🔥 Permanent Catch-All 🔥

[phoenixblessed]

WHO: Diluc Ragnvindr & Others
WHAT: Permanent catch-all log for closed threads/overflow
WHEN: Any time
WHERE: Anywhere
WARNINGS: To be posted in headers/where required

Comments

Bridge of the Lost quest

[monoceroscaeli]

[It seems he's not the only person who's interested in what might happen at this peculiar bridge once the clock strikes noon.

Tartaglia has always admired the snowy landscape of the winter segment and Frostreign- it reminds him very much of his motherland that lies so far away from him- so when the chance to have an excuse to go out to the winter segment arose, he took it. Clad in the large, pure white Harbinger coat he'd arrived in the day he'd been taken from Teyvat and placed inside that void of snow before learning the truth of this world, he wanders out past the Forest of Spirits to finally come to the bridge that supposedly had its own supernatural properties. It's getting close to the allotted time, stepping onto the bridge to meet the person who already stands there, for what he assumes is to investigate the same thing he is.

Except, it surprises him to who it is, someone he recognizes immediately. The Fatui had records on him, the man who'd ripped through their ranks years ago, slaughtering their soldiers. Someone he's always wanted to cross blades with, and the sight of him on the bridge already gets Childe's blood pumping with excitement.]

Well, well...

[He says, approaching Diluc with caution, yet seeming completely relaxed on the surface.]

If I had known you were here, I'd of introduced myself to you much sooner. Diluc Ragnvindr, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[phoenixblessed]

[When it comes right down to it... he's really only here for the payment. Diluc's overall feelings towards this world are still extremely chilly and this seemed like a fairly easy commission to make some quick coin from. He made sure to dress warmly himself, and his vivid hair is loose for once for the added protection and warmth it supplies to his ears in this frigid environment.

He knows that someone is going to join him... though he could not have anticipated who that someone would be.]

... The pleasure is entirely yours.

[His voice could compete with the air around them for chill as he looks the approaching Harbinger up and down. It had only taken him a moment to place the face and realise just who he's stuck fulfilling this commission with. Diluc exhales a soft sigh and turns away, loosely folding his arms.]

I could have contentedly gone for far longer without being introduced to you, Tartaglia. Let us do what we need to do here, then you can get out of my sight.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He chooses to ignore the condescending tone of the red-haired man, as much as he'd like to just take offense to it and start a fight right here, right now. But he'd like to also see what the deal with this bridge was, so best not to burn it and the possible one he might be able to build here with Diluc as well. He's been curious about this man for a long time now...]

That's no way to greet someone. We'll be working together for this, and you just want to dismiss me out of hand like that? How unfair, hahaha.

[But there's no time like the present as they say, and Tartaglia checks his phone- it's almost time.]

Aren't you the least bit excited to see what will happen? Any minute now and this bridge is supposed to light up like a beacon- it's probably better if you can trust that I'll have your back when it comes.

[Absolutely using the word 'trust' here loosely, almost as if he's mocking him.]

Late-April

[icepatch]

[Kaeya was honestly at the end of his rope. For however long it had been since that thunderstorm, Kaeya and Diluc had been working on his issues with his magic. A month? Over a month? He had lost track as his frustrations continued to mount. Logically, he knew he had nothing to be afraid of. He could make fire harmless, according to other summer holders, which meant he could make a pyro sword similar to his cryo sword and not burn himself.

And yet...]

Tch-!

[His Vision was still preventing him from doing more than holding onto a flame for a few seconds. If he was really irritated, then it wouldn't happen at all. Which was weird given he learned that summer was also fueled by anger and passion. There had to be more that was blocking him than just his Vision. All he was doing was just tiring himself out.]

This is getting ridiculous.

[phoenixblessed]

[As promised by them both they had been trying to work through Kaeya's problems, but it seems that the trauma response blocking him from using the abilities he has been given here runs far more deeply than either of them had first suspected.

Diluc knows he can't teach Kaeya conventionally - the magic he's trying to use isn't like that which would be granted by a Vision - so instead he had settled on trying to get around the self-defense reaction that he has every time he attempts to do anything with fire. It's... been slow going, and after over a month the two of them seem to have made very little progress.]

