[At some point after finishing his talk with Vanitas, Aether leaves to find Xiao. He walks for a while, looking for the place that Xiao described as the place he lives now, then suddenly he pauses in his steps.]
Xiao?
[He knows his companion cannot teleport around anymore, but he also can feel a gaze watching him as he is searching for the yaksha.
...Don't tell him that he's been followed by the one he's looking for?!]
[ It's not a simple task to find one abandoned car in this place, but at least Xiao had done his best to describe it. Thankfully, Aether's correct - he's been watched over from above.
Plunging down from one of the buildings, Xiao lands safely near him with the help of Anemo. ]
[ He definitely thinks he should, especially after all of that. ]
This place is dangerous.
[ Xiao says as an explanation for his watchful eye, even if his concern was only half because of that. Crossing his arms, he watches Aether as the other man says that Vanitas apologized. ]
[Aether would argue that it's less about him and more about the way Vanitas acted to get under Xiao's skin. Either way, the traveler hopes things can get better now.
Vanitas learnt the lesson! (Hopefully)]
He wanted to apologize to you as well. If... if he tries to find you at least try to hear him out? Just this once. If he breaks his promise to me and tries to annoy you again, you can do what you think is best.
[Aether has faith in Vanitas that he'll keep his word... but he also hopes Xiao won't kill him regardless.]
...there's nothing he needs to apologize to me about. I do not care about his words or his attempts to anger me.
[ Xiao replies, his expression briefly mildly confused before it settles on his normal deadpan look. The person he should be apologizing to was Aether, not him. Still, he's not going to refuse the request. ]
I will hear him, but you need not worry about me retaliating. I have no interest in killing a human for being rude and antagonistic.
[He is definitely relieved to hear Xiao say that. Maybe all of this will go better than he thought.]
Thank you. And... sometimes you can accept an apology just to give someone a closure. [A smile appears on his face. He steps closer to Xiao and bumps his shoulder gently against the yaksha's.]
[ The little shoulder bump softens the severity of his expression, and Xiao sighs. ]
...they certainly are strange.
[ He hasn't exactly allowed himself to be around many of them until Aether started dragging him into the Harbor for a bunch of reasons. Now this place had a lot of them that made even less sense. ]
[He reaches to press a hand to Xiao's back and run it up and down a few times to hopefully give him some comfort (and maybe also release from the pain that he usually suffers from).]
You're right. Humans and their hearts make very little sense.
[But isn't that what makes them all special?
Aether is quiet for a moment, then his expression falls a little.]
There's something else I wanted to talk to you about... If you don't hear it from me, you may worry later.
[A good week or so after the encounter with Xiao in Aether's room, Vanitas gets the directions to where the yaksha has decided to reside from their mutual friend and decides to head on over. It's a bit tricky to find, given that it's just a random vehicle, but eventually Vanitas hones in on what he believes is the place.
Not wanting to overstep any boundaries, he glances around for the man, a covered dish in one hand and the other on his hip. He calls out, a little loudly in case the guy isn't inside the car.]
Hello~ Xiao! It's one of your least favorite people to see you.
[ Since Xiao doesn't sleep, eat or care about things that you have a home for, the place he 'lives' at is simply an anchor to look for him. Most of the time, he's on rooftops keeping a watch over the city and the people.
...so he definitely sees Vanitas long before the man starts calling out for him.
The wind suddenly picks up, teal energy swirling around the area before the yaksha dives down from above and lands on the car in front of Vanitas. ]
You flatter yourself. There are many beings I truly despise, and you are simply a minor annoyance at best.
[It's handy enough a location, nondescript though it is. Enough for Vanitas to get the right area, at least, something he realizes once the wind whips up, blowing his cloak and hair around.
He shields his face as Xiao drops in from above, though he's quick to laugh at the response, smirk firmly in place.]
Oh? I didn't leave even that much of an impression, hmm? How disappointing.
[But then, remembering he's supposed to be behaving, he sighs, holding up the dish.]
I've come to offer my apologies for my unkind words. I was hasty and needlessly cruel.
