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.]