...in hell. Now I've seen everything. [ he laughs, but it's clipped, and he just turns to lead aether into the dorm and then his room. ] Let's go to the cabin. I keep everything there.
[ and one snowy trek later and CABIN. he's just going to find a bottle of liquor and pour aether and heaping helping. ] Here. Bottoms up, though... if you'd like to talk about it I'm all ears.
[ he's glad he doesn't have to mention he would like to avoid Lumine knowing he's there if she's in since to the cabin it is. Aether reaches for the glass, a "thanks!" Before he goes to drink it— and promptly has to put his glass down as he starts coughing madly because wow that stuff doesn't go down easy—well of course it wouldn't for a kid who never drink?!
He's terribly determined, though, picking the glass back up to swallow some more despite his eyes watering a bit from all that hacking just seconds before. ]
You've got enough on your plate to deal with as it is without having to hear about my insanity, too. It's my sister, so it's long and messy and complicated.
[ childe pours himself a glass and leans against the counter, watching in amusement as aether chokes it down. maybe this is why they don't sell minor coded people alcohol. ] And just what do I have on my plate, hm? I told you that you can always talk to me if something's bothering you.
[ puffs his cheeks. ] How should I know? You don't tell me that stuff. I'm just sure you have your own because you're trying to survive here just like everyone else.
[ if they sold it to minors he would be a pro at this drinking without choking thing.
Also, but why is he not drunk yet how long does it take to get drunk? ] ...I don't feel like I'm being a good brother. I can't seem to reassure her on anything or do anything to make her feel better.
I feel like we avoid each other and that rather than getting closer we're being slowly pulled apart.
... [ someone's grouchy. ] I have nothing to tell. Wild City won. I'm fine. I'm more concerned about Xiansheng and the predicament he's facing right now.
[ takes a drink of his own cup. ] I know I'm not going to be able to change the way you feel in an instant, but you're not a bad brother. You two are fighting tooth and nail to reunite, and you've faced a number of difficult challenges to make even the slightest bit of headway.
I'm guessing something happened between you two to bring all this on?
[ ... Right, thanks for reminding him about what happened in that game. ] It's understandable to worry about Zhongli-sensei. Especially since he is your significant other. I'd be a little worried if you weren't.
[ he's finished his glass so he puts it down. ] Yeah, I don't know. She's questioning if we're even siblings if we come from different timelines or something like that. I hate that I can't protect her from feeling like this.
. . . [ childe sighs. ] It shouldn't matter. Aether and Lumine are always going to share the same goal, right, find the other. Even if you're not her Aether and she's not your Lumine you should still feel a sense of obligation to protect each other. If I found Teucer I wouldn't care what kind of timeline he came from. He's my brother, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for him. I know things get complicated here, but... thinking about all the bullshit logistics is only going to make things worse.
Here, letās try something a little different. [ going to break out the Snezhnayan fire water and pass Aether a glass. ] Try this, though⦠be careful, itās much stronger.
You should feel that almost instantly. [ childe laughs, setting the bottle down to go grab a snack in case Aether needs to pad the liquor with something. ] Here, if you feel like youāre getting too tipsy too fast.
[ and when he goes back to grab the bottle to get himself a drink he grabs the wrong one, which he realizes instantly because of the taste. ] Huh⦠I donāt remember it tasting like this. [ and his voice cracks. ]
I'm not giving you *all* of my stash! Finish what I gave you! [ he takes another sip, finishing off the strange bottle and instantly feeling warm. ] I... I think it might have expired... because it's making me feel a little weird.
It was tasty! ...and I didn't feel like shit after the first few sips. [ his cheeks flush and he wanders over to aether, plopping down on the couch. ] Give me a swig of that liquor. I need to wash the taste out of my mouth.
[ going to take a swig of the liquor, his face flushing more. ] Is it hot in here comrade? [ tugs on his shirt, which has gotten a little bit tight because of his newly swelling breasts. ]
[ flops back against Childe as he shifts himself a little bit sideways to lean up against the other while holding the snack bowl. ] Seems okay to me.
[ except, he pauses because he feels his back smack into a bit of soft and pillowy stuff and pauses looking confused. Must be the alcohol distorting his sense of touch because most of Childe feels normal, right ? Whatever works for him. ] Did mixing the two alcohols bring it on?
[ childe loosely drapes an arm around aether, so heās nestled closely as he eats the snacks. ] Maybe⦠though Iām almost certain Iāve done this before. [ sighs. ] Maybe itās a mix of alcohol and stress. [ his laughs, tone pitching upward and if aether happens to peer back at him his facial features have changed; becoming softer and more feminine. ]
[ well, this is nice, at least. Not being alone with frustrations was a good move, but he hopes Childe isn't actually ill or something.
He glances back to the other and blinks when he notices... wait. He looks back to the drink and then back to Childe's face and then back to the drink before once again back to the other's face.
?!?
Scooting scooting himself even closer as if it's possible, he is trying to get a better look by leaning back against Childe some... But he ultimately slips when he shifts the wrong way and lands with an oof backwards over Childe's lap.
