[ There are still some things about living a normal life, among normal people in their normal cities, that elude Zhongli. He’s getting better about remembering to keep mora on his person, but he is also learning that his judgement of the true value of things is very often… wrong. Money has ever been no object for him, and so when a merchant tells him the price of their wares, he does not think to argue or haggle. He simply pays without question and drains his coinpurse after only a purchase or two more often than not.
That, he fears, will be a work in progress for a very, very long time. Thousands of years of habit are proving very hard to break.
But on the subject of the mundane, it was not until sometime after the Moonchase Festival and this latest in a long line of bittersweet reunions with an old friend that the idea of a vacation was floated to him by Master Hu, and Zhongli realized that for the first time in eons, he could very truly go wherever he wanted.
He wouldn’t say he and his fellow Archons (former or otherwise) bear each other any sort of love - as far as his relationship with Barbatos goes, he barely tolerates the bard's drunken antics, but he supposes, if really pressed, he could think of worse people to be around. The Anemo Archon aside, it's the Traveler’s fond tales of the City of Freedom that ultimately make his choice easy.
Mondstadt is a far cry from Liyue in a lot of ways, and not just geographically. In spite of his own distaste for the man, he has to admire Barbatos for being so willing to leave his nation in the hands of his people long before he himself ever thought to. Even a short time in the city proper is enough to tell him that these are people who love, live, and thrive by their own will. Free as the breeze. It’s fitting.
A short time in the city is also enough to remind him that he has yet to have supper, and perhaps it might do for him to sample some of the local specialties while he’s here. Mondstadt is known for its wine, and a local tavern seems to be the most sensible place to start. Thankfully, the Traveler’s stories included the Angel’s Share, said to be run by the head of the Dawn Winery himself.
A very good place to start, indeed.
The tavern carries a different sort of atmosphere than the outdoor eateries of Liyue, and he can feel eyes on him from the dark corners of the room as he makes his entrance, tall and dressed in foreign garb. The man behind the bar eyes him too, assessing though his expression remains on the polite side of impassive. ]
Good evening.
[ Easily, simply. A bit of scrutiny is certainly not going to shake him. ]
Are you the gentleman in charge of this establishment?
Edited (changed some things around don't mind me) 2021-10-18 01:23 (UTC)
[It isn't often that a person walks into the Angel's Share that Diluc has exactly zero prior knowledge of. The need for appraisal is automatic, cross-referencing the face and attire with his memory and what intelligence he's collected over the years in an attempt to make some kind of association form which he can identify him. Ultimately he comes up with nothing--vexing, but not so much that he lets it show. Especially given how this man carries a significant presence despite himself.
He's clearly foreign, probably from Liyue as best as Diluc can tell. That explains the surprise--Liyue isn't a blind spot in his information network, per se, but it's low priority. It's a self-sustaining ecosystem, albeit one recently shaken by the death of its Archon, and while he's sure there's no shortage of darkness and corruption beneath its gilded image it's not a fight that Diluc is able or willing to take on just yet. The threat from Snezhnaya and the needs of Mondstadt are greater, the latter closer both in proximity and heart.
In any case, he certainly doesn't find any reason to turn the stranger away. If anything, he's intrigued. So he gives a small smile and plays host.]
[ If anything has come of Master Ragnvindr’s assessment of him, he chooses to keep it to himself, and that’s fine by him. He simply returns the polite smile, nodding a little in greeting. ]
I am called Zhongli. A mutual friend of ours spoke highly of you and your tavern, so I thought it best to see it for myself.
[ Bringing up the Traveler seems a good way to break the ice. He’s curious about the people of Mondstadt just as much as he is the city itself. ]
[Zhongli. Even if Diluc didn't recognize the man himself, he does know the name. He's a consultant with Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and with the Travler's assistance organized the Rite of Parting for Liyue's fallen deity.
(He's been keeping track of the Traveler's movements in Teyvat via his information network. It isn't that he doesn't trust Aether--much the opposite, in fact. The boy is young, talented, and fundamentally good. Diluc knows all too well how terribly that combination of traits can end up.)]
I hope we can live up to your expectations. Here.
[He hands Zhongli a piece of paper: the drink menu.]
Let me know if you have any questions.
[The fact that the man mentioned that he's also here to meet him hasn't escaped his notice. Clearly, he's left as much of an impression on the Traveler as he's left on Diluc. But he's opting for hospitality first, not least because talking about himself isn't really a thing Diluc does gracefully. Or at all, if he can help it.]
