[ Nacht's usual sly smile is pasted firmly on his face. Lapis will never be rid of him - their fates are tied together, both in this world and in their original one. ]
The bosses neglected to give me any housing. I do hope you aren't sleeping on the streets either, it will be bad for your complexion, hmm?
[ It feels like the order simply expected them to stay together, so Nacht didn't voice any objections. If he had to pick a roommate, he would pick Lapis over anyone else. He's too protective of his own independence to trust others. ]
I do promise to do half the dishes and housework~
[ For all of his unpleasantness, Nacht genuinely means this. He hates restriction, which includes being forced to do someone else's chores, and would not burden Lapis with that. ]
[ And Lapis would pick Nacht over any others - as much as he grinds at her patience, she knows him. And he knows her. There's a trust there that nobody else could ever reach.
And she knows he's being genuine, which is a relief. Especially since domestic skills aren't exactly her specialty... Which is another thing she has Nacht for. So she sighs, not hesitating to take his hand in her own as she leads the way out of the undertown and onto the street proper. It's so second nature at this point that she doesn't even think twice. ]
Yes, yes, I know. Luckily it's not too big, so it's not like there's a lot of chores.
[ Pause, before she narrows her eyes at him. ]
Though if you're really annoying, you're going on the couch.
[ Squints at harder - yeah she's not answering that. She just huffs as she keeps leading the way, though she doesn't let the silence linger. ]
Anyway, I don't know how much you've been told but there's no mission this month. Then it's meant to be more severe next month, so the Guardians already stationed here may be a bit on-edge.
Lovely. Without missions, I suppose I'll have to find my fun some other way.
[ Despite his personality, Nacht takes his work very seriously. It also means that being on the clock is the only thing restraining his 'fun-seeking tendencies', so without work, he's bound to look for something else to keep him entertained. ]
So long as your fun doesn't get you in trouble. [ Even though it most likely will. ] Maybe you can join me in helping some of the others here start up a garden.
[ She's kidding; her tone drier than usual as she leads him into an apartment building and to an elevator. Up to the top floor they go. ]
Though I'll be starting a college course once the summer is over, so it's up to yourself if you want to do anything like that.
[ A garden and a college course. Both very mundane pursuits, and nothing unexpected. Nacht will respect Lapis' choices, but he would never pick the same pursuits himself. If he wanted to learn something, he would do it at his own pace, not restricted by someone else's schedule. ]
[ Both mundane, and that's exactly why she's pursuing them. A brief glimpse in something akin to normalcy, before the missions come in once more. Though she won't pressure him into either, of course - Nacht's choices are his own, and that's one thing she wouldn't take from him. ]
Probably not. But it's something to pass the time, and the apartment can only hold so many houseplants. And it'll look nice when it's all grown.
[ If they've ever had to be stationed somewhere for more than a week, Lapis absolutely had a plant or two. Some things will never change.
She perks up when the elevator reaches their destination, stepping out and walking along the hallway before reaching a particular door. After some fishing around in her purse, there's a twist of the key in the lock before she pushes it open.
The apartment is small, enough space for two people and no more, but she's done her best to make it comfortable. It is also a bit of a mess, but in her defence she had no idea he was arriving. ]
It's not much, but it's a roof over our heads for however long we're stationed here.
Hm. I suppose if no one else is interested, I could maybe water them.
[ It's not as if he cares about her interests or anything. Totally.
Nacht follows her into the apartment. He gives the rooms a quick glance - simple, clean, and slightly decorated. Nothing out of the norm. As a housemate, he really only cares about keeping things clean, so he doesn't have any objections. Lapis knows better than to touch his stuff, which is all that matters, really. ]
[ Even as she turns to head towards the kitchen area, the smile in her voice is clear. Of course he totally doesn't care about her interests.
Now she rummages around the cupboards; she had some extra mugs somewhere... ]
No. From what I know, the team have been here for a few months and more members keep getting stationed here. You, Ayato and me are the newest arrivals.
