#` ⭒ ✦ 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 ⸻ let the fire breathe me back to life

[noctuafought]

"how could you work for someone like /him/?" //for fatui!diluc uwu

— @abysshearted

what else is he meant to do when this is the only life he knows and has to carry now that their father passed? who else is he meant to turn to? he can't just walk away. not to mention, all his life he's been around his father and the director. if crepus wanted diluc to follow in his footsteps and remain close to pierro, then who is he to question it?

unfortunately, this had been all kept from his brother. crepus had sworn diluc to secrecy while the pair were growing up, crepus unsure how to break the truth to kaeya.

he supposes now is as good a time as any to tell him.

diluc sighs.

"it's what father wanted, kaeya." besides, the jester hasn't done anything to cause diluc to question his loyalty to him.

[cursedstar]

“where were you…?” (scoot my Abyss/Khaenriah verse)

he's knelt at her side, arm looped around her waist to help her to her feet.

“i tried to get here as fast as i could. i apologize if i wasn't efficient enough.” he expresses his regrets, "are you hurt anywhere? can you walk?" he asks, looking her over to assess her possibly injuries.

[pyrorot]

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑   ⸻   let the fire breathe me back to life

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐈𝐒𝐌𝐒   ⸻   maybe i'll burn a little brighter tonight

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂   ⸻   maybe i'll burn a little brighter tonight

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏   ⸻   give me your filth ‚ make it rough

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒𝐊   ⸻   i need more dreams and less life

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒   ⸻   how'd it get to be only me?

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐔𝐄   ⸻   you can go queue me an ocean and leave me be

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒   ⸻   letting people down is my thing

-` ⭒ ✦  𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘   ⸻   i only plugged in to save rock and roll

[noctuafought]

❝I can say goodbye to everyone else, but not you.❞ (Aether)

— @artificeheart

it's truly an odd sensation to be missed, heart thumping at the notion of just how much he matters to someone again on a deeper level. it terrifies him, but it also makes him feel weightless.

crimson hues flit over to the traveler, his own emotions fluffing up as he, too, realizes how much he's come to appreciate aether's presence.

“i... i suppose i feel the same way,” he starts, gaze drifting away now, “but,” his logic rolls forth, an attempt to comfort the other, “you don't have to say goodbye, and it's not for forever. you have your sister to find, so i won't take it too harshly that you have to depart again. not to mention, i know you'll always return. while i will also... miss you, you'll always have a place here... a home to return to.” home being... himself. he never understood the idea of being someone's place of comfort, but he doesn't want to make the same mistakes again.

[noctuafought]

he wants a kiss but he'd rather get crushed by a meteorite than admit it.

[noctuafought]

collapse.  for your muse to catch mine, preventing them from falling to the ground. [ Albedo ]

— @assembledstars

as a pyro user, he tends to run at a higher temperature. while most days, it can be handled, today happens to be one of the worst.

his flames surround the pair after unleashing his phoenix on a group of treasure hoarders, the heat of his own fire bringing upon a stuffy, dizzy feeling.

he tries to blink through the haze, but before he knows it, he's swaying. his claymore disappears and he falls to his side. he blearily registers albedo speaking to him, the alchemist's arms out and catching him before he could hit the floor.

[noctuafought]

diluc, do you feel betrayed that kaeya is embracing more of his khaenri’ahn heritage and fraying from mondstadt?

his jaw clenches ever so slightly as he crosses his arms over his chest. does he feel betrayed? in all honesty... no.

it does partly hurt, but who is he to object to kaeya's choices when diluc so clearly pushes him away. it doesn't surprise him in the slightest.

“not necessarily. ever since he told me his... ‘truth,’ a part of me always knew that he would eventually side with his own home versus the one he was left in. standing with your true home isn't a crime. it'll only be an issue if he raises his sword against mondstadt. at that point, i'd have to choice but to step in and fight for my home.”

[noctuafought]

leaves a gift for Diluc on the table to find when he returns from his moonlit vigilantism. A single lampgrass in a vase casting a soft light over the rest of the present. A new pair of gloves made in the same fabrics as his current ones (he's noticed them wearing out), a new waistcoat for events, a bottle of grape juice and a few genius invocation tcg cards that have recently been released. A simple card beside it. Another year dawns, happy birthday. Vesper.

— @resolutepath

despite their estrangement, diluc can't help but long for his twin. spending his birthdays alone these past four years brought him to this inescapable yearning, and he isn't sure how to rectify their distance.

so far, he attempted with gifts, hoping it would be the first step to diluc showing just how sorry he is for, well, everything. that's not to say he's fully aware of his twin's feelings, but he knows his own recent actions put more of a strain on him.

nevertheless, he's surprised to find gifts on the table as he returns to the manor. heart bursting at the seams, he gently caresses the flower — his favorite flower — as he reads over the simple note. he smiles affectionately, eyes straying to the clothes and the juice before landing on the card deck. oh how he can't wait to break these out. maybe he could talk vesper into a few rounds?

[noctuafought]

“let’s scream until there's nothing left.”

— @deificdeceit

[noctuafought]

[ text ] do you want to talk? (Aether)

— @artificeheart

[ text ] if it's not too much an issue for you, i wouldn't mind

[noctuafought]

“you’ll be the one to save us.”

— @artificeheart

[noctuafought]

Makes themselves comfy in his lap. Content gremlin.

— @wolfkcst

he ceases in the middle of his paperwork when he finds the viking in his lap. a soft chuckle of amusement leaves him and he wraps his arms around them.

“would it be too much to say you remind me of a cat?” he teases.

[noctuafought]

❝Perhaps life is beautiful because it is fleeting — there is an adoration in the transience of people, an elegance in the passing of time.❞ (Ayato)

— @artificeheart

a hum of acknowledgement and agreement, diluc setting his tea down as he looks to the commissioner.

“what a quaint observation. i didn't think anyone else noticed. many seem to live in the moment without recognizing it.” he responds, but he knows full well what it means to appreciate the time he has.

after everything, he knows he can't take the present for granted, for he doesn't know what the future would hold.

“you'd be right, though. life is more... fulfilling when you stop to appreciate what's in front of you.”

[noctuafought]

"you look tired, 'luc." crepus peers up from the mountain of ledgers he's poring over, giving his son a scrutinizing look. "i know it's a big promotion, cavalry captain ... you'd tell me if you were struggling, right ? or ... not sleeping well ?" goodness knows they're both emotions crepus can relate to, far better than he'd like to admit.

— @ccrepus

he can't deny he's a little tired, but he's nothing, if not resilient. a little bit of hard work isn't the worst, not to him at least.

still, he wants to prove himself, show just how strong and durable he truly is. he can do this, he has to. his determination knows no bounds, and his stubbornness holds the strength of titanium.

“ah, thank you for your concern, father, but i'm alright. i promise i'd tell you if i were having a hard time. i'm only adjusting to my new role, so i'm doing okay.”

[noctuafought]

“i was just a product of the street youth rage.”

— @wendeiwisp

[cursedstar]

“you came for me…” //hehe kaeya having an abyssal flare up

he holds the fallen prince in his arms, hand lifting to stroke kaeya's hair back out of his face, hoping he doesn't seem as panicked as he feels..

“of course i did. i vowed to always be by your side and to protect you until my last breath.” he reminds, his frantic heartbeat finally calming down as he continues to comb his fingers through kaeya's hair.