🍷🎨

[noarchitact]

WHO: Kaveh, Shigeru, & YOU.
WHAT: Paint & Pour.
WHEN: April 2nd.
WHERE: Spring Segment, Prism Lake
WARNINGS: Drunk Painting.


[ kaveh decided to set up the paint & pour on the shores of prism lake, because a beautiful landscape seemed like something that artists of all skill level could enjoy creating. not to mention, it's also something that probably wouldn't suffer too much if/when guests inevitably started getting tispy. ]

[ there are three canopy tents framing the lake and, unsurprisingly, the first of which has all manner of art supplies: canvases, easels, and paints. the second has an assortment of delicious snacks made by shigeru and the third, final, and likely most anticipated has the wine. there are at least a dozen bottles, each labeled with the segment and shop it came from, because kaveh absolutely went around with the intention of helping them promote their business. ]

[ it's not a complete lie!
everybody wins!! ]


( ooc; feel free to assume that your character received an invitation from either kaveh or shigeru. it IS open to the public though, so if your character is strolling by and so much as makes eye contact with either of them, then they'll likely get dragged into the fun. anyway! bring your own top level~! )

Comments

[mistsplitter]

Before I had the pizza, yes.

[ Don't mind her leaning on him now. This is a nice feeling. More than nice, actually. It means her brother is here. ]

Hehe... did you have any water, Ayato?

[acquirement]

That's good at least. We should get you some more when we head back as well.

{ he is doing his best to keep his eyes on the painting, rather than to check if anyone is watching this exchange. }

I had a little earlier, but I'm more practiced at having alcohol, I don't think I needed much more than I've already had.

{ he's also taller... it's much easier to take more of the substance when you have more mass to spread out the effects }

[mistsplitter]

We can make pizza at the house, too.

[ (hint: she wants more pizza) ]

Cloud is just like you, Ayato. [ Practised at having alcohol, she means! ] When we were in Nippon, someone made a drink after the two of us. It was very good.

[acquirement]

Do we have the ingredients?

{ he also isn't sure she should be cooking while tipsy, he can certainly give it a go though.

and not that he wants to be compared with cloud, but it does bring up a good point. they're at a gathering so not the best place to ask this, but... ayaka is being a little more honest now. } That reminds me, I never asked... how did you come to decide to try a relationship with Cloud? I doubt it was an instant decision... was it?

oh god this is so long and so gross

[mistsplitter]

Ah... probably not. I can ask Thoma for help, then.

[ Just for buying!! And he can sit back and relax while the two make their boba pizza. Yummy!!

The question doesn't surprise her, but it does grant her some pause. Ayaka needs a moment to think of how to even share her answer to her brother. Not because she would filter anything, but... she hopes her brother would come to respect Cloud more.

And so, she shakes her head. ]

I had never once thought I would find myself in a romantic relationship with someone. [ Not in Nippon, not in Teyvat... just plain and simple. She never thought she would find love. ] But whenever I would spend time with Cloud, I felt... normal. Just like any other girl. Just Ayaka. And so, I made a wish to become his friend. But... the more we spent time together, and on days that our schedules did not match and we were not able to see one another, I could not stop thinking of him.

I did not wish for my feelings to get in the way of our friendship, and it seemed how fearful I was of losing him as a friend was obvious, despite how I had been keeping it to myself.

[ Remembering that moment when she had been "caught", when Ayato had asked her what was wrong... it puts a smile on her face.

It was a problem that she would have liked to share with their mother, most of all. But their mother is no longer with them. She appreciates Ayato being there for her at a time when she had no one else to go to. ]

You had asked me why I was feeling so distraught, so I spoke of Cloud to you. You told me to embrace my feelings, and that I have nothing to be afraid of.

Since you have no recollection of Nippon, however, then I do not expect you to remember this conversation. [ She puts a little more weight on Ayato, nuzzling her head against him as she lets out a sigh of contentment. ] You had helped me, even without you knowing.

Hehe... I never thought Cloud felt the same way towards me, but he wanted to move closer to where we lived then. He said he had a reason to stay there, and he was looking at the omamori I had given him when he was talking about his plans. I was his reason. And I knew then— this feeling I've had in my heart, how happy and safe I felt whenever I am with Cloud...

