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Diluc rose with the sun. Like his father, he couldn’t stand the sun in his eyes and blinked drowsily awake when he felt the first few rays of warmth settling on his skin. Crimson eyelashes burned in the morning light, fluttering as Diluc sat up groggily in bed and stretched the stiffness and soreness from his muscles away. There was a dull pain in his side from an old wound, now finally healing, but he’d grown used to it.
Another day, another stack of paperwork , he mused to himself as he splashed cold water on his face in his bathroom. Tireless was Mondstadt’s Winery, though its owner had long been feeling the exhaustion from running it.
Quickly Diluc dressed, robotically slipping on his thick gloves and heavy work boots which thump thump thumped along the wooden floors of the winery. The sun had finally fully risen over the valley he called home as he made his way downstairs for his morning tea; he was hardly a coffee person.
“Good morning Master Diluc,” Adelinde greeted him with a curt bow and a small smile. “Your tea is waiting for you in your study. Freshly brewed chamomile to keep you warm.”
Diluc returned her smile. “I think I’m the last person in need of warmth, wouldn’t you say? But thank you, I appreciate it, as always, Adelinde.”
Adelinde laughed politely and retrieved an envelope from her apron’s pocket. “Before you go,” she offered up the envelope, “this just came in, addressed to you.”
“Seems urgent,” Diluc examined the envelope, thumbing the stamped corner.
“It was sent by express. I pray it’s nothing burdening. Enjoy your tea, Master Diluc!” Adelinde bowed again and took to waking the other maids of the winery.
The tea was piping hot, as Adelinde had promised, but the burn felt ridiculously good going down Diluc’s dry throat. After a few sips taken while gazing at the vineyards beyond his study’s window, the young master slipped his thumb under the express envelope and quickly tore it open in a clean, smooth motion. A skill he’d learned from his father.
Upon opening the letter inside, Diluc’s worries melted away as quick as snow in the summer just by glancing at the handwriting.
The letter read:
Diluc!
Everyone who’s everyone’s been calling you a prune and a sourface all month long! I mean, SERIOUSLY?! Not a single Christmas decoration?!
I’m coming by at around 5 to pick you up to head over to Jean and Lisa’s for their Christmas party, kay? So to save you from the permanent title of being Mondstadt’s Mr. Grinch , wear something festive!!!
And before you freak out, it’s just going to be Jean, Lisa, Albedo, Klee, Sucrose, Rosaria, Barbara… well, actually that’s a shit ton more than I thought, but, you’ll be fineeee. You don’t have to stay the whole night. I’m just worried you’re feeling lonely there holed up all month long.
BE READY!! :)
Amber :P
Diluc gently tossed the letter down with a fond sigh. Amber always liked roping him into things he had no business being in. A Christmas pa rty ? How long since he’d been to one?
“Probably since Father passed,” he heard himself murmuring.
It used to be normal for the Ragnivindrs to host such parties. Crepus always invited the whole city to them and Diluc had fuzzy, but fond, memories of finding an empty room to hide in with Kaeya when it got late to play by themselves. He remembered the uproar and the laughter muffled by those heavy wooden doors as he and Kaeya wrestled or played Would You Rather or told ghost stories.
He remembered Crepus’ toasts, loud and whole-hearted and warm. He remembered the cool glass of the crystal chalices filled with wine and how naughty it felt to be eleven years old and drinking. Kaeya’d always made a grossed-out face downing the small sample of wine after each toast. Diluc hadn’t minded it.
Crepus had kept the winery decorated splendidly , too. Adorned bottom to top in evergreen wreaths and sparkling gold tinsel and shining red ornaments. The winery had smelled of pine and bread all season long. Stockings had always been hung, bright beautiful red with the initials D, K, and C.
Diluc recalled the final Christmas with his father. Diluc had just been teaming up with the knights for a short while and dreamed of getting his own weapon. Surely enough, come Christmas morning, Crepus had gifted Diluc the most beautifully crafted Favonius claymore, silver and brand-new, so shiny Diluc’s face reflected in it.
