vergeltung | 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭

[ There's a pause, and her smile grows, a hint of a smirk in it— although there's nothing unkind about it, still just tinged with that playfulness that seems to be growing as they lie here like this. Maybe they can't get too physical, but— flirting's okay, right?

(Who even is she right now, a small part of her brain wonders. Flirting is not something Eula does, even if she knows she's capable of it. And yet here she is. Apparently this evening is revealing a lot of things about her... to her.) ]

How exactly do you plan to greet me personally, then? [ It's all she can do to bite off the "Master Diluc" that wants to slip out at the end of it, which is mortifying. But she manages, for now. ] I'm interested to hear how the master [ whoops ] of the Dawn Winery treats his guests.

[ One hand trails down from the side of his face, moving to brush gently over the place she was kissing on his neck.

She wants him to calm down and relax, of course, she doesn't want to push him over that line tonight... but is it a terrible sin to want to keep him just a little heated? ]

(Flirting isn't something he's bad at, truthfully he's had time to perfect that with how he can talk and charm whenever he's willing to put himself out there. Though even this is coming off as something new to Diluc of all people as really that part that had been screaming at him earlier to back down was confused. Normally this didn't come out of him but it is now by how he's responding.

She's different. It's enough to keep his attention fully too knowing he already had crossed the line with her; once that was done it's guaranteed he'll never take his eyes off her again.

Even if he didn't say that part yet. Trust issues are... certainly interesting with these feelings he's having at the moment.)

Hmm? Guests like you do deserve special treatment, though from me you'd be getting treated in a way nobody else has experienced. (He didn't cringe this time since their tones were different. So that's getting a pass.) So I'll make sure to pull out all the stops to make it memorable...

(His heat though going down at a decent pace did seem to rise again, there's thoughts floating around and that rather sensitive point on his neck being brushed up against isn't helping either.

She's getting her wish in that regard knowing that there's no chance of him holding it back fully no matter how much he may try to ease up on it a little.)

... obviously I can think of a few ways for that too. (That sounded like a promise from him just about by his tone, the first one he made in awhile by how he turns to kiss her other hand despite his lips still being searing hot.)

Ah, really?

[ She feels the build of the heat under her fingers, and the fire in his lips when he kisses the skin of her hand, and it's tempting— oh so tempting— to ask him to tell her more, give details for her ears and her alone of what exactly those "few ways" of making her greeting memorable might be—

But for now at least she holds herself back. As much as she's curious, as much as she wants to know the thoughts in his mind, ~~as much as she wants to make sure she stays in his head past this one night,~~ she told him she'd do the right thing by him, didn't she? Eula Lawrence may be many different things to many different people, but she'll never let anyone say she's not a woman of her word. The heat she's generating just by keeping her fingers at the sensitive spot of his throat is enough to keep her happy, really. ]

Then I look forward to it.

[ Mentally, she's already trying to figure out some kind of excuse that would give her a reason to see him, would take her to the winery when usually her missions have her going further afield. It would have to be important enough that she could make the excuse of not sending Kaeya, and yet not critical in a way that would get the Cavalry Captain asking questions...

Damnit. This might not be easy. ]

(She wouldn't need to do much to keep her in his head by this point with how he's reacting. His few ideas likely would have surprised people who know him and his brother if he said them, enough that they'd wonder if Kaeya had somehow possessed him with how serious his tone would be about it. Then again it's not abnormal for him to have rubbed off on Diluc in some form with or without their relationship being as it once was.

It isn't too hard to think even if her fingers are rubbing against that certain spot on his throat; he actually thinks there's a mark or two along it from when she was all over it but that's easily hid for the time being. For once they leave since he knows that it might take a bit for him to see her again.

He's going to get anxious from the wait but he is patient enough for it no matter how he may act.)

Then I'll welcome you at any time you please.

(... that likely sounds as if it has a double meaning, but, it's rarer to see him acting this way. Newer actually. So can he really be blamed for having just a little of Kaeya's own attitude showing with how serious he is about this?

