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~Cyno~
Walking in to work that morning I wasn’t expecting to hear shouting.
‘It’s too early for this.’ I thought as I went over to see what it was all about.
“Please, there must be something that you can do.” A familiar voice said.
I realized that it was Nilou pretty quickly.
But the officer was a new guy I really haven’t got to know yet.
“I’m sorry, if he had attacked you I would have been able to help.” The new guy said.
“He’s attacking my job. My friends' jobs. And you are saying there’s nothing to be done?” Nilou asked.
“I wish I could but I can’t! Come back when he sends a death threat.” He said.
Nilou ran out of there in tears.
I unfortunately couldn’t get to her before she dashed out of here.
So I did the second best thing, I went up to the new guy, took the case file and told him. “I’ll be taking this from here!”
He didn’t question me.
He’s probably still terrified.
But at this point I don’t care.
No one talks to my friends that way
I made it to Zubayr Theater the next day.
Everyone panicked until I informed them that I was there to help.
They weren’t sure about me at first but after a week of planning in my off time our plan was in full swing.
~Nilou~
I wasn’t looking forward to the performance
It was a going to be a great show,
But that man from the Akademiya was surely going to be there.
I walked to the Bazaar to see that everyone was standing near the stage.
When I walked up,
I saw Cyno on stage.
“Which creature has the worst personal hygiene in all of teyvat?” Cyno asked.
Wait a minute….
Is he..?
“Cryo Slimes.” Cyno said
And the theater was silent.
“What? You don’t get it?”
More silence.
“It’s because they always bounce on top of the water and never go in for a bath!”
Oh my archon he was telling jokes.
I laughed, mostly because I was not expecting the highly praised grand Mahamatra to be telling jokes on stage of Zubayr Theater thirty minutes before I was supposed to be on.
Apparently my laughter was heard because Cyno looked directly at me.
A hit of a smile was on his face when he realized it was me.
We hadn’t known each other that long.
We have played TCG only a few times together since that first time.
But the way he looked for me was like he knew me for way longer.
“EXCUSE ME! This event is out of your regular time slot. Seize this event at onc-OH General Mahamatra Cyno, what are you doing here?” The scholar who has been trying to take down the theater said.
“I’m telling my jokes. It’s my stand-up routine. And you’re getting in the way.” Cyno said with none of the humor he had a second ago.
“I’m terribly sorry.” The man said clearly just to not make Cyno mad.
“If you don’t laugh at my joke. You’re dead!” Cyno said
“Uhhh”
“Knock knock!”
“Who’s there?”
“Boo.”
“Boo who?” He said, clearly terrified.
“Why are you crying?”
“I-I don’t….know.”
“You will in a minute.” Cyno said as he pulled out his polearm
Before he could do anything the man ran away.
“Looks like my work here is done.” Cyno said as he put the polearm away.
“I’m sorry, what is going on?” Nilou asked once she made it to the stage.
“Oh? You weren’t informed?” Cyno asked.
Before Nilou could say anything, Inayah ran up.
“We wanted to surprise you. After all, it's not very often that someone from the akademiya comes to the rescue of the arts.” Inayah said.
“Thank you, General Mahamatra.” Nilou said.
“Please, when I’m off the clock just call me Cyno.” He said.
“Oh ok!” Nilou said.
“Now come on, we have to get you ready.” Inayah said as she dragged Nilou onto the stage
“I’ll see you after the show.” Nilou called out.
~Cyno~
“I stayed to watch the show. I original wasn’t going to, but then she asked me to stay
So I did. We went out to dinner after.” Cyno said.
“So let me get this straight, you two started dating because you stopped some akademik jerk from harassing her job?” Tighnari asked.
“What? No! We agreed to start going out later that night! After dinner we thought this could work.” Cyno said.
“So you two would not have figured out that you two work if that guy wasn’t a total ass?” Tighnari asked.
“Technically, we probably would’ve eventually gone out together after one of our TCG matches.” Cyno said.
“So, Faruzan is responsible for getting you two together?” Tighnari asked.
“Wow, I didn’t even think of that.” Cyno said.
“HA I WIN!” Kaveh proclaimed as he destroyed Alhaitham’s last card.
“Uhh Kaveh, that’s a cryo roll not Omni.” Alhaitham stated.
“WHAT? Oh dang it.” Kaveh sat back in defeat.
Kaveh had to end his turn.
Alhaitham won in one round after that.
Myself and Tighnari shook their heads at Kaveh’s misfortune.
And the topic of Nilou was forgotten for the rest of the night.