We can take a break.

[He sighs softly and flops back against the couch cushions, glancing at the other man's back for a moment and then reaching over to plant his hand flat against it. Hopefully it would help give him back some of the energy he's using up trying to solve this.]

Frustration could be as much of a roadblock as anything else at this point.

[icepatch]

[Kaeya remained pensive, elbows on his knees and his chin propped up but his fists. It was simply not a good feeling that he was his own wall in this whole thing. He really did want to get over this... trauma. But it was so much more deeply rooted, something that he largely didn't want to accept.

He suspected that was partly the issue here but simply telling himself that everything would be fine if he plays with fire was not going to cut it. He started a little when he suddenly felt the weight of Diluc's hand on his back. He relaxed and sighed, his shoulders releasing the tension as he dropped his hands.]

Sorry. I just... [He took a deep breath.] I just wish I could understand all this better.

for Lumine (@glidinglight) | Bridge of the Lost

[phoenixblessed]

[Lumine seemed like a relatively safe bet for this. She already knows so much about him anyway, he trusts her, and he has faith in her ability to work alongside him to deal with anything that might happen should things take a more dangerous turn.

He tugs his scarf up a little closer to his chin while he waits at one side of the bridge, watching people going by. It's chilly in the winter segment and he occasionally spies a snowflake or two drifting through the sky as if it might begin snowing in earnest any moment. Weather like this always reminds him of Snezhnaya. A beautiful place by all accounts even if his memories of being there are not all that pleasant at all.

Diluc puffs out a sigh, his breath crisping into a frosty cloud in front of his face, and then he catches sight of a familiar head of golden hair out of the corner of his eye.]

Ah, Lumine, there you are.

[There's a smile for her, always, and a gentle warmth in his voice that is not heard by many.]

Are you ready to go, or do we need to get anything first?

Re: for Lumine (@glidinglight) | Bridge of the Lost

[glidinglight]

[ She shakes her head no. ]

I'm good. I hope you weren't waiting for me too long. I would have been here sooner, but I had a last-minute delivery.

[ She should probably be dressed in something warmer, but there wasn't really time to change. Besides--if she could manage Dragonspine's chill in just her dress, she could manage this, too. ]

How about you, are you ready?

[phoenixblessed]

Mm, I'm ready.

[He arrived ready and from there it was just a matter of waiting for Lumine to arrive while he fought against the instinct to regret all of his life choices at this point. Diluc would readily admit that he resents needing to do things like this when he in no way asked to be here at all, but he can also acknowledge that that is just his bitterness at having been dragged here talking.

Still not over it, sorry not sorry.]

And I wasn't waiting for too long. I can still feel my fingers and toes. [He shoots her a faint smile.] It sounds like you're keeping busy, as usual.

Early May

[immortalmarshal]

Cor was just drifting thru the area, trying to get a better sense of this part of the city. It's not as well-populated, but that is a good thing. The Coliseum seems to keep drawing crowds, and Cor doesn't want to risk people getting hurt in case something goes belly-up during his magic practice.

So, here he is, wandering around and trying to find a good spot to carve out a few minutes of earth magic self-training. But then his ears pick up said noises from...that lot nearby? Curious, he turns the corner, wanting to see who else is trying out their earth magic here...

[phoenixblessed]

It's nothing at all like his control over Pyro, but with practice and some assistance from Albedo he has managed to accomplish the adjustment in thinking required to not struggle overly against the shift in element.

When Cor approaches he'll find the pale, redheaded young man in the middle of pulling up several slender pillars of earth from the ground, all of them fairly uniform in height. Whether it be necessary or not he's using small gestures of his hands to guide his attention and with a sweep of his arm he sends the whole row toppling like dominoes.

The one at the end of the row scatters into a fan of dirt across the ground, and then Diluc catches sight of the older man. He brushes his bright bangs out of his face and levels his gaze at Cor, loosely folding his arms.

"I'm almost done, if you're looking for somewhere to practice."