Probably not, but still.)

Good. I will certainly take you up on that hospitality at my earliest convenience.

[ He's not the only one anxious at the idea of the wait. She herself is trying to think of a way not only to get there at all, but to get there sooner, because—

She sighs, trying not to focus too much on it.

(Despite the fact that it's taking up every sensible thought she has left.)

Gentle, she lifts her fingers from his skin, placing them on his shoulder instead; her eyes drift past him to the cave mouth, the blizzard still howling outside. ]

Perhaps... we should try to sleep? [ She doesn't want to, isn't even sure she can, but— ] Or you should, at least. I think my allotted time has passed. I don't mind keeping watch.

[ She'll be a bear tomorrow regardless at this rate, but if Diluc can at least get some sleep, she figures that's a good thing. Considering he for his part has kept her alive, getting him through the night well-rested is something she can do at least.

The other alternative is continuing to flirt with him like this, and that just might get torturous. ]

... I'm not sure if I can in the end.

(Though unsaid, the thoughts were enough to also keep him awake and make it much more difficult. His heats thankfully gone down to being at a more manageable level but that doesn't change the fact that even if he did close his eyes the temptation and the thoughts being there wouldn't help.

But... he did want to give it a small attempt first since he knows that he'll need his energy and stamina in good form for his 'workout'.

Perhaps it's why he did for the time being close his eyes.)

If I can't sleep then, we can probably figure out something.

(Something to pass the time since he's certain morning isn't too far away by now; the blizzard itself though howling did seem as if it had eased a bit but not enough to make a noticeable dent.

Flirting or not, it didn't help his eyes would linger on her lips either during their conversation earlier.)

[ She's glad that he closes his eyes despite the words he speaks, because a flush of color races up her cheeks, a heartbeat or two skips in the too-fast rhythm in her chest, a slowly-loosening knot in her stomach tightening within the same moment. Her fingers tense against the fabric of his vest.

The argument could be made that "something" doesn't mean what it sounds like it means, but with the heat that he's still giving off— no longer scorching, but hotter than it was even in the first moment that he sat with her— there's no doubt in her mind that he does mean it that way.

She nods, even though his eyes are closed. When she speaks, her voice is strained, and this time not from the anxious thoughts racing around her head, but from the effort to keep herself from pouncing on him like a cat in heat. ]

Yes... Of course. Try to rest, and if it doesn't work— well, I'm here.

(He's trying to get the thoughts to calm. It's harder than he anticipated, his body is against it even if he is trying to rest just a little. But... it would seem by how he's breathing, not dozing no less, that it isn't working as the minutes pass. The heats there, enough that it's hard to get it to stop lingering toward certain thoughts fluttering about that are testing his patience as much as hers.

After ten minutes, his eyes are open again.

Sleep staying far away would make his job harder but he's done things on little to no rest before no matter the environment.

He knows what this spells for them knowing that they're trying to not be all over one another given circumstances but it's difficult. It's still not stopping him from feeling the same way as her, trying to not pounce, trying to not react too quickly at that.)

... seems like we're both not sleeping.

(And his eyes are lingering again too.)

[ Ten minutes feel like thirty; Eula somehow keeps her eyes on the mouth of the cave the entire time, which is something of an achievement given that they're naturally drawn to the downturn of his lips, to the way his lashes flutter against his cheeks while his eyes are closed, to—

Oh by Barbatos and all the Archons, she feels like a lovelorn mess. This is not any way for someone of her standing to feel or behave, and much less to wind up in such a situation as this. Ten minutes is just long enough for the anxiety of her thoughts to crowd back in, to try and yell and scream at her about how critical a mistake she has made, how there's no going back from this in all the worst ways. The knotted coil in her stomach becomes a swirling mass of anxiety, her throat feels both dry and clogged at the same time, and—

He speaks, and her eyes tear from the view of the outside to his face, to the way his eyes drift down to her mouth.

Eula shakes her head. ]

...No. We're not.

