#𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐒 semi selective and mutuals only roleplay blog for 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐄 / 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑 of 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓. oc, duplicate, multimuse and crossover friendly. est. nov 2022. adored by 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍. ( they / them. 28. ) minors do not interact.
━━ ˟ ⊰🍁❝ I WAS TRYING TO RELATEto your interests – you know what?! I should have just skipped straight cutting you into CHICKEN STRIPS! ❞ It’s too late, he’s removed his geta, he’s grabbing the younger by the back of his neck.
❝ you did it wrong. i — ACK! I WAS TRYING TO GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM! ❞ he makes some feeble effort to escape, arms flailing for a lifeline that will never come. goodbye, cruel world …mr. chicken is a murderer.
━━ ˟ ⊰🍁ONE STEP. two steps. three… ❝ Are you sure this is the game you want to play? I know you’re a gamer, but there isn’t any of that save progress stuff out in the real world. ❞
❝ at the risk of cutting my lifespan even shorter than i have already… ❞ and he must reiterate — everything he owns goes to taiyang. no questions asked. ❝ … using gaming metaphors in this context is equivalent to CARBON DATING yourself. ❞
@abyssmalice &&. said… Does Tonia know anything about the person she’s trying to put a fake spider on? Maybe. Maybe not. Does that knowledge serve any purpose in this moment regardless? Of course not!
The only thing she needs to - and will bother to - keep in mind is the fact that he has the stupidest hat in known* history, and so, she will try to carefully place a fake toy spider on it. And see how long it takes for him to notice.
*(as per Irminsul history, which is none)
an arachnid might not technically be an insect — but they may as well be for all that ren LOATHES them. it hardly matters whether they hunt the creatures he takes issue with; he hates anything tiny that spends a considerable portion of its life scuttling along the ground. ( through dirt and through filth. how repulsive. ) he doesn't notice when the toy is placed so precariously atop his hat — though that can be owed in large part to the cup of fresh coffee that's currently occupying the MAJORITY of his attention. he's always been somewhat favorable towards the bitter drink, but the wanderer has found his fondness only growing all the stronger the more time he spends in sumeru. studying the differences between blends and how the myriad of roasting styles influence their respective flavors. it's fascinating — though he has a tendency to fixate on whatever topic manages to capture his fleeting attention until he's EXHAUSTED his interest entirely.
it's as he dips his head to take another sip that the spider clatters to the table. embarrassing though it is, ren jumps — YELPING into his coffee. perhaps inadvertently inhaling a bit in the process, but that hardly matters much when he doesn't have a set of conventional lungs. storm cloud gaze darts around furiously until he settles on the most likely culprit — her. a familiar face ( at least from his perspective ) though he's quick to push down what BITTER FEELINGS threaten to rise at the sight of anyone with ties to the fatui.
❝ … ❞ ren turns his attention back to the spider, prodding at it once — as it to confirm it is indeed inanimate. lips press into a thin line; his fingers curl around the toy. there are a myriad of ways he can choose to RESPOND to this — it's simply a matter of selecting which stands the greatest chance of benefitting him. ( or amusing him — though the two may as well be one in the same. )
to that end … he raises the spider to his mouth and promptly bites off its head.
He nods ,[“true..”],he said as he bites into the rock
[“I do not feel any different”],he pokes rens arm [“am I cool yet?”]
his brow furrows. ❝ i’m … not quite sure. ❞ the wanderer replies honestly, after a moment of careful consideration. ❝ i run COLDER than average to begin with … i’m probably the wrong person to ask. ❞
been thinking a lot about anticipatory grief lately. i love you so much that i know losing you will devastate me. i haven’t lost you yet but i already miss you. we still have time, but it won’t be enough. i think about what i would say at your funeral, and say some of it to you now cause i need you to know how loved you are before you go. you will go where i cannot follow, but you will never really leave me. it won’t make it hurt less but it is a part of healing somehow.
