dreamcrystals | Dream One 🔥 Unhappy Memories

Sender: Diluc Ragnvindr
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Warnings: spoilers for Genshin Impact character stories and webtoon; cw: blood, violence, and death

[The beginning events of the dream happen quickly. A large purple drake descends on a cart and wagon, leaving naught but carnage in its wake. A man with more than a passing resemblence to Diluc emerges from from the wagon, standing against the drake and attacking it with a great and terrible power. Within moments, the beast is ensnared with dark chains. A few moments later, it breaks free and retreats, and the man collapses.

It's at this point that Diluc himself becomes visible in the dream, huddled over the man's body and covered with blood that's not his own. He's younger, a late adolescent, and calls the man "father" as he cries out in grief. The rain starts pouring down, though it does little to wash the stains of red away.

Nearby, a flamboyantly dressed man regards him cooly.]

"You know, Master Diluc, I can't help but wonder if your anger about all this might be a bit misplaced."

[Slowly, Diluc's gaze rises from his father's corpse to look up at him. His expression almost immediately shifts into a sharp glare. The man continues to speak, totally unfazed.]

"You blame the Fatui and the Knights - and me by association - but have you stopped to consider that perhaps it's our dearest father that betrayed you first? You honestly don't believe he accepted this Delusion at the point of a sword or under the duress of a threat, do you?"

[Diluc is on his feet in an instant, grabbing a sword that by all rights shouldn't be there and charging him.]

Take that back!

[He's stopped after only a handful of steps by the same great and terrible power that stopped the drake's advance, this time piercing him through from behind.

At that point, the dream ends as its dreamer wakes up with a start.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Thoma's hand in his hair, gentle and comforting and all too brief, causes him to avert his gaze ever so slightly. It's nice in a way he can't quite articulate.]

In the end table next to the bed. There are supplies to stitch the wound in there as well, if you think it's necessary.

[Sewing skin is like fixing a seam, right???]

[ That fond look on his face becomes a bit sterner. A Look, if you will. ]

You don’t need stitches, but why am I not surprised you have the supplies?

[ Because he really is not surprised. There have not been moments quite like the time Diluc ran off to fight a man struggling with dreamotion energy all on his own, but that doesn’t mean Thoma hasn’t been expecting another incident.

In any case, he goes where directed, coming back a moment later with the necessary items. ]

Hand, please.

Edited (noticed a typo, don't look at me) 2022-01-18 22:01 (UTC)

[The look Thoma receives in response the stern expression is earnestly quizzical, as if he honestly believes that having supplies to stitch an open wound is nothing abnormal or concerning.]

It's better to be prepared.

[Obviously.

Diluc holds out his hand as instructed when Thoma sits back down.]

Thank you, by the way.

[ Well, he won’t argue that it’s good to be prepared, but it’s a little concerning that Diluc even thinks he needs to have these kinds of things on-hand. ]

You don’t have to thank me.

[ Said as he sits back down across from Diluc, gingerly taking his injured hand and cleaning the wound with a damp bit of cloth. ]

I’m glad to help, no matter what you need.

You've made that inescapably clear.

[With the call him out and kissing and all.

Per usual, Diluc is a good patient. He winces a bit as Thoma starts cleaning the wound, but at no point does he pull his hand away or express discomfort. For what might be the first time since he's started his crusade against the evils of the world, he wonders vaguely if the fact that he's hardly fazed by the pain he puts himself through should be concerning.

It's probably fine.]

What sort of person would I be if I weren't grateful for it, however?

[What he means to say is that he's grateful for you, Thoma.

[ Patching Diluc up already feels like a familiar song and dance, and it’s one he really hopes that he doesn’t become even more familiar with. He is getting a better idea for the reckless sort of nature that lurks under Diluc’s taciturn personality, and he doesn’t much care for it.

He understands, to a point. Going through what Diluc went through would change anybody, but that doesn’t mean he has to like or even continue to let it happen.

But now is not the time to give voice to such thoughts. Diluc is still raw and weary, and he doubts that, even coming from him, the words would be well-received.

