you hide your face with your disguise // 'cause someone filled your head with lies

[monoceroscaeli]

[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...]

Comments

[niwabi]

You're making me really excited for later tonight. I— [ suddenly, she's cut off mid sentence by the sleight of his hand. she hitches out a breath before letting out a soft groan. ] Ooh...!

[ this darn guy...!! even if it was just a quick tease, it's plenty enough to get a reaction out of her, yoimiya's body easily shuddering at just that simple touch. she nips down on her bottom lip as her cheeks instantly turn red, her demeanor suddenly shifting to an almost uncharacteristic look of embarrassment. despite putting on a confident face throughout their activity, the actuality is that she had been extremely aroused the whole time, having only fought off the urges to touch herself because of the sarashi wrapped around her waist. she's definitely a little more than damp down there, pleasing him had made her more wet than she'd like to admit.

if anything, it's certainly confirmation that she's very much looking forward to tonight. ]

Sheesh, you're a pretty big rascal yourself.

[ she squeezes her thighs together in an attempt to not bring too much attention to her own arousal. ]

But that's one of the many reasons why I like you so much. Stirring up trouble with you is the most fun I've ever had.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Her reaction is delicious, and he laughs when her body reacts to his touch. Someone's a little excited themselves, and his mind wanders to how wet she might actually be under all that wrap. It's too bad she's got that on, he would have repaid her right here and now, but getting all that sarashi back on would make it too much of a pain. Especially now that he knows others will wander down here.

Tartaglia gives a very obvious look down to her legs, noticing how she squeezes them together. C'mon, he's not blind.]

I'm glad to hear it. If causing a stir is something that excites you, then you found just the right guy to do it all with.

[There's no way she could know how chaos seems to trail behind him like a never-ending line of fire through a dry field. He supposes, in time, he'll learn if she's willing to be at the center of the storm with him. But he has confidence that she's up to the task.

For now, however, they can have a nice night until the doors close behind them.]

Life can't be too mundane, after all. Thankfully there's a spark of excitement around the corner wherever you are. You just need to know where to look for it.

[Tartaglia moves to wrap his arm around Yoimiya, tugging on her to go now that they're decent. Mostly.]

Would you like to go back up to the festival for now? I don't know about you, but I'm a little hungry...

[niwabi]

[ the way he stares at her legs causes her face to flush even hotter. man, she's really got to work on being more subtle...

tartaglia is absolutely right, she has found the right guy. with him around, she's certain he'll be the spark of excitement that she's always eager for. there's not going to be a single boring moment with him around. while it might be a bit too soon to declare that she loves him, yoimiya has a feeling that it'll get to the point where she can't see herself with anyone else. he's exactly her type, charmingly arrogant, good with kids, fun to be around. while she's not aware of the full extent, she does know that tartaglia lives a dangerous life. it's a fact that she'll have to come to terms with.

but since it's him, she's more than willing to stand by his side. ]

For sure! There's still a certain something I really want you to see before you leave.

[ after adjusting the straps of her backpack, she excitedly stands back up, raring to go as always. his little jest does cause her to roll her eyes before she busts into a myriad of giggles. ]

Well, I guess I do have someone to thank for the nice treat. [ she playfully nudges him with her elbow before snuggling up close to him. ] We'll get ya some good food! Murakami's food stall has plenty of festival snacks to try.

[ with that extremely wonderful distraction taken care of, yoimiya leads them both up the ledge and back onto the main pathway of the festival. just a few steps up the hill and the delicious fragrance of murakami's food stand fills the air. as the pair approach the stall, the owner notices them from afar and gives them a welcome wave. ]

Ah, there you are Yoimiya! I was wondering when the two of you would show up. Sanden told me that you were here with your boyfriend.

[ well, if it wasn't already obvious, it certainly is now with the way tartaglia's arm is wrapped around her and how yoimiya is practically cuddling against him. the pink lovey dovey aura emitting from the two is extremely strong. ]

Hey Murakami! Hehe, it's this guy's first time visit to Amakane island. So, of course I had to bring him here to get the festival experience.

