(no subject)

[empyrean_mirror]

Who: Kaveh and YOU
Status: Open
Where: Surasthana Cafe on Eltrut!
What: The grand opening of a book cafe.
Warnings: God I hope not.



[Kaveh hasn't talked much about what he's been working on for a few months now, because he wanted this moment to be a surprise (and because he didn't want to be scolded for overwork). It has finally paid off, now, with the grand opening of the Surasthana Cafe, just in time for the deep end of the fall season. The cafe is cozily furnished and warm, the smell of lovingly brewed coffee floats through the air, and soft music plays from Mehrak.

Kaveh isn't expecting a huge rush on any given day--this was done for his own sake more than anything, but now on weekday afternoons, the little book cafe can be found and people can stay a spell, enjoying expertly made coffee drinks and some light reading in a ridiculous plant paradise.

If you have any requests for new kinds of books, or wish to purchase various accessories, stop by the front counter! The owner is happy to accommodate you, after all.

ooc: you may also treat this post as a mingle and toplevel accordingly, just mark if you are doing so! Otherwise, Kaveh will be coming for you!]

Comments

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham is content to maintain his own silence as Xehanort seems to ponder over things in his head once more, which is an act he can certainly understand. No doubt there is much to take in when you suddenly find yourself in another world with almost no warning or reason—or at least none that seems to have surfaced at the moment. That much is somewhat frustrating, but there's no point in being hung up about it. The world will continue to spin, even with the slew of unanswered questions that exist.

When Xehanort asks his next question Alhaitham takes a second again, one to recount the memories himself but another to see the way Xehanort is trying to carry himself right now, and also as Alhaitham answers said question.]

No, Kaveh came first, in our initial arrival. I only came two months later, despite both of us having 'left' at the same point of time. [It certainly was a little disorienting to think about back then, especially in those early days. Kaveh, who'd already had to struggle to be here by himself, and Alhaitham who saw the ways it was affecting him when nobody else did, because nobody else could. How would they? None of them know Kaveh like he does—and while other things are different now, this much has not changed.] But we did get sent back together, and came back at the same time.

[They washed up on the beach holding hands, even, though if you asked Alhaitham what he'd remembered more (besides his conversation with Kaveh there anyway) is how uncomfortable it is to have your wet clothes stuck with sand. Truly one of the worst experiences ever if he has anything to say about it.]

[tabiya]

[ xehanort's fingers twitch, as if he's about to grip his arms to ground himself, but he exhales deeply instead and closes his eyes with a nod. it's a middle-ground answer. in all likelihood, if his friends were here, he'd have found at least one of them already. this world was big, but he was good at searching, and they were all very good at running into each other.

it was reassuring to think at least they were probably safe. seeing them again was also a possibility, though a tenuous term like possibility weighed heaver on him than he wished it to. and there were those people... who had recognised him, but not him as he was. the suspicion and immediate negative reactions had been hurtful, confusing, and had brought back memories he'd had rather left in the past.

uncomfortable and lonely. he'd forgotten what it was like. ]

You have questions for me, too.

[ an offer, partly to get himself out of his own head about this and partly because he senses alhaitham might need the prompting. ]

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham continues to watch the way Xehanort takes in the information that has been given to him. At the end of the day, it is only natural to be shaken and unsettled by something so unexpected—for it seems like just about every riftfarer did not have a say in coming to this world, regardless of the circumstance they were before. And while there are some who see it as a blessing in the end, others may not necessarily feel the same way. Xehanort, it seems, leans more to the latter—which is of course a completely understandable response.

After another pause Xehanort goes on to address him, prompting him for questions, and Alhaitham takes that cue for what it is. While its clear that the other is troubled by something, Alhaitham is not one to pry into the details of others. As long as it doesn't bother him, then he sees no reason to know, much less interfere.

Anyway, with the floor now open, as it were, Alhaitham is quick to take this chance, only needing a second more before he looks over to Xehanort and asks his question.]

How do you normally travel between worlds?

[Since they were kind of already on the topic and all that, and the way Xehanort speaks of the idea suggests more than a passing level of familiarity. And while he has met a few other person who are also familiar with the concept, he has a feeling this is something a bit different from those other examples.]

