeanor and the absence of the infamous Cavalry Captain that usually lingered by her side were far from subtle signs that something wasn't right. Signe grew pricklier at each question, barely gracing them with a response to return more quickly to her desk to pour through information again. Finally, after endless research and Bennett's help, a portal into the Abyss had come to surface - but Signe had ventured into the cave alone in the case that she didn't return, the opening seemingly vanishing after her.

It became harder to walk with each step into the Abyss. Any moisture that had collected on the soles of her boots seemed to freeze her to the ground, and her shivers became more pronounced as the temperature around her dropped. It's of no matter, she thought: I must be getting close.

The large clearing in front of her was covered in ice, and the temperature had dropped so much that there was a bit of frost collecting on her lashes. Signe barely had time to react when the large spikes of cryo emerged from the ground, leaving her little room to move (to escape?). The figure that had emerged from the darkness was clearly Kaeya, but the Abyss had clearly managed to touch him, too.

"I came to find you," she replied, instinctively trying to melt through the cryo with her electro with little progress. Join him? Join... the Abyss? He couldn't be serious.

"--To bring you back. We've all been worried sick. Everyone’s been asking for you nonstop, and I couldn’t--

“Kaeya, what have they done to you?"

What made Galactia knight decide to live with Meinna? It's funny to think about how a powerful warrior lives with a historian who is just peacefully living her life...

it’s mostly because she’s the only remnant of the past that he has. she’s one of the few popstarites that deeply care for ancient history, and one of the few to have looked into him. while he’d probably be better off in dreamland, socialising with kirby and his friends, he’s intrigued by the marred peace of floralia and its own history. to him, floralia is a nice break from all the fighting, while mienna’s the closest person he has to home.

there’s that, and the fact that his reputation in the history books has either left people skeptical or afraid of him. while they’re totally correct to be scared of him - he’s recalled to have split planets in two in planet robobot, after all - it also means that the only person even slightly interested in housing him is a god-child who doesn’t have enough space to do so.

Is it bad that I hope that in your SSS Kirby AU galaxta knight ends up genuinely being the strongest warrior in the galaxy (as in uh oh he wasn’t human this entire time) and making evil!kirby run screaming away at the realization

I just find it to be interesting if whatever group turned him into an assassin just found some amnesiac alien and decided that they were going to use them for evil deeds

Funny thing galactia is a good two feet taller than evilKirby in his original shape

No it's not bad, in fact I think it's a really cool idea and I wish I could use it! ^^ Unfortunately, I think pulling focus to Gal in that way wouldn't really fit the team-oriented tone of SSS. ^^;

If I did use that backstory, it would probably be completely incidental. Like at some point they'd discover that he's actually an alien, and the general consensus would be "OH MY GOD...anyway, world's still ending, let's move on"

[ABOUT] VOICE LINES. ENG VA ; L/aura Bailey (think T/ohru & M/aka mix.) JP VA ; M/anaka Iwami.

[ ABOUT VENTI : @melodicbreeze ]

He's really talented with that lyre , isn't he ? When he performs in the square I like to bring my paperwork down from headquarters and listen while I finish up. It also gives me a chance to ask about his travels ! He's been to a lot of different places . . I'm a little jealous.

[ ABOUT KOKOMI : @rukuan ] Oh , you've heard of her too ? She's amazing , right ? I admire people with the strength and ambition to go as far as the divine priestess has , especially in the face of danger. .

[ ABOUT US (RUBY) : @ancientforged ]

Are you leaving already , traveler ? Oh , okay ! Here , take these with you ! I made them myself . . You never know when you'll get hungry out there ! Uhm . . Next time you come to Mondstadt , come find me , okay ? We can do something fun !

[ ABOUT KAEYA : @galactia ]

Captain Alberich can seem eccentric at times , and he likes to tease , but he's a really nice person ! If you see him today , would you give him these snacks ? He looked a little tired this morning and I think a special present from you would make him happy.

