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On certain occasions Diluc mans the tavern himself, it happens that the jolly bard is there as well and shamelessly attempts to snatch a free drink uncovered by his performance. Tonight isn’t so different until the whining bard falls completely silent. Diluc had been partially ignoring him, yet wary enough for grabby hands and gusts of wind, that he didn't miss the abrupt cut of whimsical chatter.
Slowly lifting his gaze from the mug he’s cleaning, Diluc finds the supposedly inebriated bard all sobered up. Before he could question the bard, however, Diluc hears someone enter the tavern and sees the stiff rise of Venti’s shoulders. Huh. Seeing the usually jovial bard tense ever so slightly, and likely because of a person’s presence, is an intriguing sight. Not even his curt responses daunt the bard’s, frankly quite annoying, high spirits.
Diluc then lets his gaze wander towards the culprit and is met with an unfamiliar face.
How… strange. Seldom does Diluc encounter a face he couldn’t recognize in Angel’s Share. Moreover, he’s acquainted with nearly every citizen of Mondstadt so it’s rather shocking for him to actually see a stranger in his tavern. A traveler, perhaps?
“I never imagined he’d step a foot in here.”
Piquing his curiosity even more, Diluc glances at Venti who’s regarding the stranger carefully -- a type of wary he hasn’t seen the carefree bard display. The stranger in question proceeded further into the tavern, hardly acknowledging his presence nor Venti’s.
“Who?” Diluc allows himself to utter in a measured tone, not so revealing that he wants to know.
Venti turns to Diluc looking torn between astonished or amused as though he just cracked an ill-timed joke.
“My, my. Your detest for the Knights of Favonius truly wasn’t for show.” Diluc frowns. How were the Knights related to the stranger?
“But,” Venti intones. “I am surprised that Mondstadt’s reputable alchemist is beyond your radar, Master Diluc.”
As the word alchemist dawns to him, Diluc recalls mundane gossips about an outlander -- a genius alchemist that swiftly rose in the Knights’ ranks as soon as he joined. No wonder Diluc hadn’t recognized him. He knows Albedo, the Kreideprinz, by title and name. Kaeya speaks fondly of the alchemist, and as it seems, everyone in Mondstadt is enraptured by him.
However, he’s never crossed paths with Albedo himself, the odds never seem to let them meet.
“I’ve heard of him.” Diluc says. “Tonight is the first time I actually saw him.”
Venti hums, relaxing slightly.
“Now that I think about it, it’s not so surprising.”
Diluc merely cocks an eyebrow.
“Albedo is committed to his research, to alchemy . And you,” Venti gestures at the whole lot of him. “You’re busy with the winery and, well, being a vigilante. There’s no point of intersection for you two to meet.”
Something about the bard’s implication leaves an awful taste in his mouth despite it being the truth and pondering the same. Perhaps, Diluc is yet to tamper the fire that roars when others speak of the reality he knows well enough himself.
“Is what I thought but the alchemist is currently here in the tavern.” Venti adds, shrugging.
“You don’t seem to like him.”
In spite of the cheer in his voice, Venti responds cryptically. “Do I?”
Diluc doesn’t press further. When Venti dodges a certain topic, there’s no use coaxing him to talk. Not that he ever did. Similar instances remind Diluc that he’s actually speaking to their archon masquerading as a mischievous bard. Beneath his playful exterior lies millenia of wisdom -- knowledge about things not privy to mortals like him. Diluc knows as much.
Still, interest plagues his mind. After all, what are humans if not curious beings?
There’s something about the alchemist that unsettles the Anemo archon. This, Diluc can surmise. A man adored by his people yet the archon himself is cautious of. Why? Diluc wasn’t absolutely set on figuring out but he’d be lying if he denied curiosity.
“How about you, Master Diluc?” Venti queries, eyes gleaming mysteriously under the tavern’s lights. “What do you think of the Kreideprinz?”
“Is gossiping about his people fitting for an archon?” He gruffly replies.
The glint dies in the swirl of green and blue of Venti’s eyes, smile dropping and replaced by a petulant pout. Diluc blinks and briefly lives in a reality where Barbatos is an archon that lives up to his reputation, and not the childish god sitting at the counter.
“How rude. I simply believe that you’re a good judge of character and wanted to know your opinion.”
