Finding The Real You - Kaebedo

Chapter XIV - Not-So-Intricate Conclusions

Kaeya and Albedo seemed to be sharing feelings a lot recently, currently they both wanted to either sink into the ground or jump off a cliff. Answering questions about his love life was never difficult for Kaeya, and Albedo didn't really have one to speak of if anyone asked a question. But this was embarrassing for both of them. They had already faced enough embarrassment and awkwardness in the morning, they didn't look forward to any more.

It didn't help that Lisa's questions always had some underlying meaning, they were always hinting at them doing some carnal act. It was like she was trying to get them to confess in an interrogation, if that wasn't what it already was.

Even though no one really wanted to think about the Albedo situation, at this point both Kaeya and Albedo would rather face the other Albedos in battle than sit through Lisa's questioning for one more minute.

"Lisa, we came here to get your advice on the situation. If you cannot help us, then we will take our leave."

"Alright then, what specifically do you need my help with?"

Who knew it was that easy for Albedo to stir the conversation in a more productive direction? If he had done that at the start of her interrogation then maybe they wouldn't have suffered so much..

"Glad you asked, we're looking for your help on the situation. Sure we've uncovered their motives and stuff, but what's next? We're not killing them unless absolutely necessary, so we need guidance from you on our next steps."

So far that was everything they had, and they probably looked stupid for not thinking of any other options and just thinking of (and crossing off) the extremes.

"What if we hold them captive? Surely you two considered that before coming to me, right?"

They hadn't.

"Now Lisa, what makes you think we didn't? If they were created by Rhinedottir, they'd have ways to avoid that or just break out of it, no? And it's not like we'd know specifically which one we had, right?"

Kaeya was just praying to have gotten something correct there. Anything to make them look a little bit more reasonable and a little less like they'd mindlessly wandered to Lisa asking for help on the most basic of tasks.

"The mimic wasn't created by my Master, so the mimic wouldn't have the mark. Think of the symbol as something left by her to identify that we were made by her doing, like a signature. And I doubt they'd be any more powerful than you or I, I am only this way because I was trained by her, they weren't."

Well that contradicts all of Kaeya's points. Now it was obvious that they hadn't considered it. Kaeya could already feel the disappointed stare burning through his soul. Why did he feel so inferior to Lisa? Or was her presence just all that threatening? Albedo didn't seem to be affected at all though.

"Okay but then how do I know which one you are?"

It was a valid question, and a failed attempt at getting Lisa's harsh gaze off him.

"Hm, I guess we'll need to sort that out too."

Well that certainly helped.

"So you really have nothing.."

When did all of Lisa's statements suddenly start hurting? It stung Kaeya, but Albedo was still left unfazed somehow.

"Yes, I believe we've gone through everything we could think of. That is, unless you have something to add, Lisa?"

Of course Albedo would be able to continue right through Kaeya's suffering, of course.

"If we were able to weaken them enough to be able to capture them we might succeed, but that counts on both of them being in the same place at the same time. I really don't feel like fighting, especially when it all depends on chance.."

Her sentence was followed with a long yawn, again.

"I believe that they'd stay together as a means of defence, and they would be able to exchange information quicker that way too."

Well Albedo covered one point.

"And how about we get them to drink some weakening potion or something? I'm sure one of you would be able to do that, right?"

For once, Kaeya was finally useful in the conversation.

"Hm, I suppose Lisa could do something like that."

"Why me?" Lisa held in a sigh when there was no answer. She felt really disappointed in the two, more so in Kaeya though. "Before I spend sleepless nights trying to create this thing, how are we going to get them to drink it? I doubt they'd need to eat, drink or even breathe for that matter."

"Correct. I was taught to breathe, eat and blink by my Master. It seems she was preparing me for the outside world so I would blend in whenever visiting the city, almost like preparing me for the day she left.."

Lisa propped up her arm on the table and set her head in her palm. All this thinking and for what? Another useless suggestion?

"Can't someone just make something that harms the person you throw it at? Or is that really impossible?"

Kaeya was now also getting tired of this conversation. He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms for added effect, so now Albedo was the only one sitting with proper posture.

"Where do you even get these ideas..?"

Lisa spoke under her breath while leaning back into her chair and rubbing her temples. It was more of a rude comment but at this point she was a little curious. Thinking of what to say next, she cocked her head slightly in Kaeya's direction and crossed her arms.

"I can make potions to enhance your elemental energy and make you stronger, I can even make food to give you energy, but the best I can do for weakening someone is making some terrible food."

She let out the sigh that was held in earlier, almost in shame even though she was the most useful in the group. At this point they might as well leave this all to Lisa.

"Hm, perhaps we could have someone prepare a meal that would give the one who ingests it food poisoning, and have Kaeya serve that to the mimic me as a gift."

Kaeya appeared to be zoned out until his name was spoken, he seemed to perk up at the mention of his name, but barely. Maybe he could finally be useful here instead of just sitting around and listening for once.

"I doubt it would be too out of character for him either."

The sentence was followed by a judging stare from Lisa to Kaeya. Why was she so mean to Kaeya but nice to Albedo? Or was Albedo just better than him?

"Well then it's better for us. If it were out of character, there would be much more work to do and we would've had to wait for Kaeya to build up a relationship with this mimic."

Albedo noticed the look this time, and tried to reason with Lisa for once. But as expected by Kaeya, it didn't work well.

"Is it decided then? If so then I'll go make the food."

No one spoke up or objected, so she stood up and left the room. Once she left, Kaeya grabbed Albedo's arm and dragged him out the room, so that they could spy on Lisa.

A childish reason to rush someone out of a room, but he knew that Albedo was at least a tad bit curious as to what Lisa would come up with.

:)

I considered just shoving Minecraft logic and potions of harming into the story at one point while writing this.

Word count - 1269