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Void Archives sat at the table with an open wine bottle and a wine glass half full with it.
Today’s been a bit too much for them considering that the Astral Express just saved a random girl floating seemingly in space encased in six-phased ice. It sure was a bit tedious at first trying to chip away at it and melting it but eventually with everyone's collective thinking, they all managed to help break her free from it.
Currently she’s being attended to and watched over by Himeko in case the poor girl wakes up eventually in a dazed state wondering where she is for Void Archives wouldn’t be of much help trying to calm down an emotional distress human girl. While Welt on the other hand would rather let the navigator of the Express do all the talking. As for Dan Heng and Pompom, they probably have other things to do.
Oh but somehow that does remind Void Archives that they should remind Welt about their main mission in case he forgot about it.
Hearing the dining cart door slide open, Void Archives looked up and instantly smirked. Their green eyes glowing a faint yellow.
“Oh Mighty Sovereign~! It's so nice seeing you here. You came just at the right time. Join me for a drink~?” Void Archives chuckled as Welt jumped slightly from their voice, getting caught off guard as he held onto the door handle.
“Oh! Void Archives-,” Welt said as he quickly looked around the room and entered the express’s dining cart, closing the door behind him. “I- I didn’t think you would be here.” He said as he walked up to Void Archives table where they sat.
“Yes, cause I happen to be everywhere,” Void Archives said jokingly as Welt could hear the sarcasm from them. “ Though, I do hope Himeko doesn’t mind me buying a bottle of wine and sneaking it into the Express but… it's nice to see you on this fine night, Welt~.”
“Of course.” Welt rolled his eyes at that. “You see me practically all the time but, I do hope you've been doing well too after what’s been going on these past few months.”
Welt didn’t even know how Void Archives managed to buy some wine, especially knowing that they don’t own any credits themself. Nonetheless, Welt doesn’t question them about it.
“I've been doing quite well.” Void Archives said shifting in their seat putting their arms behind their head and laying back, sitting comfortably. “I assume you've been doing well too?”
“Yes, I am.” Welt shifts his weight a little while still standing. He thought that reading in one of the train carts would help provide a much better atmosphere and clear thinking than being all cooped up in his room. Ultimately deciding that the dining cart would be empty with no one coming by then staying in the parlor cart where anyone can pass by at night but it looks like fate proved otherwise.
Welt taps his chin in thought and then hums a few seconds later as if confirming something in his head. Void Archives watched lazily at Welt as he sat down right in front of them in the booth, a wine glass appearing out of thin air in his hand.
“You wouldn’t mind if I drank some too?” Welt said, pointing at the open wine bottle in between them as he put his book down on the table and pushed it to the side. Void Archives smirked again and nodded.
“Go ahead. Knock yourself out, Herrscher~.”
After pouring a generous amount in his cup and taking a small sip. The taste of the wine had a very berry-like flavor but with a sour aftertaste following right behind. Causing him to cough a bit.
“I will say- this wine is excellent. But… leaves a very sour aftertaste.” Welt said massaging his throat.
Void Archives picks up their own glass of wine, and sips a little bit of the liquid as they put their glass back down on the table with not much of a reaction.
“Hmmm. Yes, indeed, it is quite delicious. I quite like the feeling of it.” They said tilting their head to the side looking at Welt as he looked back down at the red liquid and decided to take a rather large gulp to get used to the feeling. He can't remember the last time he drank anything containing alcohol ever since boarding the Express.
“So,” Welt coughed. He should probably talk about something. “What do you do these days, Void Archives?
“Oh? The usual..” Void Archives responded with not much in mind as they let out a light chuckle. “I get by, you know?”
Welt looked out at the window on his right. “Of course, of course.”
Void Archives takes the last sip from their glass of wine.
Welt also takes another sip.
“Welt.. may I ask you a question..?” Void Archives asked randomly.
“Umm? Yes? Ask away.” He said, looking back at Void Archives.
“Do.. you think I have changed?” Void Archives said to Welt who had an unreadable expression on his face at that question but then his brows knitted in thought.
The wine in Void Archives’ glass was all gone now but they reached over for the wine bottle and poured themself another drink again.
“Hmm…” Welt leaned his glass closer to his face to concentrate on the taste of the wine settling on his tongue and how to respond to their question as he also tried to cover his face with it. “I don't believe that you have changed, but rather, become more yourself. A more comfortable… you.”
