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Albedo brought out his sketch pad as he sat down at a table at the Good Hunter. He had arrived at least twenty minutes early. He wanted to make sure that he had enough time to travel down from Dragonspine to Mondstadt. He looked around thoughtfully trying to decide what to sketch as he waited for Angel to arrive.
“Mister Albedo! What can I get for you today?”
Albedo slowly turned his head to find Sara, the owner of the Good Hunter, had come to greet him.
“Good day Sarah. I’m still waiting for someone to come.”
“Mona and Klee right?” said Sarah, “Let me get another chair.”
“No, not them. Someone different this time.”
Albedo found himself stumbling over his words as if he had been caught doing something bad. He recognized himself as feeling nervous. Sara paused for a second before she spoke again.
“Okay...why don’t I come back in a few minutes? Do you know when they will arrive?”
“Hmm...I did come early,” said Albedo, “I will let you know once Angel arrives.”
“Angel?” asked Sarah, “As in the Knights of Favonius’ top political advisor?”
“The one and the same,” said Albedo as he shifted in his seat.
“I guess you two would know each other, being so high ranked in the knights,” commented Sara with a smile, “I will get your drinks ready then, I know her favorite. It will make a great impression on her!”
Sara winked at him and Abledo nodded in response before going back to his sketch pad. He was glad Sara had enough tact to not say anything odd and graciously help him instead. Goodness knows what would happen if it was anyone else. The only person whom he informed of today’s plan was Sucrose. Besides needing to check in on her progress at the lab in Mondstadt, he knew she wouldn’t tease him or ask him a relentless set of questions.
A few minutes later, Angel had still yet to arrive. As he waited, Albedo decided to sketch the flowers blooming in the pot beside the table. As he did, he pondered over the book that he had read about the bond between visions and their holders. Never would he have thought that his questions would lead him to that moment in the library when he ended up wanting the same book as someone else did. The subject was certainly fascinating and he wondered if Angel had liked the book just as much as he did.
Sarah had just come over with the drinks when Angel arrived. She walked quickly to the table and trying to catch her breath. She must have exerted herself to get here.
“Miss Angel! Welcome to the Good Hunter!” said Sara, “I already have brought you and Mister Albedo drinks!”
“Hello, Sara! Thank you so much!” said Angel with a smile as she sat in the empty seat, “I’m sorry Albedo if I kept you waiting.”
“I arrived early,” said Albedo shrugging his shoulders, ignoring the flutter in his chest that reminded him of a finch getting caught in a rogue wind.
“Would you two like to order now or should I come back later?” asked Sara.
The two of them told Sara that they knew what they wanted to eat. After Albedo and Angel ordered their food, Angel grinned at Albedo.
“I never got to properly thank you for buying that book for me,” said Angel, “You didn’t have to do so.”
“I wanted to give it to you so that you could read it sooner rather than later. Unfortunately with all the time I spend at Dragonspine, I tend to have books for a lot longer than most people.”
“Like how long? I hope you don’t get in trouble with Lisa.”
Albedo let out a short laugh, the flutter in his chest lightening for a bit. The finch has somewhat settled down.
“Oh no. I know well not to anger Lisa like that,” said Albedo.
Angel nodded.
“Lisa did track me down when I was on a work trip to Fontaine since I was late with a library book. She was mad because although we had not gotten far, it took her thirty minutes of walking to catch up to us,” said Angel, “It’s a terrifying and embarrassing experience I never want again. Anyways, I wanted to ask you, why did you want a book about vision holders and their attachment to their visions?”
“I could ask the same as well,” said Albedo, “I’m just curious as it doesn't seem that a political advisor would be reading up on those subjects.”
Angel took a sip of her drink.
“I see you are redirecting my question back to me, but I guess I can answer it first. Although, I won’t let you get away without hearing your answer,” said Angel with a wink.
Albedo felt heat on his cheeks. He wondered if he was blushing as much as Sucrose did when she got flustered in many social interactions. Angel let out a short laugh, presumably at Abledo’s face and his cheeks burned. It was confirmed now, he was blushing.
“It’s actually an interesting story, but long story short, it was about someone in Liyue that I met,” began Angel, “They were originally from Inazuma, but had escaped due to the Vision Hunt Decree, you know about that right?”
“I have heard it in a debriefing meeting with the Acting Grand Master,” said Albedo calmly, “There’s also a decree that limits trade too. It’s a shame since it limits the experiments I can do without materials from Inazuma.”
“Good. I mean not good about you not getting supplies, but good that you know what is going on there without having me to explain,” said Angel, “This person I am talking about is actually is a wandering samurai with an Anemo vision, but he also carries a dead vision with him too.”
Albedo raised an eyebrow and he crossed his arms.
“Does he hope to be able to wield two visions at once?”
Angel shook her head and then her facial expression became serious.
“It was his friend’s...his friend was killed by the electro archon. He didn’t want to give too many details, but he grabbed his friend’s vision before the archon could confiscate it.”
