vergeltung | 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭

I do, yes. I came here with the intention of removing them before it worsens, part of my concerns earlier was the thought of their hydro mages happening upon us.

(He won't reveal just how he knows it. Kaeya does good work unfortunately and gets decent tips without much issue; all it costs him is a bottle of his best vintages and whatever else he gets asked for by his brother though they often times are good at their work.

Kaeya picking up where needed things just as easily as Diluc does.

This after all was how he learnt of Eroch's punishment and other things once Jean initiated her purge of corruption among the knights ranks. As well as learnt that she received a vision for her actions of working at her hardest to remove all of them from Kaeya too who had later seen her with it.

Though he did sigh, he understood perfectly that she may see him injured though likely not intentionally given circumstances. Removing them is his priority after all.

Information can come later.)

I have my ways after all. But, even if I'll be causing trouble and drawing attention... I'll be careful.

(This time however Diluc considers it a small victory they won't be dealing with a Herald or a Lector. Both of which would make things more difficult.

But, that didn't stop him from blushing, even if a little at her offer and asking him to be careful.)

... you'll know it's me there after all, though I suspect the sound of me setting them on fire would be telling enough between that and me fighting.

[ The heat in his cheeks doesn't escape her notice; unfortunately, it serves to inspire her own to return somewhat, and once again her gaze drops from his, a stubborn frown on her face. In some ways, she thinks, they're on opposite sides of the same conflict. While she wipes out Abyss operatives wherever she can, the name of her game is finding the information she needs to track them further— Diluc's vengeance, it seems, drives him in the opposite direction.

But just as she would never want him to try to change the way she handles things, she would never dare ask him to alter his.

A breath, and she makes herself look back up at him, her expression serious as she nods. ]

Okay. Good. I— [ another breath, the sound of it rushing from between her lips as she tries to find the right way to say what she's thinking ] —I have no right to ask anything else of you. I barely even have the right to ask that, but...

Thank you.

[ She's annoyed, she realizes. Not with him, but with herself. Far too easily has she walked into this trap, this fire that has scorched away the outer shell of ice that keeps her safe. And what if he gets hurt; what then? There's always going to be a part of her now that worries for him.

(It's a nice trade-off that at least for now though that said worry covers up the deeper-seated worries of being abandoned.

But that's not the point.)

She glares at him. ]

This was easier when I didn't like you.

I doubt that either of us would have realized this if it wasn't for the blizzard. That or it would have come out more slowly.

But... I don't mind that I came to like you from this despite myself, to the point I ask you to also be careful.

(And... he did seem to relax more. He'll fix his coat later, he's ironically far too comfortable to dare moving even if he feels as if he shouldn't keep himself exposed. She did earn a right to see these things and to know just how often he gets into these situations as he starts to wonder what else he can say.

He'll likely leave the operatives she needs alone.

His own business needs him to take care of their forces and it isn't as if he minds doing a favor in exchange for their discomfort. Even if he won't press her to say what way she meant, he did have a feeling in a way what she could mean.

It's why he's going over internally just how to take care of them without putting extra work out there for both of them.

He can probably pull it off somehow.)

... though... if you have any particular drinks you want me to remember for when you come by, I don't mind you telling me them. Who knows, you'll likely find it somewhere you'll least expect.

(Said reason being him, of course since he didn't mind treating her to one in exchange for really the discomfort as well.

He'll just have to take care to make note of it. Though it's not difficult since he knows Kaeya for instance prefers Dandelion Wine heavily, normally their best ones.)

[ For a moment, it feels like the conversation is about to get serious, veer back into too-real territory— which is of course entirely her fault for what she said— her cheeks flare once again when he says he doesn't mind, and she nods in mute silence when he asks her in return to be careful with what she does. After all, when she's asking the same of him, it's the very least she can do to agree.

Still, it's a relief when he moves the conversation on, because she doesn't have to dwell in the seriousness of it all for too long.

(The seriousness makes it real, reminds her over and over that she's lying here in the arms of Diluc Ragnvindr, having kissed him twice, having just admitted to liking him in some way, having already clearly confessed an attraction, and— Barbatos help her, regardless of her conflicted feelings, she's glad it's a secret because the people of Mondstadt hate her enough already without this being added to the mix.)

