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“Come on, just one glass, Miss!”
An immediate shake of her head looks to be the best response for such incessant requests. Tonight is exhausting enough for the woman sitting quietly at a bar in what she now considers the alcohol capital of Teyvat. Fascinating, just how many bottles of this ‘Dandelion Wine’ the bar’s patrons seem intent on finishing off. Much to her indiscernible dismay, her many crafty attempts to shrug off a drunkard or two were clearly in vain thanks to the gloating bartender before her. Admittedly it was her mistake for mindlessly stumbling into such a loud–and frankly quite rowdy–establishment, but the guide she was told to meet with was nowhere in sight. Thus, leaving the Divine Priestess with little choice but to cut her losses and find directions elsewhere.
Unfortunately for her, dusk’s curtains had long since come to a close, leaving nightfall to take center stage. In countless other possible scenarios she could have placed herself in, Kokomi could find a smooth, easy road to her end goal. However, the current situation is very far from anything she could think to conjure a solution for. Even now she remains at a loss, resolving to laugh politely at some offhand joke she did not understand in the slightest. Realistically she should muster the courage and simply ask for directions to the nearest inn, but every opportunity she spots is very swiftly shot down. The other option is appealing, that being to simply leave. There isn’t much stopping her, except for the passing glances the stranger beside her appears relentless in stealing.
With how on edge she feels knowing this, she should feel more incentivized to up and leave. If not for the undeniable hindrance fatigue poses to her, it’s becoming a chore to keep her eyes open, she might’ve endured a little longer to finally be set on her way. Then again, any tactician knows to walk away when a move would surely end in a mindless loop. Without a word she slides the stool backward, giving her just enough leeway to slip away with minimal noise. To her surprise, the man beside her chose that precise moment to stir and properly lift his head, gracing her with a staggering, earnest smile. A smile like that would make anyone pause, and Kokomi is no less susceptible to beauty than anyone, but perhaps there is a greater reason the sight of his face causes her eyes to widen.
She has no name to attribute to the smiling face gazing back at her, but she does know the title that comes with his presence. In fact, she knows a myriad of titles that come with the man now sitting upright, making direct eye contact with her. The Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, the Quartermaster of the Knights of Favonius, the fabled Frostwind Swordsman. He was somewhat of a known persona in the stratagems she’d studied from other lands. Mondstadt only held so many defensive and offensive routes she could properly dissect, but such a pitfall was filled by countless reconnaissance tactics with endless details down to the landscape and rivers. As the new stratagems say, the Outriders were responsible for the routes as well as the succinct depictions of Mondstadt’s landscape.
It was the Cavalry Captain who’d detailed the few combat tactics–tactics that even the one known as the Master Tactician took several days to properly wrap her head around.
His unconventional approach to combat amazed her, considering that she’d only ever seen a practice remotely close to that of the Captain’s in her own battles. Though, Kokomi’s intrigue would have to wait until she was properly lucid; she would never recover if her manners were to slip up while introducing herself. A slight bow and a smile would suffice for now, as it’s all she can muster before she makes her way into the night's sweet embrace. The night sky is something she and her troops learned to not take for granted. To appreciate the stars as though it’s the last time you’ll see them allows your world to gleam in their new light.
“Running off before I have the chance to catch your name?”
It’s fascinating that a voice could distract her from the pitter-patter of approaching footsteps. She does appreciate that he has the courtesy to stop at three paces. “I apologize, I’m afraid I don’t quite follow.” A husky laugh fills the silence between the two, and part of her wants to turn around just to see the smirk on this person’s face. Assuming he is who she imagines, that is.
“And I’m afraid I don’t quite buy it,” the sound of metal is enough for her muscles to tense. Right. She doesn’t need to fear it anymore, not here. “You were far too observant back there for me to believe that.”
A sigh slips from her lips as she glances over her shoulder, the smile she’d plastered on her face now laden with sweet sincerity. “I suppose I just can’t imagine why Mondstadt’s alluring Cavalry Captain would find the need to ‘catch my name.’”
Maybe it was the flatness of her tone that failed to align with her sanguine appearance, or maybe her willingness to play his game that caused this new bout of stunned silence. She has to admit, the lost expression on his face is very endearing. If she was intrigued before, now she is even more interested in seeing how he would respond to her lighthearted tease.
“You mean to tell me this isn’t common for you? I have to say, I’m shocked,” he tucks away his coin no sooner than a coy grin plays on his lips.
“It is not,” Kokomi shakes her head, ignoring the rising blush on her cheeks. “Tonight has hosted many firsts, I’ve realized.”
“What an honor it is being the first to introduce myself to Watatsumi’s Princess by flirting.” He laughs again, planting both hands in his pockets. “I gotta say, it feels a little wrong.”
Once, twice, three times, she blinks. Now she’s unsure of how to respond if not with quiet laughter. “Perhaps it is, Captain. I can’t say if we can consider this getting off on the wrong foot,” Kokomi turns to fully face him, her smile long gone. “In any case, I’d like to catch your name before I ask about the nearest place I can stay.”
“I’ll help you out,” he quips, “only if you go first, Princess.”
“I find it amusing that you know my lesser-used title, but not even my family name.” Kokomi closes her eyes, adding, “All this to say, I find many reasons to call your bluff.”
He cocks his head with a lopsided grin, hands up in a guilty gesture. “So you caught me, Miss Sangonomiya. Now that you know, would it be exceptionally rude to ask for your first name?”
“I’m amazed at your insistence, Captain,” she chuckles, taking a step toward him. “This isn’t how people usually react to your advances, I assume?”
“Not at all,” he takes his own step forward, never once breaking eye contact. “You are one very interesting lady, Miss Sangonomiya.”
“As are you, Captain…?”
As he lets out a heaving, playful sigh of defeat, Kokomi can’t help but notice the piercing blue of his eye. Part of her wonders if the one he covers would look the same. “Captain Kaeya Alberich, Knight of Favonius. I’d be honored should you allow me to accompany you, Miss Sangonomiya…?”
“Kokomi.” A strange surge of triumph washes over her at the simple act of learning his name. Kaeya Alberich. It suits him, in some strange way. “The honor is all yours then, Kaeya Alberich. Though my only request is that it wait until tomorrow morning.”
“I wouldn’t mind waiting for you, Sangonomiya Kokomi,” goosebumps dot her arms at the sugary inflections of her name. It’s been a long time since she’d heard her name from anyone’s lips. “As for where you’ll stay, I’d say it’s fit for a princess. A quaint inn with heaps of charm must be up your alley, no?”
“Of course, though its charm must pale in comparison to you.” Her eyes flick to catch his expression, leaving her well pleased. Kaeya Alberich has a very nice smile. “Thank you for your hospitality, Captain Alberich. Please lead the way.”
“It would be my pleasure, Miss Kokomi.”