[While Diluc shuts off the stove. Kaeya cuts the bread. He doctors the slices according to their individual tastes. He sets Diluc’s on his plate and takes a bite out of his own.
It’s as good as last time they got bread from the bakery. His tail wags behind him and thumps against the back of his chair. He doesn’t mind showing Diluc he enjoys the food. The bacon is quickly devoured. Since this change he needs more meat than he used to.]
[Diluc takes his seat and starts in on his breakfast as well. It's nice, really, starting mornings with Kaeya like this -- quiet, unhurried. Domestic even. It's reminiscent of days so far gone by they sometimes feel like they happened to someone else.]
What do you have planned today?
[Casual conversation, still not entirely his strong suit, but he is getting better at it.]
[He swallows his eggs. Starting the days with Diluc has been a dream come true. They are not the same. He can hear a much more cheery voice in his memory.
Some days he doesn’t have an answer for him. Today he does. He checks the tea and it smells right. He pours it for both of them.] I’m going to go for a run this morning. Then I thought I’d get a look at their library again.
Family ties and legends or myths can form bonds. I’m curious what that means.
Supposedly legends are do-gooders who are on the side of what they feel is right. Zealots and paladins of justice. I am a bit surprised you don't have wings made of fire. But not all good things are flashy, are they? [He waves a hand and smiles into his tea. If he were his mother's son, he would be a legend. But he can't. His ear twitches.] Familiars are the between. The shadows, the greys.
It is quite fitting for me. [A royal who won't rule. Who instead is an authority in the country he's supposed to be spying on? Yes, there are so many reasons for it. He sips his tea.] Good tea.
I can tell you let it steep a little longer to make it as strong as we both like. The hint of bitterness to mix with the floral aspects is nice.
[Diluc agrees. And though he certainly does believe in the ideals that he fights for, he also fully recognizes that he has gotten his hands dirty in a way so that others may live in the light. Legend and all its trapping don't seem particularly apt.
Though Kaeya does have a point that Familiar fits him like a glove.]
It's better stepped stronger, yes. [Diluc agrees, thoughtful a moment as he considers]
There is a fighting school in this place. I've wanted to look into it.
Oh? Are you thinking to teach there? [Kaeya asks as one ear flicks. He works through the rest of his breakfast. Then he says,] Let me know what you find about it.
I’m quite looking forward to looking into the library.
[He's been mostly on his own for years now, but he remembers his days in the knights, training with the others. He remembers training his own men as captain.] I'll be sure to share, of course.
[Diluc has put his money where his mouth is in trying to be open and work together with Kaeya. It's actually nice.]
Of course. I’ll be sure to share all the information I get my hands on. [Thump, thump. There goes his tail wagging without his permission again. He has started to pretend it is happening to someone else and he’s just a bystander.]
If you start teaching there, let me know. I can plan out lessons with you.
[Each time Diluc smiles Kaeya becomes more animated. He leans towards him, tea in hand. He smiles right back at him and it is a softer smile.]
We’ve made a good team these days too. You do tap me when things are going strange around Mondstadt. We just lack our networks. A shame but, they can be rebuilt.
[And if his smiles are rewarded like this, it's only natural Diluc might do it more. It's a positive feedback loop.]
You're right, we have.
[Diluc agrees, his own expression softening.] And you're right about that as well. Networks can be rebuilt, and they need to be. This place lacks any defensive structure. I'm sure you've realized.
Yes, I've noticed. And there are quite a few protective types around that could prove useful. There is a knight commandant who would be most useful in some organizing them.
And a huntress who has a way with words. [Vex and Flynn respectively have caught Kaeya's eye. Others have as well but not as much as his playful debates with Flynn. He sips his tea again and breathes in.]
...Ah, I forgot. It seems I can blend man and wolf. It's an odd shape but might prove useful in the future.
