#aalberich

[decoysouled]

unprompted asks // accepting. @aalberich // ❝ what do you say we grab us a real drink? ❞ [ for kaveh! ]

& IT'S A SURPRISE TO BE ASKED THAT — while the time he had spent speaking with Kaeya had been filled with a remarkably relaxing flow of conversation, it was unusual for others to consider spending even more time with him outside of his small group of friends. He knows why, at the very least: it is his stiffness, the falsity of his calm façade that is easy to pick out from the crowd. Few know of his argumentative nature, even fewer having been on the receiving end of his annoyance, but it seems he must have made quite the impression to be asked that question.

( or perhaps it is his own apprehension that leads to such thoughts, for surely no one would wish to spend time with someone who bottles up his feelings for the good of others. )

❝Now that,❞ Kaveh says, lips curled into a small smile, ❝would depend on what you call a real drink, wouldn't it?❞ & yet, he cannot find it within himself to truly decline, as if he seeks companionship from someone who is not quite as familiar as the friends he has fallen into a routine with. Besides, maybe Alhaitham wouldn't bother him if he stayed a little late with someone else, rather than following the usual routine in which he drags Kaveh home for whatever reason he so chooses.

( he could avoid the scolding that comes with drinking himself into oblivion, too, he hopes. )

❝If you're talking about a night out at the tavern, I'd be happy to join you, Kaeya.❞ He finds there is no point in pretending otherwise — he would make quite the interesting friend, after all, & it isn't as if they would have many more chances to get out & go drinking in the future. ❝After all, someone should show you all Sumeru has to offer before you head home.❞

#002. ❝transmissions: down with the fallen.❞ — answered #& fandom — genshin impact #124. ❝build it up in a technicolour dream.❞ — kaveh #125. ❝we weren’t just born to fade.❞ — V1 ( main ) #aalberich

[delusionaid]

@aalberich​​ sent: ❛  that’s  right ,  it’s  not  fair .  ❜

[ for dain !   bratty prince kaeya, having just thrown a shit-fit over being forced to go to yet another gala, the sole purpose of which was to introduce him to potential wives to further strengthen his father's kingdom's position ... a shit-fit that poor dain unfortunately had to witness ( and perhaps attempt to awkwardly console a young man who's dead-set on being inconsolable. )   justifiably-bratty prince kaeya, who is now sitting on the edge of his bed looking utterly lost and heartbroken, still dressed in his finest court attire, circlet falling off his head but he doesn't even seem to care.   his good eye is red from crying and kohl is streaming down his face; his head is in his hands, and he's angry-sobbing because he's so unhappy at his lot in life.   all he wants is to love and be loved in return ... ]

It pains him to see his prince so grief-stricken, black colored tears running down his face and staining his skin. Dainsleif remained silent while Kaeya vented his frustration and shifting rapidly from angry to sad, sensing that what he needed more than words of wisdom was a sympathetic ear. It isn’t his place to agree with the prince’s emotions as it would be tantamount to openly questioning the queen and king, but as Kaeya’s personal guard of over a decade he struggles to be indifferent to his suffering.

When Kaeya falls silent Dainsleif steps closer to the bed, kneeling down on one knee before his prince. He doesn’t touch him, just keeps his hands on his own knee, one on top of the other, and looks up at him with a calm expression.      “I hate to see you so upset,” he admits. I hate this as much as you do - if not more, he actually wants to say but these are words he shouldn’t even be thinking. The thought of Kaeya choosing a bride and giving her his eternal promise is like an iron fist around Dainsleif’s heart, threatening to close down and crush it the moment it becomes reality.

It’s a ridiculous thing to harbor resentment for. As if Kaeya staying unmarried all his life would change anything about the fact that they could never be more than what they are now. Even if Kaeya chose him the circumstances of their birth would always keep them apart.      “Your highness,” Dainsleif says to get Kaeya’s attention, pulling a clean handkerchief from his pocket to offer it to the prince. “There is a light side to anything. Maybe your parents’ wish feels like a burden now but it could bring someone special into your life.” Or it could bring someone into his life that will make him unhappy until the day he dies.