[ That Diluc doesn’t ask the name of their mystery friend is perhaps more telling than the bartender means it to be. He must have some ties somewhere that tell him enough that he doesn’t think to follow up – or perhaps he simply assumes that no one else but the Traveler could connect a man from Liyue to a man from Mondstadt.
He’d bank on the former, personally. There’s something in Diluc’s eyes that tells him he knows more than he cares to let on. ]
Thank you.
[ He slips into one of the seats at the bar, giving the menu a glance, though it’s clear he already knows what he’s here for. ]
A glass of dandelion wine to start, and if you’ve a meal that pairs well, I would take that as well.
[ No one tell Venti— but, well, he can’t very well come all the way to Mondstadt and not try their local specialty. ]
[Diluc may come to realize how much his quiet deduction and subsequent lack of follow up reveals. But in the moment he thinks nothing of it, reaching for a bottle and pouring Zhongli the dandelion wine he's ordered and sliding it across the bar before turning to flag down a server. In a quiet exchange, he gives the young man an order from Good Hunter to be brought back here and added to the man's tab. The Angel's Share's kitchen is nothing to speak of, more designed to provide bar snacks than actual meals, but the request for dinner with drinks is common enough that the tavern has an agreement with the restaurant for to-go orders in these situations. The Cat's Tail has a similar arrangement, if he understands correctly.
The server nods and takes his leave, and Diluc returns his attention to Zhongli.]
I hope you're all right waiting a bit on the meal.
[Given that it's being brought in from elsewhere and all that.]
If you'll allow a bit of curiosity on my part, what brings you to Mondstadt?
[It's framed as an innocent question, but his intention as ever is to probe for information. He doesn't know much about this man, and he intends to learn.]
[ He watches the exchange quietly, putting two and two together easily enough. The restaurant business in Liyue is competitive, as befits a city of commerce, but here in Mondstadt the prevailing notion seems to be “share and share alike”. How quaint. ]
No, I do not mind waiting.
[ In the meantime, he will simply have to sample his wine. He picks up the glass given him and gives the liquid a little swirl. He’s no great connoisseur of wine the world over, though he might claim to have some experience with it over the years, and he can certainly tell a fine vintage when he sees it. Time is kinder to wine than it is most other things. ]
Ah, me? [ The simple question curls his lips into a soft smile, something faraway in his gaze as he watches the liquid in his glass. ] I am on vacation.
[ Such a casual answer to a casual question, and yet there seems to be something more there. There is weight in the word that should carry joy, a sense of a long and arduous journey come to an end, of bright relief and terrible sadness sat side-by-side like old friends.
The mood lightens a moment later, as if the weight of the world had settled for a moment before turning onward. ]
It is as I said, I have a companion who spoke highly of this place, and its people. I have spent… a long time in Liyue, and thought it might be time to broaden my horizons.
[Diluc has been letting his gaze linger over Lumine more often than he'd like to admit, as of late. There's always a justification--to make sure she's well, to try and read her intentions, and so on and so forth. But there's something else there that he doesn't dare put a name to.
She's a trusted ally and a friend, and that's all. Neither relationship is something he gives freely, making her exceptional already. There's no need to complicate things further, especially given that they each have missions and goals they cannot ignore.
Even so... he selfishly tries to take moments like this with her when he can. It's nice to be able to share a meal and spend quality time together.]
You have nothing to apologize for. The Angel's Share is unharmed. By all accounts, you were quite jovial throughout the night.
[Did he ask around after her while waiting for her to get ready? Yes. Did Vile charge double her usual rate because, quote, "I have better things to do than keep up with your girlfriend?" Also yes.]
I'm just glad you're not feeling too unwell this morning.
[ Though she had been fairly certain that no destruction of property ensued last night, it couldn't hurt to be absolutely sure - so at Diluc's confirmation, she visibly relaxes, lifting a hand to her head and sighing as if to let go of any remaining stress and tension. ]
Ah, good. My head feels lighter just hearing that...
[ Relaxing into her seat just a bit more, though, she clasps her hands together and smiles at Diluc from across the table. ]
You don't have to worry about me, Diluc. I'm the Honorary Knight, after all.