[ murakami can't help but smile at the two as he flickers his gaze over to tartaglia. ]

It's nice to meet you! I hope you've been enjoying yourself at our island so far. If your here for food, you've definitely come to the right place. Festival snacks certainly make enjoying the festival a little more special.

[monoceroscaeli]

[The warmth of Yoimiya against his side gives him a sense of ease, as if this is where he's supposed to be, with her snuggled against him. Tartaglia happily lets her lead him back up towards the festival, while enjoying this feeling of home as he keeps her close. The smell of food wafts through the air as she leads him to Murakami's stall, the sight of different kinds of Inazuman food on display makes his stomach growl a little.

Though he guesses he shouldn't be surprised at this point about others noting their status together. It's not as if either of them were being very subtle about it when they had bought masks at Sanden's stand. The mask that adorns her hair looks stunning in the glow of the lights of the festival, the intricacies of the design highlighting her and making her stand out against all of the others in the crowd, at least he thinks so. Tartaglia feels a swelling sense of pride and happiness in his chest when he's addressed as her boyfriend. He hopes that everyone will come to know that she's taken, though perhaps just as Tartaglia, not the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui. That wouldn't bode well for her...]

The pleasure is all mine.

[He nods his head to Murakami in greeting.]

Yoimiya has recommended your stall, and I'm excited to sample what you have to offer here. I'm really not too picky about food, so as such, I'll take whatever you recommend.

[He looks downwards to Yoimiya, giving her a little squeeze.]

And whatever you recommend as well. I wouldn't want to leave this place without having sampled as many local specialties as possible.

[And when Murakami turns his back to them, he sends Yoimiya a little wink.]

[niwabi]

Sakura mochi and egg rolls have been our biggest hits. I've made so many here recently that I can say I've definitely mastered the art of sakura mochi.

[ that innuendo does not go unnoticed. she shoots him an all-knowing grin while also trying her hardest to hold in her giggles. if that's how it's going to be, she can't resist joining in on the fun. ]

You certainly can't go wrong with Murakami's suggestions! I can attest that they're both very delicious. But as for my recommendation...

[ yoimiya nods for the vendor to prepare them an order of egg rolls and sakura mochi. as soon as murakami has his back turned to assemble the dishes, the sneaky blonde takes tartaglia's hand, guiding it to grab her breast. she sends him a smirk, letting his hand linger for a short moment until she quickly removes it right as murakami is back to facing the pair. ]

I'm very partial to tricolor dango and candy apples!

[ did she pick the round snacks on purpose? hmmm, she'll let tartaglia be the judge of that one. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Hmm, all those suggestions sound good to him. He can feel his mouth watering already, meeting her grin with one of his own. Yoimiya is just as mischievous as him, look at her trying to keep herself from giggling...

He turns his attention back to Murakami, and suddenly he feels her grab his hand and place it over her breast. Tartaglia feels a flush of red cover his face as its cupped into his hand before suddenly having to let go and keep his hand to himself. Did anyone else see that? That sneaky little...]

Ah- yes! That sounds wonderful as well! [He speaks a little unnaturally, because he's actually a terrible liar and bad at covering himself when in a situation like this...] You wouldn't happen to have any tricolor dango and candy apples, would you?

[He asks the vendor as he turns around, hoping that the man doesn't notice how his face has reddened significantly.]

Sure. Let me get you both some.

[He shoots Yoimiya a look when he has the chance. She's really going to be the death of him, his heart beating hard in his chest. And yet, at the same time, he enjoyed that. Now he'll have to come up with something to get her back.]

[niwabi]

[ seeing his face turn scarlet is always worth it. while yoimiya is fairly certain her own sleight of hand hadn't been noticed, she honestly wouldn't have even cared if someone spotted them, playing this little game with tartaglia is way more fun than anything. there's something about being with him that enables her to be even more of a trouble maker than usual.

the look on his face is priceless, she's got no shame in sticking her tongue out at him while murakami has his back turned once again. she immediately goes back to feigning innocence once the vendor has their food ready for them. ]

Alright, I believe that should be everything. Was there anything else you two wanted? I'm surprised you're not ordering much, Yoimiya.