Instead, he hums thoughtfully as he begins to dress the cut with a bit of ointment and some clean bandages. ]

I guess that’s fair.

[ And then a smile, a glint of good humor in his green eyes. ]

But if you just wanted to see me, there are much better ways to go about it.

[Even with the good humor with which it's delivered, Diluc recognizes the admonishment for what it is. Thoma's not the first person to tell him, in so many words, that he should be more careful about how he chooses to carry out this self-imposed mission of his. The difference is that Thoma's not in a position that forces him to leave it at merely words. If Diluc has learned nothing else in this interaction they've had tonight, he now knows that Thoma will absolutely take action as he sees fit.

They'll butt heads on that issue another day. For now, Diluc is much more interested in maintaining the warmth between them. It's been a rough night.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Thoma finishes bandaging his hand, and he opens and closes it a few times tentatively in response. The movement hurts, but the bandage holds. As he expected it would.]

I'd much prefer the next time we see each other to be... happier.

I would too.

[ Whatever agreements or disagreements they’re bound to have later over Diluc’s lifestyle choices are problems for future versions of themselves. Thoma figures that much like a warm cup of tea after a long night, the new warmth that’s settled over them is something that Diluc needs, and so he endeavors to keep it up.

He reaches over and rests his hand on Diluc’s, sure to be mindful of his injury. ]

I’m happy to stay for as long as you need me.

I know you are.

[Diluc is grateful for it. Thoma's presence is warm and grounding and honest, and he needed that tonight after that nightmare and the revelations that came after it.

But now that he's managed to reach some kind of emotional equilibrium with himself, what he wants more than that is some solitude. He's used to managing nights like this alone, and there's a comfort in the familiarity of that routine that he finds himself craving.]

I'd prefer to be by myself for now. And before you protest: I have no intentions to do anything besides read and make myself more tea.

[Maybe work on plans for the winery, although he leaves that part out. Thoma might have something to say about how he's using work to distract himself, and he is absolutely not up for that discussion.]

As a sign of good faith and to show that this is not me simply pushing you away... I promise to check in with you come daylight. Is that acceptable?

[ Thoma doesn’t doubt that Diluc is used to this sort of thing and knows best how he’d like to handle it. Dreamotion abilities might be some cause for concern, but after the firebird’s fiery explosion and the nightmare itself, he imagines that Diluc is pretty much tapped out for the time being. As long as Diluc is okay, Thoma is happy to do whatever he needs to make getting over this night easier, even if it means leaving. But still… ]

I appreciate the concession, I find it quite agreeable. I just have one request of you, if you’re willing.

[ The look on his face gentles considerably, the corners of his lips twitching upwards slightly. ]

One more kiss before I go?

[And just like that, it goes from 'convincing Thoma that he'll be all right alone' to flirting some more. This really has been a weird night.

The flirting and the affection, at least, have been nice. He's sure he wouldn't be nearly as settled without it, even with all of the very important questions he has about the state of their friendship (relationship?) going forward. That's a task for the future. For now he's just going to continue to go with it, returning Thoma's small smile with a rather fond expression of his own.]

One more kiss before you go.

[He stands and gently pulls Thoma to his own feet before leaning in for that one last kiss. It's much softer and sweeter than the harried way he closed the distance between them earlier, a sign that he isn't lying when he says he'll be all right for the rest of the night.]

[ Perhaps Thoma’s motivation in asking for a kiss was twofold, since the kiss he receives is a very good indicator of Diluc’s current state of mind. It makes him feel much better about leaving, even if he wants nothing more than to stay. In the end, it’s Diluc’s choice and he will respect that.

Still, he leans into that kiss for as long as Diluc will let him, and once they part he smiles fondly at the other man. ]

Okay, I’ll go now, but let me know if you need anything, all right?

[ Thoma being Thoma, he makes sure to take care of his teacup, as well as pick up the broken pieces of Diluc’s, before he goes - but go he does, leaving Diluc alone with his thoughts in the early morning light. ]

Dream One 🔥 Unhappy Memories

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject