Childe "I Can Make Her Worse" Tartaglia (
monoceroscaeli) wrote in
insurmountable2021-12-31 10:35 pm
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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...]
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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besides, lumine didn't think he'd be back so soon. after all, even with the end of inazuma's civil war, things are still quite tense within its borders, the diplomatic ties between snezhnaya and the shogunate strained from the other harbingers' previous actions.
which is why she's momentarily surprised when he suddenly accosts her in the middle of the street, stopping in her tracks. the annoyance in his tone is, at the very least, something she expected. ]
It was enjoyable until I saw your face. [ she tries to sidestep him, averting her gaze from his expression. ] Quite a shame, really.
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What are you doing here, [he whispers.] I know you wouldn't show up somewhere for no reason at all. Liyue Harbor has nothing for you, so why show your face when there are so many missing person posters up for people to identify you by?
[His eyes shift to indicate one of the very posters he's talking about hanging up on a wall.]
The whole city is going to recognize you.
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the surprise is certainly something that's to be expected, as is his vexation after being tossed across the ocean through one of her portals. but concern? it seems out of character for someone like him, especially when she herself is more than aware of the missing person poster plastered all over the city. ]
And yet, Liyue Harbour has not given me a second glance to confirm their recognition.
[ she shrugs as people walk past them, clearly going about their day and uninterested in the exchange between the two. ]
Besides, why would that be a problem for you?
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[He'll drop that information right away. He hopes it'll pique her interest.]
Since, well, when you sent me away last time, you dropped me right in Inazuma. And here I thought you were just kidding when you said to say hello to your brother for you.
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[ his attempt to drown the citizens of this city in the guise of following his tsaritsa's orders, only to stroll down its streets afterward as if he's done nothing wrong. what a hypocrite.
lumine tries to sidestep him once more, even at expense of hearing from her brother again. ]
You should look to your Tsaritsa first before you pass judgment on others.
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[The Tsaritsa. That whole deal. He's got some words and he's had a lot of time to think about it. This time, he doesn't stop her from sidestepping him, instead letting her choose to hear him out instead. If she doesn't, well, he'll have to find other avenues.]
I think it'll be of interest to you.
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You think it'll be of interest to me?
[ how arrogant, to assume that he knows what her interests are, what would pique her concerns. ]
Is it related to Celestia? To the gods and how to bring them down? [ she glances at him over her shoulder, her expression turning frosty despite the sunlight in her eyes. ] If it's not, then stop wasting my time.
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[He doesn't bother with giving her the run around, misleading or deceiving her- it's just a flat statement. The seriousness in his eyes is unmistakable. He's been bothered by something for months now, and he finally feels ready to address it with her.
After all, she might be the only one who can help him out in a way that still will satisfy his own goals.]
So? Are you willing to hear me out or not?
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Give me one reason why I should.
[ namedropping celestia is not enough. he's more than aware of her general plan, and he could simply be using this to his advantage. ]
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[His hands spread out in front of him. It might of taken him quite a bit of time to really figure it out, but he really didn't think this was her motivation to keep him alive, and tell him the things she had.]
I wanted to discuss this before when I met you in the ruin, but, we never had the opportunity.
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I have been providing all the reasons? Aren't you being delusional right now?
[ to assume that all she's done is for him. such arrogance, though she supposes this should no longer surprise her. he's been consistent about it, to say the least, so much so that it's becoming a form of amusement. how is this different from dealing with the gods in celestia? ]
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[He steps forward to come up to her, giving her a knowing smile back. Playing hard to get? Seems like her.]
Keeping me alive in the Abyss, letting me roam free, revealing secrets of my power- surely it's not because you like me, is it?
[He didn't add the whole kissing him thing, which is still infuriating, but that's besides the point right now.]
You saw the value in me for your own ends. Isn't that it?
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she remains rooted on the spot, staring at his smug expression. if they were elsewhere and not in the middle of liyue harbour, then she might've done something to wipe that smile off of his face. another trip across the sea, maybe. perhaps somewhere no one will be able to find him. ]
Yes, and that value is dropping with every passing minute. [ every moment he's tied to celestia is a waste of her time. ] You're too arrogant for your own good.
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[He says, arms folding across his chest. She played the long game on him, though it may not be intentional. Their last two meetings seemed completely by chance, but she hadn't wasted them.]
