songerein | [Closed] June dreams

[The quest from the dreamboard seemed fairly simple - allow researchers to monitor them while using the baubles in the Observatory. Apparently, you can see your homeworld while using them and Aether can't help but wonder if, in his case, it means Teyvat or something else.

But he didn't come here alone.]

Do you want to try it first?

[He smiles softly to Childe. It's been a long time since the Harbinger arrived here and Aether is more than sure that he misses his siblings. It would be nice if he could at least catch a glimpse of them.

...But there is something else to it. The conversation they had, back then when they returned home from the flower festival and shared the sentiment that they would not want to give up on what they have now. The love that bloomed between the two of them is not something they could relive in Teyvat... or at least not considering their ambitions, their goals, the sides they take.

It's difficult to wish for things to stay the way they are now, but at the same time wanting to return to family that is left in Teyvat, to pick up things that are still left to do.]

[The observatory itself was impressive- he figures somewhere like the Sumeru Akademiya might also have something similar, what with all the strange and wondrous devices they use to study the stars. But what they don't have is something like this that can observe other words from this dreamscape, an ability that into itself is intriguing at lest and mind-boggling at best. But he's not going to think about it too hard, playing with his bauble between his fingers as he steps up to the telescope.]

Sure. All I've got to do is use this little trinket I've gotten, right?

[There's a part of him that's excited to use it, and yet at the same time his heart aches a little at the thought. He hasn't gotten the chance to look back at the world he's asleep in, and it feels like ages since he's seen his family.

But even as he steps up to the telescope, he turns to look back at Aether.]

Do you want to come up and look with me? ...I want to see Snezhnaya, and it would be nice to at least get to let you see my siblings.

[There's a lot of unsaid words here- the fact that Childe still doesn't know exactly what he wants to do, and knowing that this research is towards something that would allow them to keep what they have here- each other.]

[He watches Childe with a soft smile, but at the same time there's a pang of guilt inside his heart. Aether dismisses that feeling though: even if they wouldn't fall for one another here, Childe would still be stuck in the dream, still so far away from home and family that he loves so dearly.

He will see them eventually. He will hug them, hold them close. When the dream ends and even if what they have now will be nothing but a faded memory, Aether has no doubt that Childe will find happiness in life.

But none of that matters right now.]

Yes. That's exactly what you need to do.

[He continues to watch Childe. This research really feels like it started at the right time. Even if it's just for a moment, his lover can see his home again and honestly, Aether would happily give him his baubles so he could see them at least a bit longer.

Childe's words come unexpected. Aether blinks, then nods and with a beating heart steps closer to the other. He's wanted to meet the other siblings and the promise he made with Teucer is still fresh in his mind.]

Of course... You need to introduce me to them when we get back to Teyvat.

[If they could be allowed to keep what they have, Aether can only imagine how special that moment would be. Would the other siblings like him as much as Teucer did? Would it surprise them to hear what kind of relationship he has with their brother?

...Would the world itself be against them? Considering what they stand for?

Perhaps this is exactly what makes the dream so beautiful.]

[When we get back to Teyvat.

Yes, there would come a time where that would happen, and he'd lose all the memories he's gained here. Thinking about that makes a shooting pain rip through his heart, even if on the surface he appears as calm, happy, unbothered. The bauble gets fed into the telescope, and Childe concentrates using his dreamotion on what he wants to see, peering into the telescope first.

His breath is taken away, he's seeing his home, the snowy background of Snezhnaya around a large, yet homey cabin that lies within his hometown. Childe takes a moment to stare into it, taking it all in as emotion washes over him like wave. He takes a step back, his eyes glossy with nostalgia and homesickness, gesturing for Aether to look.]

Take a look- that's my home, back in Morepesok.

[He wants Aether to see that beauty, the land he always waxes so poetic about when he's away from it.]

[It hurts to think about what will happen when they wake up, so Aether chooses to dismiss those thoughts, lock them up in the depths of his heart. It's difficult, but he would always think of the now and act on it instead of dwelling on things that could only bring pain.