“It’s improper to judge someone without knowing them first.” He chides.
“Ah, and yet the Knights are constantly targeted by your improper comments.”
Diluc resists the urge to fling the bard across the place. He should remain respectful, Venti is still their archon at the end of the day.
“...that’s a different matter.”
“If you say so, Master Diluc.”
Venti easily bounces back into his usual persona, goading another free drink out of him then, and Diluc becomes too occupied to even notice an unfamiliar figure approaching the counter.
“Dare steal another bottle--”
“Pardon my interruption.”
Diluc bites back an annoyed retort aimed at Venti, head whipping towards the other customer, apology sitting idly on his tongue. Although the words die as he faces the owner of the mellow voice and discovers it to be the alchemist. Diluc hadn't gotten a clear look at Albedo earlier on his entrance. While he was distracted by Venti's wariness, Albedo had disappeared into some corner hidden from his post upfront. All that his memory served are pale skin and blonde hair.
So, now that he's actually looking at Albedo, Diluc feels a bit thrown off.
Albedo is pretty, for at a loss of better terms to describe the young man before him. It’s indeed quite an understatement but articulacy has escaped Diluc and his brain abandoned coherence the moment his eyes set upon the Chief Alchemist of the Knights.
Diluc remains standing there, like a complete buffoon, instead of serving the alchemist who came as a customer. Diluc, for one, isn't the kind of person who's easily flustered, rarely fazed by anything. He opens his mouth a few times but he can’t seem to will his tongue function properly. Hadn’t it been enough the embarrassment to be tongue tied in front of a Knight, out of all people, Diluc suffers the predicament of having the bard as a witness of this disaster of an interaction.
He purses his lips into a thin line, strangely feeling on edge. Venti continues watching in blatant fascination, and… is that a bottle of wine in his hand?
“Aren’t you going to tend to your customer, Master Diluc?” The bard drawls out teasingly, motioning towards Albedo.
He makes a note in his head to add the bottle in Venti’s growing tab before facing the alchemist again. Venti props his elbow on the counter, cheek in palm as he anticipated Diluc’s actions. Albedo, to his credit, keeps an astounding straight face despite having an audience devoid of tact. The lack of expression reminds Diluc of himself, yet Albedo’s appear more vacant of emotion than an act of keeping one’s guard.
Fair features and an empty look, Albedo comes close to what a real life doll would be. A really pretty doll. Diluc shoves the thought away before it could snowball into something bigger, troublesome, and unnecessary. He summons what ounce of dignity and voice he has left in him and finally recites a question that he shouldn’t have had trouble forcing out earlier at the immeasurable times it was repeated over and over.
“Your strongest drink.” Albedo’s expression or tone doesn’t shift in the slightest.
Diluc stares at the alchemist in rapt silence. Ascertaining the seriousness of his order. Even the bard’s interest averted towards the alchemist after hearing what he asked for.
“Feeling brave are we, Sir Alchemist?” Venti remarks aloud.
Albedo turns to him with the tiniest hint of a smile. “Albedo would be alright.”
Venti is taken aback only for a fraction of a moment, then offers a smile of his own. “Very well, Albedo. Then, you may call me Venti.”
Albedo nods then turns back to Diluc expectantly.
“You heard the man! Give him the strongest drink you have!”
Spoken like a true drunkard. Diluc shakes his head at Venti’s antics, already used at this point to be truly irritated. Despite his reluctance, Diluc concocts Albedo’s drink in a swift and efficient manner. Albedo doesn’t strike him as the type who can handle his liquor well, and in addition the drink isn’t just for anyone who happens to possess a high tolerance. Kaeya passed out not long after the first time he tried the mixture, even the bard who drinks more than he eats wasn’t fond of it.
He doubts the alchemist is an exception compared to the worst drunkards he’s known. However, it might be beyond his knowledge that Albedo is no lightweight. Refusing to serve another customer is going to leave a dent on the tavern’s profit as well. Albedo’s drinking endeavors are not his business anyways.
Diluc slides the glass towards Albedo who eyes it with curiosity. He looks up to him once again, and Diluc notes how his eyes sparkle like crystal ores.
“Can I also trouble you with a favor?”
“Oh!” Venti claps suddenly, stealing their attention. “Master Diluc will be happy to help you. He’s always doing unnecessary work for the sake of others but we appreciate it anyway!”
