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Citlali falls to the ground going unconscious as Gaming takes the field, with Furina quickly pulling Citlali away to heal her. The three have been engaged in combat with a Tenebrous papilla at the traveler's request for a short while now. Once again rising into the air Gaming crashes back down using the cryo left behind by Citlali to cause melt, Furina notices his pain and switches to her pneuma form to heal him and Citlali.
When Citlali finally gets up, after being forced fed one of her own tatacos she instantly rejoins the fray along with Furina to help Gaming. Soon after calling upon itzpapa and Man Chai the boss falls and a ley line root breaks out of the ground, using the resin given by the traveler they obtain the requested resources, and counting everything up they cheer as they realize they've finally got everything they need.
"UGH, I'm simply exhausted I can't believe we had to fight that thing so many times." Furina complains as she quickly makes her moves to the exit of the cave their in only looking back when Gaming says.
"Woah you good auntie? I can carry you if you're feeling unwell." Gaming offers moving closer to make sure Citlali doesn't fall.
Citlali puts up a hand while leaning over to catch her breath and says, "No need I can have citlalin carry me." Citlali summons citlalin and collapses onto it while grumbling about being tired.
Gaming follows after adding his own thoughts, "I'm beat, anyone up for some food I have some stored in my bag and I can warm it up real quick."
Furina pauses for a moment unsure as she remembers the food Hu tao had shared with her when they met, while Citlali accepts being unwilling to make anything for herself after having fell unconscious so many times.
Reaching the exit of the cave Furina summons her salon solitaire using them to keep herself cool from the hot Natlan weather while Gaming soaks it in and Citlali just covers her eyes. Finally looking to the side they find the campsite where Traveler is waiting for them, along with their supposed fourth team mate.
Gaming hands over the supplies they they asked for saying, "Honestly that guy was pretty dope but seriously you've been calling us to beat em up pretty often who even needs all this stuff?"
Traveler counts the stuff and seems to start thinking as they say, "I'm helping a friend, Iansan, get stronger so she can help make someone who helps me often get stronger." Nodding the traveler adds on, "Ok yeah I got everything I need, you guys can rest here for as long as you want I have to go deliver these supplies, see ya."
Without any other warning the traveler suddenly disappears as they normally do, Gaming sighs saying, "Honestly if I could do that that would be super useful, but it would be pretty boring too the journey and fights are much better then just teleporting.
Furina and Citlali each disagree with Furina saying, "I cannot handle this heat, infact I wish the traveler had taken us with them so I can return indoors sooner."
And Citlali says, "If it means getting back home I don't care about the journey."
The three fall quite as Gaming offers up the food in his bag while Furina heals them of any injuries and Citlali reads a book she brought with her. Gaming plans to talk but stops when his eye catches on their fourth party member sitting off to the side while holding a small penguin thing. Gaming's eye had been caught by the beautiful blond since the first time the traveler had brought this little team together but to this day even with near daily being called to help he's yet to hear a peep from him.
The blond would always leave as soon as the missing is over so he never gets the chance to talk to him, but now with them all sitting here he thinks maybe he should. His want to talk is trumped by an uncharacteristic anxiousness as he wonders why the person seems to never talk to them. Seeing as they can't ask the traveler about them he goes to the second best options, leaning in close he whispers to the two women, "Hey do you know who that is? Has the traveler told you?"
Furina finishes the food in her mouth and says, "He's Freminet I'm not particularly close with him I know only a few things seeing as he is from fontaine and played a part in the, um.." she goes silent taking a bite and adverting her gaze to Citlali's confusion while Gaming doesn't pry having seen the steam bird paper about the hydro Archons story. Adding on Furina says, "I'm unsure as to why he is here though seeing as he never actually joins in our battles."
To this Citlali says, "I had asked the traveler and he's just here because there was an empty slot in our team so now he's here." Gaming seems a bit defeated at knowing that both of them knew more than he did but his resolve to talk to him increases as he now knows him a bit more about him. Citlali raises an eyebrow at Gaming's happy expression and asks, "Why are you asking about him?"
Gaming says, "I'm gonna talk to him," and with no pause gets up to go talk to him. Furina raises an eyebrow at him and just watches while Citlali closes her book amused at his clear infatuation.
Taking a seat next to Freminet Gaming opens with, "Hey, Freminet right?" Freminet nods moving a bit away out of nervousness because he is talking to him, "I'm Yip Gaming, just call me Gaming though." Gaming flashes a smile which Freminet can't deny is nice. Picking his conversation topics and words carefully Gaming surveys Freminet for something to talk about and sees the penguin, now held close to the blond's chest, and asks, "What's that?"
