blood like wine

The kiosk certainly is lively. She does not see anything in the decorations that point to a claim to a familiar homeworld. She wonders then if it is a question of quality or novelty that bring such a crowd flocking about. She wouldn't dare to ask such a thing aloud, especially now that she knows she speaks to the owner and not just an employee, but the curiosity remains all the same.

"That, like many things, comes down to a matter of restraint and control. For example, there are studies that indicate that red wines, in limited amounts, can promote good heart health." Lingsha chuckles. "There are dangers, of course, but it is not inherently evil. I will not deny indulging myself, on occasion."

Such an occasion seems to be in the process of presenting itself. "Oh, how generous of you. I don't see any harm in diverting from my plan. Would the first step of that path, by any chance, include the exchanging of names?"

He took the hand to shake, dipped his head in a gesture of courtesy, the extended his arm for her to take as they walked. "Please, I will lead the way, if you don't mind informing me of where your home is, and what it means to be head of the Alchemy Commission. I confess I do not find myself this far from home on a regular basis, and while I am very well informed of the customs of my own planet, even faraway countries, those of another world…"

He trailed off and shook his head with a chuckle that was almost self-effacing. "We'll say this is new for me."

The winding path through the station was one that he had not practiced, but his steps were confident nonetheless, remembering the direction from the numerous maps of the event center which had been provided to him in advance during planning stages. They passed by a multitude of the self-service kiosks, dispensing juices and fizzy drinks which had been selected carefully to suit the tastes of many, before reaching the larger stand which had required more careful construction.

Beams of fragrant cedar, framing a string of colorful planchettes in familiar Mond fashion, the stand itself looked more ornate, more a building in truth than a simple vendor at a cultural faire, but this was the way it was done, and Diluc would not have seen it erected in any other fashion.

“Y…yeah! It has uh, been a while,” she says awkwardly. She spins her thumbs around each other more quickly. It’s at this point that Collei wants to start biting her nails. Nice work, Collei… Wanting to help people like Amber but barely being able to converse with someone she technically already knows. So. Collei puts her game face on. “Oh! Uh–” No more ‘uh’s, Collei!!! “–Thanks! For. For letting me sit at your table. I really hope I’m not being a bother!”

Following quickly behind the redhead, she feels super relieved she’s no longer squashed between gagillions(“Gagillions??” she thinks. Her face scrunches up at the odd thought.) of people. Nonetheless, the average person usually doesn’t just force their way through crowds like that. Maybe this guy does? Collei is a tad curious. She would never have the guts to do that. Mostly because she would probably have to touch people for that, and she would rather she didn’t.

Taking a seat across from the man stiffly, Collei placed her palms on the edge of the stool, pressing her hands against the wooden material. Her gaze darts to the stage, having heard the announcement as well. (“Oh. No wonder they weren’t telling stories yet… Silly me!!!!”) Thankfully, before she can start asking how the weather is, the once masked man speaks instead, and she flicks her eyes back to him rigidly.

“Well– U- Yeah- Yes! S…sure! That is… Fine,” she said slowly, stumbling over her words to not be too repetitive or sound rude accidentally. “But first—” Collei turns her gaze down at the table with obvious embarrassment. “I actually, uh, forgot your name. I’m not even sure if I knew it from before, so…” she blurts out before clearing her throat and shaking her head quickly. “No! Let me rephrase that! Forget I even said anything!! What I mean is let me reintroduce myself! Because it has been a while!”

She had grown. That much was clear, in the time separated from that dark period - he had not been alone in feeling that way, it seemed they had all been drawn into one another's orbit, by some thread of fate or something more sinister- and not merely in the way that a teenager shoots up, begins to fill out, but the set of her shoulders, the way she met his eyes despite the way she couldn't hold her hands still.

His eyes creased softly. "Of course. Introductions are in order. Forgive me, I have been known to be…rather hasty, in some matters. Collei, it is a pleasure to meet you, no matter how many times. My name is Diluc, of the Ragnvindr family, and I am the owner of the Dawn Winery in Mondstadt."

Slowly, he unraveled his hands from their tent beneath his chin, and he extended one to her - to shake, if she chose, or to refuse if she did not. It seemed clear that the gesture was one directed for her to exert her boundaries, wherever those happened to be.

Damn, this guy was right. The people in this prison really are incompetent.

Her voice was a whisper, still keeping a careful appearance despite the incompetence of the guards. "We could use this to not only figure out how the original prisoner escaped but...also to plan our own."