Clearly, the thoughts continue to plague her and nag at her even when he keeps the conversation light, moves it on to the topic of drinks. And maybe he'll see it in the way her smile is strained, the way it doesn't quite reach her eyes, or feel it in the tremble of the fingers still resting on his arms. ]

I'm particularly fond of your establishment's Berry and Mint Burst. On nights off, I just have them spike it. Strong.

[ Somehow, she's not even thinking about their opposing missions on this mountain anymore. That's something to worry about tomorrow. ]

Edited 2022-11-09 03:53 (UTC)

... I can remember that at least.

(But it doesn't change the fact he does notice her smile, her eyes. Even he felt odd having had admitted to not only it being mutual on all fronts, but, to also really being fine with them not telling anyone unless she desires to. It is their business after all that they felt this way no matter how the people of Mondstadt react or act toward them.

Even if it wouldn't sit well with him seeing them continue to act as if she's something to hate.

The least he can do is make certain she'll be fine despite it in his own ways; he's not going to expose them unless she wills it or unless something truly happens that leaves them both no choice.

Perhaps it's why he wonders if they should selfishly pretend that none of it exists for now.)

If... you'd like also, you're free to be selfish if it eases the thoughts better.

(Though he won't fault her if it goes beyond the point they're trying not to cross in a cave mind you, given having his first during a blizzard is not exactly an experience he can say he'd want to happen unless they both truly cannot stop themselves.

At the very least she knows his word and trust is worthwhile, though he is flustered a little in telling her that. He only hopes this doesn't earn him her more... angry side that he likened to angering a cat more than angering Diona herself goes.)

[ There's a second or two where a look of mortification crosses her face, her cheeks heating and a momentary panic in her eyes. ...if it eases the thoughts, he said, and she wonders: has he seen through her so easily? She hasn't once told him that kissing him shuts the thoughts up, and yet he's able to—

Unless, she realizes, it's the same for him.

Her expression softens, something like curiosity replacing the panic, just for a moment before it in turn is replaced by her trademark scowl.

She's not angry, not like he fears— but she is annoyed.

...you're free to be selfish, he says, and once again it comes down to what she wants from him, what moves she is willing for them to make. Knowing she has his consent is one thing of course, but... ]

Let's make a deal. [ Her voice is quiet, but as sharp as the blade of her sword. ] I'll tell you what I want. But you have to tell me what you want too. Both of us are adult enough to say "no" if it's too much.

[ She doesn't just want acceptance. She wants him to want, too. Beyond that, though— ]

We don't have to talk about tomorrow or anything after then, either. [ She still doesn't know what happens after this, after all, other than the fact that she'll be more of a fixture at Angel's Share, that somehow they've landed in "all" territory when they really should be in "nothing" territory, that she's going to see him again—

(it would be nice too if the next time wasn't somewhere as horribly unaccommodating as this, but with the eyes of every Mondstadter on each of them for some reason or another, maybe they don't have much of a choice)

—Regardless of all that, though, now is clear to her. ]

Is that... a deal you can agree to, Ragnvindr?

[ Last name terms again.

It's safer. ]

... I... alright...

(If it's not obvious he's genuinely not use to this either. Selfishness is one thing, selfishness with another person's consent is certainly another even with their mutual attractions, the two of them liking each other more than expected as well. But he'll likely adjust to it gradually with admitting things no matter how much he is private, no matter how use to being 'selfless' in a sense he is with his own stubbornness.

With his own mentality even.

He only finds himself wondering how much more deeper this evening may get between them; even if he himself wouldn't mind if he did get asked her just suddenly in the Winery more often too.

At least that wouldn't be as unaccommodating as a cave in the middle of Dragonspine during a nasty blizzard. Though they're both having to adjust to being out of their depth quite literally; it's why he at the very least is going to attempt not just accepting and instead voicing things more.)

... I guess for one I'd want next time to perhaps not be us trapped in the elements if lucky.

(Though he won't make her stop using his last name since it's comfort for her as much as it is him.)

Since I think I'd like to think that somewhere warmer would be better, more comfortable too for us both.

(His resonance being the way it is can be useful after all sure for these situations, but, really depending on where it goes he'd prefer them both not at risk of getting sick from it.)

