[ Xiao remains right where he is until Aether pulls away, chest still aching hollowly. At least Aether is still warm, so he's glad that the other doesn't take his hands away immediately. He feels alive, if you ignore the deafening lack of heartbeat.
Still. he's not, and it's going to take a lot of time to accept that. Xiao always thought himself the pragmatic kind of person, but... this is different.
So different. ]
I will move right away. But first...
[ He finally lets go of those hands and reaches to unclip his necklace. The vajra attached with tassels and white jade pearls has a slightly different look to it these days - the metal has turned to wood and the jade has just started to split open into white flower buds instead. ]
Take this. Keep it on. It will ward you from evil.
[ Whatever Aether is now, it has to be more susceptible to evil than Xiao. There are no demons here to fight - their enemy are mortal monsters. He'd rather see his friend warded from anything preying on lost souls.
...and, of course, it's part of Xiao these days. Even his accessories are turning terra-shaped. ]
Aether observes as Xiao removes his necklace. The changes to it are obvious to him and he has no doubt it is caused by his friend's corruption. Upon receiving such an important gift, the traveler takes it carefully in his hands and looks at the yaksha with surprise.]
Are you sure?
[He was gifted many other talismans from Xiao in the past, but this one... It's personal and Aether can feel life in it like he's just received a part of his friend.]
[ Xiao nods, gesturing for Aether to put it on. It shouldn't get in the way, and now that the vajra was wood, it wasn't very heavy, either. The fact that it's now a part of him only makes it better. A part of him can be there, be with him if anything else happens.
Aether won't ever be truly alone, no matter what. ]
I am. Take it, it's yours.
[ He'll even help Aether put it on, if he wants to. ]
[Aether accepts it, gently holding the gift in both his hands like he is afraid to damage it. Xiao helps him put the talisman on and the sentiment resounds in his silent heart. It's almost as if he could hear it beating again. Or maybe it's the deep connection he has to Xiao that is pulsing through him right now.]
...good. It's very old, a gift from long-gone friends.
[ So at least two millennia. A true ancient artifact. Xiao has no idea if it would even work to ward off spirits here since things are so different, but... it can't hurt.
He's not sure if it's the heavy imprinting or something else, but he feels a lot more at ease seeing it around Aether's neck, too. Like he can feel that he's still there, still himself. ]
I will go to set up my camp on the roof. [ Pause. ] You should go back home, too.
[ Abrupt as always, but... he doesn't know how to handle all his emotions. Poofing away had always been his way to escape, but he can't do that any more. It's frustrating. ]
[ He flinches at first as Aether reaches for another hug, but then leans into it. It's brief, and he pulls back quickly. Nodding to his... friend, he summons a gust of anemo and jumps up into the air, landing on a nearby building.
From now on, he can always be found on Aether's apartment roof. ]
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Still. he's not, and it's going to take a lot of time to accept that. Xiao always thought himself the pragmatic kind of person, but... this is different.
So different. ]
I will move right away. But first...
[ He finally lets go of those hands and reaches to unclip his necklace. The vajra attached with tassels and white jade pearls has a slightly different look to it these days - the metal has turned to wood and the jade has just started to split open into white flower buds instead. ]
Take this. Keep it on. It will ward you from evil.
[ Whatever Aether is now, it has to be more susceptible to evil than Xiao. There are no demons here to fight - their enemy are mortal monsters. He'd rather see his friend warded from anything preying on lost souls.
...and, of course, it's part of Xiao these days. Even his accessories are turning terra-shaped. ]
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Aether observes as Xiao removes his necklace. The changes to it are obvious to him and he has no doubt it is caused by his friend's corruption. Upon receiving such an important gift, the traveler takes it carefully in his hands and looks at the yaksha with surprise.]
Are you sure?
[He was gifted many other talismans from Xiao in the past, but this one... It's personal and Aether can feel life in it like he's just received a part of his friend.]
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Aether won't ever be truly alone, no matter what. ]
I am. Take it, it's yours.
[ He'll even help Aether put it on, if he wants to. ]
I have no need of it. You do.
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I'll treasure it.
[He softly presses the talisman to himself.]
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[ So at least two millennia. A true ancient artifact. Xiao has no idea if it would even work to ward off spirits here since things are so different, but... it can't hurt.
He's not sure if it's the heavy imprinting or something else, but he feels a lot more at ease seeing it around Aether's neck, too. Like he can feel that he's still there, still himself. ]
I will go to set up my camp on the roof. [ Pause. ] You should go back home, too.
[ Abrupt as always, but... he doesn't know how to handle all his emotions. Poofing away had always been his way to escape, but he can't do that any more. It's frustrating. ]
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I'll see you later, then.
[Aether smiles at him, then steps close to hug the yaksha one last time before he leaves, giving his friend time to process.]
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From now on, he can always be found on Aether's apartment roof. ]