You're the one who was so arrogant to think that making me experience the harsh realities of this world might even have the chance to sway my heart in the other direction. But if you want me to become your warrior, there's a few things I require before I swear any fealty to the Abyss.
[He gestures in the direction of his home here in Liyue- if she'd like to talk about it, privacy will be important.]
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but then, he's too uncontrollable, too unpredictable that his archon barely has a grip on his leash—and while those could work well to her favour, it wouldn't matter if she couldn't make him heel. it's not impossible to keep him under her control; she has her ways. but when celestia just has as much of a tight rein on him ... ]
Making demands, are we? Is this also what you've asked of your Tsaritsa?
[ still, she shrugs and lets him lead the way. this, at least, has to be entertaining. ]
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Of course not. I never had to- my demands were always assured with her. However, I can't say the same of your operation.
[He doesn't mind sharing this out in the open as they walk upwards to the apartment under the bank, explaining what he means.]
My homeland means much to me, as do the people of Snezhnaya. If something were to befall them, I could never forgive it. As you can imagine, my service under the Tsaritsa doesn't compromise their safety. They aren't to be harmed. Keep the people out of this. Even doubly so for my family. I want them to live safe, peaceful lives away from the darkness that sleeps under this world.
[He's deadly serious- his eyes narrow, not willing to concede on any part of this demand.]
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I have no interest in the people of this world.
[ which is true; she has no reason to annihilate the people of teyvat. the will of the abyss itself, however, is another thing entirely. ]
All I wish is to bring down the gods and then leave this world with my brother.
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[He doesn't know enough about the Abyss to know if there are factions within it or not, but he expects her to control what she can. He'll destroy anyone else who threatens his homeland.
Reaching the apartment, he opens the door to let her in. He gestures inside, towards the chairs that are arranged around a small coffee table in the middle of the room.]
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she stops at the threshold of the doorway, turning her gaze on him. ]
If I say yes to those questions, then there's no need for this conversation to continue here.
[ in his home, where it's clear a conversation such as this should remain but also an unnecessary place for her to be in. if he gets the response he wants to hear, then there's no need to prolong this encounter. ]
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[Is he being a little demanding? Perhaps, but it's absolutely necessary to him.]
We also need to discuss the matter of...this.
[He looks down to his Vision. He doesn't know how much this is going to be a problem.]
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her gaze flickers at his vision, the orb glowing blue. ]
You can give it up willingly. [ his vision, his powers. everything that's to do with celestia. ] The gods will relinquish their hold on you.
[ the question is, can he? she knows what he's capable of with his vision, his powers. and someone like him who wishes to conquer the world, that's giving up a part of him. ]
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I know. I never thought I'd come to view my own Vision as a problem. But I'm sure you understand that I'm unwilling to give up this power. In order to be rid of it, I have to accept in my own heart that I don't need nor want it.
[His eyes flash- the thought of what could be, what power he might achieve burns in his mind.]
But fighting your heralds made me realize something. The creatures of the Abyss can still control the elements- tell me, is that something I'll be able to use as well? It may be motivation enough to cast away my Vision.
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Cast away your Vision, and my Heralds can show you how.
[ no guarantees that her heralds won't try to kill him, but she doesn't say that. she supposes she could always tell them not to kill him. ]
But know that you won't be the same once you've accepted the Abyss as part of you. [ he should know, as someone who had once fallen into its depths. how it corrupts, how it stains a person entirely. ] You have siblings, don't you? A family? That will all change ...
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[That was a goal he'd gained after leaving the Abyss anyway, gazing at her with complete dedication to his passion.]
I've always accepted that one day, I would never see my family again, though this isn't quite how I imagined it. To seek endless battle, living on the euphoria of walking on the edge of life and death, I thought that I would die long before this day would ever come. ...They're already used to my absence...though what will happen to me? Will I mutate permanently into some monster from the Abyss?
[Or maybe he would be stuck in his Foul Legacy Transformation...]
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Yes.
[ there's no reason for her to hide it from him. there's no point, anyway, not when the corruption of the abyss is inevitable the longer you stay in there. perhaps there will even come a time when he will be unrecognisable. ]
You could maintain a human form if you'd like. [ it's not common among her servants, but it's a useful ability. ] So you can visit your family whenever you want to.
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