#CHAARRRLIEEE GRAHHH -I AGGRESSIVELY SHAKE YOU- (AFFECTIONATELY...🫶)

[nulltune]

"Ah... Hakuno... I apologise for not greeting you sooner..." Diluc shifts down the last few stairs, his expression controlled but the grip on the bannister is nearly white-knuckled as he gets to the end. His evening work had proved a little too vigorous, the injury it has left is mostly bruising, which is a blessing given how it could have turned out, but uncomfortable all the same. "Has Adelinde gone to fetch tea? If not i'll call Hillie or Moco over..." He passes over to the table, gesturing for Hakuno to take a seat as he eases himself into his own, lips pressed tightly together to avoid wincing. He was not expecting company, though at least it is the pleasant kind. He will simply have to be wary of that observant gaze Hakuno holds.

unprompted,  always accepting !   @resolutepath ♡

❛   did she ?   ❜       blinking,  doe eyes dart over to where the housemaid had previously been  —  only to be met with empty space.  adelinde has been the one to notice her  ...  dithering outside,  gently urging her to come in when she'd been stuck between the thought to stay or to go.  it was always like this.  even when welcomed,  kishinami hakuno was always a distant presence.       ❛   oh,  there really is no need to treat me like a guest.  i was just ...  dropping by ...   ❜       she'd always limited herself to the outside,  only able to peer in from a clear separation;  interacting like  /  as an outsider.  yet she'd taken a step inside when invited to,  basking in a terrible feeling of relief that perhaps it is alright for her to be here.

perish the thought.  the seat diluc had gestured for her to take is left empty,  the lady standing next to it instead.  she didn't come here for such aimless reasons,  there was a purpose to her visit.  she wouldn't have allowed herself to drop by,  otherwise.  a decently - sized wooden basket is set on the table       ❛   i happened to pick up some things earlier,  so i thought to share.   ❜       temporarily lifting the cloth covering the items inside,  a quick peek would reveal the green of plants,  herbs.      ❛   i've washed and prepared all of them properly,  so they are all ready for use,  should you need them. there's also a jar of wolfhook seeds that can function as a mild painkiller,  and ... and ...   ❜       gaze flits to the other,  she looks away before eye contact could be made.

of course she'd noticed.  ever since last night,  she'd been fretting over it  —  perhaps he'd pushed himself a bit too hard .. ?   terribly concerning,  but surely he'd be alright.  .. right ?   it's a thought that came naturally to one with an almost natural inclination to look after others,  but the extent of which this had plagued her mind ever since was  ...  unusual.  it's an unsettling feeling that couldn't seem to go away until she checked up on him,  which led her to this current situation.

he appeared no different from usual today  —  with that same stern look  —  which should have placated her worries,  but that nagging feeling is persistant as ever.  perhaps picking up the details came easier when one was actively searching for them in the first place,  the slight difference in the way he carried himself,  the expression that was just stiffer than normal.  aside from that,  though,  there was not much she could pick up on ...   the extent of her medical knowledge was lacking as well.  how frustating.

a small part of her thought of slamming her hand down,  demanding him to see barbara so the vision holder could heal whatever ailed him,  but it remained just that.  a thought.  ( how uncharacteristic of her to have such a thought,  though. )  diluc likely wouldn't want to reveal a vulnerable state of himself to others,  and she understood that.  she was certainly no exception to that,  and she sees no reason why she should be so ...  peturbed by that fact.  with a self built on serving others,  should he want her to look the other way,  then she would;  and yet,  she finds that she can't bear to look away. 

all options considered,  she believes that this subtle way of giving aid would be the best choice to make.       ❛   there's a note inside detailing the necessary information,  with visual aid too,  though i am not an artist.  ❜       yet too stubborn to ask for the help of one more skilled,  the amount of times she'd redrawn the image of a simple plant was almost comical.  it was worth it though,  the end result being neat notes that anyone could easily grasp.  though it's intended purpose was for the eyes of one particularly stubborn man who had a habit of taking everything upon himself to help everyone.       ❛   i'll leave this in your hands,  and i—   ❜

—i will be on my way. 

belonging nowhere,  these are familar words from a girl who couldn't stay,  who always felt like she had to leave.   lips part to utter bid this overdue farewell,  but the words don't come. 

having left the basket on the table,  her now empty hands feel awfully purposeless,  they fold neatly by her front in the image of a perfectly proper lady;  her almost timid gaze didn't quite suit that image,  however.       ❛   are you fond of having tea,  with company ?   ❜       tentatively asking.  it's a little surprising,  given his affinity for grape juice and aversion for small talk.  she really wouldn't dare to intrude,  but if it was something he wanted,  and if it was something that could—  perhaps lift his mood then ...  maybe she could stay.  for just a little longer.