#pyriic

“you’re the worst,” said as if it were a mere observation before he lets out a long suffering sigh; arms folding over his chest in a familiar stance as he stares out over the cliff. “but you’re all i’ve got.”

↪ 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚, @pyriic

𝐀 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐙𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐎𝐍, just as it had done so in youth as they enjoyed the surrounding nature together. As a result of his remark intended to elicit such a response, Kaeya's face would be naturally smug. A comment to deliberately annoy -- considered a nuisance, yet Diluc never really tried to get him to leave. That's what he should do, he knows that. It's not impossible for him to ever decide he's had enough.

The duo stood overlooking Mondstadt that afternoon, close to the Winery, and now their tasks were nearing completion. Soon enough they wouldn't have use for one another, but for the time, he might just enjoy his company. His arms swaying loosely by his side, no further words were necessary at that moment. Contentment. Sometimes -- just sometimes -- they were able to co-exist in peace, despite all their differences and issues.

Kaeya's eye flickered over his features, blinking to process, his smug expression fading at the man who appeared to be in thought. He looked away with a low "Hm.." Though shocked, it wasn't like he gave a lot of reaction to something they could consider more of a mutual feeling. The temptation was strong to make another comment, which would no doubt be met with a scowl and some form of regret on Diluc's part. However, he abstained. Aiming to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other now, he mimicked his stance. His touch was barely discernible, but it was his way of replying with comfort.

𝐻𝐼𝑆 𝐿𝐼𝑃𝑆 𝑊𝐸𝑅𝐸 𝐴𝑆 𝐶𝑅𝐼𝑀𝑆𝑂𝑁 𝑅𝐸𝐷 as the hair of the man who caused the wound. The sting in the corner of his eye, unconfirmed as a cut or the sharp reality of pain -- the liquid in his eye seemed to be threatening to fall. A metallic taste permeates his tongue as he wipes away the string with bruised knuckles. This, all the result from an unforeseeable string of rage.

His heart ached as he looked up into the eyes of the man he had betrayed, feeling the words seep into his core, destroying him piece by piece. His newly discovered vision may have been reflected in how he felt then. Bitter and cold. Despite Kaeya's knowledge that he would not receive a friendly response, he decided to inform him anyway. Eventually, he had to face the truth. Yet, how do you convey to someone you care for the reality that everything they experienced during their years of living and growing together was real, when they were supposed to be nothing more than pawns in a much more profound game?

Catching his breath, gasping for air, his throat dry as he parted his lips to speak, falling short as he brought his palms to the ground beneath him. It was once his home, but now he felt like the equivalent of a stain on the carpets ingrained in his youth and adolescence.

Star-shaped pupil with a dimmer hue now. In Diluc's hands, the blade of his claymore threatened his throat. Wincing, his digits flexed, trying to find a sense of grounding. There was an almost unwelcoming feel to the carpet beneath him, almost inhospitable to those who trespassed on it. Possibly, he was overwhelmed by his newly discovered cryo vision coupled with guilt.

Ironic, for what it was thought to symbolize, the last knife in the back -- but for which one of them? Like a crashing icicle, their lives were shattered. At that very moment, they had lost everything. In addition to destroying himself, Kaeya also brought Diluc down with him.

It was only with whatever his hands could provide, that he was able to stand once more. " --- 'Luc !! --- " He said with a crack in his voice. There was no going back on what had been done. The words of anger, presumably and quite rightly, hatred, behind his tone caused a tear to slip from his blurry eye. After years of loyalty, trust, and commitment between them, a younger Diluc appeared in that blur. Yet, in a flash, it was over again, just as he had ripped away years of friendship.

Still standing on the imaginary fence of where he was supposed to place his foot. Was it with the Father that he was abandoned by at a young age, but with a clear goal, for his own nation? Or, was it with the people and the place in which he was raised? He stood to be struck down one last time, but nothing felt so painful as when Diluc revealed to him he was the villain, a traitor.

𝑨𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. The torrential rain that set in on Mondstadt that night seemed to be a sign of the heavens' grief at the passing of Master Crepus. He felt liberated, but also ashamed of himself for how selfishly he was responding. He should have saved Crepus, but he was moments too late. He should've supported Diluc in his grief, yet he hung back as the ancient plot ran through his mind.

He was consumed by guilt as his head hung low with flashes of Diluc over Crepus' body once they were found after the attack. The first and only time Kaeya failed in his duty. The night of Diluc's coming of age. Blood-stained hands, witnessing the cry of , Father! Into the night. 

The moment he saw the broken state of the man, he realized that he could no longer deceive him.- and he wasn't sure if it would ever leave his mind. Or was it a stern reminder that he must live his life under a heavy burden of lies? Whenever he closed his eyes, a vision of the redhead in tears appeared, though only one or two of his own were released. His loss, however, was not for Crepus - though he was saddened by his death - but for the one who had given him a place to belong.

