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

Current Music: https://youtu.be/xoWxv2yZXLQ

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...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Can't I just seek you out just for the sake of speaking with you?

[As if the princess ever has time to do that, her quest against the gods as eternal as the abyss itself. He happily joins her, looking happier than he ever has while spending time in the Abyss- he's grown stronger, and he can feel it. If he truly wanted more power, this was the right decision to make.]

Do you have a moment? I have a proposal for you.

[His eyes shine, a strange quality considering the endless depth of the darkest ocean there, where no light can reach- serving as proof that whatever he's thought of is something he's excited about.]

It would be worth your time.

[ every time he says that, she always finds herself in an endless argument with him. which honestly gets exasperating at times, as he seems like the type who simply doesn't know when a conversation should end or when it's reached nonsense. a part of her is almost tempted to send him back to his tsaritsa.

flatly, gesturing back at the palace: ] If you wish for a fight, the Heralds will happily indulge you.

[ a.k.a. she's not in the mood to fight, so if he's looking for one, he's looking in the wrong place with the wrong person. surely, he's already had his fill of combat while training with them. she's heard that he's even trying to regain what powers his delusion provided him through the lectors. ]

Otherwise, what is it?

[Childe frowns; that was one of the things he wanted, is he really that obvious? Denied before he even had a chance to ask.]

Come now, I've been training with the other Heralds for months now. I think I'm ready for an even bigger challenge to really test my newfound strength out, wouldn't you say?

[His arms splay out, looking at her like a fight is exactly what's needed right now.]

Besides, I wanted an opportunity to prove myself to you. How can I do that if we don't spar at least once?

[ he's too predictable and spoiled, that's for certain. and it even shows on his expression, that rejected pout as if a coddled toddler denied of a toy that he wants. it's tempting, truth to be told, to give way to him, but lumine's quite sure it'll be trouble in the long run if she does. ]

What else do you need to prove? That you're capable of betraying me should I not meet your expectations in a fight?

[ how bold, and in her realm nonetheless. though she can't say a betrayal of sorts isn't to be expected from him as well. he's done it to his archon and he's fought her against every step the last time he was here. still, he should know his place.

she snaps her fingers, ropes of abyssal energy suddenly lashing out to wrap around his neck. ]

I already know that.

[It's fast enough that he doesn't move quite in time to dodge them, feeling the ropes grab him and wrap around his neck. Grimacing, he's a little confused. This was hardly the way he thought this conversation was going to go.]

That...wasn't exactly what I was going for...

[He grabs at one of the ropes, trying to loosen it from his neck. His voice is strained, but he still makes an effort to speak.]

Are you trying to say you'd lose to me, princess?

[Even now, though she could squeeze the breath out of him, he still challenges her.]

[ she watches him struggle for a minute longer before she loosens the ropes, the energy soon dissipating into nothing. ]

You already lost just from that alone.

[ it seems like he needs a bit more work before he can completely say he's ready for a bigger challenge, considering his reaction time. the mages should be able to help him out with that—if any of them will be willing to spend time with him. ]

It would be a disappointment if I'd lose you so quickly.

[He rubs his neck a few times, still being able to feel the dark energy around it despite being released, only grinning back at her. You know what.]

I guess you're right.

[It's not as if isn't already taking something away from this little exchange.]

It gives me a new goal to reach. Once I feel like I can get past that little trick of yours, I'll have to see what else I need to watch out for. You'll oblige me, surely? Since you're setting the standards for me here.

[ honestly, what is she getting out of this? it isn't as if she has a shortage of mages and heralds and lectors, all of whom are more than capable of fighting for her and whose loyalty is unquestionable.

while he—he is someone who willingly betrayed his archon, all for the sake of power. he's unpredictable, dangerous, and it would be better if she kept him on a tighter leash. it seems like she'll simply have to figure out a way to bind him closer to her, to ensure that he doesn't stray too far.

she walks closer to him, fingers reaching out to tip his chin lower so she can peer into his eyes. the light in those eyes has been snuffed out even before she's met him, but now, darkness swirls even more in those depths. any longer, and she might not even recognise him anymore.

quietly: ] My brother will hate it when he sees you like this.