Diluc feels his blood pressure spike. But before he could grapple the bard who never knows when not to run his mouth, Venti is by the door of the tavern in a flash white feathers and unnatural gusts of wind. One hand holding a suspiciously half empty bottle, while the other is busy waving at Diluc and Albedo.
“With that, I shall take my leave. Thank you for your wonderful service and for this gift, Master Diluc!” Venti’s gaze shifts subtly as it lands on Albedo. “I hope you enjoy your drink, Albedo.”
For the first time in the entirety of they’ve spent together, Albedo actually looks confused when he glances back at him after the bard’s abrupt departure. There’s a slight crease on his forehead, lips pulled in a barely there frown. It’s the most expression Diluc has ever seen on Albedo and it’s gone in an instant. Albedo recomposes himself at a rate Diluc finds impressive, but it wasn’t enough to smother the disgruntled frown he wore on his face.
Albedo, as the observant alchemist he is, considers this and blinks.
“Perhaps, it is an inconvenience after all?”
Diluc sighs.
“It’s fine. Patrons don’t often come around this hour. I have nothing else to spare my time to.”
Albedo's lips quirk into a semblance of a smile, shooting a pang directly towards Diluc’s chest. Like an arrow, or a rapier sinking into flesh. A lethal weapon, Diluc realizes, witnessing a fully realized smile from the alchemist would be more than wounding. Fatal. Enchanting.
“I’m in your debt then, Master Diluc.”
“Diluc.” He says before his mind can catch up. “Just Diluc is fine.”
Diluc would rather eat a slime than address a Knight with more than the minimum cordiality. He doesn’t give exceptions even if there’s a whirlpool of conflicting emotions within him because of the Chief Alchemist. But a more honest part of him hopes to establish a casual footing between them, an acquaintance at least. The reason Diluc felt the need to do so, however, he’s not keen on uncovering.
Albedo’s features return to its passive state, Diluc would’ve been quite dispirited if not for the change in the alchemist’s tone as he spoke. It was faint and almost inaudible, but Diluc still hears the amiable layer present in his otherwise level voice.
“I will have you observe me as I consume glasses of this for a personal research of mine.” Albedo’s teal-stained orbs find him again, eyes holding a kinder gaze than before. “Are you sure it’s no trouble? It’s quite an odd request.”
Diluc nods. He agrees that it’s peculiar to ask for but hardly was it a task foreign to him. He’s kept an eye on too many patrons during his turns manning the tavern, it was needed lest situations escalate or god forbid their revered archon snatch another bottle without him knowing. Observing the alchemist won’t be a difficult task to take on.
Albedo smiles along with his eyes. “You’re nicer than most people say.”
Lungs seizing in a vice grip too strong, too tight for his comfort, Diluc holds his breath at the sight of Albedo smiling. Perhaps, he’s starting to understand why Kaeya and everyone else is terribly enamored by the alchemist.
“Most people?”
If Albedo notices the tremble in his voice, he doesn’t point it out.
“What I hear from other Knights.” Albedo’s fingers delicately wrap around the glass, long and thin. Then takes a calculative sip. “Ah, and Klee. She says you don’t smile.”
The little kid who carries explosives her arms could barely hold? Although he admits he’s not as warm as he used to be in his teenage years when it comes to people, Diluc had tried to be friendly towards her. After all, a child in the Knight’s care is more than concerning for him. The only reason he doesn’t further involve himself is the fact that he’s become clueless when it comes to handling children.
As the warm and tame parts of him were engulfed by larger and angrier flames, it had been swallowed to the point of indistinction. Diluc had countless encounters with her before, near the lake down the winery which he always chanced upon her alone without supervision bombing the fauna residing in the clear waters.
Perhaps, Albedo implying that Klee is rather unfond of him is due to his lectures. He does constantly chide her to refrain from contaminating the lake with her bombs. But, he has always made sure Adelinde served her biscuits and juice of her liking. Maybe it wasn’t enough to pacify her. Maybe, he’d been a little strict and harsh on her beyond his knowing.
Diluc didn’t expect her opinion to hold some weight for the alchemist though.
“Is she related to you?”
“Klee is… my sister.” Diluc hears a touch of hesitation near the end of Albedo’s statement, it reminds him of his own reluctance on a matter he often pushes aside.