Freminet looks at where Gaming points and when he sees Pers he relaxes a bit, "He's my best friend, Pers."
Gaming marvels a bit at the cute penguin and soon after the cute expression on the blond's face as he looks at the toy, trying to continue the conversation Gaming says, "I have a buddy like that too!" Gaming whistles calling Man Chai towards him. Man Chai quickly reaches Gaming nuzzling into his cheek, while Freminet's curiosity is peeked as he looks at him.
"Who is that?" He asks his focus changing to the small suanni.
"Man Chai, he's a suanni, he helps me with my dances. When I first met him I thought he had a pyro vision in his main honestly I was so shocked but nope it was just a red rock, the story on how I got my vision is a lot less cool I just got it while doing my job, honestly I thought it was some else's at the time." Freminet listens to every word still amazed by Man Chai watching him slowly moves closer to him before just sitting i front of him, like a perfectly behaved pet.
Gaming stares in shock confused as to why he'd actually following his name instead of messing up Freminet's hair, Freminet doesn't notice as he reaches out to pet him on the head while saying, "He's very cute."
Gaming chuckles finding it both cute and impressive, "You must be something else if you're able to get Man Chai to behave."
Freminet shakes his head and says, "No I'm nothing impressive I'm only good at diving and tinkering, I'm not even strong enough to help you guys fight, why does the traveler even bring me a long." Freminet drops his head both confused and disappointed in himself.
Seeing a chance to both flirt with and comfort Freminet Gaming says, "Ya know it said that pretty things bring good luck, so maybe the traveler brings you a long as a good luck charm." Freminet seems shocked by the answer while in the background Gaming can hear Citlali laugh and Furina gasp, having finally realized Gaming's intention.
"I don't think I'm beautiful enough for that, Lyney or Lynette would be better suited to that." Freminet retracts his hand from Man Chai who seems to pick up on his sad tone and look to Gaming who is confused how someone like him could consider them self to not be beautiful. Seeing that Gaming and Man Chai went still Freminet says, "Sorry I just brought down the mood... You can go back to talking to the others."
Still wanting to talk Gaming says, "But I wanna talk to you."
Freminet looks at him and sees a strange amount of resolve in his expression, "Why?"
"Cause you seem cool." His response only furthers Freminet's want to distance himself not wanting to face his disappointment, however, he's not given the chance to as Gaming asks, "You said you tinker with stuff so did you make Pers?"
Not wanting to be rude Freminet responds to Gaming's questions until he forgets the goal to leave and eventually falls into conversation with him. During all this Citlali watches pleased in seeing a live and more realistic version of her book, while Furina considers telling Gaming of Freminet's fatui affiliations, but chooses to keep quiet as the house of the hearth is a relatively calm Fatui branch, according to Neuvillette.
"You can fix one of those mechanical stoves from Fontaine?! Dam that's impressive honestly when something breaks around my house I'm kinda just screwed I either buy something new or pay someone to fix it."
"Where I live I fix most of the broken things so we don't face much issue with that."
As Gaming readies a response the traveler walks up to the camp startling all of them, "I've delivered the stuff so I can take you guys back." They all nod with Furina quickly walking over more than happy to leave.
Gaming add, "Tsk too bad, but I do have to get back to Chenyu Vale we're doing a delivery to Fontaine today."
Freminet looks down before asking, "Could I help?" Catching everyone off guard.
Gaming quickly recovers saying, "Uh yeah sure we may be the best delivery company in Liyue but we're a bit understaffed. So just tell your folks when we drop off Furina and then yeah we'd be happy with the help." Freminet seems pleased with the answer as the two boys stands in silence with the other watching.
A question pops into Furina's head as she asks, "Traveler, Citlali told us that you said you brought Freminet along to just fill in the team but I do wonder why him specifically?"
The Traveler looks at Furina and smirks clearly having just figured something out, "Actually he asked to join us." Furina and Citlali raise an eyebrow as Paimon adds.
"We had no clue why, but now seeing how he is around Gaming I think I know why. You see he asked to join when you and Gaming we're introducing yourselves, meaning of course Gaming was there. So between you two, me, and of course the traveler, he most definitely joined because he has a crush on Gaming." Furina and Citlali seem a bit shocked but looking at Freminet's bashful expression it seems obvious.
Citlali then picks up on something and asks, "Wait is that why you left us all here? So that they'd finally talk?" Both Paimon and the Traveler smirk with their silence answering the question.