Kaeya visits the Dawn Winery... a lot.
He has multiple reasons and excuses that change every time he is greeted by Adelinde.
An investigation on the Darknight hero.
A mission he received from Jean.
A short detour from his patrols.
One time, all he did was ask for a glass of wine before he went his merry way.
Another, he spent a bit more time within the building, creating jam with Adelinde.
Diluc occasionally catches the man approaching the winery from a distance. If he was lucky enough to evade Kaeya's attention, he would send Adelinde to talk to the cavalry captain in his stead. As for the other times, Kaeya would glance up to meet his eyes from where the cavalry captain was standing by the entrance - thru his tinted windows somehow. The younger man's eyes would be glinting mischievously, his ever-present smirk slowly growing on his face.
"Gotcha," his face seemed to imply.
Diluc simply huffs in frustration before leaving his room to spend a couple of moments bantering with the other.
Diluc knows how frequent Kaeya's visits were. He fully expects at least 2 visits in a week...
...The idea that Kaeya frequently visits but never stays... leaves a bitter taste in Diluc's mouth.
Kaeya himself had said that Dawn Winery was his home. If he thought so, why was he always doling out excuses just to be here?
Doesn't Kaeya know he is welcome any time?
Does Kaeya know he could stay?
.
.
.
Like clockwork, Kaeya visits the Dawn Winery.
This time, Kaeya manages to meet his eyes- thru the tinted windows somehow.
Diluc huffs, leaves his room, and meets the other by the entrance.
Kaeya tries to give an excuse for his visit.
Diluc interrupts by saying "you don't need a reason to come home".
.
.
.
'Gotcha' Diluc thinks. He feels as if he won something upon being met by Kaeya's stunned face and hearing Adelinde's giggles at the background.
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The Evermore was a beautiful place, if a bit squishy. The clearing was tidy and cute, with witchy looking buildings. The witch herself, Shelby, emerged from a building at Cub’s calls.
“Omg hi Cub! I’m so glad you came!” Shelby said.
“Of course. You said something about needing some help?”
“Yeah!” Shelby clapped her hands. “See, beyond the Evermore is a mysterious fog, and I’m stumped in what to do about it. I want to know why it’s there, and what’s causing it. I was hoping you could help me figure this whole fog thing out- magic seems to be a bust, but maybe science? And you’re wearing a lab coat.”
“Yep. That’s the only credential you need in science, definitely.” Cub said. “Is it dangerous in there?”
“Well, maybe. Kind of? Yeah. People keep going in and not coming out. Not everyone! Most people just hear voices or get their soul stolen. It’s weird in there. Definitely ghosts. Maybe. I don’t know.” Shelby gave him a very nervous smile.
“Well, I’ve got the power of this big axe that Katherine gave me on my side, I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Cub said, hoisting his battle axe before putting it back in its holster. “I’ll slice down any ghost.”
“Awesome! Well, good luck!” Shelby said, waving him off.
And so Cub went, checking behind every tree and root he passed. The mangrove forest was huge, and the deeper he got, the harder it was to see. At first he thought it was just the density of the foliage, but an odd coloration to the air and a rather offensive smell made him realize that the fog was here. And then came the whispers.
“Hello?” Cub pulled out his battle axe, looking around nervously. The whispers in the fog didn’t necessarily sound dangerous, more like an out-of-earshot conversation he wasn’t part of. But the way Shelby had looked at him, the genuine fear in the eyes of the witch who lived with the fog at her back, kept him on edge. And there was this distinct feeling of dread that Cub could feel radiating from his very soul. Someone was watching him. Someone was waiting for him.
“Are you lost?”
Cub gasped, swinging all around him, but only hitting a tree. There was a voice, echoey and almost lost sounding, but definitely distinct from the whispers.
“Who- where are you?” Cub whirled all around, seeing nothing except the fog and the shadows of trees. “What are you doing?”
“I’m not doing anything- oh, no, Friend, don’t- oh my god.”
Something blue came out of the fog, and Cub swung at it. The axe went right through it, and Cub stood dumbfounded with his axe buried in the mud, looking at a blue sheep. And behind it emerged a tall man with a yellow sweater with a gash in it. Cub yanked the axe out of the ground.