It was a beautiful thing, but its beauty wasn’t enough to keep Crepus around.
“-Diluc? Master Diluc?”
Shit. Diluc blinked a few times, eyes darting around. How long had he been deep in memories that served no use to him now?
“C-come in, please,” he swallowed thickly.
Adelinde entered with a tray with a plate of raspberry scones still warm from the oven. “I come bearing gifts!” she smiled, stepping forward and setting the plate of baked delicacies on his desk.
“You didn’t have to, Adelinde. Thank you,”
“Shall I take your tea?” she hummed curiously as she lifted the practically-full teapot. “You hardly drank any. Everything okay…?”
Diluc shook his head, “No, nothing, my apologies. The season just has me thinking of my Father.”
“Oh, Master Diluc…”
Diluc blinked rapidly, feeling tears prick at his eyes. “Amber sent the letter. She said I was invited to Jean and Lisa’s Christmas party. The thought simply made me remember Father’s parties.”
“I understand. Crepus held the most beautiful parties…”
“Yes.” Diluc breathed, losing his eyes. “I miss him terribly .”
“This will do you some good, I think.” Adelinde tapped Amber’s letter with her free hand, “Get out of the winery, get some fresh air, be around people that care for– don’t give me that look! You know very well Amber and the likes of them care for you, Master Diluc– that care for you . It’s an injustice for you to be so young and already hiding away in your home.”
Diluc simply watched Adelinde clear his cold tea and leave, shutting the door behind her.
The rest of the time until 5 p.m. was filled with filing paperwork and filling out ledgers. Diluc worked diligently to the steady scratching of his quill against paper and parchment. He polished off the scones and the lunch Adelinde brought him, a warm meal of creamy chicken and roasted vegetables.
It was dark out by the time 5 o’clock rolled around and Amber bounded into the winery, knocking cheerfully on the heavy pine door of Diluc’s study.
“Come in,” he breathed out, capping his ink and shuffling the papers on his desk into order. “Hello, Amber,”
Amber walked forward to Diluc’s desk, hands on her hips and a slight frown on her face. “I thought I told you to get festive, Master Diluc! I can’t help you clear your name when you’re dressed for a shift at the bar!”
Diluc hummed, “I don’t have anything very festive, unfortunately. You’ll have to take me as is, if you can bear the shame,” he mused.
Amber sighed and walked around to stand next to Diluc poking his red ascot distastefully. “I guess this is red… and your hair and eyes…”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“The only one disappointed is going to be you when you’re the odd one out at the party.” Amber grinned mischievously, twirling around playfully. She wore a flowy, thick red plaid dress with a cloth white top with detailed lace at the cuffs and neckline. Holly berries adorned the two ponytails she’d drawn her hair up in.
“I think I can live with that. Shall we?” Diluc rose and motioned Amber out of his study, flicking the lights off behind them.
Adelinde was at the door to see them off, Diluc’s dark grey coat in hand as well as Amber’s fawn brown cardigan. She helped the young lady into her sweater before handing Diluc his coat, which he slipped into like a second skin.
“Elzer is all ready for you two to head off, and I packed some of our winter vintages into the carriage so you don’t show up empty handed, Master Diluc. They’re under your seat, so don’t forget them. Ready?” Adelinde smiled.
“Yup! Before Grandpa here changes his mind! See you Adelinde, thank you so much!” Amber beamed before excitedly lunging for the door and dragging Diluc out by the sleeve of his coat.
Diluc grimaced but nonetheless helped Amber up into the carriage and checked for the wine Andelinde had mentioned under his seat. Six bottles were arranged neatly.
“Ready, sir?” Elzer asked from the driver’s seat.
“Yes, thank you,” Diluc replied before there was a jingle of reigns and they were off to the Favonius Headquarters.
Amber and Diluc arrived at half-past 5. The brunette helped her older counterpart unload the wine bottles and placed them into a crate provided by Elzer before he left to tend to the tavern.
Diluc heard laughter and loud conversation beyond the big doors of the Favonius Headquarters. It was daunting. He stood stiffly with the crate of wine in his arms.
