#file.load(gnshn);

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“   it's getting dark...   ”     bright hazels peer up to meet with dark gray,  ominous clouds littering the vast expanse of the sky  ——  a sign of a storm ?   she wouldn't know,  having only seen a vacant sky as far as her memories go.  a distant crackle of a noise makes her shoulders flinch  ( like an instinctive response like a small animal to any slight threat ) and hakuno gets the feeling that whatever it is,  it was likely to be unpleasant. 

she turns to her companion then,     “   shouldn't you be on your way to find shelter now ?   ”     soft voice contrasted with the blunt words,  it was a question asked out of concern but the delivery made it a little...  super super bad !    /  @masarn not a surprise anymore but HI ILY

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oh we’re kabedonning now? *kabedons hakuno* now you have nowhere to go. - aether probably (yoakenouta)

she~ ‎ is~ ‎so~ ‎smug~! ‎ ‎unexpected from such an innocent maiden, ‎but it couldn't be denied that hakuno kishinami had a more playful ‎ ( teasing ) ‎side ‎ — ‎ one that came out in specific situations, ‎the girl deriving a sort of twisted amusement from seeing whatever cute reaction her victim choice of target had in response. ‎perhaps she even had some peculiar brand of confidence in being able to act so boldly, ‎but one thing's for sure— ‎ never would she imagine herself receiving a taste of her own medicine.

( ...maybe she should've known to expect the unexpected with this peculiar traveler though. )

“ ‎ ‎——...?! ‎ ‎” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ hazel eyes blink, ‎widening as they'd met with the outlander's gold. ‎mouth parts open as the situation sinks in ‎— ‎ the wall her back is pressed to, the other's hand caging her within ‎— ‎ a kabedon, ‎clearly. ‎not a scenario she's unfamiliar with, ‎ being on the giving end of it mere moments ago. ‎but to have the script flipped on her like this was...!! ‎ ‎hakuno's mouth closes, ‎ lips pressed into a thin line; ‎ tries to feign utter disinterest. for if it's a reaction he wants, then it's a reaction he's not getting !

so she told herself, ‎but she nearly sputters at the words he so casually says. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ ‎ ‎ you are not ! ‎ ‎ ” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ not allowed to, ‎anyway !! ‎ ‎brows furrowing and lips pursing in an indignant protest, ‎ as if to emphasize her diapproval. ‎though the squeak that her voice had come out worked against her, ‎and was just... ‎ terrible. ‎ terrible, ‎terrible ! ‎ ‎ohh, ‎stupid, smooth aether—!! ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎“ ‎ ‎ that doesn't even sound remotely charismatic...?! ‎ ‎ just— ‎ ‎ ” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎with a huff, ‎both of hands would raise to firmly press over his eyes. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎“ ‎ ‎ i'm saving you from any further embarrassment, ‎ ‎so you can kindly shut up—! ‎ ‎” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎she was the embarrassed one here though ?? ‎ ‎ and if that was the case, ‎then she covered up the wrong thing !

unprompted, ‎always accepting ! ‎ ‎ ‎@yoakenouta ‎♡

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Diluc's hands still as he rearranges the bottles behind the bar at the glimpse of movement, crimson eyes rising to look upon the other before him. His gaze studies her for a moment, gleaning what information he can from her appearance alone and filing it away for later. She's unfamilar which simply means a new potential source of information if he's careful. "Welcome to Angel's Share. Is there something I can get you?"

“   ah...   ”     recognition gives her pause,  though her expression shifts not from the usual stoic of a doll-like maiden.  hazel eyes widen just slightly as they'd meet with scarlet  ——  so her little hunch had been right !  while largely unconfirmed,  the sole reason she'd come here was the possibility that the famed diluc ragnvindr with his striking scarlet hair and eyes might just be the darknight hero.  ( a thing that had led her on a trail of several other red men...  tales for another time ! )

and to think that she'd really find him...

hakuno kishinami is,  admittedly,  not a fan of alcohol  —  a little further from it,  really  —  but there's a spring in her steps as closes the distance between her and the bartender,  taking a seat on the stool right across him.  how does one make a good impression...?  the brief contemplation crossing delicate features were as a result of that thought,  but hakuno takes a deep breath.  places a hand by her chest,  and says with complete confidence:     “ ‎ ‎ the most expensive thing you have,  please.   ”    

her already thin wallet will be crying,  but for now she just wanted to repay the hero who'd saved her on that gloomy night.  literally !

unprompted,  always accepting !  ‎  @resolutepath ♡

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( Cyno ) He gently gives lil' headpaps. Pap pap~... and perhaps a very brief, small smile before he returns to his usual blank stare.

“   eh—?!   ”     soft contact,  the gentle pap pap of her head,  brings forth a disproportionate reaction  —  she all but bounces up at him,  chair being pushed by the sheer force of it,  the friction against the floor causing a harsh screech to echo throughout the library.  the sound  ( as well as the firm ‎ssh ! ‎from someone somewhere ) ‎hardly registers to the kishinami.  face inches from cyno's,  her bewildered expression meets with his stoic one.  that smile...  that brief,  gentle smile she saw...  is gone ?!  so fast ?!  it was an expression incredibly rare to see on the general,  but there was no mistaking it,  he had been smiling.  there was no denying it,  no way ! 

not when it felt as though the entire library had been lit up by it,  not when her chest had fluttered at the sight of it.     “   — ‎ ‎i-i like it...!   ”

—— ‎SSSHH !

