Diluc inks the final curve of the character, completing his end of correspondence. For as weightless slabs of iron feel in his grip, it's ironic that foreign calligraphy escapes him — the pen is mightier than the sword, indeed. He makes a mental note to improve his handwriting in the Liyue language as he folds the letter, puts it in an envelope, and addresses it to his contact in the Harbor. He still can't believe that a mere boy, by the name of Xingqiu, is capable of effective espionage and vigilantism. But, knowing the kind of talent rising through the Adventurer's Guild, as well as certain aspirants for the Knights of Favonius, he tempers his disbelief. Remembering how young his own talents manifested, not even considering the Vision, he really should be less surprised. But, the days of innocent youth have long burned away for him. Though a new, vengeful passion rose like a phoenix from the ashes of tragedy, he still can't shake the feeling that, despite all of the places he has been and people he has met, the very chains he inherited have bound him in one way or another. This restrictive feeling has only become more apparent now that his movements against the Fatui are less physical, and more socio-economic. He wonders if this task he'll soon embark upon, with the assistance of the Feiyun Commerce Guild and the Millelith, will help ease this tightness.
ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ
"Get this to Liyue Harbor as quick as possible. Your escort will meet you at the beach between the Winery and the path towards the Stone Gate," Diluc informs Noelle, handing her the letter he wrote. From her seat in the back of the carriage, where she sits beside a shipment of wine as well as fresh grapes and other produce to be traded with Liyue Harbor, she leans over and takes the letter. She secures it beneath her breastplate, then creates a small geo rose reminiscent of those used by the Knights' Investigation Team Captain. She embeds the rose into her hip.
"Your secret is safe with me, Master Diluc. Permission to leave the carriage if I find it more expedient to deliver your message another way?" She asks.
"Yes. You are in charge of this mission, and your escort is aware of this. Direct them as you please. There will be a section of Millelith already prepared at the Wangshuu Inn to check the goods. Once there, you can decide whether to continue with them, or let them handle it as you all go on ahead," Diluc explains.
"Wonderful," Noelle smiles and nods, then notices a raven circling the sky above them. "Ah, it seems like we are late to meet the Adventure Team."
"Get going, then. Stay safe," Diluc gestures towards the horsemen in front that they're set to go. Diluc begins walking away as a certain nag in the back of his mind pesters him. He surrenders to it, and turns to address Noelle again as she rides away. "By the way, I'll be talking to the Acting Grand Master later!" Though Diluc's stern expression never leaves, a true heat warms his heart upon the sight of Noelle's surprise ascending into excited happiness. Having satisfied the nag, he continues walking back to the Dawn Winery.
Back inside the estate house, Kaeya immediately commands his attention.
"Carl is coming over, thought you should know," he says, walking across rooms to reach Rosaria, who is sitting at the table Diluc left her at earlier in the morning. Her glass is still full with wine, but the wine bottle beside her is noticeably emptier. Kaeya is carrying a dictionary which he sets down on the table as he sits beside Rosaria.
"Torrsson? Why?" Diluc asks.
"He is meeting with Eula to amend some matters of social standing," Kaeya answers as Rosaria takes the dictionary and starts flippantly flipping through its pages. Diluc considers the implications of such a thing, especially considering the word on the street about Carl.
"Can I rely on you to supervise the meeting? Not that I expect you to report to me about it, just that I would rather not have an aristocratic apocalypse on my hands," Diluc admits.
"Oh absolutely. Anything for family. You have my word that there will not be an issue," Kaeya promises. His brother's smirk makes him cringe, but Diluc keeps the reflexive twist of expression in check.
"Anything that goes wrong will be on you," Diluc warns before the front door of the estate house opens to let in Ann.
"Oh- I'm sorry, Master Diluc and Master Kaeya, I-I didn't mean to so rudely barge in while you both were busy- I'll just show mysel-"
"Please, stay, and do not worry~" Ann finds herself much closer to Kaeya's broad, partially exposed chest and his natural chilling, refreshing fragrance much sooner than expected. The door closes behind her, her breath vacating the premises. She fights the urge to simply bury her head close to his heart, allowing the cold to renew her after experiencing the day's scorching heat. Making eye contact with the taller man, she loses herself within the twinkling abyss of his pupil, the wintry periwinkle threatening to consume her in the depths of his passive yearning.
