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Diluc stood at the end of the ballroom, glancing over all the other attendees, frowning. He'd never been one to enjoy balls, but here he was attending one in Fontaine on business. At least, what he hoped was business, but was slowly showing to be just a large number of nobles and wealthy families mingling in a high society setting.
Ever since childhood, Diluc hated attending balls. They were filled with obnoxious people, food that never tasted right, and music that was deafening if they never got the right musicians. It was something he scorned, and was glad to leave behind when he first started training as a knight, but as fate would have it all paths lead back to him standing in the hall watching people move and interact.
His saving grace in this nightmare of an evening was the fact that it was themed as a masquerade ball, so he didn't really have to show his face. That meant fewer people recognized him, meaning fewer people he had to talk to. At least a small benefit in his books, all he had to do was stand around and acknowledge something and not have to interact with the other attendees.
He was lucky as well that, despite her want, Adeline had dressed him rather casually. She had picked out a suit laced with golden trims and more jewelry but allowed Diluc to wear the less extravagant outfit. It was a simple maroon color, the lapels a silky black to complement, a black button down, a white handkerchief, his normal tie, and as minimal jewelry as he could get away with. The only part that was extravagant about his outfit was the phoenix mask he had on, decorated with red and orange gems alongside bright red feathers.
He stayed close to the hors d’oeuvres, snacking on small foods that were most definitely more of a show of wealth than taste. Truthfully, he could probably find some hole-in-the-wall restaurant that would have better food than this.
That was until a young woman came up to him.
She gave him a small curtsey and offered her hand, “Apologies for bothering, but do you think that I could have this dance, sir? You seem rather lonesome here, I would hate for people at this ball to never have a chance to dance.”
Almost as if that's what I wanted, Diluc thought to himself, hoping it didn't show on his face. He took her hand, “Thank madam, I appreciate your concern. Though, I must warn you, I don't dance very often.”
She smiled at him, “It's quite simple, just follow my footsteps and you'll be alright.” She led him onto the floor as the musicians began to play a simple waltz. Diluc had waltzes burned into his brain, so it was second nature as he danced.
What intrigued him more was the woman who had asked him to dance.
She was much smaller than him, and it felt as if she was somehow hundreds of years older and younger than him at the same time. Her hair fell as if it were seafoam on a beach, and her outfit was a mix of a dress and suit. Her centerpiece, however, was the oceanid-esque mask she wore, covered in sapphire and what looked to be hydro gemstones.
She smiled as she led him around the room, and it felt as if all eyes were on them.
Or that was what it felt like when he locked eyes a few times with a man in a gray suit who seemed to be paying more attention to him rather than the partner he was dancing with.
Diluc quickly averted his gaze back to the woman who hummed and continued to spin him around the ballroom.
The song closed and the woman gave him a bow, “Thank you, I do hope it was enjoyable for you.”
Diluc bowed back, “I appreciate your kindness.”
She smiled, “But of course, I do hope the rest of my ball is enjoyable for you.” With that, she left.
Diluc froze after she left. It was rumored that the ball was organized by the Hydro Archon themself.
He had just danced with the Hydro Archon.
“Excuse me, sir,” A voice called from behind him.
He tore himself away from his thoughts as he watched the woman, no, the Hydro Archon, walk back to another attendee. He turned around and saw the man who had been watching him dance.
“Sorry to bother you, but you caught my eye during that last dance, and I was hoping to take this one from you,” The man said as a smile lay on his face.
He was taller than Diluc, with ginger hair that was a mess, but somehow still together and formal. A fully gray suit, a maroon button-down shirt, and adored with minimal jewelry. His mask was covered with small crystals rather than gems and was shaped like a whale.
Something about him felt dangerous. Something hungry with the way he looked at Diluc.
And for some archon damned reason, Diluc wanted to know what it was. It felt like it was drawing him in, offering him the temptation to know why the man seemingly bored into in soul.
“I believe that they said it was a newer dance, a Tango I believe,” He said offering his hand out.
Diluc took his hand, “I believe I've heard it, but I've yet to practice and learn it.”
“I'm sure you'll be alright, simply follow my lead. You seem quick on your feet, you'll pick it up in no time,” The man said smiling.
Diluc wasn't usually fond of following, but the feeling that he might get answers of why allowed him to make an exception. It didn’t help that lifeless eyes that stared back at him felt familiar like he’d stared into the before under a different light, a cold one that the warm yellow lamps of the hall.