[He stares back into those cold eyes of hers, confidence unwavering while she studies him. He wonders what she's thinking, and what she thinks of him- not in a way that he cares, but out of pure curiosity. Because not once does the thought cross his mind that he'll disappoint her in the end.]

I won't deny that, [he says, feeling the physical weight of the Abyss on his mind and body with the reality of her words.] He may never care to understand my reasoning behind my decision, but it was my decision to make.

[He tilts his head to the side, intrigued that she'd even brought it up. She must see the changes in him, but it feels odd to bring it up now. He's become part of the Abyss, and there's not going to be any coming back from that.]

My hope is that when our paths do cross again, he'll know that his sister is safe while I'm around. Though you two may be on opposite sides of this war, I'm sure your well being means much to him.

[ safe? with him? that's ... debatable, isn't it? not until she truly learns where his loyalties lie. ]

Does my brother trust you to that extent?

[ to feel relief at the knowledge that he's by her side. she wonders about that before she lets go of his face and turns away. based on what she's learned about her brother's journey, his trust in the fatui has remained the same: nonexistent. of course, his sentiment towards childe may be different, but who's to say he doesn't hold a certain amount of distrust towards the harbinger.

no matter, she thinks. like what he said, aether will eventually understand. ]

The impression seems to be otherwise.

[He chuckles, because Lumine is right. His eyes follow her as she turns, not moving yet to join her.]

Haha, that's why I said it's a hope, rather than a fact. He knows how I am. It's up to him to decide whether or not to trust me on this.

[Though he can already see the disappointment in Aether's eyes, knowing that Childe chose power overall. But wasn't it always going to end up this way somehow, in the end? Lumine has just given him the reason and the means to arrive at it earlier than expected.]

Do you worry that he's going to be hurt to see me standing next to you like this?

[Is that why she brought it up?]

[ she keeps her expression blank at his question as she starts walking down the path once more, if only because she's unwilling to show any kind of inkling of concern or worry that will no doubt be misconstrued as weakness. there's no place for that here, after all. ]

My brother will be fine, as he always has been.

[ aether is more than capable of handling himself. perhaps not always his emotions, but he's been hardened by time and their travels across various worlds. she trusts that he'll arrive at his journey's final destination stronger and more accomplished. ]

There's nothing for me to worry about.

[He's not entirely sure if he buys that response, but that's how it's going to be so he'll just have to accept that answer. Dropping the subject of Aether now, he once again trots up to walk at her side.]

Since it's clear we aren't going to be sparring today, how about you send me on my first mission. I have been working hard for several months now, and I really could use an opportunity to...stretch my legs, so to speak.

[Stretch his legs, exercise, whatever other word you want to call it. He's ready to test his new powers out on someone, somewhere.]

Maybe I'll impress you.

[ how diligent.

lumine falls silent as she debates on where to send him off to. there are already lectors and heralds working in certain places, and she'd rather not send him there to complicate matters. more cooks spoil the broth, and in this case, delay her plans even further. ]

Snezhnaya, [ she murmurs quietly before she looks up at the eternally dark sky, starless even in middle of the night. ] I currently don't have a Herald or Lector in that country.

[ at least none that's actively lingering in the region. a mission or two perhaps, to survey the land or explore some of the ruins. ]

So, why don't you go and take up the mantle of a Harbinger once more?

[ only this time, serving a different sovereign. ]

You want me to spy on Her Majesty the Tsaritsa?

[Wow, not the first mission he was expecting, and he has to stop and consider it. He's not declining this or anything, it's just...there's a lot to it. Logistics, excuses he'll have to make for that short absence he's taken in Teyvat. His family would be delighted to see him, as he'd have to stop at home to get his things...

He turns to her, his hand over his chin as he thinks aloud.]

Huh...that's quite bold of you, but I can't argue the strategy. They'll only of suspected me gone no longer than a day or two at this point. But you do realize, once I "return", there is a possibility that they will try to send me to a different country on a mission of their own. I may not be able to stay in Snezhnaya, as much as I'd like to.