[ She presents a mug silently to him, a quiet question if he wants anything to drink. ]
[ Another sound of acknowledgement, but no more - he's taking in all of this, and trying to determine how to plan his time. If they have to stay here for quite a while, then he has to find a sustainable way to entertain himself. ]
Do you have coffee? If not, water is fine.
[ A pause as he glances away and furrows his eyebrows. ]
Don't worry, I'll make sure it's engraved in my memory.
[ Lapis is now, very obviously, far too pleased with herself.
But she finishes making the coffee, and with that she offers the mug to Nacht - liquid suffering aka black coffee, as always. And once the mug has been taken, Lapis shifts so she can lean against the kitchen counter, quietly sipping at hers. ]
Also the bathroom is there - [ Points at a door. ] - and the bedroom is through the corridor. I don't think you need me to give you a tour.
[ It's his place too now, after all. Luckily there's already a big enough bed for two people as well... ]
[ Nacht may be awful, but he knows when he's beaten. He's just not as much of a sore loser as he could be. He takes the coffee from Lapis with another huff, clearly displeased at being outmanuevered. However, he lets Lapis have her moment of satisfaction. It's an equivalent trade for letting him stay here and giving him coffee. ]
I'll take a look after I've had my coffee.
[ He takes a long draught of the burning hot coffee with seemingly no ill effects. Nothing like the taste of dark acrid suffering to accentuate his day. But speaking of which - Nacht didn't bring much with him to Kaisou, so his next order of business is to rebuild his wardrobe. ]
[ Lapis will savour her victory, especially considering their habit of back-and-forth; who knows how long this will last? So she sips on her coffee once more, wrinkling her nose just slightly as Nacht downs that terrible concoction - sometimes she wonders if it's his immortality that lets him drink something so bitter. And also burning hot.
But it's another one of those things about Nacht she's gotten used to. Which is why she simply takes another sip of her own, more palatable drink after the brief moment of distaste... Only to then blink at his question. Well, he doesn't have anything on him, so the question makes sense. ]
There's a shopping district with a lot of variety, with a big selection of higher-end stores in the upper district. [ She knows how he is. ]
[ He places a finger to his lips with a smirk, then glances around the room again. He'll have to get some boxes to store his own things, and some more toiletries... hmm. ]
I wouldn't mind having dinner, I guess.
[ Nacht takes another draught of his coffee before turning his attention to Lapis again. ]
[ Lapis raises both her brows at his smirk, but she doesn't say more beyond that. She does notice how he glances around, imagining he's probably thinking of things he needs - so long as her plants and clothes remain unharmed, he can do what he wishes with the place. She isn't particularly fussy. ]
Then we can see what places aren't too busy after you're done shopping. There's some nice restaurants around there.
[ Unsurprisingly, considering the kind of clientele it serves. His question gets her to pause though, and she cants her head as she considers. ]
Honestly, not doing much. Since there's no missions at all this month, I've mostly been exploring the city. There's a Gate, but it's not anything to worry about. [ Pause. ]
Oh, there was a potluck not too long after I arrived. It was arranged by Zhongli. [ Another pause. ] I think we traumatised his son.
[ Nacht had just started thinking about what he would prefer for dinner when Lapis mentioned the potluck. Ah, Zhongli - that man who always lacked money. Nacht didn't quite have an opinion about him yet, but given how he treats most people with some measure of disdain, his lack of an opinion doesn't imply anything positive. ]
Yes, it was... Hmm.... [ How to describe... whatever the hell happened there... ]
Velvet - she's another one of the Guardians, I've worked with her a few times - was surprised Zhongli had a son, since he's not the... best with money. [ To put it mildly. ]
They aren't biologically related, though; Zhongli and his son, Xiao. Which Velvet said was better than "thinking about this guy getting someone pregnant." [ Her words end in an amused huff, before she shakes her head. ]
There were some other things said that I'm not repeating, but I'm pretty sure Xiao won't be coming to another gathering. [ He also turned into a tiny bird at the end of it all, which probably didn't help. ]
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Now that gets a jab in his side for good measure. ]
No, they wouldn't have. [ They can't risk her going berserk, after all. ]
I did at least enjoy the peace while it lasted... Though where will you be staying?
