cerberice

[cerberice]

❝ Besides the general chaos that seems to be cropping up here lately, I suppose it's a good time to start gearing up for that other holiday. Christmas, wasn't it? We didn't have anything like it back home, but I think the melusine would find decorating trees in vibrant lights a fun ordeal. ❞

[cerberice]

❝ That so? That's always something worth celebrating if you ask me. ❞ whether the other meant in ways of a birthday or just simply surviving, he wasn't sure. what he does know is that he agrees, soon taking the glass of his own, newly filled drink to lift. ❝ Count me in. Beats just having a drink on its own, right? ❞

reaching over, he'll wait to see if the other gives a clink of their glasses though, regardless of the outcome, he'll take a good drink of his own soon after.

PERKING UP, he notes a stranger at his side... and seemingly ordering another round for the both of them. an odd gesture towards someone he doesn't know, but maybe misery loves company.

" ... making it through another year. " he answers, lifting his newly filled cup with a jerk of his chin towards the other, " you? "

[cerberice]

EMBARRASSING DOESN'T COME TO MIND, at least not in that particular statement. wasn't it normal for many to care about their physique, especially in such an active path as a mercenary? ❝ I don't see anything wrong with that. I tend to be lowkey, too, as you've seen. Besides, keeping in top shape is necessary for some things, ❞ he adds, a shrug of his shoulders. ❝ I don't think there's a professional food smeller job out there. But if there is, we've found the right guy for it, ❞ he teases, the smile on his lips far too obvious for it to be anything else.

❝ I can't say I'm the same. I'm accustomed to the welfare meals we give. And, well... let's just say some of the milkshakes aren't exactly the best unless you're looking for desolation. ❞ even the thought of it alone puts his tastebuds into a dire mood, like some aftertaste washing over them in fear he might have to taste it again.

soon enough, they arrive to wherever hoederer's nose leads him, his free hand placing itself on his hip. ❝ This the spot? It does smell good, that's for sure. ❞

"Both surviving, and well, even in Rhodes Island, I'd rather not be too much of a bother. And I care about my physique-" What an embarrassing statement, he can feel his cheeks heat up as he continues walking, the small heat flaring up to rival his hair as he sees Wriothesley's hand reach out, and he greedily grabs it with his own, fingers locking securely.

Quickly, he diverts his attention back to the stalls.

"Hardly professional, but...Well, this way, I think." Tugging his companion, he continues further into the stalls, deeper into the crowd. "I smell something familiar. We never had much, but my mom was a great cook with what she could do. I could never rival her palette." His own food was so bland in comparison.

[cerberice]

ANOTHER SITS NOT TOO FAR OFF, drink in hand as well, near polished off at with the liquor just barely coloring the bottom. light blue eyes glance over at his fellow drinker, noting the way his own drink is almost finished.

❝ Hey, Boss. Another round for the both of us. My treat. ❞ figures he would tag that on before the other questions why he's making him pay another drink, turning to him shortly after. ❝ So, what're you drinking to tonight? ❞

IT PASSES BY, UNMARKED, just like the last--- it doesn't bother him though. it can be pretty hard to find time to celebrate a birthday in the middle of a war. now that he has a moment of peace here, it's... hard to know what to do with it.

having a quiet drink in a bar seems to be the tentative answer to that problem, and he's okay with that.

[cerberice]

❝ Not one for fancy parties either? Yeah, same. Keeping watch while others have fun is more preferable to me. At least that's the excuse I'm going for to get out of it. What about you? ❞

[cerberice]

HIS MOTION EARLY HARDLY GOES UNNOTICED, only tucked away for a moment as they stop their walking. chicken was usual, as well as potatoes, but he hadn't thought the meals the other would have eaten would be so simple. ❝ No shame in that. Gotta do what you need to survive, right? ❞ he understands that much far too easily, the smile on his face expressing that well enough. back before he took over meropide, welfare meals were but a laughing thought, something none would ever think to be real.

it was a harsh environment that so many could barely make through.

❝ And right on cue, ❞ he teases, the smell also finding its way to him — something unfamiliar, though inviting all the same, were it the same. it nearly makes his stomach growl a little the more they wait. ❝ We'll track it down in no time. ❞ at least he hopes so, one hand now reaching out to take the others, a subtle response to his earlier movement, before beginning to walk along to inspect each stall. ❝ Let me know if you the place it's coming from. I may have a vague idea, but you're the professional here. ❞

"Definitely...I've never really been too partial to fish, but I also haven't spent much time near water." Or under it, he thinks, remembering Fontaine and where Wriothesley lives. He can feel his hand drifting over, fingers gently out, as though to hook into the hand of the other until they both stop and he quickly moves his hand back to his side.