Seele lets out a sigh. She took this commission honestly expecting a bit more exciting of an outcome. She was confident -- sure, stealth was her specialty, and moving through shadows was nothing new to her but...to have it be so...easy...? It just felt like another day in Belobog for her, even if she was anywhere but.

The only real point of interest was the man before her, acting as her cooperator in this crime.

His name...Diluc, right? Guy's disciplined, and he's pretty good at moving quietly. I wonder if he'd like to help Wildfire sometime...

She continued to whisper, though -- "If I'm being honest with you though, Diluc, we probably could escape without any proper plan in mind. I don't think these guys have been all that...focused."

"It cannot be this easy," he said disdainfully, eyes raking over the map as Seele unfurled it onto the desk, leaning his weight onto one hand. "Even without the schematics, it was no more difficult than walking through a town square. I don't know how to train a prison guard that they should care."

But she was right - it was useful in determining how the big-name inmate might have escaped, even if his own entry and subsequent flight were not expected to be anything to write home about.

"This is where he was, isn't it?" His lip curled at seeing the words High Security Wing printed at the top of the sheaf, but he gestured nonetheless. "Even if the guards had done minimal rotation, there should have been all eyes here and here. Where does this lead, just out into the courtyard?"

A frown.

It hasn't been that long since Guinaifen visited Belobog last- her previous trip to the plant Jarilo Vi being for an Aetherium Wars event that she got invited to. It was sooooo much fun, and she's glad her fans enjoyed seeing a different environment than the same old Xianzhou spots she frequented. So it's no surprise that she has returned to the much colder planet in search of her next big creative endeavor. The performer isn't worried about her view count, at least not yet, but Guinaifen knows that it is best to ride the hype train in order to keep people's attention. Once she heard about some ( possibly dangerous ) creature newly discovered with the planets slowly warming atmosphere, and all the interest surrounding it, the redhead knew she had her next big hit.

It's a smooth ride over, and thankfully Guinaifen doesn't need a lot of equipment on her to make her stream high-quality ( though she does have some things that can make it like super extra movie-like quality, but that's for bigger and most stationary streams ), so with just a selfie-stick and her phone, she steps foot onto the snow, an excited smile tugging at her lips.

She is unsurprised to see all sorts of posters with large print stating to stay away due it the situation being uncertain and likely dangerous. Guinaifen has went into the Fyxestroll Garden that is filled with ghosts and ghouls, going out to see some previously unknown animal is easy-peasy.

Though, what does take the streamer by surprise, is a rather tall gentlemen, with beautifully red colored long hair tied up into a ponytail, staring at one of the posters with such a serious expression it makes her laugh to herself. So, with a few quick steps, she makes her way over to the man, curiosity and elation shining bright in her amber eyes.

❛ Heya! You here to investigate that lil beastie too? ❜

He could not pretend to know the depths of the Knights' opinion on the matter, regardless of his personal connections, but after the city had been tipped over during the incident with Dvalin, Diluc was more inclined to tread cautiously about any news of beasts gone awry, especially if there seemed to be bits of them glowing in a manner unfamiliar.

The trip out took longer than he expected when he had initially packed for it, but the moment he landed and his boot crunched against the ice it was a familiar sensation. The paths into the city seemed well-traveled, if only in that there was the singular one, and his shuttle had dropped him directly onto it, guiding him towards the city for news before setting out onto the great expanse of tundra.

For all that news had traveled fast, there did not seem to be much of it that was useful - merely that there was a beast, and the approximate location of it. Aside of these facts, all other details seemed flexible at best.

Even its bounty posters held little in the manner of useful intel, and he could not help but stop in the street to frown at them on his way back out into the cold.

He turned at the approaching voice, unsure only for a moment whether it was greeting him so casually - but then it must have been, for who else would be spending their time attempting to gather information on this creature? The young lady seemed vibrant and eager, and not at all concerned, and Diluc's brow pinched, gaze flicking over her once, down then up, before responding.

She did not expect quite so many oddities.

Eyes flicking upwards, she finds herself to be the one this second voice addresses, so shortly after she had been greeted by the first. A polite smile matches the service smile she recognizes in his expression. "I would have to agree. Glitter is often found to be made of substances that can be harmful to most living organisms in high dosages. If it came at a fee rather than being complimentary, it would be quite irksome."

(There are too many around for it not to be a confusing mess of smells. She thinks she catches grapes, and something like the faint scent of ash on the wind from a distant fire.)

