[He lets his eyes close and lets himself relax as Venti kisses his forehead. Not all the way, but just enough for some of the tension to leave his shoulders and for a soft exhale to escape him. Just like Venti forgets how young he is, Diluc often forgets just how old Venti is.
Moments like this do a lot to make him remember.
The redhead half-opens his eyes, teal shot through the bright fire of his irises, and he huffs out a soft breath through his nose.]
I don't think you need me to tell you that that's harder than it sounds.
[But he wants to, doesn't he? He wants to trust Kaeya again.
[ Soft affection is so easy with him. He lets a hand settle on Diluc's cheek after he places that kiss on his forehead. The shift in color doesn't go unnoticed. And Venti really likes it because it means something. To him, seeing the effects of a bond on another is just...nice. It's a wordless confession that you matter to someone. ]
You don't.
[ But Diluc's never struck him as the sort who wouldn't at least try, even if something was hard. Especially if he truly wanted it. And there's always an option to not continue if he didn't want to. ]
You know, Diluc...I never would have imagined you in teal, but I really like it.
[ A soft kiss on the cheek to follow, and then he'll settle down. There's small feathers that appear towards the top of venti's braids, almost like tiny wings on top of his head. They're black and red - and different from before. ]
[Diluc huffs out a soft chuckle, and he lifts a hand up to lightly touch the feathers appearing on the sides of Venti's head. They're... different, and he doesn't need to ask to know that it's because of him. He's still not quite sure what he thinks of having such things displayed so openly, but it's always so interesting to see how it shows on different people.
He curls his fingers underneath Venti's chin, tips his head up and presses a soft and entirely chaste kiss to his mouth.
And it doesn't feel awkward at all.
Then he tucks the bard in against his chest, letting out a slow and comfortable sigh.]
[ Venti, who has never been shy about affection, likes these displays. He is especially fond of the small ones, those hints of himself in others - like the teal that appears on Diluc. Especially when it's such a contrast to the red. To him it says that he is a part of him. And for Venti, a god who has always loved humanity (and who became a god because he did), that matters more than anything else. He returns that chaste kiss in the moment without hesitation.
It almost feels like second nature to be so affectionate with his friend. He's grateful for Diluc. He adds a strong balance to Venti's life that he so rarely gets. Diluc is stern because he cares, he thinks. And he never really knew he needed that. And Venti listens because he cares about Diluc's feelings. About the things he says. They're important to him.
So he tucks in because it's nice, because he wants that affection, because it is right to be close to someone you care for. ]
I'm kind of fond of it on me.
[ After all, there's no reason to question sincerity if the colors shine bright. His hand settles on Diluc's chest. ]
It's like -- the magic here agrees with what I've always known - that you're important to me.
[He exhales a soft chuckle over the top of Venti's head as he holds him, curling one hand against the back of his hair and allowing a soft smile to touch his lips. Being important to someone like that, it's... a nice feeling.]
You've said that before. [Diluc muses, having never been in any doubt that Venti cares about him as he would care for anyone he viewed as one of his own. Yet... when he says it, there's that feeling of it being something more than the fondness of an archon for their people.]
I could say that I feel honoured to be so beloved of the anemo archon. [Though from Diluc, who has never been particularly pious, such a thing might ring hollow. He kisses the top of Venti's head.]
But I think... the honour of being so beloved of Venti the bard is far greater.
[ He could feel a flush in his cheeks, stretching all the way to the tips of his ears, which turned pink. It's not that he was embarrassed, not really. He has said it, and he will always say it. It's a sentiment worth repeating for Diluc to hear and be reminded of. Because he thinks it's important for someone to know that they are cared for, and that someone finds them an important part of their lives. ]
Diluc is right. He does care for all of his people, yes - as the Anemo Archon. However, as himself who spends time with his people under the guise of Venti the Bard -- he cared about very specific individuals as more than them being from Mondstadt. Diluc was among those people. He's delighted to hear that Diluc seems to understand the difference. ]
I'm glad.
[ A giggle. He shifts to give Diluc a kiss on the cheek. ]
I'm glad that you understand that. You know, you're pretty comfy. Are you feeling any better?
[He still feels fragile, worn out, but he doesn't feel as weighted down as he did when Venti had first knocked on the door. The kiss to his cheek makes him smile and he moves his hand from the back of Venti's head to cup his cheek, keeping his head tipped up.]
It must be your magic.
[That is mostly a joke.
Diluc strokes his thumb gently across the bard's cheek bone, then presses another soft kiss to his mouth. It's... gentle and still chaste, almost appreciative in nature, and he lets it linger for a moment.]
[ He returns the kiss, as equally chaste but eager all the same. Venti's affectionate by nature, so of course he doesn't pass up the offered kiss. He reaches a hand and rests it on his cheek there, and then he speaks. ]
Well, I do have a bit of healing magic here. I'm still practicing, but I've gotten pretty good at what they have to offer.