[ She already knows that kissing him will chase the thoughts away. But at the same time, his experience— it's something to be concerned about, to make sure she does the right thing...

Her eyes drop from his face. ]

You deserve better than this. Than here.

[ Her words are quiet, but stubborn. She wants him to understand that no matter how drunk on each other they become, it can't go that far. She won't let it. ]

I understand at least... I don't mind talking about just really anything if it helps.

(Though it might help more if they both were able to focus more on other things. The heat can ease anyway more over time and he knows it; he's not the best at idle chatter and he knows it yet he has a feeling with how foreign it is on them both that they'll have a lot of anxieties about this.

With him working himself to the ground it's a wonder he hasn't gotten more hurt or had worse done to his body outside of what scars he obtained.

Perhaps it's why he's trying to distract one another, from these thoughts, their anxieties, just by doing whatever he can even as his eyes close once more. Maybe it might help if he does that... making the thoughts focus elsewhere as he tries to doze while they speak to one another.)

Maybe... hmm... whenever I was traveling, I had to learn how to cook beyond simple meals for instance. I didn't take the opportunity to ask Adelinde if she could have taught me more so for a fair part of it I was learning through my own stubbornness; she would have been horrified at some of my attempts not looking right.

(Maybe some stories from his travels could help them...?

He hopes so anyway.)

[ There's a soft chuckle from her at that, her mind temporarily but successfully distracted from both the wandering anxiety and frustrated attraction alike.

She understands all too well how difficult the art of cooking is— she herself has become quite talented at it over the years, and nowadays the Company's rations are something adapted from her own personal recipe by their cooks.

(And quite frankly, she enjoys her own version much more.)

But for Diluc to learn on his own, without assistance and through sheer stubbornness of will, is impressive— she, of course, had paid lessons: a proper tutor and punishments for mistakes. ]

In that case... what is your favorite thing to make now?

[ She also has to wonder, if she's honest, what the failed attempts looked like— or what kind of expression he wore on his face when he failed them. She can't help but think that frustration would look good on him—

No. Focus. ]

You said you had food with you, too. Is it something you prepared yourself?

... you might laugh but my favorite is actually Pile 'Em Up. I actually can make my own version of it by heart now just as easily as the normal one.

(With his eyes coming open again after a brief moment, he did wonder if he should tell her how often he was concentrating so not to accidentally burn anything again. Really to not near give himself some form of illness once more as he attempted to have it come out properly instead of... really the messes he made trying and learning.

He knows that his hard work had paid off since he's quite capable of cooking now for himself whenever he has to go out for long periods; he even joins the staff on occasion when making breakfast or other things.

But really all of it reminds him of his frustration, his attempts at focusing and his stubbornness to succeed so that he didn't have to go hungry for long periods until he reached some manner of civilization.)

It is, it's something I was suggested by Albedo awhile ago. Goulash, I made sure to secure it and did have a bit extra.

(Thankfully he still had that recipe from whenever he asked too, otherwise Diluc would have had a harder time trying to track him down to ask about it again.

Then again he doubts that Albedo would have minded writing it once more.)

[ Admittedly, she does laugh— hopefully, though, he can see from the look on her face that it's not meaning to mock him; rather, it's a sound of surprise more than anything else. Somehow, what amounts to a rather large amount of meat and potatoes was not exactly what she expected from someone she considers to be quite refined—

(although to be fair, their time together has already shown him to be somewhat less so than she expected)

—She doesn't want him to misunderstand her intent, so she says: ] I apologize. It isn't really laughable. Just... not what I expected of you, Ragnvindr.

[ He continues to surprise— and never once in a bad way.

Her brows lift at the mention of Goulash, though. She's heard of it as a meal, but hadn't really considered it for a trip up the mountain, and yet— ]

It has cold-dampening properties, doesn't it?