[ Xiao crosses his arms again, watching the man coldly. He still tries to have a good distance between them, and being on top of a car helps with that. The taint of the Karmic Debt is dangerous, and this place already makes him stressed about spreading it.
The dish is ignored. He doesn't eat human food, after all... and more importantly; ]
I do not require your apologies. I was not the wronged one, Aether was. If you do not understand that, then we have nothing to speak of.
[He's not surprised this is proving difficult, and it leads Vanitas to sigh a bit again, placing a hand on his hip. He realizes this is probably a losing battle, yet it's one he promised Aether he would endure for as long as possible.]
I apologized to him at once, so you can rest easy. As a courtesy to him, I came to offer you my apologies as well. For his sake. That's why I brought you this--
[ Xiao raises a brow at that. Sure, Aether did tell him that he did apologize, but it still sits wrong in his guts. Still, they're both being civil on the behest of their mutual friend.
Then Vanitas offers the one food he can actually stomach, and those intense eyes narrow. ]
What do you really want with all of this? Aether's forgiveness? It is not mine you seek.
[In truth, he doesn't blame Xiao for the caution, the suspicions. If their positions were reversed, then he too would feel the same. Which makes it all the more difficult to be perfectly honest.]
I know he's already forgiven me. What I seek is to make amends with someone he considers precious. You may be content with being merely ambivalent towards one another, but I would like to do one better for Aether's sake and attempt to rectify the hostilities I created.
I doubt we can ever be friends but... that doesn't mean we can't be civil.
[ Xiao watches Vanitas in silence as he speaks, and thinks about it for a moment. He has absolutely no interest in making 'allies' with his man, and would have been happy to just ignore his existence for the rest of his time in this place.
Still. Aether would want them to be civil, he knows that. It's just not easy to simply brush away insinuations of assaulting the Traveler like that. No matter how untrue it was.
For Aether, though... ]
You can call me Adeptus Xiao. I am the Conqueror of Demons and the chosen weapon of Mor... Zhongli, former Geo Archon and God of Contracts.
Xiao, there's something I wish to discuss with you.
I know you don't believe there's much that can help you, but there is someone here who knowns of a similar condition to yours. Would you be willing to go see him?
I do not believe it is wise to speak of my Debt to others, Aether.
[ It's not an admonishment, really. Just a comment - he knows Aether comes from a good place, after all. He wanted to ask Baizhu impossible things, and now some person also trapped in this cursed world? ]
He has experience with healing and soothing the mind. I thought it would be a good idea to give it a try and ask him about your condition.
[Especially that Aether can't be always by Xiao's side and he doesn't want him to be in pain.]
He told me something similar exists where he's from and while it's incurable, he may be able to do something to sooth it. He just needs to examine you.
[ There's a point in it, he can see that. Xiao doesn't want Aether to become some kind of crutch for his pain, and it also worries him that it might be addictive. His body isn't used to being pain-free, only contained. It's another reason why he keeps away, especially after the time he reached his limits and came over - only to run into Vanitas instead. ]
[Aether doesn't respond right away. He doesn't know Dan Feng too well, considering they don't talk too often. At the same time, he has no reason to distrust the man.]
I think he can be trusted. He helped me out in the past.
Alright. I will speak to him. However, I would prefer to keep my weakness from being known by too many. This place is dangerous, and we already know minds can be affected.
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Xiao?
[He knows his companion cannot teleport around anymore, but he also can feel a gaze watching him as he is searching for the yaksha.
...Don't tell him that he's been followed by the one he's looking for?!]
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Plunging down from one of the buildings, Xiao lands safely near him with the help of Anemo. ]
Yes?
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So you were watching me... You don't need to worry that much, you know?
[Or maybe he should, considering the display he just witnessed. Aether sighs a little.]
I got Vanitas to apologize for everything. I think this time he really understood his mistake.
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This place is dangerous.
[ Xiao says as an explanation for his watchful eye, even if his concern was only half because of that. Crossing his arms, he watches Aether as the other man says that Vanitas apologized. ]
Good. He should not treat you that way.
