citylogs | closed, catch-all

[ While the city may be populated only by the new arrivals, it seems like there's clearly someone running the show -- and whoever it is has been expecting their lot, given the welcome party, among other things. Xiao is disinterested in attending the celebration, though. This is a hostage situation, he's sure of it, and there really isn't anything to celebrate about that. Crowds aren't really his thing, anyway. He'd rather be alone while he struggles to adjust to the situation at hand.

It's why he's taken to doing something more worthwhile, like searching the city for resources. The pharmacy is what grabs his attention first, and he steps inside. Xiao walks up to the nearest shelf, and he does a quick scan of what's available to them.

He recognizes...nothing on the shelves. It's unsurprising, given that mortal medicine doesn't work on him anyway, but he's going to at least try to figure out what might be helpful to those who can make use of it. Pain medicine would be a good place to start. He's had people try to use that on him before.

Xiao starts picking up bottles, searching for the aforementioned medication. He's not doing this haphazardly, though. He's actually taking the time to read what these bottles are for. There's one with very fine print in particular -- when Keith enters the pharmacy, he'll be able to catch Xiao squinting at it. Even so, Keith's presence doesn't go unnoticed. Xiao's just trying to figure out why someone would cram so many words onto a very tiny container. ]

[ up to this point, the city has been a hornet's nest of mixed signals. hostile but welcoming, threatening yet empty. it has a particular way of keeping keith on guard and on edge, with little to ease the tension despite the utter lack of further menacing gestures from their hosts.

needless to say, keith isn't buying the "welcome party" facade for a second. scoping the scene felt necessary on the off chance someone or something showed its face there, but once again nothing really happened outside of some minor peculiarities.

so. more or less back to square one, keith is out to build up a stash of supplies for whatever eventuality does happen. he plucks up a shopping basket and makes his way to the pharmacy, scanning for basic medical supplies. obviously, someone else has had the same thought though, but with no greeting forthcoming keith figures it's fine to ignore the usual chitchat and get to finding bandages, painkillers, and whatever else.

...except that guy just keeps standing there in front of the row of analgesics, squinting at the bottle in his hand. ]

There are reading glasses over there?

[ Xiao wasn't planning on addressing the other man in the room, perfectly content to leave him to his own devices. And yet, Keith addresses him, mentions something about reading glasses -- ]

I do not require them.

[ His eyes flicker upward to look at the other man in the room. ]

I can read what's on here just fine. I simply do not understand why they decided to cram so many words onto a single label.

[ That's all there is to it. The bottle he's holding is specifically for ibuprofen. He has no idea what that is, but judging from some of the tiny text, he can discern that it's pain medication.

He holds up the bottle for Keith to examine. ]

Here. I have no need for this.

[ keith takes the ibuprofen bottle a little absent-mindedly, shooting the guy a querying look. ]

This isn't standard for where you're from?

[ not that tiny labels on medicines have to be some universal standard, but warning labels tend to be pretty descriptive, yeah? ]

Not at all. Not even the names are familiar to me.

[ Should it be? He doesn't know. Though the warnings are helpful, he can only guess that Doctor Baizhu is adequate at giving them when they're needed... ]

This sort of medicine does not work on me, anyway. I am only trying to understand what we have at our disposal, in case there's some kind of emergency.

[ he's old sorry keith ]

Is that why you're here?

[ zero familiarity with earth-based medicines. claims that said medicine wouldn't even work on him. conclusion? ]

Are you ... like an alien or something?

[ yes, he's aware that he was also asked a question, but clearly getting this sorted takes precedence. ]

[ ... ]

No.

[ But he's not human, either! Perhaps he's said too much, though. He shouldn't be casually giving his adeptus status away.

He clears his throat. ]

It is just...ineffective. That's all.

[ ineffective. okay then. keith's alien senses continue tingling away, but he'll at least drop the subject for now. ]

So... you're looking for medicines for a friend?

[ tone deliberately casual as keith stuffs the ibuprofen bottle in his pants. ]

If you're not familiar with these, you should probably be careful. A lot of these are pretty bad for you if taken in excess.

Something like that. I want to familiarize myself with what's here, in case of an emergency.

[ And he knows of at least one person from Teyvat who's here who might need something like this, so... ]

I briefly saw a recommended dosage on one of the labels. Seems simple enough to understand. ... You should take what you can before there's nothing left.

[ There comes a time in which Xiao is, in fact, curious about the party. He won't dare to go too near, as he is actively trying to avoid getting dragged into any shenanigans. Parties are not his thing -- the dinner he attended during the Lantern Rite was about as much as he can (sort of) reasonably handle -- so he's content to just walk the perimeter of the fair and observe. He does not intend on staying long. He just wants to investigate, is all.

It's noisy. It's uncomfortable. The noise throws him off-kilter and makes him a little less aware of his surroundings. It's why he almost doesn't see the person who also happens to be on the perimeter of the party, and stops himself in his tracks just before they can make a collision. He wouldn't have noticed Tartaglia if he hadn't caught a glimpse of a human figure at the corner of his eye.