“Literally so fucking rude to swing at an animal, lucky Friend has infinite lives.” The man, Cub noticed, was translucent. So was the sheep. He could see the fog through both of them. “So you’re lost and scared, then. They usually are.”
“You’re what’s been causing this fog!” Cub exclaimed, holding the axe aloft again. “I can’t believe I found you!”
“No, you’re being silly.” The ghost said firmly, holding out a hand. “I am Ghostbur, not a fog. Ghost. Not fog. See the difference? I’m just like, here, man.”
“Shelby said there would be ghosts.” Cub said. “I didn’t think she was right. Are you the ghost of one of the people who got lost in here, then?”
Ghostbur shook his head. “No, no. Just, here, you know. Listen, Cub, you look very scared and confused. Here, have some blue. It‘ll help, although it looks a little funny. Maybe it’s the fog- it has a way of distorting things.” Ghostbur reached down as if to pet Friend, but his hand went deeper then should be possible. When he pulled back, the ghost was holding a handful of a dark blue and black substance, that not so much leaked from his hand as it did convulse. Cub knew what it was, he’d seen it before in his travels. Sculk. Ghostbur held it out to Cub, smiling just as politely as he had been this whole exchange.
“You know what… I’m good, actually, man. Super nice to meet you, but I’ve got to get going… meetings, you know how it is.” Cub chuckled nervously and turned around, hoping that if he just walked in a straight line, he’d get out of this place. Forget science and curiosity. Some things were better left unanswered.
“It’s rude not to accept a gift, Cubfan.” Ghostbur said, and Cub suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back and chest. He looked down, and found Ghostbur’s pale hand, still holding the sculk, all the way through his chest. “We don’t want to be rude, now do we?” Ghostbur whispered in his ear, and Cub could feel it, could feel Ghostbur’s slimy lips against the shell of his ear. With a nasty, wet pop, Ghostbur’s hand withdrew back through Cub’s body, and a shiver of cold shot through him, radiating out from the spot where Ghostbur’s arm had been.
What followed the cold was a floating sense of calm. Cub turned around and was not suprised to find Ghostbur holding a white light in his hand. “My soul.” Cub said. He couldn’t care less, although it was very pretty. Too bright, but pretty.
“Yes. You don’t need it.” Ghostbur replied. “You must spread the sculk.”
“I will.” Cub replied. He knew what that meant. He always had, deep inside. He turned around and walked away, the fog pushing him where he needed to go, back into the Evermore. With every step he took, he could feel the sculk grow inside his body and on his skin. It was wonderful, and soon everyone would know this feeling. Cub smiled. It was simple. Spread the sculk.
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I HATE U !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (im in love with your work and i go a bit insaner everytime I read liab)
AND OMGSHSGSGSGSGSG YESSSSSS NEXT CHAPTER ZUKKA REUNION OMGSGSGDGD!!#!#(#(#((#(€ I'm so fucking excited its unreal?!!!!! ITS SO CLOSE HEHHEJSUS!!!!!!!!!
idc what anyone says I'm a iroh/hakoda/katara/ literally-anyone-that-everyone-hates-for-no-good-reason apologist, THEY DID NOTHING WRONG!! (i mean they did but none is perfect!!)
oh and i love sokka swearing a lot because I swear a lot and im a Sokka kinnie so i find it hilarious,
hehehe sorry for not sending asks or being active on disc, but you better prepare yourself for some fanart for next chapter bc ive been FANTASIZING about drawing that god-damned reunion for so fucking long and also because it's been a year since I started liab so yey!!! anniversary gift ig
as i say every single time, your writing is amazing, you work is amazing, you're amazing and ily, thanks!!!!!!! (sorry if this is all over the place it's like really late and I'm really really really excited about this!!!!!)
I got a bit insane every time I write liab it’s cool….
YES!! No perfection here!! All the fan faves are fucking up in LIAB! Sorry folks!
F f f f f f f fanart???? You know that’s my weakness, I’m WEAK for fanart haha. I’ll let you pick if you wanna do pt1 or 2 they are both dramatic & emotional haha.
LOVE YOU MILKY MY LOVE!!!
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