vergeltung | 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭

[ When he stills, there's practically a sigh of relief, even if her eyes are still somewhat glazed over as she looks at him. ]

Thank you.

[ Despite all the thoughts of vengeance, when it comes time to say anything at all, those are the only words that will fall from her lips, still parted to let through the soft, short breaths as her heartbeat slows gradually to its normal speed. And so she's not tempted again, she moves to rest her head on his shoulder instead, her eyes closing, her breathing evening out too in the same slow but sure manner.

Why is she thanking him, exactly? Even Eula isn't sure. All she knows is that it felt right to do so, the same way that sitting here in the circle of his arms has come to feel normal in some way.

It helps that the urge to cry has passed.

She sits like that in silence for a few moments, arms falling to wrap around his waist once more, before she feels steady enough to talk, her voice soft: ]

I think you might officially have just passed Amber on the scale of grievances.

... I'll take that as a compliment.

(As close to one as he can get at this point.

Holding her like this isn't bad to begin with as tempting as everything is, with his head for the time being near hers with how she's resting against his shoulder. There's no manner of complaints from him or no other comments after taking her thanks even and really her mention of him passing Amber suddenly.

He's not certain how far that pushes him but he likely is going to wind up on a different list is his current thought floating around on it with the rate he's gone up on her 'vengeance list'.

His warmth is still there. Not on the level as he'd have it were he to be pushed gradually past the point of no return but it is in fact there to wrap her up in it like this.

They both have in this evening dealt with more than expected with how their perspectives shifted; he's not sure on how he's going to keep things hidden involving his attraction but he'll figure out something. He thinks, he hopes anyway.)

... I'm not sure how much it eased or what time it is currently.

(Since he noticed the howl didn't seem as powerful as before. If anything he can prepare to head out soon and expect to be tired on shift at the Angel's Share later on if he doesn't manage to sleep any after all this and the trek down once he's done with his clean up.)

[ If he's listening carefully enough, he'll hear her scoff, mutter something about "how dare you" into his shoulder; other than that, though, Eula sits there in silence for a while, content just to rest against him in such a way. In fact, it's not until he speaks once more that she reacts in some actual way, sitting up to look with bleary eyes— apparently she started dozing in the short time she's been resting on him— at the entry of the cave. ]

It looks better out there. Sounds it, too.

[ Is that something like regret in her voice? There's something in the strain of it, in the way she drops her gaze away from the blizzard and back to his shoulder. ]

I doubt it will be long before we're safe to go our separate ways.

[ Which is a good thing, isn't it? It's meant to be a good thing. From the start, neither of them was planning to spend the night holed up in a cave against a blizzard. (Never mind every other thing that has happened since then, apparently changing her mind on the matter.) They had plans, things they each had to do. ]

I suppose I should mention this... if I don't see you again, I'll personally hunt you down after tonight.

(She might not believe how serious he is but his tone by no means is playing around with such a 'promise'. If he has to, he'll talk Kaeya into giving him her schedule through the usual means if that's what it takes even if it leaves the opportunity for him to figure out what's going on. Whether she tests Diluc on it or not, he's already planning on depending what she does to ask him.

The only regret he has is just not telling her that he'd rather her do far more better than his patrons, really the others she slept with after seeing the way they spoke to her and acted toward her over their differences and dislike of her for her name.)

If you doubt me on that, I don't promise things I don't intend to keep.

(Even then he knows that it might be a bit given the time spent getting back to Mondstadt from Dragonspine. He's lucky in the sense of it not being too far from the Winery for him to make the trek here though climbing down and getting to Mondstadt in time for his shift at the bar will be another story.

Double timing it is a necessity though he's not rushing at the moment. He's more focused on her after noticing her tone with how he's holding her currently.)

[ At first, it's fair to say she doesn't believe him, even with the seriousness of his tone, even with everything that's happened tonight. As the storm lessens up outside and that horrible feeling sinks into her gut, it feels like doubt is slapping her repeatedly in the face. Not of his words or his intent so much but of his feelings, which she fears may turn to regret as day breaks on their night.

He may have temporarily melted her ice wall with his warmth, but she's kept it up protecting her for so many years that it's rebuilt itself out of habit and without warning, and she's reeling from the sudden freeze.

Still, she nods, managing a small smile, at the heat in his second words, the tone in his voice sending a shiver down her spine. Despite the suddenly renewed feeling of wanting to run, to protect herself, she has to keep some sense of normalcy about her, about the situation, until they part ways. She can fall apart then, and only then. ]

Of course. There are a lot of thoughts I wouldn't have shared tonight if I didn't trust your intent to keep your promises, Ragnvindr.

... and I'll be sure to keep that promise of finding you too.

(There is no regret in his tone. Regrets are something he has plenty of but he wouldn't regret this however much part of him says he should knowing what he has to do as his life's work. He doesn't say any of it lightly though he's not certain on how long it might be knowing she has her mission there as well.

As himself he won't remotely change his mind on any of it. It would be unusual for him to do so even after he continues his shaky yet slowly mending relationship with Kaeya too.

He won't fall back on that promise even as he sees the light start to poke through the clouds from there; he may not say anything for the time being but he is not certain if he would be able to stop his building frustrations from exploding if she didn't trust him fully in his intent.

Feeling this way much to his flame filled hearts dismay and not shielding himself again in all of it would just have made him a liar about all of it down to his attraction being obvious. He isn't going to back down off it.

Hopefully he can keep certain patrons from stirring up problems with her too.)

I know.

[ Toward the beginning of this, she's sure she made her own promise, something about keeping a closer eye on him now that he'd build up a certain amount of vengeance.

Unlike him, though, she doesn't repeat it, the words held behind an icy cage.

She's too busy noticing, like him, the first light poking through the storm clouds, and with it comes the sinking feeling in her chest.

Just like that, the night is over. ]

( to be continued )

𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭

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