[tabiya]

[ really, that's the perfect question to distract xehanort from his spiral of loneliness. he blinks, surprised at how blunt alhaitham had been in asking. even though he had been the one to prompt the question, it takes him a moment to decide whether to answer openly or to feign ignorance.

it's something he finds fascinating himself, having grown up yearning for other worlds. this is pretty blatantly reflected in how, as soon as he makes his decision, xehanort's voice turns a little more animated. he rotates on the bench so he's facing the chessboard (and alhaitham) with his legs crossed, rather than looking out the window. ]

Most worlds are tiny, isolated things. [ he begins, moving several pawns into a circle to represent them. each piece rests on the crosspoint of four squares, rather than in the centre of one. ] They have their own structure and order. We've been taught to respect that, as best we can. Here, in this huge world, that "order" is already a complete mess. So, there's no problem talking about it.

[ he traces the lines dividing each square with a fingertip, going from piece to piece. ]

There are paths called the Lanes Between which can be traversed with the right guidance and equipment. I've only been able to do so for a few months.

[ with a casual motion, he holds a hand out to the open side of the cafe interior. his keyblade appears in a flash of sparkles, and xehanort lays it across his lap with his hand on the hilt. ]

This is a keyblade. It's the equipment, and most of the guidance.

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham for his part has never seen any reason to beat around the bush on things that both parties are already aware of. Since they both know, there is no need to repeat that which is already true and known, and it will simply easier to get right to the chase. That's how he's always operated, and being in this place has not changed that much.

He listens intently to the explanation as its being given to him, one part of him noticing how much more animated the other becomes during this. Clearly, its something that he has a personal interest him, or at least that's the conclusion that he can draw. Alhaitham supposes part of that is because of Xehanort's own experience, but still... the idea of wanting to venture to other worlds continues to feel rather left field for him.

Worlds, multiple. And in this place alone he's already seen a huge variety of people from all those different worlds. It's certainly been a lot of think about, and this only gives a lot more food for thought.

The appearance of this... 'keyblade', when it comes, its also a little unexpected, and Alhaitham can't help but look at it in curiosity as Xehanort shows it to him. It's easy enough to see why its called a keyblade, even if he can't see it being a wholly practical weapon. More of a keymace than a blade, if it were up to him, but its not as if Teyvat hasn't had its share of strange looking weapons from blacksmiths that were a bit too creative, so he's not one to comment.]

What happens when this 'order' that you've mentioned is disrupted?

[Xehanort does make it sound like its something important, yet he also said that the order of his place is already a mess... perhaps that is part of the reason why this world is the way that it is? It's a possibility that has crossed his mind before, though he doesn't have this same knowledge that Xehanort clearly possesses.]

[tabiya]

[ having alhaitham listen with actual interest is encouraging, even as xehanort's enthusiasm fades a little as he recalls, again, his lack of traveling companions. he stares at the keyblade in his lap for a long moment, rotating his wrist to turn it over - impractical as it may have looked, it almost hummed with the strength of his own heart - before letting it vanish back into motes of light.

the question has him blink up at alhaitham, it not quite being the query he had expected. the world order had already been a rule that his group had been willing to... bend, though definitely not break, in their search for clues. he brings a hand to his chin, thinking for another long moment. ]

I suppose it would affect how a world develops. Most are unaware of the Lanes, of us, and of other worlds. [ he makes a vague gesture around them. ] It's not right for a visitant to influence that with knowledge or power the world wouldn't naturally develop on its own.

[ sure, they meddle a bit. but the meddling was coated in excuses and kept away from local's eyes as much as possible. they're guardians of light, that's what they were supposed to do - fend off the darkness and keep the worlds alive, functional, and able to continue their stories.

he puts the pawns he'd been demonstrating with back into their rightful places on the board. ]

This world feels different. [ he smiles, only a bit sadly. ] Literally falling out of the sky isn't how it usually works, for one.

[indispensable]

[A small nod from Alhaitham as he takes in this information. The order of a world, changed, thus affecting the way a place develops... he can see the thread of logic in that. After all, a good part of the technology that exists in this world seems to largely stem from what previous riftfarers had brought with them, based on what he has managed to read up on the history of this world.]

I suppose the rifts being a constant thing that exists here plays a part in that difference. [He remarks, gaze flicking down to the chessboard as Xehanort puts the pieces back to where they were originally meant to be.] And I guess you're no longer able to use these Lanes you speak of to leave, because you wouldn't be here talking to me otherwise.

[It's just a gut feeling, of course, but if Alhaitham were in his shoes, he can't imagine himself wanting to stay in a place that he didn't intend to be at in the first place, especially when he has the means to do so. Curiosity is one thing, but he doubts it'll ever trump over the reality of being stranded against one's will.]

[tabiya]

Yeah. This world's order is that it's already defined by other worlds. It's open, despite none of us being able to leave.