[Because Diluc has also met the man, and he seemed very interested in the lack of organized defense. And very capable on top of it. Also he totally gets Diluc's preference for non-alcoholic drinks.]
And I think I may have met this huntress too.
[If he had to guess it'd be Vex. She's clearly met Kaeya given their introduction.]
More than you're currently blended? [He eyes the tail, amused.]
[Flynn seems a lot like a male version of Jean -- which is a very high compliment, really. Diluc has always had a great deal of respect for Jean. It's sort of hard not to.]
If a proper defense structure could be set up, it would be safer for people.
It certainly would be. I am at your disposal for it. [He takes the chance to reach for the strange shape and shift to it. A wolf man with dark blue fur patterned with the stars sits in his place. His chest is covered in pale white fur. He grins and his wolf fangs catch the light.]
After all, I have as much experience with constructing patrol routes.
[Kaeya will get recruited for this. Diluc is well aware of how good Kaeya is at his job. He's already considering the options of how they can collaborate when Kaeya changes.
Diluc finds himself staring at this new form of Kaeya.]
Oh. Well, that is certainly more than the tail.
[It's kind of fascinating.] You're full of tricks.
I couldn’t let such strange magic sit in me without trying to find out all the ways it bends. I think I can do more with it.
But so far, everything is wolf themed no matter how I shift. [He cracks his neck once. His chest fur is fluffy. His diction is perfect despite the shifted teeth.]
I wish I could change my fur but, that hasn’t been doable. Anyway, patrol routes. We need a rough estimate of who would be up to working on that. A log book of shifts…you know the protocols.
[He blinks, eye wide. That had really slipped out. He tail thumps against the chair leg.] Should I see him first, I’ll be sure to let him know to add me to it.
And you can touch it you know. I’m very soft. [Tease Diluc a little? Of course.]
[Oops. Though Diluc doesn't look at all apologetic about it. He was certain Kaeya would want to be part of it, and it seems he was right. No lessons have been learned here.
He does sit up a bit at that offer.] This is a new way of looking for attention. Even for you.
[That is not him declining the offer. Nope. In fact he's leaning in so he can touch it.]
[He smiles and doesn’t deny it. His tail wags a little. His fur is soft to the touch. It is thicker on his chest. He leans into the touch with a soft sigh.
He lets being petted. It’s soothing and Diluc’s hands are always warm. He closes his eyes and relaxes like a pet that’s been given all the attention they wanted.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
darknighted) wrote2022-07-13 10:50 pm
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It’s as good as last time they got bread from the bakery. His tail wags behind him and thumps against the back of his chair. He doesn’t mind showing Diluc he enjoys the food. The bacon is quickly devoured. Since this change he needs more meat than he used to.]
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What do you have planned today?
[Casual conversation, still not entirely his strong suit, but he is getting better at it.]
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Some days he doesn’t have an answer for him. Today he does. He checks the tea and it smells right. He pours it for both of them.] I’m going to go for a run this morning. Then I thought I’d get a look at their library again.
Family ties and legends or myths can form bonds. I’m curious what that means.
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[So, good fieldtrip, Kaeya. Diluc certainly approves of it.] I'm still curious what being assigned each of these roles really means.
[He knows the vague explanations that have been given, but with his role, he's not sure he buys it entirely.]
*Familiars
It is quite fitting for me. [A royal who won't rule. Who instead is an authority in the country he's supposed to be spying on? Yes, there are so many reasons for it. He sips his tea.] Good tea.
I can tell you let it steep a little longer to make it as strong as we both like. The hint of bitterness to mix with the floral aspects is nice.
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[Diluc agrees. And though he certainly does believe in the ideals that he fights for, he also fully recognizes that he has gotten his hands dirty in a way so that others may live in the light. Legend and all its trapping don't seem particularly apt.
Though Kaeya does have a point that Familiar fits him like a glove.]
It's better stepped stronger, yes. [Diluc agrees, thoughtful a moment as he considers]
There is a fighting school in this place. I've wanted to look into it.
