Childe "I Can Make Her Worse" Tartaglia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
monoceroscaeli) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
insurmountable2022-11-26 09:40 pm
monoceroscaeli) wrote in insurmountable2022-11-26 09:40 pm
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you hide your face with your disguise // 'cause someone filled your head with lies
[It had been a few days since the hunt for the Great Mujina Youkai had come to an end, having to say goodbye to the kids and to Yoimiya too. The ship that was to take him back to Snezhnaya would be arriving a bit later in the day, and Childe sighs as he sits back in his chair in the tent he's occupying in one such hidden Fatui camp. He had a great time in Inazuma. The country was beautiful, rich with a new culture to learn and all sorts of places to explore and fight new and more exciting enemies. All his things were in order- the gifts that he'd bought to bring back to his family, Teucer's Onikabuto in a little bug box with some food to keep it alive during the trip back- all he'd have to do is wait for the ship and he'd be on his way.
He tells himself that he'd return to the country one day, once tensions between the Fatui and the Shogunate calm down. It was a miracle that he was able to stay as long as he has, evading the Tenryou Commission. He has some people to thank for that, and he won't forget what they did for him while he's been here. Some gifts would be in order for them upon his return.
The Harbinger idly plays with a writing utensil between his fingers. He'd like to bring something from Snezhnaya for Yoimiya, too.
There's a sharp rap at his door, and Childe sighs. He doesn't really want to deal with work right now, perfectly happy reminiscing on the time he's spent in Inazuma before he leaves, but answers with a bored tone to his voice:]
Come in.
[An agent enters, bowing and standing at attention.]
Sir, we've captured a Tenryou Commission spy that was found sneaking around. We've taken her into custody and are awaiting your orders on how to deal with her.
[Childe's eyebrow raises. It should have been hard to find this camp, even by the Shuumatsuban. Somehow, doubt creeps into his mind, but stands from his chair.]
Alright, I'll deal with it myself. At least I can have one last bit of fun before I depart.
[The agent only bows once more, to lead Childe towards the prisoner. He knows better than to argue with the Harbinger, but feels sorry for the spy. The two cross the camp to another tent, the agent stopping him right before lifting the flap for his senior commander.]
She claims to be from the fireworks shop, but we've seen Tenryou soldiers stop frequently at it.
[Before he can answer, the flap is lifted to reveal a certain girl that he'd met not but a few days ago...]
He tells himself that he'd return to the country one day, once tensions between the Fatui and the Shogunate calm down. It was a miracle that he was able to stay as long as he has, evading the Tenryou Commission. He has some people to thank for that, and he won't forget what they did for him while he's been here. Some gifts would be in order for them upon his return.
The Harbinger idly plays with a writing utensil between his fingers. He'd like to bring something from Snezhnaya for Yoimiya, too.
There's a sharp rap at his door, and Childe sighs. He doesn't really want to deal with work right now, perfectly happy reminiscing on the time he's spent in Inazuma before he leaves, but answers with a bored tone to his voice:]
Come in.
[An agent enters, bowing and standing at attention.]
Sir, we've captured a Tenryou Commission spy that was found sneaking around. We've taken her into custody and are awaiting your orders on how to deal with her.
[Childe's eyebrow raises. It should have been hard to find this camp, even by the Shuumatsuban. Somehow, doubt creeps into his mind, but stands from his chair.]
Alright, I'll deal with it myself. At least I can have one last bit of fun before I depart.
[The agent only bows once more, to lead Childe towards the prisoner. He knows better than to argue with the Harbinger, but feels sorry for the spy. The two cross the camp to another tent, the agent stopping him right before lifting the flap for his senior commander.]
She claims to be from the fireworks shop, but we've seen Tenryou soldiers stop frequently at it.
[Before he can answer, the flap is lifted to reveal a certain girl that he'd met not but a few days ago...]
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Her presence is welcome, soaking in her warmth as she moves close, lightly rubbing his cheek into her palm when she reaches for it. Tartaglia's smile is warm and affectionate, shifting slightly to press a kiss into her palm.]
I feel refreshed and completely at ease, now. I don't remember it, but whatever dream I had was pleasant and soothing. I'm surprised, really.
[He would've expected to have terrible nightmares with how stressed out he was the day before.]
I'm starting to wonder if everything really was all in my head. Maybe all it took was one good night of rest in a nice soft bed with the woman I love.
