Red Dead of Night

TO: DILUC FROM: KAEYA

[ txt ] Oh, come on now. [ txt ] No need to be a batch of sour grapes coming back. [ txt ] What if I said those were for your welcome back party?

to: Kaeya

TO: DILUC FROM: KAEYA

[ txt ] box of dates [ txt ] three bottles of cooking wine [ txt ] head of lettuce [ txt ] salt and pepper

to: Kaeya

rather than mingle inside, she had quickly grabbed a full plate of food before making her way to the gardens. of course, by the time she actually sat down on a bench, most of the snacks were already gone but at least they lasted the trip– and she avoided getting anything on her dress. but at the moment, such things hardly seemed to matter. her ears pick up on a warm and familiar voice. her body twists too quickly in her seat perhaps as she peaks over the small ledge behind her, eyes widening instantly.

" Well, I wonder who this distinguished gentleman is? " a laugh follows as the rest of her body follows her gaze, leading to the saber slipping off the ledge to be on even ground. " Didn't think I'd find you here, Diluc."

he manages the slightest smile when she talks, happy to have the chance to see her again. "you know, it's polite to tell friends when you decide to depart for an adventure." a small joke of course, no one has ever left by choice. still, that does nothing to help what others feel when losing someone they've had time getting to know. "it's good to see you again." he means that. something about her presence changes the atmosphere of any place, lightening the mood as soon as she speaks.

ϟ really? I didn't try to keep things tidy to get anything out of it. but going out shopping together would be fun. ϟ not that the idea would have crossed the man's mind. Kaeya's warning about there being humans out there who would take advantage of others for their own ends stayed with him, not wanting to make either of their lives more difficult by getting caught up in trouble by accident.

he's not too sure what else the mouse might want but that's a list they can make note of on the day, unless Pikachu prefers browsing first and choosing on the spot. the beginning of the week seems a good time to plan the trip for. early enough for Pikachu to spend time getting used to his new items.

and hearing Diluc recognising his effort to keep the manor tidy meant a lot. Kaeya definitely helped too, but it might have been safer not to say that right now. ϟ I wanted it to be tidy so you didn't come back to lots of work. you always keep everything neat and it would be really sad if you came back to a mess, or to see everything covered in dust. like it wasn't cared for. but I care about this house a lot. ϟ

"hmm..." the slight pause alone is enough for him to know that's not the case at all. Pikachu is definitely covering up something, or maybe for someone. "I doubt that, but I won't question further. as long as it doesn't happen again." he has a vague idea already but there's no way to prove it unless someone were to come forward and confess, which is not likely.

even though he was used to this, it was always lonely. for whatever reason, the Stars like to take away his friends, like they were taunting him for ever getting close to humans. there was something comforting in the manor staying even though its owner was missing — it was a special home, not one that would still be here even if everyone left it. it was Diluc's home, so that meant he wasn't gone forever. Rain too. he always came back.

he had managed on his own. the bowl of candies left out for trick or treaters while he went out to take part was emptied out by the time he was home and he'd made sure not to make any messes. it was just... really quiet. and cold, in a way.

when the door opened up, his ears twitched. an eclipse had happened not long ago, but so had others and nothing changed. he was scared of getting excited, only to find out it was the same again. so it was curiosity that brought him to the staircase, looking down at who had walked in.

even though the door was open, the manor was warm again.

and while that lingers in his mind... "have you eaten yet? shall I make something for us if not?" either way, he could still grab a drink for himself even if Pikachu doesn't want anything just yet. for the time being, he steps into the kitchen and sits at the table, still fussing over the companion to give that reassurance he's not going anywhere so soon after returning. not so long as he could help it. the stars may do as they please, but staying with Pikachu is the priority—as well as that annoying brother of his... troublesome or otherwise.

