gotta check myself 'cause I just can't believe / that you were in my heart, you were in my head

[monoceroscaeli]

[Regrettably, he knew he had to go, to return to Snezhnaya on the call of The Jester to join the new project that was moving forward. It'd been nice being in Fontaine, and with all his heart he wishes he could have stayed a while longer, even if it were just to help out the House of the Hearth while he was still recovering. His cough was still ragged and his body still felt a little weak, and Childe would never let anything like that stop him from moving forward and pushing himself- but for now, he'll have to accept that he'll need to take it a little easy as he travels back to the homeland. Still, he would have loved to of had a little sparring session against Lumine or Arlecchino before he left...such is the transient nature of a Harbinger always on the move. Sighing with resignation, he heads back to the Court of Fontaine, to prepare for the journey back...it wouldn't be a short trip, and he'll milk all the time he can out of this before he has to deal with the responsibilities he'll have to take care of.

Maybe if he's lucky, he'll get to run into Lumine again before he leaves. The timing was both impeccable and terrible, only getting to see her for such a short amount of time and it wasn't even alone. He can hope for a reunion, but he knows the chances are slim...

Luckily for him, the Northland Bank is located in Fontaine as well, so while the House of the Hearth stays relocated in Poisson for the time being, he can get himself a nice place to stay while getting ready to leave. On one such day, he's out and about in the city proper to buy a few things for the trip back, a few bags in his hands, enjoying the fresh air. As his eyes scan over the shops for somewhere else to stop at, he swears he sees the tiniest sliver of white flash around a corner, eyes widening in surprise. Was that who he thought it was...?

Curiosity gets the better of him, abandoning his task for the moment to chase after the white-clad figure, hoping and praying that he'll be greeted with the sight of those familiar golden locks that he's longed to see again. Childe's steps pick up the pace, not realizing how fast his heart is racing now, eyes darting back and forth as they sweep over the crowd in hopes of catching a glance of what he thinks he saw. For a moment, he's certain that he's lost her, lost whatever he was chasing after, but from behind him is the unmistakable lilt of a voice that's all too familiar in his ears.

Turning around, he sees her, she's right there at one of the displays outside of a shop, and his whole body fills with joy. Wasting no time, Childe closes the distance between them, his voice bright despite his condition.]

Comrade! What a coincidence! Here I thought our last meeting would be the last time I'd see you for a while.

Comments

[viatriix]

( She expects nothing else from this man, combat-hungry was how they met and that's how he will always be. Which she's always too happy to indulge him in whenever she herself is in the mood for it.

Her face lifting with the guidance of his hand to he cheek, resting against it and she can't help but bring her own hand up to rest on his cheek. Running her thumb over a freckled cheek, though they aren't as prominent as his brother's, they were faint but still there. One just had to have the luck of getting close enough to see and count them. Eyes that only light up for those special to him, to show the excitement in battle. Grateful that he's still here with her and she'd not lost him. His gaze so loving it brings butterflies to flutter in her rib cage.

His words bring her soft smile to morph into one of amusement. )

That you're not and I'm grateful of that fact.

( She presses into the kiss, short and sweet, perfect for basking in the afterglow of such an intimate act of love making. With a silly roll of her eyes, completely unserious, as she smiled down at him. Voice almost groaning for what's to come. )

I've tired you out? I'll most likely be bedridden thanks to you, you know.

( Not only from the intense sex, but he wasn't exactly small. Her legs would so sore and shaky. Plus having to look for any marks he'd left on her person. )

[monoceroscaeli]

[Lumine's palm cupping his cheek, gazing down at him like that and returning his kiss is like a dream. If the world began to blur around him, with the only thing in focus being her, he'd welcome it and get lost in it for as long as the universe would let him. He knows, of course, that it could never be like that- but for now, he'll pretend like the world around him doesn't exist outside of her. This is a rare moment, and he'll savor it.

He laughs at her retort, shrugging his shoulders lightly. He did work her body, but he can't help but take his own little stab at her.]

Don't tell me I was a little too much for you to handle, comrade.

[That smarmy smile comes out, clearly teasing her, but the opportunity presented itself and he can't miss it. Childe immediately winces to prepare for her retaliation, still smiling even as he does so- he knows he did something to deserve some kind of punishment.]

[viatriix]

( She just stares as the loving gaze turned into her signature, blank stare. Of course he just had to throw a tease in there. Blinking a few times, before that same hand that held his cheek immediately shoved his face away from facing her. Getting off his chest and onto the other side of the bed, wrapping her duvet around her.

Reaching over to poke into his side, not gentle but not enough to bruise. )

You really can be annoying sometimes, you know. Go to sleep so I can go shower.

( She did not want to take the risk of boosting his ego more than it already is by trying to see if she can walk alright. Lumine closes her eyes to feign sleep. But she does after a while take his hand in hers, lacing her fingers with his. Even if she got off him, she didn't want to lose contact. Perhaps she can finally have a good night's sleep after so long. )

[monoceroscaeli]

Hey! Hahahaha...!