...He can't do anything anyway. He should be happy with what he has now, especially that regardless of what happens, he would lose it eventually anyway. Childe wouldn't live as long as Aether does.

Again, he tries to clear his head and he looks at his lover, noting the wetness of his eyes. Aether can only imagine how homesick he must be. The thought alone squeezes his heart inside his chest.

Taking a deep breath, Aether looks through the telescope and he's taken aback by the beauty of Childe's hometown.]

...It's wonderful.

[He would say that he can't wait to visit, but the implications of those words make it hard for him to voice his mind.]

[It warms his heart to hear those words, not knowing really what Aether would think of the snowy landscape he calls his home. He's well aware that agents of Snezhnaya have made his journey much harder than it ever had to be, and there's a part of him that's intrigued and amused by how the traveler handles that. But at the same time, now, he feels sorry for the hardship it's brought him as well, wishing that he could have alleviated any of it at all. But it's a regret he'll have to accept, giving Aether a bright smile. He feels elated as well, being able to share a part of something he loves with him, going on to happy chirp about Snezhnaya.]

I'm glad you think so. I'd often play over in that little field off to the right as a child. Even now, we'll have snowball fights when I return home from my duties, the very same ones I've told you about in the past. It's always a joy to be able to spend time with my siblings...

[He sighs, a heavy one that lifts his shoulders only to settle back down, wistful in his thinking for days that seem long past. He's not sure if he's completely ready to move the view to inside the house where his family surely is resting inside. Tartaglia already feels the pain of separation from having them in his arms, making them breakfast, being the object that their eyes light up to when he walks in the door.

Even though he's trying to hide it, these emotions start to break through, the cracks showing in his masked expression. It's hard, to not think of home right now, and even harder still to even consider leaving it behind.]

[As Childe tells him more about his home, Aether smiles gently, imagining a younger Childe running around and playing in the snow. Then an older one, entertaining his siblings with snowball fights, laughing with them, getting hugs from them when he returns home. The mental image is so heart-warming... yet it also breaks his heart.

It's painful to be separated from your family, Aether knows that well. It's also painful to love someone so much, you can't imagine your life without them, yet you have to come to terms with the fact that your time together will be cut short. And that's just for the best.

The way Childe sighs, the way his carefully constructed mask starts cracking makes Aether want to reach out to him so badly, to hold him close, to tell him that he understands and he wishes for his lover to be able to go back home. But again, wishing for that means the end of their happiness. The end of everything they have.

Aether sighs, hand pressing hard against his chest.]

...I bet your siblings could never wait for you to come back.

[They're probably still waiting, eager to spend time with their beloved brother. Aether has no doubts that Childe wishes to see them again more than anything in the world.

Gods, is there really no way for them to have both - their families back by their side and the love they have now for one another?]

Haha, you should see the looks on their faces when I return home from a long journey from whatever faraway land I'm sent to. It's enough to melt anyone's heart.

[Turning back towards the telescope, he concentrates and focuses more on the inside of the home, the machine adjusting and peering through the wooden log walls of the cabin to inside. Childe leans down to gaze into the lens again, the images shown now are of his family, mother and father sitting in the den while his three younger siblings play together in another part of the room.

A soft, sad smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, lingering there for a moment longer before turning to Aether. For whatever cracks had begun to show, it's as if the rest of the facade has shattered completely, homesickness apparent on his face. But he still wants Aether to see them, gesturing towards it so he can look.]

Looks like they're all home. My older siblings don't live there anymore, but Tonia, Teucer and Anthon along with my parents are there. Take a look- I want you to see them.

[Aether is listening, waiting with held breath as if that was the only thing keeping him together. He's always loved when Childe talked about his family. There was so much warmth in his voice, in his expression, in his blue eyes. He could tell how much the Harbinger loves his siblings and parents, how happy they must be when they are all back together.

