(psl) meet me in the shadows, won't you tell me what you've found

[disdelusioned]

 come down to where all of the others fell

get lost in the dark to find yourself

[x]

 

Comments

[disdelusioned]

[This time, it's Diluc who looks surprised by her response. Was his reputation as the Darknight Hero (or as Master Diluc Ragnvindr) really so cold-hearted and terrible? Of course it is; he's built himself to be untouchable, a force in the night to punish the guilty that more "proper" authorities refuse to acknowledge. Such an image is necessary, as it discourages bad behavior from humans and supernatural creatures alike.

But to see such that reaction from her stings a bit, for reasons he can't quite understand. When he speaks, there's a softness in his voice that wasn't present before.]

I kill monsters and punish the guilty, Oriphi. You are neither. Everything you've said and done tonight has demonstrated that much.

[Monsters don't care what happens to those they come into contact with. Or if they do, it's with malicious intentions.]

So allow me to help you and Mondstadt at the same time.

[hearthwarming]

[ There’s a long, long while after she receives his answer in which she simply looks at him in silence. The look on her face is caught somewhere in between being dumbfounded and genuinely moved. For the first time in her life, someone is seeing her for all that she is— and doesn’t think of her as a monster. That hunger in her heart, in her body is silenced, and in its place something indescribable and warm in an entirely different manner settles.

Her eyes sting with the threat of tears, and she closes her eyes for a moment to blink them back as she draws in a deep breath, exhaling it just as slowly. Then, at length, she nods her head in silent agreement. ]

… Thank you.

[ What else can she really say? He’s saved her life tonight, and now he’s promising to continue helping her so that she can finally live in relative peace. She takes another moment to contemplate before she speaks up again, looking a little more sure of herself when she looks back up at him. ]

I could… I could help you, too. Not just Mondstadt. Feed on me, too.

[disdelusioned]

[Oriphi is clearly touched by his words, eyes misting over slightly and her whole body going quiet as if to somehow cherish the feeling. Diluc begins to put the pieces together. "A monster," it seems, is what she thinks of herself. Or has been made to think about herself.

Monsters, however, don't make it a point to offer something in return for another's kindness. A ghost of a smile crosses his features as he feels that much more certain that this is the correct course of action.]

You're welcome. And thank you as well. I'll take you up on that.

[She tasted divine, after all.

He reaches into a pocket and produces a pad and pen, writing something down before tearing off the page and handing it to her.]

My address and personal phone number. Contact me whenever you need.

[He reaches for his mask, intending to place it back over his face, before he pauses and adds:]

You should probably stop by tomorrow night.

[Just in case she hasn't quite had her fill.]

[hearthwarming]

[ There’s some measure of relief on her end when he accepts her offer easily; much like everything else about this encounter, she hadn’t been sure what to expect. But he agrees, and she’s glad that she’ll be of some use to him beyond some nebulous concept of doing this for the greater good of Mondstadt.

She is, after all, only one succubus. Providing her with the nourishment she needs is barely a ripple in the grander scheme of things, surely. But it’s a new chance at life all the same, and she would be a fool not to take it.

The piece of paper with Diluc’s information on it finds its way into her hands, and she clutches it close to her chest, afraid that she’ll lose it if she doesn’t hold onto it tightly. ]

I will. I mean—

[ She’s basically just admitted that she’s still hungry, hasn’t she? She sighs. Most succubi are charismatic and charming and they know all of the right words to say whether it’s to lure their prey into their arms or in simple exchanges.

Oriphi is lucky she even survived this conversation. ]

… Okay. I work at Floral Whisper, the flower shop, if you ever need to find me during the daytime…

[ Without really thinking, she reaches out and tugs on the fabric of his cloak ever so lightly. ]

I won’t forget how you saved my life today, Master Diluc.

[disdelusioned]

[She's only one succubus, of course, but she's one that's caught his interest. He's helping her for the greater good, but there's also a selfish bit of him that just wants to learn more about her. He's curious and she's lovely. It's a dangerous combination, especially given what they both are.

Which only intrigues him further, of course.

Oriphi stumbles over herself a bit more, all but admitting that she's not fully sated, and he can't quite hide his smile as he puts his mask back on and pulls up his hood.]

I know Floral Whisper. [It's the flower shop with the girl who looks at him with such longing that it makes him uncomfortable.] I'll remember that I can find you there.

[He hesitates before responding to that last bit. It's not the first time he's heard words like that - albeit without the "Master Diluc" attached - and he never knows quite how to handle it. For the people he helps, he's fully aware that his intervention is often life-altering. But for him... it's often just duty. The innocent must be protected and the wicked must be punished. It's that simple.

Although with Oriphi, he's almost certain that it's about to get much, much more complicated.]

It was no trouble at all. I'll see you soon, Oriphi.

[And with that, he gives her a gentle nod of farewell before slinking back into the night. There's still work to do.]