[His posture and tone of voice suggest aloofness to the situation, but his eyes swirl with how he's piecing together the situation to make every step, every move fall into place perfectly. No flaws, no mistakes.]

Will that be acceptable? After all, when I left home, I was still in Liyue. And I suspect that Inazuma will be my next assignment, given some...circumstances in the country right now.

[ and what's one or two days of slacking off from work, right? surely, he's done something similar before; truancy can be quite common to those in higher positions, after all.

but he does have a point. she doubts that his tsaritsa will keep him in snezhnaya while the rest of the harbingers are sent off to different regions in teyvat. it's a typical move for someone who wishes to dominate the entire continent and control every aspect of it. there will only be certain instances or scenarios where he will need to return to the archon's side. ]

Mm, I don't expect anything to develop at the moment, anyway.

[ and those that will soon have already been put into place, the cogs of her plans already moving and turning even before he's joined their side.

she glances at him over her shoulder, a mild expression on her face. ]

You will not falter, will you? Simply because I've sent you back to your beloved Archon.

[Huh. Testing his loyalty at the same time, isn't she? She's already putting him in a difficult position, one that he's confident he can navigate. And while he still has the utmost respect for the Cryo Archon, it was because she was a true warrior, not because he felt chained to the gods. That respect was lost when he found out that all they had to do was take his vision from him and render him as a lost soul, without any ambition.]

You'll find that when I set out on a task or a mission, I will fulfill it. But, if you're using this to test my loyalty, you're going to be pleased. Though, let me accomplish this by my own methods. They do, after all, bring results in quickly.

[He steps forward, cocking his head to the side with a smug look on his face. As if she has anything to worry about from him.]

Though I do tend to cause a stir wherever I go. I hope that won't displease you, princess.

[ how assertive.

or is it more apt to use the word arrogant instead? after all, he may declare all these things to her, but in the end, the results are what matters. all of his words are going to be useless when he can't even deliver what's being asked of him. ]

Nothing different from the mages and the Heralds, then.

[ a few of which have a mind of their own, unsurprisingly. though that is the result of being bathed in the abyssal energy. chaos reigns in this dark place, even under her sovereignty, and the harbinger only grows even more as he stays longer underground. it can't be helped.

she meets his look of self-satisfaction w ]

It doesn't matter how you execute it, so long as the results remain unchanged.

[He grins wickedly, glad to hear that the new leash on him from swearing fealty to the Princess will be even longer than the one the Tsaritsa had on him- at least he hopes this is the case. A weapon, free to challenge all that stand against him, that is the freedom he wants. He gives her a small bow, his hand coming up over his heart as he does so, though his eyes stay locked onto hers. An unspoken promise, he'd deliver and perhaps even moreso if given the chance.]

Your generosity in such a matter is appreciated, Princess. I'll set off at once.

[Straightening his back, he turns to leave, strangely happy with this outcome. There's something exciting about the prospect of being among the Harbingers once more, and won't it be incredible to cause the upheaval later...and maybe get his chance at squaring off with the Tsaritsa finally.]

[ she waits until he's gone, his footsteps finally fading back into the palace, before lumine summons one of the heralds. it bows at her in deference as it steps out of the portal. ]

Follow him. Make sure that he stays on his path.

[ there is honestly no reason for her to do this, the entire order unnecessary, and even the cryo mage that joins her side asks why after the herald had gone off to trail the harbinger. but lumine says nothing in response and simply continues with her walk around the garden, instead steering the conversation towards a different direction.

if childe were to complete his task, then it would be to her advantage. if not and he betrays her instead, then it's also to be expected from someone like him and her herald can take care of it. it would be a loss, but it would be an insignificant one. ]

[His return home is a surprise, the fresh snow of Snezhnaya shining in the cold light of the sun before him. Of course, his family was surprised. They thought he'd be gone much longer, but he dismisses it with a wave and a smile- plans changed. He finds his vision and mask, and dons his Harbinger outfit once more. Three days may only have passed in this world, but three months had passed in the Abyss. It feels strange, wearing it again, yet the familiarity of it doesn't go unnoticed. It's comfortable, and to be a double agent, well...being comfortable in his old skin would be essential to be able to pull it off.