Edited 2022-11-09 05:46 (UTC)

[ Think about now, she said, you don't have to worry about the future— and then he goes and says next time and her stomach does a stupid little flip. Because for as much as he's managed to avoid the question of now yet again, he's made his wishes for said next time quite clear, and that in and of itself is saying a lot. And before she can do anything about it, there's a smile playing at the corners of her lips, erasing the scowl that was there just moments before, softening her expression as she looks at him, eyes searching his face once more.

Next time. The thought is enough to get her heart pounding all over again, the bad thoughts momentarily chased away. ]

I'm tempted to agree. About it... being somewhere warmer, next time.

[ And now she's embarrassed, not really wanting to continue on, but... she's the one who started this; she can't exactly back out of it immediately, not even when he took his honesty further than she expected. ]

It's not that I'm uncomfortable like this— [ even though she was at first ] —but I think it would be nicer if we weren't fighting to stay warm.

[ Of course, that leads to the question of where, which takes her right back to that same worry with which she's been struggling this whole time— which in turn brings all of them rushing right back.

Her eyes close, and she takes a moment to try and ground herself, try and focus on the nice things he's saying, try and remember how good she felt for a moment there when he said next time. ]

What about now? ...Would I be the only one being selfish?

Not really, even if it'd take some getting use to for me to be more selfish.

(Perhaps for once if she looked closely his normally harsh flames called eyes had eased just enough with his own expression. As much as this is new to him... he'll try and find his footing as a while since he is just a little apologetic for skipping that far ahead as he's always done with these things.

Now how can he start with the present... without sounding like Kaeya even.

He did want to be in some form a gentleman as surprising as this is though with some thought one of his gloved hands did cup her cheek in response to noticing she may be having problems herself.)

Even if I'm not the greatest at voicing these things...

(For someone so very much like fire he is far more gentle than some would have expect with his demeanor as of late. But that's always how he's been, new or not and struggling himself he cannot help but try to show it through actions.

Actions while speaking of what he hoped for perhaps.)

... but... I do very much think I'd like there to be a next time.

(It's why for once again, a third time, he does lean forward. Another kiss, this time from thoughts he's always had currently floating about.

Maybe... it would be better to show it in the end, until he gets use to it more while listening to her whether she'd like him to stop, to slow down even.)

[ Her eyes are still closed when his gloved hand cups her cheek, and it catches her by surprise enough that they snap back open, wide but not unhappy, and her gaze settles on his face once more. It's like this that she notices there's a tenderness to his red eyes that is different, the same gentleness that holds her face, the same softness in his rich voice when he speaks.

A next time. If it weren't for his hand steadying her cheek, she'd answer with a nod. No matter how much it clouds her brain, fills her with anxiety and worries over things that, despite being their cause, only he seems to be able to chase away again— she wants a next time too.

She should tell him that.

Did she tell him that?

Her lips part to reaffirm the statement for herself just as he leans in to take her mouth with his once more, and just like that the thought of answering is dust in the wind, scattered like the worries that build so easily in her mind. Her eyes slide shut, the small distance she put between them before is closed, her arms tighten around him again without any hesitation at all. Where their first and second kiss had her melt to him, this time her movement is yet more fluid, as if a little part of her forgot to freeze back up again once they parted.

Like this, it's easy to forget that she had to worry about anything at all. ]

(Perhaps it's more him trying to let out the side of him that very much like fire, use to be how he once was. Though not completely there it isn't hard to tell that he's capable of some form of romanticism even if Kaeya likes to joke and say he isn't... mainly over him not knowing where dating spots are or really paying attention to that but he is still quite capable.

It's still easy for things to just fall quiet when they do this.

If it wasn't for a lot of the anxiety, the worries, really the other problems floating about for them he'd consider coming up with something better to accommodate them but that'd have to wait.

Focusing on the now is for the best even if he finds it hard to with multiple thoughts striking him over their current states, some of which he rather ignore.

His arms didn't take long to go back around her properly either, the kiss this time lingers before he manages to part just a little from it. If anything he has to wonder what it is she wanted to say next since he thought she wanted to speak; part of why he's curious on what part of her own selfish desires were since he did admit he was selfish enough to want a next time.)