[ She knows the title is likely lost on Diluc given his history with the Knights, but it's the same spiel she's given to anyone who's expressed even the slightest bit of concern for her since her return to Mondstadt around Weinlesefest. She's fine, really... ]
Until the rest of the Knights are able to keep up with you, that title doesn't mean much to me.
[She'll have to forgive Diluc for not taking her at her word on this one. In his experience, people who are Fine(tm) don't get blackout drunk at his tavern.
His concern runs deeper than just the extent of her hangover. He's fully aware that Lumine is dealing with far more than she's willing to discuss, given her search for her brother and her tendency to get involved in the affairs of gods and geopolitics.
But he won't pry; like him, she keeps the worst of it close to her chest, and that's something he respects and deeply understands. So instead, he remains close and available to her, and hopes that's enough.]
And being a Knight, Honorary or otherwise, does nothing to prevent hangovers.
But, she's more than happy to drop the whole knights thing, given who her current company is. Diluc is forgiven, especially now that she has a little more insight into his past and his thoughts on the Knights of Favonius after he'd allowed her to read those letters... ]
I suppose there's no convincing you. What can I do to ease your mind, Diluc?
[It's maybe an hour before closing and the Angel's Share is sparsely populated tonight. With the nights getting shorter, it's no surprise. And perhaps Diluc might even be tempted to close up early, what with the autumn equinox fast approaching, but before he can consider locking the door-- something wicked this way comes.]
Ah, there you are. [He slides onto a barstool like he didn't just disappear for a few weeks in Sumeru without telling anyone but Jean.] I thought at this hour you would have made your way home. Imagine my surprise when Elzer told me that you were still toiling away out here.
[The temptation to close up the Angel's Share is there, but Diluc doesn't give into it. There are few customers tonight, true, but the number isn't zero. With the nights falling earlier and getting colder, they're better off in here than out on the streets.
A certain someone breezes in and takes a seat at the bar, and he finds himself simultaneously glad he's kept the tavern open and angry at himself for not shutting up shop before he had the chance to arrive. Kaeya has a way of bringing out complicated, contradictory emotions in him like that.
He sighs heavily.]
You know as well as anyone that Angel Share's hours don't change over until after the autumnal equinox. Better than most, even.
[Given how often he makes it a point to be here and all.]
I see you've decided to re-grace Mondstadt with your presence.
Hahaha, and here I thought the first frost wasn't due for another month, at least. [Kaeya keeps his voice light, but his eyes tell a different story. What story? Well, he's keeping that to himself for now. But he is never quite as easy to fool as he appears, a fact that Diluc knows intimately.] My heart has been wounded, but I could probably recover if I had a glass of Mondstadt's finest wine in hand...
[He rests his chin in his palm and smiles that damnable smile while his legs curl about the barstool, as he's unable to sit like a straight person. Er, sit straight. Definitely that.]
[Diluc decides to ignore the frost comment and faux-wounded behavior.
Despite his unwelcoming demeanor, he still goes through the motions of pouring Kaeya a glass of dandelion wine and slides it over the bar. This is an old song and dance between them by now. Diluc will pour the wine until Kaeya's on the brink of having one too many--or Kaeya says something irritating that makes him cut him off sooner. Given his mood, the latter is much more likely tonight.]
I can imagine that the Cavalry Captain can take care of himself. My worry would have been wasted.
[Yes, he was worried. And annoyed that Kaeya decided to just disappear for a few weeks without so much as a word. Diluc knows by now that he'd gone to Sumeru on assignment from the Knights--he paid a few informants well for the knowledge--but that's not the point.]
[Kaeya brightens when the wine appears and catches it with ease of practice. He's spent all day on the road, so this is not only a visit to check on the wellness of his redder half but also because he's actually in need a nice rest day. He'll just slack off a bit at the headquarters tomorrow, it'll be fine...]
Suddenly all my troubles have evaporated, much like this tavern's namesake.
[He takes a sip and savors it before he answers that comeback.]
It wouldn't do to leave you fretting about my safety like I've gone off to war... But, I will admit that it's nice to be missed.
[The implication being that Diluc usually doesn't. Kaeya knows better than to jab at something like that but he never stops.
He peers at Diluc over the lip of the glass with those bright eyes of his.]
I believe you might be interested in what I've found.
[Diluc visibly bristles at the implication. Much like Kaeya knows better than to press buttons, he knows better than to give him the reaction he wants. And yet, like Kaeya, he does it anyway. It's all part of the complicated dance that is their relationship, intimately close and contentious that it is.]