The music started as a violin and piano started together calmly, a small cello allowing for assistance in pushing the lighter instruments to shine, but it felt strange. Viewing the other people on the floor, they were very close. Very close.
He felt the other man's hands trace up his sides before grabbing his shoulders and pulling Diluc to face him. He continued to let the man lead him as they danced. Being spun and dipped before pulled up again, hands continued to trace him slightly as they moved.
It slowly felt as if the world around him melted away and it was simply him and the man in front of him in the ballroom alone. The man attempted to kiss his hand before Diluc quickly pulled it away and continued.
He was pulled in closer every time they had separated, it felt as if he could feel the other man's breath ghosting on his face. Close enough that if they weren't careful, their masks would clash and ruin the rhythm and possibly break.
The music simmered for a moment, calming down to its original strumming, the two simply circled each other, watching, waiting. The man pulled Diluc in again, holding him close, dipping him before the music picked up and the two spun. It felt as if time slowed for them, just as it had felt as if the whole hall had melted away again.
Diluc stared into the man's blue, almost lifeless eyes, as a question formed on his lips.
“Who are you?”
The man smiled at him and drew Diluc in close.
“A shame, I remember you, red.”
Diluc felt his chest tighten as if he needed to prepare for an attack in order to stay alive or to make it through a blizzard.
Then it hit him. “You’re a harbinger,” he thought out loud breathlessly, only to be responded with a simple grin. It was him who was…
The music picked up, sickeningly so, the violin screeching and a cello taking over its sound. Its tones were strong and deep, taking over the melody from the violin that once stood at the forefront of the music.
The harbinger caressed his face as he began to lead again, this time it felt that there was more force, and dominance in his movements compared to him simply teaching and leading Diluc for him to get an understanding of the movements.
Diluc felt as if he was being torn into pieces, bit my engulfed bit. He was being eaten and drowned alive by the other man. A wave so powerful that it would extinguish the flame that kept him alive, swallowing it and claiming it as another victory.
He felt trapped, ensnared, strangled, by the man's gaze, as if he wanted to take Diluc’s head and mount it like a prize on a wall. Like this was just another simple game of chase to him, and that he would devour and drown him whole if he could.
He felt like a bird that was stuck in the jaws of a wolf that had finally caught it after waiting. He couldn't figure out if it was out of starvation, or pure enjoyment of seeing him suffer.
A wild beast, eaten and rammed into by a dozen hungry creatures that needed to feel the adrenaline of killing something so massive.
Diluc felt as if the primordial sea had come over and was taking his life, drowning him simply because it could, and because it wanted to.
Nothing about this out of starvation. This is the man’s way of a sick pleasure of watching Diluc suffer. This was a want, something to purely show off, it was nothing more than a show. A game.
He wanted to pull away, but the harbinger held him tightly, as they continued. The cello deafening in his ears as the violin screeched its final cry of mercy, the cello overpowering it in the end after having stayed hidden and keeping pace the whole time.
Diluc panted with his eyes wide, staring at the man above him as he did a final dip in this- this- this hunt.
Deep blue lifeless eyes stared into a burning red. He simply smiled down at him, something told he knew of the effect, the devouring, that he had just caused.
He pulled Diluc back up to his feet and gave him a small bow, “A pleasure dancing with you sir, perhaps we could dance again one day.”
Diluc wanted to scream, to shout, to expose the harbinger where he stood, to burn him alive so that he may have known what it felt like to be hunted.
He did none of those things. He simply stood there frozen, head moving up and down on autopilot.
The harbinger smiled oh so sweetly. “Enjoy the rest of the ball, red.” With that he walked off the floor as if nothing happened, speaking with what must have been colleagues he attended with.
Diluc felt hot, he heard music pick up again and quickly made his way out of the hall into a bathroom.
He slammed and locked the door as he entered. He tore his mask off and stared into the mirror, panting. He felt like he had barely escaped with his life, but he looked nothing more than slightly tired from dancing.
He inspected his face in the mirror. There had to be something there.
And yet he was met with nothing other than the marks from where the mask had laid.
He felt hot as if his vision had enveloped him, wanting to burn him alive to ensure the waves the harbinger almost drowned him with failed.
Of course, that would be if it weren’t for the fact that visions were prohibited from the event and it sat in a safeguarded area away from him at the moment.
But how in Teyvat was he able to feel elemental energy through him, as if he could feel it course through the harbinger’s pure presence?
He looked in the mirror again.
Who, no, what, was that?