"Familiar dishes? Well, I guess I mostly eat, uh, chicken. Maybe some other grilled food. I make sure I have high protein intake - and baked potatoes are good to keep up healthy carbohydrates-"

A pause, a familiar smell. Odd seasonings, for th epoor where the land can hardly grow anything.

"Oh,"

"Maybe.." How odd, and how nostalgic, he turns to his companion. "Let's look around."

[cerberice]

[cerberice]

SMOKE WAFTS INTO THE AIR, delightful scents clinging to it with every step taken closer toward the multitude of grills. seeing things made of glass cook delicacies as this was unique, though it was more the grumble of his stomach that drew him here, accompanied by a face that has become more familiar at his side when they got the chance to meet up. ❝ Smells good, doesn't it? Better than undersea brine any day if you ask me, ❞ he comments, taking a moment to enjoy the myriad of scents.

a few more steps forward is all it takes for him to stop, planting them in the center of it all, as he gleans over the array of meals ready to eat and fully becoming prepped.

❝ So. Any familiar dishes here for you? We'll give them a try. And by we'll, that mostly means me, given I haven't had anything from your home yet. ❞

@settleintoash

[cerberice]

❝ Given how often this has happened with them, I wouldn't be surprised if it were the case of both. Actually, I wouldn't be shocked at all if they knew all our secrets already from the reports I've heard... ❞

"Not that I had any doubts before but I'm starting to wonder if the Stars are all doing this just to grab some dark secrets from us or just to mess with us."

[cerberice]

i'd be interested in getting more things going on wriothesley here, so if you'd like a spiralefes themed starter, give this a like. capped at three for now!

[cerberice]

❝ Both is a fine answer. I can't help much in the meaning department, but if you tell me what you're going for aesthetically, I could give a tip or two to get you started. ❞

｢𓆄｣ "Is both a suitable answer? I genuinely have no clue what I'm doing."

[cerberice]

❝ Guess it depends what you're wanting them for. Something pretty to look at or something of a deeper meaning? ❞

｢𓆄｣"...I know nothing about flowers, someone help a guy out."

[cerberice]

SEEING ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE WAS, truthfully, starting to become common place for the warden. whether or not that meant something good or bad was up to whoever you asked. in the end, it meant that there were reliable allies around, though on the other end of it, that meant fontaine itself was left lacking, as far as he knew. still, there was no way he wouldn't invite out the duelist for a spot of tea or any drink she might want, especially if it means they could catch up. ❝ Was starting to wonder when you might show up. Iudex Neuvillette has been here a couple times... was starting to think he was the only one they were giving a vacation, ❞ he starts, offering a smile toward her.

❝ Up for another friendly bet on who might show up next? ❞ arms crossing over his chest, he settles into the chair, waiting just a smidgen for his own drink to cool off. ❝ There's bound to be others who haven't even stepped foot here. Whether or not I've seen them in my stay, well... ❞

@electroduelist

[cerberice]

TRUTHFULLY, THERE'S AN AMUSEMENT IN IT, seeing the wheels turn a little behind hoederer's expression upon the realization. nor is he offended, really, given the subtleties behind everything leading to right now. in the end, an outing was merely so: an outing, not always with further intentions beyond just hanging out. he'd had many times where he just had a regular day with those he considered friends beneath the sunshine, far from what many might consider something as this, unless they really were trying to project onto the situation. fortunately, he hadn't experienced that much within the eye of discerning journalists.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀in this case, however, he couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

❝ It's fine. Really. I hadn't exactly made it as clear as it could have been, ❞ he admits, arms crossing over his chest as he thinks on it. ❝ Thought it might be more fun that way. ❞

or perhaps that was just a part of his personality that siegewinne considered unprofessional when it comes down to certain behaviors, much like this moment. hopefully the sarkaz wouldn't take things too personally in that regard, though it wasn't as if he could fault him were he to get any inkling of annoyed for it. ❝ Didn't think you would react that viscerally to it, though. Besides, dates aren't all that different beyond the intent of what doing something together entails a lot of the time. You could go on a picnic with friends, too, right? ❞ and it had hardly been known the intention of things unless someone could pick things up telepathically.

❝ Try not to overthink it. We could go back to shooting the wind about prophecies and... mind sharing, you said? ❞ not anything unheard of, given teyvat's own peculiarities, though still strange enough to hear. ❝ It's still a nice, sunny day out. We can discuss the finer details later. Unless you'd rather do that now... ? ❞

"Well, my entire upbringing is a tad morbid, but I am trying to keep this on the lighter side." As though it wasn't obvious enough, given the scars across his body, his Infected status, his now missing eye that hardly seems to bother him. But he can't help the smile creeping across his face when Wriothesley shares his opinion on the matter.