Someone ought to. You're too cavalier about your own well being.
[Pot, kettle, etc. etc.
At that last bit, Diluc takes a moment to glance across the tavern to check if anyone might be listening. It's reflexive, paranoid as he's become over the years. The last remaining group of patrons is working on cleaning up their table and paying out their tab with a server. They're paying the two of them no mind.]
Oh, please. I wasn't in any real danger. I'm a cavalry captain with no cavalry; I have to get my excitement somehow... [This is perhaps the most honest thing he's said this whole conversation, but he says it in that usual tone so it's impossible to tell.
He reaches inside his coat, cool as anything, and takes out a folded up piece of paper. Then he slides it across the counter.]
The people listed here are spice merchants looking for new business opportunities. [He curls his hand against his chin.] They're normally involved with the drink business in Sumeru, so you'd be in good hands if you decided to broaden the Dawn Winery's offerings. I floated your name as a possibility, but I didn't promise anything, so it's up to you.
[He knows Diluc has been waiting to get his hands on something like this. He could've certainly kept the knowledge for himself or sold it to someone else, but what would be the point?]
[Even now, several weeks after his capture, Diluc is furious with himself for it. After a lifetime of vigilance in the human underground, all it took was one careless moment for it all to come crashing down. It all happened so quickly that he's not entirely able to piece together what happened. One moment, the infiltration was all going to plan. In the next, there was a scream. Believing it to be one of his comrades in distress, Diluc rushed toward the sound.
It was a trap, and what followed--for him, at least--was total darkness.
As far as he's been able to tell, he's the only one the vampires caught. It brings him some small amount of comfort, and he held onto that during the imprisonment and advanced interrogation that followed. Not a word of their identities or location ever passed his lips. Even if he's doomed, they aren't.
Realizing that there was nothing to gain, the vampires have now moved on to punishment. He's been handed off to some vampire noble or other to serve as a pet. A "lifetime" punishment, his captors had called it. With any luck, that lifetime won't last for very long.
Left kneeling on the floor, stripped of all clothing aside from a collar and with his arms tied behind his back, he waits.]
[ Really, he should be offended his prince had decided he was going to be used as “punishment”. He was a little, actually, but he knew his duty and hey, he got a new pet out of the arrangement so he supposes this mess wasn’t a complete loss.
He wasn’t out scouring the city for a rabid bunch of idiotic humans tonight, at the very least, so he still got the better end of the deal.
Stepping into his chambers, he immediately picks up on the rapid heartbeat deeper in his rooms. Smiling to himself, he starts stripping off his jacket as he heads towards the sound, taking in the sight of the bound human on his knees, waiting for him. Or just unable to move, with the way he is bound. Either way, the end result is the same. ]
Well well. So you’re the one that’s thrown everything into such an uproar, hmm?
[ Stepping up behind him, he curls fingers into that long scarlet hair, just a faint shade darker than his own, before tugging the man’s head back enough that he can gaze down with gleaming gold eyes to study his features. ]
[The sound of the vampire's approach causes something in his core to seize, the reality of his circumstances coming into sharper and sharper focus with each step. He wants nothing more than to break free and find some weapon to slit the monster's throat. But bound as he is (and weakened from captivity besides), such an act is all but impossible.
Instead, he keeps his gaze focused pointedly onto the floor--at least, until his head is pulled back to force him to look upward. Gold eyes meet scarlet, and all Diluc can do is wince and glower.
He doesn't speak. He doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of a reply.]
Oh, come now, I know they didn’t take your tongue. [ Sylvain’s lips quirk into a smirk as he keeps the man’s head tilted back at an angle, held taut.
His other hand reaches down to trace along the edge of the collar wrapped snugly around the human’s throat, knowing that at this angle, it will squeeze all the tighter, felt with every inhale, exhale or swallow. ]
You’ve landed yourself in quite the predicament, pet. Your friends, too, now that they know what to look for. [ Or that they needed to look in the first place. The others won’t rest until every last one of them is routed out now. Such infections can’t be left to fester. Their kind had learned that the hard way early on, and vampires had very long memories. They’d not make mistakes like that again.
Which is how the redhead has ended up here, naked and collared and bound on his knees in the chamber of his new Master.
Sylvain slides a fingers under the snug collar, making that squeeze emphasize even more as he leans over the human. ]
Did they tell you what your fate was to be, now that you’ve been caught and found guilty?