[ She doesn't know how it is that she knows what he wants from her. Perhaps it's the way he pulls back but lingers close. Or perhaps it's a hint of curiosity in the scarlet of his eyes. Either way, as he breaks the kiss, mouth hovering still so close to hers, her eyes open again, looking up into his.

A breath— which, with his lips so close to hers still, feels for a moment like it's been stolen directly from him— and a tremble.

Right. She was meant to tell him... She had something she had to say. Truth, in fair response to the truth he offered her just before. ]

I'd like there to be a next time too.

[ Her words are a little breathier than she would like, enough that usually she would be irritated or annoyed by how affected she is over something as simple as a kiss— ~~or two, or three~~.

...Or four?

The space between them is too easy to close once more. ]

... then I'd be willing to accommodate for that in any way that I can.

(He did manage to get that out at least, before their fourth kiss came. This time he's not certain if they could pull apart for long; with how it's going now after earlier. If this is how it turns out for the time being he can't really say he'd complain about it with his heat traveling back into the kiss in response, making it warmer than it was originally from his resonance.

The thoughts are gone again.

Though he could swear that he could hear Kaeya in a sense telling him he's hopeless for letting himself be this lost in kisses even. But, as hopeless he may perhaps be from how far he's driven himself away from these things he's at a point he doesn't necessarily think that he could stop as easily as he'd have wanted before.

He'll just have to hopefully remind himself harshly that there is a time and place for some things, though something this selfish such as being unable to stop kissing was more than enough for the time being.

Until they could figure out what else they wanted to do in this moment.)

[ The problem now is that Eula doesn't want to stop. Which, on so many different levels, is a terrible, no good, very bad idea. But the other problem is that like this, wrapped up in his arms with her mouth on his, none of those particular levels really matter to her right now.

Which is why it takes her several moments too long to pull back from this next kiss, her breath short and sharp as she tries to catch even a little of it back; even now, though, she lingers too close; it would be easy to close that gap again if he wants to— she wants to, yet for now she holds back. ]

You were right. [ Her voice is soft, the words dusting over his lips. ] It makes the worst of the thoughts go away.

[ She's made a few confessions this evening, but this one might be the deepest, the hardest to say— yet it slips from between her lips like an afterthought in this moment, as if his warmth has shaken enough of the ice free for it feelings to emerge.

She'll regret it in no small way later, opening up so easily, but for now it almost seems natural. ]

(He isn't closing the distance again yet, thankfully, but he does seem to understand clearly neither of them want to stop. It's hard to, difficult more than he expects to stay parted and wait.

To catch his breath; to really not let himself be lost further just yet in this cave with arms around her knowing she can feel them bare and marred both in this way. He almost feels as if he himself drank this time. The feeling was enough to make him near dizzy but he's waiting... patiently for the time being.

He has to remember where they are too.)

It's... like time stops... the only thing that exists is us, it all exists around us but it's not as important... not as important as what we're feeling in that moment...

(Even this confession was hard on him or rather it would have been had he still held himself defensively cradled by his flames, threatening to burn all that stray too far and too close to them as he stays so close to her lips.

Regrets or not... he'll worry about them later.

He didn't want to focus on them now again; not the way that he always has done as it all seems to just slip away from the flames being eased themselves around him.)

[ Color rises up her cheeks once more as he speaks. For a moment, she can't help but think that he sounds a little like his brother might, his words flowery and sweet—

(The difference being that where Kaeya might say such things in a flirtatious, playful tone, Diluc's words are genuine.)

She knows the comparison will offend him, and so she says nothing to that effect, but the warmth from it is still in her cheeks as she absorbs the meaning of the words, her hold on him tightening ever so slightly.

Perhaps it's strange to get so caught up in it, but the thought that, even for a moment, that she can be the only thing that exists to anyone—

She shakes her head, her smile somewhere between amused and gently shy, and no doubt he's the first person to ever see a look like this on her face and live to see the next moment. To be honest, she would have bet against the gods themselves if they'd told her this is what was going to happen...

And yet here they are. ]

I'm not quite used to the part where I feel so much.

[ She doesn't entirely hate it. ]

Guess that makes two of us since I'm not use to talking like this either.

(Though he hates to admit it, Kaeya does have a way with words and he did gradually learn some of it by eavesdropping on his attempts at getting a 'date' for the night. His successes varied obviously but Diluc did use it to learn just a little more how to approach such things in conversation as needed.

