#ardentdawn diluc tbt.

[spinaea-archived]

It's a wordless appreciation whilst the pair sat among the ley line leading to the alabaster bark. A tree that aged them both, him moreover as amber pools gazed upon the closest representation of the felled nation apart from his own brother & herself. It brought his gaze to the snaking patterns along her flesh; moon silver winding vines bracketed with thorns snuck between where her clothing didn't conceal.

The followed sensation was of inquisitive fingers tracing the pattern against fair skin of the vampire. Following it along the arm, shoulder to nape as it perused locks of hair before halting again.

❝ Hm. ❞ unprompted.   /   always accepting.

rosaria knew what she was doing when she’d invited him there, how much abyss energy seeped through the tree & its immediate surroundings.  it was the only way she could think of to show him something she hadn’t shared with any mortal outside of khaenri’ah.  he’d seen her skin glisten before from the sun & moon, but this was entirely different & something far more meaningful for the abyssal;  it mattered enough for her to wear something different to make it easier for diluc to see the twisting vines & thorns that were normally invisible to him.

it’s impossible for the intricate marks adorning her form to remain hidden near such energy, glowing brightly as they shifted from silver to cerulean & back again.  rosaria let him look closely as darknight traced them with his fingertips, watching as they trailed higher before shifting her gaze to his face.

‘   i was born with these  ---  we all were.  we could see each other’s when we were near one another, but those born outside of khaenri’ah could not see them unless we’re near strong abyss energy.  ‘   a pause as she brushed long magenta tresses out of the way, turning her face so he could better see the marks that were present there & on her neck.   ‘  they could be in certain places or all over.  scholars theorized that the marks could be signs of foretelling or just be passed down from family, but it wasn’t the same for everyone.  it’s even possible for them to change.  ‘

rosaria moved the collar of her blouse enough for him to see part of the crown of thorns on her chest & how the surrounding area appeared to crack like ice.   ‘  this used to be a rose, one that was in bloom.  around 100 years after i was turned, it changed into this.  ‘   bright hues met his gaze once more, a soft look upon her features that she’d only given him time & time again.   ‘  you’re the first person to ever see them because i trust you, diluc.  you’re unlike anyone else i’ve ever known.  ‘

@ardentdawn​

[regivaem]

mistletoe. under the mistletoe.   /   selectively accepting.

she should have expected there to be mistletoe somewhere in the winery during the holidays, yet the one place she hadn’t considered was the library.  rosaria hadn’t noticed it at first, not until she’d turned around to face diluc when she sensed him approaching where she was.  warmth filled violet gaze when she saw him, a smile pulling at dark lips when she met him halfway but noticed something hanging above the two of them.  was that mistletoe?  just when did he manage to put that there?

bright eyes shifted from the decoration to him as her arms slipped around his neck, gaze searching his as a soft chuckle escaped her.  ‘  if you wanted more kisses you could have just said something, though the mistletoe is a nice touch.  ‘   she closed the distance with a gentle kiss, lips lingering for just a moment before pulling back & meeting his stare.

‘  here i thought i was the sneaky one out of the two of us, ‘   she teased with fanged grin, reaching to fix a stray strand of his hair.   ‘  now that i know it’s here, you should already know i’m going to get as much use out of it as i can but i don’t see you complaining since you put it there in the first place.  ‘

@ardentdawn

[spinaea-archived]

❝I forgot what love was. Then you came into my life.❞

rosaria knows how she feels about the darknight;  she’s known for awhile even if she hasn’t been able to bring herself to say it just yet, not wanting to scare him away.  the last time she loved someone was her fiance back when she was a human, & that was over 500 years ago;  no one else had ever come close to being someone she truly held dear in such a way.  until diluc, at least.

her eyes are searching his crimson stare, thoughts in tune with his though she can feel the sincerity in his words as they lay in his bed.  he’d never lie to her about something like that, right?  he never had any reason to before & abyssal can’t see him starting that now.

hands reach to cup his face as she kisses him once, twice, then a third time, smiling against his lips.  rosaria rarely hides her emotions anymore since her transformation & she’s sure diluc knows how she feels about him, but after what he just said?  the vampire doesn’t need to keep her feelings from him anymore.  fingers tangle themselves in scarlet tresses, her lips brushing against his.

