(open) kid kaeya kid kaeya kid kaeya

[calla]

🧊 WHO: Kaeya and anyone
🧊 WHAT: Bonus effects!
🧊 WHEN: Dec 12 ~ 14
🧊 WHERE: Throughout the island!
🧊 WARNINGS: Lots of crying

[ Perhaps you're walking through town, heading from one place to another, when you come across a child. No older than ten, he wanders around doing the following things: ]

[ i. crying his eyes out. Correction: crying his single eye out because even at this young age, he still has his eyepatch, but the point is that there's a kid in the middle of the street and crying. ]

[ ii. sniffling while tugging on your sleeve. In his other hand is the pamphlet. In a quiet voice, he asks for help. ]

[ iii. picking out dandelions. To kids, dandelions are flowers, not weeds, so he's ripping them out and collecting a little bundle in his other hand. When someone passes by, he'll hold one out and ask if they want one. ]

[ iv. shooting at birds with his slingshot. Who gave this child a slingshot? The local grocery store, after promising that he'll bring crops when he's older. What they didn't know what he'd do with it is attempt to catch lunch so... look at that boy go. ]

[ v. wildcard. hmu and i'll write out a starter!! ]

Comments

[calla]

[ Very curious! Kaeya watches closely. ]

Do you live with him? [ ... ] Are you a relative?

[ It would make a lot of sense. They look a lot alike! But Diluc has never mentioned any uncles or aunts... ]

[pyronic]

[With Kaeya being such an astute observer, it really is incredibly telling that he doesn't recognize him as being himself. Stepping inside, he shuts the door behind them and sinks down to eye level with Kaeya. For the first time in a long while, he genuinely smiles, soft and gentle.]

I am Diluc, Kaeya.

[It's painful to go unrecognized this long, but... perhaps this will help.]

[calla]

[ Kaeya looks at the man and pauses. He's Diluc? That... both makes a lot of sense and also doesn't. He looks exactly like Diluc, especially when he smiles at him like that, but how is that even possible? Only moments ago, he was with Diluc, who was as small and young as he was. So, in short time that they've been apart, Diluc grew up? That doesn't make sense, but also suddenly appearing to this new area doesn't. ]

[ There's a long silence before he quietly speaks up. ]

... can you prove it?

[pyronic]

[Prove it... He really doesn't believe him, does he? But rather than getting hung up on that, Diluc nods, settling cross-legged on the floor. There are a number of ways to go about this, but he's starting simple.]

Remember when we used to go to the beach and collect shells together? You were quite fond of the large, spiky ones. I still have a collection of the shells you gave to me sitting on my mantle at home.

[calla]

[ Kaeya remains standing, still unsure, but the proof is starting to help. Biting down onto his lower lip, he asks one more question. ]

Do you remember why I gave them to you?

[ Because he knew which shells were Diluc's favourites. Diluc's were the smooth and shiny ones, ones that reminded him of Kaeya's eyes. ]

[pyronic]

[Of course he does. How could he possibly forget when his most precious memories were made with Kaeya? His smile widens, a touch bashful. He was so proud to proclaim that he loved those shells because of how much they reminded him of Kaeya. Saying so aloud is just a little embarrassing.]

Because they reminded me of you. That's why I wanted them and why I've kept them as long as I have. Just like you, they're still beautiful after all these years.

[He's praying Kaeya won't remember any of this.]

[calla]

[ Well, that's enough proof that Kaeya needs! Asides from the memories, no one else is as gay with him as his big brother! ]

You are Diluc! [ He giggles with a big grin as he rushes over to tackle the man into a big hug. ] How'd you get so big?

[pyronic]

[He opens up to take Kaeya in his arms, hugging him tightly. He'll do him one better and pick him up, letting Kaeya sit so he's balanced in his arms at ear-level with his heart.]

It's you who's gotten younger, Kaeya. Normally, we're the same age.

[calla]

[ He giggles again as he's picked up, holding onto Diluc's shoulders tightly so he doesn't fall over - not that he doubts that his big bro would drop him! ]

Really? I don't remember. [ His memories have been reverted back to when he was a child. Unfortunately, for Diluc (and for Kaeya later down the road), he will remember all of this. ] How old are we?

[pyronic]

[He'd never drop precious baby Kaeya...! Now obnoxious, grown adult Kaeya? That's a different story. Diluc combs his fingers through Kaeya's hair, picking out any leaves or bits of plant that've managed to get stuck here.]