[Craning his head in, he presses a soft, loving kiss to her lips, before settling back on the pillow gazing at her with love-drunk eyes.]
How was your sleep? Restful, I hope.
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However...
Despite her heart being filled to the brim with warmth, there's something about Ajax's sudden change of demeanor that strikes her as a little off. He was so stressed out yesterday, for good reason. And now, it's almost as if he isn't bothered in the slightest. She's not sure what to make of it; a part of her wants to brush it off and be happy that he's finally got some well-deserved rest, but... she also can't ignore the feeling nagging at her heart.
But she won't pursue it right now, especially not when he's kissing her like they're the only two people who matter in this world. So, she simply brushes her feelings to the side, ignoring it in favor of kissing him back and drowning in his taste. Once they break, she looks starstruck as she leans her head back on the pillow. ]
It was okay! Could have been better but at least I was able to sleep in a warm, cozy bed next to the man of my dreams.
[ At least Aramiya is asleep. She'd feel terrible shit-talking her wooden bed right in front of her. ;;; ]
I'm glad you're feeling better, though. I was really worried about you after what happened in the souvenir shop. It's a shame you don't remember you dream because I would have loved to hear about it! But I guess it's true that getting some well-deserved rest really is the best medicine.
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I couldn't agree more. I'm going to try to put what happened in the shop behind me- the last thing I want is to worry needlessly about something that may have just been a trick of my imagination. I'd like to enjoy this boat trip back.
[All his burdens and worries need to stay away, they aren't welcome. Nothing, absolutely nothing that could ruin his day is welcome. Things that are troublesome need to be eliminated.]
We should finish exploring the rest of the ship today, Yoimiya. It was unfortunate we didn't get the chance to before, so now seems like a grand opportunity for it.
[The Aranara can stay here. >:|]
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Lets do it! We only scratched the surface of the ship and I want to see everything it has to offer.
[ And right on cue, her tummy growls. Oops. She could stand to get a bite to eat and pass out from a food coma like her little plant counterpart. ]
Aaaand, I'm kinda hungry, hehe. Guess that's our cue to grab breakfast. Maybe we can get a table with a view of the water.
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Good idea. Let's get dressed and head out. With how nice this ship is, there's probably a few different places to choose from for food. And you know me...I can eat anything as long as it's good.
[Really, all he wants is a good breakfast. Spending it with Yoimiya sounds like a much needed and much wanted little respite.]
I heard someone yesterday mention a Sumeru cafe on board. We should hit that up and see what they've got for breakfast food around here. That way, at least we'll be able to sample it without having to rush out the door to safety.
[Because the last time he got breakfast, she almost died.]
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[ Archons, just thinking about pita pockets is making her hungry. If she could, she'd be yoidrooling all over the pillow right about now. Grumble, grumble once again, the Yoitumbeast keeps screaming to be fed. Okay, that's it! She can no longer hold in her hunger. Leaning in, she gives Ajax a quick morning kiss before hopping out of bed to change into something more presentable.
Once they're both dressed, they're out the door leaving two passed out Aranara behind. It's almost impressive they were able to sleep through their conversation and them changing. She can't help but wonder if those two stayed up all night causing trouble while they were asleep...
Not that it matters now. She's on the hunt for the cafe Ajax mentioned and as luck would have it, she spots it in the distance. Thankfully, they seemed to have missed the breakfast rush and there were still plenty of open tables for them to dine to their heart's content. And she got her wish, there's a beautiful view of the water while they eat. ]
Ooooh...! Is that the cafe you were talking about, Ajax? It looks so cozy!
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Mmmmmhm! Good eye, you spotted it well before I did. C'mon, let's order. I can feel my own stomach rumbling now.
[Inside they go, and Childe has no idea what any of the food is. There's all sorts of items to choose from, and he just stares at the menu as the cashier waits to take their order. None of it sounds like a traditional breakfast that he's used to, but then, that's the great thing about trying new foods, right?]
I'd like to try the idiyaapam, please.
[He's gunna find out what that is he guesses]
Go ahead Yoimiya, whatever you want. Our food was included on the ticket, so don't hold back.
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And I'd like to try the poori and the samosas.
[ Idiyaapam... she also has no idea what it is but she trusts her boyfriend's choice. Maybe it's a bit much for breakfast but she's already making plans to let Ajax try her dishes. Sharing food with him is always a treat. But before she gets too excited, Yoimiya is once again greeted by a cashier visibly rolling her eyes at her. Which strikes her as odd, she didn't recall Ajax getting any sort of weird attitude when he placed his order. The lady only started acting grumpy when she strolled up to the counter.