Thankfully he tended to prefer using it for more genuine attempts than flirting for the way he performs it.

Offended or not; he'd have at least taken it as a small compliment that he did do well enough for all of his inexperience. His own cheeks were heated up still for the time being while deciding to avoid commenting on her smile. Then again the sight of him blushing and attempting to genuinely flirt is a first in itself too.

As well as really some of his admissions for the evening, gods, he likely would have glared at whoever was brave enough to tell him that he'd wind up in a moment like this with Eula of all people.

But... he didn't hate it either, completely, all the same.)

... and it was enjoyable being locked in that moment too.

(Even if it's dangerous for the two of them. Knowing that one move could head into something they couldn't stop naturally with ease.)

[ This time, his words are met with a glare on Eula's part— although if he looks, he'll see it's not one of anger so much as it is one of warning. She is, after all, trying to toe that line, fearing that if she kisses him again, she won't be able to unentangle herself from him at all before the blizzard ends.

(And would that really be such a terrible thing? something in her wonders, even as she tries to crowd it out.)

The truth is, it was enjoyable being in that moment, as he said. It would be far too easy to let herself melt back into that moment—

And despite the glare, she nods. ]

It was.

[ It's practically a whisper, her eyes drifting to his lips again, and for a moment perhaps there's something soft and vulnerable in her gaze before it freezes, a last-ditch stubbornness finding her and taking hold and her eyes moving up to his instead.

Melting would be dangerous. ]

Tell me not to do it again.

[ It's said in the same tone she would speak to anyone, something clipped and cool— and yet there are chips in it, cracks where if he's looking, he can easily see through the intent of her words to see this for what it is: words spurred on by the knowledge that if they keep talking and acting the way they do, she might find it hard to hold herself back. ]

And if I don't?

(He's not going to stop her. As much as his brain may scream at him to stop he truthfully is at a point he's unable to stop himself. Even if he had tried to resist, tried to make himself say to stop due to his more 'logical' side he just couldn't. He's only staring at her.

Entangling in her... he's truthfully though it's unseen anxious about it. Entangling meant eventually they wouldn't be able to keep holding themselves back as much as they were now.

The blizzard is one thing.

Losing himself completely to a woman with her water and frost like beauty is certainly another as he holds steadfast despite himself.

He's not going to tell her to not do again.)

... I don't think I can tell you to stop without lying to myself or you.

(Even with that admission it's obvious to him; they've lost, they can try and say otherwise but they've truly lost to this. There's no return, there's no going back, not since the first kiss. He highly doubts that he'd be able to stop himself or the thoughts from building.

There's no chance of escape for either of them in what may perhaps turn into a dance of their own kind.)

If you don't...

[ She shouldn't be as surprised as she is by the response. After all, at this point it's clear that he wants this just as much as she does, that he's struggling with it too, that he's being forced to hold himself back just as much as she is.

Maybe she should threaten with vengeance or something, says that small, insistent part of her brain that's still intent on defending her. Start a long feud on account of him not saying the words that she's decided for him that he should say.

Except really, she can't.

There's no vengeance to be sought over something like this, not even in that abstract way in which she often defends herself.

Eula's eyes drift to his lips again. And this time, it's her turn to reach up, to cup his face in one of her hand, her gloved thumb trailing absently across the skin. Her throat feels strangely dry. She swallows against it, as if that will somehow help. ]

I'm not sure I can either.

[ This time, her kiss is a breath more insistent, less of a melt into him and more of a press, the hand at his face trailing up into his hair. ]

(The way she kissed him this time was more a surprise, more in the way that she's crashed into his lips in a sense. His own felt likely more... desperate a little, with the way the heats coming off him, off his lips at that from his resonance traveling upward and growing hotter from the contact.

He would have thought that he was going to deal with her growing upset by how she made it sound yet... neither of them could stop lying to themselves in the end.

He couldn't bring himself to lie to her despite that part of him that was pushing for him to retreat from this. Saying that he shouldn't accept this; that he's not meant to have it to begin with no matter how hard he pushes, he tries yet it was all silent.

His own arms around her tightening just a little, resting on her back no less with him being thankful he didn't remove his gloves when showing her what his own revenge's costs were. It probably would have made it worse feeling the direct heat of them on her skin.

