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it’s snowing in mondstadt, and angel’s share is closed.
diluc wakes up early, before the sun has had a chance to brighten the sky. he gets dressed, opting to wear one of his fancier coats. it’s a special day after all.
adelinde is up too apparently. diluc sees her as he walks downstairs, smiling fondly at the vase she’s dusting.
“starting your day early?” diluc questions, walking past her.
“as are you i see,” she responds.
“i have some pressing matter to attend to,” he reminds her.
“i haven’t forgotten master diluc,” adelinde says, the soft smile still gracing her lips.
the man nods once to her before he’s grabbing a basket he’d packed days earlier, and heading off in the direction of the door.
“oh and master diluc?” she calls before he can walk out.
“wish him well for me.”
diluc doesn’t respond, and instead walks out into the early morning. the fading stars still shine brightly down on him as he starts his day. he pulls his coat tighter around his body, convincing himself that the chill he feels is because of the winter weather and nothing else.
diluc’s first stop is angel’s share. he knows the tavern is closed, it was he after all, who had put up the sign telling patrons that it wouldn’t be open.
the redhead enters the bar, looking around at the deserted place and feeling slightly put off by the lack of noise. he almost considers calling a certain green bard to fill the silence, before shaking his head at the thought. today is not the day to hang out with an archon, no matter how talented a musician they may be.
diluc sighs as he walks behind the bar, grabbing a glass and several ingredients with practiced ease. he doesn’t rush the drink he’s preparing, instead taking the time to make sure everything is perfect.
when it’s done, diluc places the death after noon in front of the bar stool that sits to his right. he stands there, staring at the drink, believing that if he stares hard enough, a familiar tan hand will reach out and grab it.
no such thing happens, and diluc leaves the tavern shortly after.
his next couple of stops are within the city. diluc makes his way to the knights of favonius headquarters first, as much as it pains him to do so. jean is there waiting for him in her office. their meeting is one of little words, but the reason for diluc’s visit doesn’t need a title. she hands off a little package, and tells him to stay safe.
he visits lisa in the library, amber by the training grounds, rosaria and barbara in the church. then, he’s stopping by good hunter where sara refuses to let him pay for the food he’s buying.
diluc leaves the city and goes to the lake. he visits klee who isn’t blasting fish, for the water has frozen over. instead she just sits on the grass, looking far too alone.
“i thought he’d be back by now,” is all the girl says when her eyes meet his.
albedo and bennett stop him before he can cross the bridge and reach his next destination. they both have their own offerings, and diluc tunes out the words spilling from their mouths in favour of taking the items from their hands.
the snowfall stops, and diluc continues his journey.
he travels to springvale. past the tiny village lies a small pond that diluc often visits in the summertime. he walks around the water’s edge, picking the flowers that sprout up from the ground with great care.
the sun is starting to set when diluc starts for his final destination.
the snow crunches beneath his boots as he walks. the ache in his legs is numbed by the cold.
he walks, he climbs, he fights the stray monsters who dare bother him. until finally, right as the sun is slipping away and the stars are greeting him again, diluc reaches the top of starsnatch cliff.
he stumbles his way towards the familiar spot, where he never sits unless there’s snow on the ground and stars in the sky. unless adelinde is polishing up a certain vase and telling him to offer her well wishes. unless klee is looking up at him with those big red eyes of hers. diluc sits on the spot he hates so much and looks down.
there are calla lilies on the grave.
their delicate leaves have withered with time, their green stems have snapped. diluc replaces them with the ones he had carefully picked in springvale; like he does every year.
he clears the frost covered vines that curl their way around the headstone; like he does every year.
“you’ve always been so high maintenance,” diluc huffs under his breath.
the basket he’d been carrying with him is opened.
he lays out a blanket, and on it:
a letter from jean, and a book from lisa. a mini baron bunny, a bottle of wine, and a page of songs. meat skewers from sara. a drawing from klee, folded in half and branded with the words “for when you come back.”
a sword from bennett, and another drawing, this time from albedo.
finally, he pulls out a small painting, barely bigger than the palm of his hand, and places it with all the other things.
he stares down at the array of items, gaze landing on the painting, where a kid with blue hair and the brightest smile stares back at him.
he smiles back.
“happy birthday kaeya”