seasonsrpg | Lover, hunter, friend and enemy

Entry tags:

Lover, hunter, friend and enemy

WHO: Lumine, Ayato and Childe
WHAT: Badgering Lumine to give answers-
WHEN: Backdated to nearer the start of the event
WHERE: Lumine's house
WARNINGS: none atm, will update as needed

{ within a few days of symptoms showing people had already suggested solutions for a cure for this freezing cold that had started gripping people, but with the ingredients so spread apart it was taking time to get enough for everyone. ayato hadn't gone for any yet, but he would over the upcoming days to some of the segments. for now, his concern wasn't a lie by any means, but this had produced an opportunity for something that had been on his--their--mind from over a month ago and hadn't really had a chance to ask about.

he turns up at lumine's door with a small shopping bag in one hand, a small drink tray in the other. steam escapes the lid of one, clearly something hot, while he's shoved a boba tea in the other slot for himself.

since the plan is that childe will arrive later, if he wants anything he'll have to bring it himself.

he takes a deep breath before knocking on the door, smile in place for whoever will answer. hopefully the others are out and they picked a good time though.

when the door opens, he's as polite as always, though very grateful it's lumine there and not one of her housemates. }

Hello. I brought some items that will hopefully help you feel a little better, may I come in?

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{ truly, childe, at least do this in a way that seems like a coincidence. }

If you keep talking about it that way, I'll start to think you really are jealous I haven't invited you onto my lap instead.

{ he sighs, then reaches up with a gloved hand to gently tap lumine's hand. }

Don't forget to drink the soup.

Now the both of you are ganging up on me! That doesn't seem fair.

[He doesn't let on (yet) to Lumine how right she is about his current condition. He's almost afraid that if he moves just the wrong way, they'll hear ice crack from the inside of his body. Thankfully, he's used to this kind of cold...for now.]

You know, [he begins, eyeing the soup that Ayato's indicated for Lumine to eat,] I heard a rumor or two regarding this magic that's freezing the residents from the inside out. I don't know if it's true, but if it is, it might help with the pain and suffering that those afflicted by it suffer.

[ Lumine lifts her spoon and eats a mouthful, mostly to satisfy Ayato's insistence. A true shame, that: the soup would have been really good, if there wasn't something fishy going on here. ]

Is that so.

[ The question lands so dryly it's a flat statement of fact. It's not that she doesn't think that Childe doesn't care about her condition. But... She points her empty spoon at him. ]

Just what makes you think I have it so bad? Maybe I'm just an incorrigible flirt that will take any excuse to sit in a handsome man's lap.

{ for a brief moment, ayato's expression is a certain look to tell childe to be more cautious, but he also knows how the other is. he's a lot more straightforward than he'd initially expected.

but that expression drops for something that is much more smug and pleased after lumine speaks }

That is why you keep accepting?

{ but then he's leaning closer, simply so he can whisper in her ear. childe can probably still hear it, but it's definitely done to make this seem more intimate than it really is. }

Is it not worth a try?

[This whole song and dance in front of him is really a riot, he swears- Ayato giving him the mean mug about his approach to this situation, Lumine giving him the stink eye because she knows something's up and doesn't appreciate his Fatui ass being in here being the way he is. It's great, it feels like something that could be stirred into some sort of trouble that might end up in a fight at some point- he couldn't of asked for better.

But Ayato doing his thing here, leaning in and whispering in her ear, is something he's not going to interrupt for the moment- though he's not really sure if this is part of the other man's scheme to extract the information they're looking for from her or if he's just trying to make everyone else uncomfortable in the room. Either way, he's sitting back into the couch and going to just let Lumine handle this for now, looking on with a smile on his face, very entertained by this turn of events. He won't answer Lumine's question- seems Ayato has hijacked it for now, and to be honest, it's much funnier this way.]

[ She's not sure what she dislikes more: the inkling that Ayato's flirting with compromised motives, or giving Childe a show. Ultimately, though, no matter what she chooses to do he's going to end up amused--she might as well try to assert whatever control she can. She turns her head and gives Ayato the flattest look. ]

Keep it up and you're going to be wearing the next spoonful of soup on your pretty face.