“Hey,” Amber spoke quietly, patting Diluc’s back reassuringly. “You’ll be fine, ‘kay? You know everyone there, right? Just say hi and sit back, you can hang with me for the night. And I’m sure everyone’ll understand. Breathe.”
Diluc nodded, eyes trained on the alcohol bottles in front of him. “Thank you, Amber. I think I’m okay now.”
“Then off we go, Master Diluc!”
The entrance and main hall of the Headquarters had been decorated beautifully. A tall pine stood proud in the right corner by the stairs adorned with silver and blue decorations. Two tables pushed up against the walls were filled with food and drinks. Smaller tables for dining were placed by the right wall.
At one table sat Jean, Lisa, and Venti, who was already giggling like he was three bottles in. At another sat Kaeya, Albedo, Rosaria, and Sucrose. Kaeya and Rosaria looked to be in a heated argument while Albedo idly sipped on his drink. Sucrose looked scared for her life. The next table housed Razor, Bennett, Klee, and Barbara. And finally, scattered about the room in conversation were Eula, Noelle, Fischl, Diona, and Mona.
Diluc huffed and slowly walked over to the drinks table to set the crate down on the floor when he felt a tap on his shoulder as he straightened up.
“Jean,” he breathed, smiling politely as the blonde waved hello.
“I’m glad you could make it, Master Diluc. We were all hoping you’d show up,”
Diluc eyed Kaeya from across the room. “All of you? That's very kind. But it was Amber who coaxed me out of my study.”
“I see.” Jean gave him a soft grin, “Well, help yourself. I see you’ve brought drinks?”
“Just some winter signatures. Adelinde didn’t want me showing up empty handed.”
“You tell her my thanks and that I said hello, please!” Jean waved to him a final time before she returned back to her seat beside Lisa. Diluc followed her with his gaze and caught Lisa waving to him from their table. He gave a curt nod.
Something bright red flashed by his lower vision before he felt a hard bump on his leg and darted his gaze down.
“Hello, Klee,” Diluc beamed. The sweet girl was bouncing up and down in excitement, her festive dress flowing all sorts of ways. She had her hair in two neat braids, and abandoned her witch’s hat.
“You came! I knew you’d come!” she chirped.
Diluc bent down and lifted the small child into his arms, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ears. “Of course, I wouldn’t miss a chance to see you for the world. You need to tell Albedo to bring you by sometime,”
Klee nodded, her smaller hands fisting against the fabric of his coat. “Kaeya said you wouldn’t come, but I told him you would. I was right! He bet me a hundred Mora you wouldn't come, did you know?”
Diluc hummed in interest, “Did he now? Are you having fun with everyone else?”
Klee nodded again. “Barbara told me to stop talking about fish blasting, though. She says it’s not holy. I told her it is, because the bombs always leave holes in the water!”
“I don’t think that's what she meant, Klee. But it’s good to hear you’re having fun.”
There was a loud commotion at Klee’s table and the young girl gasped and freed herself from Diluc’s grasp, jumping down to bound over to investigate.
“Thanks for making me owe Klee a hundred Mora now, Master Diluc,”
Kaeya had mysteriously appeared beside Diluc, voice dripping with mockery and sarcasm. His single visible eye glinted mischievously in the soft lighting of the Headquarters.
“Kaeya. Good to see you.” Diluc coughed. He felt a shiver go up his spine. His relationship with Kaeya was… complex. It’d bettered over time, for sure, since the passing of his Father, but there was still some invisible wall neither of them could seem to tear down. A wall of unspoken jealousy and regret and distaste for each other laced with other smaller, harder to name feelings that had accumulated with time.
“You too, brother. Got bored of hiding away in the winery? Or are you here just to make appearances?”
“Amber wanted me to come, so I did. I’m assuming you came for the alcohol?”
Kaeya laughed, elbowing Diluc playfully. “No, regrettably. Klee begged me to tag along. I guess that means we're in the same boat, huh?”
“I suppose.”
