[Likewise, some of the easygoing cheer has dropped off of Childe's face as well. He's sitting on the edge of one of the couches, arms crossed. Me belatedly realizing that his scars are visible because of these stupid outfits]
Our ever-courteous hosts did mention something along those lines. Nothing helpful, of course. [That would be too easy. No Archons, though... he lifts a hand to his mouth, thinking.]
You wouldn't have any Visions either, then. Perhaps that's why you all use steam... [Hm...] What about The Abyss? Anything like that?
[ hey, same!!! terrible. well, if nothing it proves his assessment about this person is correct. the comment about the hosts gets a snort, because... well, yeah. that was a mess and a half. a partially unintelligible mess and a half. ]
Nothing. [ unless it's like in a metaphorical sense, but, doubtful. gu yun sits back a little in the chair. ] And no Ziliujin for you, either.
[ and that's fucking wild. what a bizarre place. ]
[ as this is happening, gu yun picks up his little device and starts to tap the buttons. so far, he's only learned how to use this from observing others, but, he moves through it like he's fluent. someone's been doing his homework! ]
Tartaglia. [ his nose wrinkles. westerners. ] 'Childe' - like gongzi?
[ interesting. tapping his thumb over his profile, gu yun scans over it, and then lets his gaze flick up to childe himself. assessing, assessing... ] You're a soldier of some kind, should I take a guess. [ dryly; ] War machines seem to be a consistent.
[He takes that as a cue to do the same; hooray for being observant and adaptable. Gu Yun gets a halfway-distracted nod (yes like gongzi and wow did he never expect to hear that particular term again).]
Correct. It's an alias. [His name is right there??? Whatever.
He smiles, though it's impossible to say whether it's from the comment or something he sees on Gu Yun's profile.]
Well, it seems kindred spirits resonate after all. [I think about how there's a sword in genshin impact called The Flute] Though you hardly strike me as a low-level recruit.
[Granted, not that Childe was ever bright-eyed and bushy-tailed either, but, y'know. It's the vibe.]
[ yeah that's it its just a really big sword, and not at all the fact that when he plays the flute sometimes animals fall dead out of the sky ]
Right again - really, you'll polish my ego. [ fufufu. admittedly, he knows his profile says that he's good at military leadership, so. ] I am the Marquis of Order - the Marshal of the Black Iron Camp.
[ so, he's not just high ranking, he is The High Rank - the highest rank in his military. terrible. ] I've been at it for a while. [ even though he's only 23? ] And so you must have been, if you've got an alias. Are you in the private sector now?
[It's too late, magical instruments are already a thing. Thanks for spoiling it, Venti.
Also haha wow, the amount of "same hat" going on here is! Bad! Childe's eyes never look particularly bright, but there's a definite spark of interest.]
Mm, almost ten years now. [Give or take!] I serve as one of Her Majesty The Tsaritsa's Eleven Harbingers.
Harbinger of what, exactly? Ominous title. [ he looks equally interested, now leaning forward a little. we knew this was going to happen and i hate it still.
also don't think he didn't notice that ten years comment. in fact; ] Seems we could've served side by side.
[smashcut to gu yun playing Titanic.mp3 on the recorder]
Of chaos, mayhem, and terror? [He grins like he's joking! Haha!!!] No, nothing so exciting. Mostly we act as diplomats to other nations. That's why I was in Liyue, you see. [Yeah for that reason and absolutely no others.] I'm sure it's clear enough that it wasn't my native language.
[Just ask him for some Snezhnayan idioms. Just ask. (don't I already have to look up Chinese idioms)
ALSO, CHILD SOLDIERS BE LIKE!!!]
Oh? [Hm. Well, it's worth asking.] A willing choice?
[ amusement flickers across his face. ] It was. [ a beat. ] Suppose I'll keep my insults to myself, though.
[ that's teasing for sure. but, also... this may yet be to his favor. gu yun's got his suspicions as to the fact that there may be a couple of others who would understand - but having childe speak this liyuese might be beneficial.
anyway. onto this child soldier thing. casually - ] It's the family business. [ and that's enough explanation on that, perhaps. ] And yours is diplomacy?
[ the way gu yun says this suggests he doesn't think childe is in fact very diplomatic ]
[GU YUN ALREADY CALLED HIM A DUMBASS but it's fine, he just smiles in that "haha I'm sure just out here doing my best" way. Terrible.
Also wow he's a great diplomat he got proposed to via chopsticks and everything (no)]
Ahaha, no, no, my background isn't anything grand. [His tiny seaside village hometown...] It was my father's suggestion, actually. The Tsaritsa can be very generous. [yeah generous in that she had an endless supply of soldiers for his teen self to decimate] And my family is quite large, so I enjoy being able to provide for them.
he starts snickering, immediately, before anything - ] Your accent is terrible.