"Seems prophecies impact societies across worlds, huh?" He jots something down in his notebook before closing it again. "We've got plenty of those ourselves, and an entire..." Hoederer pauses, waving a hand, "Shared...Memory situation. Morbid indeed."

Turning on his side to face Wriothesley, he continues: "But your people seemed to have turned things around, right? That's what I'm hoping for too. I hope your Archon gets to be with her people for as long as she likes." At the very least, if she's weeping, then their leadership situation is likely a bit better than the Sarkaz.

But once he's done processing that last sentence. 'Things like this' - which would separate their current situation - which was intimate, he could admit, but they had already gone fishing together and that was relatively intimate-

His face turns almost the same shade as his hair as he sits up suddenly.

"Oh-"

"This is, a, uh..." He trails off, his notebook and pen falling by the wayside. "I didn't realize - not that it's your fault, I've just never really been on a proper date - always on the road or at war or some such." Was that time in the cafe a date, too!? Were they dating!?

"Not that I don't want this to be a date - I do. I certainly do - you're very attractive and I enjoy our time together. I feel at ease with you in a way I rarely do-" He almost slaps his forehead, what was he saying?!

"...Ignore all of that. Let's go back to the part where I said yes to you asking me on a date, and was absolutely very aware we were going on a date, because I want to be on a date with you."

[cerberice]

PUBLIC TRANSIT WAS DIFFERENT HERE, moving through streets and the air rather than through water, though still welcomed all the same. walking was hardly an issue, yet when one has to get somewhere at a swifter pace, well... it was far better to take what you could get. and it seemed that someone else believes the same, or at least practices it to some degree while confined in the city itself.

❝ That so? Guess it can't be helped, ❞ he replies, used to mundane things such as a trivial miss of a train. life was like that, nothing to really get worked up over.

but when the stranger offers the schedule, he'll take it with a grateful hand, offering a small nod. ❝ Probably for the better. Who knows? They might've decided to change all the transit lines and schedules while I was asleep. ❞ a small pause as he glances through some of them. ❝ Just joking. They haven't changed anything since I first came here about a year ago. These lines lead to pretty much the same spots which makes it traveler friendly. ❞

@cerberice

"(Damn...Guess I just missed the train...)" Whatever sort of training simulator this was, was clearly preparing him for any and all possibilities. Because, for some reason, he couldn't fly around like he usually did. Meteoriteman understood being prepared, but there should be a limit.

He hadn't even realized he'd been kind of hogging the schedule until he looked over his shoulder.

And...Ah. A person.

"...Train's not due for another thirty minutes. Did you need this?" He hadn't quite figured out where it was he needed to be heading. In all honesty, the map was basically a foreign language.

[cerberice]

FEW HE KNOWS FROM TEYVAT HAS COME, and fewer still from fontaine overall, especially those more inclined to stay. to say he's surprised would be, well... an outright lie, no matter how one looks at it. there was a presence about him even now that one could hardly be replicated no matter how one tries. so, when the other turns, having ordered what seems a drink, it all but confirms his identity, prompting the duke to walk over without a second thought.

❝ Iudex Neuvillette. Fancy seeing you here. Mind if I join you this afternoon? ❞ considering it could have been anyone he crossed paths with, it was still a nice sight to see. ❝ But I am. I've been here for some time, too. Let's see... I think it's about four months off before I'll be celebrating my arrival to this city. ❞ subtle sarcasm is laced in the word celebrate, given this entire thing was just an elaborate kidnapping with no way out.

adaptability has been a necessary attribute in the path that neuvillette has been tasked, and now chooses, to walk. to anyone none the wiser, he would seem the same passive and elusive individual who seems to be more than capable and used to sitting upon an authoritive throne of some sort. but, if there are any prying eyes that have gazed upon him before, they might notice that the water sovereign is actually, well ... lost.

adaptability has become a strong suit. the curtains part a fraction when seeing someone neuvillette knows - and whilst he is ordering a drink, no less.

neuvillette would have otherwise stuck out like a sore thumb, but this city is actually as kind as fontaine. neuvillette turns, and after a beat of a breath, he says: "So you're here too, Duke Wriothesley."

@cerberice

[cerberice]

❝ A cat, huh? They are pretty self-sufficient, you're right about that. And if I get two, I won't have to worry if I leave. I know dogs can be a lot of upkeep, too... as for a chameleon, that's an interesting one. Not sure if I have what it takes to take care of something like that myself, so I commend your friend. ❞ lots of possibilities to consider, he hums a little. ❝ You've got a lot of experience with this. Got one of your own, I take it? ❞

" hmm, you could definitely start with something pretty self-sufficient like a cat. my friend back home has a cat and she's pretty easygoing -- she just likes sleeping! or you could get something like a chameleon... emmiline is such a sweetheart! "

or a cute bumble bee, but most people aren't fans of insects.