[immortalmarshal]

Cor notices how slender and uniform those columns seem to be. Here is someone who seems to have a damn good grasp of earth magic. He looks mildly impressed as Diluc topples them over with decent control.

"No need to rush on my account. You seem to have a better grasp on your earth magic than I currently do, and I would rather have you finish your practice round first."

[icepatch]

[Kaeya wanted to berate himself for even contemplating sneaking into Diluc's apartment. It was stupid, really. Thunderstorms weren't terribly common, thankfully. The weather fluctuated between warm and cold due to straddling Summer and Autumn, but it generally produced more windy conditions than thunderstorms. Still, they did happen and Kaeya was still scared of them. It had sort of become a weirdly comforting routine for Diluc to come over unprompted or for Kaeya to seek out Diluc and simply be in each other's company until the storm passed over, sometimes even spending the night if it was late enough.

But this time, it was one in the morning. Diluc wasn't answering his phone (for obvious reasons) and Kaeya wasn't sure if sneaking in would put the other man on some kind of alert and attack him with friendly fire (pun totally intended mwehehe).

But, eventually, another crack of thunder won out and Kaeya was silently making his way out of his apartment in just his pajamas and socks, down the hall a few doors down, and silently entering Diluc's. Yes, he had a key, so he wasn't breaking and entering, okay?

There was a guest room they Kaeya could probably just sneak into, but what was the point of all this if he was just going to be by himself? No, Kaeya wanted what he used to have. He wanted Diluc and his protective presence. So, he carefully padded through the living room to his room. Sure enough, Diluc was only sleeping mostly towards one side, just enough for Kaeya to slide in and settle next to the other man. He was as careful as he could possibly be, he didn't touch or push or anything. He simply settled under the covers and tried very hard not to jump at the next rumble of thunder.]

...?

[He couldn't help the sudden confused sound as he looked over his shoulder at Diluc's sleeping figure. Something wasn't adding up here.]

You're awake, aren't you.

[It wasn't a question.]

[phoenixblessed]

[The stormy weather doesn't bother him like it bothers Kaeya. Sure, he doesn't like it or the memories it stirs up but it doesn't have him curling up in instintive fear each time lightning flashes across the sky.

By now, he and Kaeya have reached a point far beyond the original 'truce' that he proposed. Time spent together has more than dulled the edges of any animosity and has become almost routine. Almost like it was... if not quite. Enough that they have keys to each others apartments while never abusing the privilege, enough that they will occasionally pick something up they think the other will like... It feels too soon to hope for anything more but it feels like they are well on the way to their lost closeness.

Diluc doesn't mention it. He doesn't want to push Kaeya away, knowing how the man can be, but he thinks that he likes it, too.

He hears the door opening and wakes up immediately, on high alert in bed as he listens to the sound of someone's soft steps moving through the living space of the apartment. A few moments are all he needs to recognise who those steps belong to and he quickly settles down, pretending to be asleep as the other man comes into the room and slips into the other side of the bed. He can feel eyes on him but it's only when Kaeya speaks that he lets out a muffled little chuckle and rolls over to face him.]

Someone just crept into my apartment and then my bed, in the middle of the night. Of course I'm awake.

[As for why he isn't flinging fire..?]

I knew it was you.

[icepatch]

Hmph.

[A pouty huff, but he couldn't refute that. Kaeya shifted onto his back. The room was nearly pitch black so it wasn't like he could see the redhead all that clearly. But he looked at him just the same.]

You didn't answer your phone.

[Was his only response. Nevermind that Diluc somehow recognized his footsteps. Who does that??? Diluc apparently. But he was grateful all the same.]

slides in here

[outride]

( It's a beautiful day, and Amber is taking a stroll through Sunwaning. The outrider's normal uniform is forgone for something much more casual - a hoodie, shirt and pair of shorts. Now that she's ready to move out of her starter apartment, she's currently checking the districts out to find somewhere to live - when she just happens to come across a familiar face. )

... Master Diluc?