[ it's actually not that bad, it just sounds weird because it is a different language slightly to the left of mandarin, but also he can't not make fun of him. ]
That's a very rude assumption to make of a stranger.
[lmao
he's amused]
But yes, that's right. I haven't been back in a while--I'd planned on returning somewhat soon, actually, before... [He waves a hand at their surroundings] ...all of this came along.
anyway. since they've seemed to be like minded up to this point, gu yun tilts his head. shittiness aside... ] I can't be the only one who thinks this unbelievably suspicious.
Mmhm. [ an agreeable noise. gu yun seems just a little sharper, too, tapping his thumb against the device in his hands. ]
Not that our hosts seem particularly competent. [ but looks can be so, so deceiving - which he doesn't say, because he has a feeling he and childe are on the same wavelength. ] I've been brought here without several things that I should have had on my person upon arrival, marked with a tattoo that I most certainly didn't have before, and only have the assurance of this document that things are going to go a certain way. There are no discernible exits, and not a single familiar face.
Troubling. [ to say the least. he doesn't like it. ]
Mm. I can't say I'm comfortable with how easily they managed to swipe my Vision, either. [Like. He can live without them. But he doesn't like it? He would've preferred to agree to be nerfed on his own terms?] And their claims that all we need to do is indulge are laughable.
Your vision, huh. [ he misses the capital V in that one, because there is a deep irony to a loss of vision here but gu yun is not at all about to admit to it, and i can only even make this comment in metatext because you already know. ]
Agreed. [ plus, there's something about that guide that stuck out to him almost immediately. ] Not to mention, the guide says it itself - "What happens if someone dies?" And to have a contingency plan for seeking justice seems over the top.
[SISI YOUR META although tragically Childe will clear that up--]
Yes. They're what allows us--well, some of us--to harness certain forms of elemental energy.
[Let's not even get into the. Other things. That can do that. MORE IMPORTANTLY, he exhales sharply; not quite a derisive snort, but close to it.]
Yes, I'm sure we're not the only ones who noticed that. [He could have, perhaps, been halfway willing to believe in a liability clause, but the bit about "justice" throws that out the window.] I'm simply not sure if they're banking on our own lack of self-control, or if they're planning outside interference.
[He won't be the slightest bit surprised if some of their number were planted here intentionally, tbh.]
anyway. childe makes a fair point, and gu yun glances down himself, idly, to the shoes they'd been considering as blunt force trauma weapons like an hour ago. ]
I have no intentions of dying here, armed, indulgently, or otherwise. You?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(dana voice) the INEVITABILITY of gu yun and childe fucking
Our ever-courteous hosts did mention something along those lines. Nothing helpful, of course. [That would be too easy. No Archons, though... he lifts a hand to his mouth, thinking.]
You wouldn't have any Visions either, then. Perhaps that's why you all use steam... [Hm...] What about The Abyss? Anything like that?
at least we aren't first
Nothing. [ unless it's like in a metaphorical sense, but, doubtful. gu yun sits back a little in the chair. ] And no Ziliujin for you, either.
[ and that's fucking wild. what a bizarre place. ]
True
[Surely it can't just be language? That would be a little ridiculous.]
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Tartaglia. [ his nose wrinkles. westerners. ] 'Childe' - like gongzi?
[ interesting. tapping his thumb over his profile, gu yun scans over it, and then lets his gaze flick up to childe himself. assessing, assessing... ] You're a soldier of some kind, should I take a guess. [ dryly; ] War machines seem to be a consistent.
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Correct. It's an alias. [His name is right there??? Whatever.
He smiles, though it's impossible to say whether it's from the comment or something he sees on Gu Yun's profile.]
Well, it seems kindred spirits resonate after all. [I think about how there's a sword in genshin impact called The Flute] Though you hardly strike me as a low-level recruit.
[Granted, not that Childe was ever bright-eyed and bushy-tailed either, but, y'know. It's the vibe.]
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Right again - really, you'll polish my ego. [ fufufu. admittedly, he knows his profile says that he's good at military leadership, so. ] I am the Marquis of Order - the Marshal of the Black Iron Camp.
[ so, he's not just high ranking, he is The High Rank - the highest rank in his military. terrible. ] I've been at it for a while. [ even though he's only 23? ] And so you must have been, if you've got an alias. Are you in the private sector now?
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Also haha wow, the amount of "same hat" going on here is! Bad! Childe's eyes never look particularly bright, but there's a definite spark of interest.]