[ an edge of bitterness seeps into his voice. they'd been on a mission. even if time didn't pass here - a theory xehanort had been relying on since the start, and really was relieved to have confirmed - the sudden lack of progress toward their goal was deeply frustrating. and he missed them, so much. this game had been more than pleasant, but didn't hold a candle to Usual Chess Afternoons. ]

I can't access the Lanes. [ his armour could be equipped, his keyblade able to take its glider form, but there was no way to open a gate. ] ...even if I could, without any guidance, it would be hard to navigate home.

[ master odin had been the one to provide them with the means to navigate the lanes, underclassmen like themselves not permitted to roam freely. xehanort knew the theory behind tracking worlds, but had never done it himself. ]

...what's your world like?

[indispensable]

[This world's order being defined by other worlds... Alhaitham can't say that he would have thought of it like that, but he supposes its because he didn't have the exact knowledge to have that sort of understanding. To be honest he still can't quite grasp it, but that's what research is for, in the end.]

Even without guidance, you still have some experience with traversal between worlds, which is enough of a start. [Of course, its hard to say if something can actually come out of that... but its certainly better than the nothing he had to start with. There may be talk of hidden planes and lost civilizations in Teyvat, but worlds are very much a whole different beast.

But that aside, its not hard to pick up on how much this talk is affecting Xehanort, and he's pretty sure that being asked about Teyvat is one way of deflection. He's more or less fine with that, since he knows better than most how ineffective it is to speak when under duress. For better or worse they have the time here to figure things out, so there's no need to rush.

He takes a second here, to get some coffee into him, shifting a bit at the same time to get comfortable. Alhaitham never minds talking about Teyvat to those who asked, and he owes Xehanort this much after the information that's been given to him.]

Teyvat is a land that's divided into seven nations, each of them ruled by a being known as an Archon. [Well, the truth is that only about half of the Archons are known to still be around now; the Anemo Archon has never been seen for hundreds of years, the Geo Archon has passed, and the Hydro Archon recently stepped down from her position. But Xehanort doesn't need to know any of those extraneous details.] Each Archon holds dominion over one of the seven elements that make up the world, and are said to have the authority to grant humans the power of a Vision. Humans who own a Vision are then able to use the powers of the element that the Vision bears.

[A brief pause as he hums. What else can he say here...] Unlike your keyblade, Vision holders do not have any means of being instructed in how to use their Vision, because everyone's Vision is unique to themselves and functions completely differently. There are some basics that can be shared, but anything beyond that is simply innate and usually found through trial and error.

[Alhaitham certainly had to take a bit to figure out how to work his Vision. Kaveh... he'd never really asked, though he can't say he's ever seen anyone use a Vision in the way his senior has. Not that that much is surprising—Kaveh wouldn't be who he is if he ever allowed himself to conform to the ordinary.]

[tabiya]

[ alhaitham's simple words of encouragement are unexpected, but not unwelcome. xehanort shifts a little awkwardly, ducking his head and giving a simple nod to show he'd understood what alhaitham was communicating. they both had no idea whether it would make a difference, but it was... nice. to hear some positivity - not even praise - from someone a bit older.

he waits patiently for the other man to get comfortable, glancing around at the cafe in a display of false nonchalance. mehrak floating around catches his eye, which then follows on to xehanort watching kaveh at work for a little while. when he senses that alhaitham has settled, he sets his hands in his lap and listens. ]

Seven elements...?

[ while other worlds had their own order, xehanort had never read of any that were defined by anything other than light and darkness. sure, escordvi as a world felt undefined by the concepts entirely, but lacking that and having it replaced with other driving forces were different. the fascination shows on his face, hands clasped and body language attentive. ]

Are Visions... items, or innate powers? [ both? neither? ] Do these Archons interact with humans outside of granting Visions?

not here, in the distance

[empyrean_mirror]

[Hello I am just here to be pretty, gay and oblivious, how are you?

He's trying to make a ridiculous little lion in the latte foam, by the way.]

[indispensable]

[The way Xehanort reacts to what Alhaitham tells him feels not too dissimilar to how he felt inside when he first learned of other worlds himself in this place—of course, some of that novelty has since worn off due to... incidents... but at the end of the day its still very much a new frontier that's definitely worth exploring into. At his own pace, of course.

There's another pause after Xehanort's question, though this time its because Alhaitham is grabbing his cape that he'd left at his side (no need to have it on when he's in here the whole day after all), plucking out the Vision that's dangling from where his shoulder would be and then holding it up for the other to see.]

