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[ She's certainly feeling much better with him around, though not enough to replenish the manna she's lost for the entire month. That, she thinks, will take some time—or more synchrony. ]

He's surprisingly doing much better than myself.

[ Yes, Jean's surprised too. But that's most likely because he's much more rational and level-headed than she is, no doubt prioritizing his survival and well-being first to be on his guard at all times. ]

The last time I saw him was in a dream, though. [ Okay, wait. That sounded weird. She clears her throat. ] —I mean, a shared dream we had. So I'm not entirely sure how he's faring lately.

Is that right? ['i'm glad to hear it' goes unsaid, lost in his coffee cup as he takes a long, deliberate, thoughtful sip. well, that's one less guy he has to check in on to make sure he isn't dead in a ditch somewhere because he was too shy or something to touch someone's hand.

he raises his eyebrow at 'i saw him in a dream.' it did, indeed, sound a little weird. shared dream sounds better, but he isn't really... sure he understands what that means.]

A shared dream? As in- you both had a similar dream or you truly shared a dream in which you were both, somehow, aware of each other?

[ She should've explained that in better terms, ah.

But Jean can tell he's a little relieved at the thought that Diluc's been doing well in a place like Noctium. Like it or not, the brothers can still be quite open when it comes to their feelings towards each other, no matter how distant they've become. That's good, at least. ]

I think it was my dream of Mondstadt years ago, and he was brought in against his will since he wasn't exactly happy with some of the details in the dream.

[ She's still not entirely sure how they both did it, and it's not like it happened again either. ]

I suppose you could chalk that up as one of the stranger incidents that have happened here.

[these idiot brothers...

oh god damn it, even their dreams can be exposed? is nothing sacred in this world? do the gods here not care about maintaining the integrity of secrets? that makes him slightly nervous, though he doesn't show it other than a shift of his position, slinging one leg over the other.]

Ah, so that's something that can also happen, is it? These gods are truly so preoccupied with our affairs, I'm surprised they can get anything done as gods.

[he sets his half-finished coffee on the nearby table, falling back against the couch with an arm stretched out.]

In any case- come now, don't be a stranger. [a smile! what's a little hug between friends and colleagues, right? but still, he'll allow jean to go at her own pace, refuse if she wants to.]

[ ... She's just relieved Kaeya doesn't ask more about it, equally mortified that she even has to share a dream with his brother.

As much as she wants to ease his concerns about Noctium, well ... she can't. She's far too wary about the world, especially after having been dragged into ridiculous situations in the two-plus months she's been there. At the very least, she can trust the Cavalry Captain to deal with it better than most people.

Jean pauses for a moment, feeling a little flustered by the sudden offer of a hug, but reminds herself that that's what he's here for—even if it feels like she's just using him. ]

Thanks for helping me out, [ she says quietly before she wraps her arms around him, settling her chin against his shoulder and sighing when she finally feels her manna being slowly restored. ] It's been a challenging few months.

[he completes the embrace by resting his hand on her shoulder. like this, she seems small and entirely too human, exhausted not by the weight of her work but by the strange mechanics of this world they've found themselves in. he makes a note to check in on her, to offer help with her paperwork if she needs it, become a manna battery for her if she wants it. he can absolutely tell that she thinks she's burdening him even now.]

I'm happy to do it, Jean. Don't hesitate to ask the next time you need it. [he rests his head against hers, relaxing into the hug. he isn't very shy with touch - he can't be with "friends" like treasure hoarders, who always seem to particularly enjoy slapping his back when they're drunk - especially with people he likes.

if she probes their sync, she will find a distinct mental block other than a general concern for her wellbeing, but that probably isn't surprising knowing kaeya.]

I'm sorry for leaving you when you needed me. [shakes his head. he knows it's not specifically his fault, but damn gods why you gotta be like this.] Hopefully I'll stay this time around.

[ She's not about to, anyway. Jean is more than aware of the secrets Kaeya keeps and has never once decided to probe or ask him about it. If she's to be sincere about saying that she trusts him, then she should be more than willing to show it.

Still, even if he says that and even if she knows that Kaeya means what he says, she thinks it'll take her a while to properly ask the people she knows for any assistance with syncing. It's simply challenging for her to ask for any kind of help and possibly inconvenience others. ]

Not at all, [ she replies quietly, leaning her weight against him and closing her eyes. ] If anything, it would ease my mind more knowing that you're back in Mondstadt.

[ Not that she doesn't want any of their presence here, but who knows what kind of effect their disappearance has on the city and Teyvat? She just can't push it out of her head, worrying about their city and at the same time them in Noctium. ]

I hope Lisa's not enjoying zapping people too much while she's holding the fort for us.