There is nothing to... "try". It is what I had never thought I could ever have, and Cloud gave that to me without my even asking for it. It is just for me.

[ It was fated, all this time, and she never considered the possibility in Inazuma because she had to cross a different world to be able to find it. ]

i asked for this

[acquirement]

{ to his credit, he doesn't interrupt her once as ayaka speaks, giving her the time and space to share her feelings. not to say that she hasn't said some of this before, but his question was perhaps a little more weighted than 'why do you like him'. this time he's asking what made her realise she was safe to pursue it.

the fact that it was him, despite him not remembering now, makes a lot of sense.

he would encourage ayaka to pursue her feelings if it would get her to the feeling of safety and happiness she describes here and now. he'd told kujou kamaji that where there is true love, nothing should be allowed to stand in its way. for as much as he may give cloud a tough time, it has never been with the intention of breaking them apart--more tests to see where improvements needed to be made.

cloud needed to be ready for what it meant to be with ayaka, that's all there was to it.

his arm tightens around her shoulder as she nuzzles into him, taking as much needed comfort from her presence as her words cause as much turmoil as they do peace. it isn't for her side of things, of course, but some resonance there in what she says.

it is what i had never thought i could ever have. }

I'm glad you were able to find him in Nippon.

{ it is probably the most accepting he's sounded this entire time, sounding sincere as he says it quietly enough that only she would be able to hear it. if anything, what she's said here today is proof enough that he's ensured ayaka can just be ayaka, that perhaps when needed she's able to step away from duty and titles and all that world encompasses to just be herself after all. }

[mistsplitter]

Yes, I feel the same way.

[ It is why she feels she is the luckiest girl alive.

Hm, she wonders why her brother is asking. Does he want to know more about Cloud? He is a very interesting person, Ayaka thinks, though admittedly a tad too biased when it comes to her beau. ]

I wonder what he is doing now, hehe. [ Ayato's making her miss him! And she laughs into her hand before letting out a wistful sigh. ] Are you finished with your painting?

[acquirement]

I am. I was just about to fill up my glass when I noticed your work.

{ the words come out almost automatically, mind still reeling and going over what ayaka said.

even through that though, what she said before even all that is weighing on his mind. is she okay? does she need more water? food? to lie down? }

Do you still feel dizzy?

[mistsplitter]

I do. And I am afraid I may not be able to walk home by myself.

[ So she will wait for him when he is finished! Whether it is with the painting or exchanging pleasantries with Mister Kaveh's other guests. She hopes Ayato does not mind. ]

Mister Kaveh seemed to be very interested in you.

[ ... is that why Ayato asked about feelings ]

[acquirement]

That's fine. If you feel as though you'll stumble, I'll carry you.

{ now he's offered though, is she really going to refuse? hm.

though when she mentions kaveh it does at least distract him from his thoughts, enough to earn a soft laugh. }

Oh, did he now? Perhaps I teased him a little too much earlier on.

{ it was fun, ayaka!!! he's so expressive }

[mistsplitter]

[ She cannot help but laugh at that. It is such a brotherly thing to say, but. . . ]

Others would see you.

[ And if he is alright with that, then she won't stop him. But she also wishes not to hurt the reputation he wishes to have in this world. ]

Why? Did he do something wrong?

[acquirement]

{ he hums under his breath at that. }

It shouldn't hurt once we've walked a little way from the lake.

{ and to be fair, it's less to do with reputation and more to do with giving potential enemies fuel to use against him. }

In regards to Kaveh, { he'll even look over his way, head tilting to look over the top of ayaka's head towards the men. } He seemed incredibly jealous other people were painting his muse. { then as an afterthought } Would you be upset if other people were painting Cloud?

[mistsplitter]

Alright, then.

[ She'll do her best to be on her feet until they're away from the lake! ]

No, I don't think I would? [ What an odd question. It has never happened, so she cannot truly predict how she will react. ] It is just a painting. And it will not distract Cloud from looking at me.

[ Those people would have to try very hard if they wanted Cloud to look at them the way he looks at Ayaka...

That was also probably the alcohol talking. Ayaka wouldn't normally say something so bold. ]

[acquirement]

Did you want to leave now, or wait a little longer?

