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“Thank you again for the portrait of Paimon. She insisted it go right in the bedroom, and still smiles whenever she sees it,” Aether said, reaching out to grab a cup of fresh hot cocoa from Albedo.
A recipe Sucrose had come up with, using one of her many sweet flower variants. Aether was curious to try it.
It certainly didn’t hurt that Albedo had personally made it for him, either.
“I’m glad. With how often trouble chases after you, any comfort must be a welcome one,” Albedo said, sitting down across the fire with his own cup.
Aether hummed in agreement. Teyvat certainly liked throwing problems their way, he couldn’t deny that. Aether was used to it, but he did worry that it might wear on Paimon over time.
“Where is she, if I may ask? It’s…rather unusual to see you alone,” Albedo asked.
“In the Serenitea Pot; she didn’t want to spend the night out in the cold.” He took a sip of the cocoa. It was smooth and sweet, the warmth a welcome respite from the cold outside; the perfect drink to accompany the light snowfall over the mountains.
It was good, really good. Maybe Paimon would regret missing out. Or, more likely, she’ll just ask for one herself the next time she sees the alchemists.
“And you do?” Albedo asked.
“I’m pretty comfortable right now.” He may not have winter clothes, but he had a sturdy resistance to most weather; that said, the light blanket draped over his shoulders, a gift from Albedo earlier that evening, was still quite appreciated. “Besides, I can sleep there any time- I can’t spend a night with you quite so often.”
Albedo took a moment to reply, choosing to focus on his drink while he thought of a response. “I’m honored; I can’t say I’m not grateful for your company.”
Aether chuckled, and they fell into a comfortable silence. He watched as the fire danced between them, lighting the lab in a soft glow.
“Would you like another?” Albedo asked. He’d been staring, instead, at Aether.
Aether hadn’t even gotten halfway through the drink and was about to say so, when Albedo must have sensed his thoughts and continued.
“A portrait, I mean.”
“Of Paimon?”
“I was thinking one of you.”
Oh. Yeah, Albedo had offered that at one point, hadn’t he? He didn’t really need a portrait of himself in his house, but… he couldn’t say he wasn’t curious to see how Albedo saw him.
His Paimon was, artistically speaking, beautiful, but lacked a sense of…well, Paimon. She’d never had even a shred of the dignity the painting portrayed.
Yet, undeniably, it was what Paimon had wanted. She loved that thing to bits.
Would Albedo paint Aether, or a beautiful rendition in hopes of impressing him? He was curious.
“If you’d rather another of Paimon, that can be done too. I remember her clearly enough that-“
“No, I’ll take one of myself, if you’re offering,” Aether interrupted gently.
Albedo’s eyes widened just a tad, before a soft smile settled on his face. “I’ll get set up, then.”
Aether watched him carry out his canvas and set up his tools, bringing a lantern closer to keep the area well lit.
Once Albedo was all set up, Aether felt his eyes on him. His boots squelched against the snow as he shuffled his feet.
He drank more cocoa to distract himself.
“Um… so, did you want me to pose, or…?”
“If you wish. As is works fine.”
Up to him, then? Was there a pose he wanted?
…No, not really. Whether Albedo captured him sitting by the fire or doing something else entirely, Aether was fine with anything.
Thus, Aether didn’t move, just held the mug with both hands and leaned in towards the fire.
The scraping of charcoal sounded out. Albedo was starting, then.
It was strange, knowing someone was staring at you so intently, scrutinizing every detail to capture it on paper.
He’d watched many artists draw, and Lumine was rather fond of getting her likeness onto paper (in many, many strange styles), but Aether himself was rarely on the receiving end.
The few times he could remember were all at Lumine’s behest. He could still remember one painting they had done together, where Lumine fumed for days over how much prettier Aether turned out (it wasn’t his fault the artist softened his features more than hers!)
“Do you enjoy being the subject of art?” Albedo’s question brought him out of his thoughts. At Aether’s confused look, he elaborated. “You were smiling quite fondly.”
“Ah… sorry, I was just thinking of Lumine. I don’t…dislike this sort of thing, but she loves it.”
Or, she did. He wasn’t sure anymore.