[ ABOUT NEKA : @nekasu ] We tend to run into each other quite a bit lately . . He's got a habit of being sassy but don't let it fool you , he's a sweet person whose always willing to help. [ ABOUT KAEYA : @geleum ] I know how he can come across at times , but don't mistake his playful demeanor for negligence. He's a very skilled knight , we're lucky to have him as our cavalry captain ! I don't think he realizes how much he's appreciated around here most of the time . . You spend a lot of time with him , don't you ? Please be really nice to the captain for me , Traveler. [ ABOUT US (AETHER) : @solasters ]

I just wanted to say thank you , traveler. You don't mind at all when I join you on commissions , and you don't get upset with me when I make mistakes. I'm sure having to look after me must get tiresome after a while . . Thank you for not showing it. [ ABOUT YAE : @narukamiguuji ] I've never met Ms. Miko , but I'd like to in the future ! I don't know if it would be allowed , though . . She's something of an important figure to Inazuma , isn't she ?

[ ABOUT CLAIRE : @sakuradreamerz ] I don't think we've met yet . . She's part of the adventurers guild , isn't she ? I wonder if she'd mind my joining her for a commission or two . .

[ ABOUT DILUC : @dilucisms ]

Mr. Diluc . . His face always kind of looks . . Upset. But , he's a kind person , so don't let that scare you off , okay ? A - Actually , I think he might be kind of lonely - So , if you ever get the chance , please spend some time with him . . Why don't I do it myself ? I . . Don't think he'd appreciate the company of a knight much . .

[ ABOUT US EARS (LUMINE) : @luminousglimmer ]

. . Y - You can touch them , you know ? I don't mind ! Hehe . . I could tell it's been on your mind for a while . . You've been looking at them the same way the other knights do when they want to pet them. Just be careful , sometimes little electro pockets get stuck in the folds. I don't want you to get shocked on accident.

[ ABOUT ADRIAN : @sungracd ]

They're amazing , aren't they ? Without the supplies they give to the church , things would get a lot more difficult for the people relying on those medicines . . It doesn't seem like they want anything in return for it all either . . They're really , truly , a kind person . .

[ ABOUT THOMA : @scarletooyoroi ]

Thoma's my good friend ! He's from Inazuma so we don't get to see each other often. In a way that makes the times we get to hang out a lot more fun and special , I think. But I still miss him . . I hope I'm able to visit his home some day . .

[ ABOUT ITTO : @avaere ]

He scared me at first . . I don't think I've ever met someone so big and loud in my entire life ! Except Master Varka . . But he's really not scary at all ! Itto's super cool ! He introduced me to a beetle species that you can only find in Inazuma - Did you know they hold contests to see which beetle can stay up the longest ? It's pretty interesting . .

[ ABOUT BASILIUS : @boomermania ]

. . S - Sorry , traveler , but could we not talk about that person ? We don't get along very well , and I don't want to influence how you may think of him just because of that.

[ ABOUT VENTI : @xamassed ]

For a bard . . He . . Get's in trouble a lot , it seems like. I didn't expect it , most bards I've met aren't so adventurous. It's not a bad thing though ! I find his presence refreshing , honestly. But he does drink a bit too much for my taste . .

[ ABOUT NARUTO : @ournindos ]

He's someone I've only just met recently , but he seems like a friendly person ! He's been nothing but kind to me , so I'd like to return the favor soon. If you see him around , could you maybe pass on to him that I'd like to see him when he has time ?

To the list of celebrations Khaenri’ah is notorious for having, Dáinsleif’s coming to the kingdom punctuated the birth of a new one: the good news that this kingdom will live on for one more year without fearing the potential targeting of the gods of Celestia according to Irminsul’s might. Nonetheless, the king and the Bough Keeper know both that Khaenri’ah has been touched by the Heavenly Principles’ wrath since the very beginning of its rise as per Dáinsleif’s prophecy.

Hence the major ballroom being occupied by mostly gentry and a select amount of people that do not belong to that category whom won the privilege to assist to this celebration in the palace presided by the king and the queen sitting their thrones and Dáinsleif standing by the king’s side as the highest authority of the Black Serpent Knights, and most importantly to this occasion, priest-like figure that serves as an intermediary betwixt Irminsul and mortals. His chin points towards a certain individual among many others, garnering the Twilight Sword’s attention with an additional glance for him to approach for a more private conversation.

