🔥 Permanent Catch-All 🔥

[phoenixblessed]

WHO: Diluc Ragnvindr & Others
WHAT: Permanent catch-all log for closed threads/overflow
WHEN: Any time
WHERE: Anywhere
WARNINGS: To be posted in headers/where required

Comments

[monoceroscaeli]

[He snorts a laugh through his nose as he pops himself up on the railing of the bridge, relaxing and enjoying how Diluc's hands curl in and his patience wears even thinner. The Harbinger seems completely unbothered by this situation, as it doesn't seem to be hurting them in any fashion, but underneath the surface he is curious to know what it is that Diluc sees when he looks at him.]

Alright. Why don't you just follow my lead instead; I don't think you're going to enjoy hearing what I want, and it's hardly fair for me to demand something of you without giving you an incentive first. So I'll start.

[Childe believes that once they know what each other is looking at, they can solve the mystery behind the bridge and free themselves from it. But the first step is going to be the hardest one in his opinion- getting Diluc to work with him.]

Illusion or not, what I see in front of me is a bit of myself that also resides in you- a strong will to protect the ones we hold dearest in our hearts, a deep love for our country and its people, as well as a few other things. Write it off as an illusion all you want, but these are simply basic truths about ourselves. But there's more- what else do you see when you look at me, Diluc? You can say it- I'm not ashamed of who I am.

[phoenixblessed]

[It would be true to say he would be agitated to be stuck like this with anyone but the fact it's Tartaglia definitely makes it worse in so many ways. He doesn't think the other man will attack him and nor does he doubt his own ability to defend himself should it unexpectedly come to that... it's more that every word that comes out of him hits Diluc's nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

He can feel himself bristling, still, even with the awareness that there's really no need for it. The situation they are in is undoubtedly a vulnerable one and he expects that Tartaglia recognises that just as much as he does.

If he could just walk away from this and leave his current companion wanting for answers he would, but he has to begrudgingly admit that there is a good point being made. Whatever it was that he had seen - what they are both seeing - is being shown to them for a reason.

Funny, though, that Tartaglia should mention shame. He finally looks over at him, raking him up and down with vivid crimson eyes, and as much as he would have wished to see the monster he would like to believe this man is - that they all are - instead of something so very relatable to himself he wonders just what it is that the young Harbinger expects him to be being shown.]

... More that I recognise as a reflection of myself than I would have anticipated.

[He looks away then, but he's not done. Diluc loosely folds his arms and curls his fingers around his elbows.]

Everything you just said, and more. The dark parts of your life that you carefully keep hidden from those you love so they aren't hurt by knowing. A level of innocent lost, maybe earlier than it should have been. [A soft breath puffs out through his nose.]

Do you want to hear me say we aren't that different?

[monoceroscaeli]

[There's a part of him that's surprised to hear Diluc say it, expecting more pushback and more stubbornness on the matter. Tartaglia is under no illusion to how much Diluc despises the Fatui, and himself as well by not only association but his rank to boot. But to hear him say that, to correctly describe exactly the terror and dark secrets of his past is humbling and enlightening. He knows about Diluc's loss, he doesn't need to ask why the two of them share something so deeply scarring, even if the circumstances between both of them are wildly different, even though the two of them ended up walking completely different paths in life.

So he chuckles softly, a different kind of laugh than the arrogant one he lets out when challenging his enemies or the sly one when he's successfully put a plan together that will be carried out in the Tsaritsa's name.]

Well, even if I think that phrase is a bit cliche, I wasn't expecting it per se...

[He shrugs as he slides down off of the railing to approach Diluc, hands spread out in a non-threatening manner.]

...but I think I can safely say we understand each other a little better now, wouldn't you agree? Sometimes, all life is is the opposite side of a coin...and hopefully, now that we've been able to see this, we can use it to lower the barrier and really figure out the mystery of this bridge.

[phoenixblessed]

[He could have stood there and said nothing, but he's smart enough to realise that that isn't going to get them anywhere. He could have lied, but that probably wouldn't work either. Diluc isn't a fool - being honest about what he saw is probably going to be the best idea and Childe, at least, is not the worst Harbinger he could be stuck here with. If it had been certain others they would have been fighting from the moment he laid eyes on them.

When Childe approaches him he doesn't back off, but he does fold his arms, and the corners of his eyes pinch slightly as he watches the younger man. He might have been open about what he saw but he is clearly not intending to let his guard down in the slightest.]

Fine.

[He does step away from Childe then, though it's only to reach out one hand and touch his fingertips against the barrier.]

If they knew this was going to happen I'm going to be having some words with the people in charge. [Diluc does not like being a guinea pig, thank you very much.] What else is there..? Hmm.