Video | un: traveler

[brilliantdiamond]

[Although the video quality on magi-comms isn't great, there's enough detail to show a young man with blonde hair and cat ears, looking a bit tired as he speaks into the device.]

Has anyone ever had a reoccurring dream? Or a dream that feels so real, you can't tell if it was just a dream or a memory?

Or maybe I should be asking... how do you make them stop?



[Note: Aether is experiencing a gradual canon update! Comments will include spoilers for the Genshin Impact 3.0 Archon quest!]

Comments

[brilliantdiamond]

[And here we see Aether, visibly startled when she clears her throat.]

Huh-- oh! Ayaka! Sorry, I didn't see you there.

[In person, it's much more obvious that something is wrong -- namely, that he looks exhausted. It carries in his voice, and in the way he slowly moves to offer her a seat... at least he doesn't have any dark circles under his eyes yet, but at this rate, it's only a matter of time.]

Should I go get a kettle for the tea?

[mistsplitter]

Just tell me where it is kept, and I shall do it.

[ She'll also boil the water already, too!

One look at Aether though, and she grows all the more concerned. Could it be that he's cursed, and that's why the dreams keep happening? She doesn't really know, but it's the first thing that comes to mind. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Perhaps it says something about how tired he is, that he opts to immediately relent and let her get it instead.]

...thanks. There should be one in the kitchen, down at the end of the hall, on one of the stoves. There's always someone drinking tea in this place, so it should be ready to go.

[She may have to endure a little teasing from the Kitsune who live here ("Ara ara, the little snow-angel has come to visit Sora-chan again!"), but there's enough Refugees about that she won't stand out too much just wandering in and grabbing a kettle.]

[mistsplitter]

[ Ayaka nods, offering a small smile to Aether before she goes to take care of the water first. Flustered as she may get from the Kitsune around, she braves it all because she would like to help "Sora-chan". In fact, Ayaka even courteously responds by saying Aether has been tired lately and hasn't been sleeping well, so she is going to make him some tea.

Because of that? Ayaka's offered some snacks! Kitsune-shaped biscuits that may or may not be laced with just a teensy bit of uki. Completely unaware of this, she accepts the treats for Aether and goes on with making the tea.

Aether need not be subjected to an informal tea ceremony. About fiften minutes later, Ayaka is back with green tea in a pot, cups, and the plate of biscuits. She'll try and remain cheerful for her friend's sake, because he has lifted her up so many times in the past. Now it's her turn to return the favour. ]

So... what is Sumeru like, in your dreams?

[brilliantdiamond]

[He'll look more alert when Ayaka comes back, having taken the time to stretch and wake himself up. So the smile that greets her is a bit more present.]

It's... beautiful, actually. The whole city is built into a large tree, with shops on the lower levels, and the Akademiya on top. My dreams are mostly on the lower end. And all the people are friendly and happily celebrating the festival.

I don't know if that's how Sumeru actually looks, but... it doesn't look like any place I've visited in other worlds, either. Which is why I don't think it's just a dream.

[The latter point isn't one he could make with just anyone. But he can be more honest with Ayaka.]

[mistsplitter]

[ She hasn't heard much stories about Sumeru, but that actually checks out from what she's heard! But now she's wondering... ]

So you are able to visit Sumeru in your sleep? At least, that seems to be the case, based on your story.

[ Hmm!! ]

Have you asked any of the scientists in the universities? Perhaps that should be out next step.

[ Our! She shall be with him every step of the way. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[He doesn't miss that little "our" -- and it warms his heart, knowing he doesn't even have to ask for help for her to step in and offer it.]

I haven't tried at the university here in Kyoto yet, but there's a few scientists at the NRL I've been in contact with. I've experienced regaining memories through time surges in the past, and they've explained how it all works to me before.

They told me they'd look in it, but... apparently they're pretty short staffed right now. There's some kind of project they're working on, I guess.

[Take that lil' plot hint and tuck that in your pocket for later.]

All they could really do was confirm there was a time surge at some point while I slept this week. But... er... since I've also struggled with nightmares in the past, they told me they couldn't rule out that I was just dreaming in the days that followed.

wow i focus on a word and completely typo it

[mistsplitter]

I see... I didn't know such a thing was possible.

[ But hearing it now? It doesn't seem like a theory that was made up on the spot! Perhaps that is really what Aether is going through. ]

Then, that is the future for you, yes? Do you meet Lumine in your dreams?

I didn't even notice sdffs

[brilliantdiamond]

[Damn Ayaka going right for the kill, huh--]

...no, I haven't seen her in any of them.

[Though he doesn't outwardly react at all, the way his little cat ears fold down says enough.]

But Sumeru would be where I was planning to travel next, so it must not be too far ahead, at least. I just wish I could remember what happened between then and what I last remember now.

[mistsplitter]

I was doing my part in planning for a festival at home. I wonder if word reached you, and you attended it.