“I… see. Have you… had any luck in finding her?” he asked. Aether’s heart sank at the reminder.
“I met her,” Aether chuckled humorlessly Albedo’s hand paused. “Not for long, but. I saw her. Spoke to her. Not that she cared.”
Albedo was silent. Of course he was- Aether just dumped that on him with an extra helping of bitterness.
This was supposed to be a pleasant night. He hadn’t meant to turn it gloomy and awkward.
“She’s just being…difficult. She’s safe, though; that’s all I can ask for. We’ll meet again, sooner or later.”
There was another bout of silence, the crackling of the fire sounding deafening in comparison. Aether was about to apologize, but Albedo spoke up first, resuming his sketching as if nothing had happened.
“Being your twin, I’m not surprised to hear she’s difficult.”
Not what he’d expected to hear. Aether snorted a laugh. “Gee, thanks.”
“So, she likes art?”
“I’m not sure it’s the art itself she likes as much as the attention.”
“Oh?”
“She likes knowing she’s caught people’s eyes. Many broken hearts in our travels, men and women alike.”
Not that it was always rejection. Lumine had tried relationships a few times; Aether, too. Ultimately, their travels would take priority and the relationships would end.
Teyvat was already the longest they’d ever stayed in one place. Lumine wouldn’t leave- what or who had she found to dedicate her so much to it, Aether didn’t yet know.
They had each other, everything and everyone else was fleeting…
So, what could be shackling her here?
“She must be rather pretty,” Albedo continued the discussion.
“Of course; we’re twins, after all,” Aether joked.
It was refreshing, in a way, to talk about Lumine. He kept most of it bottled up- he didn’t want to burden others- nor open fresh wounds- by telling many tales, but with Albedo, it just felt easier. Even if Albedo’s banter was mostly to cheer him up, he could tell the alchemist was listening intently to every word he was saying.
Albedo wasn’t fond of socializing, but he truly excelled when he tried.
“Indeed. With you as a basis, I have to imagine she’s striking.”
Aether fought the blush that crept up his face at that. It was hard to take it as teasing when he sounded so sincere.
“W-we don’t look exactly alike; she is, still, definitely prettier.”
Outside of one painting on another world, anyway.
“Is her hair as smooth?”
Her hair? Compared to his? Did it stand out that much? It wasn’t like Albedo’s wasn’t just as soft. Maybe he was overthinking it- Albedo was sketching him, after all; he was probably just drawing his hair and dwelling on it. Still…
“It’s- well, okay, maybe hers is more rough. She doesn’t like dealing with her hair; it’s short and practical, but it’s still cute!” He gestured her hair style before absentmindedly tugged on his own braid a little. “She always liked playing with mine, though. It’s one of the reasons I kept it long.”
“So there’s a quick way to tell you apart?”
“You couldn’t actually mistake us,” Aether confirms.
“Oh? That different?” Albedo asked. “From how you’ve previously described her, I assumed practically identical.”
“We are.” He hesitated. It was true their facial structure was similar, and he wasn’t really that much taller… “I guess we could look alike if we really tried, but I’m not putting on a dress.”
“I think you’d look quite beautiful in one.”
This was a mistake, he should have stayed with Paimon. There was no hiding the blush this time, so Aether turned his head stubbornly to watch the snowfall over the mountains. If Albedo needed to see his face clearly, then he only had himself to blame.
Snow covered every hint of the mountain in its perpetual winter. The view just reinforced what he already knew; Dragonspine really was white. White skies, white snow… even the air when he exhaled was a ghostly white. White, white, white.
It had always been her preference, white.
No matter where he looked, there were reminders of Lumine.
“She would have liked Dragonspine,” he absently commented. Although, as the Abyss Princess, it was likely she’d already seen it.
The dangerous calm, and finding warmth in the cold, surrounded by endless snow… especially at nighttime, she would love it for sure. Did she tend to visit? Was she here now…?
“You’ll be able to show her, some day,” Albedo reassured.
“Hoping to meet her?”
“I wouldn’t be opposed to a second test subject.” The subtle grin gave it away as a tasteless joke.
“You jerk,” Aether grinned wryly.
He got a hum in response, before they fell back into a comfortable silence.
