insurmountable | you know i'm the type / type to risk my life, not afraid to die

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you know i'm the type / type to risk my life, not afraid to die

[Call it crazy, call it morbid curiosity, call it insane. A craving for battle, a craving to test his skills against the powerhouses of the Abyss, he follows a few Heralds into the portal they'd left behind as they whisked themselves away from the camp they'd set up for their next assault in Teyvat. He couldn't leave the Abyss without aid, of course, but if he could find his master once again, he'd be able to return to Teyvat. And maybe get a good sparring match out of her while he was at it. Either way, he's got his sights set on those Heralds who thought they were alone, announcing himself behind them as he brandishes his weapons with glee.

They look surprised. Good. That was the point.

The battle rages on for some time. They prove to be incredible foes, taking several on at once. One dies, cut down by the Harbinger- the others wounded badly. But what Childe hadn't counted on was that they'd get reinforcements so soon, and with more numbers, they manage to overpower him. The Foul Legacy Transformation still proves to be a large burden on his body, and with waning strength, he finds himself captured and chained. The remaining Heralds drag him to an incredible hollowed out ruin, one that looks like the very architecture of the ancient dynasty from Khaenri'ah itself. Finally, he's thrown to the ground in a room that clearly was made for some sort of royalty, his knees hitting the concrete hard.

His head bowed, he coughs up blood, knowing he'd really messed up this time. This isn't good, and he has no way out of it. His body is wrecked. It's taking all his strength just to keep from passing out, as he looks up and sees the leader of the Abyss...]

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[ the most polite way ... wow. ]

If only you'd shown the same amount of courtesy while you were in my realm, then I might have believed those words.

[ a kitchen destroyed, a room upturned—and she very specifically remembers threats of bodily injury and harm to her person as well. why is he even still here, lingering around her? she doesn't understand, she thinks as she reaches out behind her to unclasp the scarf around her neck. ]

I'll take my chances with the lake.

That was before I knew you were far kinder than the airs you put up.

[He was a prisoner, a dangerous one at that- and she just let him go.]

But suit yourself, if you want to get yourself wet and deal with the coming storm as well.

[Sounds like a great recipe for getting sick to him. He retracts his hand now- she can swim across.]

Edited (how does english work) 2022-01-13 01:12 (UTC)

[ she doesn't bat an eyelash when he withdraws his hand, her own tugging the scarf off of her neck in one fluid motion. it isn't that she's worried it'll get wet; she knows it will. but it's quite uncomfortable to wear when it's wet, sticking to the skin of her back like an annoying patch.

the lake is cold, goosebumps rippling across her skin as she slowly wades into the water. but she pays no mind to it, taking a deep breath to draw out the chill, and makes her way towards the ruins across. halfway through, rain starts to fall, the droplets fat and heavy. still, she continues her way, eventually hauling herself over the stone ledge.

she shivers uncontrollably when a cold wind blows past her as the storm finally arrives in earnest. for once, her mages would be useful for a fire that moment.

anyway, back to work! ]

[He watches her swim across to the other side, shoving his hands in his pockets. The rain begins to fall, and he welcomes it on his face. Rain was only something he'd gotten used to since he'd arrived in Liyue, as it was so rare if it ever did rain in Snezhnaya.

As soon as she pulls herself out of the water, he begins walking forward from the opposite side. The second his feet meets the cold water, he seems to skate across it, crossing quickly in only a matter of seconds, his body leaving a wake that cascades outward from the path he's taken, blue afterimages trailing behind him.

And he steps onto the bridge now, only having gotten the bottom of his boots wet, to rejoin her, hands still in his pockets.]

You look a little cold, [he comments with a smile.]

[ lumine refuses to deign him with a response to that comment, squeezing the water from her skirt instead. a portal would've worked just fine, seeing that this entire region of liyue seems to be empty and there's no one who would find it alarming. except maybe for her unwanted and unwelcomed companion, surprisingly still sticking around her despite her obvious disinterest.

she glances past his shoulder, watching as the rain pours down in sheets, her only respite from the weather the stone structure above her head. she wonders how long it'll last, if it'll hinder her exploration at all. ]

Why are you still here? One would think you'd be averse to lingering around the person who took your Vision.

[ she pushes her wet hair back, briefly disturbing the flower pin still clipped to the strands. once more, she debates braving the rain and simply using a portal to get into the ruins. but she doesn't think it'll work; she's never seen its inside after all. ]

Well, as you can see, I'm not terribly concerned.

[He's been over here before, though briefly- he starts walking towards where he knows an entrance is to the ruins, motioning for her to follow.]

I'll tell you once we're inside. It may not be snowing here, but even a cold rain can be dangerous if left out in it for too long. We can start a fire in the entrance, and dry you out a little.

