[ He instinctively scooches in against her when she nuzzles her cheek against his arm, heaving a sigh as he relaxes... Whether it weighs on his heart in this moment or not, Ayaka is asking him about it now. He'd be just lying to her if he said that everything was okay. In the grand scheme of things, here in this world, with Ayaka, things were okay. He was happy living the life that he's come to embrace here, blending what he knew and who he was with, with the new companions he's come to know.
But back home... ]
Can I tell you later? [ A beat. ] When I can put my thoughts together better.
[ As he says that, he squeezes her hand, smile building. Not to put up a front, but because this is what Cloud of the present really wanted to do. ]
[ Oh! So he has something that's troubling him. Ayaka deflates, already thinking about possible things he's worried about. But he says he won't tell her now. :( ]
I'll wait for you, then.
[ There's no point in asking more about it now. Just as she said, she'll wait until he's ready to talk, or if it's the right time. ]
... please know, you can tell me anything. I will always listen to you.
[ She won't have to wait very long, whether they decide to head back inside to his place through his balcony, or taking her back home to the Kamisato Estate. Here and now, as he places a kiss to the top of her head, he shifts a little to get more comfy. ]
Thank you.
[ Now then! ]
Here. Lay back on the roof with me.
[ Sitting up and looking at the stars was nice and all. But this was a little trick he picked up as a kid. To show her, he even starts carefully leaning back on his hand, bit by bit as he shifts to start lying down flat on the roof. ]
Just look up.
[ Like watching your own ceiling...only it was the brightest celestial display staring back. It would feel a little warmer too, less wind to contend with also! As he lays there, free hand upon his midsection, he tilts his head over to her to check on her, and see how she's doing. To see what she thinks. ]
[ As always, Ayaka follows his lead, careful as she lowers herself so she doesn't slip or scratch herself or anything. She has to take care of her dress too, because she wouldn't want it to pucker. She looks up the entire time, and when her head's on the roof, resting against it? ]
Ah...
[ It's a different perspective, that's for sure! She can see the night sky from just about any angle, all the stars twinkling just for them. The time Cloud looks at her, she does the same. ]
[ But now that he has her here, hand in hers, he decides to start pointing up at the stars. ]
I found some constellations like ones I've seen back home.
[ His finger trails over towards her side a little, his bright eyes focusing as he makes out certain brilliant dots in the sky from the rest of the twinkling lights. ]
[ Looking back up at the sky, and listening to Cloud gives her an idea. A soft little happy laugh leaves her before she turns to face him, taking the hand that's pointing up at the stars with hers and leading it to another point in the sky, then another, and another.
[ She grabs his attention when she happily laughs, tilting his head towards her just in time for her to take his hand to go pointing it up at the stars. Guiding him along, and away from the Big Dipper he was about to demonstrate and point out. ]
What?
[ He asks with a trailed chuckle at the end of the word. Curiously, he takes this more seriously, brow fixed into a focused furrow and his expression returning to neutral as she points out dot...after dot...after dot... Up and down. Bit by bit, she creates her own pattern. Incohesive to anyone else but her when she declares the constellation looks like his hair. ]
Haha... [ He doesn't quite realize it. But right now there's a wide smile on his face as he etches the stars she's marked out by the glide of her hand into his mind. ... He can't unsee it now. It kind of looks like his hair. And for them? For her just "playing around"? That's all they need. ] So what are we gonna call it?
Constellations in Teyvat are named in an ancient language, one that is no longer spoken.
[ And so, she names this newfound constellation in another language far from Nipponese and Inazuman. She seems happy to do so, sharing a small part of her with Cloud due to this.
Heh, she's glad he's not mad for her little tease. ]
Princeps Venustus.. [ That's the name she would give his constellation. ] Prince Charming.
[ He learns something new every day here, it feels like. He also has a new name for his Story Quests now. KJDFASH ]
One sec. [ Not taking his eyes off the sky where their eyes watch this made-up constellation, he reaches into his pocket for his magi-comm. It takes a little bit of fiddling with the buttons, and it wasn't in color despite how gorgeous and vivid the night sky was, but...