Albedo continued to sketch, the grit of charcoal on paper sounding out at fluid, controlled intervals. Everything was so calm; tomorrow, he’d once again be busy with commissions and battles, but for now, he’d enjoy the soothing atmosphere.
Aether finished his hot cocoa- not quite so hot anymore- and set the cup aside. To keep his hands occupied, he tightened his grip on the blanket over him.
“Are you cold?” Albedo asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Aether replied, resisting the urge to pull it tighter in response.
“Ah. I’m almost done.”
Already? Aether flicked open his pocket watch- ‘already’ was not the correct word. It had been almost a couple of hours.
He’d gotten so lost in thought while reminiscing that time flew by.
Although… that was significantly longer than it had taken Albedo to draw Paimon, wasn’t it?
Now Aether was even more curious.
He didn’t have to wait long to hear the final clack of the charcoal stick as Albedo sat it down on the easel.
“All done,” Albedo announced, taking a step back and crossing his arms. Aether perked up at that. He let the blanket slide off onto his stool as he stood and came over.
He was expecting a few different results. A heroic, almost religious portrayal to suit his inflated reputation as a hero around Teyvat. An accurate sketch of him huddled by the fire, to capture him in a realistic everyday situation. Even, perhaps, a joke- something to resemble Aether’s attempt at Paimon (admittedly, the time spent already dismissed that idea from his mind.)
He… hadn’t expected this. Not entirely.
He was sitting by the fire. The lighting in the piece beautifully captured the atmosphere, with exaggerated shadows to push the focus. Aether looked melancholic despite the smile on his face- of course, he’d been thinking about Lumine the entire time, after all.
That was all within Aether’s expectations.
What he hadn’t expected was the form leaning against his. Eyes closed, a soft smile on her face… a face that so closely resembled Aethers, framed by long soft bangs in front of short hair. A dress, simple and playful, with inspiration taken from his own outfit. She was wearing white, to contrast Aether’s own black. It gave her an almost ghostly look.
The details of her hair and dress were off, but that was…
Aether felt his eyes water up.
There was only one thing missing.
Albedo said nothing as Aether reached out for a piece of white charcoal.
Through increasingly blurry eyes, he drew in- with the best of his pathetic, shaky abilities, a few more lines, flowing outwards from her hair. The flower clips she always wore; they were crude compared to the rest of the piece, looking more like a child’s scrawl over a masterpiece, but they were there.
He dropped the charcoal into the snow- he’d feel bad about that later, when he realized, but he didn’t pay it any mind for now. He was too focused on the drawing.
It was Lumine.
She was with him, leaning against him as they sat beside the fire.
He reached out, hand about to stroke her image before he caught himself. He backed up, and instead rubbed at his eyes with his arm.
“Flower hair clips?” Albedo mused. “Perhaps I should have known; simple and cute.”
Aether sobbed out a laugh. Albedo didn’t comment. “Yeah, she loves those things. S-she never goes without them.”
They had been a gift, from him. Just as his hair band had been one from her.
He took a deep, shaky breath, ignoring the way the cold air burned his lungs.
He wished he could see her again. Even if it was just for her to talk more about things that didn’t matter. He missed her.
What would she think of the sketch? With how carefully and lovingly drawn it was, surely she’d forgive the inconsistencies of her attire.
She was, at least to Aether’s eye, the prettiest one on the canvas this time.
“I apologize that it’s not quite a portrait. Next time you visit, I can make up for it. It just…felt like this was more fitting tonight.”
Aether shook his head. “No, it’s perfect, thank you.”
“I’m glad.”
It would go in his house first thing tomorrow, he decided.
He wouldn’t dare move Paimon’s portrait and risk her wrath, but he’d make sure to give it a special place.
Perhaps on the wall outside the room he’d been setting up for Lumine for whenever they were reunited.
“Ah, you know what?” A thought came to him. He would have to find a way to repay Albedo.
“Yes?” Albedo prompted.
“You’ve drawn me, it’s only fair I return the favor.”
The look on Albedo’s face was exactly what Aether needed to get in a good laugh.
He wasn’t sure why Lumine was so insistent on staying in this world, nor why she was with the Abyss, but he hoped she had also found dear friends to care for her while she was here.