{ it is an odd question isn't it, but really it struck him as odd as well. he really wanted to know who was painting alhaitham, poor nen and shigeru nearly ended up thrown under the bus. }

I think I would have answered the same.

{ as though??? he has someone that applies to??? }

Perhaps it's just new and he's still finding his feet.

[mistsplitter]

I think I would like to go home now.

[ She is pretty tuckered out! But she had a lot of fun, though. She's glad people appreciate what she's made, especially for something impromptu. ]

You would not be upset if someone decided to paint me?

[ So bold... ]

aina??????????

[acquirement]

Then let's gather our things. Did you wish to keep your painting of Aether? We can find somewhere to place it in the apartment.

{ and what is that question. he has to think carefully about how to answer that. on the one hand, people should be noticing how beautiful ayaka is and want to paint her. on the other hand... what if they have awful intentions??? }

I think that may depend on the person. I doubt I could be upset if it were Cloud, Thoma or Lumine who were to paint you.

{ he trusts that the three of them would make her shine brightly, after all. }

it's an innocent question???

[mistsplitter]

I think I shall give this to Lumine after I do some touchups.

[ So she would like to take it home first, and then fix it there. It will make a nice gift for the Traveler. Ayaka does love spending time with her, too. ]

I do not believe I have seen any of them paint. [ Thoma and Lumine, especially. Cloud probably hasn't painted anything in his life... Oops. ] I'm rather curious how they would paint me.

[acquirement]

I think she'd appreciate that.

{ he's already considering taking up painting alongside calligraphy here, it's been a fun experience. a reminder of a long time ago, in a way. }

Perhaps at some point we can get some materials and invite them over to see.

{ cloud can do finger painting sdkjng }

[mistsplitter]

I would not mind. That seems like a fun activity.

[ Cloud is good with his fingers

Now that they're both done though, Ayaka shifts so that she can get up from her seat. Should Ayato get up at the same time as her, then she will lean on him. Otherwise, she will do her best to stay up the whole time. ]

I have a question to ask. . . Perhaps when we are on our way back?

[acquirement]

{ since he doesn't know the extent of her dizziness, he'll raise to stand up at the same time, moving his stool aside so he can be a better support for her in case she's wobbly on her feet. }

Very well. Let me hold onto this for now then, since you'll need to keep your balance.

{ he'll just leave the wine glass on the stool, his free hand that isn't supporting her taking the top of the canvas, fingers hooking at the back to pick up her painting for her. }

Was there anything else you needed?

[mistsplitter]

[ She shakes her head. She's all good now! As for the question she would like to ask, there are quite a lot of people here, so it's best when they have some privacy. ]

It's alright. I can wait.

[acquirement]

Then let's go. I'll send a message to Kaveh after to thank him for the invite.

{ kaveh likely can already see him helping her home anyway, he'll likely have a faint idea of why they've gone.

And as promised, he'll support her by steadying her by her shoulder until they reach a spot away from the lake that is much quieter. it's getting late enough that not as many people are around. }

Could you hold onto this?

{ hopefully it isn't too big of a painting so that ayaka can just rest it on herself in a moment, since as soon as it's in her hand he's dipping to carefully hold her dress to the back of her knees then lifting her into a princess carry. only the best for ayaka. }

Hopefully this is comfortable enough?

{ she's at least much lighter than a massive frozen eagle statue dsgsg }

[mistsplitter]

[ She will do as she is told, holding onto their things (mostly her painting) until she's lifted off the ground! Ayaka can't help but laugh at how ridiculous this is, especially when it's her brother doing it, of all people. ]

Hehe... It has been so long since you carried me like this.

[ Ayaka has always been sentimental. Her state of mind right now makes her even moreso. ]

[acquirement]

{ his gaze shifts from her, to the path ahead of them both. }

It's been a long time since we've been able to spend time together like this.

{ so maybe, just maybe, he's giving a bit more leeway than normal. plus, since she said she was dizzy it's a much better idea to handle her safety on his own rather than getting her to hold onto him. }

[mistsplitter]

Then... I think I would like to stay like this a little longer.

[ At least, that is certainly Little Ayaka talking. She laughs after saying that, leaning on Ayato a little more. ]

Hehe, I'm only joking. We're too old for that now.