Albedo grasps his drink with both hands, staring at the surface’s reflection with a distracted look. Everyone has their secrets to keep. Diluc clears his throat, it manages to snap Albedo from his stupor and he glances up at him questioningly tilting his head to the side. For some reason, it’s a splitting image of Klee when she first met him and invited her back to the winery.
“Klee seems a handful to deal with.” Diluc pointedly looks at the drink. “And aren’t you here because of a special research, Albedo?”
“You’re right.” A phantom of a smile graces Albedo’s mouth again. “On both counts.”
Nothing could have prepared Diluc for the whiplash of seeing Albedo adorn such a fond expression then down the entire glass in one drink. He hasn’t even cleared out what are the things he’s specifically to observe on the alchemist.
“Ah, I should have recorded the details first.” Albedo blinks, once, twice, thrice, and Diluc notices the way his long lashes casts shade on his skin.
“How are you feeling?” Diluc consults, partly worried.
No human can stomach a whole glass of that mixture in one go, since the concoction was inspired by Snezhnaya’s deathly local drink. It’s a mistake on his part that he didn’t warn Albedo. Guilt clouds over the dread of having to clean up because he’ll be at fault why the alchemist had puked his guts out.
Albedo, shockingly, shows no sign of discomfort and appears to hold his bearings as if he hadn’t ingested a drink that caused other drunkards to double over and vomit. Is he really holding up fine? Diluc scrutinizes Albedo, the only thing notable on his is the coloring of his cheeks. He wasn’t sure whether to be in awe or to be actually concerned.
Nothing about the situation was normal.
“I feel… strange. It’s as though there’s something warm in my stomach but I remember the drink to be cold.” Albedo’s brows furrow, the bridge of his nose scrunching as if he remembered or seen something unsightly.
“I may have made more errors than I thought.” He offers an apologetic look. “There are things I forgot to mention and inquiries.”
Even if Albedo’s speech isn’t slurred, he seems a bit scattered than he was earlier. Diluc takes notice of the evident flushing of his face now. Albedo is, more or less, still affected by the strong blend of the alcohol. Diluc’s shoulders unlock from tension he didn’t realize it held, and relaxes his posture as he’s confirmed the condition Albedo is in.
I shouldn’t have agreed in the beginning. He’s all alone. Diluc wouldn’t have batted an eyelash had it been anyone else to drink themselves shitfaced in the morning. He wouldn’t also move a muscle had it been any other Knight. He’d have no qualms leaving them outside the tavern, unconscious on the pavement. With Albedo, however, it’ll surely become the talk of the town.
Diluc can’t just leave him. Why not? He wrestles with his conflicting emotions and reason. He hasn’t gone out of his way to aid a single Knight, not even Kaeya or Jean ever since, though there had to be yet an instance where he has to intervene for them.
Why am I worrying for a person I just met?
Diluc’s attention refocuses on Albedo, and he finds the alchemist absently scribbling on his notebook, charcoal scratching on paper. He regards the dazed state of mind Albedo seems to have entered in his unresponsiveness, peering over the lines he has written which appear disorderly than a well thought-out process. The situation is gearing towards a direction Diluc isn’t enthusiastic to deal with.
He lifts his gaze up to Albedo again, studying the alchemist as he’s absorbed in his own bubble of cognition. Albedo is easy on the eyes, truly a sight to admire even in his quiet and drawn moments. Though, Diluc has never invested himself in discussions about which maiden is the fairest nor does he entertain underlying questions of who he fancies -- or at least attractive to his tastes.
He never deemed answering such questions beneficial or relevant. Besides, there’s not an answer he can give in the first place.
That is, until this point where he finally met the alchemist.
The band tying part of Albedo’s hair back rests on his wrist, probably taken off moments earlier. Albedo brings a hand up to tuck behind his hair obstructing his view, the effort turns futile as strands fall over the side. Diluc continues watching him, caught in a trance as he admires how Albedo’s blonde locks frame his dainty features.
Albedo is beautiful. Diluc stops, reels, and tightly grasps on the string of reality. Consciousness.
“This isn't formal research, right? You can proceed without the normal procedures.”
Albedo looks up to Diluc, owlish teal eyes staring back into his own. Cute.
“Yes. It’s more of a selfish pursuit if anything.”
