brilliantdiamond: (✧009)
Aether ([personal profile] brilliantdiamond) wrote in [community profile] jikan_rpg2021-11-29 07:36 pm

[OPEN] You're sweet just like the sun ☀️

Who: Aether (+ Paimon) and YOU!
What: Dealing with the loss of his sister, magic training in Kyoto, uki bar shenanigans, and some lonely stargazing
When: Early December
Where: Western Kingdom
Warnings: TBD



Note: All prompts in 1 and 2 can also include Paimon! Please specify if you would like her to be in the thread as well!


1 | Odd Jobs | OTA
[With the dust settling a few days after Lumine disappeared, it doesn't take long for Aether to grow restless. The desire to set off into the countryside and disappear for a little while is strong, but given he'd rather not have so much time alone with his thoughts right now, he opts for a different approach instead. And so, he takes on as many part-time jobs as he can cram into a single day, mostly doing odd-jobs for older folks around Kyoto.]

[On Monday, he can be found running around from place to place, picking up deliveries and carrying them to various residences and businesses. At one point, he can be found carrying a stack of boxes taller than he is, trying his best to avoid running into anyone -- but he probably won't be successful, sending a cardboard avalanche on top of someone. At least none of them are heavy?]

[On Wednesday, he joins a group in charge of cleaning up leaves around various parks and shrines throughout the city. You'd think he commited a crime and was being forced to perform community service for the atrocious jumpsuit he's been forced to wear, but it's not the worst job in the world. Of course, he might be showing off a little, using blasts of anemo power to swirl the leaves together into a little tornado that might just accidentally sweep up some poor unsuspecting victim.]

[And on Friday, Aether can be found red-faced and flustered as he hides behind a corner, looking as though he's hiding from someone. Not far away, a boisterous dog-headed Yokai in a fur coat and gaudy kimono can be heard calling out for "Sweet lil' Sora-kun" to come out and finish their date. Turns out he does not, in fact, know what a host club is, and has immediately decided that job in particular isn't anywhere near worth the paycheck they were offering. Help him flee? Or laugh. It's kinda funny, honestly.]



2 | Elemental Mastery | OTA
[When he isn't working odd jobs, Aether takes up additional magic lessons at Maryoku University. While he can be seen nearly falling asleep at some of the lectures, the actual casting lessons are far more interesting. Having mastered Hi, Aether has moved on to focusing on Mizu, an element he's been struggling with more than others.]

[For those joining the class with him, they can find him looking over a table filled with tools for assisting in magical casting. So far, he's gotten by using chanting and certain trigger sounds like clapping and snapping his fingers, but maybe something more direct would help? Of course, as his eyes fall on a transformation-type wand, he frowns.]
Do you think there's a way you can check what these will do beforehand? I've seen people get trapped in weird costumes before. I don't know if it's worth it, even if it does make the spells easier...

[Or, for those using the grounds for their own magical training after hours, they'll find Aether concetrating over a bucket of water, which occassionally morphs out of the bucket and forms little water bubbles in the air above it. As one of them pops and he notices he's not alone, he turns his head to them and smiles.] Say, I've been practicing combining this with Hi for a few hours now. Wanna see something neat?

[Of course, regardless of when they see him, they might want to tell him to take a break. Because he looks exhausted.]


3 | Sleep Aid | OTA
[Truth be told, after being forced to dose himself with Uki on a regular basis after fracturing his soul in Takamagahara, the idea of drowning his sorrows in booze and/or drugs wasn't something he considered at all. It's not until the end of the week, when the exhaustion of not sleeping and working non-stop begins to settle in, that he finally considers just trying to relax. Which is how he ends up at a bar in Kyoto alongside a small handful of native friends who also knew Lumine. At first, he stays quietly in the corner with his friends. But given they're all regulars and many of them entertainers as Geiko, it doesn't take long for them to begin filtering off into other groups. And eventually, Aether finds himself alone at the bar counter.]