[ A smile, a slight jostle of her shoulder against his. ] You could have just given me food instead of warming me yourself, you hound. [ And then she laughs, the first real, rich laugh that's escaped her since this whole mess started— and a rare enough sound in general that it might be the first time he's ever heard it for himself. ]

I don't think anyone would expect it truthfully. I'm by no means offended, since I know that it's not that normal for someone like me to admit.

(And he did enjoy the fact he got her to laugh too. So mentioning that is at least worth a laugh at his own expense knowing that he couldn't quite blame her for thinking that way or feeling that way given his stature to people normally. If anything this just made it all the more relaxing for him knowing that.

It didn't stop him from laughing, just a little too. He could have given her it and here he was trying to help her warm up faster by using his resonance. Then again it isn't like he minds letting her try his cooking if she's that interested, the thought is of course there now too for him.

And he did reach into his pack to grab the extra bowl he had contained; the heat still was there somewhat and he took a brief moment to make certain, in likely an unusual way to be using his resonance, to reheat it just enough for it to do as it needed. To give her warmth at hearing her laugh like that.

... really he finds her laughing like that to be reward enough for this.)

Here. If you want a chance to try some of my cooking then. (Perhaps not his specialty, but it's something in the end that he did make with his own two hands in preparation for this trip.) I'll make something proper perhaps next time too.

[ She's not going to lie: she's hungry.

Her pack is a little too far away for her to get any of her rations without leaving the circle of his warmth and the comfort of the bedroll they're sharing, though; as such, she simply hasn't allowed herself to focus on it until now—

Is what she'd like to say. But the truth of the matter is that she actually just hasn't thought about food. Wrapped up in him like this, her focus has been...

She is going to be so unhappy with herself later.

But that's a worry for then. For now, she reaches to take the bowl that he offers, and her eyes close briefly in content at the warm feeling of the bowl on her skin— and maybe if he listens close enough he might imagine he hears a soft mutter about the unfair advantages Pyro Vision holders have over the rest of an unspecified "us", something something take vengeance on the gods—

Her eyes open for long enough to taste the soup... and then fall shut once more, her lips curving into a smile. ]

Not bad, Ragnvindr. Not bad at all.

(The soft muttering near made him snort but he resisted. It's best he did anyway, it's a good thing his own pack wasn't as far away knowing that they still had time until the blizzard ends. Though he is hoping a little it might help her get some manner of rest with a warm stomach in exchange.

Even he can't say he'd mind if she fell asleep much as he'll be at his busiest soon without it.

But, hearing her compliment did put some manner of smile on his lips. Not one of his small ones or his smirks either, an actual one. He's pleased that it worked out so well to plan ahead normally in his own case; the extra was meant to be there in case if the weather worsened before he made it depending on how it had been looking prior to that.

Her taking it isn't a bad trade off anyway knowing that eating would help a little once he shifts around to enable her to keep his warmth again near even after eating.)

I gave it my best efforts after all. But, do you have anything you prefer making out of curiosity?

(She did ask him about his favorite after all.)

I... quite enjoy cooking, and I'm usually willing to try making new things... but a favorite, hmm?

[ Her lips purse in thought; it's with the same thoughtful expression on her face that she eats a few more mouthfuls of the soup.

And where Diluc might be planning for Eula to enjoy the whole of the bowl, it's after she's eaten about half of it that she holds it out for him. It's clear at this point with the storm beginning to slowly but surely wane that that they'll be able to see the worst of the it through, and they'll both need as much warmth and strength as they can get for the day ahead, not just her.

Besides, she has her rations— and she makes a mental note to supply him with a couple of them too. ]

Moon pie. [ It's said with a smile as she holds the bowl toward him. ] It is of course a typical staple, but cooked in the right way— [ she supposes she has her own special version of this, too, if she thinks of it like that ] —the flavors can be so much richer than when you buy it from a restaurant.

(Moon pie? That did surprise him but not in a bad way.

With the things they've found out about one another it isn't necessarily much of one by this point; even as he also did with a little more surprise take the bowl from her carefully with a thankful glance. He hadn't noticed he was hungry either seems like much as he did offer it. With the storm easing he knows he'll need it.

