[ it takes a moment before he responds, as the feelings of paranoia bubble up in ways that are a little more difficult to understand, compared to everything else. especially the longer he breathes in this new incense.
but when he does respond, he keeps it simple, short, ]
They're not.
[ it's not the most helpful. unfortunately. but it's the safest answer. ]
[kaeya's city—thus far, anyway—remains incense-free; he's forced to rely upon his sources— to judge the severity of the incense's effects upon diluc's city based on secondhand accounts, hence the relative quickness of his response.]
[the honest answer, of course, is simple: yes. yes, of course he was concerned; yes, of course he remains concerned, despite both diluc's answer (irritated. he says, and kaeya thinks, of course) and kaeya's oh-so light tone as he asks:]
Should I be?
[he is? he has been? but also, in this roundabout way: how are things?]
[ he sighs softly, another hint of annoyance in his tone. it's too early to say, and honestly, even if he was honest, who knew what Kaeya would do with that information?
diluc knew that he couldn't trust kaeya, after all. and that annoyed him too, on top of this weird situation. ]
[before you get any ideas, diluc says, as though kaeya hasn't had—hasn't acted upon—any ideas until now. lord. it's irritating, on some level? the ease with which diluc brushes him aside, pretending as though this is nothing. kaeya isn't a child...]
And if I've already left?
[if he's, you know. already on the move—because of course he is.]
[on the one hand, it sucks to be predictable; on the other, however—well! well. it isn't as though kaeya was going to turn a blind eye (ha) to the mess in diluc's city, so:]
I know enough to know you're unaffected, [he replies, deceptively easily.] For now.
[hmm! that is the simple truth; the slightly more difficult truth, as kaeya continues forward:]
And we both know enough to know that you shouldn't hide anything, Diluc. Not from me.
[because he will find out! because it's in diluc's best interest to be honest with—to trust—this particular person, no matter how difficult.]
[ was he unaffected? that last statement, it felt like a threat, even though he knows it's not meant to be. it's not his usual style of threats. it's too direct.
and that is the only thing that keeps him from overreacting. is reminding himself over and over again, he knows what kaeya's like now. this is not his idea of a threat. it's not.
it's not. ]
For now.
[ he repeats with a soft exhale. ]
... This wasn't an attempt to hide anything from you. Are you really coming here?
[there wasn't an attempt to hide anything? truly? kaeya can't help but to laugh, a quiet, breathy thing—though perhaps diluc is telling the truth, in some roundabout way. he certainly sounds fine.
(and it isn't as though kaeya has any right to barge into his life, even though kaeya is currently making his way through the jungle to do just that.)]
And if I am? [hmm!] Don't worry—I wouldn't think to impose upon your hospitality.
[as long as the tavern-slash-inn he'd last patronized is still up and running, that is. he's prepared to pay his own way, as long as the hospitality industry (tm) is still up and running.]
[ there's an annoyed groan, despite his best attempts to remain silent. why is he doing this? if he really knew...
and yet, the other part of his brain, the one high on all of the incense he's been subjected to, on high alert because of his living situation anyway, is incessantly reminding him that he should be concerned. he almost considers not responding.
but he can't help himself. ]
Fine. I-- don't think it would be good for us to meet.
[ softer than what he wanted to say, but, a good enough warning. ]
[as if that isn't practically begging kaeya to hunt him down? especially given that strangely soft tone, which—well. there is silence, for a second; proof that kaeya does, in fact, recognize that diluc is being serious, even as he makes finding diluc his top priority.]
Oh? Such a shame. And here I was, hoping for a touching reunion...
[haha. a chuckle, every bit as soft as diluc's statement—before kaeya adds, almost as an afterthought (though of course it isn't):]
[ it's a nice way to side step the second question, even as his instincts want to give a full and honest answer. wanted to bare out every doubt and residual hurt he still felt from that night so many years ago.
that's the true annoyance of the incense. the paranoia is one thing, he's lived that. this, this is different. ]
You know about the paranoia the incense inspires. Is it really worth it to aggravate me over this?
[on the one hand, of course kaeya knows to trust diluc? there is, after all, little that diluc can't handle; he is, without a doubt, as tough and as capable as they come. one on the other hand, however—well! well. diluc warns him away—i mean it, kaeya—and kaeya thinks of the many, many problems diluc could find himself in, were kaeya to leave him to his own devices. warning him to stay away is as much as invitation as anything, hence kaeya's hum.]
We'll see.
[or, more accurately: i'll see you, though kaeya manages, as always, to keep his voice perfectly calm, perfectly steady. sir!]
Soon.