[If the night is still early, the look on melancholy on his face is palpable, and may even be accented by reddened eyes with no visible tears. He won't reach out to talk to anyone, but if someone happens to be ordering at the same time as he is, he'll quietly tell the bartender he'll pay for their drink.]

[But if they encounter him later in the evening, it'll be clear he's had more than just a little bit to drink tonight. He sits atop a spinning stool, spinning back and forth and giggling a little bit to himself. Whether someone finds him there as is, or is otherwise brought there by Paimon to drag him home, is up to you!]



4 |Obligatory Melancholy Prompt | Previous CR Only
[But no matter where he is or what he's been up to all day, by the time night falls, Aether can always be found sitting atop a hill and gazing up at the stars. On cloudy days, he might even take the train out as far as he can, just in the hopes of catching a glimpse before sunrise. Sometimes this means going as far as Tokyo, or simply moving further south into Nara until he reaches fairer weather.]

[For the most part, all he does is sit and watch. Sometimes he doses off, but never for very long. But for those who stay out exceptionally late, far past midnight, they might just catch a glimpse of what he's been doing.]

[Standing at the highest point he can reach, he holds out a hand -- and creates what appears to be some kind of projection of the stars floating above his palm. Constellations connect and intersect, as he seemingly compares the stars he's made with the ones in the sky. Of course, at such a small scale, it'll be impossible to tell whether the stars in his palm are actually the same.]

[Upon hearing someone nearby, he quickly closes his fist to end the projection and whirls around -- relaxing only when he recognizes the face staring back at him.]


Sorry, thought I was alone up here... were you waiting there long?


5 | Wildcard
[Hit me up at [plurk.com profile] randomsnarfle if you wanna plot out something different!]

[Also: still open to November Event Threads if you'd like something a lil less sad and a lil more naked!]
emergencysnack: (I've discovered time passes slowest)

Closed to Zhongli

[personal profile] emergencysnack 2021-11-30 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Whether it be that he was merely on a walk that coincidentally happened to be close to where Lumine and Aether lived, or that he was actually on his way to pay them a visit -- regardless, Zhongli is in the right place at the right time this morning.]

[He'll hear the familiar voice before he sees her. It's unusual enough to see Paimon alone, but seeing her looking so distressed is another matter all together.]


Is someone there!? Paimon needs help! Paimon needs-- Zhongli!!

[She darts over and immediately begins to tug on his shoulder.]

Zhongli! Paimon's glad to see you-- you have to come quick! It's Aether! He's-- he's hurt!
negeotiation: (2kLmZDU)

Re: Closed to Zhongli

[personal profile] negeotiation 2021-12-07 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
Paimon....? [Zhongli had been on a walk, as old souls tend to do, enjoying the brisk morning air and taking in the atmosphere. But of course, he recognizes that voice easily enough, pulled from his musings with a curious glance.

And a slight raising of brows, at the distressed expression on Paimon's face. Her words only seem to bring a hint of distress to his own usually stoic expression.]


Aether...? Where is he? Take me to him.

[His words are soft and concerned, but the last sound more like a demand than anything. His memory is far, far too sharp: a flash of Aether bleeding out in his arms comes to mind, and he shoves down the gnawing in his chest to focus.] Let us hurry.
emergencysnack: (You told them you were a priest)

[personal profile] emergencysnack 2021-12-07 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Paimon nods, and moving quickly, she starts darting through the air up the hill towards the house where Aether and Lumine lived: a rather large traditional home, where the door has been left open as Paimon hurried out to seek help. And as she moves, she tries to explain--]

Paimon doesn't know what's wrong! We were just sitting down for breakfast, and Lumine-- she said she felt something weird? A-And then she just disappeared! And-- then Paimon's chest started to hurt, and Aether--

[The inside of the house is eerily silent. She leads him down a hall, through a doorway, and into the kitchen -- where a plate filled with food lays in pieces on the floor by a small stove, and Aether is lying on the floor near the kitchen table. He's curled up, arms wrapped tightly around his chest, still aching from the sheer strength of the bond that snapped.]