Dainsleif lifts his arm and for a moment it seems like he’s reaching out to pat Kaeya’s head but at the last moment he picks the circlet off the blue locks and places it on the bed beside his prince.      “You may yet meet a princess worthy of your love,” he says and every word leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

#aalberich #m. aalberich #( m: dainsleif. ) #( dainsleif: aalberich. ) #v. flowers in the darkness

[tenebriism]

"wait. don't hurt them."

kaeya grabs diluc's wrist, stopping him before he can set his claymore alight and take even one step further towards the hilichurl camp. the look on his face is a faraway one, gaze flicking to and fro between the creatures as they communicate with each other in a language that sounds, to the untrained ear, more like animalistic grunts and shouts than anything else.

"those two over there ---" kaeya points to the right, "--- they're just kids, 'luc. the bigger one is scolding the littler one for venturing so far away from the camp unaccompanied. the littler one is insisting he did nothing wrong. they're bickering just like siblings do." kaeya pauses, giving diluc a watery smile. "i just ..." he starts, then falters. "i ... they aren't hurting anything, 'luc. they're not threatening the city. they're not storming the walls or causing any trouble. they may be ugly beasts, but ---" he sucks in a sharp breath, "--- maybe, just this once ... we should leave them be. mercy costs us nothing."

" . . . what do you MEAN leave them be ? Kaeya, for Archon's sake, they're--- " He stops short of the conclusion of his statement, when finally his eyes land upon Kaeya's oddly REFLECTIVE expression. If Diluc didn't know any better, his younger brother could understand and CONNECT with these beasts. As if driving a blade through their chests is some heinous crime, in and of itself ( but, then, how many of these have they slain, either together or individually, in the past ? Why, NOW, is it such an issue ? )

There's something ABOUT this supposed ' interaction ' betwixt the hilichurls that has Diluc actually CONSIDERING Kaeya's out-of-blue proposal, as irritating as it is. So easily could he make another routine jab at the knights for neglecting to do a job, but here, now, it doesn't feel right.

Even beyond that, Diluc . . . doesn't feel like arguing with his brother, right now, who is clearly experiencing something the eldest Ragnvindr may never understand.

" Fine. Yet, if this comes back to bite us one day, it's on you. Understood ? " His ire simmers to a dull irritation, claymore returned to its manifested holster. It's more the wasted TIME, than anything, that has his mood souring further by the minute, but he supposes a temporary lack of productivity is a fair exchange for not widening his rift with Kaeya. " If business has concluded, we're heading back. We've wasted ENOUGH time here. "

#aalberich #[ diluc eyeing his brother later on like: what are you hiding??? ] #muse ;; DILUC ( ANSWERED ASK ) #;; queue

[bitbrumal]

                                     QUESTION    ↤  @aalberich  ::  RANDOM  ↩

sweetly, innocently wraps his arms around his big brother, as if all he wants is a little old hug … and then promptly sticks his ice-cold hands beneath diluc’s shirt, laughing maniacally the whole time.

DILUC his arms are an embrace until they are not. bars to a cage kaeya willingly walked into -

"gravity..." it's gasped. the chill bites into his lungs no matter how ridiculous his reaction. "s-so- so heavy…" we simply shan't let kaeya be the only one winning. the full bulk & beef of one lord ragnvindr staggers.., goes limp as a rag doll-- right. on top. of his delightful baby brother.

"...can't get up..." it's a sigh this time. kaeya's wispy hair tickles his nose. the squirming is positively useless, only squishes him worse between the unforgiving floor & the quaking weight of his big brother. warmed by a contentment inspired by mirth. whatever tension was left in his body vacates it completely, & there's a pitiful croak in kaeya's throat.

"who's laughing now, bitch?" he makes profanity sound polite.