She doesn't hesitate to scoff at Yoimiya, writing down their orders with a hint of irritation as the pen hits the paper. At least this time, she isn't met with a rude comment like the guy back at the shop but oh boy, she can sure feel the cold shoulder from the lady as she turns her back to the couple, not bothering to say another word.
She turns to Ajax, confused and making sure to keep her voice down in a hushed whisper. ]
Geez, we sure got a friendly bunch working on this ship...
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But now he's having second thoughts as this cashier treats Yoimiya the same way as the cashier in the souvenir shop. Is this a Sumeru thing? Is everyone just rude to everyone else all the time?]
I'm starting to wonder if this is just a cultural thing we're missing here...
[Because surely, two people who've never met them, especially Yoimiya, would just be super rude to them on purpose like that, right? But that question gets answered as another customer comes up to the counter, and the woman doesn't hesitate to greet them with a warm smile to take their order. Ajax feels his temper rising at the sight, because that's just uncalled for now.]
Let's just go over there and wait for our food. I don't get what's up with the disparaging treatment we've been getting.
[Tartaglia will lead Yoimiya over to the side, so they can get their food and claim a table for themselves once the food is up, and when it is, it's unceremoniously slapped down on the counter for them to both take. Some of Yoimiya's food falls off of the plate, and Ajax's stare couldn't be more intense as the cashier doesn't give it a second thought.]
Excuse me, can those be replaced? And could you be more gentle with the plate next time as well? Yoimiya, go get a table for us. You can have some of mine while we wait for yours to be replaced.
[Anger lines his tone- he doesn't know what's happening, but it's really getting under his skin. Don't treat Yoimiya like that...]
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It also reminds her of the words Columbina keeps drilling into her head.
She's worthless and no one cares about her...
Yoimiya only continues to feel discouraged when her plate is practically thrown onto the counter without a single care in the world. For once, she's at a loss for words when the food falls onto the floor, the woman showing no signs of replacing it. But what she does know is that Ajax is ready to throw down on her behalf. ]
Okay. I'm sorry for any trouble. Don't hesitate to grab me if things get ugly.
[ Because she isn't gonna let Ajax handle this on his own. Heeding his words, Yoimiya takes his order and makes the short trek to the table.
Meanwhile, the woman continues to smile in the most uncaring manner possible. She shows no signs of budging, not a single regret kve making Yoimiya uncomfortable. ]
Why should I? The food is free. And it's not like we have a surplus.
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You forget we're paying customers. Our tickets were expensive enough to come with as much food as we like, so if I want the food replaced, then it will be replaced.
[It's like everything in the world has to go wrong, has to be a giant pain in his ass. He's getting really sick of it, really fast. This is the second day in a row now this has been a problem.]
Fine...it's wasted on her, anyway.
[She says it loud enough for Yoimiya to hear, and Ajax nearly loses his entire mind. He's fighting the urge not to fight this woman here, but she's a weakling and there would be nothing that would come of it, anyway. He just doesn't understand what is going on...
You don't need this hassle...
A voice floats into his mind, and he agrees. No, he doesn't, and he needs to find out what is making life so difficult in the first place so he can get rid of it.
They're all targeting her. She's the source...]
Here.
[She brings back the plate, miraculously not ruining Yoimiya's food. Childe doesn't even bother to say thank you, snatching the food from her and walking back to the table that Yoimiya has claimed for the two of them. The view of the ocean is nice, but he's so heated that he can't really appreciate it yet.]
I'm going to make a complaint about this, [he says, sliding the food to her.] I'm sorry, Yoimiya, I have no idea what on earth is going on here. Please, at least try to eat and don't think about it too much.
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She's unremarkable, plain, and doesn't have any impressive feats under her belt. Why Ajax chose her out of everyone in Teyvat will forever boggle her mind. In some ways, she can't help but think that Columbina has a point.
"Fine...it's wasted on her, anyway."
Yoimiya hangs her head in the aftermath of those words, looking down at the food and unsure if she even has the stomach to eat. Why? She just doesn't understand why they're being treated like this. Both she and Ajax always make it a point to be (fairly) polite when they're out and about, and she's fairly certain neither one of them did anything to warrant this kind of abhorrent treatment.
