etrayalogs | Before Dawn

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Before Dawn - Closed

WHO: Kaeya Alberich

fromfire
WHEN:Early morning
WHERE:Out in Jinglewalk
WHAT: When two wayward wanders meet up
NOTES\WARNINGS: none so far

[There is an aimlessness he can’t quite name that has chased him since he got here. Starting over is difficult. He did it once when he was ten, but he had been surrounded by love. And when he became content with his place in life it happened again. It’s hard not to feel frustrated when ripped from a place that had become home.

Frida the chocobo isn’t a horse. But her love is unconditional all the same. It’s all a Calvary knight can ask for. He lets her run while his mind is off somewhere else. He has been thinking about what to add to this place since he and Verso had a chat. At first beauty had seemed like a wonderful thing. But more and more some part of him just wants to go home. It is an ache in his chest he can’t let go of.

He and Frida sprint past the trolley car and down the side of the tracks, a flash of blue and purple. The wind pulls at him but it doesn’t smell right. He can’t drift to memory. Scenery flashes by until Frida comes to a stop in a grassy area by the sea. He lingers in the saddle for a moment. She looks back at him and he smiles.] It might not be so bad of a place for a valley. What do you think? I do value your opinion too.

[She looks out at the land around him. He guides her closer to the sea and drops off of her side with the ease of practice. He stands up and dusts himself off, glancing around once more.] Stables close to the wall of the valley. Keep you sheltered from storms. The vineyards need a good wind and the water over there, [He turns and points then he blinks, lifting his hand in a wave.] Well, letting the wind lead you?

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I’m open to it. [He looks at the peacock statue. Mm, he’ll keep it. He gestures to the ground.] Let’s sit down.

Would you like Frida to sit with us? [Frida could be a nice support and who knows. Maybe she would bond with Verso too. So far she seems to like his vibe.]

[ A quick nod as he takes a seat close to Kaeya. ]

Sure -- I could always use a big bird to hold onto when things hurt. [ A teasing remark as he glance up to where Frida actually is. ] But no, I don't think it's a bad idea. My pain tolerance has increased considerably over the decades, but --

[ His head tilts to the side. ] -- you never know.

[He whistles, a low pitched sound that still carries. Frida gets up and settles against Verso’s side. She is a well cared for bird. She tucks herself around him with a soft coo.

Kaeya can’t help but smile. Frida isn’t a horse. But no horse could be like Frida.] Thank you, Frida.

[He never has to say it but he wants to. Selfishly he wants her to hear how much he appreciates her. All the time. He pulls off his glove and holds out his hand to Verso.] Ready?

[ An easy smile comes as he leans against Frida. With one hand, he lightly pets the downy feathers. It does seem like she's been quite loved. ]

Sure. Want me to cut my arm off? [ He twists his head to look at the ground then back up at Kaeya. ] Oh, wait, I can't do that anymore.

[ He winces theatrically even though he did quite literally forget that he can't do that anymore. Even with the weakened Chroma in him, it is the immediate response that he has. ] That could've been bad.

Quite bad. Remember, I can only heal minor wounds. [His smile took on a note of strain that fades. Verso and his casual offers of damaging himself. Archons.] Now, the fastest I think would be nicking your arm or your palm.

[How does he know? Don’t ask.]

I don't think I would've heard the end of it.

[ But he holds his hand out. And he doesn't comment on how Kaeya knows that much; he's learned this on himself, didn't he? Means he had to figure out the most effective way to injure himself to heal without causing permanent damage. He frowns.

They'll fix that issue together. ]

Have at it.

I wouldn’t have let you do it. [That’s a yes about never hearing the end of it. His magic suffuses his fingers.

He drags his hand in the air over the cut. It feels like the cold in a winter wasteland. The kind of cold that cuts deep. The cut closes and the ache stops. Kaeya looks at him, watching his face.]

[ His mouth opens almost comically at the freezing cold affecting his hand. He doesn't scream out though. Instead his fingers involuntarily twist and flex before he pulls his hand back. ]

Aah. [ He clicks his tongue. ] Yeah, hurts like Hell.

