Yes, I particularly liked the Lotus flower crisps. And the gyoza and milk tea. Exquisite flavors. [A well kept secret is his slight sweet tooth. Kaeya hasn’t spilled it because he knows better.
Because he could tell on what Captain Kaeya doesn’t like. He can imagine the look on his face at the return fire. Right now he takes another sip and his smile turns to a pleasant, more real one. He feels a little warm but it’s fine. He still doesn’t notice Albedo as he returns and settles so he can observe the entire room.]
The juice was quite wonderful as well. I’m curious what the lavender melon itself looks like. And how it grows.
[thoma doesn't actually know who albedo is-- he's been given a brief introduction to the man during this gathering, but even as a knight, he was never around when ayato and thoma were discussing plans with jean... and thoma is certain he wasn't around when he still lived in mondstadt. albedo unsettles him a little-- must be that default expression of his.
thoma stretches, and settles in a chair, pulling one up for diluc as well.]
Just about the same size as a sunsettia, but with more of an even shape. Despite the name, it's actually brighter-colored than lavender.
Shame I couldn't bring any with me from Inazuma, but any ingredients I brought wouldn't have survived the trip, except for the rice, so I had to make do with what Mondstadt had. A shame too, the rice cake soup would have been elevated with some of the melon.
So, it grows on trees? [Diluc asks before he thanks Thoma for the chair and settles into it. He crosses one leg over the other. Light sips of the juice make him feel a little more...warm. He merely nods once to show he's paying attention. He oddly considers pulling the tie out of his hair.
He doesn't do it and kicks the need to relax to silence.]
But, that is a shame. However, should these talks go well, and there's no reason to believe they won't. I do intend to continue them and visit should we agree on such a thing. I might be able to sample the soup in all it's glory some day. Was the Mondstadt cuisine and drinks to your liking? The apple cider?
Ah... I missed Mondstadt cuisine. [thoma has to chuckle again. his tone is full of nostalgia, and relief. this brings back a lot of memories, and he missed home. he even visited his mother, spent a while with her.]
I never touched the cider though, I don't drink alcohol at all.
[then he grins sheepishly-- he knows this is practically unheard of for a mondstadter.]
[Diluc’s smiles back at him with a little spark in his red eyes. He seems to relax a little more like a cat letting someone see them but not yet touch.] The cider isn’t alcoholic. I don’t drink either. When I…came back and assumed my place as head of my house, I made a number of non-alcoholic beverages. That was one of them.
[He glances around and finds Jean watching him with a funny expression on her face. Odd. He discounts it as he finds what he’s looking for. He points to a card by the small cask of apple cider.] See the small mark of a Phoenix on the Dawn winery card? That means it’s non-alcoholic.
Sadly I couldn’t make anything with the Valberries in time. But perhaps another day I can treat you to such a thing.
[realization doesn't come quickly to thoma right now, unusual because he tends to pick up on such things quite easily. still, slowly but surely, it does.]
... Oh!
Young Master Diluc... [thoma leans in, and starts using a softer, conspiratorial voice so no one who may be eavesdropping can hear.] Do you not like alcohol either?
[Diluc leans in as well, seemingly not bothered by the closeness. His voice is just as low, in a practiced way.] I don’t. I don’t like how it feels or what it does to my senses. I can’t afford it.
Aha... I understand that. [thoma gives a sage nod. it's so rare to find a kindred spirit, and in the city where everyone drinks so casually. of course he can see the irony of the winemaker's own scion being the one who hates wine... but diluc is still a kindred spirit.]
But also it just... feels terrible even when it's out of your system.
Maybe I'll try your apple cider, give me a moment... [he stands, but is a bit wobbly on his feet, like his body has gone to sleep in the time that he was sitting.]
[Diluc stands up and offers his arm. He is wobbling a bit on his own feet. But he braces himself with the training of a knight ready to withstand a charge.]
Yes, it does. Hangovers are awful. I don’t understand why anyone inflicts it on themselves.