#ic #eat dust #with: aalberich #rp ✦ diluc #aalberich

[viaetor]

❝ you’re one of the best chapters in the book of my life. ❞

ARABIC POETRY INSPIRED MEMES / accepting! / @aalberich

ㅤㅤwhen the traveller had caught wind of what was going on at angel’s share, he nearly didn’t believe his ears. it was only when he saw a crowd forming at the entrance—much to charles and patton’s collective dismay—that the rumours were truly starting to sink in. someone bit more than they could chew. or rather, drank. the usual subdued, almost melancholic environment that veiled the outside tables and its patrons was no more; adventurers, knights, fishermen, merchants and drunkards raised their cups in ecstasy to loose chatter and even sloppier hums of songs, tapping their feet as if windblume was knocking on their doors to invite them over for a dance. hooray, hooray! perhaps it was, in a way. their faces were all so red that it could be compared to spring fevers;  aether was sure that any moment poor jack would drown in his hiccups, trying to keep up the pace with cyrus… and kaeya.

ㅤㅤeveryone knew the cavalry captain enjoyed more than a drink or two during his spare hours—he could almost hear kaeya’s silky voice defending the idea that a good burning liquid was the medicine to clear any man’s foggy mind. poetically mysterious yet tragic, that one was. but in all his time in mondstadt, or rather, in teyvat, the traveller had never seen or heard of him exaggerate that way. until that night. two round tables were covered to the brim with cups of beer and glasses of wine, and right in the middle, sat the one single cryo user, chuckling about ‘getting caught by the legendary hero’. aether crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. then, he sighed, slowly shaking his head.

ㅤㅤno words were much exchanged at first; aether had offered him his arm to hold onto so they could both walk to the favonius’ headquarters without drawing much attention. but then, kaeya had hugged him from behind; whispering in a voice far too warm for the outsider to grasp if it was due to the alcohol or if it came from a long-unspoken truth in his throat.

ㅤㅤyou’re one of the best chapters in the book of my life.

ㅤㅤone of his endless teasings, perhaps? or a flirting technique? or was that one of the famous mortal confessions that that o so potent beverage could provoke? he wasn’t sure, and he much preferred not to dwell further on speculations. not now, at least. jean had been the one to ask him to check on kaeya and he better return to tell her everything was fine quickly, lest the poor woman had a premature heart attack with all her caring. so he once again shook his head, minding not that his blond strands tickled against the other’s face when he did that.

ㅤㅤ“and you’re really drunk—sir kaeya,” he taunted the formality with a grin, “should i bridal carry you home?”

#aalberich #❛ㅤ𓆩✦𓆪ㅤ:ㅤver i﹔ㅤㅤ/ㅤㅤof teyvat and lost wings. #the scene of a drunk kaeya came to mind and i just. couldn't KDJASDG #i hope this is okay !! ;v; #pls lemme know if u want anything changed <33 #alcohol /

[touchofdawn]

"luc. hey, luc. what do you call two birds that really stick together ?" a beat. kaeya smirks. "velcrows."

"... What...?" Diluc replied in a tired tone, knowing already that a horrible pun was to come. Kaeya always used that particular tone when he had something in mind... Just like when they were kids.

And then there it was and suddenly Diluc felt fifty years older and far more exhausted.

Velcrows.

"Ugh..." He groaned and turned away, polishing a glass. He set the clean glass down on the counter a moment later—perhaps with a touch too much force. "You know, a group of crows is actually called a murder."

He looked across the bar and met Kaeya's gaze. "Is that the sort of joke you use to pick up chicks or do you usually just wing it?"

#(Toucan play at this game Kaeya) #(me: loves bad puns) #(diluc: also loves puns but is so tired a;sdkfj) #;answers #aalberich

[dawnscall]

usually, kaeya's the sort of man who can handle his alcohol --- if only because he has such experience with putting away extensive quantities of it on a far-too-frequent basis. but every so often, he gets to thinking when he's drinking; from there, the night can only spiral.

the evening finds him sitting at the angel's share bar counter, staring morosely down at his half-finished death after noon --- the fourth of the night; he's well on his way to being three sheets to the wind --- tipsy enough that he's entertaining bad ideas, but still lucid enough to know that he needs the liquid courage to say what he's thinking.

and so: "diluc ? i missed you, when you were gone all those years." a beat, and then, the question he's almost afraid to hear the answer to: "did you miss me, too ... ?"