"Why are you here?" Diluc's arms cross as his voice harshly engulfs Ann's wonderland in an awakening blaze.
"I-...I uh…" her loss is cured by a glance toward Rosaria, who, instead of her usual daggers, returned the glance with a welcoming one of her own. Even a slight curve to the lip. "Ah yes! Yes, I am here to read my work with Kaeya and Rosaria. I-I mean, M-Master Kaeya, and Sister Rosaria. Yes," she looks down at her papers and her shoes, realizing that she just might act out if she catches view of Kaeya again, that Diluc's own contrasting charm had her sandwiched in a conflict of bias, and that her own embarrassment at her own degeneracy is a crushing burden which convinces her that she has no right to be in the estate house. At least, this is what Diluc reads in her body language, and he certainly doesn't detect any movement or reaction which says different. He'd chuckle at her flustered honesty if it didn't mean indicating some level of comfort with the fact that Kaeya still draws breath.
"Who invited you?" Diluc asks.
"Mas-"
"Is this anyway to treat my guest, Master Diluc?" Kaeya asks, wrapping an arm around Ann's back. The blue of his Captain's uniform makes Ann's blush all the more obvious. "My, if I didn't know you better, I would think you dislike me and anyone who willingly associates with me. Anyway, Ann, right this way. Rosaria and I have been looking forward to reading your work all morning," Kaeya says while guiding her to the table, then holding a seat out for her to sit.
Diluc watches Kaeya organize the papers at the table, then Kaeya suddenly remembers something.
"Ah, my apologies, ladies, I must attend to another matter before it is too late. I will return soon, but please begin working through Ann's report while I am away," Kaeya briskly walks away from the table, and upon passing Diluc, claps a copy of Ann's work against his brother's chest. Diluc instinctively prevents the stapled bundle from falling, though he really wishes Kaeya didn't act so familiarly. After his brother disappears up the stairs, Diluc walks over to the table as the young women begin reading.
"What's this word…'sta-tis-tick'? 'Stasisick'? 'Statustick'?" Rosaria asks, her eyes squinting, and her fingers turning the dictionary as she cross-references it with the report.
"Statistic. The word is pronounced 'sta-tih-stick'. Statistic, it refers to…"
Although Diluc isn't accustomed to this snail's pace of reading, he silently follows along anyway. He doesn't interfere with Ann's assistance, thinking that he would just be making unnecessary input. Though the anxieties of several meetings and events itch the back of his head, a relaxation that has been foreign to him for a long time creeps up from this slow-paced process. With it is a style of intake of new information which he has judged as frivolous; it is the kind of absorption which serves no greater social, political, or economic purpose. Learning for the sake of learning. He forgot how it feels to learn this way, and although his anxieties threaten to shatter this peace, he appreciates re-experiencing this form of learning.
"Oh. Ooooh. So, basically, everybody is fine with the rich people because everybody has forgiven them for how terrible they are?" Rosaria asks.
"In a way, yes," Ann hesitantly confirms. "But, also, no. Everyone still generally acknowledges the dark history behind many of these families and the social structures they established and still benefit from. But, the democratization of education within Mondstadt has allowed people to have a more complex view of the nobility. It is not simply that they are all bad, or that they are all good, but that the nobility is not a monolith that can be judged on a narrow basis. After all, if you recall, it was nobility who both enslaved people, and who helped free those slaves-"
"'Democratization' is on the page you just skipped, Rosaria," Diluc says, interrupting Ann to correct Rosaria's course. Ann sucks her breath in, feeling the pressure and heat of Diluc's hand gripping her chair's backrest. "Ann."
"Y-yes, Master-" Ann gulps as she looks up at the seemingly disinterested flame threatening to slowly melt her from the inside-out towering over her. "M-Master Diluc…"
"How have you been since we settled the matter between you and Master Torrsson?"