ϟ —oh... right. sorry. ϟ it was probably only because of Diluc that he hadn't managed to already.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀a rift needing to heal, lest it become an irreparable maw.

only thoughts as those aren't meant for days like this, not when it should be about diluc's happiness, nothing more. so, the captain stands at the open door to his brother's home, gift in hand while facing the red-head. it's the least he could do — to try.

❝ Here. Take it. ❞ kaeya holds out the small package, wrapped elegantly with a flourish, in an array of colors to thoughtfully match its recipient. and were diluc to accept, he would find a beautiful set of clothes tailored to his tastes. a dark suit, garnished with a deep red silk vest and ashen gray patterns etched upon the coat in perfect precision, lined with dashes of dark crimson to accent it. there were also a set of gloves to pair alongside it, if he chose. ❝ Days like this are worth celebrating and today is certainly no exception. ❞

their usual opposition isn't present which should be surprising but this is preferable to longstanding disagreements. he hums, quiet, an attempt to figure out what the next course of action should be. they can't continue forever as they have done, and yet, there's an uncertainty in forgiveness for the moment. trust takes time to repair, as do broken bonds and both need to find some sense of it again.

"is that all you came for, or was there some other secret purpose to this?" perhaps he doesn't really want to know. it's a miracle his brother even bothered to set foot anywhere near his home, it might be better to give the benefit of the doubt. "never mind... I guess you should come inside for now." if Kaeya wants to, that is. the door now wide open in invitation as he waits on a decision.

Since day one, she had always been there, just a little ahead. The two of them had been through everything and managed to lean on one another when need. When Kai and Elatha weren't here, there was still each other. But then... the house fell so quiet. It was a possibility they'd both considered, even if never spoken of; anyone was subject for release from Spirale and return home — their friends, their boyfriends, even them.

Still, all the belief in the world that they would be ready couldn't truly compete with the gravity that dragged his heart down to open the door in check to find Misaki's room without her. Every decoration remained in place, like a snapshot in time, but she... wasn't anywhere to be seen.

He'd kept busy to keep the full force of such change from overwhelming him; let it come in smaller waves, like the staged filling of a cup. His greatest fear had always been isolation — to be lost in that world of utter darkness where not a soul could be found no matter in which direction he looked. Though candle-lights of others' company fizzled out across the passage of time, he was never entirely alone. Until now.

Running a palm along Wingal's mane to High-Beast's coos had been a source of comfort in knowing that he wasn't entirely by himself, but it was only a bandage. One that peeled some with the unprovoked knock of the front door, bringing the canine's head up and darting for toward the source. A little dazed, Aichi's follow was staggered, having to take a moment for slow breaths and steel himself for what might be waiting — he daren't get his hopes up, not if they were at risk of collapsing and slashing at his heart with them.

steps lead him inside which he wastes no time in heading for the kitchen, a place all too familiar from many past occasions he joined them for meals, or a simple conversation. although, it does seem much emptier without her presence. a silent note to drop by more often in future so Aichi shouldn't feel as if there's no one left to turn to.

"I brought leftover pancakes from this morning if you'd like some? Pikachu wasn't able to finish them, even after reassuring me he could manage. I believe the appetite of his eyes is much larger than his stomach at times." he calls out just enough for the boy to hear until Diluc looks over as Aichi enters the doorway. "there's also something I've been working on for those who don't drink alcohol. perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing your opinion?"

it's an indulgence of sorts. while she's always been one to admire others without any sort of shame, speaking her mind regardless of the sorts of reactions it would garner, she doesn't quite do the same when it comes to him. it was something unspoken, and had remained as so for a long time. at least until his brother had rather casually pointed things out to her. (not that she'll ever speak of that encounter. kaeya has kept her secret thus far and so musashi will do the same in kind.) it has not changed anything: she continues to treat diluc as always. after all, even if this existence ends up being like an ephemeral dream, she would rather any memories he's left with remain untainted.

an effort to spare him the pain that ritsuka and mashu had to suffer.

"I know." doesn't matter though, she would have received something from him regardless of giving one or not. but somewhere in those thoughts, it's already obvious which of those is true.