@aalberich + drunken sentimentality

it's not uncommon that the nights master diluc planned to work at the tavern were also nights that were typically accompanied by a certain looming cavalry captain whose gaze never strayed too far away from him, even in the midst of his frivolity. there's nothing quite like the sidelong stare of one man who knew him better than anyone else ever could, only for it to be not - so - carefully concealed by another long drink from his tankard or glass— whichever came first. it's something that both concerns him and annoys him at times, depending on how rowdy he is with his company. there are often times he's noticed kaeya come in alone, not to be joined by any of his typical companions. it's always then that he swears he looked the most lonely, as longing seemed to be his most difficult emotion to mask when he happened to be a few glasses in.

this time, he sits front and center at the bar, seemingly quietly mulling over his thoughts until the second diluc heard his name spoken in that too - vulnerable tone that spoke wonders for where he could pin kaeya's sobriety.

oh— that, he surely hadn't expected.

his face displayed it all; his surprise, and just how thoroughly unprepared he was to answer such an earnest, yet complicated question. diluc's time spent traveling teyvat was not a leisurely vacation, and it had come with too many unpleasant memories following his eventual return to mondstadt. if one thing was certain, it was that the young master had spent far too much time wishing that he could change the events of that devastating day and regretting so many of his words and actions following it. kaeya wasn't the only one with regrets to speak of.

' kaeya, you.. ' his voice trailed off as the words continued to flee from him, mind racing to chase down anything he could say that wouldn't impugn the truth of his feelings. this wasn't the time or place to be speaking on this matter, but ignoring it entirely would simply make matters worse, so with a heavy sigh, diluc's palms settle on the counter where ingredients to be mixed sat neglected at the bartender's behest. ' i did, but it's not that simple, and you know it. '

another regret to add to the building pile.

#˚ · . ( ask ) ✧ answered. #aalberich #three months later #i'm so emo about them atm

[noctuafought]

📂 📂 !

he let kaeya braid his hair when they were younger. he currently allows klee to braid his hair if she asked

he loves cyno's humor. crepus was literally the dad joke type of dad so diluc is 100% used to it and lives for them

#aalberich #` ⭒ ✦ 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒𝐊 ⸻ i need more dreams and less life #` ⭒ ✦ 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍 ⸻ i'm in the details with the devil #` ⭒ ✦ 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐔𝐄 ⸻ you can go queue me an ocean and leave me be #★ α peɴɴy ғor yoυr тнoυɢнтѕ вυт α dollαr ғor yoυr ιɴѕιde. ❞ answered. #★ ι'd ѕнooт тнe ѕυɴѕнιɴe ιɴтo мy veιɴѕ. ❞ headcanon.

[ccaptain]

"imagine we went to visit a foreign country together and i got kidnapped by the fatui. you stay out until 2am searching for me with the authorities, but eventually have to call it a night and go back to your hotel. do you still do your skincare routine ? yes or no."

' of course i would still do my skincare routine! '

' -with their blood. all jokes aside, i wouldn't go back until we find you. siblings don't leave eachother behind. '

#aalberich #NOBODY TOUCHES HIS SIB AND LIVES TO TELL THE TALE

[mmriesoftvat]

"you should add more fruit jokes to your repertoire. i'm told they're generally considered very ... a-peel-ing."

[ for cyno ! and if diluc overheard this i apologize in advance sdfdsk LMAO ]

cyno can't help but like this guy. anyone who appreciates a good joke has to be a good person at his core. of course, cyno can hear diluc scoffing behind him, and cyno can practically hear the eye roll.

"don't you have anything better to do?" diluc snarks, crossing his arms. "like showing our guest around monstadt? i'm sure you two could get a lot of sight-seeing done that doesn't involve me."