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Vanitas learnt the lesson! (Hopefully)]
He wanted to apologize to you as well. If... if he tries to find you at least try to hear him out? Just this once. If he breaks his promise to me and tries to annoy you again, you can do what you think is best.
[Aether has faith in Vanitas that he'll keep his word... but he also hopes Xiao won't kill him regardless.]
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[ Xiao replies, his expression briefly mildly confused before it settles on his normal deadpan look. The person he should be apologizing to was Aether, not him. Still, he's not going to refuse the request. ]
I will hear him, but you need not worry about me retaliating. I have no interest in killing a human for being rude and antagonistic.
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Thank you. And... sometimes you can accept an apology just to give someone a closure. [A smile appears on his face. He steps closer to Xiao and bumps his shoulder gently against the yaksha's.]
Humans are strange like that.
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...they certainly are strange.
[ He hasn't exactly allowed himself to be around many of them until Aether started dragging him into the Harbor for a bunch of reasons. Now this place had a lot of them that made even less sense. ]
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You're right. Humans and their hearts make very little sense.
[But isn't that what makes them all special?
Aether is quiet for a moment, then his expression falls a little.]
There's something else I wanted to talk to you about... If you don't hear it from me, you may worry later.
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Action
Not wanting to overstep any boundaries, he glances around for the man, a covered dish in one hand and the other on his hip. He calls out, a little loudly in case the guy isn't inside the car.]
Hello~ Xiao! It's one of your least favorite people to see you.
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...so he definitely sees Vanitas long before the man starts calling out for him.
The wind suddenly picks up, teal energy swirling around the area before the yaksha dives down from above and lands on the car in front of Vanitas. ]
You flatter yourself. There are many beings I truly despise, and you are simply a minor annoyance at best.
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He shields his face as Xiao drops in from above, though he's quick to laugh at the response, smirk firmly in place.]
Oh? I didn't leave even that much of an impression, hmm? How disappointing.
[But then, remembering he's supposed to be behaving, he sighs, holding up the dish.]
I've come to offer my apologies for my unkind words. I was hasty and needlessly cruel.
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The dish is ignored. He doesn't eat human food, after all... and more importantly; ]
I do not require your apologies. I was not the wronged one, Aether was. If you do not understand that, then we have nothing to speak of.
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I apologized to him at once, so you can rest easy. As a courtesy to him, I came to offer you my apologies as well. For his sake. That's why I brought you this--
[He hefts the dish with a nod.]
I was told you like almond jelly, yes?
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Then Vanitas offers the one food he can actually stomach, and those intense eyes narrow. ]
What do you really want with all of this? Aether's forgiveness? It is not mine you seek.
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I know he's already forgiven me. What I seek is to make amends with someone he considers precious. You may be content with being merely ambivalent towards one another, but I would like to do one better for Aether's sake and attempt to rectify the hostilities I created.
I doubt we can ever be friends but... that doesn't mean we can't be civil.
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Still. Aether would want them to be civil, he knows that. It's just not easy to simply brush away insinuations of assaulting the Traveler like that. No matter how untrue it was.
For Aether, though... ]
You can call me Adeptus Xiao. I am the Conqueror of Demons and the chosen weapon of Mor... Zhongli, former Geo Archon and God of Contracts.
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after speaking with Dan Feng
I know you don't believe there's much that can help you, but there is someone here who knowns of a similar condition to yours. Would you be willing to go see him?
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[ It's not an admonishment, really. Just a comment - he knows Aether comes from a good place, after all. He wanted to ask Baizhu impossible things, and now some person also trapped in this cursed world? ]
What do they know?
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[Especially that Aether can't be always by Xiao's side and he doesn't want him to be in pain.]
He told me something similar exists where he's from and while it's incurable, he may be able to do something to sooth it. He just needs to examine you.
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Do you trust him?
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I think he can be trusted. He helped me out in the past.
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Alright. I will speak to him. However, I would prefer to keep my weakness from being known by too many. This place is dangerous, and we already know minds can be affected.
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His name is Dan Feng. If you prefer, I can go with you to see him.
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I know that name. I met him very briefly at the hotel when I first arrived.
[ Dan Feng reminds him a lot of Zhongli. ]
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