‘  i love you too, diluc.  ‘

@ardentdawn​

[spinaea-archived]

❝If you masqueraded as a normal citizen for the festivities, I cannot lie - that would be quite terrifying.❞

abyssal wasn’t a normal citizen of mondstadt, she’d made that clear even before revealing what she was to everyone.  now she spent most evenings beside the darknight & the occasional knight of favonius, no longer afraid of revealing her true nature as she fought to protect the place she’d learned to call home.  not much had changed after all.

even she couldn’t hold back the amused grin that pulled at her lips at the thought, linking her arm with his as she met his stare.   ‘  me?  normal?  i wouldn’t dream of it.   even if i were to do such a thing, i know it would take much more than that for you to be frightened of me.   ‘  rosaria teased, leaning in to press a lingering kiss on his cheek.   ‘  besides, why would i do that when i’d rather celebrate by your side?  ‘

@ardentdawn​

[spinaea-archived]

Words were more a courtesy than necessity, the need for words only to hear her voice again. Though his approach was hardly unnoticed, or perhaps invited even as the young lord graces the abyssal blood donned in one of his many array. Diluc pressed the ghost of a touch along the curve of her spine. Tracing pattern of bone, replacing still air with that of heat & that of want.

The sensation guided betwixt shoulder blades ending at the vampire's nape whilst a whole handed gesture takes at the waist.

Wordless, as they need naught be said what his touch & aura spoke volumes over.

she’d gotten into the habit of borrowing his clothes from the very beginning of their relationship, often throwing on one of his shirts after moments of passion between the two of them.  abyssal even slept in them since their sleep schedules rarely lined up, finding comfort in wearing something that smelled like him & actually resting even if she didn’t need it.  rosaria already snagged one of his shirts before he returned to the winery, wearing only that while she waited for him in his bedroom.

luckily for her, she didn’t have to wait long at all.

rosaria could hear the steady beating of his heart, a sweet melody to her ears as he got closer to her.  his warmth was unmistakable, the heat radiating from his fingers giving her a sensation she’d grown to adore while with him, even if he had yet to touch her this time.  a soft sigh escaped her as ghosted touch reached her neck, turning to face him once his hand was on her hip.

she didn’t need to speak or use her telepathy to communicate with him, not when violet gaze met burning scarlet before abyssal closed the distance between them with a kiss.  words were unnecessary with how easily they could read one another, but that wouldn’t stop her from showing him how she felt, or him for that matter.

@ardentdawn​

[spinaea-archived]

It's a pause, one from a sense of respect but mainly another fleeting emotion. Diluc knew what he were to ask, Rose in turn could read the unease before the young lord took his place beside hers. Choir of crickets & pond dwellers alike below the night sky as his exhale left with the subtlety all the same,

❝I don't want to spoil this evening. But I must know - are you afraid of what time will do? To me?❞

ah, there it was.  rosaria didn’t want to bring it up herself, wanting to focus on the here & now with diluc before contemplating their future.  this conservation was inevitable & bound to happen after the two of them got together, that much she knew yet that didn’t make her prepared for it in the slightest.  just the look on his face had been enough to tell her he had something on his mind without her listening to his thoughts.

abyssal takes a breath, violet hues focusing on the full moon above them but she stays still on her seat beside him.   ‘  i’d be lying if i said i wasn’t, but i think you know by now that i can’t lie to you.  ‘   gloved hand reaches for his, lacing their fingers together as her tone softens.   ‘  i am worried, but as long as you want to be with me, i’ll remain here by your side.  i’ll still be here with you twenty years from now if that’s what you want.  ‘

it’s then that she turns to face him, hand still in his as she stares at their joined hands.   ‘  i may be frozen like this for the rest of my existence, but i could never ask you to become like me.  i know i can be selfish at times but that choice would be yours & yours alone.  that’s something i’d never take from you like it had been for me.  ‘

she sighs softly & lifts her head to meet his gaze, lightly squeezing his hand before continuing.   ‘  if you ever did want that, i’d only want you to be absolutely sure of your decision before doing anything because there’s no going back from this.  you wouldn’t have to worry about any pressure from me either because it would be your decision in the end.   ‘   her free hand lifts to cup his cheek, brushing her thumb against warm skin.   ‘  all i know right now is that i love you & i want to stay with you as long as you’ll have me.  ‘

@ardentdawn​

[spinaea-archived]

It's an unseen exchange, displayed images through cerebral  projections. One-sided taunting from the pureblood having seated at the  tavern, no doubt enjoying the mental writhe telepathy inflicted. The  young lord granting naught but the raise of a brow to unbent lips before  tending another patron's order. The night having pressed onward into  witching hours with the usual crowd diminished into but two.