He frowns when he glances at the other man. ]

...My apologies. I did not mean to get in your way.

[ in complete contrast to Xiao, Childe lives for this sort of shit. it's a nice distraction, and it does a good enough job of ensuring they all play nice with each other under the pretense of celebrating their arrival, and were it anywhere else it probably wouldn't have any kind of sinister undercurrent whatsoever.

but the truth of it was palpable, felt in the air and in the unease of the body language in the throng of the crowd. they were all waiting for the axe to fall. some disguised this better than others, and perhaps it could be ascertained that Tartaglia was among them, nursing a solo cup of some colorless liquid that smelled strongly of paint thinner.

he's not drunk, or tipsy, or anything; far from it, in fact, so he's able to stop himself before any inevitable collision, empty blue eyes sweeping over the other's form curiously - but not cautiously. ]

It's all right. Goodness knows this place is crowded enough you can hardly walk more than a few feet without bumping elbows with someone. [ a pause. he gives Xiao a cursory once-over, feeling a strange sense of familiarity; something in his clothes, in his appearance, in his tattoos? ]

... Huh. You're not from my world, are you?

[ Likewise, when Xiao glances at Childe, there is something about him that feels like...home, almost. The attire? No, that's definitely not from Liyue, but there's something hanging on his hips that makes things all too obvious. This guy is from Teyvat. Childe's Vision is somewhere far more visible than where Xiao keeps his (near his wrist, though it may not be immediately obvious, what with how his arms are folded over his chest), which makes it easy to determine.

For a moment, Xiao is quiet -- and then his eyes flicker up to the mask on Childe's head. They linger there for a moment. What an interesting fashion statement. Then, he meets Childe's gaze again. ]

I would be lying if I said I wasn't.

[ Hm. ]

That is a Hyrdo Vision on your belt. It's unmistakable.

Edited (FIXING SOME STUFF gomen) 2023-07-12 19:13 (UTC)

[ This wouldn't be the first time he has walked past City Hall, in fact, Xingqiu has previously ventured into that building in his search for information — that proved a fruitless search. His gaze caught by that structure, he can't help but wonder if Adeptus Xiao has also made an attempt to search for clues there. They wouldn't be the first, likely they wouldn't be the last people to riffle through blank archives and sheets found there. He soon shakes his head, focusing once more on the path ahead.

They agreed to meet at The City Hall Station — He assumes this spot was chosen because this is a well-known and centralized location, but he also would not have rejected an Adeptus proposed meeting spot. Not that he would believe that the Conqueror of Demons would be anything but sensible.

And wasn't it fortunate that behind the name xiao there was someone he had hoped for? Of course, he had considered it could be an alias much like his own display name. That may have turned a little embarrassing. Or he could have made a new friend. He is simply glad it was the Adeptus. That's why his steps hurry as he wants to arrive promptly, already aware they going to have a serious discussion. Although he doesn't suspect that this meeting may have partially been influenced by the Adeptus having trouble with the technology. Xingqiu believes that it is simply a need to quickly communicate what they know, and more importantly, search for clues at the station.

Once he arrives he can see that despite rushing, he isn't the first to get here — which makes sense to him. Adeptus Xiao is Adeptus Xiao. ]

Good to see you, despite the circumstances.

[ Most, if not all locations, are fruitless search material. Xiao has checked City Hall every now and then for any updates, any additional clues, but alas -- he is always met with a dead end. Still, Xiao figures this is the best place to meet Xingqiu, since it is, indeed, a well-known and centralized location.

Xiao is there before Xingqiu, and has his arms folded over his chest with his back pressed up against the wall. Anyone who doesn't know any better would think that Xiao's carrying the stance of someone who's incredibly impatient, but as soon as Xingqiu shows up, he lifts his head and lifts himself up and off the wall.

He nods at the boy in greeting. ]

And you as well. I hope this meeting place is sufficient enough -- I could not think of a more convenient location.

[ It's difficult for Xingqiu to gauge if the Adeptus has grown impatient with the wait but nothing in his tone indicates as much; he hopes Adeptus Xiao hasn't been here long. Then again, he isn't as familiar with him as others might be, so he is ready to offer an apology if necessary.

As it turns out his previous line of thinking had been correct — this place is definitely convenient. Any new arrivals would have crossed this point. From here they could always move their conversation somewhere more private or even comfortable. Honestly, he would have suggested meeting at his apartment but perhaps that would have delayed this conversation. ]

This place is perfect. However, if you're inclined to accept my invitation... I have chosen a place to take residence in the meantime. I can brew us some tea.

closed, catch-all

@ keith

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/slides with late

LMAO CRYING

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RUNS IN HERE

@ tartaglia

shows up hours late with starbucks

ALSO shows up hours late with starbucks

🐌🐌🐌

:D!!

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