dregs | inbox.

dregs

☎️💬📽️

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

From:

dregs

{ he'll... skip past that comment, because if he says anything on it he'll make things worse.

all three of the cats will jiggle happily at the pats, clearly very relieved someone is there to help. they'll rub their faces against aventurine's ankles one last time... before hopping away. guizhong apparently appeased them enough they aren't going to cling on at the moment.

while that all goes on, he'll shut the door behind her, then... stand awkwardly as she takes a look at him. he doesn't quite look her in the eye now though. }

This morning? { he doesn't sound certain of it, but he also likely has no idea it's probably mid afternoon now either. time has become a bit wonky. }

From:

godofdust

[She looks him up and down in silence, then sighs.]

Here is what is going to happen. [The tone of her voice doesn't give much room for any kind of refusal.] You're going to get into some comfortable clothes and sit on the couch, preferably with a blanket.

[If he doesn't have one, she can get one.]

And I'm going to investigate your kitchen for any food, and make you something. Don't-- worry if you don't have anything. I'll see to that. Now. Go on. Do as you're told.

From:

dregs

{ he at least knows to stay quiet as she... lectures(??) him. is it being lectured, he has no idea, but it sounds a bit of a similar tone to how a doctor would tell their patient their bad habits need to be stopped. }

I'm already... { he starts, then stops. changes direction with his words. } Everything should be as Lycaon left it when he cleaned last if you're looking for anything in there.

{ but okay. he can at least do that. get comfy, sit on the couch. stare at the wall and overthink- }

From:

godofdust

[She hums, though it's hard to tell if his reply satisfies her or not. He's left to his own devices for a few minutes while he'll be able to hear her rummaging around in the kitchen, exclaiming a few times as she finds... well, not much of anything.

How is he living like this?]

I shall have to have a word or two with Lycaon. [Guizhong announces as she joins him not long after. She has her phone in her hand.] I've had to engage someone to bring me some supplies.

[By which she means she's had to use whatever Ellipsa's version of Instacart is. She sits down next to him with a huffing sigh, then places her hand on his arm and squeezes it gently.]

You don't have to talk about it, but I'm here if you want to.

From:

dregs

{ to be fair, he doesn't normally stay in to eat. it's a lonely experience, and he'd rather just be surrounded by other people to drown things out.

but he does look confused when she comes back announcing that. }

Huh? Lycaon? Why? His cleaning is pretty on par with that I got back home...

{ did she assume he's doing more services than that? he doesn't know. but he'll pause when she settles down, places her hand on his arm. }

And... there isn't much to talk about. I pressed a button, an alarm blared and then-- { he laughs } It was very quick.

From:

godofdust

[Never you mind why. She doesn't answer that, but moves on to the more pressing matter.]

It's disconcerting, isn't it.

[She had mulled over her words for a few moments and when she does speak, it's thoughtfully.]

Dying, and then suddenly... living again, with those memories of it. [Her hand moves off his arm and slips around his back instead, her fingertips pressing brief and blunt against his side.] It took me a while to get used to it.

From:

dregs

{ he continues to look baffled as she keeps talking, looks her over then visibly frowns now. }

You died?

{ but yes let's talk about her, not him- }

From:

godofdust

[Don't worry, Aventurine, she's coming back to you.]

Oh, yes.

[Nod, nod.]

During a war. A very long time ago, by the reckoning of everyone else here from the same world.

From:

dregs

{ no, no, really this is fine.

well, not fine. but, y'know. }

Sorry, I didn't... I didn't realise it'd happened back home for you. Does, does Boothill know?

From:

godofdust

[She does pause at that, actually having to think about it. It's just a simple fact of her life but not something she often just... brings up.]

It has been talked about, yes.

[When that shining light cut across her entire torso had made it very clear she had suffered a wound that could not be recovered from.]

I died, and then I was here.

From:

dregs

{ he thinks about that for a long moment. really thinks about it. hates how his stomach twists because of it. and it isn't either because of guizhong, but... if people who have died before can come here, does that mean his sister, his mom could... eventually turn up? it's actually possible?

he looks away from her, bites the inside of his cheek to force pain to stop himself getting stuck on that thought. it's too dangerous. }

Then I suppose I should just be happy for my friend that you found each other here.

{ he does sound sincere when he says that. }

From:

godofdust

[A soft, warm chuckle answers that.]

I'm glad for it, too. He's not like anyone I've ever met.

[But it was important to mention not because of that, but because of what it means for how well she understands that peculiar feeling of displacement, and of having memories that a living person is not supposed to have. Of the moment of your own death.

She leans against him the smallest bit.]

Are you tired?

From:

dregs

{ that he does laugh at. not self deprecating like it has been before, a small genuine laugh. }

MmmMm. Though I doubt he pointed a gun at you the first time you met, did he?

{ he probably shouldn't find that funny though, the fact that he did to him. in hindsight, at least, it is. }

But no. Not right now.