[phoenixblessed]

[Amber could be forgiven for not recognising Diluc on first glance. It's a warm day and he's not wearing a black from head to foot, but rather a white shirt that's loose at the collar with the sleeves rolled up, showing the light freckles on his forearms. One of his arms has a bandage wrapped around it. His hair is tied up high off his neck and swings lightly from side to side as he turns his head towards the familiar voice.]

Outrider Amber.

[He turns away from the sandwich board menu he had just been scanning outside a coffee shop and loosely folds his arms, curling his fingers around his elbows.]

I thought it would only be a matter of time before we crossed paths.

[outride]

( It's surreal seeing Master Diluc looking so casual. She's not used to seeing him in any outfit that isn't the usual black and white shirt and jacket combo which he dons around Mondstadt and while serving drinks in Angel's Share. Her eyes catch his freckled skin, which she regards as really cute. )

Yeah! I'm glad to see a familiar face.

( The next thing she notices are the bandages wrapped around his arm. )

... Have you been doing okay?

for Hazel (@faezel)

[phoenixblessed]

[ from here ]

---

[Diluc exhales a soft sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. He's being unkind, probably, but this place has him more tense than he's been in a long time.]

It's fine. [He pinches the bridge of his nose then lets his hand drop.] But really, while I can admire your persistence, I don't need any help. I find having this unfamilliar magic forced on me to be intrusive enough as it is.

[faezel]

[ This human man certainly has a pessimistic way of looking at things ... ]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be persistent. I'm merely excited, that's all.

My kind ... we can only learn one type of magic, plant magic. To have an additional ability feels less of a curse and more of a blessing, to me. You really find it to be intrusive?

[phoenixblessed]

[Unfortunately... he does tend to.]

Had it been my choice to begin with I wouldn't find it so. [Again his arms move up into being loosely folded, fingers tapping lightly against his elbows.]

But it wasn't, and nor was being here. I wouldn't be so dramatic as to call it a 'curse', but if I could abandon it and go home today then I would.

for Ayato (@acquirement)

[phoenixblessed]

[ from here ]

---

[Hmn.

Lumine hadn't mentioned anything like that, so he assumes this is an arrival more recent than the last time he spoke to her at any great length. The arrival of her brother in any respect seems like something she would have mentioned to him given how long she had been searching.]

As strange as it may sound, I do believe you. [It's a ridiculous lie to tell if it is one and Ayato has not struck him as that kind of person.

Two entirely different people, and nothing has changed. He shakes his head slightly.] And I see the point you're making. You're quite right, of course.

[acquirement]

Even if you hadn't, I would have simply told you to confirm it with her. { he smiles } But it got my point across, it may be the case that things are already set a certain path, no matter what we do. It's hard to say.

I have questions for the both of them regarding some of this, as so far they seem to be the only divergence.

café date

[icepatch]

Kaeya would never call himself any sort of master baker, but he had been having fun baking a lot of things the past few months. While he wasn't the only supplier, many of his baked goods did end up on the shelves of the cafe he and Diluc ran.

Today, before the morning rush, and likely too early for most people, Kaeya was filling the display cases of today's assortment. There was also something new he wanted to add but wanted to get Diluc's approval first. As the redhead made some coffee, Kaeya went about reheating the little breakfast sandwiches. They were by no means some sort of new creation, he got the idea from elsewhere. But he figured why not? The biscuits were buttery and soft and savory, it went well with the sausage patties, the egg, and slice of cheese.

He set the small plates down on the table with their sandwiches and a fruity muffin. Having fire magic sure came in handy for keeping things warm. "How much longer for the coffee?"

[phoenixblessed]

Between the occasional quest and call to arms, the days could pass by in a kind of quiet, easy domesticity that Diluc had never thought he would find with Kaeya.

While he makes the coffee he watches Kaeya out of the corner of his eye, a small smile on his lips barely noticed by himself while he observes the other man stocking the display case with the baked goods for the day. They were doing well here, he thought, with a good customer base and a decent income. It wasn't what he had expected when he arrived here, but... he's not complaining, either.

"Just a few minutes. Assuming you don't want a burned roast."

He's going to do this right - taking his time with each cup, like he usually does.

"You can start without me if you're hungry."