[Diluc's eyes glance downward briefly when the hand goes to his throat, half-expecting the vampire to strangle him. That he instead traces the edge of the collar (made more uncomfortable by the angle he's being held) makes him more uneasy, somehow. Combined with the hold of his hair, the gesture is a reminder that he has absolute power over him. Diluc is no longer in control of his own fate.
He hates that.
Somehow, he manages to bite back his anger at the bait that's so easily tossed his way. For his own sanity, he has to believe that those still on the outside have a chance at survival--even if the group itself has to disperse for the time being. The alternative, that his error in judgement has caused the demise of all, is too terrible to consider.
His silence earns a tighter collar as the vampire slips a finger under it. He grunts softly in discomfort, although his expression remains hard and angry.]
I'm yours to do what you want with.
[They weren't specific, but they didn't need to be. Vampires all treat their pets differently, but there's one thread in common: pets are meant to be used. The only question is what, exactly, this vampire wants from him.]
Edited (had half of a different tag in there whoops) 2023-12-21 07:11 (UTC)
[ Diluc probably wouldn't be comforted by the fact that Sylvain likely wants everything from his new pet. And has little aversion to taking it, either. Although he typically plays these games a little differently than some. There's more satisfaction in it, that way. At least for him. His pets? Not so much. At least when they remember to think about it.
Still, that answer gets a slow curve of a smile across full red lips, golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction for a moment as he crouches down in front of the human, bringing them eye-to-eye. A dangerous thing, when one is staring down a vampire, because their gazes can have a multitude of effects on humans, whether they are food or a potential thrall. Although at the moment they are just sly and golden, holding no deeper traps lurking in their depths. For now.
He tugs on the collar, dragging the human closer. And likely off-balance, considering how his arms are still bound behind him. ]
A good answer. You're not as stupid as I was informed, then. You're actually very fortunate, to land where you are. I'm a little annoyed at being labeled a punishment but eh, considering the activities that landed you here, I suppose the same could be said of any vampire you'd been handed over to. So I'll not take it personally.
[Despite knowing that eye contact with a vampire like this is dangerous, Diluc doesn't look away. He intends to stand his ground until the last, as much as one can while naked and bound like he is. And while there's nothing in that gaze that's mesmerizing or pressing into his mind, there's something alluring about it...
Oh, he hates that fleeting thought.
The eye contact is broken when the vampire tugs on his collar. He tries to maintain the percarious balance he has on his knees, but he can't stop himself from pitching forward and landing against his new master's chest. A soft curse passes his lips in frustration.]
What do you mean by "fortunate"?
[By his measure, any vampire taking him in is going to be hell. The only difference is the shape that hell takes.]
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digitizedsouls2021-10-17 04:04 pm
vomits a starter i guess
That, he fears, will be a work in progress for a very, very long time. Thousands of years of habit are proving very hard to break.
But on the subject of the mundane, it was not until sometime after the Moonchase Festival and this latest in a long line of bittersweet reunions with an old friend that the idea of a vacation was floated to him by Master Hu, and Zhongli realized that for the first time in eons, he could very truly go wherever he wanted.
He wouldn’t say he and his fellow Archons (former or otherwise) bear each other any sort of love - as far as his relationship with Barbatos goes, he barely tolerates the bard's drunken antics, but he supposes, if really pressed, he could think of worse people to be around. The Anemo Archon aside, it's the Traveler’s fond tales of the City of Freedom that ultimately make his choice easy.
Mondstadt is a far cry from Liyue in a lot of ways, and not just geographically. In spite of his own distaste for the man, he has to admire Barbatos for being so willing to leave his nation in the hands of his people long before he himself ever thought to. Even a short time in the city proper is enough to tell him that these are people who love, live, and thrive by their own will. Free as the breeze. It’s fitting.
A short time in the city is also enough to remind him that he has yet to have supper, and perhaps it might do for him to sample some of the local specialties while he’s here. Mondstadt is known for its wine, and a local tavern seems to be the most sensible place to start. Thankfully, the Traveler’s stories included the Angel’s Share, said to be run by the head of the Dawn Winery himself.
A very good place to start, indeed.
The tavern carries a different sort of atmosphere than the outdoor eateries of Liyue, and he can feel eyes on him from the dark corners of the room as he makes his entrance, tall and dressed in foreign garb. The man behind the bar eyes him too, assessing though his expression remains on the polite side of impassive. ]
Good evening.