[ He smiles brightly at that. He knows Diluc was teasing a little bit, but he still - makes the offer anyway. Because it's nice for him to know. ]
So if you ever need some smaller healing, I can do that, too. But I'd check in on you anytime. Because, you know, that's what I do.
[People don't often get to see the softer sides of Diluc Ragnvindr. It takes a certain kind of person to get him to let all of his guard down, but lying side by side with Venti like this... he has certainly done that.]
I know.
[It's... nice. Just being here like this.]
I think... I should try to get some sleep. But you can stay if you want to.
[ He'll - well, fall asleep himself there. He's comfortable next to Diluc and it's easy here with him. He figured it was polite enough to warn the guy, go. You know, so he doesn't wake up surprised that Venti has opted to stay here while he rested (and inevitably sleep himself). ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-10-04 12:06 am (UTC)Moments like this do a lot to make him remember.
The redhead half-opens his eyes, teal shot through the bright fire of his irises, and he huffs out a soft breath through his nose.]
I don't think you need me to tell you that that's harder than it sounds.
[But he wants to, doesn't he? He wants to trust Kaeya again.
He wants his brother back.]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-06 04:31 am (UTC)You don't.
[ But Diluc's never struck him as the sort who wouldn't at least try, even if something was hard. Especially if he truly wanted it. And there's always an option to not continue if he didn't want to. ]
You know, Diluc...I never would have imagined you in teal, but I really like it.
[ A soft kiss on the cheek to follow, and then he'll settle down. There's small feathers that appear towards the top of venti's braids, almost like tiny wings on top of his head. They're black and red - and different from before. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-10 10:49 pm (UTC)He curls his fingers underneath Venti's chin, tips his head up and presses a soft and entirely chaste kiss to his mouth.
And it doesn't feel awkward at all.
Then he tucks the bard in against his chest, letting out a slow and comfortable sigh.]
And I never would have imagined you in red.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-12 11:46 am (UTC)It almost feels like second nature to be so affectionate with his friend. He's grateful for Diluc. He adds a strong balance to Venti's life that he so rarely gets. Diluc is stern because he cares, he thinks. And he never really knew he needed that. And Venti listens because he cares about Diluc's feelings. About the things he says. They're important to him.
So he tucks in because it's nice, because he wants that affection, because it is right to be close to someone you care for. ]
I'm kind of fond of it on me.
[ After all, there's no reason to question sincerity if the colors shine bright. His hand settles on Diluc's chest. ]
It's like -- the magic here agrees with what I've always known - that you're important to me.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-18 03:22 pm (UTC)You've said that before. [Diluc muses, having never been in any doubt that Venti cares about him as he would care for anyone he viewed as one of his own. Yet... when he says it, there's that feeling of it being something more than the fondness of an archon for their people.]
I could say that I feel honoured to be so beloved of the anemo archon. [Though from Diluc, who has never been particularly pious, such a thing might ring hollow. He kisses the top of Venti's head.]
But I think... the honour of being so beloved of Venti the bard is far greater.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 12:22 am (UTC)Diluc is right. He does care for all of his people, yes - as the Anemo Archon. However, as himself who spends time with his people under the guise of Venti the Bard -- he cared about very specific individuals as more than them being from Mondstadt. Diluc was among those people. He's delighted to hear that Diluc seems to understand the difference. ]
I'm glad.
[ A giggle. He shifts to give Diluc a kiss on the cheek. ]
I'm glad that you understand that. You know, you're pretty comfy. Are you feeling any better?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-23 07:21 pm (UTC)[He still feels fragile, worn out, but he doesn't feel as weighted down as he did when Venti had first knocked on the door. The kiss to his cheek makes him smile and he moves his hand from the back of Venti's head to cup his cheek, keeping his head tipped up.]
It must be your magic.
[That is mostly a joke.
Diluc strokes his thumb gently across the bard's cheek bone, then presses another soft kiss to his mouth. It's... gentle and still chaste, almost appreciative in nature, and he lets it linger for a moment.]
Thank you for checking in on me.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-26 04:56 am (UTC)Well, I do have a bit of healing magic here. I'm still practicing, but I've gotten pretty good at what they have to offer.
[ He smiles brightly at that. He knows Diluc was teasing a little bit, but he still - makes the offer anyway. Because it's nice for him to know. ]
So if you ever need some smaller healing, I can do that, too. But I'd check in on you anytime. Because, you know, that's what I do.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-30 10:43 pm (UTC)I know.
[It's... nice. Just being here like this.]
I think... I should try to get some sleep. But you can stay if you want to.
we're at a fin. <3
Date: 2021-10-31 07:02 am (UTC)Alright. I'll stay. You get some rest.
[ He'll - well, fall asleep himself there. He's comfortable next to Diluc and it's easy here with him. He figured it was polite enough to warn the guy, go. You know, so he doesn't wake up surprised that Venti has opted to stay here while he rested (and inevitably sleep himself). ]