...oh, but, this is actually perfect now, though! He can totally see better from this angle something is totally wrong here. ]
Ahhh... I think you might be turning into a Kitsune maiden. [ ...wait, how? Childe's not a magic Kitsune, he just has fox ears and a tail. ]
... Maybe this alcohol is working better than I thought.
[ childe laughs and brings a hand to aetherās forehead, peering down at him over the rise of his breasts ( which is easier said than done ). ] Maybe youāre the one thatās ill, Aether. You do feel a little warm.
[ he shifts beneath him, looping his arm around him, so he can properly help him sit up⦠just so he can get yanked straight into his chest. ] Itās probably the alcohol. I should have know that you minor coded people canāt hold your liquor!
H-hold on! [ listen he knows what knocking his head into a hard chest feels like and this soft pillowy squishiness is not it! ... Though it's a really nice pillow?? Like really nice way better than his own in the dorm.
So okay, this is fine! Titty naps are perfectly acceptable. —WAIT THESE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE ARE THEY??? ]
A-are you sure there's nothing wrong?? I mean... just ... look. [ or feel because he's going to honk on one of your boobs because he's not sober enough to really care about the implications.
Oh yeah, other more important things too: ]
I shouldn't be minor-coded anyway, this is discrimination?!
[ sets a hand on aetherās head. ] Iām fine. Just a little tipsy, but Iām not nearly as drunk a- aaahnn. [ his face instantly turns several shades of red as he swats at aetherās hand. ] D- Donāt do that. Itās rude to grab at people⦠[ but, hm, this is⦠this doesnāt feel right. he lifts his shirt a bit and gropes himself, nipples pebbling as his breath catches. ] Do I⦠do I have boobs?
Re: Day 404, night.
[ and one snowy trek later and CABIN. he's just going to find a bottle of liquor and pour aether and heaping helping. ] Here. Bottoms up, though... if you'd like to talk about it I'm all ears.
Re: Day 404, night.
He's terribly determined, though, picking the glass back up to swallow some more despite his eyes watering a bit from all that hacking just seconds before. ]
You've got enough on your plate to deal with as it is without having to hear about my insanity, too. It's my sister, so it's long and messy and complicated.
Re: Day 404, night.
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[ if they sold it to minors he would be a pro at this drinking without choking thing.
Also, but why is he not drunk yet how long does it take to get drunk? ] ...I don't feel like I'm being a good brother. I can't seem to reassure her on anything or do anything to make her feel better.
I feel like we avoid each other and that rather than getting closer we're being slowly pulled apart.
Re: Day 404, night.
[ takes a drink of his own cup. ] I know I'm not going to be able to change the way you feel in an instant, but you're not a bad brother. You two are fighting tooth and nail to reunite, and you've faced a number of difficult challenges to make even the slightest bit of headway.
I'm guessing something happened between you two to bring all this on?
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[ he's finished his glass so he puts it down. ] Yeah, I don't know. She's questioning if we're even siblings if we come from different timelines or something like that. I hate that I can't protect her from feeling like this.
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what does he even do now? Why is he still not drunk? ]
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Here, letās try something a little different. [ going to break out the Snezhnayan fire water and pass Aether a glass. ] Try this, though⦠be careful, itās much stronger.
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it's still really strong and he blinks several times at the feeling as it slides down his throat. ]
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[ and when he goes back to grab the bottle to get himself a drink he grabs the wrong one, which he realizes instantly because of the taste. ] Huh⦠I donāt remember it tasting like this. [ and his voice cracks. ]
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Taste like what?
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[ except, he pauses because he feels his back smack into a bit of soft and pillowy stuff and pauses looking confused. Must be the alcohol distorting his sense of touch because most of Childe feels normal, right ? Whatever works for him. ] Did mixing the two alcohols bring it on?
Re: Day 404, night.
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He glances back to the other and blinks when he notices... wait. He looks back to the drink and then back to Childe's face and then back to the drink before once again back to the other's face.
?!?
Scooting scooting himself even closer as if it's possible, he is trying to get a better look by leaning back against Childe some... But he ultimately slips when he shifts the wrong way and lands with an oof backwards over Childe's lap.
...oh, but, this is actually perfect now, though! He can totally see better from this angle something is totally wrong here. ]
Ahhh... I think you might be turning into a Kitsune maiden. [ ...wait, how? Childe's not a magic Kitsune, he just has fox ears and a tail. ]
... Maybe this alcohol is working better than I thought.
Re: Day 404, night.
[ he shifts beneath him, looping his arm around him, so he can properly help him sit up⦠just so he can get yanked straight into his chest. ] Itās probably the alcohol. I should have know that you minor coded people canāt hold your liquor!
Re: Day 404, night.
So okay, this is fine! Titty naps are perfectly acceptable. —WAIT THESE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE ARE THEY??? ]
A-are you sure there's nothing wrong?? I mean... just ... look. [ or feel because he's going to honk on one of your boobs because he's not sober enough to really care about the implications.
Oh yeah, other more important things too: ]
I shouldn't be minor-coded anyway, this is discrimination?!
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