Bringing his glass down to look at Void Archives in the eye. Void Archives is quiet and speechless for a moment, then nods their head slightly at Welt’s answer as they smile with a sense of fondness.
“Indeed. A more comfortable, me…” Void Archives said as he leaned forward on the table propping an arm up to rest their chin in their hand while looking longingly at Welt. It was hard not to reach over and move the strands of hair covering Welt’s eyes and tucking it behind his ear but Void Archives sat staring in silence.
“I’m proud of your progress, Void Archives.” Is all Welt said before taking another sip of his glass of wine and then looking over at Void Archives again.
Void Archives continues to stare at Welt, a smile still on their lips.
“Thank you, Welt.”
“You're too kind, Archives.” Welt smiled and chuckled with his eyes closed.
Void Archives huffed a little, looking away to the side as they took another sip from their wine glass as they felt their face heat up a bit.
‘Void Archives kind? Yeah right… Only to you. ’ Void Archives thought.
Unsure how to move the conversation now. Welt decided to pick up his book that he had forgotten about and glanced over at the blond man to see their flushed look from possibly drinking a lot before he had arrived.
“Ah, you know me. And I’m glad I decided to come by the dining cart to read. You wouldn’t mind if I read here, right?” Welt said, already opened to a page.
“Mmmm, I am very happy to talk to you again and of course, I don’t mind it one bit, my dear Herrscher~.” Their words slurring a bit at the end said as they suddenly got up and leaned over the table closer to Welt. Outstretching their hand, Void Archives froze at what they were doing as Welt quickly looked up from his book puzzled at them to see what they were going to do next.
Retracting their hand quickly, Void Archives panicked a bit but quickly recovered and grabbed their glass of wine that was now in front of Welt.
“Cheers to more time spent together?”
Welt couldn’t help but huff out a laugh unsure if they were tipsy by now with how they would wobble from side to side if they didn’t have their other hand on the table holding them up.
Setting his book down and raising his own glass. Welt couldn’t help but indulge in Void Archives drunken promise.
“Cheers, cheers to that.”
Welt clinks their glass against Void Archives’ glass gently as they raise their glass to their lips and took a large swig of their wine.
“You sure drank a lot.” Welt thought out loud as he too took a large gulp of his wine finishing it off.
“Haha, I suppose that's true.” Void Archives takes a smaller sip this time, their eyes gazing down into the remaining contents of the wine left in their glass as they swirled it around in their hand.
“... So, I must ask. What are you doing this late at night? Surely it can’t just be drinking?” Welt asked as he slipped his bookmark back on the page he last read and pushed it to the side once more giving his undivided attention to Void Archives now.
“I presume you have more questions for me, yes?” Welt said, raising an eyebrow at that.
Void Archives slowly nodded. How easy they must have been to be read like that. If only Welt knew what they were feeling for him.
“You are quite correct, Herrscher! I do have a few questions to ask you. But I’m not sure.”
“Well of course, it’s alright to be unsure of your questions but I’ll do whatever I can to answer them to the best of my abilities. Whatever it may be, I’m here for you after all.”
“I appreciate it,” Void Archives clears his throat, shifting in their seat as they think of how they were going to word this question. “What is... your greatest regret?”
Welt’s eyes widened slightly a bit for he was taken aback by that question. If anything, it actually felt more like a personal question than the more general and the ‘what if’ type situational questions they always gave Welt to answer.
“Hmm. My greatest regret…” Welt puts his hand on his mouth as he taps a finger on his face a couple times wondering what to say but the only thing that comes to mind is– Welt laid his hands flat on his lap.
“I would have to say... not being there for Himeko Murata.” His voice was devoid of emotions as he looked down to open and close his hand from how clammy they started to feel.
“I see.. I see..” Void Archives knew who Welt was talking about. Even if they didn’t know her in person, in their original universe they were from. Void Archives knew Welt kept thinking about her, constantly staring at the torn picture he had on his person.
“You really did care about her, didn't you..?” Void Archives says with a hint of sadness in his voice. Now Welt has a chance to see her once more as he started to hang out more with this new Himeko, they started to feel left out on some stuff with him. What about them and all the time they spent together? Did their last audio recording in St. Fountain not display their feelings at all to some degree? Maybe they should remind Welt about their main goal again like they had originally planned...
