insurmountable | 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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[ 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.

[ so basically, he's simply telling her that what happened to his colleague might happen to him if he doesn't surrender the gnosis over. that would make sense, after all, as someone who was sent to retrieve it and ensure it's relinquished back to the tsaritsa. but if he were to hand it over to the abyss instead ...

lumine presses her lips together for one long moment, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. it's true that there is an advantage to be had in this scheme, and it allows her to adjust her own plans if necessary to enact an even bigger blow to celestia. ]

The Heralds can take it from you.

[ is that what he wants? to make it an open show to his archon that he never hid it, never kept it from her. but instead, it was taken away. ]

The Lectors can come as well, since I'm sure you simply won't "hand it over lying down", yes?

Of course.

[He smiles back, glad that the two of them seem to be on the same wavelength here. It's a bit of a sneaky plan, but a plan that accomplishes that while still being put right in the open for all to see. It will still be a small blow to his pride to 'lose' to the Abyss in this scenario that they are constructing. But ultimately, it'll allow him the chance to fight the Tsaritsa herself one day.

Two true warriors laying it all on the battlefield. He wouldn't want it any other way.]

Let's make it quite a show of force. Something that puts the Fatui on edge. Fear will spread among the ranks if we show them that the Abyss can pop up anywhere, at anytime and decimate their forces. If they can 'beat' me, then what's stopping them from dying themselves? Even the Harbingers are wary of the Abyss.

[It's the perfect plan. What could go wrong?]

[ a lot of things could admittedly go wrong.

that's always the case with her current mission. nothing is set in stone, everything and anything can be upended at any time. and that's why she prefers slow, meticulous planning, one that spans decades and centuries until success is all but imminent. but now that her twin brother has awoken, everything seems to have been thrown in disarray. ]

If you're successful in this, then I'll give you what you've wanted from the beginning.

[ he wants to fight her, doesn't he? it's what he's been itching for a very long time now since they've first met. lumine supposes that's a fitting reward should he carry out this mission and succeed with flying colours.

but if he were to fail, then punishment needs to be meted out. ]

[Childe seems to stand up straight just a little more when she dangles the reward of getting to fight her if he succeeds. That's a fine reward, as far as he's concerned, and the bright yet cocky smile returns to his face as he bows to her.]

Excellent. It's almost frightening how well you already know me, princess.

[If he's being sincere or not is hard to tell, the undertones of teasing her present, as if he's ever really hidden his intentions or desires from her. He looks up, to finalize some thing before he goes, the clockwork of his mind already setting up the necessary measures needed to pull the entire operation off.]

If you could, tip the Fatui off that the Abyss are in the area, so it's no surprise when they show up. Small little slip ups, ones that might normally not matter. Make them think we're stupid, and then tip the scales in our favor when the Abyss inevitably crushes the Fatui forces that show to stop them. Then the gnosis will be yours.

[ getting pestered multiple times the last time he was in the abyss and on teyvat was more than enough to give her a decent impression of him. honestly, she'd rather that her heralds take care of it, but clearly, they're not enough to rein his enthusiasm at fighting.

lumine lets out a quiet sigh under her breath as she waves a hand, a lector stepping next to her to whisper words in her ear. she gives it a slight nod before the lector bows and leaves, dismissed just like its fellow mages. ]

Worry about yourself first rather than what the Heralds and I will do.

[ she nods, just as three different heralds reappear right behind him. she gives them curt instructions in the abyssal languages, and they all bow simultaneously in obeisance. ]

You may return to your duties in Teyvat. If this mission fails, then you know the consequences.

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

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