folkmeme | leap night tfln

[Ah. Well. Well, he did move to give himself a fresh start. Diluc’s at Venti’s. Anywhere is a bit of a flight.]

I’ll be there soon. Brace yourself.

[What comes towards the house is a massive shadowy looking dragon with feathered wings. The frame is Dvalin. The dragon is smaller than the guardian of the wind, but it is still huge.

Dark blue scales edged in pale blue match feathers that reflect the night sky filled with stars. Bits of armor cover the vulnerable joints and edges of wings. The dragon sails silently closer and sweeps up, reshaping into Kaeya himself once he’s over a good spot to drop down.

But Kaeya himself has changed. He is a perfect blend of wolf and man, large wolf ears and long fluffy tail to match his hair in color. He drops down and his ears slide forward then back.]

Like I said, think bigger.

[ Diluc recognizes the shape immediately and it isn’t until the dragon gets closer that he realizes it isn’t, in fact, Dvalin at all, but Kaeya. Just as quickly as he recognizes Dvalin’s form, he recognizes the coloring of Kaeya’s hair on the dragon’s hide and feathers, and he just knows. It’s instinctive; he would know Kaeya anywhere, in any form, in any life. Not that he would admit it.

Diluc’s eyes shimmer a vibrant red-orange as he takes in the sight of the dragon approaching, awed in spite of himself. When the massive beast swiftly transforms into Kaeya, Diluc lowers his hand shading his eyes from the sun and he grumbles a quiet, “Show-off…” before the changes in Kaeya’s appearance takes him off guard. ]

What… are these?

[ Yes, he had heard of it. But somehow, seeing it in person is so much different an experience from hearing about it and before it really registers just how uncouth such an act would be, Diluc is reaching out with bare hands to catch one of those ears, red-orange hue in his eyes turning to an alarmed bright yellow. ]

This is your wolf form showing?

[ His thumb rubs the velvety inside of the lupine ear while his fingertips stroke the midnight blue fur on the outside. They’re… real. Really real. Kaeya really has wolf ears. He’s touching them and he still can’t believe it. ]

[Whatever he was going to say goes entirely out of his head. He opens his mouth and closes it without saying anything. His tail swishes behind him while his mind tries to catch up with events.

It registers Diluc is touching his ear. Petting it even.] No. This is my being a familiar showing.

[Absolutely nailed it. His other ear twitches, the crystal feather earring in it jangling. He isn’t wearing his Mondstadt clothes. A long dark coat, white shirt open a few buttons. Sure. But the cloak is missing.] Be careful with that.

[ Diluc doesn’t stop even when he’s clearly caught Kaeya by surprise with his actions, still not quite able to reconcile the man he knows with the fact that said man now has animal ears that are definitely affected by actions taken against them. He continues to trace the shape of the ear and feel the plushness of the dark fur, the yellow of his eyes beginning to warm back to the fascinated red-orange of a moment ago. Soft… ]

They just… stay like that? Always?

[His mind catches back up at last. Diluc is asking questions. He should answer. A bit at least. His tail thumps against the floor.]

Yes. I’ve never been able to put them away. Some can. [To his horror his tail betrays him and starts to wag. The ear rubs are nice.]

[ The thump of the tail is ultimately what breaks Diluc’s sudden fascination with Kaeya’s ears and he takes his hand away finally, glancing behind the other man to watch his tail wag from side to side. He… laughs. It’s a short, quiet little laugh, but given Diluc doesn’t so much ans smile all that often these days, the sound even surprises him. He clears his throat in embarrassment and looks away from Kaeya’s tail, crossing his arms awkwardly over his chest. ]

I don’t have anything like that.

[He coughs politely, ears straightening back up. His tail wags harder. A laugh from Diluc is a good thing. He reaches back and stops it.]

For now. Your traits might manifest in time or in special circumstances…it’s all individual.

[He puts his hands on his hips, one ear swiveling to catch the sounds around them. Nothing but the usual sounds.] So, show me where you found the glitter.

Hmph.

[ …is Diluc’s response to that while he pretends not to see Kaeya’s tail wagging harder suddenly, or the man’s firm grab in order to stop it. The only thing he’s noticed that’s different about himself is his eyes changing colors, but considering he can’t really track how the color changes, he hasn’t figured out how it works himself yet. No animal features yet though. Honestly, the prospect of growing them suddenly is unnerving. ]

In the kitchen.

[ He turns on his heel to lead Kaeya there. ]

[Kaeya follows in Diluc’s wake and lets himself feel a little bit of grief. Diluc doesn’t remember. Just like last time.

Forward they go. The shifts in eye color are different this time. He will have to learn the system again. Once they reach the kitchen he becomes a wolf. He is bigger than a normal wolf. And not a trace of white on him. His paws are black edging up into the dark blue of his hair. He looks up at Diluc and the eyepatch is still on. But the fur around it hints at the hidden damage.