Luckily, before she drowns in the sea of her negative thoughts, Ajax comes in like a knight in shining armor, just in the nick of time. She looks at him with a half-hearted smile, trying her best to put on a brave face but it's clear her confidence has taken a beating. ]
Thank you, Ajax. Don't apologize, none of this is your fault. Maybe everyone is coincidentally having a bad day or maybe humidity is making me sweat and smell bad.
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Still. I don't appreciate how they're treating us, especially you.
[She's a problem. She's the reason for all your problems.
Tartaglia is trying to keep himself in check, and he swears this better not happen again. Looking out to the water, he tries to find a little bit of solace inside of the waves, but all he finds is emptiness. Shaking his head, he returns his gaze to Yoimiya, remembering that he should be more solid, more of a cornerstone for her to lean on. Acting like this isn't helping.]
Anyway, how is your food? This is definitely a new flavor that'll take some getting used to. It's good, you should try it. Please.
[He'd rather focus on their food than that woman...who he can see out of the corner of his eye.]
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Thanks to him, she finally manages to crack a small, genuine smile. She can tell he's upset on her behalf, and even though she hates seeing him mad, it's all for her sake. It's another reminder that he's a stellar partner to have at her side. She's fairly certain she would have lost her mind if she were forced to endure all this suffering on her own.
Ajax is like her firework, lighting up the night sky on a dreary day. For now, she'll try not to dwell on it too much, opting to take a bite out of Ajax's dish to try and drown out her internal turmoil. ]
Mmm...! Idiyaapam was it? This is a hearty breakfast.
[ She can see herself getting full in no time. ]
It's certainly different but delicious. I'm finding out that Poori is kind of like a fried bread! I've never had it before but I think I can get used to this for breakfast. Feel free to have some of mine too.
[ Smiling, she pushes her plate closer to him, the samosas are still untouched thanks to her somewhat losing her appetite over that rude encounter. ]
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Don't mind if I do.
[He takes one of the samsosas and tries a little bit of the poori. It's good, and he nods in approval as he munches on it.]
Not bad...you're right, it would take some getting used to. But I could see myself having this more often. Mmmmmm, I'm a lot more hungry than I thought.
[He gives his own idiyaapam another try, and along with what Yoimiya ordered, he'd have to say they got a good breakfast despite the endeavor they had to endure to get it. But he won't go back up and get more food no matter how hungry he is, not until that woman is gone. Instead, he gazes out at the ocean again, feeling a little better. He looks down into the water, wondering if he'd see any sort of marine life next to the boat, but instead he gets a completely different picture.
The reflection in the water that stares back at him is completely unexpected. Pink eyes watch from beneath the surface, but when he blinks again, it's gone. Childe rubs one eye in confusion, as if he couldn't of possibly seen what he thought he saw, turning his head back to Yoimiya.
Except, the person sitting across from him isn't Yoimiya...it's Columbina. The unmistakable dark hair highlighted with pink at the tips frame her angelic face, smiling at him with eyes covered by that familiar white lattice she wears like a mask. Tartaglia's eyes dilate in absolute fear, and his expression changes into one of complete shock and terror, but he can't move. He feels like he's paralyzed, as the ship around him grows dark and cold, the only heat near him is coming from her.
As if she were a warm fireplace for him to come sit next to, comforting and inviting, drawing him to her like a moth to a flame. His breath stutters and he seems to be locked into some strange trance, unable to speak or do anything but draw closer and closer...
To Yoimiya, he must look crazy, sitting there holding his breath with a pure expression of horror staring at her. The people sitting in the cafe around them start stealing looks at the two of them, their eyes judging Yoimiya silently...]
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Maybe, just maybe, they can finally enjoy breakfast in peace if they just ignore the mean lady behind the counter, she sure as heck isn't going to get up and ask for service. It took a bit of work but she was able to finish the samsosa. And with part of their meal out of the way, she licks the crumbs off her fingers and averts her gaze to the ocean. It's not like the high seas of Inazuma but the salty breeze fills her with a sense of comfort, reminding her of her home.
As she's getting ready to ask her boyfriend what he thinks of the view, Yoimiya notices that something about his demeanor is completely off. He's staring back at her, face white as a sheet, sweat beading down the side of his face, and pupils dilated like he's seen a ghost. Rarely does she see him wear such a terrified expression on his face so when Ajax is scared, Yoimiya knows it's bad news. ]
Ajax?
