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“It’s been a while. What brings you here this time? Are you here representing Dawn Winery, or are you here as ‘Owl’?”
Lumine leans around a stall at the black market she’s currently exploring. Yes, technically she had been hired to manage ‘interpersonal relations’ during the market. But that left her a lot of free time to explore and check in with people.
What she hadn’t expected was Nefer to show up personally. Or to hear her use that tone of voice. Who was she speaking to? Judging by what she’d just said….but it couldn’t be…
“Take your pick.” Lumine nearly chokes on her next breath as she leans around the wall of the stall even further, finally catching a glimpse of a red ponytail. What is Diluc doing here??? “Even Owl would take issue with people smuggling the winery’s products.”
Ah shit, he’s here about the wine stall. Run by the man with a distinct lack of a Mondstadter accent. And considering what Varka had said earlier…. Diluc won’t cause trouble right? But Nefer is here. Why is Nefer here actually?
“I understand.” Nefer continues, “but please be assured that I would never pit the rules of the Voynich Guild against the interests of the Dawn Winery.” What are they, fellow mob bosses?? “Our longstanding collaboration is far too valuable to me for that.”
What is actually happening right now. Lumine looks back and forth between Diluc and Nefer and squints. She’s not misinterpreting right? At the very least, they definitely know each other. Fairly well at that.
And wait- Nefer just said-
Diluc grabs one of the cups from the stall with a sample of the wine in it and throws it back like a shot. Doesn’t Diluc not drink??? Though Lumine supposes he probably has to be at least somewhat familiar with the flavors of wine but still. Did he even taste it?
“….” Diluc stares at the cup for a moment before setting is easily back on the counter. The stall owner twitches and Diluc glances at Nefer. “I see. So, this isn’t from our cellars at all. It’s not even from Mondstadt.”
Well Lumine had already figured that much. She hadn’t even tried it. And Nefer basically said so earlier, what with ‘not wanting any conflict between us’. So why the farce? Lumine looks between Nefer and Diluc again. Something’s fishy. And it’s not the sea air.
Diluc looks back to the vender, suddenly bored. And like some detective from an Inazuman light novel spells out the whole schtick right to the vender’s face. Which seems unnecessary to Lumine.
“I’m guessing you learned a few of our wine-making techniques, then brewed your own liquor using local ingredients from Nod-Krai. Imitations like these are no threat to our business.”
Obviously. Lumine wants to shout. Diluc isn’t dumb, he should’ve been able to take a glance at the whole stall operation and known it was fake from the start! Lumine was able to put it together with only a few clues, the actual owner of the Dawn Winery should have been able to tell at a glance. Is he playing dumb on purpose? Maybe there’s something else going on like yesterday with the weapons smuggling? Lumine glances around, but her instincts aren’t warning her of anything, and nothing appears out of place. She glances back to Nefer and makes the briefest eye contact. She just looks smug. Which is even more confusing, before she goes back to watching Diluc. Well, Nefer’s entertained at least.
The stall owner splutters and puffs and blathers on some nonsense about the quality of his wine and that this is a black market so none of this matter’s blah blah. He looks so pissed it’s almost funny. Would be funnier if Lumine wasn’t still so damn confused.
Diluc mocks the fraudster. Again. Which Lumine feels is sort of overkill at this point but, she digresses. A ‘perfectly palatable product’. Uh-huh sure. At a Mondstadter’s standards that’s basically the politest way to tell him his wine is shit. Varka’s assessment of it being bland was kinder than that. Though Varka is generally, on the whole, a nicer person than Diluc.
After verbally destroying the poor vender, Diluc turns to leave almost immediately, and Lumine decides it’s finally an acceptable time to join the conversation.
“Leaving so soon?” Nefer asks, and Diluc pauses. There’s that voice again. Don’t get Lumine wrong, Nefer always talks in a….mildly sultry sort of manner. It’s not the condescending sort of way that Yae Miko speaks. But Lumine reads it as a similar sort of tactic. A distraction. But this…Lumine has interacted with Nefer enough over the last few months in Nod-Krai to know this was out of the norm. “Can’t I persuade you to come to the Curatorium of Secrets for some tea with me and your old friend?” Oh so now Lumine’s involved? Sure, she’ll bite.
“I didn’t want to interrupt earlier.” Lumine glances at Diluc with a raised eyebrow. “Didn’t want to interrupt your sleuthing.” It’s a silent question of ‘what the actual fuck was all that nonsense just now’. One Diluc should have heard loud and clear, considering all the times they’ve worked together before.
But Diluc doesn’t even pause. Doesn’t even spare Lumine a glance as he responds to Nefer blandly.
“Ah, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”
????? Lumine gives Nefer an incredulous look as Diluc just….walks away.
“That’s a shame.” Nefer replies, sounding genuinely disappointed. Lumine will address that in a minute but first-
Diluc pauses before Lumine can lay into him, and without turning around he begins to speak.
“Next time you’re back in Mondstadt, pay me a visit at the Angel’s Share. At least there I can offer you a genuine Dawn Winery vintage.” Lumine glances to Nefer, but from the way she’s still standing facing away from Diluc after he’d walked past her--her eyes already focused on something else--it’s clear the statement was meant for Lumine. Diluc has the nerve to just wave a hand in the air before he continues off. Quickly disappearing amongst the tangle of metal stalls. She presses her lips together before turning back to Nefer and giving her an expectant look.
Nefer sighs.
“It really is too bad. I thought if I looped you into our teatime he might have been lured in. No luck.”
“Seems I’m the only fish biting today.” Lumine says sourly.
“Oh come on don’t be like that, you even got invited for a drink.”
“Yeah, after the asshole blew me off.” Lumine tilts her head, “and it’s not like you didn’t get anything out of the ordeal.”
“That’s true. To see the ‘Owl’ at work is always entertaining.”
“Dinner and a show.” Lumine remarks dryly. And Nefer just gives her a smile in return. “Will you actually explain or..?” Nefer sighs.
“I suppose you’ll probably get the truth out of him when you’re next in Mondstadt anyway, so I might as well tell you.”
Lumine shrugs. She will neither confirm nor deny-
“We’ve interacted on several occasions,” Nefer crosses her arms. “Some more…personal than others.” Lumine snorts. She knew it. Diluc and Nefer??? Never would have seen that one coming. Nefer continues while ignoring Lumine’s silent commentary. “Unfortunately, we ended on a rather poor note the last time we met. I did hope to rectify that today when I heard he was here but…” Wow. Nefer actually seems genuinely upset. Inasmuch as she ever expresses anything she’s feeling. Lumine squints in thought.
“Well…it couldn’t have ended too poorly.” Nefer raises an eyebrow in question. “Diluc probably knew the second he saw the stall that it wasn’t worth his time. Honestly he may have known before he even got to the expo. But he still came, you heard he was here, and then he bothered to go through the whole performance of decimating the fake smuggler. Clearly he was putting on a show for a reason.” Lumine shrugs. Nefer can deduce the rest.
Nefer hums thoughtfully. “You do make a good point. I’ll have to consider this further. But on that note, I must be going. See you after the contract ends.” Nefer doesn’t wave, but at least she knows how to say goodbye, unlike some people from recent memory.
Lumine scowls. Diluc is getting an earful the next time she’s in Mondstadt. She huffs before going off to continue her rounds through the black market. Only two more days, then this event will be over, and she’ll be free to roam once again.