Kaeya paused in his spot, waving at the air still. " What ? Did you drop something ... ? I have to make sure you're in one piece first, you know. "

/ don't mind my noobish german. i haven't used it in ages. also, polyglot kaeya. he speaks common, one or more sumerian dialects ( likely the most common one and idk what else ) and mondstadtian fluently. he also knows a little fontainian, just to rizz people.

Waving away the smoke and debris. Coughing a little, until he notices the scholar laying there. He's rushing over.

" Hey ! Are you alright ?! Mein Gott, du Verrückter ——— ! What did you do this time ? " 💧

Squatting down to check the other for injuries.

He heard a loud bang ... Is @heretictree.bsky.social causing chaos again ? 💧 Could be Klee, but something tells him it's not her this time.

At least, Anaxa is good to Klee. That's an automatic ten points in the scholar's favour from Kaeya.

Kaeya grimaced a little. " I'm not so sure I trust your new friend ... Besides, Grandmaster Jean would be furious either way. Can't you play without making things explode ? " 💧

He shrugged. " Aren't I always ? Tavern won't be opening for another few hours right ? We have plenty of time for a drink. "

" How about you join me for a drink, Master Diluc. You can bring your juice if you don't want liquor. " ✨

Kaeya sighed. " She shouldn't be blowing up anything. And neither should you. Are you trying to get on Grandmaster Jean's bad side ? "

" So what ? Is it against the law to drink wine before the evening ? "

@noctua-luminis.bsky.social, that's a sign that you should treat me to some Dandelion wine.

Oh, great ... Double trouble. 💧

" If Grandmaster Jean catches you two, you're in for an earful. And you might end up arrested for real. " he looked at Anaxa.

Ah, right. The explosions ... 💧

It could've been Klee, but he'll take his chances and have a look.

Looking for a certain, small alchemist who causes chaos wherever he goes. Anyone seen him ?

" Me too. It was nice having a big brother. " he elbowed Diluc gently. " Still is. "

Kaeya joined him, head slightly lowered. " Mn. Master Crepus took me in when I had nobody else in the world. I'm grateful to him. "

" My hair wasn't that long back then, remember ? Other kids just hated me because I wasn't a local. "

Kaeya smiled lightly. " Yeah, it was nice not to have him pull my hair all the time ... "

I bet my ass he'd rather see you happy with a man, than utterly miserable with a woman you don't love. Maybe he was naive on the matter, because he grew up in a different era, but he wasn't cruel like that. "

those around you and their archaic opinions regarding sexuality ? Besides, time moves on. More and more people are becoming open about being gay, bisexual, what have you. "

He grabbed Diluc's wrist, because the glass was about to overflow.

" Master Crepus loved you. You were his pride and joy. +

" Master Crepus was always lenient with me because I wasn't his biological son. I don't claim to know what being the heir feels like, but having known the man who raised us both, do you really think he'd want you to grow up miserable in the end ? Forced into a mold that isn't you, just to please +

I didn't become Captain just because I'm handsome, you know.

" Yeah. Don't pretend you don't remember. " he chuckled again.

" Well, was it worth it ? "

" Ah, Sumeru's desert. It's ... a little overwhelming. It's always nice to bring souvenirs back to your loved ones. Especially the elderly. "

" You make it sound like I hate you. " he chuckled. " Sure, you're stubborn as a rock, but we grew up in the same house. And you defended me when other kids bullied me. Remember that boy, William ? You punched him in the nose because he tripped me. "

" Long journey. If you came this far, trinkets might be nice as souvenirs. "

Kaeya glanced at him. " Why such intense surprise ? Are you implying I'm ungrateful to the man who raised me ? "

" You're clinging to old-fashioned bullshit and making yourself miserable ... " he mumbled, tracing the rim of the glass, absent-mindedly.

" So what if people talk ? Are people's opinions that important ? Are they worth forcing yourself into a stereotype that isn't you ? "