'Click!'
It's partially grainy, sepia in tone of course, but still, ]
[ None of your wolf shit here. It's Prince Charming time. ]
Hehe. My apologies. I got distracted by it.
[ Nah, she's just in a really good mood that she thinks she can afford to play around and be a kid even just for a second. It's okay now, though, she'll go back to being the mature Ayaka soon! ]
You said there are familiar constellations to you?
[ He's so relaxed up here... He was in a good mood before, but she would find her beau at his most content tonight. Letting his thoughts and words flow. There's even more of a lift to his tone of voice, happier than he usually presents himself as he listens and answers her question. ]
Yup. Didn't think it was possible at first, but... Some of these are the same as the ones I've seen back home.
So, if you point out these dots... [ One after the other... It's not a complicated constellation to follow. Especially when he starts tracing his finger through the stars. ] You see 'em?
[ And if she's following along well enough, ]
It looks like a big spoon. S'called the Big Dipper.
[ Then... what she said in the letter. If his sky is the same as the one here... perhaps she should work harder into finding familiar constellations in the Teyvat night sky, too.
Ah, she wishes that were the case. She'll have to do her own research and show Cloud if and when that happens. ]
I see it! [ And it is with great excitement that she proclaims it, so very happy to have found something from Cloud's world. ] Does it have any significance?
Probably. Truth is, I just know names...never really took the time to research them. But...here. See if you can follow along.
[ Because that's not the whole constellation! Rather, it's just one piece of it. He focuses, goes quiet, voice barely above a whisper as he carefully points out another star. ...after star. After star. ]
Might hafta try drawing it later...or seeing if they're in a book. But...
[ A... bear with a big butt. Nevertheless, AYAKA APPRECIATES!!! ]
Is astrology something that interests you? [ Because it does her! And she wonders what the particular constellation means... ] I admit, I do not know much about it. I am more well-versed in tasseography.
[ More constellations. But before they can continue on that train of thought, she asks of his interests. And after a brief pause, Cloud answers truthfully. ]
Not really. [ A beat. ] Nothing serious, anyway. I just memorized a lot of them when I snuck out at night as a kid.
[ They're beautiful to look at, though. And that won't change. Now that they have their own star pattern in the sky to watch out for.
[ Cloud, you still haven't sat down for a full tea ceremony yet! ...neither here or there, but, he's still curious enough. Maybe they can it back at her place? ]
Well, there's...
[ He gets an idea. His hand comes back down, resting beneath his chest as he tilts his head towards her. This was...actually a lot more fun than he thought it'd be. Relaxing, yes. But having fun up here, talking about stars, teaching her more about pieces from his world? It's been a pleasant surprise. Another little gift to cap the end of the birthday. ]
Actually. You find one. [ A beat. ] Three bright stars. All in a straight line and close together.
[ His head turns, partway between her and the stars as his gaze glances upwards. ]
[ A little challenge! ...the only challenge he's going to give her up here. Promise. But if she happens to glance down and back at her beau, she'll see his head having tilted away from her slightly, almost directly above him. As for the hand resting atop him? It's idly pointing in the general direction of where he's looking, trying to be subtle about it without stretching his arm out while doing it. ]
Ah... [ She gets it! And so, looking back up again, she tries to find where he's actually looking at, keeping the lead she's been given in mind. Three bright stars next to each other...
There's one! Then... to its left? Or right? Yes! There it is, she thinks! But what sort of image is it? ]
[ He just thought the three belt stars were pretty as a kid, okay? But now it's become a game! As he focuses and goes silent, he starts pointing at stars. ...some incorrect, in which he mumbles a short little "no..." ]
Think that's...the legs...
[ And further up top? Two stars in particular stand out, making- ]
Upper body... [ ! ] Think I found the cool part.
[ His finger trails over to the right. Then stops? It's coming back to him. ]
One...two... ..three, four- [ And finally, ] -five.