Edited (i can't type today, i guess) 2022-01-13 03:36 (UTC)

[ she doesn't follow him, rooted on the spot where she's standing, her attention still on the pouring rain. this isn't what she had planned when she'd decided to explore these ruins—not the rain or the swimming, per se, but exploring it with someone else. worse, perhaps, exploring it with one of the archons' minions.

how frustrating this is. ]

... No, [ she sighs under her breath, holding a hand up to open a portal she can step it. the abyss yawns before her, stars seemingly dotting the void that starts to surround her. ] I'll do this again on another day.

Wait-

[He says, holding a hand up, as if that would be enough to stop her.]

I never got the chance to talk to you after you left that day. At least grant me this one moment.

[Who knows how long it would take to see her again if she stepped through that portal now. Especially since now she knows he's seeking an audience with her.]

[ the portal remains open before her, the abyss waiting for its sovereign. a moment is far too immeasurable, lasting for a few seconds to something much, much longer. and she has no wish to stay here for far too long, unwilling to be found by anyone else, including her brother. ]

That's because there's nothing for us to talk about, is there?

[ and she's certain he already knows that she's never one to answer all of the questions he throws at her. is there really a point to speak more about his time in the abyss? ]

What else is there for us to discuss?

Well, I wanted to show you something, for starters.

[He pulls open part of his jacket, to flash a few papers at her. They seem neatly folded, but on a parchment that wouldn't suggest anything official. Not Fatui.]

That was part of why I wanted to find shelter. I don't want these getting wet.

[ her brows briefly furrow at those sheets of paper, a part of her nagging curiously as to what that is. it doesn't seem like they're official documents, and it doesn't seem like he's the type who would leak her anything important related to his organisation. which makes her wonder if it's simply a ploy to keep her there. ]

If you're wasting my time, my mage will set those papers on fire.

[ and as usual, she's not bluffing. if he thinks she is, then he'll regret it. ]

I've already read them, so I suppose if you burn them, it's fine. I'd just prefer you didn't.

[He can feel his hair start to sag under the weight of the rain, really wishing to at least just get under a ceiling.]

You can go through that portal now or we can just sit right over there, under that overhang for the time being. It's your choice.

[Look, his ahoage is drooping.]

[ there's a very long beat, her expression empty as she stares at him. he's an idiot for stepping out into the rain without waiting for her. but the portal she's created dissipates into black wisps before her, the abyss temporarily sealed up for the meantime. ]

Again, if this is a waste of my time, I won't care what your preferences are.

[ also, she's not going to where he's gestured if she needs to step out into the rain. he can come to her instead where it's dry, save for the puddles of water from her ministrations earlier. ]

[He steps in then, as she clearly wasn't going anywhere. Once underneath the overhang, he takes the papers back out, handing them to her.

They're letters, ones he's frequently gotten over the past few months. And there's always one paragraph from one of the kids gushing about her.]

They ask me every time about you, about who the pretty nice lady was that dropped their big brother off early and made sure he had his Vision.

[He smiles warmly at her- really, he'd like to know more too.]

It took a little effort to try to explain away the 'falling in holes' comment to my darling little brother.

[ his siblings. right. she met them when she left him in snezhnaya and returned his vision to him. lumine's lips press to a thin line as she goes through the letters, brows furrowing just a little. it sends a sharp pang of loneliness through her, bitterly recalling her twin brother and how he's currently looking for her.

there's that temptation to find him that very moment, give him a hug and convince him to leave teyvat for good. but even she knows that that's not possible for them at the moment, that she simply can't up and leave everything she's planned for the past several centuries. ]

... The only reason they ask is because you encourage them.

[ she hands him back the letters before she can snap her fingers and allow flames to lick at the edges of the paper. ]

You should stop before they ask even more questions.

[He takes the letters back, securing them safely into his jacket once more. Though he can only chuckle quietly, wondering how he could possibly avoid their questions.]

What did you want me to do, speak badly of you? Come now, you know I can't do that.

[For a couple of different reasons.]

Besides, it's not all my fault. You weren't there for when my brother came back in with my Vision, eyes bright, curiosity burning. I hadn't even said a word yet. That was all you, Princess.

[ she doesn't understand why he can't when it's so easy. she's not a friend of the fatui nor of teyvat. she's kept him imprisoned in her realm, held onto his vision as if it's a hostage of sorts. ]

I'm certain you've done worse than badmouthing an enemy. [ attempting to drown liyue harbour, anyone? she might not have been there, but she's heard the reports. ] It shouldn't be too complicated or difficult to admit the truth to your siblings.

