circuitice | CALL ME OUT

Is that the criteria?

[ but the amusement is there as diluc sit back. ] By all means, then.

Our circumstances may be different, but I'm not destitute.

[ he will be paying in cash however. with the change and some extra mora left as a tip. ]

You're able to feed yourself. I had wondered.

[ the irony in his tone is a lilt unto itself. but the bill has been settled. diluc rises and gestures for kaeya to follow. the night air is crisp. diluc pulls on his gloves as they walk, trailing the scuffed concrete of the city block to where the parking garage is.

the drowsy valet on attendance stands up at a start as diluc approaches. he nods, and the young man jogs off with keys to retrieve his vehicle.

as they wait: ]

If you had not careened into me tonight, where would you have gone?

I told you.

[ a beat, as he shrugs lightly, placing his hands behind his head as he walked. ]

I had plans.

[ he knows he's being frustratingly vague, but at the same time... Well, he doesn't need to advertise that he was out to get drunk. to go numb for a bit and forget the loneliness.

that would be much too much for what was surely going to be a one night stand with an old friend, who for some reason agreed. ]

And you?

[ a non-answer, but it is to be expected. diluc shrugs a shoulderless shrug. ]

Home. [ the barest flicker of a glance. ] I had no further plans.

[ the car that comes rolling out of the parking garage, as it turns out, can only be described as the kind of car that only assholes would drive. as in, if it pulled onto a lot, everyone observing would immediately think 'ah, asshole'. sleek, black, expensive, with enough raw horsepower to run a circuit and still enough leftover for perhaps a trip to another galaxy. diluc takes the keys from the valet with a nod. mora is exchanged. he gestures for kaeya to get in the passenger seat.

within: black leather. diluc fits himself into the driver's seat with aplomb. the car glides. ]

[ whatever he thinks of the car, he doesn’t comment on it, at least not immediately. His only thought is that it’s a show of wealth. In general.

But as to Diluc’s answer, Kaeya chuckles. He deserved a response like that. Expected it, even. Though, he wonders if this is pettiness on Diluc’s part. Or obfuscation? And so, he pushes again. ]

What were you out so late for?

[ a chuckle ]

Business? Hm? Or did I catch you on your way away from something more interesting for a Friday night?

[ the questioning continues. it's to be expected. two cats squaring off over uncertain territory, and the world simply speeds by. stop lights, lamp lights, the ambient glow of office windows. they fade as diluc takes them towards the freeway. ]

Is this an interrogation? [ a faint flicker of something that might've once called itself amusement. ] I don't kiss and tell.

[ he laughs, as though he were truly surprised by that. but everything in Diluc's demeanor has told him that he would be evasive. perhaps even outright lie to hide his secrets.

and it was more than fair enough-- Kaeya didn't feel like divulging his secrets either. and so, he attempts to dissipate the air with a bit of feigned air headedness.

of flattery, if necessary. ]

Oh my, I suppose I need to be much more thorough in my technique next time, then.

[ and then he glances over. ]

After all, I do like to know how I compare.

[ the insinuation is not lost. the curve of diluc's eyebrows indicate as much. but the existence of bait, however, does not create the necessity to take it. the night is still young.

instead, diluc takes the moral highground. observe: the next red light makes itself known a whole street in advance. diluc, who speeds just enough so that the brakes forces the entire car to screech into a stop.

blandly: ]

Do you, now?

[ really living up to that asshole car stereotype there, huh diluc. ]

Provided I don't meet my tragic end before there's time to assess, I suppose.

[ look, what's the point of owning an asshole car if you aren't going to be an asshole. ]

Do you have issues with my driving? Perhaps you would like to walk instead.

Oh no, who could have issues with such a stellar exemplar of motorist safety? Not I.

[ he's not even the most dangerous driver he's ridden with that day, but also... well, no need to advertise that. ]

The light was clearly red. And we are clearly stopped.

Truly, you are a paragon of safety standards.

[ with an ironic twist of his lips, diluc guides his car forward. the light flickers green. the city continues to pass by. ]

In any case, there is no need to compare.

What do you mean?

[ he asks, glancing back at Diluc, before looking out at the road, tracking the direction they're headed. out of habit. ]

You will have no desire to compare. [ diluc's eyes flash - amusement and steel in one. ] Not after I am done with you.

[ oh, is that so? his lips quirk upwards into a smile at the braggadocio that he's just witnessed. ]

I'll hold you to that, you know. And I'll be unsparing.

[ he inclines his head towards him ]

[ ... ]

... you have changed, Kaeya.

That’s to be expected. We aren’t children anymore.

[ he says it so sincerely, but still studying Diluc’s reaction. ]

You realize you used to be much more cheerful, don’t you…?

And if I said 'no'? Would you regale me with fascinating little anecdotes of it?

Maybe~

[ he laughs, and reaches his hand to rest on Diluc's wrist. ]

The kind of child that drew everyone to him. Why, I do recall some sort of game of playground royalty and you got to be the prince, no?

[ he hums, pleased with that. ]

I was always a little surprised at how willing you were to try to talk to me, even at my worst.

[ kaeya runs cold. this, diluc has always known. the weight of his hand settles upon the back of diluc's hand, still cradling the transmission lever of his car. ]

You never invited yourself to those games. Therefore, I invited you. [ but nostalgia is easy to fall into, for a time. ] You played the villain in that game of princes, or so I recall. Nobody else wanted to.

Well, there needs to be someone to be the "bad guy."

Or else, it really isn't fun.

[ a brief pause, as he realizes that probably is something that should be softened, just a touch, ]

Or else, that's what I felt as a child. And I was never fond of arguments.

[ his touch is light, purposefully so. as if to convey a sense of intimacy-- without any risk of truly distracting him from the road.

perhaps. ]

[ kaeya's fingers skim with the skim of someone used to living lightly. kaeya is a question wrapped in an enigma. he assesses boundaries with the sure hand of a man who knows how to transcend them. it means that when kaeya chooses to remain on his side of the boundary, it is a statement of intent.

diluc considers this. ]

You were fond of surprises. You enjoyed hide-and-seek in the vineyard, when it was summer.

Are you sure that I'm the only one who wants to reminisce?

Ah, it's too bad that our childhood friendship was cut short so suddenly. I wouldn't have minded a few more years...

[ he hums lightly. ]

Ah, but we have now, don't we?

Do we? Have you become the type of man who consistently remains in the lives of others?

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