Scaramouche

"Why did she leave you?"

.

.

.

You

"Huh?"

Scaramouche

"I've actually been uhm..."

"Trying to look for you."

You

"Well duh, back then everybody did."

"... Y'know, the few years while I was free and roaming Inazuma."

Scaramouche

"No- Not for your bounty. To... Have this conversation."

"I don't know what I'd do with all that mora anyways."

"Truth is..."

.

.

.

"I respect you."

You

"The fuck? No, you don't!"

You laughed.

Scaramouche

"Well- It's fucking complicated, okay?!"

You

"So? Continue what you were saying, though it seems like a big lie hah!"

Scaramouche

"Ugh."

"Sometimes shit like this makes me not wanna respect you."

.

"Aside from that — answer my question."

You

"Uh... What was it again?"

Scaramouche

"Ugh- Fucking idiot!"

You

"Teehee, sorry!"

Scaramouche

"I asked you why she left you. Like- What was the reason for it?"

You

"Oh."

"Well... Why did she leave you?"

Scaramouche

"That's what I'm asking you, dumbass."

You

*Sigh* 

"I have to answer?"

Scaramouche

"Duh!"

You

"Hm..."

"You're bleeding again."

Scaramouche

"I don't give a fuck. I'll take care of it."

"Now- Stop avoiding it-"

"And give me an answer."

You

"Uhm..."

.

.

.

"So!"

"We were on a walk together. And she told me she had a surprise for me."

"Her surprise was pushing me off a cliff."

Scaramouche snickered.

You

"Oh shut up."

Scaramouche

"Pfft! No- It's just... I'm imagining it in my head and my vision is so fucking hilarious!"

You

"Didn't she do the same thing to you?!"

HUMBLED!!!

Scaramouche

"Yeah, but it's funnier in your case."

You

"Whatever."

.

"Ei said she didn't need me anymore. I guess I was an experiment to her — but she was my everything."

.

.

.

"And then you came along."

Scaramouche

"Yup. It was fun while it lasted, I guess."

"She's my mom after all."

"She told me about you. At the time, I thought what she did was wrong."

.

"I still think it was wrong."

.

"But I like to think of it as hilarious! Haha!"

You

"Tsk."

"... She talked to you about me?"

Scaramouche

"Yeah... Sometimes."

"The stuff you used to do for her that she expected me to do."

*Sigh*

.

.

.

"Figures I was just a useless puppet to her in the end."

"Funny enough, she had enough mercy to let me go on. Instead of discarding me completely, she let me live."

"Look at how that turned out."

You

"... Hm."

"Look at that."

"Ei had a surprise for me. She left me."

"Thoma had a surprise for me."

.

.

.

"He also left me."

"Maybe I'm just not meant to be surprised."

Scaramouche

"The reason why I wanted to find you and talk to you is because..."

"Some people tell me they can relate to me."

"That's not fucking true though."

.

.

.

"But with you... It's different."

"Considering the fact that you've been through the exact same thing. So you truly know what it feels like..."

"To be thrown away."

You

"Hm. Guess you could say that."

Scaramouche

"Mhm."

.

.

.

"Weed gummy?"

You

"... Huh?"

Scaramouche

"Weed gummy."

He said, pointing at the dresser.

You

"Hah... No fucking way!"

"I've been locked up for so long, I forgot what it felt like to get high!"

Scaramouche began to chuckle.

Scaramouche

"Don't consume the whole bag. It'll kill you."

You

"Nah... Death doesn't work for me."

.

.

.

-PRESENT-

You

"I should... Be looking for Thoma..."

You and Scaramouche were still staring up at the ceiling, the bright vibrant colours closing in on both of your vision.

Scaramouche

"Man, fuck that... Guy..."

You

"I already did."

Scaramouche

"Hah... Was he big?"

You

"Yeeeah..."

You said, with slurred speech.

For the last two weeks, all you and Scaramouche had been doing was having lengthy discussions about Ei while high on whatever substance you could find in the vicinity. You both finished all of the packages that Scaramouche had stored.

.

.

.

-ON THE OTHER SIDE-

Thoma

"I'm home, My Lord."

Thoma said while taking his shoes off at the front door.

Ayato

"... Earlier than expected."

He was already sitting at the dining table.

Thoma

"Pardon?..."

Ayato

"I said..."

.

"Earlier than expected."

Thoma

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Ayato

*Sigh*

Thoma

"Hey- I told you I'd only be gone a day... I promised you."

"Did you really think... That I'd leave like that again?"

Ayato

"I don't know..."

"Maybe."

Thoma

"Hey."

Thoma moved a chair beside Ayato and sat at the table with him.

Ayato

"..."

Thoma

"I know I left you in the past. And I'm sorry."

"I wasn't there for you when both you and Ayaka needed me."

"But those days are over, right?"

Ayato nodded.

Thoma

"Are we in the past?"

Ayato shook his head.

Ayato

"... No. We're not in the past."

Thoma

"Exactly. History won't repeat itself."

Ayato

"..."

.

"So — how did it go?"

"Do you feel free now?"

Thoma

"Oh."

Thoma began to sweat, anxious of the thought of you being set loose. He couldn't let anyone know.

Thoma

"They uh... Didn't let me see them."

Ayato

"Oh? Why's that?"

Thoma

"They figured it was too dangerous and all."

"The last time I visited them I told them that I was leaving Inazuma, and..."

"They just completely snapped."

Ayato

"I think that's for the better."

Thoma

"Hm?"

Ayato

"That you didn't see them."

"I agree with those soldiers, it is far too dangerous for you and Y/N to meet face to face."

Thoma nodded.

Ayato

"You must be tired. You should go get some rest."

Thoma

"I will, My Lord."

Thoma got up and walked toward his room.

.

.

.

-A FEW HOURS LATER, EI'S RESIDENCE-

The Archons have been conducting constant meetings at Ei's residence to discuss the problem in secret.

Morax

"What are we to do about this, Ei? It's been a bit over two weeks — no luck. No leads."

Kusanali

"Well, it's not like they're causing trouble anywhere, correct?"

Ei

"That's not the point. Y/N is to be locked up at all times."

"It's impossible for them to do 'good'."

"Barbatos, you're monitoring weather patterns in Mondstadt, correct?"

Barbatos

"Yup! I have. Nothing unusual."

"Though... It's quite hard to tell when Bennett exists."

Focalors

"Does that not make Mondstadt a possible hiding spot and pinpointed nation? With the unfortunateness of Bennett, Mondstadt's weather could be altered due to him, or Y/N. We'll never know."

Ei

"Y/N's a hider. They know how to conceal themself in the best way possible."

-ON THE OTHER SIDE-

You and Scaramouche were wide out in the open now, chasing grasshoppers.

P.S, you both are still high.

-BACK TO THE CURRENT SIDE-

Ei

"So, Barbatos, if you were to search for them through Mondstadt, that wouldn't be easy."

"This is the Spirit of Teyvat we're talking about."

Barbatos

"Still worth a shot, though?

Kusanali

"Hm... It's not good enough. Barabatos would need help, but we Archons can't just leave our nations out of the blue. It would also be mysterious for all the Archons to be in one nation at once — someone will know something's up."

Morax

"I've heard those in the Harbour talk about the Archon energy restored into the Statues of The Seven. People will have questions."

Ei

"Damn it..."

.

.

.

"Find the Traveler. We need her for this."

LUMINE SUPREMACYYY