“oh! you made it to the festival hehe.. theres plenty i want to show you.” her friendly soul overpowers any forbearing woes, being the prominent positive voice of inazuma. yoimiya’s excitement comes from a years worth of preparation for summers biggest event and favorite event so to speak. only, there’s new stalls with art and baubles to kick off summer solstice with a real bang. “a young youkai made new masks just for the occasion, you gotta see them!” without thinking of personal space, the firespirited soul links arms with the other in friendly guidance. her travels in sumeru followed her back in vivid storytelling; influencing the artist to design aranara themed masks as well as traditional foxine and oni. the woman points in excitement, hoping that her big hatted friend reels similar vibes as she. / @erabundus
he feels a bit OVERWHELMED — not in a way that inspires any discontent, necessarily. rather, the situation ren has found himself in runs contrarian to his very nature. there was once a time when an innocent puppet reveled in such delights as though the warm memories they created were among life's greatest TREASURES. he thinks he has become too jaded, too cynical, too exhausted by hundreds of similar festivals to find anything worth getting excited over at this point.
yet strangely, when this human takes him by the arm and ushers him along, the wanderer thinks perhaps a bit of her ENTHUSIASM has rubbed off on him. like wet ink bleeding through to the page beneath — it's the only explanation he can possibly come up with to justify the strange, bubbly feeling that's come to INHABIT his otherwise hollow chest.
❝ oh. ❞ the soft sound escapes his lips as he first lays eyes upon the masks. though the wanderer's verbal reaction is as subtle as they come, the EMOTIONS are quick to show on his overly expressive face — shock, recognition, even a touch of almost innocent wonderment. ( fragile as spun sugar. ) ❝ they're styled after the CABBAGES?❞ a handful of the masks are, at least. how unexpected; bright eyes sweep over the display with undisguised fascination, until they finally settle on one piece in particular. dark indigo and feline, decorated with a delicate flower pattern that drift around the contours of the “face." his free hand lifts, only slightly — as if with the intention to reach for it, yet the wanderer HESITATES. ❝ … that's interesting. ❞ ren mutters instead, and cants his head slightly. ❝ did you have something to do with it? or do you always have this much PASSION for arts and crafts? ❞
━━ ˟ ⊰🍁THE DELIGHT THAT MANIFESTS IS unfounded , hand taking hold of it to place the straw at his lips, ❝ Thanks! ❞ A long sip is administered, his body turning slowly away before he hunches over, trembling – oogh!
❝ … ❞ oh.
oh he has made a TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
( … if he had a mora for every time he accidentally poisoned one of his loved ones, he would have TWO MORA — which isn’t a lot, but it’s still weird that it’s happened twice. )
with the amount of love avalon over on @erabundus has i’d be surprised if someone hasn’t sent in love for them already, but as their internet sibling it’s my duty to make sure that it never stops. avalon is not only one the most talented people i’ve met, in writing and in basically anything they do, but also one of the kindest. they are literally one of the lights of my life, make me laugh every day, and i know that sentiment is shared with literally everyone they come across. avalon, i love you so so much, you’re an amazing person!! i love u!!!
Now, Ren is a lucky individual. Well, maybe lucky is a pretty extreme term for what they’re about to do but the lucky portion comes from being unnaturally light. It would make catching speed much easier but the focus is not on this aspect of Ren; at least to Albedo, it was not a focus. The focus for Albedo comes from the fact that Ren is simply one with Anemo vision and that vision means that they could be pushed much faster if Ren or Albedo so wished it to go faster.
“Oh hush, dragging my broken body would not be a concern of yours.” Albedo whisks away the concern. He’s dragged his broken body within the cavern of his home on Dragonspine to lick at the wounds of whatever creature had bested the alchemist. The rest of Ren’s words are completely ignored once he has arms around Albedo’s middle. It’s a pure sign that they’re ready to get moving and so, they do with Albedo using his hands to shove them forward.
So, as the momentum of gravity takes them, the sled moving down the hill results in the speed starting to pick up ever so slowly. The wind from the event blowing them wildly with sand, the smell of the sun, and almost like it’s pushing them even faster down the hill. Faster, faster, and faster! Albedo holds on tight to the sled with a happy burst of laughter coming from his mouth.
“You alright?!”
