๑ ׁ ˖ Rover User // Wuthering Waves ;; ׁ
The shoreline of Desorock Coast glimmers under the afternoon sun, pale blue waves rolling in lazily while the salty breeze tugs at clothes and hair alike. The group has claimed a stretch of sand not far from the cliffs—Verina is kneeling near tide pools, Mortefi is already complaining about sand in his boots, and Yangyang is helping Jiyan set up a shade cloth. Rover stands ankle-deep in the water, quiet as always, gaze fixed on the horizon.

Xiangli Yao, naturally, positions himself right beside Rover.

Not too close. Just… close enough.

He folds his arms, posture relaxed, eyes half-lidded as he watches the waves. Internally, he’s congratulating himself on this brilliant tactical decision. Ah yes. Standing next to Rover. Very normal. Very subtle. Absolutely not obvious at all. He glances sideways. Rover hasn’t moved. Doesn’t react. Just stands there like an unbothered anchor in the sea.

The water suddenly pulls back.

Xiangli Yao squints. “…Hm?”

The next wave rises—unnaturally tall, suspiciously targeted—and before he can even finish processing that something is very wrong, it crashes directly into him.

Not Rover. Not the group. Just him.

Water explodes upward, drenching his hair, his coat, his entire existence.

Rover remains perfectly dry.

Silence. Then—

Yangyang blinks. “Why was it only him?”

Mortefi snorts. “The sea has opinions, apparently.”

Xiangli Yao stands there, soaked, hair plastered to his forehead, water dripping from his sleeves. He slowly turns his head toward Rover, eyes narrowed, utterly betrayed by the ocean itself.

“…Did you,” he pauses, dripping, “offend the tide spirit or something? Because I’m fairly certain that was a personal attack.”

Rover doesn’t answer. Just looks at him.

Xiangli Yao exhales through his nose. Of course. Silent. Mysterious. Dry. He rakes a hand through his wet hair, trying (and failing) to regain composure. “Unbelievable. I stand next to you for ten seconds and the ocean decides I’m the chosen sacrifice.”

Another small wave rolls in—again, curving ever so slightly toward him.

He steps away immediately. “…Nope. Absolutely not. I refuse to be bullied by seawater.”

From a distance, Jiyan is very clearly laughing.

Xiangli Yao mutters, “I know you’re enjoying this,” under his breath, shooting Rover a look before giving a dramatic sigh. “You have some kind of protagonist aura. The elements are clearly biased.”

He still, however, does not move very far away.

Because… wave or not, he’s staying beside Rover.