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“Did you also practice being a human?” Albedo sprang the question as they near the Starsand Shoal.
“.. why did you ask?”
“Well, right now I couldn’t help but feel and realize that you really are an otherworldly being.” Albedo said. “Moreso that we are heading towards your spaceship.”
Aether dwells on whether to answer a full yes or no, but neither offer an entirely accurate response. Is he human? In a way, yes, Aether believes himself and his sister to be one. They have necessities, mannerisms and quirks that of a mortal human does. None pointed them out for being out of place in the past, if the people did, it was mostly pointing at their clothing.
“Haven’t I always been that way?” Aether asks. “You often say I have this.. aura or something, isn’t that why you guessed I came not from Teyvat?”
Albedo didn’t appear troubled, in fact Aether can see a fond look on his face like he was remembering then his eyes crinkled tenderly. Aether’s heart might’ve skipped a beat.
“You are.. just now I somehow had a passing thought that there were a time and times you were unreachable.” Albedo finishes.
Aether hummed quietly before deciding to tease, “Is that a worry in your tone?”
“No, just that I feel lucky to catch you here.”
Aether could never believe Albedo had always had the gall to say the cheesiest line casually like it was second nature to him. He was certain no one would believe him if he were to share some of their conversation, proving Albedo’s difference to others and with him. Aether stopped his own heart from fluttering when they reached their destination.
“The ground here always produces uneasiness when you walk on it.” Albedo commented. “It was akin to walking on filth.”
“Mm, I agree.” Aether tugged at Albedo’s arm and pulled him by the hand halfway. “I don’t recall showing you the spaceship, before we arrived what do you think it would look like?”
“A star.” Albedo answered in a beat. “It would be very fitting. Am I wrong?”
Aether can’t help but giggles. “I wouldn’t say no, I have far more opinions and visuals of the stars than to the naked eye. I can say they’re more than the regular star-shaped and four pointed.”
“So I was wrong.” Albedo concluded with no hardness in his voice.
Aether can tell exactly the moment Albedo spotted a massive ship from the distance. With how bright it is in the night and it being a phantom certainly gave it more glow, like there was a light melting from it. Albedo’s breath hitch and then he was more eager to pull Aether to come and have a closer look. Aether didn’t protest, sprinting to catch up all while watching Albedo’s reaction more than the ground.
“It’s..”
“Big?” Aether suggested. There was a strange sense of feeling.. proud to have Albedo looked at the spaceship. Aether can only think that it was probably his own eagerness to show everything of himself to Albedo, and it’s always flattering to see how much interest Albedo held in his eyes at something that is related to him. Aether felt seen. “Can you imagine me controlling it?”
“You are incredible,” Albedo said without a filter yet again.
Aether would hide his face if Albedo isn’t tightly holding his hand and squeezing every time his eyes pan to every side.
“We won’t be able to touch it though, except for the phantom itself.” Aether relayed. “I’m sure you know it already.”
“Durin has been trying to influence the phantoms we encounter as well to no avail,” Albedo said without blinking. “With a ship at this size.. people are bound to notice it I’m sure?”
“Well..” Aether trailed and looked ahead where the people Albedo mentioned, and found them at the same place where they were earlier. “Aside from their own curiosity there’s nothing to go by, still want to talk to them?”
Albedo nodded and went to just do that— they all got the same response as earlier. The first one still narrated and commented about the ship’s age while the second one still tried to brick a part of their ship, it earned a look from Albedo but Aether can also see his curiosity.
“.. it’s a shame to not be able to touch it.” Albedo laments, watching his hand go through the phantom. “Should Aunt Alice’s experiment bear any fruit and improvement.. I would like to go here first.”
Aether had no idea what experiment Albedo was talking about. “Well it’s what the second guy said, it’s tough and can never be broken. If you asked what materials it was made of, my answer would be lacking.” he admitted.
“Perhaps a type of metal in your world that can only be scratched with a specific material?” Albedo muses and Aether didn’t answer when it was more for Albedo himself. “Either way I am very intrigued.”
“I’m sure you are.” Aether smiled. “Should we head back now or do you still want to stay a little longer?”
“I want to observe your spaceship more, please.”
Albedo looks tiny next to the ship and Aether lets him wander, offering to just be an audience while Albedo does what he deems observing and researching. It feels surreal as Aether watches, even when his investigation leads him to no further clues, it is as Varka said– it is a proof of its existence and only a matter of time should the spaceship resurface itself or Aether would end up knowing the story behind it first.
Now that Aether takes a closer look.. Albedo looked like someone that fits the ship’s aesthetic. Somehow the idea tickled Aether’s brain for the image of Albedo exploring and settling inside the cabin like he belonged to it. Then Aether snorted to himself how it sounded like he wanted to kidnap the Alchemist, though Albedo might even come.. willingly. Heh, Aether laughed at himself.
Aether stands himself before his mind and thought could wander and dampen his mood.
“Find anything, Chief?” Aether drapes himself on Albedo’s back, earning a slight oof sound as they stabilize. “Any interesting findings?”
Albedo merely adjusts his stance and lets him cling to his back and sighs when Aether blows a gentle air on his nape. “That you are a skilled pilot to manipulate a thing as big as this.”
“Sounds like you’re just complimenting me.” Aether comments as he sees Albedo whips out his small notebook and writes. “You’re actually writing it?”
“It is a valuable information,”
Aether blinks at the phantoms, only noticing them once he’s out of his and Albedo's own little bubble. Even if they kiss they wouldn’t be able to give a reaction.
The night is almost undesirably chilled, Albedo lends his own coat while they continue. Aether follows along, casting a longing and yearning glances at the ship once in a while, recalling the angle where he’d seen Lumine run to him, staring at the spot calculatively. He still wishes there’s some clues where she is before arriving or if she just suddenly spawn out of nowhere and wake him.
“Aether?”
“Mn?”
Something in Albedo’s look tells Aether the Alchemist has a hint where his mind might be wandering.
“Let’s head back and get you some rest.”
“Alright.”
_______________
“I can always sleep on the sofa.” Albedo offered when they found Paimon still sleeping but now at the foot of the bed, probably rolling in her sleep. “I wouldn’t mind.”
Aether can’t have that. “We can fit, Paimon is small and it’s not like this would be the first time she slept with us. She doesn’t mind when we do it in Dragonspine.”
“She is eager to seek warmth.”
Aether pouts at that. “I mean.. you can go back to your room now if you want?” he suggested at glanced at the sofa, while it is generously big, Aether doubts it would still be as comfortable. “Do you and Durin share the room?”
“No, he is planning to share with his friend so we split.”
Aether sigh, he has no valid excuse except wanting to cuddle after a tiring day. Not to mention that even if Albedo is in Nod-Krai, they still have their own business to do and it eats up most of their time, leaving none at the end of the day. Tomorrow is probably going to be the same with all what was said earlier.
Suddenly Albedo tugged at his arm. “Come on,” Albedo helped him remove his scarf and unclasped his cape, stripping most of their accessories. “We need sleep.”
Aether needn’t ask, finding himself scooting and crawling under the blanket carefully. Albedo waits and accommodates him, embracing him close once he settles. Despite going near the coast, Albedo only caught a faint smell of the ocean and retained his minty and floral scent. Albedo murmured something, muffled on top of his head and found himself drifting to sleep.
“.. star.”