[ yoimiya presses her lips together, looking as if she was actually contemplating on what to say. but nah, she's shameless. ]

Well, I actually had a really tasty treat earlier so I'm not that hungry.

[ she says, all the while grinning from ear to ear. sorry comrade tartaglia, you've got a long night ahead of you....... ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He almost, almost is offended by that little gesture of her tongue, but he won't even get to do anything about it since Murakami turns to give them their food. Childe lets go of her waist to take it, stealing a glance at his girlfriend as the vendor speaks.

There's a part of him that doesn't know what she's going to say, truly. It's a level of unpredictable that he's not used to having to deal with himself- usually that's his job. But...he finds it attractive and exciting.]

I'll share a little of mine with you if you decide you want something anyway, [he offers with a polite smile, doing his best to try to hide his complete amusement that she'd say that out loud.]

If not, we'll just grab you something later.

[Oh, he can't let that go without saying something...]

I wouldn't let you go unsatiated, after all.

[niwabi]

[ of course tartaglia wasn't about to go down without fight. she had been looking forward to his counter strike and naturally, he never fails to disappoint. being around him excites her like no other. in the short amount of time they've known each other, he's brought so much joy and thrills into her life. ]

Hehe, you're mighty sweet as always.

[ she winks, not even caring if murakami happened to catch that. ]

Since it's you, I know I'll be in good hands.

[ thank the archons that murakami has no idea what these two are going on about. this poor man does not deserve to be scarred for life, ignorance is truly bliss. the oblivious vendor merrily tells them to enjoy the food and to have fun at the festival before sending them off with a wave. yoimiya hands the vendor some mora (plus an extra tip because the poor guy really does deserve it) says her goodbyes and starts heading up the pathway brightly lit with lanterns.

once they're out of sight, she finally lets loose and starts giggling non stop. ]

You'll have to tell me which one of the local specalities is your favorite. Although I'm pretty sure I have a feeling I already know the answer to that.

[ gotta poke some fun at his comment from earlier. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia won't elaborate further on anything for as long as they're in front of Murakami, only offering a soft smile to make it seem like they're just having a normal conversation. Though he knows full well what it all really means, but that doesn't mean they have to let this poor food stall vendor know about that. He'll walk along with Yoimiya, admiring the decorations of the festival as they walk up towards the top of the hill of the island, appreciating the ever-constant falling of sakura petals that seem to litter the ground no matter whether it's here or in Inazuma City proper.

Yoimiya's laughter is contagious however, and he can't help but chuckle a bit himself when she starts losing it once they're far enough away to have their own private conversation once more.]

Sounds like you've got me all figured out then. I've always had a taste for trouble, so whichever one of those will fit my preference will certainly be my favorite.

[He still manages to be surprised how much of a risk-taker Yoimiya is, and he couldn't of asked for better. He'll have to see how much trouble she's willing to get into...]

But since it seems you're tailor-made to my tastes, why don't we have a little fun? I've no interest in spoiling this festival, but I think it could stand be a little more lively. You never did say what you've been carrying around in that pack of yours.

[He's got a feeling whatever is in there might be just what this festival needs. There's a very short list in his mind of what she'd gone home to get, but he won't say it out loud.]

[niwabi]

[ tartaglia is not the only terrible liar. granted, yoimiya has never been all that great at being sneaky but given the circumstances, it's only natural he'd figure out she had been up to something. her family owns a firework shop, she went back to her house to grab a few items and there's a festival taking place. it's quite easy to put two and two together. ]

Great minds think alike. The festival has been fun and all but I'm all about spicing things up.

[ sliding the straps off her shoulder, she sets it down on a nearby rock sitting underneath the sakura tree. yoimiya digs through it, first thing she pulls out is a bottle of sake and two cups. ]

First thing I brought with me is sake! I figured since we'll be getting snacks, this would be great to drink alongside it.

