[Nippon is a strange, strange place. The past few days have been hectic and overwhelming, but Jean is certain things can’t get any worse. What other surprises could possibly be in store for her?
She really shouldn’t ask questions like that. At least this surprise isn’t a bad one.
The red hair is what she notices first, dragging Jean out of her reverie and back to the present. She blinks once, twice, before it finally sinks in that yes, she knows that man.]
Master Diluc?
[She’s surprised, yes, but seeing such a familiar face is a relief. Like having a little bit of home with her, as odd as it sounds.]
I- I wasn’t aware you were here as well.
[It’s not like she’s been here long, or been actively looking for people she knows, but. Still.]
[It would probably be of no surprise to anyone that Diluc Ragnvindr had been quietly keeping to himself for a few days since his sudden arrival here. He had watched Kaeya leave the Angel's Share, the door close, and then it had happened again, and again, and then...
Well, here he was.
With his transport pass in hand and all the details given at the 'orientation' buzzing in his head he had taken some time to ground himself, to settle his mind into this new situation, and to consider how he would proceed. He had, of course, taken the time to look into who else was here and who he might know.
Which is why he doesnt' show as much surprise as he might have when he turns at the sound of his name and sees the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius standing there.]
Jean. [He finds himself feeling... relieved that she's the first one to find him. There were several worse options to choose from.] Yes, I'm here. [And he closes the distance between them in a few long strides, adjusting his glove as he goes.]
For a few days, at least. Forgive me for not getting in touch.
[For a few days... Same as Jean, then. She wants to ask him what the last thing he remembers is, before deciding that can be dealt with later. She's sure Diluc will want to know, but for now her main concerns lie elsewhere.]
It's good to see you, Master Diluc.
[She smiles softly, looking over the man. He looks much the same as he usually does, and seems to be in fair health. He's also forgiven for not getting in touch, because there's really not anything to forgive.]
Are you doing alright? I know this place is quite different from Mondstadt...
[Though considering his time spent away, perhaps he won't miss their home that much.]
[Diluc has always had a fairly high opinion of Jean despite her choice of career and tendency to over-focus to a point of missing the bigger picture. She's easy company and perhaps, in a different sort of world, they might have been closer friends.
He tilts his head slightly, inviting her to follow him as he continues to make his way down the street.]
I'm doing well enough. The adjustment has been interesting. [That's a word for it. In Mondstadt, he has enough mora do do anything he likes. Here...
Well, it's a good thing he's never been opposed to hard work.]
But how are you? It can't be easy being away from the Knights.
[She falls into step besides him, arms at rest behind her back. Even here, even now, she’s a prim and proper knight. It’ll take a lot before she can relax here.]
It’s strange.
[It’s a quiet admission, but she trusts Diluc. He’s always been an upstanding man, even after leaving the Knights. She can tell him the truth.
I’m not quite sure what to do with all the time I have now. Or without everyone asking me for my time.
[What’s she supposed to do now? Have fun and relax? Impossible.]
[Implying, naturally, that he's already working. Diluc couldn't have been expected to sit on his laurels for long, and even working behind a bar is better than spending all hours of the day doing nothing. At least it's familiar work, and no one has to worry about him getting drunk on the job.
Maybe he'll look into other things once he has some money behind him. He can be frugal for a while if he needs to.]
There's no reason for us to make ourselves uncomfortable. [He glances her way, briefly lifting his eyebrows.] I'm sure you'll find yourself being indespensable again before you know it.
[Of course he is. It's not a surprise, not in the slightest.]
Don't spread yourself too thin.
[She says, like a hypocrite, not at all considering that spreading herself thin is what she's done every day of her life.
She considers his words for a moment, not sure what to say to that. She's made herself someone that the people could rely on through dedication and will, and she knows that she would do the same for anyone who needs her help - though she's not sure that's something that makes her indispensable. She's just... Doing what needs to be done.]
