Ricin | Genshin Impact | Albether

Even if rain falls

"I won't be able to meet you today, sorry."
10:38 am

Albedo frowns upon seeing the message, although he doesn't ask any questions - he wouldn't want to press on such an insignificant matter.

"What happened?" Lisa asks, not looking up from a book.

She is currently finishing her work for the day- or rather finishes her work from yesterday on her free day because she was too lazy to do it back then. She just needs to check a couple of books for any damage, though.

Albedo is simply sitting in front of her and waiting. Today - as any other Saturday - Albedo, Lisa, and Sucrose were supposed to have their weekly meeting but-

"Sucrose won't make it today," he says, almost sighing. He leans forward on the table and listens to the quiet sound of Lisa turning the book's pages slowly.

"Well, that's unusual," the woman admits, surprised. She closes the book and stands up. "Did they tell you why?"

"No," Albedo says simply before turining around to look at where Lisa is going, "Are you done already?"

"I am," she responds and reaches out for her coat draped over a nearby chair. It's October and the weather is getting colder. However, Albedo is content with this fact because he never was a fan of high temperature.

He stands up and begins dressing up as well. Lisa left to find the keys to the library in the meantime, so he looks at his notifications after finishing putting on some warmer clothes. All of them are from Instagram - his followers are asking about his next drawings. He sighs and puts his phone away.

It's pressuring. He works well under pressure, but 1.2 milion impatient followers are way too much pressure. On top of having an art block, drawinh starts to become more of a chore, a work - something he swore it would never become. He declined all the offers of work, but drawing still became tiring. At this point, he might accept an offer of making posters for Venti. Even if he is annoying and way too persistent for Albedo to have at least some sympathy for him, although it's not the only reason as to why he harbors distaste for the man.

"Won't you be cold?" Lisa asks when she enters the main room of the library, only to see Albedo wearing a hoodie on top of his T-shirt.

"I'll be fine," he says, remembering that one time said he'll be fine and then had a cold.

He supposes that not being bothered by low temperature doesn't equal avoiding the consequences of exposing oneself to it.

The thought about his terrible cold brought back the memories of his ex boyfriend. At the time it was great - Kaeya took care of him, even if Albedo said he didn't need it. He'd be lying if he said that these days weren't fun, despite how terrible the cold made him feel. A few months later, though, he stood up Albedo on one of their dates. He didn't think much of it - everybody forgets sometimes. Of course he was sad, but he understood, tried to rationalize with himself. Then it went only downhill when Kaeya began to have less and less time for Albedo, everyday was a new excuse. "Did I so something wrong?" he wondered, but never got an answer - Kaeya avoided conversations. Albedo tried to understand, he really did. He gave his boyfriend space because maybe there was a reason behind it. Soon, Albedo caught him cheating on him. With Rosaria. They were sure great drinking buddies. Very great. That was the last straw. He didn't want to be a fool, to believe in good intentions. Even if Kaeya was drunk, this was no excuse.