(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

closed to diluc

[calla]

[ It's decided that their trip into the forest will include a picnic, something to do while also looking at pretty flowers. The basket is too heavy for him to carry, but he can take the blanket so that's exactly what he has under his arm while he runs up ahead. Hmmm! He looks around. ]

Let's sit here!

[ He runs over to a clearing in the grass, just big enough that they can set down their blanket and enjoy some room while still looking at the pretty flowers nearby. ]

[pyronic]

[He's happy to let Kaeya take the lead and pick out his favorite spot. Following along closely behind him, Diluc sets down the picnic basket and helps Kaeya clear out the area and spread the blanket along the ground.]

You chose wisely. We've got a good amount of both sun and shade here.

[calla]

[ Yes, that's exactly why he chose it. His little kid brain really considered that... ]

So, why are we on this island instead of back home?

[pyronic]

[He's not gonna ruin their nice picnic with the full, unvarnished truth, but he won't lie to Kaeya either. He sits down on the blanket and motions for Kaeya to sit wherever he'd like.]

We were brought here. We're going to be here for a year or so and then we'll be going back home.

[calla]

[ Of course, Kaeya chooses to sit right next to Diluc, leaving no room for Jesus in the middle. ]

Ohh. Will Father be okay without us for that long?

[ :) ]

[pyronic]

[Good, good. That's where he was hoping he'd sit. He pulls out a chicken sandwich and divides it in half, handing one part to Kaeya. Sorry he's about to ruin your appetite, baby bro.]

Unfortunately, Father has passed.

[calla]

[ He takes the sandwich, but you're right, he loses his appetite :( he looks down. ]

Oh... when?

[pyronic]

...On my eighteenth birthday.

[Dwamatic... but it's better he tell the truth to Kaeya than not.]

Father was very proud of the man you became.

[calla]

[ Kaeya doesn't register the second part as much as the first. Passing away on Diluc's eighteenth birthday, that's rough... Putting down the sandwich, he reaches over to take Diluc into a big hug. With his face buried into his coat, it can be difficult to hear him. ]

I'm sorry, Diluc. [ He hugs him even tighter, as tight as he can. ] Does it still hurt?

[pyronic]

[Kaeya... Diluc stiffens instinctively, but he recovers quickly, folding his arms tightly around Kaeya.]

Sometimes. What no one tells you is that you never really get over the pain of losing a loved one. You learn how to live again, but life is never the same.

[calla]

[ Kaeya can both understand, a little in his own way. Even now, he sometimes grieves for the old family that he's had before joining the Ragnvindrs. Life wasn't as luxurious or wonderous as it was with Diluc, but it was still his life - all that he knew, and so he grieves for the ones he once spent his previous identity with. ]

... I promise I'll never leave you. I'll always be with you to make you feel better, so please let me know when you're feeling bad. I'll always help.

[ haha. ha. ]

[pyronic]

[Just like that little crush that will fade with time, all of Kaeya's promises will do. This is just a reminder of that fact. Diluc goes silent for a good, long moment.]

You know that isn't true, Kaeya. You know how it makes me feel when you lie to me.

[calla]

[ Kaeya pulls back to look at Diluc with surprise before shaking his head. ]

I'm not lying! I'll stay with you forever! Always!

[ At least right now, he's adamant. He has no idea what happens in the years to come. ]

[pyronic]

[Kaeya is adamant, but Diluc knows better. He knows what the future holds, but even so, he can't insist. He's well aware that Kaeya's being as truthful as can be, and he can't be held responsible for lies he's yet to tell.

Slowly, quietly, Diluc withdraws from their hug just far enough to palm Kaeya's cheek, looking him in the eye.]

...You're right. I know you wouldn't. I don't know what I was thinking when I said that.

[calla]

[ While he's still young, yet unburdened by complicated situations, Kaeya makes promises that he can't keep. Within two weeks, he's going to leave Diluc and prove him exactly why he can't trust Kaeya. ]

Mmhm... [ And he thinks why Diluc would even doubt him in the first place. Is it because of the secrets? Can Diluc no longer trust him? ] Do you think I'm always lying?

[pyronic]

Not always. I think you lie as a means to protect yourself.

[And he's right, isn't he? There was a time when he and Kaeya were inseparable and knew everything about each other, as difficult as that is to believe now. Diluc would know that better than anyone.]

I only worry that you'll rely too strongly on those lies and forget who you really are.

[calla]

[ Kaeya goes quiet to consider what Diluc says. Lying to protect himself... he supposes that's true, but at this age, he hasn't yet embraced the need to constantly lie and hide himself away. He doesn't understand why Diluc distrusts him so much, unless it's because he's still upset about his secrets... it's a lot for a little kid's brain to handle and figure out. ]

But I won't lie to you, I promise. Not anymore.

[pyronic]

[Diluc exhales a long, thin sigh. Not anymore, he says... That in itself is a lie even if Kaeya doesn't realize it now. Still, he can't hold a grudge against a child, and certainly not the Kaeya of his pleasant childhood memories. Brushing the backs of his fingers along Kaeya's cheek, he beseeches him quietly.]

Tell me something you've never told anyone else. A secret even I don't know.

[calla]

[ Kaeya looks down. A secret that even Diluc doesn't know... well, he already knows his biggest one so Kaeya can only imagine what else Diluc would know, but he goes off his own knowledge - what he thinks Diluc might not know. ]

... I don't want to be a spy. I just want to live happily with you.

[ He wonders if his status as a spy is what makes Diluc distrust him so much, but it's not like he had any choice in the matter. ]

[pyronic]

[Diluc will remember that.

The truth shouldn't surprise him. It doesn't. The truth shouldn't hurt him. It does.

Diluc has known the answer all along, but hearing the truth from Kaeya's lips makes it impossible to ignore. Kaeya never wanted to hurt him with the truth, and that's precisely why he hid it. If he had no fear of hurting him, betraying him, he would've done so without a lick of hesitation. The only one who's yet to accept the truth for what it is is Diluc.

So he's silent a while longer, bundling Kaeya tight in his arms and sitting him on his lap. He strokes through Kaeya's hair, buys himself a moment to think, a moment to scrounge around for the right words.]

...Then let's live together happily, alright? No more secrets and no more lies. Do you think you can do that?

[calla]

[ Kaeya holds on tight, burying his face in Diluc's shoulder. When Diluc speaks, he's quick to respond, pulling back to nod enthusiastically. ]

Mmhm! Promise!

[ i have no more ideas for this thread already LOL so we can either wrap up or do anything you have in mind! ]

[pyronic]

[This is about it!! They can enjoy the rest of their picnic in relative peace before Diluc takes Kaeya back home, woohoo.]