[He nods and gets up. He walks around the side of Frida and opens her saddle bag. Flint. Tinder. He clears the space a bit in front of them and builds a campfire.

He has done it so often the actions are automatic. As the flames start to gobble up the fuel, he says,] Well, I think I disagree with an old saying so far. It would be easier to scale up then scale down.

Less painful too.

[ He holds his hand out towards the flames, feeling better to feel some warmth.

Turning slightly, he lightly pats the side of Frida. She is a very good emotional support beast while he's deciding to help out in this little endeavor. ]

I'm going to be honest with you. I'm not sure what that means in this case.

[Frida rubs her beak against his side. She preens his coat a little as Kaeya leans back. He tosses a little more kindling onto the fire.] It means I have to start with a wooden practice blade and work my way up. So to speak.

That was the exact burst of magic I use to heal myself. [And that pain and drop in temperature told him a lot. It was sobering like nothing else could be. Verso wants him to be gentler and that look on his face is achieving just that but done for Verso’s sake.] I wish we had the guidance of a healer but. We have what we have. I’ll just have to start with the basics and work from there.

[He can imagine Barbara’s disappointed little sister stare at their ideas. Maybe better the Deaconness isn’t here.] So, while you did sign up for this. …sorry about that.

Ah, I've always been a person that takes on a little more than I'm prepared for and work from there. [ Which is also probably why he didn't understand what he meant. ]

Yeah, I'm afraid I don't know anything about healing that isn't innate. [ He inclines his head to the side. ] I could control my own healing, but that isn't the same as helping others with it. So -- sorry. [ Really, he wishes he had some insight on the matter. ]

I signed up for it, read the fine print, I'm fine.

I read the contract and signed it, I’m alright. [He echoes. He reaches up and subtly adjusts his eyepatch. It had been slipping a little. Corrected.

He looks at him. Control-] Can you still control it? Or is that part of the package? [Verso is very different from the last immortal he ran into.

For one, he seems more approachable that Dainsleif the Twilight Blade. But then, Dainsleif had a very good reason to look at him like he was a poison.]

Edited 2025-07-18 05:10 (UTC)

It's part of the package.

[ He breathes in deep and lets out a long, arduous sigh. Staring down at his hands, he flexes his fingers; he turns his hands over and repeats the gesture. Verso doesn't believe he has to tell Kaeya that he's hiding he's not as immortal as he once was to him.

He sucks a breath in then asks: ]

...and does it hurt, by the way? [ He lifts his hand to lightly touch his own eye, indicating whatever injury may be beneath the eyepatch. ]

[His thoughts derail. He stares at the flames for a second. Then visibly stuffs his surprise down as he closes his eye. Of course Verso would ask. He blows out a breath, but his mind is on a rainy night. A night where he stopped running from his true nature and the gods reminded him that being true to yourself has a terrible price.] Only when it rains.

Otherwise it’s fine. Anyway, it was my fault. You know how it is, honesty and the truth have their price.

[He flashes a smile but it doesn’t reach his eye. It’s that casual smile he uses like a mask. Were it anyone else he’d have said it was just because his grandfather is a pirate. But the sense of a kindred spirit has been tugging at Kaeya for a while. Frida shifts, settling so they are both leaning against her. He snorts and reaches back to pet her head.]

I know, I know. [She preens his hair and he says,] Stop fussing. You’ll get grey feathers.

Don't they just? [ He flashes a similar smile to him. Lifting his index finger, he runs it down the scar on his face. ] I won't ask you more on it.

[ Simply showing they're kindred souls in some ways is enough. Helps a person feel a little less alone. Although, with Frida fretting so obviously, he supposes he can hold back on his own worries. Reaching up, he lightly scratches underneath the bird's chin. ]

You got quite the loyal companion.

That I do! I missed that feeling. [He pets her head as she leans over preens Verso’s hair a little too. He sighs, relaxing against Frida. Yes, he really has missed this.] Maybe she sensed I was a good person to know. I stopped smelling like her favorite food, but she kept showing up whenever I went here. Then some helpful soul posted to the network about how to care for our find feathered friends. So I have been feeding her and when she let me, brushing her feathers to help her keep them nice.