All I know is that he's based on an old myth. A mythical hunter who boasted they could hunt any beast on the Planet.
[ Cloud doesn't know enough about the various myths surrounding him... The tale of Artemis, the Goddess of Hunting, falling in love with him sounds like it'd be right up Ayaka's alley. But it gives him an idea. Because now that they're here, laying beneath the stars talking about it? She's actually got him curious about it now. And not just because he wants to continue the story for her. ]
Maybe the MRU library's got books about that. I'll check it out.
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But back home... ]
Can I tell you later? [ A beat. ] When I can put my thoughts together better.
[ As he says that, he squeezes her hand, smile building. Not to put up a front, but because this is what Cloud of the present really wanted to do. ]
Promise I will.
[ And when he makes a promise? He keeps it. ]
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I'll wait for you, then.
[ There's no point in asking more about it now. Just as she said, she'll wait until he's ready to talk, or if it's the right time. ]
... please know, you can tell me anything. I will always listen to you.
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Thank you.
[ Now then! ]
Here. Lay back on the roof with me.
[ Sitting up and looking at the stars was nice and all. But this was a little trick he picked up as a kid. To show her, he even starts carefully leaning back on his hand, bit by bit as he shifts to start lying down flat on the roof. ]
Just look up.
[ Like watching your own ceiling...only it was the brightest celestial display staring back. It would feel a little warmer too, less wind to contend with also! As he lays there, free hand upon his midsection, he tilts his head over to her to check on her, and see how she's doing. To see what she thinks. ]
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Ah...
[ It's a different perspective, that's for sure! She can see the night sky from just about any angle, all the stars twinkling just for them. The time Cloud looks at her, she does the same. ]
The sky is so vast.
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[ But now that he has her here, hand in hers, he decides to start pointing up at the stars. ]
I found some constellations like ones I've seen back home.
[ His finger trails over towards her side a little, his bright eyes focusing as he makes out certain brilliant dots in the sky from the rest of the twinkling lights. ]
You just gotta connect the dots.
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Pay close attention, Cloud. ]
This new constellation looks like your hair.
[ Hehe! She's just playing around 🥺 ]
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What?
[ He asks with a trailed chuckle at the end of the word. Curiously, he takes this more seriously, brow fixed into a focused furrow and his expression returning to neutral as she points out dot...after dot...after dot... Up and down. Bit by bit, she creates her own pattern. Incohesive to anyone else but her when she declares the constellation looks like his hair. ]
Haha... [ He doesn't quite realize it. But right now there's a wide smile on his face as he etches the stars she's marked out by the glide of her hand into his mind. ... He can't unsee it now. It kind of looks like his hair. And for them? For her just "playing around"? That's all they need. ] So what are we gonna call it?
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[ And so, she names this newfound constellation in another language far from Nipponese and Inazuman. She seems happy to do so, sharing a small part of her with Cloud due to this.
Heh, she's glad he's not mad for her little tease. ]
Princeps Venustus.. [ That's the name she would give his constellation. ]
Prince Charming.
[ ^_^! ]
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[ He learns something new every day here, it feels like.
He also has a new name for his Story Quests now. KJDFASH]One sec. [ Not taking his eyes off the sky where their eyes watch this made-up constellation, he reaches into his pocket for his magi-comm. It takes a little bit of fiddling with the buttons, and it wasn't in color despite how gorgeous and vivid the night sky was, but...
'Click!'
It's partially grainy, sepia in tone of course, but still, ]
Don't wanna lose track of it.
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Hehe. My apologies. I got distracted by it.
[ Nah, she's just in a really good mood that she thinks she can afford to play around and be a kid even just for a second. It's okay now, though, she'll go back to being the mature Ayaka soon! ]
You said there are familiar constellations to you?