[But he's also not making a sound. His expression is blank, eyes streaked with tears as he stares at the spot where Lumine had no doubt been standing just a few minutes prior. Even as Paimon settles down by his shoulder and gives it a shake, he doesn't respond.]


Aether! Aether, please say something...
negeotiation: (3724572)

[personal profile] negeotiation 2021-12-13 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[Zhongli follows Paimon at a quick pace, brow furrowed in a way that, at least with Zhongli, betrays clear worry.

At the very least, Paimon's explanation eases away those memories sharp in his mind... replacing them, however, with fresh worry. Not an injury, but perhaps such an outcome would have been preferable to his friend, compared to this.

Lumine... gone. The siblings had finally been reunited here, and now--

How would Aether handle such a thing now, when his greatest desire had always been to reunite with his beloved sister? To have that snatched away once again, after being given a taste of normalcy...

He follows Paimon inside, and when he finally spots Aether he's immediately kneeling at his side, voice soft as he reaches for him.]


Aether...

[He brushes his hand against Aether's cheek, torn between trying to divert his gaze or gather him into his arms. His expression was alarming, to say the least.]

Aether... I'm so sorry.
negeotiation: (3724572)

[personal profile] negeotiation 2021-12-15 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sometimes he wishes he couldn't grasp such things, not when he could see how utterly wrecked Aether was from the bond break. His chest twisted painfully as Aether looks up at him, expression terribly blank, soul in tatters.

He doesn't stop to think about the fact it might not help, that he might tear Aether's focus away from the spot Lumine had been in an unwelcome manner: instead he's reaching for the smaller man, pulling him into his arms with surprising gentleness, as if holding him is a desperate attempt to help hold together Aether's soul.]


Not forever. I know you will see her again, Aether.

[It's not the most comforting of words: he knows that them being apart like this is painful enough already: A pair of binary stars that traveled the worlds, never intended to part.]
emergencysnack: (I'm eating my dinosaur chicken nuggets)

[personal profile] emergencysnack 2021-12-15 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Should we... take him to a healer?

[Paimon understands what's happening to some extent, even if the concept of bonds breaking isn't one she fully understands. But she knows about the condition of Aether's soul, even if he hasn't been the most upfront about it. If not for Lumine's persistence, he might have kept the particulars to himself.]

Paimon knows he was seeing one until recently. Maybe there's something she could do to help him?
icepatch: (❄️ 120)

4

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-10 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
[It wouldn't have exactly been difficult to hear the hooves, but Kaeya didn't comment on that, simply shaking his ahead atop the horse. It was definitely late and very cold out, but it was perfect for a ride in Kaeya's opinion. He just hadn't expected to find anyone out here, let alone Aether. Kaeya never really did figure out what to do about them, the last thing he had expected was for Aether to simply cut off their bond like that. Being thrown away again wasn't how he expected that day to end.

He clicked his tongue, pulling the reigns to turn Amaya around.]


No, I didn't mean to disturb you, Traveler. Was simply going for a ride.

[There was a small pause and then:]

You shouldn't stay out too long, you'll freeze.

[He slipped off one of his outer layers, leaning down slightly to hand it to Aether.]

Here.
Edited 2021-12-10 00:59 (UTC)
icepatch: (❄️ 044)

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-10 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
You're not immune.

[He was said mildly and without any bite. He shrugged and pulled the coat back on. Suit yourself, he supposed. Still, he could sense the tension in the air. It was a lot more noticeable than even the biting cold.]

So, what are you doing out here? I'm surprised Paimon isn't with you.
icepatch: (❄️ 083)

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-10 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
Hm, I suppose a traveler of the stars would find comfort in them.