{ that's a lie, but it does actually sound convincing. }

From:

godofdust

Nnno... but he did point a gun at me right before I decided that kissing him was the only way to make him stop acting like an idiot.

[She tilts her head at him, smiling wryly as she recalls that particular event.

With her arm around the young man she gives him a small squeeze, not entirely convinced despite how sure he sounds of his answer. She'll come back to that.]

What kind of soup do you like best.

From:

dregs

{ ok, at that he does laugh. it's loud, sharp, just once. }

Hah! { he exhales then, looks up at the ceiling, wonders where in their history that actually sits. but she asks about soup and he. shrugs. }

I don't really have a preference. Anything is fine, really.

{ then he pauses, thinks back a little bit and realises ... he should clarify something. }

And for the record, it isn't dying that is bothering me. { a small chuckle follows that, and it doesn't sound sad--he's being truthful here. } I've been searching for that for long enough. If anything, it was pretty anticlimactic. I did at least get some rest for three days. { moving on with the yapping } Anyway, no, the issue is I pre-tty much almost took all of our group with me.

{ his speech finally slows, becomes a bit more subdued. }

That... No matter how much I may be willing to gamble on my own life, it was never my intention to include or bring any of them down with me.

Edited Date: 2025-12-24 12:35 am (UTC)

From:

godofdust

Mm, good.

[Because that makes things easier for her, and it's going to be excellent soup no matter what kind of soup she makes.

She listens to him again, tilting her head a little at what she says (she did not miss that, sir) but not interrupting. It's important not to interrupt, she thinks, in situations like this.

And it's hard to know what to say, but... sometimes that's all right. Sometimes there isn't anything to say.]

I believe you. [Guizhong replies softly. She turns in her seat and wraps both arms around him, lightly pressing a kiss to the side of his head.] Oh, Aventurine. What am I going to do with you.

From:

dregs

{ it does make it easier for her, but it's easy to not be picky when you would take anything someone gives you, especially if it's homemade. sometimes the small things in life mean more.

but he doesn't expect the gentle hold of her arms around him, nor the kiss to the side of his head. guizhong will feel him freeze up momentarily, and even if he relaxes a bit he's still tense. }

Well, another round trip to the flower yard wouldn't be a bad start.

{ no??????? that isn't what she meant!!! }

From:

godofdust

[A little huff.

That isn't what she meant!

She shifts back enough to look him in the eyes, one hand on his shoulder and the other gently cupped against his cheek. What is she going to do with this boy!]

Humans can still be so perplexing to me, even after all this time.

[Not least when they don't want to live, when a mortal life is so fragile and precious. Not that she intends to lecture.

She kisses his forehead instead.]

Why do you want to die so badly?

From:

dregs

"Humans"? { there's no judgement with that though, but he does glance her over. the cosmos has a hell of a lot of different species, so she could be a number of them. best to not assume. } You're a long lived species then?

{ he ... is not answering the other question yet. not yet }

From:

godofdust

[She will come back to the other question if he doesn't answer it. Guizhong is already on to how he keeps turning the conversation to talking about her instead.

For now, she nods.]

In Liyue, my home country, I'm what is called an adeptus.

[So, not human.]

And I'm around three thousand years old.

From:

dregs

{ deflecting is a way of life, sorry, guizhong. but if she keeps prodding she'll get bits and pieces eventually. a lot of his life isn't a secret. especially as a director of the strategic investment department people know and gossip about his past, so it is what it is. }

An adeptus... { he murmurs that back, pauses. } What does that mean to you? Where I'm from there's... a lot of different people from all walks of life. Take-- { his throat tightens, thinking about her but he'll continue on as though nothing is wrong } ---Castorice, for example. She's the demigod of death. I don't know what she's been through, but her powers alone are rather unique. You won't surprise me.

From:

godofdust

[Another little huff, but she drops back properly into her seat. She supposes she can indulge his curiosity.]

The adepti are a group of illuminated beasts and immortal beings, most being bound by a contract to protect Liyue from demons and evil gods, and directed by the Prime Adeptus, Rex Lapis.

[She tilts her head a little at him.]

I watched over the people of Liyue when they lived on the Guili plains at Rex's side, offering him my guidance and wisdom. Before the war reached us.

[Her arms fold loosely.]

I was not powerful compared to others, but I made the choice not to hide. When my people were threatened I made the choice to face that threat.

From:

dregs

{ he waits and listens, well guarded in a way in that his facial expression doesn't shift. he sits, small smile in place, eyes barely blinking. }

I see. And that's... when you died?

{ at least his voice softens as he asks this. }

From:

godofdust

[Sigh...]

Yes.

[She doesn't seem upset by it. It's simply something that is.]

And the resulting release of my power covered the escape of my people. As I knew it would.

From:

dregs

You died to save them... { he pauses at that, repeating facts back at her. }

How... How would you feel if you inadvertedly caused the death of people you cared about instead? That your actions caused them harm, or just... just getting close to you inevitably caused the scales to balance in favour of causing them that harm?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

inbox.

Custom Text