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It is a battle of wits, words exchanged over the flow of wine - he asks questions, passively as though they're just being friendly but she knows he's fishing for something. And Lumine evades, leaving only a trail of mysteries behind her, a song that is unfinished by the strum of a lyre or a story that has no ending. She wanders, after all, throughout Teyvat for answers she will never get answers to and so, nobody should receives answers on her. Kaeya pries for answers of home, and she hadn't thought about home in so long that it's just a dream to her. For years, it's only been her and Aether - her, Aether, and the worlds they have entered. Threads that connect her to people she will never see again (and she still whispers prayers for).
"Even after all this time, you still remain something of a mystery, Lumine," Kaeya says, half dramatic, half frustrated with how evasive Lumine is. "It's quite fascinating."
"I mean, if you got all of the information at once, wouldn't you get bored?" Lumine asks with a sweet smile that only holds back words she wants to say, observations of Kaeya's whole schtick. He gets bored easily, when not given everything at once but he also gives up when given too much at one time. Part of her wishes he would stop prying over the pretense of getting drinks together, wishes he would stop making her miss Aether and home and the life before Teyvat. Wishes he would kiss her like he kisses other women, because maybe she would stop feeling this stupid sense of longing but she knows, in the end, getting in bed with another won't fix it. "After all, it's no fun if I just tell you everything."
"It doesn't have to be everything, Lumi," Kaeya points out as he rests his cheek in his hand, observing as she tenses up. Over a simple statement. "You don't even wanna give me a little bit? What's your brother like?" He knows nothing about her, and she knows everything about him - she wants to keep it this way.
Lumine looks at Diluc's turned back for a moment and she considers spilling everything she can about her twin, her dearest family member - in hopes of getting underneath both of their skin. But she doesn't, because that's not fair. That's not right. After all, the people in Mondstadt has welcomed her with open arms and the last thing she'd want is to actually hurt them in anyway. They've done nothing wrong, even if she is so tired of Kaeya's questions.
"Aether is a lot like me, I guess," Lumine shrugs. "Though he's more sociable, likes to plan things out in the long term." She shakes her head. From the foggy memories of a life before the stars, she can make out the vagueness that he was a lot like their mother in so many ways. Always at the center of praise, always willing to help others out at the expense of himself. The world was much more beautiful with him at the helm of decisions. He wouldn't have tried to kill those Eremites in Sumeru City out of frustration during the hellish days of repeat. "What's your family like?" She doesn't miss Kaeya's quick glance at Diluc, nor Diluc's shoulders tensing. This never escapes her, the way Kaeya will sometimes slowly nurse a drink and stare at the red head behind the counter with some sort of saddened longing. Guilt.
Family is a poisonous subject, one that settles a sharp pain in the heart and drudges up buried thoughts and feelings.
"This isn't about me," Kaeya tactfully says with a forced smile. "And 'sides, you already know! My grandfather was a pirate."
"Are we still going with that story?"
"Oh? You dislike what could possibly be my family lineage?"
"The grandson of a pirate ends up in Mondstadt," Lumine says as she taps her chin. "And as a Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonious. Makes complete sense."
"Perfect sense, after all, it is coming from me."
Lumine snorts and a real, genuine smile crosses her face. "Okay, fine. You win, it makes total sense. Definitely."
A quietness settles between them and Lumine has barely touched her drink - she really isn't a fan of drinking. It sets her nerves on fire, makes her feel out of control - if she cannot be in control at all times, then there are so many bad things that can happen in an instant. Lumine watches as Kaeya's gaze goes back to Diluc, almost pained and frustrated and how the red headed Pyro user has yet to really acknowledge Kaeya's existence outside of getting him another drink or a simple greeting.
She knows everything about Kaeya, and he knows nothing about her - and if there's one thing she wishes she didn't know, didn't have the edge on is him and Diluc. At the center sits pain, unspoken and Lumine doesn't know the details, doesn't want to know the details. They've both built a house out of secrets, locked the door, and have yet to allow anyone to enter - they wallow in it as if it's barrier that could protect them from pain. And maybe tomorrow, Lumine decides, she'll tell Kaeya something else to add to the ever growing puzzle that keeps growing.
Because, underneath it all, she had found a small bit of trust in him. (And secretly, she both loves and hates it at the same time)