I didn't think you were--I just meant in general. [Many a person has looked at Kaveh and thought "wow that guy looks easy to kill"... almost as if he's a twink...]
Anyway Kaveh is here! He's around. They can cross paths; Kaveh left quickly, but he's just taking a walk for now. No one told him about the stabbing shenanigans so he just nods in greeting.]
It was Nahida, really. I never saw Hikari with it. [And Chinese is a fantasy language to him :< wow] I'm not sure, though. To be honest, I still don't really understand. I assume she went after him for the most obvious reasons, but was the fight really that chaotic...?
No just kidding. It's true, he's very much a nerd--he's wandering around in here, and while he can't exactly be happy after the events of the weekend, he's at least pulled himself together enough to enjoy some intellectual stimulation.]
Good morning. It is--I've always wanted to design a museum myself, actually, but the opportunity hasn't come up yet. [Wandering over! What's Gerard looking at?]
[ he is looking at a rather large and intimidating portrait of a young, princely looking fellow in regal attire in a big grand golden frame. this prince looks like he could be a close 2nd for most handsome prince in a vast collection of kingdoms, you think. well, I don't know what Kaveh thinks. but that could be what it is.
gerard is not doing a GREAT job of pretending not to try and gesture to it for commentary. ]
Just browsing, myself ... You design places like this you said?
[Wow, what a handsome lad! Too bad he looks extremely rich... hope he's a nice, kind, generous prince whose family feeds the poor...
Kaveh eyes the portrait, first taking in the detail of the painting like an Artiste, then leaning closer to look at the information card.]
I'd like to. I've had the pleasure of working on a pretty wide variety of structures thus far--I think I could do a lot with a museum, depending on the sort.
I don't know if Avon ladies use tactics like "one eyeshadow palette will feed a hungry child in need" because if they do Kaveh looks about 3 seconds away from getting taken in, if they're just trying to push the product he looks more skeptical
If it comes down to it, I need you to make sure Nahida gets home.
[This, at least, is so much easier to articulate than the rest of it.]
Nahida is the Archon of Wisdom and the god of Sumeru. I don't know if Shenhe said anything to you, and if Nahida does, she'll probably tell you to leave her behind. But I can't let that happen. [He shakes his head slightly.] I'm not saying I want you to run out and kill me in a few days. But if you need more points, if it'll help bring more people back, or if it can only be so many people--Sumeru needs her. Teyvat needs her.
[ he blinks, but- then looks just a little devastated. because it's actually such a sad thought. ]
I won't let anything happen to Nahida, I'll say that first. But I also don't think it'll come to that, Kaveh. I don't want to hurt you either. [ ... ] You're a good person. And the world needs good people too.
the way I realized I set this on w4 monday by default THIS IS STILL W3 SUNDAY WHOOPS
The beauty of the world is that it will always have good people in it. [And he does believe that, even now. In a way, Gerard and Ylfa's actions could even fall under that category, though Kaveh is too close to the whole thing to be able to think about that for long.]
I don't want to die. If it doesn't come up, then that's okay. [He knows people worry about him. And he hates it for so many reasons, but it's not like he doesn't get it. This, though, he is genuine about it.] But the only way any of this will be worth it is if Nahida can make it back.
[The cost is too great to bear, otherwise. This is the only way he'll ever be able to look Shenhe's team in the eye, knowing what he knows.
He's quiet for a moment.]
...Can I make a selfish request?
[Because Nahida is more of an ultimatum, than anything.]
[ he's alright to make that promise. to the best of his ability, anyway. he has a lot to look out for here, but he wants to be sure not to fail. not again, anyway. ]
[He hadn't really thought Gerard would say no, but he looks relieved anyway. Truthfully, this is more to preempt Nahida than anything else; he already knows how much she and Shu try to protect him, as though they think he's going to run into the line of fire.
...Which, okay, isn't entirely unfounded. But still. He'll be the voice of reason if they can't. And what a change that is.
As for the rest--he hesitates, but after a moment:]
...Please don't hurt Vash, Wolfwood, or Livio. [He cringes a little just for asking, but he pushes forward, shouldering the discomfort.] If you can. I don't--I know you mentioned talking to Shenhe, so perhaps you've spoken to them as well about things like this. I don't know. [He can't quite stop the insecurity from leaking through.] I just--
[...]
They've already had to deal with so much. I don't want them to go through something like this.
[And, in truth--Kaveh can't bear to think about losing them too. But that's why he'd said it was selfish.]
You don't have to promise. I'd rather you didn't, if it's one you can't keep. But if you three do act again, I just ask that you keep it in mind. And it's the sort of thing that Ylfa and Haru shouldn't have to think about.