[ Easily, simply. A bit of scrutiny is certainly not going to shake him. ]
Are you the gentleman in charge of this establishment?
meanwhile diluc here is just like WHOMST????
He's clearly foreign, probably from Liyue as best as Diluc can tell. That explains the surprise--Liyue isn't a blind spot in his information network, per se, but it's low priority. It's a self-sustaining ecosystem, albeit one recently shaken by the death of its Archon, and while he's sure there's no shortage of darkness and corruption beneath its gilded image it's not a fight that Diluc is able or willing to take on just yet. The threat from Snezhnaya and the needs of Mondstadt are greater, the latter closer both in proximity and heart.
In any case, he certainly doesn't find any reason to turn the stranger away. If anything, he's intrigued. So he gives a small smile and plays host.]
I am. Diluc Ragnvindr, at your service.
idk just someone's grandpa who wandered off
I am called Zhongli. A mutual friend of ours spoke highly of you and your tavern, so I thought it best to see it for myself.
[ Bringing up the Traveler seems a good way to break the ice. He’s curious about the people of Mondstadt just as much as he is the city itself. ]
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(He's been keeping track of the Traveler's movements in Teyvat via his information network. It isn't that he doesn't trust Aether--much the opposite, in fact. The boy is young, talented, and fundamentally good. Diluc knows all too well how terribly that combination of traits can end up.)]
I hope we can live up to your expectations. Here.
[He hands Zhongli a piece of paper: the drink menu.]
Let me know if you have any questions.
[The fact that the man mentioned that he's also here to meet him hasn't escaped his notice. Clearly, he's left as much of an impression on the Traveler as he's left on Diluc. But he's opting for hospitality first, not least because talking about himself isn't really a thing Diluc does gracefully. Or at all, if he can help it.]
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He’d bank on the former, personally. There’s something in Diluc’s eyes that tells him he knows more than he cares to let on. ]
Thank you.
[ He slips into one of the seats at the bar, giving the menu a glance, though it’s clear he already knows what he’s here for. ]
A glass of dandelion wine to start, and if you’ve a meal that pairs well, I would take that as well.
[ No one tell Venti— but, well, he can’t very well come all the way to Mondstadt and not try their local specialty. ]
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The server nods and takes his leave, and Diluc returns his attention to Zhongli.]
I hope you're all right waiting a bit on the meal.
[Given that it's being brought in from elsewhere and all that.]
If you'll allow a bit of curiosity on my part, what brings you to Mondstadt?
[It's framed as an innocent question, but his intention as ever is to probe for information. He doesn't know much about this man, and he intends to learn.]
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No, I do not mind waiting.
[ In the meantime, he will simply have to sample his wine. He picks up the glass given him and gives the liquid a little swirl. He’s no great connoisseur of wine the world over, though he might claim to have some experience with it over the years, and he can certainly tell a fine vintage when he sees it. Time is kinder to wine than it is most other things. ]
Ah, me? [ The simple question curls his lips into a soft smile, something faraway in his gaze as he watches the liquid in his glass. ] I am on vacation.
[ Such a casual answer to a casual question, and yet there seems to be something more there. There is weight in the word that should carry joy, a sense of a long and arduous journey come to an end, of bright relief and terrible sadness sat side-by-side like old friends.
The mood lightens a moment later, as if the weight of the world had settled for a moment before turning onward. ]
It is as I said, I have a companion who spoke highly of this place, and its people. I have spent… a long time in Liyue, and thought it might be time to broaden my horizons.
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BOY IS ZHONGLI GOING TO FEEL STUPID WHEN HE REALIZES THIS IS HIS SOULMATE :V
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Lumine (tfln overflow)
[Diluc has been letting his gaze linger over Lumine more often than he'd like to admit, as of late. There's always a justification--to make sure she's well, to try and read her intentions, and so on and so forth. But there's something else there that he doesn't dare put a name to.
She's a trusted ally and a friend, and that's all. Neither relationship is something he gives freely, making her exceptional already. There's no need to complicate things further, especially given that they each have missions and goals they cannot ignore.
Even so... he selfishly tries to take moments like this with her when he can. It's nice to be able to share a meal and spend quality time together.]
You have nothing to apologize for. The Angel's Share is unharmed. By all accounts, you were quite jovial throughout the night.
