#devctiion

      Perhaps it was a bad, not so very good idea to have gotten the god into the game that is Genuis Invocation TCG, for they are a raw menace in the fighting ring ... but perhaps it was a good idea too! For it allowed them to find out that some people they only knew as acquaintances were also into it, giving them a happy springboard for discussions! ... and maybe a few ruined friendships ( though it was less violently ended than matches of Teyvolopoly ).

      And so it seemed, today would be another day of finding an unexpected face in an unexpected place ... Diluc, sitting squarely with a cat in his lap in the famed Cat's Tail tavern, leaving the god to stand awkwardly in the door frame for a short moment before the entryway door was promptly closed.

It had been days--well over a week, by his reckoning--since the conclusion of the Drumalong, and he still hadn’t gotten over it. 

It being one of a few gestures of elephantine proportion, previously housed in expensive lacquered boxes Shinobu had casually appraised as being costly, to place it conservatively. The message Thoma had left still skittered through his mind like the pair of Onikabuto the man had gifted while Itto absently wandered through Hanamizaka’s commercial districts, almost obliviously mowing people down while the two insects perched on his shoulders; hardly an odd sight for him, but it was his brisk distractedness that was the bigger concern. After all, it made no zero sense! Not a lick of it!

Itto... was bluntly aware of his sour reputation in Hanamizaka and beyond. He knew he was tolerated at best, a nuisance at worst, head of a Gang of delinquents who couldn’t even do that right! Hell, sometimes he thought some of his own members--like the Traveler and Shinobu--didn’t like him much. Which... was it really so wrong that he got that impression? Yes, they were close, but... maybe he was closer to them than they were to him.

Ugh.

So, why the hell would people like Thoma bother? Help out with the next event? Yeah, not happening! They probably wanted to see it crash and burn for laughs, or something!

With a soured expression did Itto bank sharply down a back alley, mindlessly trudging ahead towards one of the hole-in-the-wall izakaya he could drink the afternoon away in, until--

“Whoa, watch it!” Itto blurted when he almost ran smack dab into a shorter man, until he blanched in recognition. 

It was a normal day on the Dawn Winery property, Kaeya - who was a few months shy of becoming 14 years old - was training with his favorite people in swordsmanship with Crepus and Diluc! It was days like these that made Kaeya proud to be a Ragnvindr as both he and Diluc were honing their skills to one day become a Captain of the Knights of Favonious.

All three Ragnvindr’s were currently sword wielders but this training session was different as Kaeya was wielding a new sword - a rapier specifically - and needed some practice with said new weapon as it gave Kaeya a little more freedom to be ‘fancy’ with his footwork compared to his brother. “Come now brother ~ Do I look like the type to use technique’s that the rest of the Knights use? We were told to always wield our weapons in ways that are both comfortable yet practical... that is exactly what I’m doing ~ right father?” the adopted son smiled up at his father as Crepus chuckled lightly with a slight nod.

Absolutely mortifying.

Of course, Jean had heard the swirl of rumors, whispers on the wind, that Master Diluc Ragnvindr recently returned home after three long, painstaking years. Three years without a single letter home or the tiniest breadth of a hint as to whether or not the man still lived. And with the gossiping chatter of Mondstadt’s free-spirited townspeople came all at once an overwhelming sense of relief — before nosediving into absolute dread.

With the tea set provided by the Inn, Zhongli pours two cups of tea with a steady hand. One for him, one for Xiao.

"I have heard tale of your exploits recently," he says evenly as he works. "You've been working hard as always, but I can only hope you remember to rest as well. Perhaps you could indulge an old man for a little while?" It's framed as a request, but they both know it isn't truly one.

To say he was surprised to see his lord would be an understatement. Even more so that he would come specifically to find him and invite him to tea! Invite.. Not that he would have outright rejected if it were an actual invite, but it sure didn’t feel like one.

“You have... heard? I pray that what you’ve come to hear pleases you.” Not that he wasn’t sure he’d done his duty flawlessly, but he would prefer it if he were praised rather than scorned.

It had been a long day, not exceptionally longer than most, but long enough for him to want to grab a drink after he finished work. However, he wasn’t really looking for what Liyue had to offer so, he made his way to Mondstadt. After all, he did need to check in on Viktor and Pavel so, why not kill two birds with one stone?

He checked in with Pavel on his way to Mondstadt, having a brief chat with him before continuing on his way. Once he had arrived it was decently late so he decided to stop into Angel’s Share, making plans to stay the night inside the city before he stopped by to visit Viktor at the cathedral.

"Thoma-" he begins and stops. The fireplace is burning low. There's a warm cup of tea in his hand. Quiet comforts after a hectic day. His mouth feels a little dry suddenly, so he takes a small sip and tries again. "Thoma, have you ever kissed someone?"

despite the steady rise of the moon outside , the teenager finds himself still feeling rather energetic - being around his friends really did have an effect on him , that eagerness to spend every waking moment with them even if it wasn’t very likely. but he couldn’t help it ! he cared so deeply for his companions it was enough to make his chest ache when they were away for extended periods of time. the blond does not think of that , however ; emerald eyes watch diluc with curious intrigue , and even when he hears the question he doesn’t turn away , instead letting out a nervous giggle. 

     ❛   like ... a real kiss ?  ❜

that was a silly question. of course that’s what diluc meant , what else could it be ? it wasn’t uncommon to kiss a familial figure on the cheek in these parts of the land , or to give a quick peck on the forehead for a friend. but on the lips ... why , the thought alone brought butterflies to his tummy ! knowing that many of his friends already had their first kiss ... 

thoma hums partially under his breath , a habit he’s had for years now. soft digits trail along the porcelain of the cup as he contemplates how to phrase this. when he seems satisfied with himself the boy rocks in his spot , swaying back and forth , briefly flicking his attention skyward in sheepish modesty. 

     ❛   no , i don’t think i have ! i’m waiting for someone special , hehe. why ?  ❜

another thought crosses his mind and the blond gasps , doe eyes widening as he returns his attention back to the redhead.