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[ Nacht's usual sly smile is pasted firmly on his face. Lapis will never be rid of him - their fates are tied together, both in this world and in their original one. ]
The bosses neglected to give me any housing. I do hope you aren't sleeping on the streets either, it will be bad for your complexion, hmm?
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I hope you're not implying something right now. [ Because she always looks cute, how dare. But. Anyway. ]
I have a place of my own. [ Pause. ] And it would probably be easier if you just stayed with me.
[ As if there would be any other option. ]
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[ It feels like the order simply expected them to stay together, so Nacht didn't voice any objections. If he had to pick a roommate, he would pick Lapis over anyone else. He's too protective of his own independence to trust others. ]
I do promise to do half the dishes and housework~
[ For all of his unpleasantness, Nacht genuinely means this. He hates restriction, which includes being forced to do someone else's chores, and would not burden Lapis with that. ]
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And she knows he's being genuine, which is a relief. Especially since domestic skills aren't exactly her specialty... Which is another thing she has Nacht for. So she sighs, not hesitating to take his hand in her own as she leads the way out of the undertown and onto the street proper. It's so second nature at this point that she doesn't even think twice. ]
Yes, yes, I know. Luckily it's not too big, so it's not like there's a lot of chores.
[ Pause, before she narrows her eyes at him. ]
Though if you're really annoying, you're going on the couch.
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You'd consign me to the couch?
[ Don't answer that. ]
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Anyway, I don't know how much you've been told but there's no mission this month. Then it's meant to be more severe next month, so the Guardians already stationed here may be a bit on-edge.
[ Aka "don't be an asshole, Nacht." ]
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Lovely. Without missions, I suppose I'll have to find my fun some other way.
[ Despite his personality, Nacht takes his work very seriously. It also means that being on the clock is the only thing restraining his 'fun-seeking tendencies', so without work, he's bound to look for something else to keep him entertained. ]
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Also hmm that sentence sounds dangerous... ]
So long as your fun doesn't get you in trouble. [ Even though it most likely will. ] Maybe you can join me in helping some of the others here start up a garden.
[ She's kidding; her tone drier than usual as she leads him into an apartment building and to an elevator. Up to the top floor they go. ]
Though I'll be starting a college course once the summer is over, so it's up to yourself if you want to do anything like that.
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Would they even care about a garden?
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Probably not. But it's something to pass the time, and the apartment can only hold so many houseplants. And it'll look nice when it's all grown.
[ If they've ever had to be stationed somewhere for more than a week, Lapis absolutely had a plant or two. Some things will never change.
She perks up when the elevator reaches their destination, stepping out and walking along the hallway before reaching a particular door. After some fishing around in her purse, there's a twist of the key in the lock before she pushes it open.
The apartment is small, enough space for two people and no more, but she's done her best to make it comfortable. It is also a bit of a mess, but in her defence she had no idea he was arriving. ]
It's not much, but it's a roof over our heads for however long we're stationed here.
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[ It's not as if he cares about her interests or anything. Totally.
Nacht follows her into the apartment. He gives the rooms a quick glance - simple, clean, and slightly decorated. Nothing out of the norm. As a housemate, he really only cares about keeping things clean, so he doesn't have any objections. Lapis knows better than to touch his stuff, which is all that matters, really. ]
Did they ever say how long?
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[ Even as she turns to head towards the kitchen area, the smile in her voice is clear. Of course he totally doesn't care about her interests.
Now she rummages around the cupboards; she had some extra mugs somewhere... ]
No. From what I know, the team have been here for a few months and more members keep getting stationed here. You, Ayato and me are the newest arrivals.
[ She presents a mug silently to him, a quiet question if he wants anything to drink. ]
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[ Another sound of acknowledgement, but no more - he's taking in all of this, and trying to determine how to plan his time. If they have to stay here for quite a while, then he has to find a sustainable way to entertain himself. ]
Do you have coffee? If not, water is fine.
