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

[monoceroscaeli]

[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...]

Comments

[traversal]

[ 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?

[monoceroscaeli]

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?]

[traversal]

[ 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. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[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.

[traversal]

[ 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.