The badge that he displays is different from the one she was given. More than just a simple guest at this event, it seemed, though he does not seem dressed to be one of the research types. She nods. "Indeed, I can only imagine the sort of commitment it takes to forsake all the comfortable things you know in the sake of your research. Poor mental health is found to be linked to an increased likeliness of illness, so it is quite reassuring to see them setting up endeavors such as this."

"It is a service that I am well equipped to provide, and one that I am well used to. Refreshments," he clarified, gesturing to one of the nearby self-service kiosks which had a selection of soft drinks and an attachment to accept faire tokens; glancing down into his bag, he noticed that there were a handful of them, and he snorted softly. "My winery has been producing for generations, and the chance to expand even farther than my forefathers could have imagined was one I could not dream to decline."

He paused for a beat, the corner of his lips turning up, just slightly. "Although there is always the chance that alcohol could worsen latent mental illnesses, isn't there? It's a tightrope to walk, but the opportunity to present different options could lessen some of the mental strain of such a fatiguing sentinel."

That was the hope, in any case - those of the Free City found themselves in celebration, and found themselves turning to him for their libations, but this was a vastly different scenario than the cold embrace of space and a lonesome sentry seeking the comfort of a bottle. He didn't know the enforcement protocols of the space station, but he did know the regulatory hoops he was jumping through to bring Dawn Winery to the stars.

The initial silence of her reply pulls her lips from their polite smile to something more serious. Though the circumstances of the act themselves are unfamiliar, there is something to the practiced manner with which he goes about the task that hints at a procedure with greater meaning. Though her eyebrow raises a touch at the burst of flame he conjures with his bare hand, she waits patiently as he goes about the task.

His answer ends up being as blunt as one might make it.

“I see.” She responds, watching the smoke rise and dance on the slight breeze that carries through the area. She is no stranger to grief and death. The mara-struck haunt most long-lived species from the moment they are born. Though it may not be a concern to the Vidyadhara as it is to others, she has seen what fear of losing one’s self can do to some.

(She kept doing that.)

It was not the answer that one might have been expecting, and Diluc knew that - there were gentler ways to approach it, but that was not how he approached it, and when she did not shy away, did not even seem off-put, that in itself was more than simple politesse. The admittance, too, that she had not lost one close to her seemed a faraway dream, and there was the rueful part of him that wondered if one was truly so fortunate - not in that she had not lost, but was it that she had not loved and lost?

But then at her offer, so simple and forthright, an earnest bid to pay respects to those that she had not known nor could ever know...even if entirely innocent, there was an intimacy in the sharing of grief that Diluc could not pretend he was thoroughly acquainted with.

There was a sharp inhalation, the thick scent of the incense on the winter air wisping around him like the tail of a seelie, and he let the moment hang in the air for only that breath before he nodded.

"I...would like that. I think he would, as well."

The huge crowd on the ship’s deck is also something Collei finds a little surprising. Uncomfortable, even, but that’s mostly because Collei doesn’t exactly want to make physical contact with anybody. Nonetheless, Collei finds herself wandering aimlessly aboard the Pearl Galley, not sure of what to do—mostly searching for the advertised ‘storytelling’. Admittedly, though, it’d be a little rude of her to shriek out at the smallest of touches, so the most Collei can do is stiffly maneuver herself between people, hoping for the best.

When she does feel a light tap on her shoulder, the girl tenses visibly, jerking back.

“Don’t touch me!” Collei snapped, her voice a harsh whisper as to not attract any more attention than necessary. She stops, however, recognizing vaguely the man. Vaguely. It’s not enough to ease her spirits. Brushing at her shoulder hesitantly, Collei looked down at her feet. “S.. sorry, I’m just not comfortable with any sort of physical contact.”

Getting a better look at the man, however, she’s reminded briefly of someone. That red haired man from Mondstadt that Kaeya had pointed out as the culprit of the Black Flame incident? Maybe? That same masked man? Could it really be? “I, uh…” Collei trailed off, debating whether to share her guess of who she thought the man was.

"Of course. My apologies, I mean you no harm, that was my mistake. In such a crowd, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed, can't it?" The excuses on her behalf came easily enough, the corners of his eyes creasing softly.

"For that matter, I'm surprised to see you here." It wasn't a judgement, merely a statement of fact. Diluc canted his head, then gestured with a jerk of it. "Come on, I have a private viewing table for the contest. I'm sure we can find another chair for it."

He led the way, taking the care not to weave through the crowd in the way that he normally would, but to stride forward deliberately, parting the crowd as he went for the girl to follow in the empty space left in his wake - the table was as advertised, on a raised side deck overlooking the stage, and he gestured for the promised seat before taking his own and pouring tea.