[ but of course, that's certainly not the only thing she intended to bring in order to liven up the atmosphere. after setting the sake and cups down next to tartaglia, the next thing she brings out of her sack is a bunch of firework launchers. ]

It was probably like, super obvious what I had in mind but tada! I wanted to watch a few fireworks with you before you left. After all, ending things off with a bang is my speciality.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He watches on as she rifles through her bag, chuckling at the sake she produces from it. He's really enjoyed the sake here on the island, so that's going to make things fun, especially if they drink it all to themselves. And then she produces the fireworks- exactly what he thought might be in there- and he grins. He knew he could count on her to bring something flashy.]

Trying to get me drunk, eh?

[He sits down under the sakura tree, picking up one of the cups and examining it. The little saucer feels good in his hand, glancing over to the fireworks. Those look fun...he definitely wants to set them off.]

Do you think it's wise to be setting fireworks off while drinking? I mean, I don't mind, haha. But you're the expert.

[And you know what, he's just going to pour them both a little sake, picking the bottle up to pour some and handing her one of the cups.]

[niwabi]

Oh? Don't tell me you're the type that gets drunk easily.

[ she says in jest. it's hard to imagine him getting black out drunk but maybe he does have a low alchohol tolerance that she didn't see coming. a drunk tartaglia stumbling around is quite humorous to think about. okay on second thought, maybe she does actually want to see that. ]

It'll be totally fine. [ she waves her hand dismissively, with not a care in the world. ] I've done this plenty of times.

[ that she's an expert in shooting off fireworks, is what she actually means. not that she's done it while under the influence. archons help everyone if she were to ever attempt this while drunk... ]

I'll just hold off on the sake until after the show. All you have to do is sit down and enjoy the drinks and snacks. I'll be done in a jiffy!

[ before taking her leave, yoimiya can't help herself in craving a sweet treat. that of course, being tartaglia's mouth. in a swift motion, she leans in to give her boyfriend a very quick but soft kiss on the lips. all the while grinning at him when she pulls away. now with that out of the way and having feel a bit more satiated, yoimiya takes off to start placing launchers a bit of distance away. while tartaglia might have a blast in dodging fireworks, it's definitely for the best that she doesn't take any risks especially with the other guests wandering around the island. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He takes the cup back from her, not minding at all, he'll just drink it for himself. There's a whole bottle for them both, and where he's not the type to get easily drunk, there's no doubt that he's going to be feeling it if they finish the whole thing off. He sets it down to the side for the moment, because Yoimiya is sweeping in, and Tartaglia returns the kiss with a soft smile. The soft brush makes his lips tingle, and he nods to her as she leaves.]

Alright, don't keep me waiting too long, now.

[He watches her go, wondering if it'll really matter too much if she just sets fireworks off at a public event like this. He's well aware that many places have rules and regulations around this kind of thing, but...you know what, if the Yashiro Commission comes running, he'll get her out of here well before they're even able to figure out who did it in the first place.

While she's setting up her fireworks, he helps himself to the sake from both cups, downing them with ease and takes a bite out of the dango she'd recommended. Not bad.]

[niwabi]

[ having messed around with many launch tubes in her lifetime, it doesn't take long for yoimyia to finish turning on the devices while also making sure the timer is set just right. true to her word, she's back in a flash. only being gone for five minutes. ]

Okay I'm back! I hope you weren't too lonely without me.

[ yoimiya says with a grin, while taking a very close seat next to her boyfriend, snuggling up against him. now that she's done with her work, she finally takes one of the saucers and fills it with sake. ]

It should be starting right about now.

[ on cue, a flashing bright light shoots off into the sky. as it reaches it's desintation, the fluttering beam explodes into an array of orange and red, revealing it's shape to be a bright goldfish painted in the sky. as the first pattern shimmers down, more explosions are quick to follow, blasting off into various other patterns such as foxes, flowers and even just simple bright colorful lights. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia's arm wraps around her once more, pulling her in as she snuggles against him, leaning into her warmth and placing a quick kiss to the side of her head. He doesn't even get the chance to retort, as the fireworks are set off, painting an exquisite canvas of lights and colors against the now darkened sky.