Visions themselves are what grants a person the ability to use elemental power, but the method of execution differs in every individual. [He turns his Vision over after saying that, briefly giving it a look over himself. Unlike Kaveh Alhaitham doesn't hold his own Vision as of high of a regard, even if he will readily admit its usefulness—it does make some things a lot easier to deal with.] As for your own other question, every Archon has their own way of leading their respective nation, which includes how they interact with the people who live there. I can't speak for the other nations, but Lord Kusanali—Sumeru's Archon—has always made an effort to connect with the people, Vision bearer or otherwise.

[If Alhaitham speaks like he knows her personally... well, its because he does. She's his boss, after all. That and he also led a coup to free her from her 500 year imprisonment but he will downplay that fact for eternity.]

[tabiya]

[ he itches to reach out and touch the vision as soon as alhaitham presents it, but his manners are good enough to restrain himself. instead, he leans forward and studies it as intensely as possible. the heart-like shape at the bottom of the 'frame' looks weirdly familiar. ]

So it's an item, but it's linked to you... [ he sits back, still eyeing the vision. ] Like a focus for magic.

[ there's a lack of surprise that alhaitham has one. many of the people here seemed to possess unique abilities of many varieties - maybe some kind of criteria this world had, for snatching new residents from whatever aether in found them in? ]

What are the seven elements? [ sorry, alhaitham, you've triggered twenty questions mode. ] Are the Archons humanoid, or more like gods? Or... kings and queens?

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham is perfectly fine with Xehanort examining his Vision, and wouldn't have minded too much if asked to hold it himself. Kaveh probably would've made a fuss though, seeing as he holds the value of Visions far more highly than Alhaitham does.]

Mmm. [A hum of agreement to the comparison there. He's read up on the general idea of magic and foci through the books here, so he's not unfamiliar with the concept.

Also the questions are fine. Asking questions is the first step to seeking and understanding, and Alhaitham will never not appreciate the efforts of one who is seeking knowledge for their own betterment.]

Pyro, Hydro, Electro, Cryo, Geo, Anemo and Dendro. [Alhaitham lists them out without a beat as he puts his Vision aside.] And in the most literal sense, the Archons are considered gods—though they're no more or less infallible than any other person, at least back in Teyvat. [A careless shrug.] They belong to the same biological hierarchy as the rest of us, just ranked higher.

[Though there is no denying that the power that the Archons can wield, in the end they too are just as susceptible to falling and dying. It's a story told many times in Teyvat, in countless shapes and forms, from the fall of Decarabian in Mondstadt to the countless adepti that fell throughout the course of Liyue's long history, and even the collapse of the Scarlet King's mighty civilization out in the sands. The gods in Teyvat are not as eternal or omnipotent as others might be in other worlds.]

[tabiya]

So this one is... Dendro?

[ colour and shape language seemed a universal constant. not all of the element's names had immediately lined up with his knowledge, but he was well-read enough to figure out the linguistic associations with some, and the rest fell into logical place. none that corresponded to light or darkness, either. fascinating.

his gaze lingers on the vision even as alhaitham places it aside. it was similar in some ways to his keyblade, then - having to be passed down, allowing the use of higher abilities.

gods were not present on every world, xehanort knew, though the concept of gods was widespread. with how fledgling many of the worlds still were, the books he'd read often skimmed over the hierarchy of them, and information on older worlds was often lost. the concept of infallible beings made him uncomfortable, honestly, so alhaitham's description of the archons seems to oddly please him. ]

Your world sounds like it has a very deep history. I'd love to read about it.

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham nods to confirm Xehanort's suspicion. Describing the nature of Dendro is not so straightforward for people who do not come from Teyvat. Dendro is life, which can be that of the forest that Sumeru has, but it is also the elemental that's most connected to Irminsul, said to hold the records of the world in its roots, and which the Dendro Archon is linked to. He's found that most people here have mostly assumed the former, with associations to plants and verdure. Meanwhile between him and Kaveh the closest they have to that are Kaveh's bloom cores, which tend to do more harm than good.]

Teyvat's history spans across thousands of years, at the very least. [He says after the remark Xehanort has made.] A good portion of it has been lost, however, due to a variety of factors. [Like the Archon Wars, or the destruction of civilizations almost overnight—or a near-cataclysm, where survival trumped over all.] That being said, I can't say that I have a book about Teyvat's history on hand, but if it ever decides to drop out of the rifts, I'll let you know.

[Or, well, Alhaitham could maybe write one out himself. But that's a lot of effort.]

[tabiya]

Thousands...