❝Do you see that man? I was informed that he hails from Liyue. Is it not interesting to receive guests from afar and in a celebration that does not concern them?❞ Icy sapphires are directed once more towards said man, narrowing just a fraction at a particular feeling. It differs from the void’s darkness of the Abyss that he has grown accustomed to, yet it is something that evokes a familiarity that he can’t pinpoint— or rather, unbeknownst to him, a higher force exerting pressure onto him to not recognize what it is. ❝Perhaps he is not knowledgeable about the full extent of this celebration’s importance, Your Majesty.❞

❝Indeed. However, we must have a watchful eye on him to preserve to the best of our ability that what the great Irminsul prophesized is upheld.❞ ❝Yes.❞ Pale eyelids flutter close as he bows his leave. In his experience as the one whom can commune with Irminsul, Dáinsleif doubts that its might can be undone nearly as easily, even less without warning. For that mighty tree that contains the soul of this world is never deceiving. Alas, he understands the king’s exacerbated concern and so he does as he wills by making a beeline out of the ballroom, a tactic to not rouse any suspicions that the man in question has been their topic of discussion.

Moments later Dáinsleif enters the ballroom anew, unhurried steps leading him to the tall man. Leveraging the nearby presence of a waiter who serves drinks to the guests, the Twilight Sword takes graciously two glasses of champagne and offers one to the stranger from Liyue, roseate lips curling in an amiable smile. ❝It is not often that we receive knowledgeable guests in Khaenri’ahn culture from afar.❞ His head cants to one side, icy sapphires exercising a quick scrutiny before peering into the other’s ambers. ❝To what do we owe the pleasure?❞

@galactia​​ ♥︎ed for a starter in Khaenri’ah!

      hmm . . . . appealing of an idea , even better if it pisses off two people and not only one --- lynette would be lying if she didn't like a bit of chaos , every once in a while . besides , it means dinner somewhere nice , most likely ; why didn't she think of this before ?

|| @galactia ! Resume: Kaeya Alberich (Ragnvindr). Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius. Fond of wine and romantic outings for the purpose of pissing off brothers.

can i hear about the au ☝️

YES

I doubt you guys wanna hear the long explanation (it has arcs and like.. long story stuff, I plan to make it into a webcomic because I cannot be trusted to make fanfics)

So I'll sum it up (shitpost-ly)

- polyamory between escargoon, dedede, meta knight and galactia knight, diversity win!

- kirby is like.. 17-19 in this au and still cannot catch a fucking break

-some anime characters are canon some are not

-marx needs to stop trolling people (and trying to wish on a "star" again)

-Magolor and susie besties arc

-Kirby gets possessed by zero in this au

- kirby cannot catch a fucking break

- the warp star is sentient

- void becomes friend shaped :]

-gooey. That is all you need to know

-marx teaches noddys how to kill because they get kicked around literally and it goes horrible wrong

-galactia knight redemption arc except they think murder is good and not needing to be questioned

-GRYLL TIME

-kirby is born from the voids positive emotions aka light matter blah blah dark matters are born from negative emotions aka literal dark matter blah blah lore stuff

-elfilin tends to come around at the worst times

-bandana dee gets stabbed

-galactia knight is lowkey terrified of void

-galactia knight has to babysit the eldritch and god like beings at some point

-gooey part 2 electric bugaloo

-we love gooey

-susie has a gun collection

-susie may or may not be a mad scientist

And that's particularly the major stuff

@galactia said: " it isn't mine. " Kaeya swiped the blood from his cheek with a thumb, an ice like cold in his eye. He blinked and it seemed to fade, melting like frost before morning light. "Nothing to worry over. Just a troublesome character or two I had to teach a lesson." (Source)

✿✿✿

The Traveller remained quiet for a few seconds, a couple of potential scenarios flashing through her mind, yet she chose not to elaborate or pry into the matter. She was hardly a Saint herself, having been in many fights, some of which not ending all too well for her opponent either.

"I see...Well, I am glad you did not get hurt yourself at least." She noted after a couple of seconds, stepping closer with a handkerchief in hand.

"Let's get you cleaned up a little though. If you return to the Knights of Favonius headquarters looking like that and happen to run into Klee, you might just give the poor girl a scare."

[@galactia liked for a starter]

"Hey Kaeya?"