"Well, I must admit, I was surprised the process went so smoothly…" Ann looks at her report in front of her. "Being somewhat familiar with the biases in Mondstadt, and some of the outcomes of its judicial system, I really thought I had the cards stacked against me. But, your support really helped, so I was able to reach a hefty settlement of several hundred thousand mora. That's on top of the mora you offered as compensation as well."
"It would not have gone as smoothly as it did if it was not for your courage to speak up to begin with, so give yourself some credit," Diluc responds.
"True… I was being serious, Master Diluc, when I said that compensation from you was not necessary. I do not mean to be such a burden," Ann twiddles her thumbs, her voice trailing off toward the end of her admission.
"You are not a burden. The harassment happened on my property, under the supervision of my staff, while you were a member of my workforce. It is my responsibility as much as it is that of Master Torrsson and his friends," Diluc says resolutely.
"If that does not serve as satisfactory penance, Ann, I can use the weight of the Church to deliver more," Rosaria offers, a piercing glare shooting Diluc.
"Th-That won't be necessary, Sister Rosaria!" Ann laughs nervously. "Master Diluc has done more than enough for me. With his and Master Kaeya's help, I've even been able to land a full-time position at an academic press. I'm currently working with Knights' Librarian, Lisa Minci, to secure better pay and perhaps a promotion considering the weight of my work."
"That woman can be as lazy as Master Kaeya, but she certainly puts in work where it counts," Diluc says, having fetched glasses of water for Rosaria and Ann over the course of the conversation, now returning to the table.
"Much like Kaeya as well- hey!" Rosaria adds before Diluc snatches away her unfinished glass of wine and three-quarters finished wine bottle. She pouts at him as he walks away.
"Why is it that your promotion is taking so long? I figured your entry would already provide a position worthy of your intellect and hard work," Diluc asks as he gives the bottle and glass to a servant.
"Well… I can't say for sure…" Ann mutters.
"But, you have your suspicions," Rosaria discerns, drinking water and scratching the surface of the glass with her nails. Diluc notices this, and holds back a sigh. Rosaria and wine are like a child and a favorite toy.
"Yes… Master Torrsson is technically my superior at my new job," Ann admits. "I would be lying if I said I haven't seen him speaking to my direct superiors in familiar terms, especially after I began the process of negotiation with Librarian Minci and my superiors,"
"I thought the case had socially ruined him? I have heard rumors regarding him becoming something of a social outcast...at least in some visible ways," Diluc says, taking a seat and pushing Rosaria's glass of water just a bit closer to her to make sure she isn't forgetting about what is good for her.
"Well, yes, that is true too…" Ann begins.
"The deviant can hardly find himself served in the Cat's Tail or any other establishment in Mondstadt. He doesn't possess the company he used to have anywhere, let alone at taverns, either. When apprehending one sinner, I was able to shake out of him that Torrsson can't even have all that much contact with his own family, or many of the nobles, at least in public," Rosaria continues, staring at the water with some disdain before taking a drink.
"He has also been suspended from his rights to publish work or perform research for some time now. Though, that might not be the worst of it. The other day, while eating lunch with Captain Lawrence upon her request, I was surprised to see vendors charging Master Torrsson prices even higher than any of what the Captain had suffered through," Ann adds.
"Despite all of this backlash, though, it seems not all is going terribly for him," Diluc says.
"Yes. Many a-time have I walked past conference rooms in which he is having private meetings. If you were to judge the impact through the lens of his career and connections, the shunning seems superficial," Ann replies.
"Under the cover of night, he still meets with many of his friends, even if they are not exactly willing to show their faces beside his under lamplight," Rosaria says.
"Hmm… all this considered, I may have to discuss this meeting Captain Lawrence is having with Master Torrsson," Diluc thinks aloud. "Although it can have benefits for the Captain, the last thing I need is any more comfort for Torrsson," Diluc stands from the table.
"Ah, um, Master Diluc, I promise it isn't too much of an issue! I didn't know that Captain Lawrence would have a meeting with him, but I trust she'll…"
"Don't worry about it. Let him do what he pleases. It's useless to try to snuff his flame once it's lit. Let's return to your report now that I know what you mean by demarcatration," Rosaria explains to Ann as Diluc leaves them, then she gestures to the dictionary.