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[ He's so relaxed up here... He was in a good mood before, but she would find her beau at his most content tonight. Letting his thoughts and words flow. There's even more of a lift to his tone of voice, happier than he usually presents himself as he listens and answers her question. ]
Yup. Didn't think it was possible at first, but... Some of these are the same as the ones I've seen back home.
So, if you point out these dots... [ One after the other... It's not a complicated constellation to follow. Especially when he starts tracing his finger through the stars. ] You see 'em?
[ And if she's following along well enough, ]
It looks like a big spoon. S'called the Big Dipper.
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Ah, she wishes that were the case. She'll have to do her own research and show Cloud if and when that happens. ]
I see it! [ And it is with great excitement that she proclaims it, so very happy to have found something from Cloud's world. ] Does it have any significance?
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[ Because that's not the whole constellation! Rather, it's just one piece of it. He focuses, goes quiet, voice barely above a whisper as he carefully points out another star. ...after star. After star. ]
Might hafta try drawing it later...or seeing if they're in a book. But...
[ Over 17 stars... It's a little hard to keep track. ]
Ursa Major. That's the full one. But most people just see the Big Dipper.
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[ A... bear with a big butt. Nevertheless, AYAKA APPRECIATES!!! ]
Is astrology something that interests you? [ Because it does her! And she wonders what the particular constellation means... ] I admit, I do not know much about it. I am more well-versed in tasseography.
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[ More constellations. But before they can continue on that train of thought, she asks of his interests. And after a brief pause, Cloud answers truthfully. ]
Not really. [ A beat. ] Nothing serious, anyway. I just memorized a lot of them when I snuck out at night as a kid.
[ They're beautiful to look at, though. And that won't change. Now that they have their own star pattern in the sky to watch out for.
"I am more well-versed in tasseography." ]
What's that?
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[ A very interesting study! And alas, something that she can't exactly do all the time, because such does not have anything to do with her work. ]
What other constellations are familiar to you?
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[ Cloud, you still haven't sat down for a full tea ceremony yet! ...neither here or there, but, he's still curious enough. Maybe they can it back at her place? ]
Well, there's...
[ He gets an idea. His hand comes back down, resting beneath his chest as he tilts his head towards her. This was...actually a lot more fun than he thought it'd be. Relaxing, yes. But having fun up here, talking about stars, teaching her more about pieces from his world? It's been a pleasant surprise. Another little gift to cap the end of the birthday. ]
Actually. You find one. [ A beat. ] Three bright stars. All in a straight line and close together.
[ His head turns, partway between her and the stars as his gaze glances upwards. ]
It's up there.
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[ Way to put pressure on her, Cloud! She's taken off guard so she just stares at him for a good few seconds before looking back up at the sky. ]
Three bright stars... [ Hmm... Don't talk to her now, she's doing her best to look for those stars. ] Three bright stars...
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There's one! Then... to its left? Or right? Yes! There it is, she thinks! But what sort of image is it? ]
I see it now!
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[ And now that she's got it? He'll point up with her properly now! ]
That's Orion's Belt. It's part of a bigger constellation.
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[ That's the bigger constellation, right? ]
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[ He just thought the three belt stars were pretty as a kid, okay? But now it's become a game! As he focuses and goes silent, he starts pointing at stars. ...some incorrect, in which he mumbles a short little "no..." ]
Think that's...the legs...
[ And further up top? Two stars in particular stand out, making- ]
Upper body... [ ! ] Think I found the cool part.
[ His finger trails over to the right. Then stops? It's coming back to him. ]
One...two... ..three, four- [ And finally, ] -five.
[ Orion. ]
Those five in an arch? That's his bow.
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[ O_O!! So many things she's learning. But wait— ]
Who is Orion?
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[ Cloud doesn't know enough about the various myths surrounding him... The tale of Artemis, the Goddess of Hunting, falling in love with him sounds like it'd be right up Ayaka's alley. But it gives him an idea. Because now that they're here, laying beneath the stars talking about it? She's actually got him curious about it now. And not just because he wants to continue the story for her. ]
Maybe the MRU library's got books about that. I'll check it out.
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