Kicking me out right after I brought you flowers? How cruel, but no, I didn't do much less, if you can believe it. I spent the rest of my day procuring those flowers.
[ He waves his hand towards the bouquet. ]
Be gentle with them. Lamp grass isn't native here.
[...Pardon him? Give Diluc a moment to organize his thoughts after they've promptly scrambled. That gets his heart going, but oh, he knows what Kaeya is referring to.]
So you remember.
[Turning into a child, that is. How unfortunate. Diluc was hoping Kaeya wouldn't remember.]
[If Kaeya truly recalled everything with that much clarity, he would know how serious the suggestion of a proposal is, wouldn't he? Dropping down into his chair, Diluc's silverware clanks harshly against his plate.]
You shouldn't take such matters lightly, Sir Kaeya.
[Oh. You know he angy when the Sir Kaeyas come out.]
As it stands, I'll be rejecting your "proposal." Now eat your food.
[Shut up and eat before you piss him off even more with your nonsense, sir knight.]
[Was it not Kaeya who bristled and got so terribly upset because Diluc had sought out He Xuan purely out of necessity? Allow him to call you out on your bs, Kaeya.]
You're the last person who would marry out of necessity, yet here you are suggesting you'd make the same mistake I did without any regrets. You should know better than to tell such blatant lies.
[ Here comes another Sir Kaeya, ugh! But he takes the attack and just rolls with it. ]
Ah, but now you're assuming that I'd actually fall in love with someone. [ jokes he already did but shhh ] And that someone would reciprocate those feelings. It'd be difficult to love a man like me.
[The self-deprecating "humor" worked, at least, giving Diluc pause long enough to consider whether or not this is truly the direction he wants to take their second shot at a functional relationship.
Blessedly, he decides that it is not, silent just long enough for the moment to weigh on him. When he speaks, it's quietly. None of the anger from earlier. No hostility.]
...You and I both know that isn't true. If you've found someone you care for, you should pursue them. There's no reason to assume those feelings wouldn't be reciprocated.
[Marry a tree if that's what your heart desires, Kaeya. Diluc will get over it.]
[ Oh? He didn't expect for Diluc to give him a serious response, but he's not taken back by it. In fact, he's a little touched for the support. If only Diluc knew who he really wanted to pursue... ]
That's rather supportive of you. I'll take your words to heart, then. Perhaps I will begin my pursuit then.
[If only. While they both dedicate themselves to being idiots, Diluc returns to his meal.]
Do what you will. You may find a purpose more fulfilling here than if you return back home.
[All that awaits Kaeya back home are bad memories and a destiny he never asked to be saddled with, yes? There's no reason why he shouldn't begin his search in earnest. It's a difficult pill for Diluc to swallow, the idea of Kaeya finding someone, but that's his own problem. He won't burden Kaeya with it.]
[They don't have to remain together, do they? Diluc considers saying so, but he can't bring himself to, humming in acknowledgement as he eats a bite of vegetables.]
It's less about usefulness and more about the pursuit of happiness, don't you think? If you're happy here, then remain.
[Offhanded as the comment sounds, Diluc gave it some serious consideration as well. Knowing who and what Kaeya is and what destiny awaits him, he may be better off remaining in a land where he can't be used for the sake of some long-dead kingdom. Ultimately, Kaeya might be safer here, and that's all Diluc truly cares about in the end.]
[ It would be safer for Kaeya to remain here and enjoy the rest of his days in freedom, but it was difficult to be separated from Diluc for three years. Now that they've reconciled and are working towards bettering their relationship, how can he simply stay and leave Diluc? ]
[ For the rest of the dinner, Kaeya talks about this and that, filling up the silence. When they finish, he'd generously clean up the table and wash the dishes. ]
[The idea of leaving Kaeya behind is one thing... but being unable to see him, should he desire to? That's another thing entirely.
Dinner goes on in relative peace, but once all the dishes are done and put away, he's still struggling through that feeling of melancholy. The night dragged on longer than he'd realized, so... giving into sentiment, he takes Kaeya's hand and heads upstairs.]
Go to sleep. You've been staying up too late and keeping me up.
[Excuses, excuses. He'll let Kaeya's hand go once he's escorted him to his room.]
[ Kaeya doesn't expect Diluc to take his hand, so he's completely thrown off when it happens, but he doesn't shake him off. Instead, he just holds on like he did when they were kids, letting himself be led upstairs. Even when they stand outside his room, he doesn't let go, but if Diluc wants his hand back, he'll let go. ]
[...Holding his hand hostage, hm? Diluc is similarly reminded of their childhood, how he'd always lead Kaeya to their room at night because he'd yet to outgrow his fear of the dark. Goodnight kisses weren't uncommon, either, but he has to wonder how much of this is nostalgia talking.]
You're serious?
[Do you really want a goodnight kiss, Kaeya? Don't mess with him. As an aside, Diluc hasn't let go of Kaeya's hand either.]
[His cheek, huh...? Diluc's in just enough of a mood that he grabs Kaeya's face and reorients it so Kaeya's facing him directly.]
You play too much.
