"do You Think If I Invited Childe To Sumeru To Catsit For Me, He'd Actually Do It? Or Is That Idiot Still

"do you think if i invited childe to sumeru to catsit for me, he'd actually do it? or is that idiot still chasing some inane high?"

.

"when you submerge yourself in water, you get wet. but water itself isn't actually wet, is it?"

an edit I just made because if I want a visual made, I'm gonna make it myself.

chongyun frowns at the laughter as he bends down to refill his waterskin. while he knows he SHOULDN'T take offense to it, as it's likely not personal, chongyun is doing exactly that: taking cyno's laughter as mockery. at least, until cyno explains himself. it's still not any better than the initial assumption. it's still enough for chongyun's slight good mood to fade.

"i'm not so sure what's funny about walking into traps." chongyun scowls at cyno, impatiently dragging his claymore across the ground. it's just a small quip that's muttered under his breath, a bit of snark he wants to get out of his system. chongyun wants to move, to get going. even though the pair will be walking further into the heat, deeper into the rainforest and finally, to the desert, chongyun doesn't like standing still for long. he wants to get to his destination, because at least the old temples in the desert will be inside for the most part. inside equals cooler.

"i don't have any better directions for you; i gave you all the information i have at my disposal." he wouldn't have minding spending a few days digging around sand until he found the one place he needed to be, but it'd be faster with cyno's help. chongyun just isn't entirely sure what more cyno wants to hear from him. it's the word 'vague', that has chongyun a little defensive. while chongyun trusts that cyno knows all of sumeru backwards and forwards, and can offer advice and help, chongyun doesn't trust him. chongyun also isn't stupid and naive to the point he believes cyno is offering his help out of the kindness of his heart ― there is mutual dislike here.

cyno seems like the type of person to operate entirely on facts and logic, while chongyun operates on faith and spirituality. the two personalities could be complementary in normal circumstances. but in this case, chongyun can't help but feel like cyno keeps trying to interrogate him for some information that is going above his head. something he maybe missed earlier in the conversation. or maybe chongyun is still too out of it to get a proper judgement of cyno's character. his words of waiting for a storm to pass sound a little more ominous than they should, but chongyun's pushing it out of his mind for now. he's tired of talking for the moment.

"and...save the jokes for now. i'd rather get a head start on this trip." he can appreciate the joke thrown his way. chongyun even smiles briefly. when they rest later, chongyun will CONSIDER letting cyno be as funny as he wants, as long as chongyun hasn't fallen sick first.

with a hand gripping his vision to keep cool, he starts walking now, not waiting for cyno. though chongyun suspects that the general won't be too far behind him, either. if anything, cyno will rush to stay ahead of chongyun in order to be a proper guide.

@oficeandwind

[Just because you're used to walking into traps, doesn't make the fact that you keep on doing it any less stupid. Normal people learn from their mistakes... Or I sure wish they did, anyway.]

Tighnari's words rang in his ears as though the Watcher was right next to him to speak them. At that, Cyno couldn't help but erupt into a chuckle that he cut short before the bowing Liyuan.

"... Sorry. I promise I wasn't laughing at you." He said with a wave of his hand. "What you said earlier made me think of something funny someone told me before."

He did not elaborate on the matter further, not wanting to risk offense. Instead he returned the gesture and moved on, taking a few steps away from the creek to give the other room to refill his waterskin before they took their leave. His arms crossed over his chest.

"Though I'm afraid your directions are still pretty vague. What ruins get half-buried in the Great Red Sand change with each blow of the wind. It is very possible we might have to wait for a storm to pass before we find any... and maybe even spend some days digging our way in. The spirits of the desert aren't known for their... ghost-pitality."

CHARACTER HEADCANONS - ALBEDO

Chongyun knows of Albedo, but doesn't know him personally. Chongyun's run into Albedo's camp on Dragonspine a few times, and has seen him from a distance once or twice. Chongyun is impressed weith the knowledge Albedo possesses and has yet to work up the courage to actually say hi.

Chongyun doesn't know a whole lot about alchemy or science in general, since Chongyun comes from a more religious/spiritual background. They'd be willing to learn though. Chongyun's traveled to Mondstadt and has spoken a handful of words to Timaeus, but most of it was more "I'm busy, here's the crafting table." Which...admittedly wasn't helpful, and not the person Chongyun wanted to talk to.

Chongyun probably has some fan tendencies where Albedo is concerned though. This cool mystical alchemist that Chongyun wants to say hi too, but is too awkward and shy to.