circuitice | CALL ME OUT

[ kaeya looks briefly flustered at the question, one he clearly understands the implications of, and balks at. he isn't allowed this, and yet, he wants it. so, he wars with himself. ]

What... other impulses are you referencing?

[ he refuses to allow himself to sound too eage. this fragile peace could fall apart at any moment, and he has to mentally prepare himself for that. ]

[ it is rare to see kaeya speechless. diluc waits. the question is one that kaeya has rarely needed to ask. but it has been some time; they are returning to territories that had been left uncharted. they have traversed far enough tonight; kaeya with his drink, diluc with his own. the night burns for it.

he breathes out. his own breath scalds. diluc holds out his hand. ]

Kaeya. [ it's an ask in any other form. the gesture says - give him your hand. ]

[ there's a dark impulse, beating in tune with the same hopeful beat of his heart. turn him away, feign ignorance, just like he had before. but this, this communicated something deeper.

and there was no adelinde to interfere.

he looks at his hand, as though he expects it to be withdrawn at any moment, or like he might run away. and yet, the beat of his heart is stronger in this instance, than that dark, dark impulse that he's nursed since that spring day so many years ago.

he lifts his hand, and takes hold of Diluc's. ]

Don't disappoint me. You may be afraid to use your words...

[ but he isn't. in certain circumstances, but it's a threat without bite. ]

[ has diluc ever done anything save for disappointing kaeya?

the measure of that winter was one where righteous anger died. of course it would, when both the blood of your father and your brother were on your hands. kaeya's face had bled. the blue of his eye had seemed dyed an alien colour, the mask of his face a contorted mask. celestia reached down with the grand wings of her intervention to grant kaeya a vision, and yet he still bled. there had been a time wherein kaeya had looked at him with the shining glint of blue for every feat or lesson accomplished. the last he had seen of kaeya before he had left was that of a single, dull blue eye from beneath his hair as mondstadt receded into the lake.

it has been some time. kaeya gives diluc his hand, and diluc's eyebrows quirk. ]

Who here has been afraid to use words tonight?

[ in any case - action has always been louder. diluc's fingers grip kaeya's. he pulls him in.

the hug is a fierce one. the heel of his hand presses into the small of kaeya's back. it remains there - the loss, the chasm of time and the shards of understanding, the fear of an unkonwn winter. what is not said: that the first time kaeya had snuck to sumeru in a caravan, diluc had been afraid. that the second time that kaeya left for sumeru, diluc had been older, and wiser, and no less cold with uncertainty. and the third time - kaeya may not return. diluc will follow. there is nowhere in the night that the flame cannot illuminate, only a winter that even the flames cannot burn.

diluc breathes out. ]

Come home tonight.

[ home - to dawn winery. ]

[ he shivers in response, and there's a significant part of him that wants to break away. the part that thinks this expression of kindness is-- wasted. or happier the longer they're separated, just because it longs for that misery. Kaeya hates that part of him, and yet he finds it hard to resist it when it calls him to one more mission, or to ignore every overture Diluc makes.

it's a part of him that grows a little quieter every day, but at times like this, it makes itself known.

And yet, there is another part that aches at the closeness, hates how it's a shadow of what it once was, and wishes he could be close enough to smell the drink on Diluc's breath all the more often. He knew this could be a possibility when he offered his hand.

and he's delighted and miserable at the same time. ]

Home? Diluc-- Master Diluc.

[ he corrects himself, struggling for a moment. ]

Surely, you're not implying the winery.

[ he says, knowing that he is. ]

[ a breath. diluc eyes lilt as he studies the line of kaeya's neck. kaveh has always run cool, whether in the height of summer or in the midst of fever.

he squeezes his hand. it's not a kind squeeze. ]

Would you like to argue with Adelinde regarding the definition of home?

[ the squeeze is centering, he could almost thank Diluc. the littlest lack of kindness did wonders for the clarity of his mind. ]

You can't threaten me this way while holding me so tenderly, Master Diluc. It's just simply not fair.

[ he tilts his head, examining what he can of his eyes. an unspoken invitation. ]

[ not fair, he says. diluc breathes out in much of a way of a sigh. he leans in, each word dropped along the contour of kaeya's cheek, against the curve of his mouth. ]

I should know better than to be fair when it comes to you. [ only an idiot would, when it's kaeya. but it is, after all, temptation. diluc allows their lips to brush together again. it's a moment's grace. ] Well?

You really should know better.