"Sister…" Ann giggles. "It's 'de-maw-crah-tih-zay-shun'. Democratization," she corrects before continuing with Rosaria.
"A request to meet the Acting Grand Master tonight, Master Diluc?"
"Yes… and, do not frame it as a mere request," Diluc stresses, handing his servant a special pouch of dandelion seeds mixed with small lamp grass.
"Understood, Master Diluc," the servant takes the pouch and secures it within a special alchemist box. "To review, it is to discuss the state of academia and media production within the City?"
"Yes, as well as the matter of Noelle's acceptance to the Knights of Favonius," Diluc adds.
"Understood, Master Diluc," the servant leaves the estate house, leaving Diluc to ponder a few of his next moves. This is interrupted much too soon by a usual thorn in his side.
"Master Torrsson, so glad you were able to make the trip to the Dawn Winery!" Kaeya greets, coming down the stairs as Carl slips in the estate house with Diluc's servant holding the door open for him.
With a hawk's gaze, Diluc observes the interaction between the two. Carl is clearly discomforted by Diluc's stare on one flank, and Rosaria's on the other. Diliuc perceives a flash of rage in Carl's eyes, especially when he notices Ann's oblivion towards Carl's presence.
"Yes, I have made the trip before in… better circumstances," the door shuts as Carl ends his nostalgic sentence. "But, the fresh air and its ever-present scent of wine yet to be made is always enough to raise the spirits of any true-blooded Mondstadter. I would venture so far as to say that men of our station appreciate it the best," Carl clasps hands with Kaeya as he speaks. Diluc would prefer if Kaeya would freeze the rat in place for having the gall to make such a comment in his position, but he isn't surprised about Kaeya's leniency towards the degenerate. It is Kaeya, after all.
"You are certainly correct about that, Master Torrsson. Let us hope that this meeting ages as well as a finely made wine, in consideration of a man of your station," Kaeya smiles, leading Carl up the stairs as their conversation continues beyond the warm welcome. Diluc sees that Kaeya's response falls hard upon Carl, and rightfully so. But, Diluc would still prefer the instant freezing.
Diluc allows the pair to disappear around the corner upstairs before gesturing his plan to eavesdrop to Rosaria. Rosaria responds with a nod and gesture with her now-empty glass of water, then seamlessly resumes conversation with Ann.
"You truly have suffered over the course of these past few months, haven't you?" Kaeya asks in that baiting voice of concern Diluc is all too familiar with.
"Yes, it has been a very long trial, to say the least. And that's not even including the actual court proceedings. Paying money to Ann, well, that was but a trifle, really. I fully recognize my fault in the situation in the Angel's Share, and it was irresponsible of me to put her in such a compromising position. More importantly, it was absolutely disrespectful of me to tarnish the name of your family's legendary establishment. Though I have my issues with how much responsibility I should have taken, considering the presence of so many more people doing the same thing, as an upstanding member of our glorious city's aristocracy, I could not impede the process of justice," Carl responds with absolutely none of the bitter tone Rosaria has reported him using when speaking of the matter of more allied parties to his cause since the court process had began.
"I respect your deference to Mondstadt's judiciary and its faithful, intelligent members. I especially appreciate your monetary contribution to several members of the jury for your trial, and the trials related to some of the others held accountable. So much sacrifice on your end yet hardly any good word on it. A shame, really," Kaeya says. Despite Diluc's fears of Kaeya giving up the game far too easily, Diluc soon realizes that Kaeya has actually perfectly judged how much of a complete idiot Carl is.
"Master Kaeya, I knew you would deeply understand my plight and service to this community. I even offered a few pieces of mora for a few judges as well, but I was laughed out of their offices with threats following me. But, alas, hopefully future generations of Torrssons and, even Ragnvindr's, will recognize this nugget of injustice," Carl sighs.
"Just a nugget? Well, I would say the treatment you get on the streets makes the entire iron mine," Kaeya argues.