[It's not like Kaveh thinks they're incapable, or even that they can't bear the weight of this. He doesn't necessarily want to protect them just because of their youth. But if he's going to put this on any of their shoulders, he thinks he would rather it be Gerard's, whose logic was the closest to something Kaveh could understand on an emotional level.]
[ he gets it, why he's being asked that. but he shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot for a second, but eventually he nods. ]
I, um, don't want to hurt any of them.
[ he doesn't think its very princely of himself to have to consider himself a person that is like this now. that's the monster part. maybe that was the truth all along, that being a prince was never his strength. he was always destined to be the monster who makes his friends afraid, and can't be trusted not to kill. ]
[Kaveh nods, some of the tension draining out of him, replaced with a deep exhaustion.]
Thank you. [...] I mean--I trust that you don't want to hurt anyone. [He has to trust that. He has to believe them when they say their motives are good, that they won't go back on their promise to bring Shenhe back. It's the only way he can deal with all of this.] But you know what I mean.
[ well they are mostly arguing about training bras so maybe he needs a break.
also every text gerard sends comes from just an assortment of his random usernames. it's probably kind of annoying! but for ease of threading I'm /handwaves ]
[HELP GERARD IS REALLY STUCK WITH A BUNCH OF TEENS FOREVER. But yeah Kaveh will probably just pick one of the usernames he saw from Ylfa to respond to.]
Yes, it did seem that way from what I saw earlier. [Just the general vibe of everyone's chaotic chattering even though we only got to talk to you dedas for TWO DAYS AND ONE OF THEM WAS SPENT PLAYING HANGMAN FOR THREE AND A HALF HOURS] ...What about you and Shenhe?
What about me and Shenhe? [ oh right the fact that he murdered her. ] I mean, I'd say we're friends? We've come to a pretty good understanding, actually.
Good, I'm glad to hear it. [If Shenhe had chosen to hate Froggystyle forever, Kaveh would not have blamed her for it, but he certainly won't begrudge her peace.] Where are you all staying, anyway? Do you have warehouses there too?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w0, MONDAY
Ah. Yes. Hello again. Did you-- find one of those teams? Get that all sorted?
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Yes, we got everything sorted. [Even though their NAME FUCKING SUCKS but it's fine... it's cool...] What about you? You're with Ylfa, right?
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[ ... ]
Though now I'm thinking about it, maybe I should have placed her with a team that is the most likely to survive.
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For what it's worth, I don't think it's possible to know which team that would be so early.
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[ looking at him. ]
You are a little reedy, perhaps ...
[ RUDE? ]
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I can fight!
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[ this is so rude hes gonna get himself killed ]
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Whatever. You wouldn't be the first person to think I'm an easy target.
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I didn't think you were--I just meant in general. [Many a person has looked at Kaveh and thought "wow that guy looks easy to kill"... almost as if he's a twink...]
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[ he was just being an asshole. ]
I know plenty of skinny people who are perfectly good at defending themselves. One of the strongest people I know is a small little cat.
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week 0, saturday
Anyway Kaveh is here! He's around. They can cross paths; Kaveh left quickly, but he's just taking a walk for now. No one told him about the stabbing shenanigans so he just nods in greeting.]
Thanks for everything you did today.
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And I believe the same goes for you. We wouldn't have been able to know without you, and that strange coin. Why would she keep it ...
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[WHY DID THEY GO LIKE 15 PLACES]
W1 - MONDAY
Ah, good morning! Good morning. Interesting collection, isn't it?
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No just kidding. It's true, he's very much a nerd--he's wandering around in here, and while he can't exactly be happy after the events of the weekend, he's at least pulled himself together enough to enjoy some intellectual stimulation.]
Good morning. It is--I've always wanted to design a museum myself, actually, but the opportunity hasn't come up yet. [Wandering over! What's Gerard looking at?]
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gerard is not doing a GREAT job of pretending not to try and gesture to it for commentary. ]
Just browsing, myself ... You design places like this you said?
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Kaveh eyes the portrait, first taking in the detail of the painting like an Artiste, then leaning closer to look at the information card.]
I'd like to. I've had the pleasure of working on a pretty wide variety of structures thus far--I think I could do a lot with a museum, depending on the sort.
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What about castles?
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...He's more interested in talking about buildings]
Hmm. It depends on the client, but yes, I could do that.
week 2, monday
I don't know if Avon ladies use tactics like "one eyeshadow palette will feed a hungry child in need" because if they do Kaveh looks about 3 seconds away from getting taken in, if they're just trying to push the product he looks more skeptical
COME HELP OR DON'T HELP, GERARD]
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[ anyway gerard is coming in and he's wielding his sword out in front of him. avon ladies be damned. ]
Be gone! Get out of here! Scram!
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KAVEH JUST JUMPS]
Wh--Gerard?!
