#GHString2025

[incitomniaveritas]

There was something that overshadowed the other's face as he realized the younger man was distracted, and while he was not one to pry, his own head did tilt in his sentiments of confusion. It didn't last long—neither the look upon Caelus' face nor his own confusion—as they both seemed to let go of whatever moment they almost had. Veritas had wanted to ask if that anything he said or proposed wasn't to his standards, but he quickly moved it to the side. Of course not, Caelus wouldn't hesitate to tell him anything, and he had only given his opinion...

... Surely, he didn't do anything.

And any fond sentiments, while not disappearing, did give way to a sort of annoyance he has felt before for cheeky students. He's gotten on people for less, but allows the hand to pat his shoulder as he looks less than amused. "Trailblazer, please do not use that name for myself in this predicament."

He could think of all the ways that name could be misconstrued, or how it might affect them if they step over that boundary. A love doctor, he wants to scoff, you mean a glorified psychologist. Ratio would willingly just be called by that title over something that could turn heads, and at a bright eyed youth seemingly tied to the hip of a well known trespasser and older man. Who knows who could even perceive the string, much less that their—

"While I know it's in jest, who knows what someone could think of you." He offers in goodwill, forgetting himself only temporarily. "If you'd prefer to not make this awkward, Veritas for now would do just fine if you find Professor or Dr. Ratio too formal."

And as he thinks about the man's statement, he does crease his eyebrows as he thinks about where the statement comes up wrong. Caelus could not know the project was a facade and simply a way to not only measure his creativity, but a good form of trust building via creation of his own digital Curios. While the program could not make something out of nothing in the spirit of Erudition, tracking history like Nous had envisioned, it could facilitate events or phenomenal moments as trinkets. Digital expressions with powers to assist in combat and exploration...

What is today but a phenomenal event indeed, he expressed internally. Especially one so close to the young, spunky man whom the code follows closely, surely seeing how it works could bring them closer.

And while nothing monetary could come from this (and the Curio's potential fate is left unknown for now), he is a tad cerfuffled by the thought of non-payment.

"The personal project, is the Divergent Universe Curios catalog." Ratio corrects. "I wish for you to see how Curios are made and assist me in making your own. While I'm sure you have your preferred ones for exploration and combat purposes, I'm sure you've probably thought about what or where they get these forms and attributes from. I would like to show you, what we are and how Nous would read *us*."

☆ me (m[redacted]) my not wiki boyfriend (m30+) and our drastic (20cm) height difference

【 gnostic hymns' scarlet strings event ── the apple gets the short string 】

[octoboltflash]

The sentiment of his memory does cause her to let loose a breathy chuckle, the mere thought bringing a hint of warmth to her otherwise void heart-- it's rare for others to extend such a courtesy, and it's a relief in and of itself; for moments such as these to be preserved... even if it's not in her own mind, what matters is that its recollection lives on in someone else's. Maybe one day, she will be fully forgotten within the universe. While that thought is daunting, it's a bit less so when surrounded by those who wish to preserve. "Blind dates, hm?" Acheron muses, violet eyes sweeping across the unfamiliar landscaping about the Terrace; while some sights reminded her of hazy memories in the distant past, there's something completely novel about everything surrounding her-- these are flowers she's never seen before, and these mountains are far more vast than what little she can recall. "I doubt that I would be partial to it, either. Yet there's something intriguing about forging a bond based on first impressions alone, is there not?" "As for enjoyment... I wish I could tell you. I do quite enjoy peaches, although I admit that I barely remember their taste." A gloved hand comes to her chin as she furrows her brows in thought, frowning slightly. "Sightseeing is always exhilarating. I can enjoy the moment without the worry of what comes before or after-- simply... existing. It's a tranquility in and of itself." "I wouldn't be opposed to hearing you regale me with tales of the locality, either." Acheron smiles there, tilting her head slightly. "Someone always needs to remember. To carry those memories forward into tomorrow." @jadeshielded

taken for granite

GHStrings2025 w/ @jadeshielded

[jadeshielded]

A date.

A very…human endeavor, a human term. He nods, decided.

“I will remember,” He promises, allowing himself to rise with her. “For the both of us.”

As for the details of their brief courtship? Zhongli is more apt to allow his hand to slip free, guiding with a gentle hand at her back. There is an irony flitting through his head – where every now and then he is approached by someone well meaning, willing to arrange a tentative courtship. It’s a shame to see such a handsome gentleman so-

“They call them blind dates,” He says, conversational if only to distract for how the busy marketplace seems to collectively watch them stroll. “To know nothing about your partner beforehand. I am not fond of the custom.” At the time, he’d imagined being blinded for the night, but it dawns on him now and- it makes much more sense.