This world had far too many ideals, and he should have known this was all too good to be true. The Ragnvindr's welcomed him, and he found peace in Mondstadt in this false reality he started believing. In truth, he never deserved it. His secret was so deep that he almost forgot it existed, hidden behind his eyepatch for years.

As far as Kaeya was concerned, Diluc was the only one who did not deserve this. Kaeya couldn't let another day go by without telling the Noble of Mondstadt the truth. When he knew what he had to do - and what he would have to face was inevitable - his body felt on edge, tense, and his breaths almost choked under tears. As he imagined himself condemned to death, he expected the redhead to punish him similarly. Nevertheless, he knew he would retaliate if Diluc brought out his weapon. He would fight. Was there anything left for him to fight for? The instructions were unclear, and Kaeya knew he could not stand by and watch another tragedy unfold.

As the hand reached for the door handle, it was noticeably shaking. He took one last deep breath, closing his eyes as sadness and loneliness had already consumed him. In what direction would he go next? It was too late to correct things - not now, maybe never. Nothing had ever compelled him to follow his heart. It's possible... Diluc may have been his weakness.

Pushing the door open, he slowly stepped in one foot at a time, quietly closing the door behind him. Although he had known a warmth inside, as he stood there listening to nothing but a clock's ticking, he felt... cold. His uncovered eye took in the surroundings for what would presumably be the last time. He whispered softly as his hand remained on the door behind him. "Thank you, Crepus..." for opening your home to someone who didn't deserve it.

Flexing his fingers into closed fists before propelling himself forward - or he could just flee - which would be arguably worse, stepping further into the home, his throat clears as he sinks deeper into despair. And, by the night's end, deeper into Diluc Ragnvindr's irreparable wounds. The moment of solitude was necessary to him, selfish - yet again. He cleared his throat, unsure where he might find the man from where he was standing, but he did not actively seek him out. Peeking, he may have seen Diluc by the fireplace, or glancing up, he may have noticed the bedroom door ajar. Even so, he lacked the strength for action amidst these feelings and thoughts.

@pyriic​ sent: ❝  i’m a fan of your work,  actually.  ❞ / consider sarcastic diluc for childe 👀 ​

The words pull a small chuckle from Tartaglia, the sarcasm dripping from every syllable not going unnoticed. He didn’t need to hear the other’s (clearly insincere) compliment to guess his true feelings since he knows exactly who he’s dealing with. It took them longer than he’d like to admit to figure it out but no man can be a thorn in the Fatui’s side for so long without eventually being discovered.      “I’ve noticed. You’ve kept busy getting a good impression of what is is we do, haven’t you?” Tartaglia replies, smiling.

Red Death. One of the names they started calling him before rumors about his identity slipped through to the higher-ups. Like a vengeful spirit he haunted them, chasing down leads to something, leaving dead bodies and bloody destruction in his wake. He decimated entire camps, stole valuable information and made an infamous reputation for himself in a short amount of time. Needless to say he quickly rose in the ranks of the Fatui’s Most Wanted but perhaps no one wanted to find him more than Tartaglia did.

Learning the truth behind this bane that befell the Fatui was almost disappointing - just another blood feud caused by their side, brought on by Pantalone’s machinations to expedite some convoluted plan Childe was only mildly interested in at the time. He can display a taste for schemes and manipulation when he’s in the mood for it, but he much prefers the dirty work. Much to his delight, however, this particular feud brought about a quite formidable foe - one who’s mere mention makes some of his men more than a little uncomfortable, and, most curiously, one who uses their own weapon against them.

A delusion, a prototype - not unlike Tartaglia’s own and yet very different, the element it taps into not known to him yet. Very intriguing indeed. What a waste it would be to let him go without seeing what it can do with his own eyes.      “I admit, I am quite a fan of yours as well,” he says, his smile finally fading and the tone of his voice taking on an undeniable edge. “What do you say we exchange some notes?”

"Diluc! Over here!" A young, spirit-filled Kaeya runs across the sand, his small boots leaving prints from the tide that has just swept the shore and retreated, leaving only a small outline of damp sand behind. A bright blue shell, luminous from the water that had coated it, was retrieved from his path as he bent down. Having never seen anything like it before, he was excited about his discovery. Bringing it to the redhead's attention. It's pretty, isn't it?" He beams as he offers it up to the other. "Here, why don't you look after it ?? -- let's see what else we can find!" He raised a hand to tuck his hair away, but his hair tangled against his face. Teeth shined in the sunlight, and fresh sea air caused his hair to thrash against his cheeks.