[nehan's voluminous coat comes in handy not just to hide his frail, scarred body from view, but also hide the splatter of blood and smear of ash. blood has been shed today, and then burnt away, and this grey bespoke suit will be a nightmare to clean.
he huffs and puffs as he catches up to diluc, after telling the knight captain that any business pertaining to himself will have to be conducted at the winery.]
Lead the way. I only have a rudimentary grasp on this land's layout, and I need you to guide me there.
I'll follow along for as long as needed. [famous last words.]
[Captain Alberich hadn't seemed even remotely surprised. Merely said he'd seen a messenger ahead of them when they did visit.
Diluc nods and proceeds down the stairs, matching his pace to Nehan's but he's on high alert. His gaze sweeps the streets like a dragon peering at his territory from above. Once they reach the city wall, he pauses turning slightly. Kaeya is on the stairs above them, arms folded and eye narrowed.
Just as he suspected. Diluc turns away and steps out of the gates. Home. He wants to go home so he can think everything over.]
[truth be told, he'll be glad not to have to traverse mondstadt city and its overabundance of stairs any longer. the flat streets are a boon, but certainly not the stairs.
he follows the human out through the gates, and tugs his coat even tighter around him as they cross the bridge. as he looks, he sees rolling hills to one side, and mountains on the other-- neither look very appealing for him to deal with.]
This way. [He turns right towards the tree lined path with the river on their right. But he scans around again. Diluc brings his fingers to his lips and whistles a lilting melody. A dark shape drops out of the sky as he lifts his arm up.
A falcon settles on his raised arm. He strikes just under her chin as he says,] Circle low, keep watch for us.
[Then he thrusts his arm up and she takes advantage of his gesture to launch into the sky. Diluc nods once to Nenah then continues while the shadow of the falcon passes over them.] This way is guarded by my people. Still I will be on my guard.
[the whistle brings nehan's shoulders up to his chin, his ears pulling back slightly. that was overly loud to his ears-- and louder still is the bird, the falcon, that diluc interacts with. he has nothing against birds, but this one is noisy.
his shoulders only come back down when the bird is far away enough that he cant hear it any longer, though his ears stay the way they are. he forces his left arm to move, and he puts it in the small of diluc's back, the highest he can raise it without having to use his other arm to move it.]
Don't slow down on my account. We've spent too long here already, and the sun is going down. It's... too ambitious to ask to be there before the last rays of light disappear, but the Fatui like to strike in the dark.
[now nehan's ears are active, first coming up to face the human before him, then moving outward to take in their surroundings, the noise of the ducks and pigeons. the water gently lapping at the bank. but he cant hear people, either from the city or the village up ahead.
[Diluc smoothly steps forward and sweeps Nehan up into his arms. It takes very little effort to do it. Without a word he takes off, moving fast for the Winery.
He sets a good pace and isn’t visibly strained at all. But being held by him reveals how deceptive his layers are. Diluc is all hard muscle.]
[nehan nearly barks in surprise as he's picked up without warning-- he should have seen this coming. he should have taken the question as warning enough. but he does make a noise almost like a bark, a near-yelp of distress that gets caught and strangled in his throat.
his ears standing straight up as he clutches the human's coat, he gives himself time to breathe and not think about how muscular the human is under all his layers of clothing, a stark contrast to the wolf-man's small, scrawny, atrophied form. then, when his ears have come down enough, one twitching and managing to flick against diluc's face, nehan wriggles and pulls his coat up over his face just to obscure his features.
he'll never live it down, if people recognize him in the future.]
[The ear is soft. It keeps flicking against his face but he puts it out of his mind. The distance passes quickly for him. It’s just a long sprint used to train up young knights.
He cuts cross country once he passes by Spring Valley. Just a little bit. They reach the grape vines just as the last rays of sun glitter out like delicate threads of gold.
Diluc nods to his people as he slows to a trot for the main doors.]
[under the coat, nehan's ears are squished and his hearing muffled, but he merely thinks worth it, for he cant see either, and thus no one would be able to see his face, or pick out his features. if he were to change out of his suit, which he is absolutely planning to do, no one would guess he's the scrawny fellow in diluc's arms.
right now, he's merely waiting to be put down, and his grip around his crutch tightens.]
We're there, I take it? [he's ready to be put down.]