[Did he ask around after her while waiting for her to get ready? Yes. Did Vile charge double her usual rate because, quote, "I have better things to do than keep up with your girlfriend?" Also yes.]
I'm just glad you're not feeling too unwell this morning.
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Ah, good. My head feels lighter just hearing that...
[ Relaxing into her seat just a bit more, though, she clasps her hands together and smiles at Diluc from across the table. ]
You don't have to worry about me, Diluc. I'm the Honorary Knight, after all.
[ She knows the title is likely lost on Diluc given his history with the Knights, but it's the same spiel she's given to anyone who's expressed even the slightest bit of concern for her since her return to Mondstadt around Weinlesefest. She's fine, really... ]
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[She'll have to forgive Diluc for not taking her at her word on this one. In his experience, people who are Fine(tm) don't get blackout drunk at his tavern.
His concern runs deeper than just the extent of her hangover. He's fully aware that Lumine is dealing with far more than she's willing to discuss, given her search for her brother and her tendency to get involved in the affairs of gods and geopolitics.
But he won't pry; like him, she keeps the worst of it close to her chest, and that's something he respects and deeply understands. So instead, he remains close and available to her, and hopes that's enough.]
And being a Knight, Honorary or otherwise, does nothing to prevent hangovers.
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[ Signed, Lumine's poor head.
But, she's more than happy to drop the whole knights thing, given who her current company is. Diluc is forgiven, especially now that she has a little more insight into his past and his thoughts on the Knights of Favonius after he'd allowed her to read those letters... ]
I suppose there's no convincing you. What can I do to ease your mind, Diluc?
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Ah, there you are. [He slides onto a barstool like he didn't just disappear for a few weeks in Sumeru without telling anyone but Jean.] I thought at this hour you would have made your way home. Imagine my surprise when Elzer told me that you were still toiling away out here.
Your work ethic truly is unmatched.
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A certain someone breezes in and takes a seat at the bar, and he finds himself simultaneously glad he's kept the tavern open and angry at himself for not shutting up shop before he had the chance to arrive. Kaeya has a way of bringing out complicated, contradictory emotions in him like that.
He sighs heavily.]
You know as well as anyone that Angel Share's hours don't change over until after the autumnal equinox. Better than most, even.
[Given how often he makes it a point to be here and all.]
I see you've decided to re-grace Mondstadt with your presence.
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[He rests his chin in his palm and smiles that damnable smile while his legs curl about the barstool, as he's unable to sit like a straight person. Er, sit straight. Definitely that.]
Worried about little ol' me?
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Despite his unwelcoming demeanor, he still goes through the motions of pouring Kaeya a glass of dandelion wine and slides it over the bar. This is an old song and dance between them by now. Diluc will pour the wine until Kaeya's on the brink of having one too many--or Kaeya says something irritating that makes him cut him off sooner. Given his mood, the latter is much more likely tonight.]
I can imagine that the Cavalry Captain can take care of himself. My worry would have been wasted.
[Yes, he was worried. And annoyed that Kaeya decided to just disappear for a few weeks without so much as a word. Diluc knows by now that he'd gone to Sumeru on assignment from the Knights--he paid a few informants well for the knowledge--but that's not the point.]
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Suddenly all my troubles have evaporated, much like this tavern's namesake.
[He takes a sip and savors it before he answers that comeback.]
It wouldn't do to leave you fretting about my safety like I've gone off to war... But, I will admit that it's nice to be missed.
[The implication being that Diluc usually doesn't. Kaeya knows better than to jab at something like that but he never stops.
He peers at Diluc over the lip of the glass with those bright eyes of his.]
I believe you might be interested in what I've found.
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Someone ought to. You're too cavalier about your own well being.
[Pot, kettle, etc. etc.
At that last bit, Diluc takes a moment to glance across the tavern to check if anyone might be listening. It's reflexive, paranoid as he's become over the years. The last remaining group of patrons is working on cleaning up their table and paying out their tab with a server. They're paying the two of them no mind.]
And what was it that you found?
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Oh, please. I wasn't in any real danger. I'm a cavalry captain with no cavalry; I have to get my excitement somehow... [This is perhaps the most honest thing he's said this whole conversation, but he says it in that usual tone so it's impossible to tell.
He reaches inside his coat, cool as anything, and takes out a folded up piece of paper. Then he slides it across the counter.]