[He tsks as he glances around once, locating the apple cider. He could pour it for Thoma.]
Ah... Young Master Diluc is too kind. [usually he would protest, but he takes up the offered arm the way one would a lover, and already some one comes towards them. one of the shuumatsuban in plainclothes, pretending to be one of ayato's aids rather than a ninja.
sir, perhaps you two should take this elsewhere. and thoma, unused to being addressed as sir, but accepting this is the treatment he's getting from shinobi, nods and blinks.]
[His head feels funny. He recognizes something is off.] ...Taking this somewhere else would be a good idea.
[He draws himself up and shoves aside his worries. Diluc is replaced with Lord Ragvindr. He gestures with one hand to a knight on watch.] Inform the Acting Grand Master I'm escorting one of the dignitaries to a sitting room. Inform Elzer, he speaks for the Winery while I'm not present.
[The knight has to stop themselves from saluting as Diluc gently draws Thoma away towards the back of the building.] Let's go get some fresh air. I know which room has the best breeze. I'll introduce you to the cider later.
[Out of sight, he doesn't notice the concerned looks tossed at his back.]
Oh, you're too kind, Young Master Diluc. [still cheerful, still calling diluc the wrong title. even after people call him master and lord, thoma still knows him as the bright-eyed, eager little boy who was going to go places.
he manages to carry himself enough that he's not stumbling around like a fool, though he really does need diluc's help for navigation, when the building is wholly unfamiliar to him.
thoma also tries to help diluc best as he can, throwing an arm around the shorter man's waist.]
If there's anything I can help you with though, don't hesitate to ask.
[Diluc focuses on getting them to the sitting room. The halls are quiet. Everyone is at the party. He hears a knight at the door to where the party is being held and a smooth voice answer.
Kaeya. The party will be fine. Kaeya has too many threads around his fingers to allow it to fail. Back to business. He finds the door and fumbles with it.] Lean on me.
[He is used to doing things himself. He is the lord who is ahead of all the people. Riding forward. Fighting groups of foes. He takes a moment to pull open the door.]
Oh, don't worry about me. My legs are still working perfectly! [thoma's speech is a little more drawling than usual because of how much he's drunk, but he can still indeed walk as he claims.
he's cheerful as they go along, even if he does momentarily squint at the person at the door, the voice is slightly familiar but he can't put a finger on it yet, before he turns his attention back onto diluc, squeezing the man by the waist. wow, his body is pretty hard, and that's definitely not all muscle. in fact, he feels more like a board.]
You're pretty stiff, Young Master Diluc. It's like you haven't relaxed in a long time!
Perhaps I could help out with that. I bet you work as hard as the commissioner-- he often looks to me for some relaxation when he has a moment to himself. [in more ways than one.]
[The remark catches Diluc off guard. He looks at him in surprise. He misses Kaeya leaning out of the door to stare at both of them before he resumes his conversation with the knight on door duty.
Diluc's addled mind says the first thing that comes to mind.] I don't relax. I've never relaxed even when I was heir.
[Well, the later was half true. Kaeya kept dragging him off to things. The fact of the matter is he doesn't relax. He barely has downtime as it is.]
Speaking from expi-- experience, people who under a lot of pressure all the time break easily when something hits them hard enough. [maybe thoma fumbled the delivery and his metaphor there, but surely his meaning wasn't lost in translation.
he leans less on diluc as they shuffle into the sitting room, then takes the man by the elbow to guide him to the plush sofa.]
You should sit, I'll go see if they have some tea and water here. You'd benefit from that!
So would you. [Diluc says but his mind is working. Thoma isn’t the first to say it. Kaeya keeps telling him the same thing. Grand Master Varka said it in his own way.
He could explain away their concern. But Thoma hasn’t seen him since he was younger. He sits on the sofa.] If you ask the knight they can point you to what you need. Jean and Kaeya are making sure guests are well tended to.