Steepling his fingers, Diluc considered the girl before him, flicking his eyes down toward the stage once when he heard the commencement of the main event, before speaking again.

A lie could be spun from a myriad of truths, and that Gallagher had come from Fontaine was not entirely untrue. At the conclusion of the film festival held in the City fo Hydro, he’d found himself with ample free time and the curiosity to do something with it. Here, where no one knew him, he could play for a little while in a familiar old role, and found himself soon in the nation of Freedom. Perhaps it was the culture built on wine. Perhaps it was a familiar ring to soothe an unrecognized homesickness. Or maybe it was just the charm of an antiquated city that could no longer simply be called “old-fashioned,” but “prehistoric.” Whatever his reasons, he was here.

Soon enough, their host released them all to find their bearings and begin crafting something that would impress the handful of volunteers chattering good-naturedly with one another at a set of tables on the other side of the estate’s foyer. The other five contestants fell into their own routines at once, which Gallagher found far more fascinating than the collection of ingredients and mixers that had been laid out for them to work with. From little, unconscious quirks (Sebastian licked his lips every time he picked up a bottle to read its label, Oliver kept shoving his already-rolled sleeves up past his elbows) to well-practiced gestures (Anahita’s flourishes whenever she lifted a cup), each detail made them uniquely human, and that humanness would flavor their drinks in new ways even if they all made exactly the same concoction.

Diluc smiled. Or rather, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he inclined his head in acquiescence.

"Very well."

Although he had been dressed to the nines in crisp darks and a tailored waistcoat, hands moved to shuck the outer layers, to roll up his shirtsleeves as he moved from his position and onto the playing field – in a metaphorical sense, yes, but in the literal sense as well, long strides putting him comfortably behind the long oak counter in the center. While it had been claimed by the more aged contestants, a look and a gesture had them lifting from their propped elbows and watching curiously.

"It may surprise you to learn, those who are not from here," he began, idly rifling through the various bottles and vials that had been spread about on the counter and shelves as he spoke, lifting some here and there to inspect, or putting them back with the barest shake of his head; "That steeped in Mondstadt's fine tradition of libation, comes quite the penchant for revelry. We are the City of Freedom, after all. Aren't we, Oliver?"

The old drunk said nothing, but grinned, as though unsure if he should but knowing that it was better to wear the attention with pride than with shame, and knowing, too, that when Diluc took over behind the bar, no matter the scolding, the drink he was about to receive would be unparalleled.

"Back long before the Four Winds, before Vennessa broke her chains, there was only the field, and the mountain - " it was a common start to a story, or at least the ones he had heard of a time that was before the before, " - and to seek protection from the wilds, or perhaps to harness it, who knows, those who lived in the field made the trek up the mountain, and collected herbs along the way."

As though in demonstration, Diluc plucked a few sprigs of green, pungently aromatic already, even before he tossed them into the shaker and muddled with lemon and mint. Even though they were on the grounds, and out of doors, the bright, earthy, sweet, unmistakably green scent seeped through the air and caused those at the judge's table to perk up with interest.

He continued, reaching now for decanters of liquid, pouring in a manner that was so practiced it seemed almost careless; "Although the ritual could have been called prayer to a divinity they did not understand, it could just as easily have been called what it was: raucous celebration, and lasted days, and even weeks on end. To welcome the spring season, to gather the strength of the world around them into their arms and harness it for the coming year."

A few ice cubes plonked into the shaker, then a few aggressive shakes, and the interest of all around seemed fixated entirely on Diluc's movements, even more than his words.

And then, as though it seemed unavoidable - if the delicate grimace on his face was any indication - Diluc reached for a bottle of SoulGlad and cracked the top, pouring into a selection of glasses, and topping with a jigger of the mixture he had just shaken. He then did the same with a bottle of SoulJoy.

With a hand, he gestured for the judges to come take their share, and with a smirk of the cat that got the cream, he gestured for the contestants to help themselves as well.

He didn't even think that he needed to wait until nightfall, if he were being honest.

The guards' shifts were laughably easy to predict, moving slowly from point A to point B with little variation to their internal clocks, slaves to their own poor habits as they sought the relief of entertainment, or food, or company. Anything except doing their jobs, it seemed, content even now to believe that the reinforcements of the prison would keep their charges in line.

Pathetic.

Diluc was able to slip from view without much effort, and to scale the walls unnoticed with even less. His footsteps traced in tandem with his escorts' shadows, silent against the stone and gone before they could turn to face him and see that he was more than mere wind in the eaves. Perhaps if he got just a little closer, stuck a sign on each of their backs, they might notice him.