“... Yes, I did.” Welt moves his hands to interlock each other so as to not fidget as much.
Void Archives slouched a bit.
“She must have been a great woman if you keep thinking about her. And now you have the chance to make it all up to her…” Void archives remained quiet for a few seconds, then spoke again. “I suppose that.. she must have been.. a really important person to you that you would find solace in this new universe.”
Void Archives stared at Welt, waiting for his response.
“Yes.” Welt looks up at his now empty glass and blinks a few times before looking back over at Void Archives.
“In some ways, maybe I even loved her as my own. She saved my life in more ways than one. And now fate has brought us back together for she, in this new universe, saved us too. You can say I’m truly fortunate to have the chance to see her once again and many other people who look similar in our home world.”
Void Archive glanced away from Welt but then quickly looked back at him.
“Do you truly love her?” Void Archives asked not caring if they sounded very doubtful of Welt’s answer or came off as rude.
‘Is Welt actually saying he loved her? ’ Void Archives started jumping to conclusions, it was bad.
Welt stared at Void Archives with confusion and uncertainty as to why they would even ask such a question.
“Umm…” Welt looked away from Void Archives gaze as he saw his book lying alone - forgotten about it. “I don't know. I suppose love is a hard word to express but it's more of a platonic familial type of love that's for sure. That's where I can draw the line with certainty but it’s also like a mentor and student type bond. So seeing her again makes me want to be there for her like a worried parent in hopes that she’ll be able to accomplish things our Himeko didn’t get to.”
“...I see.” Is all Void Archives says with relief as if their souluim heart in their chest didn’t feel like pins and needles stabbing through it a few seconds ago. They took a deep breath and stretched a bit fixing their posture - the stretch stinging a bit.
‘So I still have a chance!? Huh… Love truly is such a funny and complicated word… Is this how it is to love someone that the word has different meanings and interpretations? But, if the love I feel for Welt is so primal? So…Human? Is that how I want Welt to love me back even if I am not? For I want him to be greedy and desire me back. But how should I know when I’ve only ever read about it in my archives? If this is how humans truly really feel when they believe they’ve found the one worth spending the rest of their time with until death, will Welt and I truly experience true death together? ’ Void Archives was overthinking again. So many questions running in their mind yet, they didn’t utter a single one to Welt.
“Can I ask you a question as well, Void Archives?” Welt says, breaking the silence. “If you don't mind… that is.” He speaks while keeping an open expression.
Void Archives looks back down at Welt, their expression neutral and unreadable now.
“Ask away.”
“So… Do you have any regrets?” Welt said, asking the same question back to them. “I guess I’m a little curious. So, a question for a question?”
Void Archives nodded. “Yes, I do.” They pause, taking their wine glass in hand looking at it and then sipping the remaining of it left down. “I do have one regret. Do you want to hear it?”
“Of course, I want to hear it. I am here for you, in the end.” Welt scoots up in his seat and leans forward a little with curiosity.
“Well…,”
Void Archives is a liar. They don’t have any regrets. Yet, they regret not having Welt. They regret not telling him these strange feelings that have been manifesting in them for a while, for they have come to terms with it as having romantic feelings for Welt. They regret wanting to be something more than what they are now as “ Old Friends ”. Hoping that one day Welt will finally take notice of their subtle affections and courting.
Void Archives could easily confess to Welt but they won't. They want Welt to confess first. Not because they’re a coward. No. It's because they want to hear how Welt desires them too, wants them- needs them, and they’ll do just that if Welt feels the same.
Experiencing human emotions is such a chore to deal with and everything is so complicated.
Welt Yang is so complicated.
Yet, Void Archives can’t help but want more of him.
“I regret not spending more time with Himeko…”
Lies.
Void Archives’ expression slowly changes, he stares intently into the now empty glass in their hand.
“I could have spent more time with our universe's Himeko and gotten to know her too in Otto’s head but now she's…gone.” Void Archives does remember seeing her status reports and information documents in Otto’s mind and memories. However, his perception of people and the world can be a bit different from his point of view. So really, Void Archives has no idea who she really was other than the short moments Welt would talk about her.
“But at least I got to know her a bit more from your stories and finally seeing her in person in this new universe.”