[There goes his face, as she shoves it away from her and gets up off of him. But the retribution doesn't stop there, as her finger comes into his side to poke him. He recoils and laughs, creating more room on the side of the bed for her to claim, propping himself up on one arm as she pretends to sleep. He stares at her silently, wondering what exactly she meant by telling him to go to sleep when she's the one over here lying there with her eyes closed.

It's even more amusing when she reaches for his hand, intertwining his fingers with hers as she lies there. It's a sweet gesture, and Childe lets his thumb run over her the parts of her hand that he can reach, smiling softly.]

I thought you said you were going to shower.

[He waits patiently, staring at her face, trying to get a glimpse of if she even tries to open her eyes to look at him. He's not buying that she's trying to sleep at all, though it's not as if she's trying to sell it too hard, to him.]

I'd be more than happy to assist you with it, if you wish.

[viatriix]

I will once you go to sleep.

( Even with her eyes closed feigning sleep, she can feel his gaze on her still. The stroke of his thumb over her hand bringing a soft, warmth of comfort. Blinking her eyes open to look up at him, now his elevated more than her own. Though she'll admit the absolute suspicion she has with his offer to assist.

It's now she decided to tease him back in return for his own tease earlier. Sitting up with her blanket wrapped around her shoulders, a smirk of her own on her face. )

Unable to stay away from me for too long already, Tartaglia?

( Perhaps any other time where he wasn't still injured, which she hasn't forgotten about, she'd find a way to get him to carry her to the shower at least. But last thing she needs is to push his body too much. But she won't voice it as he already doesn't want her to worry about his injuries, or at least the ones that haven't fully healed. )

[monoceroscaeli]

[He sees what's going on here. He can't possibly let her get away with hiding how well he pleasured her, or how exhausted he really made her. Sleeping until he at least can see that is out of the question now. Tartaglia's eyes follow her as she finally sits up, wondering what thoughts were running through her head with a smirk like that.

He can't help but laugh, amusement dancing in his eyes as he looks up at her from his prone position on the bed. If she thinks that's going to work on him, she's got another thing coming.]

Well, it is as the old Snezhnayan saying goes, "the icy, eternal sleep holds no power while one is in the throes of love."

[His eyes lid heavily at her, blinking once, slow and intentional. If she wanted to put up a fight with him, he'd happily oblige- but in a different way than maybe she's used to coming from him. He's aware that pushing himself too hard now would only end in more pain and a slower recovery- so he'll find a different way to fight ;)]

It's hard to stay away when a warm light such as yourself illuminates and warms my soul.

[He smirks, but that doesn't mean that he's being facetious- Childe means every word he says, and his hand reaches for her, just so he can feel her underneath his touch.]

[viatriix]

( Anytime she gets to hear his genuine laughter, it can bring a smile to her face. It was a beautiful sound and she hopes that he can have more days of laughter. Her heart fluttering at the sound, knowing he caught on quick. Now she doesn't know if she believes this Snezhnayan saying, how they had a saying for her telling him to sleep. )

I don't know why I don't believe that's not something you just made up.

( She let's a light chuckle out as she stores that saying away in her memory. The way he was looking at her, she would have turned away if it weren't for the passionate love making they just did. But she's able to keep eye contact with him, gaze holding a softness to its challenging hold.

Surprise fills her and her heart flutters, before she playfully rolls her eyes. Moving one side of the blanket into one hand and her free hand reaching out for his. Resting their hands on her thigh where he could feel the shake of her legs, though more faint than it was before. )

You're a lot more poetic than I thought you'd be, I'm surprised.

( She leans down to kiss his cheek, before covering his face with layers of blankets in order to hurry off the bed and make a break for the bathroom. At least she won't hit the floor, though still a bit shaky. )

🎀

[monoceroscaeli]

[He won't confirm or deny whether he made it up or not- he'll leave that for Lumine to ultimately decide. But he's happy it got a laugh out of her either way. Childe holds her gaze for as long as she keep eye contact with him, smiling when she rolls her eyes at him, it's this fun little back and forth that he loves so much that tells him that no one else in this world could ever make him feel as in love as he does for Lumine. He gladly takes the invitation to touch her, letting his hand glide over the soft skin of her thigh.]

I have a way with words sometimes, [he says as she leans down to kiss his cheek. It's a sweet gesture, and his cheek tingles with the ghost of her lips once she leaves it...

...only to get stuffed full of blankets right in his face immediately afterward. She caught him off guard, and he almost complains that that wasn't fair at all. He flails and tries to throw them off as fast as he can, getting a glimpse of that cute lil Lumi butt before she scurries off to the bathroom. Sighing with content, he lies back down on the bed, to close his eyes and rest for the time being- but he'll only see her behind his eyelids, which will never be an unwelcome sight.]