Perhaps. If there are people who need someone to rely on, I can be that for them, but I'm not sure what I can do without the Knights.
[Spread himself too thin? Perish the thought. It isn't as if he needs sleep, or rest, or consistent meal times. No, he'll be fine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with driving yourself completely into the ground so you have no free brain cells to think about anything else.
But he's not suprised to hear something like that from Jean. This must be difficult for her.]
You're not the Knights of Favonius. You are Jean Gunnhildr. Do something with that.
[Diluc Ragnvindr is a busy man. He always has been, and leaving the Knights hasn't changed anything. If anything, it's given him more freedom to work himself to the bone.
Jean pauses for a moment, thinking about it. She's Jean Gunnhildr. But a Gunnhildr has always served Mondstadt, and now she's far away from home. For Mondstadt, as always. But what if there is no Mondstadt?
Still, he has a point. She's her own person underneath all of her duty and training, she just... Needs to find that part of herself.]
[He's always busy, but if there's one person he knows who pushes themselves harder than he does it's the woman walking beside him. Just like her, he's going to have to find something to do in this world that isn't just duty and work for the people of Mondstadt.
Diluc doesn't expect that it's going to be easy.]
At least you're free of the winery's tax returns. [He says then with a tiny but soft smile.] I'm sure you can't miss that kind of work.
Dawn Winery's tax returns were always on time, at least.
[She returns the smile, posture relaxing ever so slightly. It's unbecoming to slouch, but... She can afford to not be so stiff around him.]
...I already find myself missing the people there, but I'm sure in time this place will become familiar and the people will, too.
[It's just difficult, in this moment, being away from her family and friends. The sudden separation from them will get easier to deal with, she's sure, and some day she'll be back home. She's not sure when, but... She has faith.]
[It had been a fight to get them out of his hands, but he couldn't deny that Jean had never made a mistake. He looks at her half-curiously as they walk, sensing something in her words that she doesn't say, and he brings a hand up to lightly place it against the back of her shoulder.]
... It's going to be all right, Jean.
[They can't afford to be distant. Not when they're so far from the majority of people they might have counted as allies.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
waves hands vaguely
Date: 2021-08-28 11:25 pm (UTC)She really shouldn’t ask questions like that. At least this surprise isn’t a bad one.
The red hair is what she notices first, dragging Jean out of her reverie and back to the present. She blinks once, twice, before it finally sinks in that yes, she knows that man.]
Master Diluc?
[She’s surprised, yes, but seeing such a familiar face is a relief. Like having a little bit of home with her, as odd as it sounds.]
I- I wasn’t aware you were here as well.
[It’s not like she’s been here long, or been actively looking for people she knows, but. Still.]
<3
Date: 2021-08-29 11:10 am (UTC)Well, here he was.
With his transport pass in hand and all the details given at the 'orientation' buzzing in his head he had taken some time to ground himself, to settle his mind into this new situation, and to consider how he would proceed. He had, of course, taken the time to look into who else was here and who he might know.
Which is why he doesnt' show as much surprise as he might have when he turns at the sound of his name and sees the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius standing there.]
Jean. [He finds himself feeling... relieved that she's the first one to find him. There were several worse options to choose from.] Yes, I'm here. [And he closes the distance between them in a few long strides, adjusting his glove as he goes.]
For a few days, at least. Forgive me for not getting in touch.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-29 06:03 pm (UTC)It's good to see you, Master Diluc.
[She smiles softly, looking over the man. He looks much the same as he usually does, and seems to be in fair health. He's also forgiven for not getting in touch, because there's really not anything to forgive.]
Are you doing alright? I know this place is quite different from Mondstadt...
[Though considering his time spent away, perhaps he won't miss their home that much.]
no subject
Date: 2021-08-31 08:14 pm (UTC)[Diluc has always had a fairly high opinion of Jean despite her choice of career and tendency to over-focus to a point of missing the bigger picture. She's easy company and perhaps, in a different sort of world, they might have been closer friends.