His eyes widen as he looks upwards, the smile on his face widening with every new picture and design, quietly enjoying it as the show goes on. Her work is impressive, and he's really proud of her and how meticulous she is about her craft. It's a beautiful display, and he's glad that he gets to see it.

For a quick second, he glances over to Yoimiya. She seems as if she's focused on the fireworks, so he stays quiet, not wanting to disturb her. Instead, he chooses to simply lean his head into her, nuzzling her softly as he returns his gaze up at the stunning show above them.]

[niwabi]

[ as her eyes gaze into the sky, for once, yoimiya is actually quiet. the one time she's ever silent is when it comes to watching fireworks, wanting to much rather take in the splendor of the lightshow rather than utter a word.

but every so often, she finds herself sneaking a few glances over at tartaglia, hoping to get a good glimpse of his reactions. looks like he thought the same thing, as she finds her eyes meeting with his every so often. she chuckles, nestling her head into his arm to feel more of his warmth. at least he seems to be enjoying himself and she couldn't be any happier, she's proud to show him her craft that she pours all of her sweat and hard work into.

more importantly than showing off her trade, yoimiya had been mentally timing out each pattern in her head. having carefully made preparations for each one, she knows what's next and an intense sense of excitement rushes over her as the lightshow is slowly reaching it's end, the finale is what she had been looking forward to the most. in one of the rare instances of talking during a firework show, she speaks in a soft whisper: ]

Ah, here it is. This is why I asked you to come here and what I really wanted you to see.

[ several arrays of lights shoot into the sky, transforming the view above them into different hues of blue that's almost akin to the sea. finally, one lone blue light is quick to follow suit, exploding in the middle of the ocean in the sky. the shape reveals itself to be a narwhal, it's color matching the shade of tartaglia's eyes. yoimyia softly smiles, looking back over at him with eyes that are filled with only an ever-growing love for the man that captured her heart.

it's dedicated to him. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[It surprises him when Yoimiya breaks the silence between them as they watch the fireworks show. Even though she'd stolen glances at him during it, he can sense that it's something she really loves and that enjoying it with her is best done quietly, especially since she hasn't breathed a word about it until now. Her voice is quiet still, so he sends a smile her way while direction his attention back to the sky.

Tartaglia almost immediately recognizes what's beginning to form, the waves of the sea being replicated in bright lights that shimmer downwards and don't fade away immediately like some other fireworks do. And to top it off, the image of the narwhal- his celestial body in the sky, a symbol of his ambition and one of the very weapons he uses to defeat his enemies- explodes in a brilliant display, the light of it reflecting in his eyes as he stares up in wonder, mouth open wide in a wide smile. It's almost as if he's regressed to the boy who used to look up at the stars with a child-like innocence, before he learned the truth of the world.

When it finally fades, the Harbinger lifts his head to look over to Yoimiya with appreciation, expression soft.]

Yoimiya...

[He's left speechless for a moment, choosing now to lift a hand to hold her face, brushing his thumb across her cheek.]

Thank you. That's one of the nicest things anyone's ever done for me. It was absolutely splendid, in every fashion.

[Leaning in, he captures her once again in a kiss, deep and inviting. The buzz of adoration for her fills his chest, his gesture tender. He wants to return the favor to her somehow, to this amazing woman he'd met on his trip to Inazuma...but for now, he'll be happy to drown in affection and appreciation.]

[niwabi]

[ as pretty as the fireworks are, the joyful, almost innocent-like expression on tartaglia's face is far more breathtaking than any pyrotechnics she could make. the look of wonder on his face combined with that bright-eyed smile, the magnificent sight causes yoimiya's heart to flutter within her chest. seeing the glee on people's faces when they watch her fireworks is always something she takes pride in, but being a witness to the firework's light reflecting in tartaglia's eyes fills her with delight like no other.

his lips are always so irresistible. she closes her eyes, melting into the luscious kiss as her fingers curl into her shoulders. returning the deep kiss in full, she drinks him in as she tastes the strong flavor of sake lingering on his tongue.

as much as she doesn't want this tender moment to end, yoimiya seperates in order to catch her breath. she doesn't break her gaze away from him, lashes fluttering as she presses her forehead against his, her mouth just barely brushing against his own. ]

There will always be more where that came from. [ not just fireworks, she's also talking about: ] I want to do anything and everything in order to bring you the utmost happiness.