The people listed here are spice merchants looking for new business opportunities. [He curls his hand against his chin.] They're normally involved with the drink business in Sumeru, so you'd be in good hands if you decided to broaden the Dawn Winery's offerings. I floated your name as a possibility, but I didn't promise anything, so it's up to you.
[He knows Diluc has been waiting to get his hands on something like this. He could've certainly kept the knowledge for himself or sold it to someone else, but what would be the point?]
for Sylvain 🩸
It was a trap, and what followed--for him, at least--was total darkness.
As far as he's been able to tell, he's the only one the vampires caught. It brings him some small amount of comfort, and he held onto that during the imprisonment and advanced interrogation that followed. Not a word of their identities or location ever passed his lips. Even if he's doomed, they aren't.
Realizing that there was nothing to gain, the vampires have now moved on to punishment. He's been handed off to some vampire noble or other to serve as a pet. A "lifetime" punishment, his captors had called it. With any luck, that lifetime won't last for very long.
Left kneeling on the floor, stripped of all clothing aside from a collar and with his arms tied behind his back, he waits.]
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He wasn’t out scouring the city for a rabid bunch of idiotic humans tonight, at the very least, so he still got the better end of the deal.
Stepping into his chambers, he immediately picks up on the rapid heartbeat deeper in his rooms. Smiling to himself, he starts stripping off his jacket as he heads towards the sound, taking in the sight of the bound human on his knees, waiting for him. Or just unable to move, with the way he is bound. Either way, the end result is the same. ]
Well well. So you’re the one that’s thrown everything into such an uproar, hmm?
[ Stepping up behind him, he curls fingers into that long scarlet hair, just a faint shade darker than his own, before tugging the man’s head back enough that he can gaze down with gleaming gold eyes to study his features. ]
Reckless of you, pet.
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Instead, he keeps his gaze focused pointedly onto the floor--at least, until his head is pulled back to force him to look upward. Gold eyes meet scarlet, and all Diluc can do is wince and glower.
He doesn't speak. He doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of a reply.]
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His other hand reaches down to trace along the edge of the collar wrapped snugly around the human’s throat, knowing that at this angle, it will squeeze all the tighter, felt with every inhale, exhale or swallow. ]
You’ve landed yourself in quite the predicament, pet. Your friends, too, now that they know what to look for. [ Or that they needed to look in the first place. The others won’t rest until every last one of them is routed out now. Such infections can’t be left to fester. Their kind had learned that the hard way early on, and vampires had very long memories. They’d not make mistakes like that again.
Which is how the redhead has ended up here, naked and collared and bound on his knees in the chamber of his new Master.
Sylvain slides a fingers under the snug collar, making that squeeze emphasize even more as he leans over the human. ]
Did they tell you what your fate was to be, now that you’ve been caught and found guilty?
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He hates that.
Somehow, he manages to bite back his anger at the bait that's so easily tossed his way. For his own sanity, he has to believe that those still on the outside have a chance at survival--even if the group itself has to disperse for the time being. The alternative, that his error in judgement has caused the demise of all, is too terrible to consider.
His silence earns a tighter collar as the vampire slips a finger under it. He grunts softly in discomfort, although his expression remains hard and angry.]
I'm yours to do what you want with.
[They weren't specific, but they didn't need to be. Vampires all treat their pets differently, but there's one thread in common: pets are meant to be used. The only question is what, exactly, this vampire wants from him.]
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Still, that answer gets a slow curve of a smile across full red lips, golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction for a moment as he crouches down in front of the human, bringing them eye-to-eye. A dangerous thing, when one is staring down a vampire, because their gazes can have a multitude of effects on humans, whether they are food or a potential thrall. Although at the moment they are just sly and golden, holding no deeper traps lurking in their depths. For now.
He tugs on the collar, dragging the human closer. And likely off-balance, considering how his arms are still bound behind him. ]
A good answer. You're not as stupid as I was informed, then. You're actually very fortunate, to land where you are. I'm a little annoyed at being labeled a punishment but eh, considering the activities that landed you here, I suppose the same could be said of any vampire you'd been handed over to. So I'll not take it personally.
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Oh, he hates that fleeting thought.
The eye contact is broken when the vampire tugs on his collar. He tries to maintain the percarious balance he has on his knees, but he can't stop himself from pitching forward and landing against his new master's chest. A soft curse passes his lips in frustration.]
What do you mean by "fortunate"?
[By his measure, any vampire taking him in is going to be hell. The only difference is the shape that hell takes.]
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