Between Lisa and Eula, I'm sure they've got it handled more than well enough.

[he internally shudders at the thought. those are two women he doesn't want to get on the bad side of. the one time he didn't return a book was enough of a warning for him, thank you very much.

he gives jean a little shake. he can Sense that concern she's piling onto her shoulders.]

There's no use in worrying about something you can't control. [said honestly but gently.] But if I happen to get sent back again, I'll make sure your paperwork gets done. Apparently I have a knack for getting on the gods' nerves.

[ Jean lets out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head. She supposes that that's true. Lisa and Eula are more than capable of handling the knights—and Mondstadt, if anything were to happen, knock on wood. Perhaps she's getting worried over nothing, but then again, she's never been gone this long from the city.

Jokingly: ] Try not to slack off too much just because I'm not around as well, Kaeya.

[ Well, she's confident he completes his tasks anyway, before he supposedly slips away or slacks off to archons-know-where. So it's really something that doesn't need to be said out loud or reminded him about. ]

Oh, that reminds me. [ She briefly lifts her head from his shoulder to look at his face. ] Which gem were you bonded to?

[he laughs at that - jean so rarely makes jokes, so he treasures the few she does make and responds in kind:] I promise to get your paperwork done, anything beyond that is a maybe at best.

[he knows that she knows that he will get whatever she needs done done, but it's a running joke between them that he really is a slacker. it may not be a joke within the rest of the knights, but he doesn't care about what they think, even helps perpetuate the rumors from time to time.]

Sapphire. And yourself?

[ Oh ... But well, considering the powers abilities granted to those bonded to the gem, it probably shouldn't surprise her that it's Kaeya's gembond. If anything, she's more surprised that it's her, given her Vision back in Teyvat.

In any case, Jean shifts in her seat, sensing that her leg has fallen asleep, before she leans against him once more. She hopes he doesn't mind humouring her a bit longer. ]

I have the same gembond, would you believe?

[ And it has been ridiculously challenging to control at times. She wrinkles her nose, recalling a time when she used it during a lesson of sorts at the academy. That wasn't very fun. ]

I accidentally froze someone while trying it out once ...

Edited 2021-12-13 15:13 (UTC)

[a poignantly raised eyebrow, knowing the effects a sapphire gembond can have on one's personality. seductive being the main one and the reason he's raising his eyebrow in the first place. but aether had mentioned he'd yet to encounter a seductive sapphire, so it seems she'd been spared of that particular effect. he can only imagine how incredibly embarrassed she'd be after trying to seduce anyone.

a huff of laughter, at hearing that she nearly froze someone.]

Now that's funny. Wish I had been there to see it happen.

[he's not going anywhere, don't you worry. this couch is comfy and he's catching up with one of his favorite people. the hand on her shoulder is firmly there to reassure.]

Do you need practice with your cryo?

[ Stop laughing pls, Kaeya.

It hasn't been easy, and that includes suppressing the instinct to seduce someone to get what she wants or needs. It's akin to fighting against one's reflexes, except she's never had the impulse to try and attract anyone before, so it's even more stressful. She's never been this conflicted in her entire life. ]

It was embarrassing, all right? [ She buries her face in her hands, shaking her head. ] As someone who's familiar with handling the elements, I should've had more control over it. I'm only glad it didn't leave any lasting effects on them.

[ Her healing, at least, is much better and improved, which helped during the situation. Probably because her Vision has the same effect. ]

And it's all right, Kaeya. I wouldn't want to freeze you by accident as well.

[poor jean...just a literal ball of stress...

he can't help the residual chuckles, though, shifting to switch which leg is crossed over the other.]

Do you know how many times I've frozen myself when I first got my Vision? It's fine, nothing I'm not used to.

[~the cold never bothered him anyway~]

[ ok elsa

Jean hums quietly against his shoulder, considering his offer. On the one hand, it's very tempting; if there's anyone who's mastered the element, it's definitely Kaeya. And as a Sapphire himself, they can at least learn how to navigate the peculiarities of their gembonds. On the other, it does feel like she's inconveniencing him.

Again. ]

At the rate that we're going, I'll be owing you a lot of favours. [ Not that she minds, but she also doesn't want it to be one-sided. ] If you need help too, don't hesitate to ask me. Even if I'm more than aware that you'd rather deal with things yourself.