[ kaeya teases, allowing their breaths to continue to dance together. and it's at this point, he allows his free hand to drape across Diluc's shoulder, his fingers carding through the wild mane of red. ]

But, since you've asked so nicely, I might consider.

[ kaeya's fingers slide through diluc's hair. and diluc, who has only ever suffered kaeya's hand through it, gives him a dry look. ]

Consider faster. Or the night will while away before you finish.

[ he laughs, deep and sultry. he could appreciate this. ]

Push someone to make a decision before they can consider all apparent possibilities. Or, while they think they'll miss the opportunity.

Very well, Master Diluc. Just tonight.

[ diluc's lips curve, just so.

the hand in kaeya's grips firm - one last thing. ]

And you will stay for breakfast.

Appending a condition after I agree? Isn't that more than a bit unfair?

[ he realizes the problem with this, as he says it. and so he appends, ]

What if I were to tell you I have patrol?

I would tell you that you are not the only cavalry captain to ever have had patrol in the mornings. Breakfast will be early.

...

[ he pulls back, a petty retribution for the added condition ]

I see.

[ and yet, there's an uncertain flustered tone in his voice, a hint of pink in his cheeks. ]

[ diluc's hand tightens. he is, in fact, going to enforce a no-pulling-away zone. ]

Breakfast, Kaeya.

[ and in the red of his eyes - there may or may not be a hint of good humour. ]

You're a devil.

Very well, Master Diluc.

[ like the reluctance of a scalded cat. diluc, however, is pleased to let go. he returns kaeya's personal space to him with the grace of a single step backward. the distance between the opens up ince more like an inexorable chasm -

the shore on the other side no longer seems so far. ]

Rinse out your glass, then, Sir Kaeya. We can then go.

[ he glances at him, and then exhales softly, mentally preparing himself. home... a concept that he has inexplicable mixed feelings about. he struggles with it, struggles against it.

but the pettiness of Diluc's next move gives him something else to latch onto, other than the churning in his stomach, ]

Is that the cost of a free drink, then? I should propose it to Charles next time.

[ as he picks up the glass, and travels behind the bar, further out of Diluc's immediate reach ]

Charles would be happy to have you rinse your own glass and pay for it. If you would prefer that, I can make the arrangements.

[ in turn, diluc's gaze tracks kaeya's circuitous amble - before he, too, focuses on what needs to be done. the last few chairs are hoisted onto the counter. the floor is checked, the shutters on the windows closed. the angel's share is finally at rest in the dim shadow of the final lit lamp. diluc douses that too on their way out.

mondstadt's night air is crisp, the sweetness of autumn's first apples. the darkness unveils stars. diluc looks, and waits for kaeya to emerge before he locks the door behind them. ]

Was Sumeru everything you thought it would be?

Haaah...

[ he exhales, and glances back at Diluc easily as he performs the last bits of locking up on the tavern. Mulls over that question, before he realizes: he doesn't want to talk about sumeru anymore.

he doesn't want to talk about khaenri'ah anymore. it's a sour subject, one he prefers to mull on his own. one that he doesn't expect anyone to understand. ]

The drinks were nice, but the atmosphere was stuffy. Probably an improvement over the past.

But is that really all you want to talk about? To worry about my attraction to another land?

Surely, even you can come up with more interesting topics, Master Diluc.

[ kaeya's logic rounds. diluc looks, and walks past him. ]

Is that your way of saying that you don't want to approach this topic anymore?

Yes. Unless you want to get to the heart of why you're so curious.

[ he watches him pass, and then takes up space beside him. he wishes he felt a little less mixed emotions. should he back out? should he pretend all is well?

he wishes Diluc was a simple matter for him.

he's not. maybe he never will be again.

no, he definitely will not be again. ]

After all, you're far more well traveled than I. Shouldn't I be the one interrogating you?

I was clear as to why I am curious. And no matter where I have travelled, I cannot answer my own questions.

[ but kaeya's reticence is clear. diluc looks to the stars, and continues to walk. the night is long. ]

Fine. Change the subject, then.

Hahaha, very well.

[ small mercies. he would be okay with silence, or he would have once. but now, silence is a quick way to invoke darker thoughts, and he'd lose his will to keep side by side with Diluc if he allowed that.

and so, he brings up the actual topic of discussion that he'd... ostensibly wanted to tease Diluc with. ]

I did have a contact from Sumeru I wanted to give to you. But given your hard negotiations, perhaps I should extract more of a price, hm~?

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