[thoma chuckles, just before he peeks out of the door again and has a very cordial conversation with a passing knight, full of smiles, chuckles and even a bit of reminiscing, because indeed, thoma remembers them too. he has always been a friendly guy, inazuma can't take that away from him. eventually, he manages to get the knight to ferry him some tea leaves and a pot of hot water, and thoma is humming an inazuman song under his breath as he makes his way back to diluc.
he sets the tray down, and pours diluc a cup, steeping the tea. even in his half-drunken state, his body still knows the motions, and he still remembers how to pour a mondstadt cup, from when the master asked him to make something not from inazuma.]
Milk. [He has given up on correcting Thoma. And he's too foggy-minded to say why he tried at all. His father...
Diluc works his coat off and folds it, laying it at his side. It's too warm in this room. Or maybe it's just him. He hadn't relaxed in years. He won't after this day if he has anything to say about it.
It's easy to survive as a lone man. He rolls his shoulders and settles in like a bartender about to mix a drink.] What about you?
Ahah... I don't put anything into my tea anymore. [a soft chuckle.] No one does that in Inazuma for their teas. But since this is Mondstadt tea...
I usually drink with just a bit of milk.
[but first! thoma adds milk to diluc's cup and offers it up to him, hand still around the little cup of milk that he'll be adding to his tea soon. he really didn't think diluc was going to pour him anything, he just thought the man was making conversation.]
[Diluc looks at their cups. He reaches out to gently take the cup of milk. It feels like electricity runs through him when their hands brush. He almost pulls away.
But determined he takes the cup and moves like a bartender. He remembers however vaguely how much milk to add to thoma’s tea.
He sets the cup down and watches him like an owl perched in a tree. As if he were to take flight at any time.
He takes a spoon and gently stirs his own tea and offers another spoon to Thoma.]
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Because he could tell on what Captain Kaeya doesn’t like. He can imagine the look on his face at the return fire. Right now he takes another sip and his smile turns to a pleasant, more real one. He feels a little warm but it’s fine. He still doesn’t notice Albedo as he returns and settles so he can observe the entire room.]
The juice was quite wonderful as well. I’m curious what the lavender melon itself looks like. And how it grows.
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thoma stretches, and settles in a chair, pulling one up for diluc as well.]
Just about the same size as a sunsettia, but with more of an even shape. Despite the name, it's actually brighter-colored than lavender.
Shame I couldn't bring any with me from Inazuma, but any ingredients I brought wouldn't have survived the trip, except for the rice, so I had to make do with what Mondstadt had. A shame too, the rice cake soup would have been elevated with some of the melon.
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He doesn't do it and kicks the need to relax to silence.]
But, that is a shame. However, should these talks go well, and there's no reason to believe they won't. I do intend to continue them and visit should we agree on such a thing. I might be able to sample the soup in all it's glory some day. Was the Mondstadt cuisine and drinks to your liking? The apple cider?
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I never touched the cider though, I don't drink alcohol at all.
[then he grins sheepishly-- he knows this is practically unheard of for a mondstadter.]
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[He glances around and finds Jean watching him with a funny expression on her face. Odd. He discounts it as he finds what he’s looking for. He points to a card by the small cask of apple cider.] See the small mark of a Phoenix on the Dawn winery card? That means it’s non-alcoholic.
Sadly I couldn’t make anything with the Valberries in time. But perhaps another day I can treat you to such a thing.
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... Oh!
Young Master Diluc... [thoma leans in, and starts using a softer, conspiratorial voice so no one who may be eavesdropping can hear.] Do you not like alcohol either?
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There is too much work that needs doing.
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But also it just... feels terrible even when it's out of your system.
Maybe I'll try your apple cider, give me a moment... [he stands, but is a bit wobbly on his feet, like his body has gone to sleep in the time that he was sitting.]
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Yes, it does. Hangovers are awful. I don’t understand why anyone inflicts it on themselves.
[He tsks as he glances around once, locating the apple cider. He could pour it for Thoma.]