W3 - FRIDAY
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Thank you
I'm sorry too... she was very strong
It's hard to believe she's gone
week 4, monday
After they're done talking, Kaveh will gesture at Gerard so they can talk somewhere privately.]
I need you to promise me something.
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Alright. Of course.
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If it comes down to it, I need you to make sure Nahida gets home.
[This, at least, is so much easier to articulate than the rest of it.]
Nahida is the Archon of Wisdom and the god of Sumeru. I don't know if Shenhe said anything to you, and if Nahida does, she'll probably tell you to leave her behind. But I can't let that happen. [He shakes his head slightly.] I'm not saying I want you to run out and kill me in a few days. But if you need more points, if it'll help bring more people back, or if it can only be so many people--Sumeru needs her. Teyvat needs her.
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I won't let anything happen to Nahida, I'll say that first. But I also don't think it'll come to that, Kaveh. I don't want to hurt you either. [ ... ] You're a good person. And the world needs good people too.
the way I realized I set this on w4 monday by default THIS IS STILL W3 SUNDAY WHOOPS
The beauty of the world is that it will always have good people in it. [And he does believe that, even now. In a way, Gerard and Ylfa's actions could even fall under that category, though Kaveh is too close to the whole thing to be able to think about that for long.]
I don't want to die. If it doesn't come up, then that's okay. [He knows people worry about him. And he hates it for so many reasons, but it's not like he doesn't get it. This, though, he is genuine about it.] But the only way any of this will be worth it is if Nahida can make it back.
[The cost is too great to bear, otherwise. This is the only way he'll ever be able to look Shenhe's team in the eye, knowing what he knows.
He's quiet for a moment.]
...Can I make a selfish request?
[Because Nahida is more of an ultimatum, than anything.]
HELP
[ he's alright to make that promise. to the best of his ability, anyway. he has a lot to look out for here, but he wants to be sure not to fail. not again, anyway. ]
Of course.
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...Which, okay, isn't entirely unfounded. But still. He'll be the voice of reason if they can't. And what a change that is.
As for the rest--he hesitates, but after a moment:]
...Please don't hurt Vash, Wolfwood, or Livio. [He cringes a little just for asking, but he pushes forward, shouldering the discomfort.] If you can. I don't--I know you mentioned talking to Shenhe, so perhaps you've spoken to them as well about things like this. I don't know. [He can't quite stop the insecurity from leaking through.] I just--
[...]
They've already had to deal with so much. I don't want them to go through something like this.
[And, in truth--Kaveh can't bear to think about losing them too. But that's why he'd said it was selfish.]
You don't have to promise. I'd rather you didn't, if it's one you can't keep. But if you three do act again, I just ask that you keep it in mind. And it's the sort of thing that Ylfa and Haru shouldn't have to think about.
[It's not like Kaveh thinks they're incapable, or even that they can't bear the weight of this. He doesn't necessarily want to protect them just because of their youth. But if he's going to put this on any of their shoulders, he thinks he would rather it be Gerard's, whose logic was the closest to something Kaveh could understand on an emotional level.]
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I, um, don't want to hurt any of them.
[ he doesn't think its very princely of himself to have to consider himself a person that is like this now. that's the monster part. maybe that was the truth all along, that being a prince was never his strength. he was always destined to be the monster who makes his friends afraid, and can't be trusted not to kill. ]
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Thank you. [...] I mean--I trust that you don't want to hurt anyone. [He has to trust that. He has to believe them when they say their motives are good, that they won't go back on their promise to bring Shenhe back. It's the only way he can deal with all of this.] But you know what I mean.
W4 - FRIDAY - TEXT
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At this point I almost wish you had
[BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE IS POSSIBLY FOUR OTHER KILLERS RUNNING LOOSE??? THAT'S ALSO BAD]
Week 7, Monday
Gerard? Are you busy?
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also every text gerard sends comes from just an assortment of his random usernames. it's probably kind of annoying! but for ease of threading I'm /handwaves ]
Not at all. Want to talk?
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I'd like to, if you don't mind.
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[But he will go there!! And then focus on his pin and say "Gerard?" awkwardly a few times until Gerard responds.]
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Hello?
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It worked, I can see you. [Phew.] Have you been alright over there?
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It's been ... interesting. Alright, yes, for the most part. Everyone is actually rather close, all things considered.
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What about me and Shenhe? [ oh right the fact that he murdered her. ] I mean, I'd say we're friends? We've come to a pretty good understanding, actually.
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Good, I'm glad to hear it. [If Shenhe had chosen to hate Froggystyle forever, Kaveh would not have blamed her for it, but he certainly won't begrudge her peace.] Where are you all staying, anyway? Do you have warehouses there too?