Albedo

Kaeya gave a hummed laugh. He was not a stranger to Albedo's musings upon new discoveries. With his own self the centre of it, it was rather quite cute. With a barely disguised smirk, Kaeya gently brought the tips of his fingers to cup Albedo's chin. "It's a delight to know I have such an effect."

#;; ic #;; interactions #;; ooc: I don't find it annoying at all #;; ooc: so don't even worry about it!

As Albedo gazed into Kaeya's eyes, he felt his face warm again. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but words evaded him for a few seconds until he moved his head out of Kaeya's grasp. "...Give me a moment..."

"...How odd it is to feel buzzed when I know for a fact I am not drunk." He mused, bringing a hand up to his chin in thought. "You are a fascinating one, Captain."

You come back to Mondstadt and Kaeya immediately starts flirting

"Oh, he's flirting?"

#;; ic #;; asks

What makes it so strange, hm?

"Ah— my apologies. I was not referring to what you said," Albedo said, waving a dismissive hand in the air. "Rather, my own reaction to it. I'm... not well-versed in romance. Most of what I am experiencing is my first time doing so. Many of these feelings are foreign to me, and present themselves in strange ways..."

"...I'm not one to fluster particularly easily, for example. But with you..." Albedo shook his head and sighed. "That all probably seems quite ordinary to others."

I don't find it like that at all. Definitely not when it's you.

"Hm..." He paused, feeling the heat rising to his cheeks. Curiously, he raised his hands up to touch them. "...Strange." He muttered.

It's alright. I like you being cautious.

#;; ic #;; interactions #;; ooc: goood night mod <33 #;; ooc: honestly its late for me too. probably my last post for the night

"Hm?" Albedo lowered the glass, his eyes meeting Kaeya's. "You like my worrying over you? I was afraid you'd find it condescending."

Oh, it doesn't take that much for issues.

"My apologies," he chuckled into his glass. "I don't mean to underestimate you. I'm just being overly cautious, it seems."

[This time, Kaeya refilled the glasses.]

It's no matter, we can manage with these.

Albedo held out his glass as Kaeya refilled it, nodding again at his words as he held the wine in front of him.

He looked over at Kaeya. "Still feeling fine?"

Dwell in the moment. We'll always have more of them together.

"You're right."

With another sip, Albedo looked down at his wine glass, empty once again. "...I should have bought larger glasses."

[Kaeya gave a gentle smile as he brought his glass back, taking a slow sip.]

I missed you as well. I'm glad to have you back here. But, really, I don't mind you being away for long. It's something I accepted about you.

"Mm." Albedo nodded. "...I'll stop bringing it up, then. I don't mean to press the matter. If you say you do not mind, then that is that."

"Still, it's difficult not to wish we had more time." He drank a little more from his glass then shook his head, smiling. "Ah, I'm doing it again. I shouldn't dwell on such things. We're here now, that's all that matters."

Things have been easing off, but I wouldn't go talking about the commissions being too easy.

Klee has been keeping herself out of trouble as of late. Though, maybe don't mention to Jean just how.

[He gave a nod, bringing his glass down to meet Albedo and the bottle.]

It most definitely is, you picked out well.

Albedo chuckled and shook his head. "It's whatever works with that girl."

He first poured some more of the wine into Kaeya's glass, then his own, before sitting the bottle down once again between the two of them. He took another sip. "I'm glad," he said. "I'm not sure if I made it clear enough, but I did miss you. Truly. I know I already apologised for being absent for so long, but..." Albedo sighed.

why would you rather nobody ever see you drunk?

"I have gotten drunk before. I acted..." Albedo sighed. "...Shamefully. It's best if nobody has to experience that ever again."

#;; ic #;; asks

Ahaha, paperwork, the curse to us all.

[Kaeya swirled his glass a little, before finishing it quickly.]

I've had a large amount of paperwork myself, unfortunately. I haven't been restricted to just that, though, a few commissions. Largely been dealing with monsters on the trade routes.

Albedo nodded and turned back to his own glass, promptly finishing the little still had left in it.

"Nothing too arduous, I hope," he remarked. "Or, perhaps not. I've heard some adventurers and knights complain about commissions that are too easy. I assume it simply gets boring."