[ A pause as he glances away and furrows his eyebrows. ]
Thanks, I guess.
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I've got coffee, but no coldbrew. [ So no instant death in a mug. But she'll go to start putting that together. ]
Huuuuuuh, what was that?
[ She absolutely heard him say thanks. She's just being an asshole now. ]
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I said thanks. And I won't say it again, so remember it.
[ He folds his arms and turns away in a huff. ]
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Don't worry, I'll make sure it's engraved in my memory.
[ Lapis is now, very obviously, far too pleased with herself.
But she finishes making the coffee, and with that she offers the mug to Nacht - liquid suffering aka black coffee, as always. And once the mug has been taken, Lapis shifts so she can lean against the kitchen counter, quietly sipping at hers. ]
Also the bathroom is there - [ Points at a door. ] - and the bedroom is through the corridor. I don't think you need me to give you a tour.
[ It's his place too now, after all. Luckily there's already a big enough bed for two people as well... ]
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[ Nacht may be awful, but he knows when he's beaten. He's just not as much of a sore loser as he could be. He takes the coffee from Lapis with another huff, clearly displeased at being outmanuevered. However, he lets Lapis have her moment of satisfaction. It's an equivalent trade for letting him stay here and giving him coffee. ]
I'll take a look after I've had my coffee.
[ He takes a long draught of the burning hot coffee with seemingly no ill effects. Nothing like the taste of dark acrid suffering to accentuate his day. But speaking of which - Nacht didn't bring much with him to Kaisou, so his next order of business is to rebuild his wardrobe. ]
How's the shopping here?
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But it's another one of those things about Nacht she's gotten used to. Which is why she simply takes another sip of her own, more palatable drink after the brief moment of distaste... Only to then blink at his question. Well, he doesn't have anything on him, so the question makes sense. ]
There's a shopping district with a lot of variety, with a big selection of higher-end stores in the upper district. [ She knows how he is. ]
Going on a shopping trip later?
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[ Only God knows how he is able to keep his expensive clothing flawless in battle. Maybe he mends them in secret. Maybe. Probably not. Unless? ]
I suppose you can come if you want to.
[ It's totally not because he wants her to show him around. Absolutely not. ]
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[ Maybe it's because he's more sneaky than her? Maybe? Possibly. It's one of those mysteries of life...
And she can't help but raise a brow at his words, managing to hide her amusement as she takes another sip of her coffee. ]
Aha, then I can give you the grand tour. [ She knows what he means. ]
But sure. Then depending on how late it is, we can grab something to eat after.
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[ He places a finger to his lips with a smirk, then glances around the room again. He'll have to get some boxes to store his own things, and some more toiletries... hmm. ]
I wouldn't mind having dinner, I guess.
[ Nacht takes another draught of his coffee before turning his attention to Lapis again. ]
So, how have you been in my absence?
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Then we can see what places aren't too busy after you're done shopping. There's some nice restaurants around there.
[ Unsurprisingly, considering the kind of clientele it serves. His question gets her to pause though, and she cants her head as she considers. ]
Honestly, not doing much. Since there's no missions at all this month, I've mostly been exploring the city. There's a Gate, but it's not anything to worry about. [ Pause. ]
Oh, there was a potluck not too long after I arrived. It was arranged by Zhongli. [ Another pause. ] I think we traumatised his son.
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... traumatized?
[ Zhongli has a son? Huh. ]
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Velvet - she's another one of the Guardians, I've worked with her a few times - was surprised Zhongli had a son, since he's not the... best with money. [ To put it mildly. ]
They aren't biologically related, though; Zhongli and his son, Xiao. Which Velvet said was better than "thinking about this guy getting someone pregnant." [ Her words end in an amused huff, before she shakes her head. ]
There were some other things said that I'm not repeating, but I'm pretty sure Xiao won't be coming to another gathering. [ He also turned into a tiny bird at the end of it all, which probably didn't help. ]
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