wearing a mask obscuring my face // holding me close yet at a distance

[monoceroscaeli]

[With no leads anymore to Scaramouche's whereabouts, the Eleventh has unfortunately had to return to square one, though he's hardly the type to be upset about it. Sure, the Mystic Omnyou Chamber didn't yield any information on the missing Harbinger, but he had a lot of fun during his time in there. Slaying endless monsters, fighting alongside Shiki Taishou and being joined by Xinyan and the Traveler- he really couldn't of asked for better. He'd even managed to make a few new friends along the way, and that doesn't usually happen in any mission he takes on for the Fatui.

All in all, he's had a surprisingly good time.

But it is as they say, parting is such sweet sorrow, though he's thankful that they were able to make good memories of it along the way. So much so that he now rests at the bar at the entrance of Komore Teahouse, Taroumaru sitting on the counter watching him drink. The Harbinger gives him a few pats on the head, which the former Shuumatsuban member allows with a wary eye.]

Aw, c'mon, don't look at me like that. I'm not here to cause any trouble.

[Childe only laughs quietly before he stares down into his teacup. His mind begins to wander back to his time with Shiki Taishou, Xinyan, and Lumine...

Lumine...

He sighs as he takes another sip of his tea. How he wished she could come with him, or vice versa, so there wouldn't be so much time apart between their meetings. And the way they parted...he can't believe he said what he said back there. Even now when he thinks about it, it made no sense at all...though it sounded cool at the time, didn't it? He glances back up at the Shiba Inu, smiling but clearly distracted by his own thoughts.]

Hey, let's say you want to tell someone how important they are to you, how would you say it?

[The Harbinger only gets a bark in return, and he just smiles wryly to himself. He really just asked a dog for advice...]

Never mind. I'm not sure when I got so desperate to ask for advice on that kind of thing.

[Childe plays with his tea cup, lost in his thoughts and unaware of the presence behind him.]

Comments

[intertwins]

[Unfortunately for Childe, Lumine is there for all of it.

Part of it is that she's... bewildered? Astonished? Appalled? One of those, maybe all of them, but he should not be in this very distinct spot that so few people are allowed inside of.

The other is a little more selfish, and that's that she wants to hear what he has to say without him being able to run away.

You had a lot of nerve, leaving after saying something like that.

Something that alludes so close to what she is. Something that describes her in such a delicate way. Something that taken the wrong way, could mean-

Easy there.

Better to leave that one alone.

There's far better things to think about right now, anyway, and that's getting a sweet little stab of revenge.]

Personally I think it's best to just be up front about it. Life is short, after all. [Especially his compared to hers, most likely, but Lumine absolutely doesn't say that. She does, however, walk forward so she's right beside Childe, and - without looking at him once - leans forward to drum her fingers on the counter.] I don't know, what do you think, Taroumaru?

[Taroumaru barks again.

This time he pants happily and wags his tail.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The cup is lifted to his lips, beginning to take a sip when Lumine's voice cuts through his thoughts like a sharp knife. Maybe a better way to describe it is more of a boulder that slams through the wall of thoughts he's having, and in the most scarce of instances, he jumps in his seat as tea spills out of his cup and onto his lap. Childe's jaw drops, not because she's here, but because she's clearly heard every word he's said and he hadn't even noticed that she'd been there the entire time. It's truly something only someone really green behind their ears would do, and not only is he cursing himself for letting himself fall into such a complacent state to be caught off guard in this manner, he's also cursing himself that she's heard it.

The Traveler is not stupid and there's no doubt in his mind that she knows he's talking about her.

Clearing his throat, he tries to compose himself and laugh it off. Taroumaru, you're not helping him here, buddy.]

Lumine, I wasn't expecting to see you here.

[He glances over, noticing how she's not looking at him. He's glad for that for the moment, since there's no way his face hasn't taken on a shade of pink at the sudden intrusion.

Time to change the subject.]

And here I thought our brief time together had truly come to an end. Hmmm...since we have the opportunity, why don't you join me and enjoy a cup of tea or two? Afterwards, we could try for a spot of...exercise, haha. It's been a while since our last spar, after all...

[Fight him pls]