We're 22, but I'm a few months older than you. [Speaking of...] Do you remember the first time you celebrated your birthday? You were so happy that you cried.

[calla]

[ 22?! That's practically a full-fledge adult to a child. Kaeya can't help but show his surprise. That's a long time! Before he can say anything about it though, Diluc brings up his first birthday celebration and a quick flush of pink spreads across his cheeks. ]

I-I didn't cry that hard! [ He did. ] It was just really nice... you made me feel so loved and special.

[pyronic]

[...How cute. He hasn't seen Kaeya blush like that since, well, their childhood. He goes from smoothing the leaves out of Kaeya's hair to gently ruffling it, but it's fine. He'll comb it all flat again after he's gotten all the cute aggression out of his system.]

That's because you are. I spent all day in the kitchen with Adelinde making your cake because I needed you to know just how precious you were to me... to all of us, really.

[calla]

[ He pouts slightly at the ruffling of his hair (hey!), but he doesn't say anything. Instead, his cheeks remain pink. ]

And you're precious to me too! [ And he goes in for another tight hug. ] I'm glad that we're still together at 22. We'll really be together always!

[ ha. haha. ]

[pyronic]

[Ha. Haha.

Diluc's smile falters just a hair. He wouldn't dare let Kaeya, especially this Kaeya, know how very wrong he is. Children ought to be happy, their minds free of worry. When they were boys, he'd always dreamed of letting Kaeya live out a childhood alongside him where the worries of his past no longer bothered him. So much for that.

Diluc hugs him just a little tighter, sitting his chin on the crown of Kaeya's head.]

What would you do if we fought?

[calla]

[ With Kaeya burying his face into Diluc's shoulder, he can't see the smile flattering. He just holds on tight and smiles against him. Hmm, at the question though, he thinks. ]

Is it because of my fault?

[pyronic]

[Some part of him wonders if Kaeya recalls... or does he assume their fighting would be an inevitability? Either way, Diluc is quick to dismiss the notion that the fault lies solely with Kaeya.]

No. A fight is rarely the fault of one party alone. Still... If we fought, what do you think we might fight about?

[calla]

[ If they fought, what would they fight about... immediately, Kaeya feels uncomfortable and he tenses up. He's still at the young age where lying doesn't come to him as easily. He squirms. ]

Um, I don't know... [ He's lying, and it's obvious. It's sloppy compared to the type of lies that he tells nowadays. ] But I know that we won't fight for long. I don't want to be angry at you forever.

[pyronic]

[...He's lying. It's always been obvious, but with hindsight on his side, it's especially so now. Kaeya... He's been holding onto that secret all along, hasn't he?]

...Are you afraid I would hate you if I knew the truth?

[calla]

[ He completely freezes. Suddenly, a pit opens up beneath him and he feels like he's falling. ]

W-What truth...?

[pyronic]

[...Ah. That's what he thought. Kaeya really was a poor liar as a child. He should phrase this delicately, but...]

You've told me the truth, Kaeya. Not all of it, but enough.

[calla]

I... I did?

[ He's both surprised and not. By 22, they would have spent over a decade together at that point. Maybe the truth eventually came out? Maybe he couldn't take it anymore? There are some days that are harder than others when it comes to keeping his secrets. Maybe it finally came to a head. ]

Um, what did I say...?

[pyronic]

...You told me you were planted in Mondstadt as a Khaenri'ahn spy. It was no coincidence that you turned up on our doorstep.

[calla]

[ There's a pause before he starts to shake. Tears immediately start to flow as Kaeya begins to cry. It doesn't take long before he's already hiccupping. There's really no one faster than little Kaeya when it comes to crying. ]

D-- Do you hate me?

[pyronic]

[He's held onto that secret all his life. Diluc knows that much, but what he hadn't realized is how much pain it's brought Kaeya. He hadn't known the truth until the eve of his father's death, and by then, it was too late. Now... Diluc doesn't know what to do with the truth while it hits him full across the face.]

...I could never hate you. Not even if I tried.

[calla]

[ Even with Diluc's reassurance, Kaeya keeps on crying. In fact, he's crying hard enough that he's starting to stutter here and there. ]

I-I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I-- I didn't want you to hate me. Or hurt me.

[ Not that he could ever see it happening, but it's a fear that still lingered. ]