"And you would be completely right about that! Sure, I may have kept some insignificant position at my place of work, but for a City which prides itself on freedom, it sure has no issue restricting my speech, restricting my movement, restricting society from associating with me, and all of these other ills which I'm sure nobody would want. I have easily suffered more than anyone in Mondstadt, but what is a man of class to do but take it on the chin and stride with pride to be a role model for his people," Carl's voice indicates complete confidence in this self-righteous resolve.
"You certainly are a role model, and I am certainly inspired, Master Torrsson," Kaeya says. "And, I am sure you will find that Captain Lawrence is also inspired to relieve you of the suffering you have experienced. Especially in terms of the rift between yourself and your family," he promises.
"Is that right? I… I can't imagine how she might do that. I have barely talked to many of my family in private, let alone in public, and especially not my-"
"-sister. I have been informed by Captain Lawrence that Alicia has been particularly sour with you, but I believe she has found a way to pleasure her sensibilities and rekindle the bond between you both," Kaeya informs him, to which Carl lets out noises of shock and joy. Diluc would like nothing more than to have the man choke on his happiness, then wring his brother's neck. If he had known that this meeting would do nothing but comfort Carl, he would have had the man burned to a crisp the moment he stepped on the Winery's property. Diluc resolves to listen to the meeting in full, though, holding out some hope that Eula's actual feelings on the matter fully defy Kaeya's apparent preferences.
"Are you ready to enter a new life, Carl?" Kaeya asks as the pair finally approach the door to Eula's temporary office in the estate house.
"Master Kaeya- or, may I be more familiar? Kaeya. Yes, Kaeya. I am prepared. Thank you so much," Carl looks at the door expectantly.
"Well, step in," Kaeya opens the door, gives a wink to Diluc at the end of the hallway. What surprises Diluc more than Kaeya's indication of full awareness of his eavesdropping is the scream of horror Carl tears through his throat from within the room. Kaeya steps in, and Diluc rushes to meet them both. As he gets closer, strange sounds break through Carl's terrified collapse.
Diluc recoils from the edge of the door frame almost as soon as he peeks in to witness what Carl is yelling for. Diluc closes his own mouth as he presses his back against the wall, and his ears are bombarded by the sounds of a moan which echoes through time and memory. Scorched into his vision is the brief moment in which, for the first time in what feels like an age, he saw the soft, curving, porcelain flesh laid bare and open to the consumption of her competitor. This present image, complimented by the ongoing vocal passions pressing against his hearing and echoing through his mind, is superimposed upon the times he himself had Eula welcome him in such a way. Though those noble pleasures were brief, and had been compartmentalized into one of the many deep, smoldering cores of sealed sensations, they were impactful nonetheless, and seeing Eula so bare again burst that geyser, incinerating the steadfast soaring phoenix of his composure.
"Ah, I should have checked in with Eula before you came. I had not realized she would be so occupied by your sister, Carl. Your hysterical anguish is not making our intrusion on Alicia's lunch any better, though," Kaeya chuckles as Eula's panting seaside winds and siren song reach their tidal climax. The expression of her sexual gratification ends like the gentle lace barely covering her skin, smooth though abrupt and definite.
The moments of quiet allow Diluc to quickly collect himself well-enough to think about his next move. Fortunately, this short-term plan of his isn't disrupted by the new pattern of wet sounds and soft breaths joined by the hard thump of a choking, wheezing body.
Diluc dares to peer into the office once again. Like an incoming flame, the sight of Eula's legs open to receive the body of her dance partner, Alicia's own legs following in the dance as fingers between them guide the choreography of her bliss, threatens to engulf his attention from his peripheral vision. But, he is able to maintain focus on Carl's crumpled body spilling blood across the carpet from a wound sealed only by the rapier of ice piercing his heart. Diluc secures a grip on the back of Kaeya's collar, and yanks him out of the room to face him.
"Oh! Diluc! I had no idea you would have wanted to join in this meeting. I had the impression that Jean-"
"Quiet you snake, what is wrong with you?" Diluc interrogates, keeping Kaeya pinned between himself and the wall.