He hums, sniffing the air. Then his speaks. His voice is a same as ever.] Trials can be more mundane or dangerous and grueling.
There is a variance but, they all run along that line. The fox supposedly is testing out potential.

[His lip curls to expose sharp teeth. He isn’t convinced of the pitch. Not at all.]

[ Diluc isn’t really sure what he was expecting but he wasn’t expecting Kaeya to shape-shift into a wolf right there in Venti’s kitchen. He was a bit busy quietly and — hopefully, at least — discreetly admiring how sleek and sophisticated Kaeya looks in this new, strangely low-profile outfit of his, so when suddenly the younger man becomes an overgrown wolf, he’s left reeling from the swift change. ]

That… is going to take some getting used to…

[ He remarks gruffly, swallowing thickly and resisting the impulse this time to touch. Keeping his hands to himself shouldn’t be so hard, but he assumes it’s the strangeness of the entire situation. His mind can’t really believe what he’s seeing and so he seeks tactile confirmation that it’s real.

He does notice that there isn’t a trace of white in the wolf’s pelt. It takes him longer to respond when he sees that Kaeya has retained his eyepatch in this form and he spots the telltale signs of scarring beneath it in a way that isn’t noticeable usually. A wolf’s skin heals differently from a human’s because of the fur covering the body and Kaeya’s eyepatch is designed to hide a human’s scar, not a wolf’s.

It makes Diluc feel a deep, painful spasm of guilt and sorrow in his heart, and his naturally crimson eyes shimmer to a dark blue-violet. ]

You don’t think that is what this is all about either.

[ He looks away from Kaeya, but his eyes remain blue, straying into stormy territory. ]

Define “dangerous”.

[The shift in eye color as well as the sudden lack of looking at him is enough to tell him a story. He leans his weight against him, rubbing the side of his face against Diluc’s leg. No words are needed. But D might not realize why he’s suddenly pretty shameless in offering a little comfort.

He whines, wagging his tail. No shame? Perfect distraction.] You’re right. I don’t think that is what their aim is. I think they’re following their whims.

[ It doesn’t register with Diluc that the wolf’s weight against his leg is meant as a comforting gesture— until he starts to whine. Then Diluc’s years of experience with canids kicks in and he reflexively puts his hand out to rub the back of the wolf’s neck and one of his ears to calm the animal, the act almost absent-minded. His stormy blue gaze is focused on the wine cabinet still. Inside it are a few bottles of lower quality than the ones taken and as described, a white tuft of fur tangled in one hinge.

His hand stills out of embarrassment in the thick winter coat of the wolf when he remembers it’s not some giant dog he’s petting here, but Kaeya. ]

…Well, of course they are, but the question is what drives those whims. Is it for their own amusement or for some other purpose? If we can figure out why they do what they do, we can formulate a plan to escape.

[He could whine again. But Diluc won’t fall for that act twice. He steps away from him, following his gaze. His claws click on the floor as he walks over and breathes in.

His ears go back. He walks closer, taking in the map of scents. He needs to be smaller but with a nose just as good. He sighs and collapses into a dark blue fox. In place of white fur like other foxes his underside is pale blue. He shakes himself once and ducks into the lower space.]

That is a bit of a chore. The fox separates themselves into different aspects. So far, the investigation is long and winding.

[Same voice just a smaller body. He stuffs his nose up against the fur.]

This fur doesn’t belong to anything I know. Local or star child. Could be spirit.

Edited 2024-03-04 23:54 (UTC)

[ Diluc’s hand draws back quick when Kaeya changes form again, startled. He recovers quicker this time from being stunned, but the speed at which Kaeya does this and how simple it seems for him is a little mind-blowing. Diluc has never met any of Liyue’s adepti, let alone witnessed them changing forms, but he imagines that Kaeya’s skill in shape-shifting rivals them. ]

I have no doubt that it is, but I would hope it still is not one that you’ve entirely abandoned.

[ He puts his hands on his hips as he watches the fox investigate, trying not to get angry at the mere hint of what sounds to him like resignation. Of course he won’t be admitting it, but the Kaeya he knows wouldn’t say something like that and it stings to hear. What if he’d never been brought here? Kaeya would just be fine with never again seeing him or Klee or anybody else from their home? ]

Which is? And you didn’t answer me before either.

[His ears go back. There is a faint sting in his chest. Diluc assuming something. That's familiar ground. He works the fur out of the hinge and trots out. He lets it drop from his mouth and catches it with his hand as he returns to normal.

He turns it in his fingers. Instead of making a remark like he would in the past he looks at him.] It's hard to put it into words. Take them seriously, Diluc. No matter how things seem, if a trial is a fight. Treat it like a fight for your life.

It usually is. But things that you don't wish to talk about. The things you lost. What you may have gained. It's like being a book and they keep showing us passages from our stories. Reminding us of things.