"that sounds like a good idea," cyno agrees with a nod. "i'm particularly a huge fan of your windmills." with the faintest grin, he turns back to diluc. "i apple-solutely enjoyed meeting you. perhaps we'll meet again before i leave."

"out!" diluc snaps.

#aalberich #( ANSWERED. ) #( SELF | CYNO. ) #( SELF | DILUC. ) #( IC. ) #; windblume festival

[reginrokkr]

" ... would you still love me if i were a hilichurl ?"

❝What kind of question is that?❞ Otherwise low and monotone voice harbors a gentleness hard to discern unless one is accustomed with Dáinsleif's behavior. Weren't for the spark of amusement within icy sapphire depths and the relaxation in fair eyebrows, one may think that his blurted question is harsh and cold. The truth is, long ago have roseate lips forgotten how to smile to further prove the hilarity of this question.

Ere long does the blissful air fade when long, albescent lashes flutter open to reveal trembling, stellar pupils. Yes, the question may have a vibe of diversion in it, but Dáinsleif is not ignorant to the underlying motif. ❝You won't.❞ His answer strays far from the response Kaeya must've expected, albeit they both know that love is out of the question all things considered— fondness, however, perhaps. Instead, what Dáinsleif offers is a reassurance that this nightmare-inducing thought will never occur. Not to him. It is naught short of a miracle that he isn't touched by any divine curse— he should embrace life as it is. ❝You won't.❞ He repeats again, firmer and telling of mountains of unspoken tales that his lips daren't utter, but that his soul-weathered eyes whisper.

@aalberich ✦

#aalberich #◟༺✦༻◞ what use has the veil of falsehood? ┊ask.┊ #◟༺✦༻◞ sapphire flames in their wake ┊ic.┊ #Kaeya: Would you still love me if— #Dain: No. #also Dain: How about I give you this other trauma-inducing answer instead #I'm so sorry djfhjg #jokes aside though #he intends this to be just as meaningful #even if it isn't the main purpose of the question #it's... his way to show #that he doesn't desire that for him #and to assuage him that it won't be that case for him #I think this would apply to the non Kaeya-Caribert verse though #I'm not sure dfjhjg #but... yis #dis 😔

[delusionaid]

@aalberich sent: [ 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑 ] ― sender traces a scar on receiver’s body [ for dain ;~; ]

Kaeya's hand is warm and gentle and yet it startles Dainsleif with how sudden its touch is. He doesn't need to see to know what it is the prince's fingers are tracing on his back, remembers well enough the sight of the long scar stretching from his shoulder blade to his hip. It's not a thin and clean scar, a remnant of a sword strike, but a rough-edged unsightly thing that Dainsleif in a twinge of vanity normally tends to hide. It makes him feel seen in a way he does not enjoy - but with Kaeya being the one whose gaze rests on him in this moment the captain finds he doesn't mind it as much.

"A memory of one of my less glorious days," he says, anticipating Kaeya's curiosity about the story behind the scar. "I was still a squire back then and eager to prove myself. I took on a task that was beyond my capabilities and brought back only shame - and this reminder to be humble." There is no need to dive into the gory details although Dainsleif can imagine his prince to be curious about them. Memories of pain and torn flesh, bloodied clothes and the vivid fear of death arise in his mind but they are a thing of the past and no longer cause him restless nights. He has faced much greater terrors since and, more importantly, gained the wisdom and ability to defeat them.

Finally pulling a fresh shirt over his head and letting it fall down his back, Dainsleif turns around. He catches Kaeya's still outstretched hand in his own, squeezing it briefly before letting go. "It doesn't hurt me anymore; neither in body nor in memory," he reassures him.

#aalberich #m. aalberich #( m: dainsleif. ) #( dainsleif: aalberich. ) #v. flowers in the darkness #( ic asks. ) #( meme reply. ) #cw injury #cw blood

[tenebriism]

@aalberich : It's about TIME--- ;;

He's not sure what compels him to finally, FINALLY, make that push. To stop letting the tension continue to rise to near boiling point until it threatened to spill over and consume them both.

