[Video]

[unmelting]

[The video opens on the smiling, eye-patch-wearing face of Kaeya Alberich. He looks cheerful enough, but more than that, there is something decidedly smug about his expression too. Not that that’s surprising, given who he is as a person. And besides, he has excellent reason to be smug at the moment.]

Tell me friends, are you the gambling types? Ever make any interesting bets or wagers that you won? Or, maybe more interestingly, lost? I’d love to hear your stories.

[Kaeya’s one visible eye is near sparkling.] You see, I’ve recently entered into such a bet. And I won, of course. Isn’t that right, Diluc?

[The view pans to the narrow shouldered Diluc Ragvindr with his arms crossed over his chest. A white cloak with a soft fluffy ruff. An open shirt that shows off his well-muscled chest that’s marred by scars. In short, he’s wearing Kaeya’s clothes. He sighs and pushes away from the wall, walking towards the Omni.]

Yes, and now you get to have your fun until two weeks are up.

[Despite his words he doesn’t seem all that bothered by Kaeya gloating. He seems quite calm and aloof as ever..]

As I told you, you wear this better. [Then he focuses on the view.] My questions are different from his. What interesting things have you discovered here?

[Kaeya laughs and lifts one shoulder in a shrug.] I don’t know, I think you pull it off quite well. I’m sure everyone would agree. [Right? Right everyone?]

Comments

private;

[entreats]

[ This is a little more unexpected. Sure, she shifted over to private as a conscious decision, to give him a little more privacy while she was addressing an issue he might not want everyone to know about.

But Ange didn't expect him to immediately offer up information he wouldn't just share out in the open. It stuns her for a moment, but thankfully it doesn't look too weird for her to be quiet for a moment anyway since she's listening to what he's telling her in the first place.

(Still, she can't help but wonder if his interest in the Zealots has to do because they remind him of something from his own world - but then again, it doesn't matter. The Zealots are a problem, and people would be interested in them and how to deal with them regardless.) ]

How do you suppose we do that though?

[ Yes, that's a 'we' - because Ange isn't some selfish idiot who hoists a task like that off onto someone else by themselves. ]

Getting close to a Zealot portal wouldn't be easy. Even tracking one down in the first place might end up being a pain.

private; cw: human farm mention

[searingwing]

[His hand falls to his side and the lector's image fades to nothing. He looks away with a far away look on his face. Then he raises his hand again and crafts the image of a zealot.]

Getting close to a portal won't be possible without a great deal of preparation. They told me that we couldn't go there without being like them or taken in by them. I don't like the idea of waiting until the time of mass kidnapping to strike. That's more time for them to treat people like a well to drain.

More time for those people they're using to be twisted into more of them. [A haunted look comes and goes across his face. He's a hero who can't ignore the plight of anyone. It's a flaw and a boon at the same time. He sighs.] None of this is something I wouldn't say publicly...all the same, thank you for giving me a little privacy to get myself back in order.

private; cw: human farm mention

[entreats]

.. it's okay.

[ That slight pause before she speaks up, even as Diluc has already finished speaking, is because Ange is still thinking. Both taking in the information that he is providing here, but also thinking about other possible angles on this thing. Possible solutions.

Maybe it's something to ruminate on for at least a little while. The Zealots don't seem to be as active this month, so maybe that means they still have some time. ]

I get that looking uncomfortable in public isn't always great. [ Scratch that 'always.' It's never great. Ange absolutely hates it herself, after all. ] Still, you shouldn't feel embarrassed or anything like that. I think what happened during that month last year really messed up a lot of people. If I hadn't been through worse, I think that experience would still be haunting my nightmares by now.