[Amaya nickered lightly, tugging on the reigns a little. Kaeya sighed with a soft laugh and climbed off the horse. He let out a stretch and then dug into the bag that hung over the side, procuring a fistful of hay. He walked over to feed her some. Normally, he would have apples or carrots for to snack on, but hay was best when it was cold.]

Do you miss it? Being amongst the stars, that is. You've been grounded twice now, after all.

[He patted the bridge of her nose, his eye looking over towards Aether as he gazed up at the admittedly beautiful night sky. He recognized none of the stars here, but who would unless you were a native. It didn't bring him comfort, though.]
icepatch: (❄️ 072)

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-10 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
No, I suppose it wouldn’t be.

[Kaeya wasn’t very surprised to learn that Aether could legitimately fly. He was capable of much and more and he was always learning something new about him, it seemed. He just wished he could as a friend again, but considering Aether voluntarily removed their bond, he supposed that wasn’t the case anymore.

He sighed softly and contemplating leaving things as they were. The awkwardness and tension were stifling, but he had been confused since that day and perhaps now was a good time as any to ask. It didn’t mean he would get an answer but no one couldn’t say he didn’t try at this point.]


May I ask you something, traveler? About what happened. With us. I’ll drop the subject and leave you be after that.
icepatch: (❄️ 038)

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-10 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you.

[He sighed and rubbed the bridge of the horse’s nose for a moment as he thought about how to word this. He was normally so good with words but now he just wanted to be sure things didn’t get seemingly any worse. No one could be 100% charismatic.]

Was there a reason you decided we couldn’t just be friends? I didn’t like the idea of stringing you along if you were going to, and I quote, "keep falling in love" with me but that didn’t mean I didn’t want some kind of relationship with you. You removed our bond completely and I want to know why.
icepatch: (❄️ 110)

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-10 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[The frustration was clear on his face at hearing that, along with confusion.]

You removed the bond just so you didn’t feel the pain of it breaking? Aether, you honestly have no idea what removing it meant to me, do you? Forget about the Kizuna.

[He sounded almost offended here.]

You’ve never had to know what it feels like to have someone break off their relationship, any relationship, with you, have you?
icepatch: (❄️ 028)

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-11 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
That’s why I was upfront about Diluc and I, Aether. Because I had realized that you and I had been intimate but the feelings I had for you were just not the same as I do for Diluc. And I needed you to know before we continued on. [He pursed his lips. He honestly hadn’t realized Aether feelings had been that deep so that was a mistake on his part. However—] You made the assumption and didn’t give me a chance to work it out with you or apologize for hurting you as well. You felt the strain and instead of trying, you ran away.

[And that’s what had hurt the most. Mistakes happen, relationships were never perfect and even he and Diluc still argued even if there was no more underlying tones within. But to never even get a chance to try and work it out? And what’s worse? Kaeya generally kept everyone at arm’s length and yet here he was, talking about friendship. He would laugh at himself if he wasn’t upset.]

You removed the bond and ran away. I was honest with you and you rejected me. Twice. I don’t need kizuna to tell me how much that hurts. Do you?
Edited 2021-12-11 00:28 (UTC)
icepatch: (❄️ 117)

[personal profile] icepatch 2021-12-12 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
And that would be why you're supposed to stick around and talk it out instead of running off. Friends have arguments and have fights, it comes with the territory.

[Kaeya couldn't help but sigh with a shake of his head. There was no right or wrong about this, they both messed up. That's all there was to it. Kaeya wasn't here to be "right", he just wanted answers and he got his answers. Just because he didn't like the answer didn't mean he wouldn't acknowledge them. Although it seemed like Aether wanted another apology from him, whether because the first one hadn't been sufficient or because Aether had been too upset to acknowledge was anyone's guess. He had rejected what was basically a romantic confession, after all, so he couldn't exactly blame him for not thinking rationally.]