Truth be told, though, he was tired. Of fighting, or taking on the brunt of seemingly EVERYTHING with no end in sight, but also . . . he was tired of feeling disconnected. ALONE. Of staring, longingly, at the Acting Grand Master and her Cavalry Captain and wondering if somehow, someway, they had forgiven him and still LOVED him despite all the pain he'd caused.

He'd seen them at their WORST, after all, now and even as children. Jean, working herself to near death, the well-being of Mondstadt hanging by a thread that was UNRELENTING, in the way it RELIED on her to keep it from snapping. And Kaeya . . . Archons, Kaeya was even worse. The drinking, the silent cries for HELP, the PAIN he could see in his dear brother's eyes . . . just as Diluc's life was never guaranteed the next day, with how oft, and how intensely, he threw himself into every battle with reckless abandon ( hoping, sadly, that mayhap THIS fight, or the NEXT, may seize him from this exhausting, unfulfilling life ), Kaeya's life seemed just as uncertain.

Diluc could lose him, one day . . . and in that same regard, Kaeya could lose DILUC.

It's precisely why he stands outside of Kaeya's abode, one day, with a bottle of his brother's favorite wine in one hand, the opposite curled into a fist and hovering over the door. Hasn't knocked, hasn't called out for him, because at the FAINTEST hint this may go awry, he's ready to turn tail and run.

' Knock, knock, knock . . . '

And now, he waits . . .

#aalberich #[ it only took me 5 HOURS--- #i'm so sorry love. #but please. ; v ; give me them making up. i'm so ready. <3 ] #muse ;; DILUC ( THREADS )

[aaleaqlania]

“I think we can both agree what’s happening here is far from normal.“

this could imply a LOT of things but im choosing to make it silly -- @aalberich

      ' actually, i've caught them doing this in the forest a couple of times. '

      what he's pointing at is a little group of various elemental fungi, gathered in a little circle as they jump around the stump of a tree. they're all emitting pleased sounds, as if the little cute fuckers are genuinely having the time of their life. al haitham gives a shrug.

      ' i think it's a fun way to pass the time for them, and they're not hurting anybody. usually, one of them bumps in the other and the whole thing breaks down, because they're too confused to take their positions back. still, it's kind of entertaining to watch. '

#aalberich #please them jsut. staring at the fucking fungi doing resinless behavior...........

[decoysouled]

asoiaf: a dance with dragons starters // accepting. @aalberich // ❝ we must show a little trust, you and i. ❞ [ for blade ! ]

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR TRUST — the once-fooled were not so anserine as to allow themselves another betrayal, even from those who are allies. The kindest of souls could turn their backs easily on a blade, leaving it to rot, & the cruellest would command it to their whims until it shattered. What was to be said, Ren wonders, for those who once were human & now had become nothing more than a weapon wielded by the divine? He does not have an answer.

He is certain that Kaeya, with words full of half-truths & manipulations, does not know either.

Perhaps it is for that reason alone he does not show him any confidence, merely regarding him with an irritated gaze — the monster does not falter in his footsteps as he comes to a stop, having kept pace behind him. None could stab him in the back if it were not turned to him & he does not believe he should give Kaeya the chance to do so, regardless of his intent.

( they once had allowed a person that closeness & he had twisted them into a cruel creature. no other would get the chance. )

❝That's unnecessary.❞ He states, voice devoid of any emotion — there is no use for it, not from someone like him, not from a weapon that has lost any sense of humanity he once had, stolen from him by someone he once adored; who had abandoned him & left him with his fury to endless war. That, too, had now ceased & in this age of peace, he found himself uncertain of his purpose, albeit he would not breathe a word to that to anyone else.

❝I need not trust you to fight alongside you. Cling to your ideals all you want, Cavalry Captain. They hold no weight with me.❞

#002. ❝transmissions: down with the fallen.❞ — answered #& fandom — genshin impact #134. ❝plant your curse under my skin.❞ — blade #136. ❝you can’t be lost if you’ve gone awol.❞ — V2 ( genshin impact ) #aalberich