Now is no different and yet it hurts. It hurts, because Aether can see how badly his partner wants to be back home.

The traveler wishes they could go back together.]

I... want to see them, too.

[His voice sounds so tiny, so uncharacteristic of him, but it's true. He wants to see, to meet those who are always on Childe's mind, who he would do anything for.

He takes a look, slowly as if scared that he'll break the moment he sees the interior of Childe's home.

His gaze falls on the scene, he breathes in and out and his heart melts. It's so much more than he imagined, far more peaceful and warm. He bites his lower lip, but ultimately that can't stop him from voicing his thoughts.]

I wish I could meet them.

[He will. Eventually, he will visit Snezhnaya, he will see the rest of Childe's siblings, maybe even his parents. But it won't be the same. The feelings will be different and who knows, maybe his heart will know it longs for something, but it just won't be able to recall what it was.

Aether steps away from the machine. His expression difficult to decipher.]

Haha, well...perhaps one day you will. Maybe they'll appear here, or...

[When they wake up, and everything goes back to what it once was prior to coming to Reverein, back to being both friends and enemies on different sides of a war that the rest of the world is unaware that it's happening. As much as he'd like to go home, there's a part of him that wants to stay here too, and it tears him apart when he thinks about it too much...]

...ah, maybe such heavy thoughts shouldn't be touched upon right now. This is supposed to be something joyful, getting the opportunity to see our loved ones. It's better than nothing at all, right?

[It almost seems like he's telling himself this rather than trying to lighten the mood. Like he's trying to convince himself that his homesickness and missing his family is just a simple fact he has to deal with.]

I probably don't have to tell you which one is which, since you've already met Teucer. It gladdens me that I was able to show you them today...who knows when you'd ever have the chance. But don't let me hog this all day, wouldn't you like to use it too?

[Stealing paint in order to vandalise various buildings? That can't be left alone! Especially not when the famous detective Heizou as well as his assistant Aether are on the case!

...Okay, it's nothing that flashy.

Moving on, the witnesses claim that the culprits were wearing checkered armbands and while that's a valuable information, one question remains.]

How are we going to find them?

[They are investigating a wall with paint all over it and Aether can hardly tell if it's supposed to be resembling something or if the culprits just messed around with colours at random. Either way, the traveler is focus on finding any kinds of tracks or marks that would lead them to the place their bad guys are hiding.]

[For Heizou's part, he's walking up and down the length of the wall, eyes sweeping over every inch of its surface. It really is hard to tell if the vandals were trying to make a statement with a specific image, because while most of it is probably sprayed on, parts of it definitely look like someone just threw handfuls of paint on it. He's no artist or anything, but Heizou has a hard time believing that sort of painting method would be useful in making a political statement. But it's also a messy technique, which will probably be helpful to their investigation...

At that question he looks over at Aether with a serene smile, moving back over to where he's standing.]

Well, we naturally begin with assessing the scene and finding clues! [He gestures at the wall and its surroundings before them.] What do you see when you look at this crime scene, my dear partner?

[At those words, Aether looks at the wall and their crime scene, before taking a few steps away from it to change the point of view. The mess, the way the paint was sprayed around...]

I think whoever is responsible for this didn't actually have any plan. It's almost as if bunch of kids grabbed some paint and tried it out on the nearest wall.

[Well, the painting is way too high for children to be able to make it. There were no traces of any ladders used either.]

Maybe some local pranksters did it?

[Heizou's smile grows, snapping his fingers at Aether in approval.]

That's my suspicion as well! Perhaps still a bit too young to have formed any major political ideals to create graffiti for, but certainly old enough to know where and how to procure the paints without being detected. I suppose they could also just be rowdy by nature and don't feel they need a reason to vandalize property... Either way, I'm suspecting teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17.

[He moves to where the wall ends and fencing begins, his eyes sweeping over the ground there.]

They left quite a mess, too. We'll likely be able to pick up a trail because of it!

[Closed] June dreams

closed to Childe

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closed to Heizou

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