There were many things Bennett wanted to ask the captain. Always had, always would. He's not certain how many he'll ever ask- but he's pretty sure this one is a safe bet.

"What's being in the Knights like? For you I mean."

He doesn't doubt that the answer is a different one than what it would have been some years ago. Before the Guild found itself lending a leg to help hold up the metaphorical Knights table. Before it was not that strange that he and Kaeya were out hunting a Ruin Guard.

It wasn't like he didn't know other knights either- but he's only ever known the one cavalry captain. And a captain isn't the same as an outrider, or even a fixer.

"Do you like your job?"

@galactia said:

❝  do you need me to slow down?  ❞ Kaeya framed Signe's face with his scarred hands, brushing mussed strands away from her eyes.

🌶️ starters || Accepting! 🔮

“Please don’t,” are the first words that tumble out, unfiltered and without thinking if the shake of her head and ragged tone of voice are anything to go by. In the heat of the moment, the Captain’s gaze is almost too intense to look at, made more so with just the one eye, so she opts to lean up and chase his lips instead.

“—want you to keep going,” she breathes, honeyed eyes half-lidded as she relaxes back into bed again. And then, somehow, she manages a debaucherous grin and a breathy laugh, and she returns to meet his eye again. “Give me your all. I can take it, I promise.”

@galactia asked:

Signe was braced at the edge of the bed they shared, naked except the cloak that draped over her shoulders, thighs quivering as Kaeya's palms gripped them, his mouth occupied with her pleasure. His tongue worked against and through her folds, his movements changing based on how he heard her breath catch, or how strongly she trembled. He knew she was close - her body was answering to how he dipped his tongue deeper, and teased at the most sensitive of regions - but just as she might have tipped over the edge he withdrew, licking his lips clean and surging up, pushing her backward onto the bed and framing her with his arms, "Beg me like you want it, darling." Kaeya purred, smiling at her with a knowing glint in his eyes.

The library had been busy the past few days with visitors from within and from abroad, researching endlessly about the upcoming winter festivals that the city of Mondstadt was so well-known for. There were increased patrols, a call for more warming potions for Knights traversing the mountains — the mage was kept on her toes this week, and Kaeya seemed more than happy to offer her a distraction.

The Captain always managed to draw sounds of pleasure out of her like it was second nature, and it was particularly easy tonight for her busy mind to melt away with each of his focused movements. Her fingers carded through locks of blue hair and then gripped, anchoring herself just enough to prevent being swept away. But Kaeya was insistent, chasing after her end like a man starved, and she was so, so close—

Just as she might have tipped over the edge, she felt him pull away, and the grin he wore was infuriating. Her brow furrowed, face still flushed and amber eyes bleary; but she still had just enough composure to offer him a defiant grin. With narrowed eyes and a slow drag of her fingers across her lips, she leaned back on her elbows as if to say make me.

                                                                   QUESTION @galactia​    ↤    always accepting    ::     RANDOM     ↩

The former Archon of Liyue was no particular stranger to the lands of freedom, but his appearance there was infrequent, at best. At least, until a certain Cavalry Captain returned to his position at the Ordo and some two weeks later, an amber eyed stranger roamed the streets. He created a murmur of attention where he stepped - a well-spoken foreigner who stopped to take tea at the Angel's Share, and by evening was at the step of the Ordo, to meet a certain Captain. "My Captain." He breathed in a low kind of murmur, and reached for Kaeya's hand to bring it to his lips and kiss his knuckles. His smile - slight, private, below eyes that never seemed to cease the simmer of their glow - was all affection and ancient attention. "Are you well?"

KAEYA  contrary to popular belief, the third in command to the ordo favonius does not know everything. especially on those few days that keep him locked indoors nursing a faint headache - tending to paperwork instead of people to recharge an already limited social battery.       frankly, if mondt should fall just because he breathed for once then it can damn well fall.

        & so he’s heard none of the well-earned gossip... the day ends as any would: with a headache successfully eased into the background of thought & he exhausted instead by boredom.

through the ordo’s front doors & down its few stairs with mostly paperwork’s drudgery on the mind: one step, two / weight drops comfortably into each brief instance of being carried by gravity.       the complete lack of discomfort that fails to alert him to another’s company - is only the second of tells. the first is what drew kaeya close enough for that to startle.

                   his eye widens / the black of a pupil contracts                    & all his being blooms open                    into the warm darkness of this particular presence.