[bye, diluc!! he isn't likely to answer anything from here on out—but he is likely to run into a familiar someone, so. pros, cons.]
[ don't say soon! don't say soon? he knows what that means. it's not a mystery when put that way! And he closes his hand around the medallion. he has bigger problems to worry about than having to confess his every inner thought, which he's managed to avoid by the skin of his teeth now.
but... he can't imagine kaeya's going to enjoy it any more than he does. and if they do meet... well.
he doesn't know if he wants another honest conversation from kaeya. or if he wants to sit with the guilt and anger over what happened last time any more than necessary either.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voice; near the beginning of dec
I hear there's trouble in your city, [he begins, as easily as anything.] Are my sources mistaken?
[not that he's keeping up on diluc's anything, but! you know!! maybe he is.]
no subject
but when he does respond, he keeps it simple, short, ]
They're not.
[ it's not the most helpful. unfortunately. but it's the safest answer. ]
no subject
I see. [hmmMMM!] And you are—?
[fill in the blank!]
no subject
[ he wanted to downplay it, but that was the only word that could come to mind. like everything else had fled from his mind.
his response is still clipped, though. ]
Why? Are you concerned?
no subject
Should I be?
[he is? he has been? but also, in this roundabout way: how are things?]
no subject
"think so."] know.[ he sighs softly, another hint of annoyance in his tone. it's too early to say, and honestly, even if he was honest, who knew what Kaeya would do with that information?
diluc knew that he couldn't trust kaeya, after all. and that annoyed him too, on top of this weird situation. ]
Stay where you are, before you get any ideas.
no subject
And if I've already left?
[if he's, you know. already on the move—because of course he is.]
no subject
... I don't know why I expected different.
How much do you already know, and how much was testing to see what I'd tell you?
no subject
I know enough to know you're unaffected, [he replies, deceptively easily.] For now.
[hmm! that is the simple truth; the slightly more difficult truth, as kaeya continues forward:]
And we both know enough to know that you shouldn't hide anything, Diluc. Not from me.
[because he will find out! because it's in diluc's best interest to be honest with—to trust—this particular person, no matter how difficult.]
no subject
and that is the only thing that keeps him from overreacting. is reminding himself over and over again, he knows what kaeya's like now. this is not his idea of a threat. it's not.
it's not. ]
For now.
[ he repeats with a soft exhale. ]
... This wasn't an attempt to hide anything from you. Are you really coming here?
no subject
(and it isn't as though kaeya has any right to barge into his life, even though kaeya is currently making his way through the jungle to do just that.)]
And if I am? [hmm!] Don't worry—I wouldn't think to impose upon your hospitality.
[as long as the tavern-slash-inn he'd last patronized is still up and running, that is. he's prepared to pay his own way, as long as the hospitality industry (tm) is still up and running.]
no subject
and yet, the other part of his brain, the one high on all of the incense he's been subjected to, on high alert because of his living situation anyway, is incessantly reminding him that he should be concerned. he almost considers not responding.
but he can't help himself. ]
Fine. I-- don't think it would be good for us to meet.
[ softer than what he wanted to say, but, a good enough warning. ]
no subject
Oh? Such a shame. And here I was, hoping for a touching reunion...
[haha. a chuckle, every bit as soft as diluc's statement—before kaeya adds, almost as an afterthought (though of course it isn't):]
Would you tell me if you were anything but well?
[would you trust him?]
no subject
[ it's a nice way to side step the second question, even as his instincts want to give a full and honest answer. wanted to bare out every doubt and residual hurt he still felt from that night so many years ago.
that's the true annoyance of the incense. the paranoia is one thing, he's lived that. this, this is different. ]
You know about the paranoia the incense inspires. Is it really worth it to aggravate me over this?
no subject
We'll see.
[or, more accurately: i'll see you, though kaeya manages, as always, to keep his voice perfectly calm, perfectly steady. sir!]
Soon.
[bye, diluc!! he isn't likely to answer anything from here on out—but he is likely to run into a familiar someone, so. pros, cons.]
no subject
[ don't say soon! don't say soon? he knows what that means. it's not a mystery when put that way! And he closes his hand around the medallion. he has bigger problems to worry about than having to confess his every inner thought, which he's managed to avoid by the skin of his teeth now.
but... he can't imagine kaeya's going to enjoy it any more than he does. and if they do meet... well.
he doesn't know if he wants another honest conversation from kaeya. or if he wants to sit with the guilt and anger over what happened last time any more than necessary either.
but when Kaeya doesn't respond, he sighs.
and puts the medallion away. we'll see. ]