[ The Irodori Festival! Hehe. Something light and silly to discuss to lessen the weight in her friend's heart. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

A festival... I think I must have, because I know Lumine mentioned returning to Inazuma for a festival that I don't remember. And everything else about our journeys have been the same so far.

[Which makes for a pretty handy cheat-sheet, in spite of the existential dread brought on by overthinking why that's the case.]

What sort of festival is it? Maybe... if you talk about it, it might trigger a memory?

[mistsplitter]

It is called the Irodori Festival, celebrating the works of the Five Kasen- gifted writers from Inazuma of long ago.

[ Is that all the details he needs? She is waiting!! ]

It has been a long time since we celebrated the Five Kasen, but due to borders being open again, Guuji Yae decided to hold the festival once more. We even invited artists from various nations to visit and participate!

I'm so very excited for it.

[brilliantdiamond]

[He closes his eyes as he thinks about it. Five Kasen, a festival with writers and artists from other nations. Irodori--]

[A strange image flashes through his mind. Something familiar, and yet not. perhaps, something familiar in an unfamiliar location? When he speaks, his voice is slow, cautious -- as if unsure about why he's asking what he's asking.]

This festival... did you... by chance, invite an artist from Mondstadt?

[mistsplitter]

Yes! We sent an invitation to an artist by the name of Calx.

[ She sounds so very excited as she speaks about said artist! ]

We invited musicians and writers, too! It will be such a grand event for Inazuma.

[brilliantdiamond]

Calx? Wait, isn't that--

[...]

[...]

[...]

[She'd be forgiven for assuming at first that Aether just cut himself off for one reason or another. But after a few seconds, it'll be more clear that something is off. He's gone completely silent and still mid-word, no longer breathing or blinking, as if frozen in place.]

[Will she reach out to try and shake him out of it? Something spooky will happen if she touches him while he's under the effects of a time surge!]

1/2

[mistsplitter]

[ Indeed, she waits for him to react to himself, for cutting himself off like that. He... must have something to say, yes...?









... ]

[mistsplitter]

... Aether?

[ He's not even blinking? He's just standing there. . . Ah, she takes his hand and shakes it to get his attention. ]

Is everything alright?

[brilliantdiamond]

--Albedo's... oh, were you-- huh?

[The moment she touches his hand, she blinks -- and suddenly the room has gone dark. It's night outside, as though many hours have passed in an instant, and the lights just weren't previously turned on. Their words, both delayed, end up awkwardly overlapping each other.]

[But Aether isn't aware that anything happened at all, and just looks confused.]

What just happened?

[mistsplitter]

[ Ayaka is startled in the meantime. It takes her a moment to let go of Aether's hand before stepping away.

Something is clearly bothering her, but her concern for Aether overlaps her worry for herself. He is more important. ]

Um... you just froze all of a sudden. You're back now.

[brilliantdiamond]

I froze? Wait, then-- hold on.

[He stands and moves across the room to turn on the lights, taking a glance at the nearby clock -- at least 4 hours have passed since Ayaka came to visit.]

What you just saw must have been a time surge. That's how others have described them to me before. But... did you get stuck in it, too? I didn't even know that could happen.

[mistsplitter]

You know more than I do. I feel fine, though, I think.

Do you?

[ That's the more important thing right now!! Especially after what he's shared with her today.

She notices that it seems to have gotten late. Looking around, she wonders if there is anything else out of the ordinary with their surroundings. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

I... feel great, actually. Still a little tired, but... less so than before?

[It's a shame Aether doesn't physically age, or it might be more obvious that time is catching up on his body as well. As such, while he's progressed to a point where he's still tired from a long day of traveling, he's no longer sleep deprived. And it does show, subtly, on his face. The dark circles under his eyes are gone, and his complexion is warmer.]

But I remember now-- the festival you're talking about! Yae Miko commissioned me to serve as a guide for some of the international guests that were invited -- many of whom ended up being friends of mine.

[Notably, he's speaking in past tense -- because he's jumped pretty far ahead.]

[mistsplitter]

Huh?

[ That's odd, but not impossible, she thinks. . . ]

You were part of the festival? [ That's something she didn't see happening, but it makes her smile nonetheless. She claps her hands together in delight. ] Then, we'll get to spend time with each other again!

[ In Inazuma, not here. How exciting! ]

Oh, but please don't tell me the rest. I should like to experience it myself.

[brilliantdiamond]

Don't worry, I won't mention a thing.

[He understands the feeling, after all. But this does seem to confirm something--]

But if I was hit by a time surge like that so easily, then it's possible it might happen again. So if I seem to freeze like that-- unless I'm like for a few hours, you can just leave me be. And... keep a distance, I guess?

[He didn't know he could trap people in time surges with him?? Surely this is something the NRL could have warned him about, he experiences them often enough!!]

[mistsplitter]

But... what will happen to you?

[ She can't just leave him be! Especially right now when he's experiencing all sorts of things. Of course, she'll follow if it is the right course of action, but not without worry. ]

Before I touched you, what exactly was happening to you?