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The first time he sees her, she's quite young. He usually feels no pity, nor sadness, for the other subjects. He treats us all like a gift to the world, so why are you complaining? he wants to ask them. But for some reason, this time he can't bring himself to be angry at her. Not this one.
Is it because she's so small?
It's a complicated feeling, and he's glad that he only sees her once, in passing.
--
The second time he sees her he's gone to Sumeru to gather materials for something and she's a bit older, and he's older still. She's happier, maybe? He doesn't know whether to approach, but thankfully the choice is made for him when she glances his way by chance.
She runs away.
--
He's on his way back home from another week of arranging for new fabrics and talking with suppliers in Sumeru when he runs into her - she's a lot happier (seemingly), quite a bit older, and is following behind a fox-kind. The Tailor looks away and keeps going on his path. It's better this way. It's best if he never--
A pull on his sleeve.
"C-could I talk to you?"
--
"Of course I remember you."
"I know that you were his subject, too. You understand, then! You have to know what he did!"
"I do. I understand. Yet, my demon is dead. Yours is not."
Collei is silent.
The Tailor looks away at the horizon.
"Go."
She's battle-ready: he can see that. "You expect me to believe that you're only here to--"
"Our meeting was nothing more than chance, Collei." He looks at her, eyes ablaze. "I will tell him nothing of you. Nothing of what happened today. You can go, but know that if you ever come after him, I'll have to stand in your way." His gaze softens "It's just how it has to be. But it's not personal."
"You can come with me," she says after a pause. "Or-- just leave. He won't find you."
"Even if that were true, he's not my demon." Lior shakes his head. "There isn't a force on Teyvat that will keep me from him. So go to your savior, Collei, and I'll go to mine."
She gives him a look - one of pity, he notices, but you can't expect everyone to understand - and runs off. He goes the opposite way.