“Then, you can come to the Dawn Winery and I’ll fill you in about what the drink is made of and for your other questions.”
Diluc isn’t certain why he felt compelled to make quite an offer to the alchemist. Was it an excuse to see him again? He blocks out all thoughts answering the question. Albedo mulls over the suggestion, and Diluc should not be staring for so long but the concentration and thoughtfulness the alchemist was displaying is very magnetizing. That he couldn’t help but keep his eyes on Albedo.
“You’re correct.” He acquiesces and Diluc feels the corners of his mouth tug upward.
“It would be better to focus on one task, balancing too many is detrimental in this case. I believed it would be efficient but I hadn’t accounted for the fact that I am the one being observed. I can’t expect nor demand you to be as particular as I am when it comes to recording data either.”
“I’ll remember everything, if that helps.”
The smile that spills over Albedo’s expression this time around is easier prompted, genuine and real . Diluc’s heart stutters in a staccato rhythm. He’s forgotten that it was capable of doing so.
“How kind of you.” Albedo gratefully remarks. “I don’t think a simple thank you and a tip would suffice. Your help is truly appreciated. Should you need assistance in anything, I’ll gladly do you a favor.”
“You should thank me when it’s done.”
“Oh. It seems that I’m not as sober anymore.”
“Before we continue,” Diluc settles on a stool directly across Albedo. “Why did you come here alone? It’s dangerous even for a man of your caliber to get drunk on your own.”
Albedo leans on the counter, Diluc resists the urge to back away.
“My peers are not comfortable in establishments like this. I’d rather not trouble them with a personal experiment of mine as well. As for Sir Kaeya, he would be much an ordeal than the experiment itself in spite of his cooperation.” Diluc stiffens faintly at the mention of Kaeya. Agreed. “I don’t anticipate myself to reach an extreme point of intoxication, anyway. I’m assured I can hold my own ground.”
“We’re similar in a way.” Diluc says.
Albedo’s elusiveness wasn’t unheard of. Diluc is aware that the alchemist typically coops up at the frigid mountains of Dragonspine, in search of groundbreaking discoveries, as people say. Interacting with Albedo himself makes Diluc wonder if the alchemist retreated into Dragonspine for the isolation it provided. He wonders how much of Albedo relies on others, or does he rely on himself only?
Diluc wonders what drives Albedo to keep himself away from others in the same manner he does.
“You think so, Diluc?”
“I still think it’s unwise to conduct this particular research of yours alone.” He sternly insists. “You should have ensured your safety first, Albedo. We’re practically strangers, who’s to say I am someone to be trusted? There’s a chance I can harm you when your guard is down.”
A knowing glint dances within the starlight of Albedo’s eyes and Diluc’s chest lurches forward. He feels completely seen -- naked down to his core. It shouldn’t be possible. Albedo knows nothing about him, he doesn’t know Diluc. Albedo’s mouth curves, a somber smile that protects and hides more than it shows about the alchemist. Diluc realizes that he doesn’t know Albedo either.
But he wants to. As illogical, irrational, and unfounded as it comes, Diluc wants to know Albedo.
“Had any of that amounted to the truth, I wouldn’t have chosen Angel’s Share.” Albedo lays his palm upside on the counter, open. “If I sensed that you were likely to harm me, I would have left the tavern and abandoned the experiment entirely.”
“Us having this conversation proves you can be trusted. At least, in my judgement. I highly doubt you’re one to take advantage of the weak.”
“One can never truly say until it’s happened or not.” Diluc argues.
Albedo pauses as if to gather his thoughts.
“I’ll simply trust you won’t then.”
“You’re strange, alchemist.” Diluc says, though amused by his eccentric character.
“So I’ve been told. I merely pursue knowledge, from unknown to known, and I happen to find you of interest too.”
Again, nothing can prepare Diluc from such a statement. He coughs into his fist, a measly attempt to hide the rising hue on his cheeks from the alchemist. He’s drunk, indeed. Diluc can’t imagine someone who seems methodical as Albedo to be able to utter that kind of phrase.
However, it does bring forth a familiar and comforting warmth that’s welcome.
Diluc huffs in amusement, smiling ever so slightly in return.
“Let’s get back to why you’re here.”
Certainly, it will be a long night until dawn but Diluc doesn’t mind.