✵ [Jan Catchall] Hope is not pretending that troubles don't exist.

[phoenixblessed]

⌛ Who: Diluc Ragnvindr (phoenixblessed), Red Wine, (judgementor), Vennessa (vennessa), Thanatos (inevitablerest) & Raphael (cupiditasmedendi) & you perhaps.
⌛ What: General prompts, TDM stuff, & closed prompts for January. Drop me a prompt to answer if you like!
⌛ When: Through January
⌛ Where: Noted in threads
⌛ Warnings: Will be marked when they are needed

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✵ Diluc Ragnvindr
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✵ Red Wine
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✵ Thanatos
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✵ Vennessa
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✵ Raphael
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Comments

GOOD

[phoenixblessed]

[Diluc himself rarely opens any meetings with the expectation of intimacy, but Venti is one of few that he certainly doesn't mind it happening with. He doesn't mind at all, either, when the small, warm body in his lap manifests those lovely wings for him to touch and tease as he drives the archon to completion.

It's still, when he thinks about it a little too hard, utterly baffling to him that he has done things like this with Barbatos. The sisters would be apoplectic if they knew.

But he doesn't care. Can't find it in him to care when they're both satisfied, cleaned up, and Venti is leaning up against his chest with his wings laid out. Diluc has one arm around his back, and the other hand idly moves along the arch of the wing spread across their bodies.]

How's that? [He murmurs, something almost reverent in his voice as he strokes his fingers over the feathers. Right now he isn't trying to rile Venti up, just... make him feel comfortable.] Good?

[notgrande]

[ The touch feels soft over the sensitive wings. The only physical reaction is the slight flutter of feathers as the wings twitch a little into the touch. He's certain Diluc knows that yes, it is in fact good, from the reaction alone. But he'll give the man an answer regardless. ]

Yes. It feels great.

[ He feels great. He seems to almost go naturally with the touch he gives Venti. The way he moves his fingers, shifts them over the wings? That gentle touch seems to almost come naturally to Diluc. It is so easy for him to touch softly, his fingers moving in a perfect motion over the sensitive feathers.

He tries to think of a way to describe it. ]

You're gentle with them, it's almost like you've done this before.

[ He appreciates that. He moves a hand up to tap his fingers idly over Diluc's chest where he's settled in comfortable. He's pretty honored that the other is so gentle with him. ]

[phoenixblessed]

I wonder when I might have had the opportunity to do something like that.

[Perhaps it was the last time they had been together like this? He had been given plenty of time to experiment then, and he hadn't forgotten which parts of the white wings provoked the most favourable responses. Back then, he had suggested that he was amenable to having Venti in his bed in any form as well.

If the slight frame of the Archon currently settled against him was anything to go by, that suggestion had been a well-received one. He had felt different like this. More fragile somehow. Maybe that's why he feels the need to be so gentle.

It's a far cry from his constant threats to kick Venti out of the bar or shake him down for money to pay his tab.]

I love you. [Diluc says then, softly, as he moves his fingers slowly through warm feathers.] You know that, right?

[notgrande]

I wonder.

[ He knows why exactly and when. He's glad he gave Diluc the chance to experience his wings then and now both. The man's soft touch feels great over the feathers. Venti liked being treated so gently and with such obvious care. Especially by someone that he clearly cared so much about. He stopped moving his hand, letting his palm lay flat on Diluc's chest and he let out a soft, happy sound.]

I do know that. And I know that I love you, too.

[ And he says it easily. He hopes Diluc understands that he means it -- not as his Archon. But as Venti. As a person who has gotten to know and care about someone. He's never really been so earnest with the things he feels, but he's finding it easier the longer he's here. And he thinks it's important, the longer they're here, to express that honestly.

Diluc is treasured. And Venti wants him to know that. ]

I can tell by how you treat me that you care about me, Diluc.

[ And it's not just when he's kind and gentle with Venti, it's always. It's those moments of exasperation that Venti sees it, too. Friends are honest about how they feel. ]

[phoenixblessed]

Mm...

[He hasn't always been the best at expressing his feelings. Hell, even now he wasn't always good at it. Diluc would trip over softer emotions, over putting them into words, and he had not always placed his trust in people that had come through for him when he needed them to.]