[ there's still a lot she doesn't know about tartaglia. a ton of questions begin to stir within her mind, mostly pertaining as to what his past was like, it's saddening to think about the lack of people in his life not providing him much kindness. however, that does serve to fuel her own drive to give him the utmost joy so she can continue to see the sparkle in his eyes. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia's eyes close for a moment as he relaxes into her, the image of her eyes gazing into his own still visible despite it. The honey hue greets him again when he opens them, chuckling softly at her admission. Not that he finds it amusing, but more that there's someone who would be so open and honest with him about their feelings. It feels like everything's moved so quickly, but then he could have never predicted he would fall this hard and this fast for someone in his life.

Yoi's smile and energy is like a breath of fresh air in his life, a complete counter to the dull and dreary atmosphere of having to be around the other Harbingers. His only respite before was spending time with family or his occasional spars with the traveler- but now, he has something even more special. Something to look forward to, something to work towards.

His eyes shoot downwards for a moment, a sigh exhaling out of his nose.]

I'd like to do the same for you, truly. But Yoimiya...

[This is a reality he can't keep from her. The life of one of the Harbingers of the Fatui, it's not something he'd want others to have to get involved in.]

The life I live is a walk down a darker path, one that I don't care to try to involve the ones I care for in. I know we've already agreed to see where it takes us, but I want to make certain you understand exactly who you're with. I won't die, but there are things I must do that are...less than honorable, in the name of Her Majesty the Tsaritsa.

[niwabi]

[ the mention of his lifestyle causes her own eyes to downcast. given tartaglia's role in the fatui, this is a conversation that had to happen. she knows this but still, hearing the words "i won't die" being uttered from his lips makes her heart ache. there's no way a battle-hardened warrior like him would go down so easily but even just thinking about that possibility pangs her spirit with an immense amount of sadness. ]

I understand, I...I already know about your actions in Liyue.

[ news of the nearly catastrophic event had spread like wildfire to the shores of inazuma. the event that tartagalia had instigated certainly didn't help improve the fatui's already poor reputation. yoimiya brings this up not to make him feel guilty, but to let him know that she's already well aware of some of the things he's done before. but also thanks sakujirou ]

I can't say I approve of your methods. Truthfully, it really is hard for me to wrap my head around the things that the Fatui does. But... I can understand that you're doing what you feel is best for your country.

[ while definitely not near the extent of what the harbingers do, yoimiya knows the feeling of having to take drastic measures in order to make things better for her nation. all of her actions during the vision hunt decree would have easily branded her a traitor to the raiden shogun, while also leading to her arrest.

bringing a hand up to the side of his face, she returns her gaze back to him, her soft fingers delicately stroking his cheek. ]

But regardless, I still want this. Even if you might end up doing questionable things, I don't view you as a bad person at all. I've seen your kindhearted side plenty of times throughout the time we've known each other. So... to me, you're not just a Fatui Harbinger, you're Tartaglia. [ she pasues for a moment, a soft smile forming on her lips. ] The man that captured my heart.

[monoceroscaeli]

[The moment she mentions Liyue, Childe immediately looks away, his expression darkening. He's over it, he really is- but that doesn't mean he has to like it or appreciate it, especially now that Yoimiya is telling him that she knows about what he did there. Forever known as a disturber of the peace, is what he said back then, and while he's fine with that, the way it came about was not how he would have normally dealt with a situation like that.

But there's nothing he can do about it now. He just gets the privilege of living with the consequences, he guesses.

It's not until she reaches for him and brings his gaze back to her that he looks up, sighing into her touch and closing his eyes as her fingers brush his cheek. Yoimiya has been more than understanding about this, because she's right- his reasons were for his country and his god. But most people would never share that view, and he's gotten accustomed to it and even accepted this fate.

When she finishes, he allows himself a small smile, catching her hand and kissing the back of it softly. He honestly probably doesn't deserve someone like her, but he appreciates it all the same.]