“How fascinating,” said Albedo, hoping that his voice didn’t make him sound unsympathetic, “This person sounds very interesting.”
“He was interesting to meet. Maybe you will meet him one day, He did tell me that one day he wanted to come to Mondstadt and pay respects to Barbatos. He’s now on a quest to find out if anyone can “reactivate” his friend’s vision.”
“It’s like in the book,” said Albedo, his eyes widened as his brain started to connect the dots, “The book says that many have tried with dead visions to “reactivate” or bring back the vision to life. I have never heard of that work.”
“There are rumors that Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, received her vision that way,” said Angel.
“Really?,” said Albedo, “Tell me more.”
As Angel spoke Albedo nodded his head and said a word or two here or there to let her know he was listening. As she was talking, he was itching to sketch her but knew that now wasn’t the time to do so. He tried to pinpoint why exactly he wanted to sketch her right away. Maybe it was because of her smile or how her eyes seemed to spark with a glow of excitement as she talked, Albedo felt warm and content. It must have been the sunshine though.
“Now, Albedo, tell me. Why are you interested in dead visions?”
“Well-”
Albedo was interrupted by someone else.
“Hello there Angel! Oh, hello Albedo! I did not expect you to be in Mondstadt back so quickly.”
It was Kaeya Alberich, the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius. He had a wicked smirk on his face as if he found what he saw with his one eye amusing. Albedo was used to this behavior as he knew how that man found amusement in anything, but this time it truly annoyed Albedo. Even to the point of making him uncomfortable. What was his purpose behind interrupting him and Angel?
Then Albedo thought of something that would cause Kaeya to feel unprepared to respond to
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were eagerly waiting for me,” said Albedo, “Do you want me to send you a letter next time?”
Kaeya’s eyebrows shot up while Angel began to laugh, but quickly covered it with a fake cough.
“No need Albedo,” said Kaeya, “I hate to interrupt your lovely lunch, but unfortunately the Fatui called a surprise meeting with Jean. It looks like they are trying to clear their name over a fraud scam at the Goth Hotel. Jean needs your help as you are an expert in dealing with those from Snezhnaya.”
Angel sighed.
“The Fatui are a constant pain in the ass,” she muttered quietly before turning to Kaeya, “Give me a minute to wrap this up and I’ll be there.”
“Good. Don’t keep me waiting. Unless Albedo wants to join in on the political action?”
Albedo shook his head.
“I know I am much better at the alchemy crafting table than I am with the games of politics,” said Albedo.
“Suit yourself,” said Kaeya.
Kaeya walked a few steps away, but he had his eye on the two of them. Angel had a frown on her face and her eyes were missing their spark now.
“I’m bummed we didn’t get to discuss much,” said Angel, “Especially since I didn’t get to hear much from you. I’m sorry I took up all the talking time.”
“Don’t apologize. It was nice to listen to someone who knows so much besides me,” said Albedo, “I look forward to meeting like this again.”
Angel looked taken aback by Albedo’s words. She smiled and Albedo smiled back, glad that his words had helped her.
“Okay then, I hope you don’t disappear up on that mountain for a month or two. We should meet again soon! Otherwise, I will come up there myself!” said Angel.
“Inviting yourself over?” asked Albedo, with a smirk.
Angel gasped.
“That’s not what I meant! I would warn you in advance with a letter. Wait, you’re teasing!”
Albedo chuckled and Angel shook her head, but she still had a smile on her face.
“Just let me know through writing when you are planning to come back down,” said Angel, “Thank you so much for today! I hope you have a safe journey back to Dragonspine.”
Angel got up and turned to leave when Albedo found himself saying, “Wait!”. Angel turned around, with a puzzled look on her face.
“I think...I think maybe if you wanted to. ... You could come to Dragonspine. It would be nice to have your company.”
Angel grinned.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Although is it wise for a Cryo vision holder as myself to be in an area like that?”
“Angel!” called Kaeya.
“Coming!” said Angel, “Bye Albedo! See you later!”
Angel quickly walked over to Kaeya and they began to walk together. She did take a moment to look back at Albedo and waved at him. Albedo waved back and once Angel and Kaeya disappeared from view, Albedo closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Sara then came over.
“That’s sad that your date cut short, do you want me to back your meal for you?”
Albedo's eyes opened wide and he looked at Sara incredulously.
“That was a date?” he asked and then he felt himself fall back into a more collected mindset, “Huh, that was nice.”
“Nice?” asked Sara.
“I’m still trying to process it,” said Albedo, detecting that Sara was not expecting “nice” as the way to describe a date.
Sara then smiled as she nodded her head.
“Well, let me take your food, and here’s the bill, it looks like Angel already paid for her food, and oh! She paid for both of your drinks! The meal then was 300 mora.”
Albedo gave her the mora and as he waited for Sara to pack his lunch, he kept thinking of the word date over and over again. He had certainly heard about dates, but he never had been someone with a focus on that. But now that he had been on one, he could see why it was appealing. Especially if it was with someone like Angel.