Mm, almost ten years now. [Give or take!] I serve as one of Her Majesty The Tsaritsa's Eleven Harbingers.
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Harbinger of what, exactly? Ominous title. [ he looks equally interested, now leaning forward a little. we knew this was going to happen and i hate it still.
also don't think he didn't notice that ten years comment. in fact; ] Seems we could've served side by side.
[ child soldiers be like ]
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Of chaos, mayhem, and terror? [He grins like he's joking! Haha!!!] No, nothing so exciting. Mostly we act as diplomats to other nations. That's why I was in Liyue, you see. [Yeah for that reason and absolutely no others.] I'm sure it's clear enough that it wasn't my native language.
[Just ask him for some Snezhnayan idioms. Just ask. (don't I already have to look up Chinese idioms)
ALSO, CHILD SOLDIERS BE LIKE!!!]
Oh? [Hm. Well, it's worth asking.] A willing choice?
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[ that's teasing for sure. but, also... this may yet be to his favor. gu yun's got his suspicions as to the fact that there may be a couple of others who would understand - but having childe speak this liyuese might be beneficial.
anyway. onto this child soldier thing. casually - ] It's the family business. [ and that's enough explanation on that, perhaps. ] And yours is diplomacy?
[ the way gu yun says this suggests he doesn't think childe is in fact very diplomatic ]
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[GU YUN ALREADY CALLED HIM A DUMBASS but it's fine, he just smiles in that "haha I'm sure just out here doing my best" way. Terrible.
Also wow he's a great diplomat he got proposed to via chopsticks and everything (no)]
Ahaha, no, no, my background isn't anything grand. [His tiny seaside village hometown...] It was my father's suggestion, actually. The Tsaritsa can be very generous. [yeah generous in that she had an endless supply of soldiers for his teen self to decimate] And my family is quite large, so I enjoy being able to provide for them.
[That much is even true, amazing.]
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he starts snickering, immediately, before anything - ] Your accent is terrible.
[ it's actually not that bad, it just sounds weird because it is a different language slightly to the left of mandarin, but also he can't not make fun of him. ]
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He's too far away to elbow him but he wants to]
I'd like to hear you speak Snezhnayan!
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[I have no idea if this is a real thing people say but it means "may your children shit in your soup" so I can't pass it up.]
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I'm sure you just insulted me, so fuck you. [ VERY mature. ] That's your homeland, then - Snezhnaya? Ruled by the Tsaritsa?
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[lmao
he's amused]
But yes, that's right. I haven't been back in a while--I'd planned on returning somewhat soon, actually, before... [He waves a hand at their surroundings] ...all of this came along.
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[ lmao
anyway. since they've seemed to be like minded up to this point, gu yun tilts his head. shittiness aside... ] I can't be the only one who thinks this unbelievably suspicious.
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Instead, he smiles again, though it's sharper than most of his smiles have been thus far.]
I pity anyone who thinks otherwise, to be honest. If anything, it's more surprising that they're waiting this long to spring a trap.
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Not that our hosts seem particularly competent. [ but looks can be so, so deceiving - which he doesn't say, because he has a feeling he and childe are on the same wavelength. ] I've been brought here without several things that I should have had on my person upon arrival, marked with a tattoo that I most certainly didn't have before, and only have the assurance of this document that things are going to go a certain way. There are no discernible exits, and not a single familiar face.
Troubling. [ to say the least. he doesn't like it. ]
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Agreed. [ plus, there's something about that guide that stuck out to him almost immediately. ] Not to mention, the guide says it itself - "What happens if someone dies?" And to have a contingency plan for seeking justice seems over the top.
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Yes. They're what allows us--well, some of us--to harness certain forms of elemental energy.
[Let's not even get into the. Other things. That can do that. MORE IMPORTANTLY, he exhales sharply; not quite a derisive snort, but close to it.]
Yes, I'm sure we're not the only ones who noticed that. [He could have, perhaps, been halfway willing to believe in a liability clause, but the bit about "justice" throws that out the window.] I'm simply not sure if they're banking on our own lack of self-control, or if they're planning outside interference.
[He won't be the slightest bit surprised if some of their number were planted here intentionally, tbh.]
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[ fairy tale bullshit
anyway. childe makes a fair point, and gu yun glances down himself, idly, to the shoes they'd been considering as blunt force trauma weapons like an hour ago. ]
I have no intentions of dying here, armed, indulgently, or otherwise. You?
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[laughs in abyss
Anyway. He smiles again, though he turns his gaze around the room.]
Unfortunately for our hosts, my goals are not ones that can be accomplished after death. [So. Yeah. They're on the same page there.]
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