Diluc slipping from the barkeep, adjusting offset artwork adorning the  Angel’s Share before approaching the abyssal behind. Firstly set hands  upon the slope of bare shoulders. Grip gracing faire flesh upwards to  the extent of her jawline cupping the chin with the low voice pushing  hushed breath at the opposite ear,

❝Last call.❞ A pull of the claimed jawline to free  the space needed for the second motion. What foolhardy it could have  been with the mortal glazing Rose’s neck at the brush of his tongue,  soon met with the pinch of teeth secured then pressed into the skin. A  slow exhale as breath spilled across the skin before releasing to leave  his appreciation for the previous suggestion the vampire imposed.

perhaps she was having far too much fun now that she could share her own thoughts with others instead of only being able to listen in or see mental images in one’s head.  diluc, of course, was being put through the worst of it.  to anyone else, they’d have thought he was giving her the silent treatment with how he didn’t acknowledge her at the bar.  rosaria knew otherwise, that she was a little too evil in her teasing with the images she’d send diluc of just what he could do to her over the counter, along with other places she could think of there in the tavern.  rosaria knew he’d keep his usual composure, but she liked seeing if she could get him close to losing it.

how he was able to put up with her antics, she’d never know.

rosaria could tell they were the last two people in angel’s share, not hearing anyone else inside the building when he left from behind the bar.  she never moved from the stool she sat upon, her bright violet eyes watching him until he was out of view & behind her.  pureblood’s heartbeat was steady even as she felt his hands on her shoulders, gaze shifting to try to catch a glimpse of him with raised brow when he reached her jaw.

no words left her lips as her neck was bared to him, yet a faint sigh escaped her when he bit her.  he couldn’t easily break her skin like she could with his, but she still liked it when he’d bite her nonetheless.   ‘  darling...  ‘   she was grinning as she looked over her shoulder at the young lord, a mischievous glint in star filled gaze.   ‘  i know you can do better than that.  or do i need to give you more ideas?  you know i’m full of them.  ‘

@ardentdawn​

[spinaea-archived]

The norm of their adventures took place when dusk filled the streets, the moon hung high. Their followed spur was the absolute foil; midday rush was the first rarity, second being the former sister out in broad daylight. A few choice thoughts & then;

❝Time is not exactly on our side.❞ Muttered words heard by none but the vampire, the sender's hands clasp about the berth of her hips. Fingers free from gloves to seek laces, clasps - whatever needing hands could unsecure from Rose's frame. Sealing lips to hers, drifting down to nip at the flesh of exposed neck. Grip upon generous assets then downwards again. Diluc not to squander opportunities regardless if a mere locked hatch leading to the barkeep separated them & the drinking masses.

she could tell what diluc was thinking before he could say anything yet she wasn’t going to say no, not when abyssal felt like she couldn’t get enough of him no matter how hard she tried.   ‘  since when has that stopped us before?  here i thought i was the bad influence...  ‘

rosaria had far less clothing to deal with in comparison to him, but she followed suit & removed her gloves, fingers quickly unbuttoning his vest & shirt underneath.  her hands roamed over bare skin as his own explored her body, a soft moan leaving dark lips when he bit her.  the loud patrons in the tavern would just help cover up any sounds they might make, though they knew how to be quiet with how often they did this away from the winery.

once both were sated, she peppered gentle kisses where his neck met his shoulder, the place she’d bitten & fed on him in the throes of passion.  luckily it was still where he could hide it with none the wiser about what had just occurred between the two of them.   ‘  it’s still out of sight, i promise.  ‘   abyssal pulled back to meet diluc’s gaze, hands reaching to cup his face before kissing him once more.   ‘  can we...  stay like this for a few more moments?  they’ll be fine without you a little while longer & besides, you have a needy vampire in your arms who wants your attention.  ‘

@ardentdawn​