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I’m quite looking forward to looking into the library.
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[He's been mostly on his own for years now, but he remembers his days in the knights, training with the others. He remembers training his own men as captain.] I'll be sure to share, of course.
[Diluc has put his money where his mouth is in trying to be open and work together with Kaeya. It's actually nice.]
I'd be interested to hear what you learn as well.
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If you start teaching there, let me know. I can plan out lessons with you.
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If I do, I'd appreciate that. We always made a good team, years ago.
[Better than a good team. And even now, his sword skills and Kaeya's are very different.
And tentatively, he offers a smile across the way. More and more those have been appearing when Kaeya is around.]
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We’ve made a good team these days too. You do tap me when things are going strange around Mondstadt. We just lack our networks. A shame but, they can be rebuilt.
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You're right, we have.
[Diluc agrees, his own expression softening.] And you're right about that as well. Networks can be rebuilt, and they need to be. This place lacks any defensive structure. I'm sure you've realized.
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And a huntress who has a way with words. [Vex and Flynn respectively have caught Kaeya's eye. Others have as well but not as much as his playful debates with Flynn. He sips his tea again and breathes in.]
...Ah, I forgot. It seems I can blend man and wolf. It's an odd shape but might prove useful in the future.
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[Because Diluc has also met the man, and he seemed very interested in the lack of organized defense. And very capable on top of it. Also he totally gets Diluc's preference for non-alcoholic drinks.]
And I think I may have met this huntress too.
[If he had to guess it'd be Vex. She's clearly met Kaeya given their introduction.]
More than you're currently blended? [He eyes the tail, amused.]
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He waves a hand.]
And yes, that Flynn. He seems to share the same workaholic view as Jean. I’m sure you noticed.
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[Flynn seems a lot like a male version of Jean -- which is a very high compliment, really. Diluc has always had a great deal of respect for Jean. It's sort of hard not to.]
If a proper defense structure could be set up, it would be safer for people.
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After all, I have as much experience with constructing patrol routes.
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[Kaeya will get recruited for this. Diluc is well aware of how good Kaeya is at his job. He's already considering the options of how they can collaborate when Kaeya changes.
Diluc finds himself staring at this new form of Kaeya.]
Oh. Well, that is certainly more than the tail.
[It's kind of fascinating.] You're full of tricks.
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But so far, everything is wolf themed no matter how I shift. [He cracks his neck once. His chest fur is fluffy. His diction is perfect despite the shifted teeth.]
I wish I could change my fur but, that hasn’t been doable. Anyway, patrol routes. We need a rough estimate of who would be up to working on that. A log book of shifts…you know the protocols.
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[There is something of the wolf about Kaeya in general, Diluc thinks. Clever and crafty and loyal more than anyone may expect.]
I like your fur.
[Oh. That just came out. Diluc continues on.] I do, yes. Flynn mentioned he'd started some. With more of us, we could have a schedule of shifts.
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And you can touch it you know. I’m very soft. [Tease Diluc a little? Of course.]
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[Oops. Though Diluc doesn't look at all apologetic about it. He was certain Kaeya would want to be part of it, and it seems he was right. No lessons have been learned here.
He does sit up a bit at that offer.] This is a new way of looking for attention. Even for you.
[That is not him declining the offer. Nope. In fact he's leaning in so he can touch it.]
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He lets being petted. It’s soothing and Diluc’s hands are always warm. He closes his eyes and relaxes like a pet that’s been given all the attention they wanted.]
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The way Kaeya sighs though -- for a reason Diluc can't or perhaps won't identify -- has Diluc trying to ignore a sudden rise of heat in his cheeks.]
It's soft. [Is all he manages to get out, a quick reporting of the obvious that Kaeya already knows.]
*likes being petted
[But he feels compelled to keep talking.] Thank you for breakfast. It was wonderful as always.
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