Really any assistance was appreciated by him as shocking as it can be knowing his cold demeanor even if he has a pyro vision.)

Mm, I actually haven't tried to make one yet or tried to eat one I don't think just yet? Or not recently anyway on terms of eating one. (He can finish the other half of this anyway slowly since they're talking. He's not as focused on eating as he is the conversation at the moment.) I could show you how I make my own Pile 'Em Up later too.

[ Her brows raise in surprise. He hasn't eaten moon pie in recent memory? It's practically a staple. Even people who don't eat them as much as her surely indulge in them frequently enough to remember—

But then again, Diluc has just made it pretty clear that he's a steak-and-potatoes kind of guy, hasn't he?

As he takes the bowl back from her, she sits back again, enjoying the warmth that courses through her body even without him being pressed right up against her—

~~(although if she's honest, she's kind of looking forward to when he's finished eating so that he can be pressed up against her again)~~— that's a thought that she shakes off as quickly as she can, because she doesn't think she can successfully blame the color threatening to rise up her cheeks on the food that is no longer in her hands.

So she focuses on what he says instead, although... apparently that doesn't help either, because there's a part of her liking the thought of him cooking for her— of her cooking for him— this whole thing sounds horribly domestic, and it's nice—

This is not going well for her right now, is it?

She smiles, even if the expression is a little shaky, a little shyer than she would like. ]

It's a deal. I'll make you my own version of a moon pie, too.

Another thing to look forward to, I think.

(And he wasn't too far from finished either, noting her expression while wondering just how else to go about this now. He can probably tell her more stories of his travels... maybe he can go about the more dangerous aspects of it. He's had quite a few run-in's with trouble to begin with in it.

He'll need to figure it out he supposes in a bit once he sets down the now finished and emptied bowl to shift back into taking up the position he had before. Pressed up into her to let her warm further.

He won't comment on her shyness or really her heated cheeks but it's definitely interesting seeing more sides of her than he thought he'd ever get to see.

Diluc can't say that he hates it either even with that part of his brain nagging at him.)

... it was interesting seeing everything I had in my travels. Cooking aside, I didn't get to obviously go into Inazuma at the time but I did go to other places in my time away.

It was after that I decided what I wanted to do. Even if it's dangerous I didn't want to just sit there after what happened... though I only wish I got to see the look on Eroch's face whenever he was removed from his rank by Jean.

(That wretched coward wanting to sell them out no less and saying Diluc's loss and want for them to find the culprits should be ignored... he'll never forget it though Kaeya's descriptions appeased him enough.)

Mm.

[ It's a soft sound, one of agreement— but also one of content when he moves to press up against her once more, and really she feels like she actually could sleep like this, even though she knows that if she tries, the thoughts will grab a hold of her mind again and keep sleep at bay.

But at least sitting like this is nice, feels restful even if she's not actually getting any sleep. His voice is soft and gentle enough too that it almost feels like it's lulling her—

Until a thought strikes her out of the blue and she sits up a little straighter against him, making sure that he can see her face to understand that she's serious when she says it. The briefest moment of preparation, and that's all she gets, because in the next second she blurts it out: ]

I've never judged you, you know. Or thought worse of you. For leaving.

[ Perhaps a strange thing to say... but he has made sure to tell her multiple times this evening that he doesn't hate her just for who she is— somehow, it feels right to make sure he knows the same. ]

The Knights... it's the right place for me, but with everything that happened [ and she's sure she doesn't even know the full of it, somehow, despite being across the vast majority of the company's intelligence at any given time ] I can understand why it isn't the right place for you. I've... always thought that.

... not many bothered to understand why I'd leave. Often times I was told or asked why I don't come back, I still say Jean is waiting for me to return too even after I told her in letters I wouldn't be, even as Kaeya often times told her from what he said.

(Plus it wasn't his place. She's right about it anyway, he's known it ever since his return to Mondstadt. He wouldn't return to the Knights because it's not his place; him forcing himself to be distant with anyone that spoke to him is part of that too. Because he didn't want them to get involved knowing what he's doing is dangerous.