[He closes his eye and his smile relaxes back into something small. A real smile.] Before I knew it we were chasing the wind across Etraya.

[The smile spreads into a grin. Riding is his selfish pleasure but also what he does best. He stretches his arms over his head.] I know it doesn’t need said, but I like to make sure. I won’t tell a soul you’re a little less durable. But try to mask a little yourself too. Don’t volunteer to get cut in half or so.

Edited 2025-07-18 17:54 (UTC)

[ He brings his knee close to his chest. It is so that he can prop his elbow on top of it, leaning forward; he watches as Kaeya talks about Frida. A little smile fliters across his face as he always enjoys listening to this kind of talk -- a person speaking on what they care about, and how it's healed them.

It's not in so many ways but he gets the feeling that the man's lonely. It's nice to have someone or some beast to rely upon despite anything. He feels like he gets it -- or maybe he's just seeing something that isn't there at all.

His eyebrows lift as he shifts to an expression that's his best at looking innocent: ]

I've only told one other person, and I believe she won't say anything, either. But I promise that I only just forgot. I'll be a little more careful about my mortality from now on. [ He holds his hand up. ] Promise.

[A languid smile spreads across his face. He looks like a cat that has been lounging in the sun. He stretches one arm.] Good.

[He lets it fall. This is nice. Just them, Frida, and nature. Nothing complicated.] …I think you can get it back if you want it. Naturally, that’s up to you.

[Verso’s life is Verso’s choice. It would be unfair of him withhold such key information.] Anyway, how are you doing? Warmer?

[ Should he say he's been wondering if he should seek that power, again? If he was alone, he wouldn't try to acquire his immortality or skills. However, he has people that he wants to protect and his fighting style - his understanding of survival - unfortunately hinges on that power.

But Kaeya isn't asking him that question so he decides to not answer it. It'll come back to him -- because it needs to rather than something he wants. ]

Much, actually. But you didn't have to do anything. [ A smile. ] It probably would've warmed up on its own as well.

True, but this way if we want lunch later…I can make it without a pause. [Setting up the strings to tug on later is what he does best. He wiggles his fingers then nods to himself.]

I’m ready to try again when you are. This one I think won’t hurt but I’ll be pretty tired after.

[He has a plan.]

Don't exhaust yourself too much. You should know by now that I can take it.

[ The pain that accompanies the healing, anyway; he might not be able to take the big hits but his tolerance for pain has risen to a startling degree after so many decades. Should he be worried about that? Maybe?

Either way, he holds his palm out to Kaeya again, without hesitation. ]

I know. But this is as much about preventing harm as it is about building muscle memory. I can form weapons without a thought. I know exactly how much to channel to do it.

Hence, scaling up is easier. [He cups Verso’s hand and notes the warmth. His other hand hovers over the cut. He reaches for the magic at his core and lets the barest trickle flow. It feels like touching cool water but nothing happens. The cut remains open. He allows more magic to flow.

The feel of cold water. There is a tingle in the cut. It takes a lot to let the door open a little and hold it. He lets more flow, this time he mimics how much he uses to form a knife. To Verso, it will feel like sinking his hand into snow. The cut is starting to close.]

I suppose I see the sense in that -- [ With his free hand, he lightly points at Kaeya's face then flicks it over to point at Frida. The bird leans her head down to have the tip of his finger scratch along her beak. ]

Guess so.

[ His understanding of how chroma works wouldn't be helpful in this case, especially since the chroma in his body has weakened. Furthermore, chroma itself is part of the natural environment. He really has nothing he can do to help -- beyond being a guinea pig and echo chamber.

Like before, he doesn't flinch at his hand being cut. He tilts his head at the chill that wraps around his hand. It is like dipping it into snow. The cold will eventually increase and travel up his wrist, but it's bearable. Not like the sudden icy shock of before. ]

That is better.

Good. [He holds the magic steady. With a knife, he channels it then the knife is ready for use. Like this, he is feeding a constant amount of magic to slowly close the cut.

When it is done, he breathes in and wipes a bit of sweat from his face.] How does it feel this time. Better but, how?

Before Dawn - Closed

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