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sir, perhaps you two should take this elsewhere. and thoma, unused to being addressed as sir, but accepting this is the treatment he's getting from shinobi, nods and blinks.]
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[He draws himself up and shoves aside his worries. Diluc is replaced with Lord Ragvindr. He gestures with one hand to a knight on watch.] Inform the Acting Grand Master I'm escorting one of the dignitaries to a sitting room. Inform Elzer, he speaks for the Winery while I'm not present.
[The knight has to stop themselves from saluting as Diluc gently draws Thoma away towards the back of the building.] Let's go get some fresh air. I know which room has the best breeze. I'll introduce you to the cider later.
[Out of sight, he doesn't notice the concerned looks tossed at his back.]
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he manages to carry himself enough that he's not stumbling around like a fool, though he really does need diluc's help for navigation, when the building is wholly unfamiliar to him.
thoma also tries to help diluc best as he can, throwing an arm around the shorter man's waist.]
If there's anything I can help you with though, don't hesitate to ask.
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Kaeya. The party will be fine. Kaeya has too many threads around his fingers to allow it to fail. Back to business. He finds the door and fumbles with it.] Lean on me.
[He is used to doing things himself. He is the lord who is ahead of all the people. Riding forward. Fighting groups of foes. He takes a moment to pull open the door.]
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he's cheerful as they go along, even if he does momentarily squint at the person at the door, the voice is slightly familiar but he can't put a finger on it yet, before he turns his attention back onto diluc, squeezing the man by the waist. wow, his body is pretty hard, and that's definitely not all muscle. in fact, he feels more like a board.]
You're pretty stiff, Young Master Diluc. It's like you haven't relaxed in a long time!
Perhaps I could help out with that. I bet you work as hard as the commissioner-- he often looks to me for some relaxation when he has a moment to himself. [in more ways than one.]
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Diluc's addled mind says the first thing that comes to mind.] I don't relax. I've never relaxed even when I was heir.
[Well, the later was half true. Kaeya kept dragging him off to things. The fact of the matter is he doesn't relax. He barely has downtime as it is.]
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Speaking from expi-- experience, people who under a lot of pressure all the time break easily when something hits them hard enough. [maybe thoma fumbled the delivery and his metaphor there, but surely his meaning wasn't lost in translation.
he leans less on diluc as they shuffle into the sitting room, then takes the man by the elbow to guide him to the plush sofa.]
You should sit, I'll go see if they have some tea and water here. You'd benefit from that!
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He could explain away their concern. But Thoma hasn’t seen him since he was younger. He sits on the sofa.] If you ask the knight they can point you to what you need. Jean and Kaeya are making sure guests are well tended to.
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he sets the tray down, and pours diluc a cup, steeping the tea. even in his half-drunken state, his body still knows the motions, and he still remembers how to pour a mondstadt cup, from when the master asked him to make something not from inazuma.]
Do you prefer sugar or milk, Young Master?
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Diluc works his coat off and folds it, laying it at his side. It's too warm in this room. Or maybe it's just him. He hadn't relaxed in years. He won't after this day if he has anything to say about it.
It's easy to survive as a lone man. He rolls his shoulders and settles in like a bartender about to mix a drink.] What about you?
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I usually drink with just a bit of milk.
[but first! thoma adds milk to diluc's cup and offers it up to him, hand still around the little cup of milk that he'll be adding to his tea soon. he really didn't think diluc was going to pour him anything, he just thought the man was making conversation.]
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But determined he takes the cup and moves like a bartender. He remembers however vaguely how much milk to add to thoma’s tea.
He sets the cup down and watches him like an owl perched in a tree. As if he were to take flight at any time.
He takes a spoon and gently stirs his own tea and offers another spoon to Thoma.]
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diluc is warm-- perhaps even moreso than thoma, even if they both carry pyro visions. that's a sign of diluc's power, isn't it?]
And you're quite warm, as well. How dreamy!
[thoma takes up his cup after a quick stir, and sips slowly.]