Even if he's certain that likely still won't help much with how far they're falling down.)

[ The desperation in his kiss is as obvious as that in hers, although where his is burning like fire, hers is muted by the cold, a strange contrast in that even as she allows herself to give into it, there's something restrained about her— although perhaps that's less the cold and more the small part of her that is still fighting against this for any number of unrelated reasons.

Yet regardless of that fight her mind is blissfully silent, the space reserved for worry taken instead by their embrace and their kiss as her tongue laps at his lower lip, inviting and seeking all at once, her gloved fingers soft against his scalp as they draw mindless patterns into his skin—

And unlike him there's a part of her regretting the gloves, wanting to pause and remove them so that there's one less barrier between them

(when her thoughts are clear once more she'll be mortified)

but it's too much effort to pull away for anything more than the short, harsh breaths for air against his lips before she dives in again.

Where she was teetering at the edge before, she's now half off the ledge, the protests in her mind largely forgotten in favor of investigating that exact feeling that she knows they both want to explore. ]

(The desperation, the way his heat is consuming him with her ice, he couldn't bring himself to dare think of much else. As thankful as he was to not be not be touching her bare back earlier, it seemed he changed his mind too in the end. Even if it wasn't long before his hands took their spot back up on it after haphazardly removing them. Though well taken care of, they likely felt rough in a sense from years spent training and working at his hardest with his own sword.

He'll likely awkwardly apologize for this later, but, in the moment it was different as his thoughts slowly begin to travel toward only her now. His lips parting before and after they catch their breath though briefly at the feeling of her tongue likely near demanding it earlier.

He's not use to this like Kaeya due to it being really his first in general.

But it isn't hard to pick up on what feels good, what might perhaps feel good for her too by gauging her reactions. He's not going to be far behind her at this rate off the ledge; by this point he couldn't even hear his estranged brothers 'voice' telling him how to go about any of it. He's on his own.

... hopefully he doesn't make many mistakes.)

[ At least for now, she doesn't realize that he's entirely new to this (and not just in the same sense that she is). After all, where confidence lacks, desperation makes up for it, and he responds so naturally to her movements as well as making movements of his own— like the sudden press of warm hands at the bare part of her back, for example.

(...Is it just her, or are they under the leather strap that winds around her bust?)

Of course, it does nothing to calm her, only serving to inspire the sudden coil of heat in her stomach, the fluttering, too-fast beat of her heart, and she breaks the link of their lips to press kisses along his jaw and over his throat, dotting over the skin in a haphazard pattern. And as she does this, she can't help herself from mimicking his movement, somehow continuing the pattern of kisses as she removes her hand from his hair.

It's a bit of a struggle— underscored by the soft breath of chuckled laughter over his larynx— to remove her gloves when her arms are around him and she can't see them, but after a few moments she manages, bringing her hand back to his hair, and now he'll be able to feel the surprising softness of her fingers, the trimmed points of her nails as they brush lightly over his scalp. ]

(Ironically for this being completely new territory for him beyond her own experiences, the desperation aside, he does have some manner of confidence despite himself. He hates to admit it but Kaeya is the best when it comes to explaining these things and his brother did take time to drill back into him all manner of things to remember with things best left in the bedroom; though part of it was to prepare him in the event someone were to try sleeping with him.

Whether it be out of love or an attempt to take his head, that was the intent. So he knows plenty, but, it might not completely make up for his inexperience even as his head goes back somewhat at the feeling of her breath, her lips, and her laughter along his neck.

The sensitivity of it is going to be noticed now, he realizes. Unlike earlier where it was an accident in which she hadn't noticed, this time it's different as his heart was pounding just about out his chest.

He's already down to just the vest and dress shirt he wears outside of his trousers and boots from what he began to remember, somehow he's wondering how long before he can bring himself to speak and to tell her. Especially since at the moment he couldn't so much as breathe out a word much less think properly long enough to dare manage any of it.

If anything it's a wonder he manages to keep himself to slightly harsher breathing with where she is.

Though, that didn't stop him from noting that her hands are much more softer than he'd have originally thought in comparison to his own which had their own set of small scars and calluses trailing about them even with how cared for they are.)

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