[ Despite being scared, she tries calling out to him, calmly and sweetly to get his attention. But it feels like she could say his name over and over again and he still wouldn't respond. It's not long until panic begins to set in. Something is terribly, terribly wrong.
And if she were a betting person, she'd bet all her mora that Columbina is behind this. ]
A-Ajax...?
[ Her voice trembles with fear the longer she stares at him. Ajax's horrified face looks like he's frozen in time and she has no idea how to snap him out of this trance. The judgmental gaze of the people around them isn't helping matters, she can feel their stares burning a hole into the back of her hea. It's like they think she did something awful to her boyfriend and it hurts. What she doesn't understand is why he's looking at her like she's a monster. ]
Hey, are you okay? What's happening?
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Come to me, and all your worries will vanish. I'll be here waiting for you. Everyone else is just dross to be thrown aside. Hehehehe...
Suddenly, Ajax's head droops downward and his eyes close, staying still for only a few moments before he seems to wake up again. Looking up, he blinks a few times, seeing Yoimiya looking at him with worry. He gives her a confused look, rubbing his eyes once before seemingly returning to normal.]
Huh? I'm alright, did something happen?
[It's like he has no idea what on earth he just went through, looking at her in confusion. Tartaglia doesn't remember what happened to him, but the rot has begun to spread further in his mind, completely unaware.]
You look terrified...
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He seemingly snaps back to reality. Which is great and all but...
This time, Ajax is the one looking at her funny almost as if he was never struck with fear to begin with. This just leaves her with more questions than answers. ]
Huh, me...?
[ Confusion is laced in her voice and all she can do is stare at him with fear and disbelief. ]
You were the one looking white as a sheet just a second ago! Suddenly, you were staring at me like you saw a ghost and were completely unresponsive.
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Strange, I feel fine. I don't remember that happening at all...
[He pats his chest as if he were checking himself for wounds or something that he could identify such a problem with, but naturally he doesn't find anything. Tartaglia then holds a hand up to his forehead to make sure he doesn't have a fever, and finds nothing at all. Giving Yoimiya a little bit of a worried look, he eats a little bit of his food.]
Perhaps you should keep that to yourself for now, Yoimiya. We're starting to get strange looks from the people around us.
[Which they are looking at them weird, and for some reason that fact bothers Tartaglia. Like Yoimiya's small "outburst" here is causing problems for them.]
We can talk more about it after we leave, okay?
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His response is completely unlike what transpired yesterday. There's a brief moment where Yoimiya wonders if she's the one who is going crazy due to him seeming unbothered. Mostly. Maybe it's just her imagination but it almost feels like he's acting like she's the one being a huge nuisance when she was just worried about him. But that can't be correct. Sure, Ajax has those moments that make her want to send him the evil eye but he wouldn't dare make light of her worries. ]
... Alright. Fine. Fine. Just forget I said anything.
[ There's the slightest hint of frustration in her voice but she complies with his request. With no other words, Yoimiya proceeds to continue eating in silence, taking the time to contemplate to herself. With how everyone is staring at her like she's grown a second head and now Ajax brushing her off, she can't help but wonder if she really did just picture that in her mind.
... Maybe it's another one of Columbina's tricks. ]
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He eats in silence for a few moments, letting her have a moment to herself after getting a little worked up. They've had a stressful time. He can't be mad at her for that, at least.]
I saw a store on the way here that looked like they sold some tasty looking snacks. Want to hit it up? I didn't know the names of anything in there, but we can get some and take it back to the room. Those two are probably hungry as well...
[Ugh, that annoys him, out of the blue. They'll have to feed the Aranara something. Can't they live off of water?]
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And it works! Soon, she realizes that getting huffy about the situation doesn't make her any better than that mean lady behind the counter. Tartaglia didn't do anything wrong, he even going as far as to defend her twice. It's hard to get the image of him shaken up out of her mind, but since he doesn't seem to be concerned, she figures it's best not to press the matter. ]
Okay! I could go for a light snack after breakfast. And I'm sure those two rascals are dying for something to eat. Aramiya kind of went through my snacks already, and knowing her, she'll be eager to try other types...
[ Between the training and the eating, Aramiya really will turn into a big buff scary Aranara at this rate. That thought alone is enough to elicit a small, chirpy giggle out of her. ]
If they're the kind of snacks that stay fresh during the trip, we can bring some back for your siblings too.