But then, maybe not, for after just a few moments of ghosting, slipping keys from hanging hooks and following well-trod paths, he found himself in the office of the warden himself. In was easy, now what about out? That was the conceit of the plea for help, wasn't it? That a threat had gotten out, right under their noses, in spite of the prisoner's infamy.

If he were anyone else, he suspected that the presence behind him might have gone unnoticed, but there was the gentlest shift of the wind and the quietest click of the doorknob as the door closed behind her that alerted him to the entrance of his partner in this endeavor.

Eyes flicked to her, unused to the need for a second but not unwilling to work with her - she had proven herself capable so far.

✰ LANTERN RITE 2025 ! – reblog & send to earn Peace Talismans.

[XINYUE KIOSK] - Back again, Xinyue Kiosk’s keeping up the competition, offering sweet treats, savory dishes, and even refreshing veggies for all those looking to share a snack.

[TEA TASTING] - Third-Round Knockout is once again bringing the new year on with plenty of new tea options for all those caffeinated connoisseurs that want to branch out. Including, for the first time in quite a while, specialty imports all the way from Natlan!

[DRAGON DANCE] - Uh-oh! It seems like the main crew that would lead the dragon dance are two members short, and need two sets of hands NOW! Grab someone and help keep this dance from falling through.

[KAMERA BOOTH] - Liyue is as scenic as it is busy. Several Kamera’s are set up on the docks, surrounding mountains, and some of the best balconies in the area. Make a memory with someone important to you, or keep the lens' attention for yourself!

[LANTERNS] - Like a sea, lanterns float up and flood the night sky. Meaning often dictated by color, they contain our hopes for the new year. Gather with those most cherished and wish for blessings.

[FIREWORK SHOW] - While noisy, fireworks are an incredible display of beauty and color. Make your mark on the new year with a bang!

[JADE HEARTS] - A popular shape for a popular stone in the land of Geo, these Jade Talismans sold quite well. Now, they’re made as a profession of love and desire to ring the New Year in with the company of another.

[BURNING INCENSE] - Even with all the raucous celebration, it is always important to find a quiet moment and remember those who now belong among the stars.

[TOUR GUIDE] - With as many sights to see as Liyue has, join up with a group of strangers to garner the best sights across the city and countryside!

[GIANT JENGA] - While not necessarily a Liyue classic, a recent uptick amongst the younger generation has brought this classic game to the port, and with blocks bigger than ever! Will you best your friend, or will all the pieces come crumbling down? 

[RED ENVELOPES] - Customize your own envelope as a gift to those most cherished. Whether you slip in some mora or a confession of love, even the smallest of envelopes can be life-changing!

[SNAKE PETTING] - As the mascot animal of the year, an exhibit has been set up with several non-venomous and super friendly snakes, if you’re not afraid of these scaly babies.

[JADE MYSTERY] - Shitou is running a special promotion! Guess the correct Noctilucous Jades to find out what it is, just don't gamble all of your mora away...

There was nothing that could have prepared him for going off-world for the first time, no reassurance from Adalinde nor the strongest dandelion wine he offered, neither of which he could have stomached in any case. It was only meant to be for a few days, a trial expansion for his wine into the stars and beyond, or however it was being advertised, as an ammenity for those who spent their lives in vigil of the cosmos.

Or however it was being advertised. Diluc had never had issues with providing comfort to those who needed it, and in spite of everything, he did not think that he could comprehend the isolation of deep space.

Stepping onto the skybridge leading into the conference area, seeing the vastness before him, he still didn't think that he could comprehend it.

The area itself wasn't packed insofar as people went, but the stalls themselves were fitted tightly in neat rows, organized to make most efficient use of the space with stalls advertising herbal scented hand warmers, art and art supplies, local literature from many different localities, and others, including his own product, in little popup vendors installed here and there. He did not even, necessarily, need to be present, other staff happy to take on the burden of labor, but even still he had taken the journey at Adalinde's prodding, the gentle crease of her eyes as she told him, "It might be good for him."

Straightening his posture as he entered the brightly lit space, adjusting the lanyard about his neck and clipping the attached name placard to his lapel, he stepped forward.

"Welcome! Please, don't forget to take your complimentary gift bag! Enjoy the faire!"

He nodded his thanks, sighing only when the owner of the voice had turned to address another as he surveilled what was inside the bag. Trinkets, knick knacks mostly. Diluc kept his face a polite mask, turning to nod at the woman who appeared to have arrived just before him.