He leads them upward, head tipped to enjoy the sweet scent of the silk flowers that scatter the intentional landscaping of the Yujing Terrace as they make their way towards the slopes of the mountain ahead. “Tell me what you enjoy in the company of others. Food, sights, history – the day is yours, whatever you make of it.”

taken for granite

GHStrings2025 w/ @jadeshielded

[octoboltflash]

Upon feeling the insistent tug of a string wrapped around her finger, Acheron had immediately heaved a sigh; while there's no doubt that Naught could potentially sever such a connection, there-in existed the innate curiosity of who (or what) could be at the other end-- and whatever it was clearly was enticed by her presence and sought to bring the two ends together. Not only that, but the consequences for being hasty and destroying the string... There was too much unknown to make such a reckless move. And so she finds herself here, in what appears to be a bustling harbor. None of the landmarks seem familiar, though that isn't particularly surprising given the state of her memory. It's a bit difficult to weave through the throngs of people without bumping into others, but she manages, coming to stop in front of a quaint tea house that seems to hold only one or two patrons within the building. Piercing violet eyes settle on a man's figure before she glances down at her hand-- sure enough, the string runs straight towards him. The way that her heart leapt into her throat certainly gave the impression that he was someone of interest (though she doesn't appreciate the heart attack that this is giving her). The Self-Annihilator has to suck in a sharp breath to steel herself before stepping through the doorway, a small chime signaling her entrance to the staff. And to him. She's obvious in the way that she stares, not particularly concerned with outward appearances. Surely he's as aware of this as she is, and she takes the opportunity to twist the string in her hand before giving it a light tug as means of gaining his attention. "So, it's you, is it?" Acheron pauses there, brows furrowing as she steps closer to inspect his form. "I've been looking for you. It's about time I've found you."

(This is supposed to have some sort of romantic undertone, right? Aeons, romance has never once been her strong suit or her focus, and this is going to be harder than she thinks it'll be.) "Tell me, sir... Do you believe in love at first sight?" Her eyes fall closed at the question, her arms coming to cross over her chest in a futile attempt at shielding her embarrassment from the other as her face reddens slightly. "Or do I need to walk by again?"

@jadeshielded

taken for granite

GHStrings2025 w/ @jadeshielded

[jadeshielded]

That the winding red string appears unfazed by their closeness is not surprising.

The magic that tethers them is…playful, seeming to writhe under attention as if to show amusement, laughter. Would they feel anything specific when the adeptus reaches for the root and shatters it?

He dismisses the thought with a shake of his head, loose amber ends falling to one side as he drops his eyes to their hands, still linked. “Fate,” He knows, returning the pressure she gives him before drawing his hand away. “Is far from the meddling force that has snared us. Without this string, there would be no timeline that brought about the here and now. Fate is inescapable.”

At his call, warm tea is set in front of his guest, giving him time to organize his thoughts. “Miss Acheron,” The name rolls of his tongue with a melodic lilt, testing his newfound care and devotion as one might do on a battlefield, two last-standing survivors wading towards death. Or…life. “Our contract…the contract set in place before us demands a show of love. To that end, I believe it to be something that must be decided between us. In this I do not dictate the terms alone.” Like this, Zhongli adopts a pose similar to the statues that dot the landscape, eyes burning in their simple intensity. “To remember nothing of past love, affection, yet you say you carry the memory of the feeling itself- seems remarkably cruel.“

A momentary weakness, as their memories are a boon; the thing keeping him anchored, sane. He finds himself rolling his shoulders, steeling himself for words that seem strange even before he says them aloud. “If we evoke similar emotions through action, perhaps it will be enough. Friendship, passion, a spark even from the heat of battle – if we act through scenes that trigger a strong enough response, it may appease the contract hanging over our heads.”

And…if it didn’t work. Then and only then would he seek to understand just how much of his power still lingered beneath the surface.

taken for granite

GHStrings2025 w/ @jadeshielded

[jadeshielded]

It floats in the air as though it is seelie-made, glittering crimson radiant where it runs over pale skin and draws him forward, twisting a lovely path that - very much like the seelie themselves – is a temptation nearly impossible to resist.  

A testament…that certain things could still surprise him. Nevertheless, he keeps at least one eye on the (harmless) magic that has attached itself to him and goes about his day with the words of a spell in his head and an ever-present pull of another as if they were familiar companions.

He is nothing, if not patient. Stone that will not be so easily moved.

The wait is not a long one, nor is it the chiming tinkle of bells that announces the arrival of the woman whose focus has been drumming a face-paced tempo through the line of string that connects them. At the subtle draw, he allows his hand to be moved, imagining the stranger linking their fingers rather than giving a simple tug.  

She’s…interesting. A stillness rooted in serenity in word and tone, eradicated by the war being waged in dark eyes. “I knew you would find me,”  It’s uttered like praise, curled in genuine amusement as he greets her with a hand raised so the thread between them shivers in the short distance. Love, the note had said, so he tilts his head to the side and considers.

“Love at first sight?” He hums thoughtfully, the ancient amber of his gaze taking in her stance, her demeanor, the blush lighting her expression- “The concept is well regarded in all cultures, though the foundation of the cause might be specific to the individual fantasy. Such a fantasy demands initial attraction, the spark of the superficial which opens one towards a deeper, more personal interaction.” He could quote several popular Liyuean dramas that survived on the popularity of love in an instant, though that didn’t seem relevant now. “In some cases even, a meaningful connection isn’t necessary at all. Sometimes, physical pleasure can sustain love for several lifetimes.”

Given his preferences for historical accuracy in his retellings, the concept hasn't crossed him in ages. With the thread looming, he recaptures her gaze as he leans back in his seat. His expression fails to lift more than a fraction for amusement, but his answering laugh is short and sweet, in tempo to the way he gestures for movement, expectant, “You may walk by again if you are eager to test your theory, we can weigh the values of individual attraction in appearance alone on a simple numeric scale. Though...the contract could not be quite the same, given the laws of initial meetings. A clause, then, for adoration that grows fonder with each encounter. Is not every new conversation a first, in its own way?” All in all, it’s a satisfactory explanation. He offers his hand, the one that links them.  “You may call me Zhongli.”   

taken for granite

GHStrings2025 w/ @jadeshielded