Almost. [Diluc replies as the staff spot their master coming and open the door. He slips inside and heads up the stairs. As the door in the foyer clicks shut he sets Nehan back on his feet.]
Pick whatever room you like. The one closest to the stairs is mine but I can relocate for a time.
[He could have taken the master bedroom but he doesn’t. They’re not practical in his eyes and there’s the shadow of his father lingering there. At least to him.]
[nehan peeks out from under his coat, two lumps underneath the fabric twitching as his ears wriggle. then he tugs his coat back around his shoulders, and leans on his cane once more to take the pressure off of his bad leg.]
I cant use the stairs efficiently. I think you've noticed that for yourself. [still, nehan shuffles towards the stairs, slowly taking one step at a time.] You can keep your own room-- be it far for me to take it from you.
[he cant help but look around the place, and take a small sniff-- smells like grapes and wine. not juice, wine.
I have, this is temporary. There is a room on the bottom floor that will be cleared out for you. If you'd rather wait I'll lead you to the kitchen instead.
[Where he can make food for him. That might help both of them really. He could carry some work over there and do it while waiting on things to simmer.]
Then the kitchen it is. Do you have any preferences? [He gestures loosely in the direction of the kitchen and steps that way but waits. Once Nehan is with him he'll walk with him to the kitchen and push open the door. At this hour there's no staff. Diluc always tells them to take of their own families and selves. He can make his own dinners just fine.]
Proteins and grains are best suited for my body, the way it is now.
[that's not a proper answer to what diluc is asking him, but it's still an answer in nehan's eyes. after all, what is taste to a man whose tongue is dead?
then he pauses, thinking about the benefits of grains over rice and decides it's better to have rice instead.]
If you have rice, that will do. I'll prepare it myself, if you don't have the experience.
[Diluc slips his coat off and hangs it up on a hook on the wall. He rolls his sleeves up exposing forearms marked by various scars.] Rice is no trouble.
[He washes his hands and dries them while considering what he wants to make. Rice and protein. Egg or fowl? He stares at the door to the pantry in thought the walks over to the stove. He takes the right pan and sets it on a burner, turning it on.
He can feel the temperature building while he opens the pantry door. He walks inside, retrieving what he needs. Rice, eggs, and small scallions. It would be light today.]
[nehan's ears flick when he notes what's in the human's hands. so he does have rice... nehan wonders what's he's making, and unconsciously, he's paying close attention.
then he decides he should be doing something as well, and shrugs his coat and scarf off, leaving them hanging on another hook. his entire back, scarred and gnarled from years of whipping and abuse, is now visible for everyone to see, but nehan feels safe, here.]
Give the rice here, I have an idea of what to make, if you have an hour or so to spare.
My night is yours. [Body guarding Nehan is the tasks at to him for tonight. He refuses to leave his safety in the hands of anyone else. Jean had agreed with him. Diluc doesn’t look at his companion’s back as he takes a sharp knife from the butcher’s block and a cutting board.
He passes the rice to him then sets into finely chopping the scallions.]
[nehan eyes diluc for a moment before shifting his crutch up his arm and taking the bag of rice in his good hand. in such close quarters, he doesn't need to rely so much on mobility assistance.]
That makes you sound like a brainwashed servant, or indentured slave, for instance. [that's said as he empties the rice into a pot, and pours water to begin washing it.]
Of course. I know that's exactly what you meant-- I had to point out your choice in words, regardless. [because nehan is... well. he could be an expert in slavery, and the slave mindset at this point.
after washing the rice three times, he drains it and leaves the rice in a bowl, while he reuses the pot, filling it with water and setting it on the stove to boil.]
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he huffs and puffs as he catches up to diluc, after telling the knight captain that any business pertaining to himself will have to be conducted at the winery.]
Lead the way. I only have a rudimentary grasp on this land's layout, and I need you to guide me there.
I'll follow along for as long as needed. [famous last words.]
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Diluc nods and proceeds down the stairs, matching his pace to Nehan's but he's on high alert. His gaze sweeps the streets like a dragon peering at his territory from above. Once they reach the city wall, he pauses turning slightly. Kaeya is on the stairs above them, arms folded and eye narrowed.
Just as he suspected. Diluc turns away and steps out of the gates. Home. He wants to go home so he can think everything over.]
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he follows the human out through the gates, and tugs his coat even tighter around him as they cross the bridge. as he looks, he sees rolling hills to one side, and mountains on the other-- neither look very appealing for him to deal with.]