[ and the audacity to push the blame on her ... lumine shakes her head, sighing under her breath. ]

You're digging yourself a grave you eventually won't be able to get out of.

A grave? That seems a little extreme, wouldn't you say?

[Sure, his siblings would want to see her again eventually, but he's sure he can just explain away that she's too busy to come back to Snezhnaya anytime soon.]

Besides, I did tell them the truth. As much as I could without revealing to them your true identity.

[ it's a metaphor, childe ...

she says nothing further on the topic, simply opening another portal before her. there's no point staying, after all, and it doesn't seem like this conversation will move any further.

a herald greets her at its entrance, giving her a reverent bow. it asks her a few things in their language, and for a moment, she glances at the harbinger over her shoulder, her gaze flickering to his vision. ]

... No, he stays here. Leashed to his Archon and Celestia.

[Guess she's going. That was more than he thought he'd get, and that's alright. He's still intrigued, and still wants answers, but it looks like he's getting all he's going to get for now.]

Huh...that sounds like an invitation, Your Highness.

[He knows she wants him to give up his Vision, his loyalty to the Tsaritsa, and the power that has been granted to him. And in turn, he's sure she'd let him back into the Abyss, now that he's had the time to think about it. That's what she wants right? Him to join her side.]

What if I wasn't?

[ that gives her a pause, and she lifts a hand to keep her herald from speaking. she gives it a beat, before her sword flashes into existence in her hand, its tip pointed right under his jaw. one wrong move, and she might just slash that pretty throat of his for lying to her. ]

Then you'd be betraying your beloved Archon and your family, and that's never going to happen, is it? Even if your queen sees you as expendable.

[ not from the way she's seen his little siblings look up to him. she doesn't think he would risk his own family, even at the expense of power she can offer.

a moment later, she's withdrawing her blade and turning back to the portal. ]

You shouldn't entertain thoughts that are ridiculous even for you.

[His head lifts with her sword, almost able to feel the steel touching him. Inwardly, he smiles. He wasn't sure if she'd take his bait, but it looks like not today.

Smart, like her brother, he thinks. He likes that.]

Sorry. I've just had a lot to think about since the last time I saw you.

[That's not a lie. What he decided he keeps to himself.]

Until next we meet then.

[ she says nothing, doesn't even ask what he's thought about since their last encounter months ago, and instead just steps into the portal, the yawning void closing behind her. it doesn't matter to her, not when he's back on teyvat and once more under the scrutiny of the gods.

his siblings' letters flit through the recesses of her mind once in a while and there's been a few instances when she finds herself opening a portal in morepesok. she doesn't show herself to anyone, however, simply lingering on the side to see how they're faring. they're just little kids after all, and while she's never been good with children, they're not exactly someone she holds a grudge against.

it takes her another few months to return to the ruins, portal opening under the overhang where they'd found respite from the rain previously. ]

Don't worry, [ she tells her herald who once more follows her out into the open. ] The Fatui has not been seen in this area lately. I'll be fine.

[They haven't been there for a reason too, as Childe has instructed his subordinates not to go near the ruins for an indefinite amount of time. The amount of ruin guards in the area was what he'd cited, saying that their numbers were increasing and that it was no longer safe to linger in the area. It wasn't entirely untrue, knowing that Dottore's old research lab was there, and inside was a wealth of of the machines that could eventually wander out.

But he also figures that was the reason for her visit, because there was nothing else in the area that could possibly warrant her precious time. She wouldn't show until it was safe to move, and so he bides his time until then.

He's already inside the factory, though not because he knows she's there. The incident with Teucer made him worry, and his little brother can be just as much as a troublemaker as he can be, what with showing up in Liyue unannounced as he did last time. So he's gone about to try to disable as much dangerous machinery as he can in case of another surprise arrival by his brother, as a way to pass the time, get some exercise in and wonder if Lumine would show up here one day.

He's working behind a deactivated ruin guard a little into the factory, not knowing he has a guest.]

[ lumine only moves once her herald has finally left, operating the mechanism at the ruin's entrance. it's certainly a monument from before she and her brother had arrived in teyvat, but it's now being used for other purposes, remnants of that purpose scattered all around her in pieces. human curiosity, she thinks, is too powerful to let these field tillers rust and decay without figuring out what they can do.

she walks past several ruin guards, most of which are deactivated and hanging from chains in the ceiling. but those are not the subject of her search, for now, going deeper into the ruin guard factory.

there should be a sentinel around here, one that should still be in operation. she finds it minutes later, the armoured robot sitting at the very end of one of the halls. the moment she approaches it, however, it activates and starts moving, slowly getting up from its slumber. lumine slowly backs away, her sword in hand.

... should she destroy it? as long as she's able to get the eye intact, then it doesn't matter, does it? ]

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