at_heart | [ continuations = imeeji = sfw ]

[ continuations = imeeji = sfw ]

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[ Okay, but that reaction earns a frown. ]

You "guess"?

[ mrrrrr ]

I don't know. Even if you trust this system, [ and oh boy does he ever not, ] I'm not so sure riding off into the sunset is really my style.

You intend to stay here?

...Heh. Wasn't really under the impression that we got that option.

[ Everyone's made it sound like — graduation is something you can put off for a little while, but not something you can opt out of altogether. ]

Don't love the idea of going back to any sort of peaceful world while this place is still up and running, though.

[ Which is definitely as close as he will get to saying he plans to take the fugitive option while on 'camera'. ]

. . . That's a noble thought. But will your presence here, suffering, make any difference in the machinations of these demons?

[ Nose wrinkle at noble for — multiple reasons, really. Lupine shrugs a tiny bit. ]

Some people go on to run games themselves, right? Social games.

[ He thinks Cobalt's games make a difference, even if it's not as much of a difference as he wants to make. And yes he sure is talking very casually about selling his soul. ]

They do. But one could argue that by participating, you're then aiding and abetting that system, no matter how much of a reprieve your games might be.

[ It is very true that Lupine wouldn't last long at it, but. ]

Better than turning my back completely. [ Smallest hesitation, because again there are cameras, but he can phrase it like he doesn't already know: ] If there's even a chance we can take the system down from the inside...

[ Resisting the urge to sigh ]

It doesn't always have to be you, Lupine.

[ ...Well. A little bit surprised by that. ]

I'm not asking anyone else to do it.

Sometimes, there are things too powerful for you to stop. It's not fair, but it's the way of every universe I know of.

That aside, selfishly -- what if I want you to be happy? Wouldn't going home with him make you so?

Maybe. But I don't think I can give up without having tried first.

[ ......And. Only more surprised. ]

—Honestly not sure. [ Half-smile. ] I think it's a safe bet that the three-year separation wasn't great, but...

[ Would just going back to the same world as him make Lupine happy? It feels like kind of a lot to pin on one other person. Especially a person he's just spent the last couple weeks making a fool of himself around. ]

If you're not sure, then . . .

. . . What if you just went to another world entirely, and had a fresh start? What if you came to Teyvat? You and your friend would be just as welcome, and you could lay your old burdens to rest.

[ Stumble!

Sorry, you'll have to give him a second if you want a verbal response, he is. Processing. ]

[ Pausing ]

Lupine?

...That's.

[ He's already done some successful rationalizing over Zari's offer: that it was couched in the expectation that he'd say no, that they're both immortals so it's probably more like inviting him over for a long weekend, that Venti might not actually be on board anyway. ]

—Why?

You're asking why I would invite someone important to me back to my homeworld?

[ no it's much dumber than that ]

...I mean...

[ He can feel the heat rising in his stupid face, ugh. ]

[ Giggling a little. Sorry Lupine. ]

It's a silly question, isn't it?

[ but like there have to be better people you could invite to your world??? ]

You're sure? And — you really wouldn't mind him coming too?

[ WHOMST? ]

I wouldn't offer if I minded, would I?

Edited 2022-10-28 19:22 (UTC)

[ literally anybody, have you met him??? ]

But I mean. That's — kind of permanent, isn't it? At least for us.

Edited 2022-10-28 22:00 (UTC)

Not necessarily. But even if it is, is that a problem?

[ well first of all what do you mean not necessarily ]

...I mean...

[ Gonna chafe an arm while he tries to put this into words. ]

You're inviting me — us — to come live on your world. We're not gonna know how anything works. You'll have to kinda... look after us, at least for a while.

I think you're over-estimating how much handholding you'll need. But even if you do, I've handled more burdensome tasks in the past.

[ Like creating and nurturing an entire nation ]

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