[Does he sound angry? Of course, but he still angles in to fit his lips to Kaeya's, and that kiss goes on a little bit longer than it ought to... before he reaches behind Kaeya to twist open his door and shove him inside. Goodnight, Sir Kaeya.]
[ Oh... he didn't expect a kiss on the lips. Luckily, Diluc shoves him into the room and closes the door before he can properly react. Behind the door, he brings his fingers up to his lips, staying still for a few seconds, before he smiles. ]
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[ He waves his hand towards the bouquet. ]
Be gentle with them. Lamp grass isn't native here.
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I'll need to find a suitable vase. Where did you manage to find these?
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[ He actually got them straight from the Goddess, so he's deliberate in his non-answer. ]
But I did say that I would propose with better flowers, so here they are.
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[...Pardon him? Give Diluc a moment to organize his thoughts after they've promptly scrambled. That gets his heart going, but oh, he knows what Kaeya is referring to.]
So you remember.
[Turning into a child, that is. How unfortunate. Diluc was hoping Kaeya wouldn't remember.]
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Of course. How could I forget, especially after you treated me so sweetly? [ He remembers all that!!! ] It'd be nice to be treated like that again.
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You shouldn't take such matters lightly, Sir Kaeya.
[Oh. You know he angy when the Sir Kaeyas come out.]
As it stands, I'll be rejecting your "proposal." Now eat your food.
[Shut up and eat before you piss him off even more with your nonsense, sir knight.]
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I'll be sure to be more authentic with my next proposal then.
[ He says it with a joking manner, but maybe... 😳 ]
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[KAEYA, YOU'RE JUST MAKING IT WORSE,]
To whom?
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Are you that curious about my love life?
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Hardly. Knowing the kind of man you are, I can't imagine you ever settling down and marrying.
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[ But she's been pretty good on her word with all the other rewards, so he has more of a reason to believe that she means what she says. ]
I have no choice but to finally settle down.
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[Was it not Kaeya who bristled and got so terribly upset because Diluc had sought out He Xuan purely out of necessity? Allow him to call you out on your bs, Kaeya.]
You're the last person who would marry out of necessity, yet here you are suggesting you'd make the same mistake I did without any regrets. You should know better than to tell such blatant lies.
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Ah, but now you're assuming that I'd actually fall in love with someone. [ jokes he already did but shhh ] And that someone would reciprocate those feelings. It'd be difficult to love a man like me.
[ self-deprecating humor nice ]
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Blessedly, he decides that it is not, silent just long enough for the moment to weigh on him. When he speaks, it's quietly. None of the anger from earlier. No hostility.]
...You and I both know that isn't true. If you've found someone you care for, you should pursue them. There's no reason to assume those feelings wouldn't be reciprocated.
[Marry a tree if that's what your heart desires, Kaeya. Diluc will get over it.]
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That's rather supportive of you. I'll take your words to heart, then. Perhaps I will begin my pursuit then.
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Do what you will. You may find a purpose more fulfilling here than if you return back home.
[All that awaits Kaeya back home are bad memories and a destiny he never asked to be saddled with, yes? There's no reason why he shouldn't begin his search in earnest. It's a difficult pill for Diluc to swallow, the idea of Kaeya finding someone, but that's his own problem. He won't burden Kaeya with it.]
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[ ... but he doesn't want to because he knows that Diluc wants to return. He's just entertaining the thought. ]
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It's less about usefulness and more about the pursuit of happiness, don't you think? If you're happy here, then remain.
[Offhanded as the comment sounds, Diluc gave it some serious consideration as well. Knowing who and what Kaeya is and what destiny awaits him, he may be better off remaining in a land where he can't be used for the sake of some long-dead kingdom. Ultimately, Kaeya might be safer here, and that's all Diluc truly cares about in the end.]
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[ It would be safer for Kaeya to remain here and enjoy the rest of his days in freedom, but it was difficult to be separated from Diluc for three years. Now that they've reconciled and are working towards bettering their relationship, how can he simply stay and leave Diluc? ]
[ For the rest of the dinner, Kaeya talks about this and that, filling up the silence. When they finish, he'd generously clean up the table and wash the dishes. ]
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Dinner goes on in relative peace, but once all the dishes are done and put away, he's still struggling through that feeling of melancholy. The night dragged on longer than he'd realized, so... giving into sentiment, he takes Kaeya's hand and heads upstairs.]
Go to sleep. You've been staying up too late and keeping me up.
[Excuses, excuses. He'll let Kaeya's hand go once he's escorted him to his room.]
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Are you going to give me a good night kiss too?
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You're serious?
[Do you really want a goodnight kiss, Kaeya? Don't mess with him. As an aside, Diluc hasn't let go of Kaeya's hand either.]
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Of course.
[ He even leans in a bit with his cheek presented. ]
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You play too much.
[Does he sound angry? Of course, but he still angles in to fit his lips to Kaeya's, and that kiss goes on a little bit longer than it ought to... before he reaches behind Kaeya to twist open his door and shove him inside. Goodnight, Sir Kaeya.]
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[ Goodnight, Master Diluc. ]