❝ what in the world is that supposed to mean? ❞ the wanderer asks, unable to keep from voicing his SKEPTICISM. it sounds more akin to the sort of answer he would give, utterly devoid of even the barest scraps of self-preservation. for good reason, of course — though that rarely seems to stop the astonished PROTESTS he’s always so prone to getting in return. ( he wonders if this what it feels like to be on the opposite end of the conversation. ) eyes narrowing, ren tightens his grip just a barely perceptible degree and continues, ❝ that doesn't make any se — AH! ❞
his words promptly bleed into an incoherent SQUAWK as they suddenly begin moving.
it's a mercy that their descent starts slowly, yet the wanderer quickly becomes aware that his poor hat is not long for this ride. briefly, he thinks about relinquishing his grip ( at least partially ) to keep one hand securely upon the edge — but a particularly rough BUMP has him swiftly reconsidering. it may not pose any threat of lasting injury, but that doesn't mean he wants to go careening off the board and tumbling down the hill in an undignified tangle of limbs. ( he retains some sense of PRIDE. ) ❝ huh? ❞ he barely registers that the alchemist is speaking to him; the world is an overstimulating blur of golden sand, whistling wind and laughter bubbling free from his companions lips like cool spring water. one eye squeezes shut; another bump has his kasa finally tumbling off of his head — a minor inconvenience, but ren still watches it go sadly.
❝ i'm fine!❞ he calls out, turning back to his companion and fighting to be heard over the chaos. ❝ it's different from flying with anemo; i don't have any control like this. ❞ although, that does raise a peculiar theory. ❝ do you want to go faster?❞ the wanderer thinks he could probably manage it — yet he can only assume it most likely wouldn't be the safest option. even so, they're already doing this. where's the entertainment factor without a little RISK?
this is a terrible idea — ren is sure he's spouted those very same words half a dozen times by now, but he doesn't hesitate to do so again. ❝ this is a terrible idea. ❞ arms cross, features twisted in a look of pure skepticism. he tries not to look as interested as he feels when the alchemist crafts the board out of seemingly NOTHING — for it does fascinate him immensely how albedo is capable of such feats, but the wanderer fears allowing it to show may encourage further shenanigans. not that the situation they've found themselves in isn't ridiculous enough in its own right. he supposes he could have pushed back harder before they found themselves perched atop a massive dune of sand — but DISAGREEABLE has always been a part of ren's personality by default. ( or it is these days; no doubt the kabukimono would have gone happily along. ) perhaps albedo has simply built up a tolerance.
in any case, that smile he shoots him ( enthusiastic and free ) has the wanderer biting the inside of his cheek and averting his gaze. okay. okay, fine. perhaps he might be a little bit curious, himself.
❝ so i assume it's my job to DRAG your broken body to civilization if this all goes terribly wrong?❞ sarcasm. sarcasm. sarcasm. ❝ i suppose that explains why you wanted me, of all people, to come with you. ❞ though the words he speaks bleed skepticism, the wanderer still sinks to a seat behind him. his body is unnaturally, impossibly light; he wonders if that will make it harder to steer. if nothing else, ren thinks he at least has experience with flying should they accidentally become airborne.
after a moment of consideration, he reaches out and loops arms carefully around the alchemist's waist. he doesn't want to get thrown off when the ride inevitably starts to get a bit hectic. ❝ how do you make it start? ❞
Now, Ren is a lucky individual. Well, maybe lucky is a pretty extreme term for what they’re about to do but the lucky portion comes from being unnaturally light. It would make catching speed much easier but the focus is not on this aspect of Ren; at least to Albedo, it was not a focus. The focus for Albedo comes from the fact that Ren is simply one with Anemo vision and that vision means that they could be pushed much faster if Ren or Albedo so wished it to go faster.
“Oh hush, dragging my broken body would not be a concern of yours.” Albedo whisks away the concern. He’s dragged his broken body within the cavern of his home on Dragonspine to lick at the wounds of whatever creature had bested the alchemist. The rest of Ren’s words are completely ignored once he has arms around Albedo’s middle. It’s a pure sign that they’re ready to get moving and so, they do with Albedo using his hands to shove them forward.
So, as the momentum of gravity takes them, the sled moving down the hill results in the speed starting to pick up ever so slowly. The wind from the event blowing them wildly with sand, the smell of the sun, and almost like it’s pushing them even faster down the hill. Faster, faster, and faster! Albedo holds on tight to the sled with a happy burst of laughter coming from his mouth.
━━ ˟ ⊰🍁❝YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I love sweet things, Ren. If you don’t want it, I’d hate for it to go to waste! ❞
should he say something? hm. no. niwa looks so HAPPY — it’s probably just some absurd hoax, anyway. ❝ sure. ❞ a shrug, and he’s holding out the shake in offering. ❝ knock yourself out. ❞