"My apologies, I must admit it is incredibly difficult to take your anger seriously in general, but especially when it's trying to whisper over an orgas-"
"Why did you kill Carl?" Diluc spits.
"What?! I did not kill Carl, I merely gave him the tool with which he killed himself," Kaeya laughs, and Diluc eases his pressure on Kaeya for the sake of gathering his wits again. "What is your actual issue? Emotional intelligence has been a weakness of yours for a while now, so I doubt you are actually concerned about the basic answers to these angry questions you are asking," Kaeya perceives, dusting himself off a little bit, and smoothing out some wrinkles.
"You do realize that this sort of retribution does nothing to fix the issues which gave rise to people like Carl and his kind?" Diluc asks. He is surprised Kaeya doesn't immediately break out his signature smirk, but he keeps that surprise to himself.
"I understand. And so does Eula. So does Alicia. We all know that there is more change that must take place to correct the gales which deteriorate the proper breezes of our city," Kaeya says seriously. "Still, I will never fault a victim of those gales for wanting to rip the wind itself asunder. Despite this mood you are in, I am sure you agree. After all, you have plenty of experience in the thrill of chasing down everything related to that which took something precious from you. Now, imagine if you were actually able to get your hands on the thing which took away your… dignity, in Ann's case… social life, in Eula's case… father, in ours'," Kaeya considers for Diluc.
"Make sure there is not a single trace of any of this left behind," Diluc demands.
"As I said, you have my word that there will not be an issue. Let me finish with Eula, first, though," Kaeya slips out from between Diluc and the wall, then disappears into the room, closing the door behind him with another wink to his brother and the cessation of pleasure.
ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ
"It's always nice to share the few times the child in you shines through," Jean says, opening the pouch of dandelion seeds and lamp grass. The night breeze carries their scent strongly out of the pouch.
"Ignite it, then," Diluc says, as they stroll out of the shadow of the tower behind them, and onto the moonlit section between the parapets of this portion of Mondstadt's surrounding wall. The moonlight activates the glimmering texture of Jean's nightgown, and the presence of his hand curved around her hip becomes more real. The strict structure of Diluc's double life of nobility and espionage makes tender moments like these fairy tales, but what anchors this moment is the warmth of Jean's skin beneath this thin layer. The fleeting wind is made real by the shy flame. More relevant, though, is that the moonlight reveals the pyro mechanism's absence from the mouth of the pouch. "You removed it?"
"Yes. This little ritual of ours isn't the same with a stale flame. I want your real fire, Diluc," she whispers in gentle yearning.
"Fine…" Diluc leans his head against hers, and raises his free hand to add pyro to Jean's anemo above the pouch. The dandelion seeds ignite first, and pop quickly. Each pop makes it easier for the grass to catch fire, and, after a few moments, it all bursts out the pouch in a windborne puff of illuminating orbs flying up past their faces, and above their bodies. Jean is bedazzled by the sight, never accustomed to it despite them doing it since they were young teenagers. Diluc shares in her wonder and joy, but can't help hearing the splash of water almost completely concealed by the puff.
He peers over the battlements, and sees Adelinde dump something large stuffed in a thick sack over into Cider Lake.
"It isn't often something surprises you," Jean points out, making Diluc flinch in even more surprise at her sudden closeness. She giggles.
"I… I-uh, yeah…"
"What are Adelinde and Kaeya up to?" Jean asks, peering over the battlements as well.
"Whatever wonderful idea Kaeya thought up," Diluc answers before taking Jean by the waist, pulling her close into his embrace, and continuing their walk. "Don't worry about it too much."
"I won't," she snuggles deeper into his naked chest after pushing his robe back. "I trust whatever Kaeya does is in our best interest first and foremost."
Diluc takes in the night air to fuel a deep sigh. Besides providing an indulgent feel of Jean's closeness, a full sensation of their skin in union, it also allows him to blow away his many reservations obscuring the truth of his brother, and his true love and appreciation for his brother.
‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵
Gremory's Notes
Probably obvious I ship Diluc x Jean too.