“zhongli...” the world’s weight falls with selfish greed from his shoulders. it imagines itself carried elsewhere. ( it doesn’t work like that & yet it is the way it clicks into thoughts to unlock them- let their stress bleed out. ) no stronger shoulders than a mountainous god. selfish, selfish...              embarrassing as fuck to be smiling already.      —for rose to dust faintly across the bridge of his nose when zhongli kisses his knuckles like they are his to kiss if kaeya wills it; & he does, of course. —to be speechless. ( my captain?? oh. ohh... agh, fuck. will have to have a chat with him about giving kaeya random hard-ons in front of his subordinates. )

when he does recall how to speak without spluttering out some hysterical bit of hunger, kaeya easily sidesteps the... unfortunately personal question.      “what a wonderful surprise.” the knights guarding the entrance become an acute invasion.      “and so timely,” purred. he’s half frozen between giving in & showing everyone alongside zhongli how pleased he is - or keeping this delectable thing private from a world that could taint it. too late too late too late. why right at the entrance? for fuck’s sake, you old lizard. “i was just thinking i should show you around.” my place, that is. kaeya is just as guilty.            surely he’s accustomed with mondt itself... mmm, well- then there’s no reason, none at all, to let the god stray another pace from kaeya’s most personal territory. if preventable.

the thought of him in there is abruptly good. despite huffman & visser having grown ears the size of cauliflowers, a smile blooms across his face bright & eager. how unlikely! & how impossible for his presence to be as all-encompassing as it had been within the borders of liyue... still it dismantles the sense of threat that would dampen sincerity.

         “come.” & though he links his elbow with the archon’s it is he who starts off, eager in his haste not just to get away from their impromptu audience but to— “i hope the journey here was alright. i know a spot where you can rest up with a... passable? cup of tea,-” my place my place my place—curled up together on the floor around a hot tea pot hand in hand like the whores they are. “good food, too.”                 i’ll cook for you. the scent of spices already coats the back of his mouth, more real than the cobblestone underfoot ( less so than the weight of a god at his elbow ). dry heat & citrus’ cool tang - the way they will get to cram together inside his 1 by 2 square meter kitchenette- hehe. a dimpled, cheeky grin accentuates the mental & external babble: “cosy bed.” it’s kind of shit, really, but the blankets make up for it & there’d be nothing better than getting to cosy up to zhongli’s steady hands for the night or even just the evening.           fuck, a catnap together sounds-

          —his shitty, draughty, mildly disgusting apartment that would likely be too chilly for one based out of liyue & is certainly too small for someone visiting mondtstad for who knows what.

kaeya’s gait falters.

ooookay. change of plans. ( what the fuck. how had this tidbit failed to rattle around his- truth be told, it isn’t discomfort at the state of it that keeps him from letting friends people into the apartment. it’s the discomfort with anyone in there- but, uhh. yeah, not walking zhongli into-           uhm. okay.     well—                       ...alright then. )

———thankfully the quarters reserved for foreign dignitaries are off in the same initial direction. “it’s comfortable.” he concedes & tucks a little closer. the pace is tempered. it no longer attempts to drag one of them along- he’ll pretend not to know that the hunger always keeping him lean is being fed with every moment of closeness.       at least this way zhongli will have privacy of his own, should he want it. yes. this is better. possibly exactly what he’d shown up at headquarters for anyway, uhh. is he here in any official capacity?? was he there to meet someone else? the faint burn of shame creeps up his throat. the oopsies just keep coming... it’s what he gets for being hasty.

once they’ve rounded a corner a set of internal rules allows for this: a little lean & nuzzle, feeling the strong ridge of zhongli’s jaw with the brittler one of his nose. his eye has slipped shut. he’s willing to test whether he’ll be lead away from any mysterious potholes &, well, fuck he’s missed the way he smells.             “i’m glad you came to see me.” a murmur that drops low enough to stay private. with a last savouring breath, kaeya leans back into his own feet & smiles something wan that checks the street corners more than zhongli’s eyes. “what brings you here?        “apologies if you’ve already acquired accommodations. i got a little...” aww... booh. “excited.”