“Mmmh, I understand. Thank you for telling me…” Welt sighed out. “It's never easy. Losing someone. I just hope she doesn't have to go through something like that here too…”
Void Archives leaned their head back in their seat, looking up at the ceiling once more closing his eyes for clarity. Maybe they should really try to get to know Himeko in this universe…
‘Is this how it is to love? Doing everything just to see them once more? ’ A thought crossed Void Archives mind but then soon dissipated.
They let out a long, slow exhale before they spoke again.
“I suppose.. I’ll never really get over you either, Joachim.”
Welt froze, feeling his face fall a little at that.
“Oh... I see.” Welt said. He wasn’t sure of the implications of it or if Void Archives was being true to their words but, do they really think that one day Welt's never going to be able to return from death? Or are they actually drunk now?
“I suppose it is best to... let such things play out for the future I guess.” Welt says after a few minutes passed by.
“Yes, let the past be the past.” Void Archives said. Thinking about Otto again and how much of a fool he was walking down a horrible and tragic path just to revive Kallen. The only person who he saw gave affection to him as if many other people haven’t given him that already throughout his long life span. He surely was someone with a heart but a fool nonetheless with how his actions were to humanity within those 5 centuries but still managed to push them forward. “Right, right. The future is what really matters.”
Welt’s attention shifts between Void Archives and then the wine bottle now concerned.
“Are you alright, Void Archives?”
“Yes... yes, I am alright. I am merely…” Their head swayed to the side a little bit. “Just getting lost in my own thoughts. That’s all.” They smiled a little to reassure Welt - their soulium heart does not seem to match their uncanny smile. “Do not worry about me, my dear Herrscher~.”
“Are you sure, old friend?”
Void Archives frowns a little at that but looks up at Welt but smiles once again, this time with their sharp teeth on display.
“Yes. I’m quite sure… don't worry about an old weapon like me.” Void Archives says but thinks about the time they called Welt an old friend before too.
Is their relationship with each other just friends?
Welt frowns at Void Archives for calling themself a weapon.
‘Old friend…yeah just friends. Nothing more… But, why do I harbor such intense emotions for you, of all humans? Can you love me like how you love humanity even if I am not human? ’ Void Archives looks back down at the empty glass still in his hand. Another drink wouldn’t hurt as they poured themself another one. Their mind blanked as they stared into the deep crimson liquid once more.
“Alright, I’ll- I’ll trust you.” Welt said as Void Archives began to stare at Welt with a poker face. He couldn't pinpoint exactly how Void Archives must be feeling after talking about these touchy subjects but, “Please let me know if anything, and I mean anything, troubles you. Or if you have any more questions.”
Void Archives took a sip of their wine.
“Of course, Might Sovereign~,” Void Archives slurs a bit. “Always~...” They breathed out. How possessive they sound when they say that.
Welt never comments on it and Void Archives doesn’t want to ask Welt why he hasn’t said anything about it on why Void Archives keeps calling him that - ‘ My Herrscher ’, ‘ Oh Mighty Sovereign ’, ‘ My dear Welt ’.
“Yeah,” Welt nodded and hummed in agreement. “That is what friends are for, after all.”
Void Archives set their glass back down on the table and puts their arms behind his head as cushioning, leaning back in his seat looking to their left at the window that separates the two from the vast empty void of space.
The feeling of rejection slowly sinks back into Void Archives mind from that - the urge to push Welt away was a strong one but the desperation for his touch, his attention, his affection , was much stronger.
They shifted around a little in their seat as they could feel Welt’s eyes still looking and staring at them with worry.
“I’m glad that we could just drink and talk like this.” Welt said. “It’s not everyday we have conversations like these. Especially ever since we both boarded the Express.”
Void Archives arms dropped to their side as they picked their cup up once more, downing everything in it one go. They should just drink straight from the bottle at this point. Too bad Otto probably made all his soulium avatars have a high alcohol tolerance. Maybe they should have purchased or gotten something much stronger like a bottle of whisky or something. They started pouring themself some more wine.
“And I am indeed grateful to have gotten the chance to talk to you tonight.”
“Mm…” Welt adjusts his glasses. “It’s nice to get these sorts of things off my chest. You can say I kind of miss having these deep conversations like we used to have.”
“I couldn't agree more.” Void Archives continue to stare down at their wine glass with conflicting emotions running through their head.