No, I haven't let go of the investigation. And I won't. But, you have a lot to catch up on about this place. They fact Venti got snatched speaks about the power of the Fox. Doesn't it?

[He waves the bit of fur at him. He knows who Venti is.]

[ In normal circumstances, Diluc would be questioning how Kaeya knows about Venti. But the fact that he doesn’t and that the gray-blue of his eyes shifts to a pale chartreuse is enough to prove that what he finds what Kaeya says about these trials the Fox puts them through highly disturbing. “…things that you don’t wish to talk about.”

There’s too many of those topics to choose from for Diluc. He can feel his anxiety spiking just thinking about his worst moments out on display for anyone to see. He swallows thickly, his throat suddenly going dry. ]

We have to keep trying. Mondstadt needs you back.

I never stopped trying. [There's a quiet air about him as he watches him. This is going alright in some ways. In others, it makes him miss what he doesn't have.]

...it's not all terrible. We get dropped back into our own time from where we left it. I'm working as fast as the case lets me go. But, I could use assistance, if you'll give it.

[He offers him the fur.] If we're done here for now. I can show you where I'm staying.

[ Diluc takes a deep breath. ]

That could change. We have no way of knowing for certain that will always be the case. So, yes, I will help. To protect who is here and to return home.

[ He crosses his arms, unaware of the anxiety still showing in his eye colors. His voice is quiet when he speaks again, his hesitation showing when it comes to visiting Kaeya’s living while here. He’s seriously considering saying no. It might be best to keep their interactions strictly professional, but… the way Kaeya talks about this place… it sounds like he has been here a long time and that fills Diluc with dread and concern. Kaeya won’t talk about what he’s been through, he knows that already. But even with the years and emotional distance between them, Diluc still knows how to suss out something wrong with Kaeya. The fact that they’ve been together already for almost a full twenty minutes without Kaeya sassing him means something is wrong. ]

I suppose it would be wise to know. Fine.

Now, I know it’s hard but trust me a little. [It’s a little sass and a smile as he walks back out to where he landed the first time. The wind tugs at him and he closes his eye.

Big owl? Dragon? Hawk? He considers it then climbs the railing and leaps off. He transforms into the large dragon in the air and beats his wings hard to stay just at the edge.]

Climb on. We have a flight ahead of us.

[ Diluc senses it about to happen before it does, but somehow he’s still not quick enough to stop Kaeya, only managing to get the W sound out of “wait” when the other man is again a smaller, darker version of Dvalin. Ugh… He really didn’t want Kaeya to go to these lengths… It’s a little embarrassing… ]

Can we not simply… walk?

[His wings beat the air. He laughs. His voice is deeper as a dragon but still him.] We could. We could go down to the station and take a balloon up. But we still have to go into the sky.

I live rather high up. [It’s a little funny. It isn’t quite so funny when one knows why. But he isn’t talking about why.] …I can offer you a way to be a dragon too. Would that be better?

[ This makes Diluc frown and he shakes his head quickly at the suggestion. ]

No— nevermind.

[ The idea of being something other than himself is, honestly, a little frightening. He doesn’t mind walking, but Kaeya laughing does make him feel as though he’s making a big deal out of something rather inconsequential. He sighs. ]

All right, all right… I’ll get on.

[He angles himself for the best position to get on. He idly reflects he could have made himself smaller but. What’s done is done.] Climb on.

Don’t worry I’m quite experienced. [He grins. It’s a lot of sharp teeth. Now this is cheering him up. The armor that protects vulnerable points is also good to help one climb on. There is armor at the backs of his shoulders and near his head. He flaps his wings and hums.]

Whenever you’re ready, D.

[ Diluc approaches the dragon and not unlike how he’s climbed up on the actual Dvalin in the past, he hops up on the massive beast’s leg. The armor comes in useful in helping himself up and he’s comfortable around Kaeya’s neck in no time. He’s ridden on Dvalin’s back enough times by now that this isn’t challenging; it’s just strange to know the dragon is Kaeya. He’s not even sure how to feel about the fact that Kaeya apparently does this regularly.

He’s about to go back to sulking when it happens: Kaeya uses his old nickname from their childhood rather than Diluc or the more formal Master Diluc. His brows stitch together. Aside from their letters to one another, it’s been years since Kaeya has called him that…

Strange. ]

Ready.

[He doesn’t notice his slip. He looks up at the wide open sky and launches himself into it. He climbs higher and higher until he’s over the forests and fields of Lapine. He catches an updraft and glides past the markets far below. Venti’s home drops away as he takes them over a wide stretch of desert. Pale threads of icy blue light curl out of his mouth and spiral over his limbs, controlling the temperature so the merciless desert won’t scorch them both.] One of the trials dumped us in Cruel Summer here and told us to survive.

[He rumbles as they approach an foreboding looking forest and climb upwards, towards a floating isle up above it.]

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