Risky, deadly even. That target on his back only grew bigger with everything he's done despite the Fatui and others not knowing his identity. With all of it he's been counting on them learning one day that he's the only doing this, that he might in fact be in more danger.

That is the price of his revenge, his complete isolation.

But... with what she's done, with what they've done, it's caused things to change in a way he never once expected. It's why he hopes she can handle the risks, the danger that might perhaps rear its ugly head in by involving herself with him when that time comes.)

... it's why I don't fault you or hate you for choosing your own path and feeling as if it's right. (He can hate the knights but he'll always hold opinions of those in their ranks separate depending on who. So far, Eula's shifted into being more important to him than he expected due to this evening.) And I never saw your last name as a reason to hate you either. I chose to isolate myself, though... as you can see it came with me running myself down as I've mentioned earlier.

(And worrying those who were still there to care for him.)

[ She smiles, shakes her head at that. How like Jean that is, to believe in him even after he's sworn off returning, after Kaeya's told her on his behalf; it's the same way she admitted Eula herself into the Knights and gave her the opportunities she did. There's a part of her, Eula thinks, that is too soft, for as tough as she can be when it counts.

But regardless of that, she also understands why Diluc continues to isolate himself. It's easier for him, the same way being in the Knights is easier for her. At this point, it's no secret or surprise to her that the two of them are alike in that they'll take whatever steps they have to for their own personal vengeance to succeed, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.

Which is why this is so out of character for both of them in many ways.

And yet she still doesn't pull away— nor does she want to. ]

I understand. We've actually both isolated ourselves, haven't we? ...In different ways, and to different results, but...

[ She chuckles again, softly, another shake of her head. That in itself is unsurprising, given that he's a Ragnvindr and she's a Lawrence. ]

Anyway, as much as I am aware that I have no right to ask, I'll say again that I expect you to take better care of yourself from now on. You've already built up more than enough of my enmity; trust me when I say that you don't want any more of it on your shoulders.

[ Her tone is serious, perhaps even severe. But there's something gentle in her gaze no matter how hard she tries. ]

... I feel if I didn't that you'd likely show up on my door step with medical supplies and about to smite me for not being considerate enough of your feelings on it.

(Not that he blames her. He knows that he's done quite... a few things that she would in fact smite him over had they grown closer to one another prior to this point. Maybe after too had she found out about Albedo seeing him fight near a disrupted leyline by utilizing his abilities to check it.

Even if Albedo does know now what Diluc is doing he's not talking about him which he's thankful for. The alchemist ironically is quite capable of privacy for these moments which is useful.

Still.

Out of character or not, he's in agreement with her on not pulling away from this, not wanting to separate for long either at this point.)

I'll still watch myself like I said, I won't do anything completely reckless though I ask the same of you too even if I know that I have no right to do it too.

(It's really the gentleness of her gaze, her severe yet serious tone aside, that causes him to cave to that more than he did earlier. He owes that much to her doesn't he? They did get closer in a way he never thought possible after all.)

[ The expression on her face becomes something of a smirk— clearly, he understands the way she thinks, now. And while she's positive that at least in part his words are meant to placate her, she does believe him when he says he'll be more careful.

In turn, it's only fair that she agree once more, and so she does, nodding her agreement before voicing it in the next moment, as if to clarify: ]

You have a deal, of course. Not that I believe that you would attempt to smite me if I were to break it, but...

[ ...He'd do something, she's sure, but she doesn't know what exactly.

And that's thrilling.

She shifts a little where she's sitting, trying to ignore that thought and how it wants to make all the blood in her body rush south all over again. ]

...Either way, I'll be certain that we don't have to find out.

[ The main point of it, really, is that she doesn't want to worry him in the same way that she'd prefer not to worry about him. Whatever that means is something she can deal with later, though; for now it gets shoved away in the back of her head with everything else, box locked, key thrown away. ]

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