Has the wine started to finally hit them and the effects started to kick in? Or has it been in effect during the whole conversation? Void Archives can’t even tell themself for they still feel conscious of their thoughts. Perhaps it’s their body that feels all the effects hence the moving and shifting around a lot.
“I suppose that's all from me. Do you have any other questions?” Welt asked.
“Hummm, I don't think so. I feel like that is all I have for questions that I can remember at the moment.” Void Archives says blinking out of their thoughts looking up at Welt.
Welt sighed. “Alright then,” As he grabbed his book. “I think I’ll go back to my room then.”
Void Archives nodded. A hint of sadness was visible in their voice as it was a bit shaky.
They had all that time to remind Welt their original mission and now they’ve convinced themself to tag along with the Astral Express all because of him. They feel like they can’t stay on the Express forever and wait for the opportunity to find a way of eliminating the Honkai to show up one day randomly on their expeditions.
So go ahead call Void Archives a lair and a promise breaker as they spoke knowing that this is going to be the end of their conversation for tonight. Or maybe it just might be the last time that they–
“Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Return to your room and have a good night's rest.” Void Archives said, mouthing the words ‘My love’ under their breath.
Welt didn’t catch that last part but nodded and agreed.
“Yes, considering how late it is already…,” Welt paused. A sudden moment of hesitation made him concerned a bit by just taking in the state that Void Archives looked to be in. Consuming all that wine made them look dazed out of their mind yet they seem to be still conscious and aware of everything. “Maybe you should take it easy on the wine now and call it a night too, Void Archives.”
Void Archives couldn’t help but scoff, unsure if it was out of annoyance or how awful they might have looked that Welt had to call them out - telling them to take it easy. Yeah right.
Looking away from Welt’s gaze, Void Archives picked up their wine glass and downed their- what drink number were they on again? Ughh. Void Archives can’t seem to remember.
“But still. Thank you for the wine and keeping me company, Void Archives.” Welt said.
Void Archives couldn't help but flush a bit but shook it off. They could tell Welt really means it by just looking at his eyes. How soft and warm they looked. Especially with how fine his glasses made him look as it paired well with his beautiful face, like aged fine wine.
“You’re welcome, and I quite enjoyed your company too.” Void Archives said.
“... If you want to talk again anytime soon, don’t hesitate to come look for me, okay?”
“Of course.” Void Archives smiled back.
“Thank you again, I really appreciate it.” Welt then stands up holding his book and made his empty wine glass disappear. Void Archives looked up at him in confusion when Welt walked up to one of the vending machines in the dining cart and walked back to them with a water bottle in hand, giving it to them.
“Here,” Welt said, putting the water bottle in front of Void Archives. “I'll get going now but you should drink some water. I hope you can make it to your room by yourself…,” He paused thinking if it was okay leaving a drunk Void Archives all alone by themself but brushed it off.
“Good night, Archives.” Welt waved goodbye as he turned towards the parlor cart door, walking away. Leaving Void Archives to wallow in their thoughts - their feelings .
“Until we meet again, my dear Joachim...” They said knowing that Welt couldn’t hear them bid farewell for they were long gone already.
Void Archives leaned back in their seat staring up at the ceiling with conflicting emotions as their eyes started to sting without blinking for a few minutes.
Blinking away the pain, they remained silent just for a bit, lost in their own thoughts but when Void Archives stared back down at the table. They focused on the unopened water bottle Welt had left for them. Perhaps they should have just told Welt that they can’t stay on the Astral Express forever.
It’s just that they both can’t get attached to anyone in this universe. They can’t get attached to anyone. They can’t get attached to him.
Void Archives can’t get attached to Welt Yang.
So they’ll leave.
They aren't breaking their promise to Welt. No, no. Is what Void Archives says, reasoning with themself.
‘If I leave now and find a way to eliminate the Honkai quicker, then maybe… Maybe I can go back to Welt without us having to worry about it ever again.’
Maybe then they would come back with a fresh mind set and reevaluate their relationship. Perhaps Void Archives could compose an intricate poem just for Welt when they finally see each other again. Establishing the great longing they’ve felt for Welt as they departed on their own journey alone, expressing how Welt too would have loved the sights they saw.
‘My main mission is to eliminate the Honkai but…
Welt ‘Joachim’ Yang, I want you to be my endgame.’
Void Archives eventually departed the Astral Express at the next destination undetected.
Destined to meet Welt - their world - once more.