I'm sorry for hurting your feelings and no, I am not asking you to make up for casting me aside. There isn't really a way to do so, you just have to stick around and show me that you want me around. Assuming you want to be friends again at some point in time.
lyingstars: (no we will not let you go)

rolls in late

[personal profile] lyingstars 2021-12-18 10:25 am (UTC)(link)
[While Scaramouche hadn't paused learning magic he had gone some days without learning from an actual teacher. It's something he doesn't regret, but there was only so much he could learn on his own, or that Kazuha and Vennessa could help him with - he needed to spend a little more time fully focused on studies.

That he can't get a private teacher for the day and needs to be in a class is fine, he can handle himself around a group if it means furthering his abilities. Simply getting private lessons once he's able seems decent enough, even if the class has him using a wand rather than his sword - something about learning in a group environment and the wands supplied working best when the full set was in use.

All of these things he's fine with, he's dealt with worse, he can make it work. However what he takes issue with in the class is the fact that a certain Traveler also seems to be taking it. He should have figured the idiot would be learning the magics here.

Though he has no desire to be learning alongside him, he doesn't have much choice in the matter. At least they aren't paired up or anything, it should be simple enough to go about the class without needing to deal with him.

Just to be sure he turns to Aether, hand on his hip and his telltale look of disdain.]


Don't get in my way.
lyingstars: (will you do the fandango)

[personal profile] lyingstars 2021-12-25 07:45 am (UTC)(link)
[A brief moment of relief washes over the Harbinger when Aether at least agrees to keep out of his way - he can get through this class ignoring the other man and not needing to interact with him any more than he already had. It's a wonderful moment where he's content, ready to learn more magics with no foreseeable annoyances.

And then it's cut extremely short.

The outfit that Scaramouche ends up in is something he would never consciously choose, but he's grown accustomed to being placed in not his most ideal choice in attire from his own sword - honestly there was only one outfit of the multiple his magics had that he could see himself wearing normally, with a few alterations. Still a tutu that barely covered anything was not something he wanted to be in for longer than necessary.

But it's hardly the outfit that offends him most, eyes falling to the red thread that's wrapped tightly around his wrist and connecting him to the one person in the entire class he wanted to keep away from.

Scaramouche can think he hears their teacher gasp an "oh no" but he's too busy staring at the Traveler like all of this was the man's fault. In the back of his mind he's aware of the laughing from the other students, and he's able to pull his attention away long enough to manage a sharp glare in their direction. It shuts a few of them up, if only because he looks like he's ready to stab someone, but his attention is swiftly pulled back towards the man he's now bound to.]


What did you do?!
lyingstars: (then total destruction)

[personal profile] lyingstars 2022-01-12 01:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[The day had started out well enough, but was quickly devolving into regret and irritation. There should have been little issue with needing to take a group class for one day, but it seems he should have considered peering into his future before even making the decision - something he doesn't do often enough, though he doesn't want to rely on it when it comes to his own life.

The teacher begins to go on about how they can't simply remove the thread and transform back into their proper outfits, that the one person that can is on vacation - on par for the luck all of their meetings in Nippon seem to have. They're stuck together until they either work it out themselves - unlikely he thinks, if it can't be forced - or they wait it out for the specialist to return.

Scaramouche's unbound hand wraps around the thread, feeling the strength of just what was binding him to the man he would be happy to avoid for as long as they were in Nippon. It doesn't feel especially weighty as he'd expect for something supposedly unbreakable, which leaves him wondering if he sent enough electricity coursing through it if it would wear down enough to snap. What kind of consequences could the magic tied to it have? Was it something he was willing to chance?]


This is absolutely you fault! Every time I run into you something unpredictable happens. Now I'm stuck with you until tomorrow if we're lucky.

[Static builds in the air around him as he allows their predicament to roll around in his head. This wasn't going to help his studies at all, unless he somehow learned about breaking curses from it.]

If the wands are wrong we can't even practice correctly.