You're quite the woman, Yoimiya.

[He kisses her hand again, gazing at her from behind it. He wants to tell her what happened in Liyue, but...he can't. He never will be able to.]

Thank you for understanding. Though I can't explain my actions to you, I'll rest a little easier knowing that you're not holding that against me. I must admit, I've fallen quite hard for you- so it's a relief to hear that you can accept the shadowy path set before me. Trust me when I say that anything I do in Her Majesty's name will be in the name of pursuing the vision of peace she has.

[niwabi]

[ seeing the grim expression on his face makes her ponder on if bringing up liyue was a big mistake. everything she heard about the disaster had been through word of mouth, so it's not like she actually witnessed it with her own eyes. maybe she's not getting the full story, or she's just missing the full picture. she can't help but wonder if something else happened that tartaglia just can't talk about.

a pang of guilt starts to form in her heart, worried that she brought up bad memories that he didn't wish to be reminded of. as soon as she feel the warmth of his lips pressed against her hand, she momentarily puts those thoughts away for the time being. ]

That's fine. I know that there are certain topics you can't talk about with me and I completely understand. I do, I fully trust you, Tartaglia. You might have your own methods but I know you aren't the type of person that wishes bad things for the world.

[ she squeezes his hand, wanting nothing more than to envelop into his warmth. there's a slight shift in yoimiya's demeanor, suddenly growing quiet as certain thoughts begin to cross her mind. she's trying her best to stay composed as to not alarm him. he's already got a lot on his mind and she doesn't want to further add to his worries but it's hard to hide the expression of pleading in her eyes. ]

My only request for you is to stay safe out there. I don't think I can bear the thought of something bad happening to you.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He can see the pleading in her eyes, his own taking on a cocky arrogance that he holds for his own abilities. It's one thing he can be confident of at least, that it will be extremely difficult for anything to take him out.]

Don't worry. I'll do everything to keep myself alive. You'll find I'm not so easily defeated, haha. I wasn't awarded the eleventh seat of the Harbingers for nothing, after all.

[That's all he can really say to assuage her concern, nuzzling his head up against her own. Tartaglia doesn't know how to express it, but the fact that she'll put trust in him despite his status in the Fatui means a lot. Normally, he'd think it foolish to do so, especially with someone like him. But with Yoimiya, it's a relief. The idea of her looking at him with distrustful eyes wrenches his heart, and he can only hope that there never comes a day where his actions would cause an outcome like that.]

Sorry for bringing such a heavy topic on like that.

[He kisses her cheek, settling against her with a heavy sigh. He'll do his best to keep Yoimiya out of trouble, the real trouble that he eventually will find himself in, embroiled in a secret war against the world.]

I just wouldn't want you to go without having an understanding of the burden you may have to bear by associating yourself with me, and by proxy, the Fatui.

[niwabi]

[ while the concern for his well being will always be in the back of her mind, at the very least, hearing the egotistical tone in his voice does help to ease some of her fears. it's times like this where his cocky attitude really does help to lighten mood and lift her spirits. ]

Oh, don't worry! I don't mind at all. It's a topic the two of us really needed to hash out.

[ the kiss to her cheek elicits a soft smile from her, snuggling her head into his chest while letting out an elated sigh. ]

Yeah, I'm aware of the potential trouble I could get in just from being associated with someone aligned with the fatui. But... I'm willing to risk it all for you.

[ if word got out that the naganohara fireworks shop owner had been dating a fatui harbinger, yoimiya could already imagine it being a scandal that would rock the entire nation of inazuma. but quite frankly, she doesn't really care, she's never once thought twice about how others view her. she loves tartaglia and that's all that matters. her only concern is what people might think of her father but if she knows her dad well enough, she's fairly certain that he will just tell her to follow her heart. ]

Hehe, I think having a little bit of peril in my life is actually quite thrilling. [ she says with a giggle, both halfway joking and serious. ] I want to do my part to help you in anyway can. So, I promise to assist you in keeping a low profile. I'll work hard to make sure you don't ever get noticed by the Tenryou Commission or anyone else important.