[ such a stretch of time is almost unimaginable to him. even the farthest mentions of history in the library had seemed much closer than that, though that farthest point, the "age of fairytales", had a sort of abstract nature to it that warped perception of how long ago it actually was.

worlds such as the one being described to him now were the kinds of places he longed to explore. the fractured, isolated places he and his classmates had visited were interesting, and often beautiful in their own way despite being filled with darkness, but they lacked much in the way of broader culture and environments. none had even begun to match the grandeur of what scala must have been in its prime, before its population had dwindled to the single occupied city. ]

Please do. It's been surprisingly difficult to find any reading material on other worlds. [ sure, he hadn't looked that hard, but still. ] If I can't leave to see them myself, it's the next best thing.

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham gives a small hum of understanding here, nodding at the same time.] I've been trying to find similar material myself, but I've only managed to obtain a handful of them even after all this time. [And even then Alhaitham can't help but feel like they're a bit outdated... there was a small initial rush of riftfarer related materials when they first started appearing about five years ago, but now they've become much more of a norm so that novelty isn't quite there anymore.

There's also the possibility that actual riftfarer accounts might've been embellished into fictional works, which frankly only makes things harder to figure out. How can he tell what is truth or fiction when he doesn't even know what the 'truth' is in the first place? It's something he's slowly trying to puzzle out, but the nature of fiction definitely does not make it easy.

He glances at Xehanort then.] Maybe you'll have better luck with that, since you have actual experience in that area.

[tabiya]

If you'd be willing, I'd like to borrow one of those books sometime.

[ it's a question he ventures carefully - they've only just met, after all. lending out carefully obtained material to some kid who happened to visit the cafe might be a bit of a stretch. but even fictional accounts would be something to fill the time and hopefully allow xehanort to expand his knowledge without having to go and talk to too many strangers.

he lets out a long sigh, feeling much more at ease than he had been before walking into the cafe, despite some of the unpleasant thoughts that had bubbled up in their conversation. having even a few worries assuaged - or at least sidelined - lifted some of the weight from his shoulders. ]

And I'd like to play again, another day.

[ with a gesture to the chessboard. it's a roundabout way of saying thanks, i had fun, and can i come visit again. ]

[indispensable]

[Well Xehanort doesn't have to worry on that front, because Alhaitham only needs a second before he's nodding, easily agreeable both of those requests.] Sure.

[Perhaps for the other its a surprising move, but for Alhaitham it makes perfect sense. Xehanort has experience in traveling to different worlds, which is already far more than Alhaitham can say about himself, and the chess game has shown his skill and intellect quite well. Of course it also helps that Alhaitham finds him to be a rather agreeable person to be with, which is rare enough as it is.]

I'm usually here as long as this place is open, unless I have something on. [Usually a job from the board, but Alhaitham doesn't take those that often—only the ones that interest him, or if he wants to earn some extra on the side to get some silly thing or other to infuriate Kaveh.] You can always ask Kaveh on my whereabouts if I'm not around.

[tabiya]

[ he had honestly been expecting a rebuttal, or at the very least a more hesitant acceptance, so alhaitham's easy response makes him feel... a little embarrassed, actually. it's a strange feeling, one he hadn't felt for a few years. the feeling of making a friend.

it's difficult to mask an unexpected emotion like that, the pleased little smile on xehanort's face refusing to be tamed even has he shifts awkwardly and looks back out the window. it would've been nice to still have some coffee in his mug to hide his face behind. he doesn't really know how to be friends with adults - he barely understood how to be friends with his peers, not that any of them had ever minded. this, too, would be something else to learn.

he's looking forward to it. ]

If any texts about other worlds catch my eye, I'll bring them to share as well. [ that's what mutual interests are for, right? ] Though I don't think my experience will make much of a difference. It's not a magnet.

[indispensable]

[Mutual interests are definitely good. It's perhaps the easiest way for Alhaitham to be able to talk to people in a way that doesn't feel exhausting after its over. Of course, it can only do so much, but its still a far better start than nothing at all.

But with that having been said, Alhaitham definitely finds himself not minding Xehanort at all. It's an almost refreshing change, really, seeing as how he finds himself disagreeable with most other riftfarers—even the ones that come from his own world too. For all that Alhaitham does not care about being agreeable to others, he won't deny the lack of constant friction is nice, in its own way.]

That may be so, but it'll at least help to filter out some of the noise from everything else. [Seeing as how Alhaitham has no experience about the topic at all, any little bit of it is pretty much invaluable to him right now. Xehanort being willing to share and help only makes it better.]