another warning,  a harsher sound now.  that made it two strikes !   ( would one more get them kicked out of the library ?   oh no... )  ( but hey, ‎ that shushing was much louder than she was, ‎ y'know ! ) ‎ ‎she realizes now that  —  she'd making a bit of a ruckus here,  but that all paled in comparison to the realization of the proximity between herself and cyno.  so boldly invading his personal space in the heat of the moment,  only now did she come to her sense and hastily retreat back to her seat,  hands meekly settling over her lap. 

with a calmer mind,  she is reminded of the words she'd spouted out so brazenly...  goodness,  she must seemed like a complete nutcase to him...!   the flush of pink deepens on her porcelain complexion,  and she stammers out an overdue explanation,  out of a personal sense of obligation.     “   ...i like... ‎the... the headpat,  i mean.  y-your smiling face too,  and...   ”    

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎...you.

unprompted, ‎ always accepting ! ‎ ‎ @xpeculiariity ‎♡

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&&. ‎@resolutepath ‎♡'d.

“   just what type of person should i try to be ?  ‎just what type of person am i really ?   ” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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&&. ‎ ‎@adelshaus ‎ ♡'d.

“   ah,  i don't even have anywhere to go anymore.   ”

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albedo plucks a small twig from hakuno's hair, and dusts some snow off her shoulders. " ...do you require assistance in leaving the mountain, miss? " / @chalque ;)

“ ‎ ‎— pyu ! ‎ ‎ ” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ hands colored a faint pink ‎ ( fingertips almost numb from the cold ) ‎rise up to a similarly flushed face, ‎politely covering the soft sneeze. ‎a small tremble to her lithe form follows, ‎hands lingering on her cold cheeks as though to preserve what little warmth her body had ‎—— ‎ but they come to a graceful rest by her lap soon after.

to have tripped in such a spectacular manner... ‎ah, ‎ she could barely meet the eye of the chief alchemist. ‎ a peculiar twig so kindly plucked from her tresses deserved gratitude as a reaction, ‎but it is only met with porcelain complexion flushing a deeper red; ‎ a unique mix of the cold and embarrassment. ‎still, ‎hakuno is not one to forget her manners. ‎head lowered just slightly ‎ ( just a bit shamefully... ), ‎ gaze sheepishly follows the gloved hand by her shoulders. ‎she peers up at them then, ‎mumbles out a small thank you.

unconditional kindness from the other is already shocking enough, ‎but the offer to aid her ‎ — ‎while likely going out of their way to do so ‎ — ‎causes hazel eyes to widen just a fraction. ‎ she is quick to reply with a profuse shake of her head ‎( the last bits of snow falling from her as a result ), ‎however. ‎the exhale she releases is nigh a tremble, ‎ but hakuno is adamant in her choice. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ ‎ ‎i cannot leave just yet. ‎ ‎” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎though even in any other situation, ‎she'd have likely refused; ‎not wanting to be any more of a bother.

...and she not one of many words, ‎typically. ‎ so with that, ‎this was where their interaction would've ended but— ‎ eye contact is made at last with hakuno's head lifted up, ‎hazels meeting with blues. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ ‎ ‎ i am looking for a person. ‎ a father. ‎ his son is waiting for his return, ‎ and i won't make him wait any longer. ‎ ‎”

@nefezh ♡ ‎ ‎ ‎ILY BELLYYYY

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" What do you mean you're going to dress me up? I look fine, thank you very much! " Pouty face. Actually looks really haggard, his collar's a ruffled mess and his unique knight uniform ( normally shiny & spiffy-looking ) wasn't all that pleasant to look at anymore. -Basilius

“ ‎ ‎what do i mean ? ‎ ‎you heard me, ‎didn't you. ‎i mean exactly what i said. ‎ ‎” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎she'd said it so bluntly too ! ‎ ‎perhaps that was a cause for disbelief; ‎ frank words that didn't quite match the delicate image this young woman has. and— ‎ just the subtlest hint of an enthusiasm carried in her lithe form, ‎ a small bounce to her steps. ‎a rarity for the typically impassive kishinami, ‎yet that was the reality here as she all but cheerfully hopped stepped right into sir basilius's quarters. ‎ his quarters. ‎his office. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎“ ‎ ‎not to mention, ‎ it'd be good to take a breather once in a while. ‎ ‎ ”

the hands resting on her hips give an authoriative air, ‎but it's playful in a way. ‎ there's no hesitation in nimble movements as she'd inch closer ‎ ( step. step. step. ), ‎ only stopping once she got a good look at the knight.

hmm... ‎ observant as always, ‎his tired appearance isn't missed. ‎simply not commented upon. ‎ a slender finger reaches over to poke his pouting cheek, ‎ pulls away a few centimeters ‎—— ‎ and proceeds to poke at it once more. ‎had he lost some weight since she'd last saw him ... ? ‎ ‎a discontent sort of hum escapes her at the observation, ‎thin brows furrowing as hazels stared right into blues.

— ‎ turns around all of a sudden, ‎ hands pulling away and coming to a neat fold behind her back. ‎a beat. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ ‎ ‎your favorite meal. ‎‎ ‎” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ said decisively, ‎though with a voice softer than usual. ‎it returns to the same cadence a second later. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎“ it'll be my treat in exchange for that information, ‎a decently fair deal. ‎ ‎” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎her back still remains facing him, ‎ but a tilt of her head allows a view of her face. ‎ lifted up this way, ‎it almost looks like she's smiling.

“ ‎ ‎ so you have no reason to refuse. ‎♪ ‎ ‎”