And now, it's easy to get back to Liyue, now that he too, can use portals to wherever he needs to go. It's not long before he finds himself back in Northland Bank, chatting it up with Ekaterina and explaining his three day absence away. Not that it matters much, because he's assigned to go to Inazuma now, in search of Scaramouche. He's gone from the Abyss for some time, as he investigates the country, but he finally finds a moment to slip away, a portal opening as he steps inside without anyone knowing.

Well, except for the Herald he's noticed keeping an eye on him. No matter, it doesn't bother him.

He appears inside the palace walls, the abyssal power that he'd grown so drunk on at times rejuvenating him. It had been too long, and he strives to find Lumine as quickly as possible. He has a report to give, and a plan.

When he finds her, he bows in respect, a cocky grin on his face.]

It's been a while, Your Highness. I hope you have a moment to listen to my report?

[ it's not unusual for any of the members of the order to be gone for long periods of time. they all come and go when needed, at times, for extended periods of time. but again and again, they all return to the darkness of the abyss to recover and regroup, to once more immerse themselves into the abyssal energy that they all seem to crave. it's an addicting power, she knows, so it's not surprising his return so soon.

he finds her in the throne room, receiving another report from one of the heralds regarding the ruins under liyue. it won't be long before it catches her twin's attention, then. she doesn't know if she finds that unsettling or useful.

and if aether is around, then no doubt ...

lumine holds a hand to gesture to childe, allowing the herald to finish before dismissing it with a wave. and here she thought she can return to her quarters and retire for the rest of the day. ]

Has the Tsaritsa met her end already? Is that why you're here?

[ because she sure hasn't heard anything from the other members of the order. so what, then, is the reason for his return? ]

Ha, perhaps if I were able to be in Snezhnaya. As I'm sure you're already aware, [he says with a knowing smile,] I was assigned to investigate Inazuma. So, things have gone exactly as I predicted it would.

[That's just the life of a Harbinger though, being shuffled around from country to country sometimes. At least, that's how it is for him. It's like they don't want him around at home. It makes him laugh.]

But, I wouldn't return to you now if I didn't have something of importance to tell you. I've been put in charge of retrieving a certain gnosis that's fallen into possession of a certain Harbinger who's gone missing suddenly.

[He looks up expectantly at her.]

That seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up, don't you think?

[ for good reason, no doubt. he's already a distraction in the abyss, her heralds and lectors babysitting him instead of doing something else, and she'd rather that he doesn't disrupt the current organisation they have by sending him back to teyvat.

still, that's a rather interesting development. lumine knows that the tsaritsa has been collecting the other archons' gnoses as a form of rebellion against celestia. but to learn that one of her own harbingers had stolen a gnosis instead of surrendering it to her ... how ironic.

she leans back in her seat, resting her cheek against a closed hand. ]

To have the upper hand over your Archon?

[ it's a roundabout way, and in a sense, doesn't really play a part in her own plans. plus, does she really want another device bestowed by celestia in the abyss? ]

And you're certain your can bring it to me?

[He notes the way she says that. Over "your" Archon. Sounds like she may still doubt him, but he lets that fact roll off his shoulder. Opinions were just that, opinions. Results are what matter.]

Of course. I've no doubt that I'll be able to take the gnosis from Scaramouche. But, the reason I'm here now is because once I take it, there will be a lot of questions surrounding why I haven't handed it over.

[The smirk fades from his face. He's all business now.]

If you want to keep me as a plant inside of the Tsaritsa's forces, coming up with a plan to make the gnosis 'disappear' out of my possession will be necessary. There's more advantages than not to keep this little facade up; even if my failure will earn severe repercussions. It won't take me long to make up for my dereliction of my duty, haha. After all, we only need one gnosis to get to the Tsaritsa.

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)