Silence fell over the two of them as they watched over the party like birds of prey. Diluc watched Amber giggle and mess around with Noelle and Eula. He smiled softly, hardly noticeably, at the sight. He was glad the girl had friends. He’d hate to see her end up like him.
“Remember Dad’s parties?” Kaeya sighed fondly.
Diluc felt himself tense up. “Yes, I do. They were always grand and loud. I miss them, if I’m honest. They were something to look forward to.”
“Do you miss him?”
Diluc felt an inexplicable wave of rage and confusion wash over him as he clenched his jaw. It was a simple question, really. A valid one, at that; Diluc had always been expert at keeping a poker face for any emotion, and grief was no exception.
“Of course I miss Father. What kind of stupid question is that? He–!” Diluc breathed shakily, fiery red eyes boring into Kaeya’s blue one. The blue haired man wore a look of surprise and slight concern.
“Sorry. I do miss him. Very much.”
Kaeya softened a little, “Me too.”
Silence fell over them again and Diluc felt goosebumps form on his exposed skin from Kaeya’s flaring vision. It pulsed pale blue with pure cryo energy.
“The house is quiet without everyone.” Diluc swallowed thickly.
“Everyone?”
“You. Father,” Diluc admitted, not daring to meet Kaeya’s gaze. “Our makeshift family.”
“You and Crepus were family, at least. By blood.”
“Nonsense. You… You’re my brother just as much as any blood relative is family. I couldn’t imagine not… growing up with you.”
Kaeya stayed quiet.
“I’m sorry for the way things turned out.”
Their fight in the rain. Kaeya’s vision hanging at his waist. The blood of Crepus streaked on the ground. His 18th birthday. The funeral paperwork and costs. Vigilantism. His own pyro vision, which could never cauterize the wounds left behind.
“Me too,” Kaeya mumbled in response. Kaeya glanced back at his table, motioning he was going to head back.
Diluc seized his chance. Awkwardly, suddenly and impulsively, he hugged Kaeya lightly. Close enough to just barely place his chin over his brother’s shoulder. The fabric of his attire cool even beneath thick leather gloves. His stupid feather boa tickled his cheek.
Kaeya didn’t hug him back, but it was okay. He let go and hurriedly beelined for the exit without bothering to bid anyone farewell.
The night air was bitingly cold. But his pyro vision kept him warm as he sat on the curb and contemplated what the fuck he’d just done.
The door opened again a while after and Amber sat beside him, poking his shoulder.
“Everything okay? If you want to, you can head back without me. Eula can take me home,”
“No, I’m okay, thank you. I just… I hugged Kaeya.”
“Serious?” Amber laughed in disbelief. She grinned and cooed at him teasingly.
“I don’t know what came over me. He didn’t even hug me back, but I don’t blame him.”
“How did it feel?”
Diluc thought back to his awkward embrace. “It felt… weird. And comforting. We used to be quite affectionate, you know. As kids. Less so as teenagers, but it wasn’t horribly rare to hug each other.”
“I’m glad,” Amber hummed, turning her eyes to the night sky. “Are you leaving or staying?”
“I’ll stay, there’s still some people I’ve yet to greet. I’ll be back inside in a few minutes, no need to worry.”
The rest of the party was pleasant. Diluc chatted politely with the remaining guests and had to dodge Bennett and Razor’s roughhousing lest he get injured. Everyone enjoyed the specialty winter wine he’d brought and got many thanks from those old enough to try it. He himself tried some of the baked goods Noelle had brought, a soft chocolate chip cookie and butter shortbread cookies. They were delicious, obviously, and the young girl beamed with pride as he told her as such.
Amber and Diluc left just before 9, since they both had work the following day, and the party was drawing to a close regardless.
“Kaeya said goodbye to me,” Diluc told Amber as he walked her to her door.
“See! I knew you guys would start coming around!” Amber stepped forwards and squeezed Diluc in a brief hug, “I’m so happy for you guys, I really am. Sleep well and take care, Diluc.”
Diluc waved back at her, “You too, Amber. See you soon,”
Some of that invisible wall, to Diluc’s shock, had begun to crumble and break away. One day, perhaps it wouldn’t be standing at all.