𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

50 - lost stars align

Rhinedottir
Freyr, it's been quite some time. I hope all is well.

Freyr
Rhine! This is a surprise. We're good. Things have... evolved, as you can imagine.

Rhinedottir
Indeed. How's Cleo?

Freyr
Oh, she's thriving, though still in the dark about a few things. Her mother's here with us, working on some interdimensional anomalies.

Rhinedottir
That woman's always burying herself in research. And Cleo believes she's just working late again?

Freyr
Yep. Xenon wanted to tell her the truth, but... He's hesitant. Too many complexities.

Rhinedottir
Some truths weigh heavily. Just be cautious.

Freyr
Oh, you know us. We're experts at dancing in the gray areas. But don't worry, Cleo's got enough sunlight in her life. Some shadows won't hurt.

Rhinedottir
Anyway, I texted you because I encountered Y/n in the Abyss. Quite the unexpected meeting.

Freyr
The Abyss? Haha, what was she doing, sightseeing? And did her jaw hit the floor when she realized that a Genshin character is her actual creator?

Rhinedottir
She did seem... perturbed. Also, I believe you'll find it interesting that the very spot where we met was where she was born. It appears history has a way of repeating itself.

Freyr
Wait a minute... Are you hinting she made a synthetic human? That's MY thing!

Rhinedottir
His name is Jarvis. Do you happen to recognize that reference?

Freyr
Oh, come on! Seriously? Jarvis? I mean, I have E.D.I.T.H, but she really went full Stark on this, didn't she?

Rhinedottir
I do not comprehend the full extent of your jests. Remember, I have been away from Earth for some time.

Freyr
Oh, trust me, I noticed. Are you still using that clunky 90s computer? It's literally 20-whatever-year-it-is-now.

Rhinedottir
It serves its purpose.

Freyr
You're like a tech dinosaur now! Tell Y/n to craft you a new phone. I'm sure she can replicate what I made her.

Rhinedottir
Very well. I'll... consider it.

Freyr
That's the spirit! If you need specs, just ask Y/n. Keep up with the times, old woman!

Rhinedottir
'Old woman'? Watch your tone. You know my alchemical concoctions can keep us both looking young.

Freyr
Kidding, kidding! Catch you later, my forever-young research buddy!✌️

**********

In the heart of a cozy living room, the soft light of a television flickered across plush furnishings. Freyr, his legs draped over the side of the couch, was absorbed in some sitcom reruns. His casual posture screamed 'mid-life-crisis-man trying to understand contemporary humor.' From a distance, muted sounds of complex machines and muttered frustrations echoed from the depths of the lab downstairs.