Do they tho.... do they realllllly?
A list of SOME events that show they in, in fact, do not hate each other canonically.
They interact frequently and usually just tease back and forth. Mostly Kaeya. He's a brat. It's what he does.
Let me just say this isn't really a ship post but I am a shipper. You can see these as platonic if you want so long as you aren't annoying about it.
But for real if you're letting the person you supposedly hate into your place of work, your house, letting them carry around a card of you, keeping all of the letters they wrote you, souvenirs, and then jumping to defend them--- you don't hate them.
THE LETTERS
Diluc and Kaeya exchanged letters almost immediately after the events of their fight. Kaeya actually encouraged Diluc to leave at night to avoid saying goodbyes, and helped hold off Jean and Varka so Diluc could leave peacefully (while he was injured). He then helped with the Eroch events and enjoyed the show in Diluc's place because he's not the type.
Both of them kept every single letter. Diluc practically had his on display.
Also this:
You can read all of the letters here or on any Hidden Strife breakdown of your choice.
THE COLLABORATION IN THE WEBTOON
Diluc and Kaeya worked together as a functioning team in the webtoon to get Collei out of the Fatui view so Cyno could seal her. They actively traded information back and forth about what was going on and staged an entire thing to pin the blame on Diluc instead of Collei so she could escape.
Kaeya "pinning" the blame on Diluc
Then thinking how Diluc went too hard LMAO
Read the webtoon here. but be advised, it cuts off in EN after 13. You will have to go to unofficial sitesbeyond that point if you want to read it in English.
THE VASE
The vase shown in Dawn Winery and marked for being unusual is actually a gift from Kaeya to Diluc. It contained the Vision he left behind while traveling- so Kaeya had it on his person at the time.
How did Diluc get his vision out of this thing...?
KAEYA'S STORY QUEST
The fact Diluc knew exactly where Kaeya was, despite not being in on this adventure at all.
In fact, he was ALONE when Diluc appeared.
Those hips don't lie but Kaeya please
Also note he doesn't hurt Kaeya at all, Kaeya casually walked away from all of that fire.
Hello Sir, come here often? no? Shame.
DILUC'S STORY QUEST
Kaeya actively knew Diluc was the Darknight hero from their letters (as shown in Hidden Strife). So either this is a lore inconsistency... oorrrrrr- He literally did this just to mess with him and see what he'd do.
Which sounds like Kaeya. He also directly says he has no interest in telling Diluc's secret.
Liar.
VENTI'S STORY QUEST
Sadly this one only shows how funny it is in the Chinese.
The EN really did it dirty, so here's a retranslation.
It's literally Kaeya roasting Diluc and Diluc just sitting there taking it like a chad and getting called out for keeping that vase.
before anyone gets hoity, father is still a friendly honorific here too.
WINDBLUME
In chinese: 哈哈，凭你跟迪卢克老爷的关系，一定能弄到手的吧？
tketranslation: haha, with your connections* to Master Diluc, I'm sure you can get your hands on it?
*this word can also mean bond or relationship.
In chinese: 哎呀呀，真是看得起我。不过，一瓶美酒就能换到您的指导，我当然不会错过这个好机会啦。
tketranslation: oh my*, you really think highly of me. (the rest of the sentence is fine, but he did say 'fine wine' and not 'good stuff')
* Ever heard a character say "aiya"? Same thing, he's like oh hehe, I got caught :P
Venti then says he wants three. Because he thinks VERY highly of Kaeya's ability to get wine from Diluc.
Kaeya then says it's no problem.
Diluc would also change his menu based on a comment Kaeya made (his mouth feels a little lonely) and how Diluc should add snacks to the menu. Diluc comments that it's easier said than done, but doesn't say no.
Windblume 2021
我说,酒馆的菜单上也该加点前菜主菜了吧?光是喝酒,嘴里有点寂寞呀。
"嘴里有点寂寞呀" is "my mouth feels a little lonely-" which is literally a verbiage used to say you either want something snack on, a cigarette, or similar... it'd boring to just drink.
In fact, Diluc does it.
Windblume 2023
Behold the only canonical scene we have of Diluc ever actually denying Kaeya anything... and he just pouts in response.