He tilts his head slightly, inviting her to follow him as he continues to make his way down the street.]
I'm doing well enough. The adjustment has been interesting. [That's a word for it. In Mondstadt, he has enough mora do do anything he likes. Here...
Well, it's a good thing he's never been opposed to hard work.]
But how are you? It can't be easy being away from the Knights.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-31 09:24 pm (UTC)It’s strange.
[It’s a quiet admission, but she trusts Diluc. He’s always been an upstanding man, even after leaving the Knights. She can tell him the truth.
I’m not quite sure what to do with all the time I have now. Or without everyone asking me for my time.
[What’s she supposed to do now? Have fun and relax? Impossible.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-04 01:04 am (UTC)[Implying, naturally, that he's already working. Diluc couldn't have been expected to sit on his laurels for long, and even working behind a bar is better than spending all hours of the day doing nothing. At least it's familiar work, and no one has to worry about him getting drunk on the job.
Maybe he'll look into other things once he has some money behind him. He can be frugal for a while if he needs to.]
There's no reason for us to make ourselves uncomfortable. [He glances her way, briefly lifting his eyebrows.] I'm sure you'll find yourself being indespensable again before you know it.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-04 11:56 pm (UTC)Don't spread yourself too thin.
[She says, like a hypocrite, not at all considering that spreading herself thin is what she's done every day of her life.
She considers his words for a moment, not sure what to say to that. She's made herself someone that the people could rely on through dedication and will, and she knows that she would do the same for anyone who needs her help - though she's not sure that's something that makes her indispensable. She's just... Doing what needs to be done.]
Perhaps. If there are people who need someone to rely on, I can be that for them, but I'm not sure what I can do without the Knights.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-05 09:57 pm (UTC)You know me.
[Spread himself too thin? Perish the thought. It isn't as if he needs sleep, or rest, or consistent meal times. No, he'll be fine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with driving yourself completely into the ground so you have no free brain cells to think about anything else.
But he's not suprised to hear something like that from Jean. This must be difficult for her.]
You're not the Knights of Favonius. You are Jean Gunnhildr. Do something with that.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-10 05:08 am (UTC)[Diluc Ragnvindr is a busy man. He always has been, and leaving the Knights hasn't changed anything. If anything, it's given him more freedom to work himself to the bone.
Jean pauses for a moment, thinking about it. She's Jean Gunnhildr. But a Gunnhildr has always served Mondstadt, and now she's far away from home. For Mondstadt, as always. But what if there is no Mondstadt?
Still, he has a point. She's her own person underneath all of her duty and training, she just... Needs to find that part of herself.]
I will. Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-12 06:36 pm (UTC)[He's always busy, but if there's one person he knows who pushes themselves harder than he does it's the woman walking beside him. Just like her, he's going to have to find something to do in this world that isn't just duty and work for the people of Mondstadt.
Diluc doesn't expect that it's going to be easy.]
At least you're free of the winery's tax returns. [He says then with a tiny but soft smile.] I'm sure you can't miss that kind of work.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 09:17 am (UTC)[She returns the smile, posture relaxing ever so slightly. It's unbecoming to slouch, but... She can afford to not be so stiff around him.]
...I already find myself missing the people there, but I'm sure in time this place will become familiar and the people will, too.
[It's just difficult, in this moment, being away from her family and friends. The sudden separation from them will get easier to deal with, she's sure, and some day she'll be back home. She's not sure when, but... She has faith.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-25 07:00 pm (UTC)[It had been a fight to get them out of his hands, but he couldn't deny that Jean had never made a mistake. He looks at her half-curiously as they walk, sensing something in her words that she doesn't say, and he brings a hand up to lightly place it against the back of her shoulder.]
... It's going to be all right, Jean.
[They can't afford to be distant. Not when they're so far from the majority of people they might have counted as allies.]
If you need anything, you can call on me.