You're a mischief-maker, but I've never had reason to doubt your sincerity where it's important.

[Venti would joke and play around, play pranks and make fun, but when it came down to the important things he was always true. Always reliable. Diluc could forgive the little things if it meant knowing that Venti would always be there when he was really needed.

He shifts to kiss the top of the archon's head.]

I'm not sure if you realise how important it is for me to have people I know I can rely on entirely.

[notgrande]

[ He's had to lie so much about who he is at home that it came to be a habit, almost. But the people here - he's been honest with them. For the most part, he's shared that he is the Anemo Archon - Barbatos. It's been rather freeing to not have to hide it, too. He can live more honestly with the people he loves and that means a lot to him. More than he can really fully, properly explain. ]

You can always rely on me, Diluc.

[ He's trouble, certainly, but if Diluc called for him - he'd be there in a second. There's few people he'd drop everything for, and Diluc is among them. He shifts, tucking his head under Diluc's chin, smiling. And though he knows Diluc can't see it, it's obvious in his voice. ]

It means a lot to me to hear you say it, though. I mean...to hear that I'm trusted and cared for. To hear that you know you can without me having to say it. I don't --

[ He sighs. ]

I don't have a history of being the most reliable guy, but...there's a few people that I just want to be the best I can for - you among them.

[ It feels so good to be trusted. He's...not always been a great Archon, he sleeps often and has left people to their own devices. And while in many ways he still feels it has been for the best, there's certainly times where he could have been an asset had he taken action but opted against it. ]

[phoenixblessed]

[Well... he can't exactly deny that Venti may not have always been the most reliable of people. Before meeting him, understanding who he really was, and even for a time after that... Diluc would have probably said that he was not terribly impressed with the person who claimed to be the anemo archon. He was not one to be blinded by piety and Barbatos had not impressed him.

It had taken some time after, of getting to know the archon on a more personal level, before he had seen the true thread of loyalty and firm honour that lay at the core of him. That had been something that Diluc had been able to come to respect.

Venti, he thinks, may not be the most effective archon. But he is a very good friend.]

I'm going to hold you to that. [He says, pushing his fingers into Venti's feathered wings again. Diluc tucks his free hand under his head, huffing out a soft sigh.]

Do you want to get some sleep?

[notgrande]

[ There's a small, happy sigh that escapes when Diluc's fingers brush over his feathers. He nuzzles against the other's chest. He moves a hand up, brushing his fingers over Diluc's shoulder and arm. His own touch is gentle - almost as if he thinks Diluc is fragile. As if with every touch could possibly shatter him. The care he feels for Diluc is expressed in how he touches him, or snuggles in close. ]

I could easily sleep next to you.

[ A sign of trust, maybe? ]

You're very comfy, you know?

[phoenixblessed]

[He lets out a chuff of laughter. Diluc doesn't miss the almost reverent way that the archon chooses to touch him and he glances away from Venti's face, following the movement of his hand instead. When he shifts in closer, Diluc wraps his arm around him and gives him a small squeeze.]

I've been told. Warm.

[Whether by virtue of his Vision or simply because he's a naturally warm-bodied person, he doesn't know, but he has been told he's comfortable and cosy by those who have been daring enough to think they can say such a thing.]

You can go to sleep if you want to. I don't mind.

[notgrande]

I might, then.

[ The idea is comforting. Being held and close to someone and cared for the way that Diluc cares for him. He likes to return the favor - he wants Diluc to feel the same from him. He closes his eyes, tucking into that warmth. ]

Cozy. It's so nice.

[ A sigh. ]

Get some rest, too.

[phoenixblessed]

I will.

[And for once, he thinks he might actually do just that. Rest hasn't come easily to him for some years now, but being in a situation like this one makes it almost impossible to not relax.

He tucks one arm snug around Venti's waist, resting the other hand against his forearm as it drapes over his chest.]

I love you, Venti.

[notgrande]

And I love you, Diluc.

[ His voice is soft and filled with every bit of affection that Venti sensed from the other. He shifts his eyes closed. He feels the soft contact and the fact that he's being held - and it's impossible to not fall easily asleep when considering the warm body next to him. But more than anything - he feels safe and comfortable here. And while he's never had a hard time sleeping --

Sleeping this soundly is very different. ]