[he waves a hand, as if shoving that notion aside]

The amount of times you've covered for my absences have more than made up for it, I assure you. [and looking the other way when he does something reckless, looking the other way when he does something not technically against code but not a suggested method either, looking the other way when he-- well, the list goes on. she lets him get away with a lot is the point.]

Though I could use some pointers on healing. It's quite handy, but I'd like to be able to heal more than, say, a cut.

[ She lets out a laugh at that. Well, he's not wrong, having turned a blind eye on a lot of his methods, the way he does things that are usually not very knight-like. She's also relied on him on matters that require sensitivity, where the Order can't get involved outwardly but needs to deal with anyway. ]

Very well, then. I'll help you with healing and you can help me with my new powers.

[ Truth be told, Barbara is a better healer than her, but she's not here. Which is a good thing; the last thing she wants is for her sister to deal with all of this. ]

Though I would say that my Vision is still more effective at it than the gembond. [ If only it doesn't consume more manna when she uses it. ] There's only so much healing we can do as Sapphires.

[that's definitely good to know, and may be a factor in why he's not very good at it. or maybe it's just a convenient excuse for him.]

It's a deal.

[oh, right. and he's curious-] Ah, have you gone through the transformations yet?

[it may be the one thing he's truly nervous about. he can deal with lack of inhibitions and being more affectionate. he'll just hide in his apartment if he's feeling that much of the gembonds effects. but the monster transformation lands too close to- ah, well. ~~khaenri'ah~~]

[ Ah ... of course he'd ask about that. Jean briefly hesitates, a little uncertain how to explain it to him. It was also her first time transforming, but it didn't seem as severe as the others—especially considering the others' transformations that she's witnessed. ]

Sometime before I fell asleep, [ she admits with a slight nod, a little grateful that he can't really see her reddening face. ] But it wasn't very drastic, I'd like to think, compared to the others. I only had a few physical changes. Much of the change was with my ... habits.

[ Such as seeking companionship, to put it gently. Not that she'd admit it out loud to Kaeya, nor did she even try either, suppressing any and all desire to find a partner. It was just too mortifying. ]

[partial transformation is also a thing, is it? okay, okay, he can probably handle that at the very least.]

Were you able to tell which monster you were transforming into?

[he happens to look at her, catches sight of reddened skin. he smiles at that- never change, jean. keep that pure spirit!!]

[ Jean hesitantly nods, still burying herself against Kaeya's shoulder.

Even she never told Diluc or Venti or even the Traveler about this, unwilling to be seen as less dignified than she usually is. Which is more than enough to tell how much she trusts her second-in-command and his silence on the matter. ]

Some of the transformations seem to share certain traits when I read about them in the library. [ Guess who practically slept in the library for the first few days of her arrival in Noctium. ] But there's only one transformation that had a forked tongue, so.

Oho- that sounds like it'd be a pretty handy thing to have around here. [he says with a bit of a purr. sorry he can't help but be lewd sometimes, jean.

god, that trust though. if kaeya knew to the extent she trusted him unconditionally... that she hadn't told anyone else... well, he'd be incredibly touched, for a man often viewed as sussy as fuck by a great number of people.]

It does call into question- what determines a full transformation versus partial or no transformation?

[ Why are you like this, Kaeya!

Jean gently hits his arm, pulling away just slightly to give him a scandalized look, her cheeks red. Honestly, of all things to say and of all people to say it to—not that she's unused to his promiscuity and Noctium is all sunshine and rainbows. See, this is why even Diluc is faring better than her in these circumstances. ]

That, I have no idea. I've only experienced it once so I'm sorry that I can't really give you more information about it. I don't think there's a pattern either, or if there is, I haven't found any information about it.

[ She pauses, looking thoughtful. ] It might be best to ask the others who have been here longer than I have, like Venti.

[he can't help but laugh as she gives him a little smack. what else do you expect from the man who is tits and ass out all day! he does give her a token apologetic pat on her arm, though and "sorry but it was funny" look on his face]

It's fine, I'll do a little research myself and ask our favorite bard to join me at a local tavern if I have to. If I find anything, I'll be sure to share.

How long has he been around, anyway?

[ Fine, good point. But she's still allowed to be embarrassed; she supposes that it's at least less horrifying to talk to Kaeya about these things compared to their other friends and acquaintances. ]

He arrived months before I did, according to him, [ she replies, sitting back on her haunches. ] Which I'm sure you find strange since I have a feeling you've also recently seen him at Angel's Share.

[ See? Timelines are a mess in this place. ]

Anyway, what are your plans moving forward? I'm not the Acting Grandmaster in this place, so I won't really hold you to your responsibilities here.

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