Which way now?
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A falcon settles on his raised arm. He strikes just under her chin as he says,] Circle low, keep watch for us.
[Then he thrusts his arm up and she takes advantage of his gesture to launch into the sky. Diluc nods once to Nenah then continues while the shadow of the falcon passes over them.] This way is guarded by my people. Still I will be on my guard.
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his shoulders only come back down when the bird is far away enough that he cant hear it any longer, though his ears stay the way they are. he forces his left arm to move, and he puts it in the small of diluc's back, the highest he can raise it without having to use his other arm to move it.]
Don't slow down on my account. We've spent too long here already, and the sun is going down. It's... too ambitious to ask to be there before the last rays of light disappear, but the Fatui like to strike in the dark.
Agents are more deadly with no light.
*strokes. Damn phone
We can get there before the light fades if you will permit me to carry you.
didn't even notice, shows you how tired i am
except when nehan is apprehensive about the plan, especially with his pride on the line.]
Carry me-- are you sure
Hope you sleep ok
It might not be the most comfortable ride. But I assure you that I can do it.
i want to punch insomnia in the face first
hopefully, no one notices.
and he nods.]
Very well. Comfort isn't important to me.
Absolutely a mood
He sets a good pace and isn’t visibly strained at all. But being held by him reveals how deceptive his layers are. Diluc is all hard muscle.]
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his ears standing straight up as he clutches the human's coat, he gives himself time to breathe and not think about how muscular the human is under all his layers of clothing, a stark contrast to the wolf-man's small, scrawny, atrophied form. then, when his ears have come down enough, one twitching and managing to flick against diluc's face, nehan wriggles and pulls his coat up over his face just to obscure his features.
he'll never live it down, if people recognize him in the future.]
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He cuts cross country once he passes by Spring Valley. Just a little bit. They reach the grape vines just as the last rays of sun glitter out like delicate threads of gold.
Diluc nods to his people as he slows to a trot for the main doors.]
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right now, he's merely waiting to be put down, and his grip around his crutch tightens.]
We're there, I take it? [he's ready to be put down.]
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Pick whatever room you like. The one closest to the stairs is mine but I can relocate for a time.
[He could have taken the master bedroom but he doesn’t. They’re not practical in his eyes and there’s the shadow of his father lingering there. At least to him.]
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I cant use the stairs efficiently. I think you've noticed that for yourself. [still, nehan shuffles towards the stairs, slowly taking one step at a time.] You can keep your own room-- be it far for me to take it from you.
[he cant help but look around the place, and take a small sniff-- smells like grapes and wine. not juice, wine.
appropriate, really.]
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[Where he can make food for him. That might help both of them really. He could carry some work over there and do it while waiting on things to simmer.]
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nehan hasn't eaten since he woke up early this morning to make the trek to mondstadt from one of the fringe villages.]
... I could stand to eat.
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[that's not a proper answer to what diluc is asking him, but it's still an answer in nehan's eyes. after all, what is taste to a man whose tongue is dead?
then he pauses, thinking about the benefits of grains over rice and decides it's better to have rice instead.]
If you have rice, that will do. I'll prepare it myself, if you don't have the experience.
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[He washes his hands and dries them while considering what he wants to make. Rice and protein. Egg or fowl? He stares at the door to the pantry in thought the walks over to the stove. He takes the right pan and sets it on a burner, turning it on.
He can feel the temperature building while he opens the pantry door. He walks inside, retrieving what he needs. Rice, eggs, and small scallions. It would be light today.]
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then he decides he should be doing something as well, and shrugs his coat and scarf off, leaving them hanging on another hook. his entire back, scarred and gnarled from years of whipping and abuse, is now visible for everyone to see, but nehan feels safe, here.]
Give the rice here, I have an idea of what to make, if you have an hour or so to spare.
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He passes the rice to him then sets into finely chopping the scallions.]
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That makes you sound like a brainwashed servant, or indentured slave, for instance. [that's said as he empties the rice into a pot, and pours water to begin washing it.]
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Then allow me to clear that up. Nothing I have to do is all that pressing or more important than keeping you safe.
[He slides the sliced scallions into a small bowl and takes a pan from above, setting it on the stove.]
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after washing the rice three times, he drains it and leaves the rice in a bowl, while he reuses the pot, filling it with water and setting it on the stove to boil.]
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