"How has Klee been doing?" He asked, then leaned over for the wine. "And, how do you feel for a second glass? I hope the wine is to your liking."

Outside Albedo's lab, nestled in the soft snow that blanketed Dragonspine, a package lay, partially hidden beneath a layer of frost. The distinct seal of Dawn Winery peeked through, glistening under the pale sunlight that filtered through the wintry sky. The package had clearly braved the cold journey to its final destination.

Upon opening it, a few bottles of Dawn Winery's finest vintage of the season were revealed, each carefully wrapped to protect them from the cold. Beside them, bundled in cloth, were vibrant paints—deep reds, fiery oranges, and warm yellows, unmistakably procured from Natlan. The hues seemed to carry with them the heat of that distant land, starkly the icy peaks that surrounded the lab.

Atop the package rested a letter, written with familiar, precise handwriting:

"Albedo,

Welcome back to Mondstadt. Your presence has been missed, and not just by the city, but by those who hold you dear. I suspect a certain blue-haired captain feels your absence the most.

Please accept these bottles as a small token of my appreciation. I’ve also taken the liberty of including some paints from Natlan—I thought they might inspire you in your work.

Take care.

- D"

Albedo first noticed the package on his return up the mountain from a visit to the city. His hands already full with boxes of supplies, he carefully stepped around it to get his affairs in order before he took in the surprise gift. By the time he had arranged all he'd collected into their respective shelves and drawers, the package was already half-covered in snow, Dragonspine's weather as unforgiving as ever. He carried it inside and brushed away the snow and frost, humming in curiosity as it revealed the Dawn Winery seal.

The bottles of vintage were already a welcome surprise for the Alchemist. He personally had little interest in wine, but he could appreciate a fine taste as well as anybody else. The paints from Natlan, however, were unexpected. He observed the colours as he took each of them out, each of the vibrant and unique paints carefully sealed as to keep them fresh.

Finally, his eyes landed on the letter he had carefully moved aside before opening the package up. He unfolded it and read over the note left behind, feeling a smile grow on his face. How kind of him, Albedo noted. And completely unnecessary to have had it delivered all the way to Dragonspine, but he had to appreciate the thoughtfulness.

He knew it was a gift meant to welcome him back, but...

...He really should get started on something to give to Master Diluc in return.

veerambles

"Rubedo, he..." She began, eyebrows knitting into a frown. "...has changed, I believe."

Perhaps it was shocking for her to take the prototype's side like that - considering they did not have the best history. There are still times where his behavior can leave her frustrated, but he is no longer the malicious, revenge-hungry man he once was.

"It's true that I aided a little to help cure his corruption, but I gave my consent and I wasn't seriously harmed in the process." She had definitely lost more blood during battle before than the amount donated for the cure.

"I won't ask you to forgive him. That is entirely up to you. I also realize that the situation is much more complicated for you than it is for me, but I believe that at the very least, you won't have to feel immediately threatened by him anymore."

Perhaps one day the two of them could be on better terms - they are both incredibly intelligent individuals so their combined strengths might be necessary in the future, depending on what the Heavenly Principles have in store for them.

"I have observed him myself," Albedo said, bringing his hand up to his chin in thought. "As much as it is strange to see, I cannot disagree. His behaviour has changed."

"...I'm sceptical by nature, and will continue to watch from afar to make sure he is no longer an immediate threat. But, if his corruption has been fully eradicated..." His eyes met Lumine's. "...Then I have you to thank for that."

The topic of forgiveness was never one Albedo had dwelled on for long in the past. In the past, he had it set in his mind that once he found a cure for Rubedo's corruption, that he would have no obligation or desire to interact with him further. That would be that, and they would simply go their separate ways, and live their separate lives. But...

"...Someday, perhaps," he nodded. "When the day comes that we are far removed from these... events, maybe then I'll forgive him. For now, though, I'm satisfied with keeping a distance, and I assume that's what he would prefer as well. As long as he is no longer a danger to my loved ones, then I consider the job done. What happens next, happens."

Cheers.

[He sipped on his wine, not so subtly watching Albedo.]

I wish I stories to regale, but alas, my life has been rather the same as always.