Just hanging out with Rosie, nothing to see here.
GOLDEN APPLE ARCHIPELAGO
There was a lot going on with the two during the Golden Apple,
Jean calling them out on arriving together (note Kaeya does not say no, he just says others came with them)
A question for a question is normal with Kaeya
Only English does this sound negative, in others it's more of a grumpy "tch-"
"with us" Kaeya you could have just said yes ldlkfsdf
Bickering over an ice bridge, meaning they stayed together despite others leaving.
In japanese this line said "we" would be asleep. Just Japanese tho.
The Dodoking teasing (Kaeya also jokes Diluc may actually get a tan at one point)-
No pffft
and the line that took the entire Diluc and Kaeya fandom by storm:
"Is that so?"
凯亚 : 哈哈哈…谁知道呢，或许是我命中注定要跟迪卢克老爷一起倒霉吧。
Ketranslation: Hahaha, who knows? Maybe it's my destiny to be unlucky with Master Diluc.
迪卢克 : 是吗？
Ketranslation: Is it?
("Is that so" is another good translation)
Kaeya spent most of the entire VISIBLE event teasing Diluc... but there's actually more!
They went for a walk together on the beach. The dialogue was only found in the second GAA as a recorded memory.
The CHS for this is actually a bit funnier- instead of telling Diluc to be nice, he basically tells him "don't be such a sourpuss."
Some seashells were also found in Kaeya's hidden box during Hidden Strife (which came after this). It's unknown if the shells are from the GAA or their childhood, but Kaeya kept them anyway.
They went on a long walk on the beach together, guys.
BALLADS AND BREWS
One, Lisa sent Kaeya to Dawn Winery to basically ask Diluc for a favor because he was "the best man for the job." In other words, like Venti in Windblume, she knew Diluc wouldn't say no.
Two, they had dinner together. This was a rare moment where we see Diluc TEASE BACK for a change and fluster Kaeya.
Three, whatever the heck this is:
CARIBERT AND THE SPICES
Kaeya makes an offhand comment in Caribert that he MAY collaborate with the Dawn Winery for some of the Sumeru Spices he was talking to a merchant about.
Spoilers: he did.
A BATCH OF SPICES FROM SUMERU. Gee, wonder where he got thooooose.
THE TCG CARD
Yes Kaeya, please explain why you have a Diluc card that you just left laying around for him to find?
KAEYA'S HANGOUT
Lots to unpack here.
Kaeya knew Diluc's schedule despite having been gone for WEEKS in Sumeru.
He even says he hasn't been there in a long time.
He gave Diluc another "ugly" gift and Diluc yet again, accepted it.
I'm surprised it's not on display
Then Diluc immediately asking where Kaeya went.
Kaeya is allowed to show people around and operate in the Winery without Diluc present; and does so in BOTH paths.
In one of Kaeya's other quest lines- he tells a story about Diluc.
DIDNT HE TRY TO KILL KAEYA!?
No.
This is a misconception and assumption of the fans.
There is NO LINE or EVIDENCE saying Diluc actually wanted to kill Kaeya. It says they fought and that is all. Anything else you conclude from that is Headcanon.
This is straight from the hoyo-wiki of EN Kaeya.
It never says he tried to kill him. They crossed blades. There is no direct or indirect statement saying Diluc intended to kill Kaeya, that Kaeya was ever afraid for his life, or that any other injury was sustained.
And yes, I crosschecked in Chinese. It doesn't say anything there suggesting that either.
It is also possible Kaeya's injury was a complete accident but that is fanon theory just as much as "Diluc tried to kill him".
BOTTOM LINE
They do not hate each other.
You can see their relationship as possibly strained if you play in solely English, but there is no "hate" here. There is absolutely NO REASON a pair of grown men who "hate" each other would interact this much or show visible interest in each other. They do not live together. They have absolutely no obligation to even SPEAK to each other outside of work and there is FAR more than just work here.
Venti LITERALLY says they have a good relationship in the English.
Diluc is just a grumpy person and Kaeya likes picking on him.
Diluc has NEVER told Kaeya to leave or get away from him.
Keep your HC if you want but quit bossing around the shippers because they "hate each other"- it's factually wrong.
They're friends.
