[he hates being out here. here, in this land where susato died miserably, and he couldn't even be there for her last moments. coward, alisaie had said, and perhaps she was right—for though it might not have been his choice for her to die anything less than a swift death, perhaps it was on some level to let susato lead the night as much as she did.

he's never come to despise the cold as much as he has this week.

he's looking rather pale and a bit unsteady on his feet, but maybe it's just the chilly air? he frowns when it's kaeya who approaches.]

... I was really hoping it'd be someone else.

[not someone who's shown him kindness these past weeks, even after all he's done. also, well, not the person whom he was linked to emotionally for an entire week. honestly, this is terrible.

bringing up his one arm to his mouth, he coughs for a few moments. then, he reaches to pick one of the other objects: a snowglobe. (ha.)]

You... [he pauses, as if needing to catch his breath] ... You know that's not how this works, Kaeya. But all right—I'll play your game.

[and with that, he throws the snowglobe at kaeya before lunging for the sword.]