[ She faces Childe again and nails him with the same dead-eyed look. ]

Well, don't leave us in suspense. Just what is it that you think is going to cure what ails me? Assuming something ails me, that is.

[ Aside from strangling you both. She's keeping that option open, if quiet. ]

{ and in return he sighs }

Ayaka would be rather upset if you were to burn me with soup, Lumine. Besides, I'm not sure what I've done to earn such treatment? Is worrying over a dear friend something so bad?

{ they both know that is not why... jesus. }

[It's really hard not to laugh. Oh, the look on the traveler's face, it's really a treat to get her to act like this sometimes. He is mildly afraid that Ayato's face might sustain some sort of damage at this point, and he can't have his accomplice getting injured while dealing with this little contradiction they've found, so Childe quickly changes the subject to the question posed to him.]

Now, now, believe it or not, we're not here to fight or anything.

[Never mind this only applies to Childe.]

Given how you're wrapped up in a blanket, eating soup and sitting in a man's lap, I think it's safe to assume you're just a bit cold, yes? Well, to answer your question...the remedy for what I assume ails you is the relief of secrets kept. At least, that's what I've heard, anyway.

[Childe gives Lumine a knowing look- for what the Fatui know about her, he's pretty sure she hasn't shared everything about herself with anyone. He wouldn't either, if he were her. Not to mention why they were there in the first place.]

[ She has a few options here.

One, she could lie, and lie, and continue to lie. But in spite of the accusation that she's been keeping secrets, it's just that: her falsehoods have been (mostly) omission and silence, allowing other people to impose their narratives as they see fit and failing to correct them. If she chooses to lie here, though, that all changes. And so will the dynamics of her relationships to both of them. While she's not exactly happy with either of them and this hair brained scheme of theirs, she's actually quite fond of them, and it would be a pity to flush that down the commode.

Two, she could try to fight them, with a key emphasis on "try." As poorly as she's actually doing right now, she's under no delusions that she could actually win. The humiliation of that would honestly be worse than having been called out on her bullshit in the first place. Also, Childe would enjoy it far too much, and frankly, he's gotten too much pleasure out of this as it stand.

Three, she can give up the ghost and answer their questions. It wouldn't be wholly unwelcome--she's curious, at least, to get a feel for what they think they know and how they came to find out even that much. Because she doubts that Aether would be inclined to spill the beans anymore than she is. Most likely no one will end up needing a splint, or worse, with broken trust (something not even a splint can fix.).

Three is, by far, the most palatable option. That said, even if she is the right color, she doesn't plan on just singing like a canary.

Lumine gets to her feet with a series of loud, painful sounding pops, as her stiff joints and spine fight the bitter cold to let her move again--which she does, to take an unoccupied seat at the table. ]

I think, given the circumstances, if I explained to Ayaka she might forgive me for burning your face. Treating me like a foreign dignitary you need to bribe or a member of another Inazuman clan you need to trick into giving you information isn't very nice, now, is it?

[ She takes the soup from him and tilts it back into her mouth, consuming it like it's a very large cup of tea. She sets it back down, half full. ]

But we can talk about the full scope of the optics of all--this--

[ She waves a hand dismissively. ]

later. Clearly you have something in mind you think I've been hiding from you both. How do you feel about making a deal? You show me your cards and I'll show you mine.

Edited 2023-10-07 23:02 (UTC)

{ his expression doesn't change at all in response to that, instead he just sighs. }

Nor did I ever claim to be nice. Though I will say the soup and warmth was offered out of friendship, rather than bribery.

{ he shifts at the end, leaning back more comfortably now to cross one leg over the other. }

But you are right that I would rather get to the main point. { and with that he finally looks towards childe still on the sofa with him, gesturing a hand in his direction. }

Since you're the one who has extra memories, I'll leave it to you to explain.

[It is a little hard not to wince at the sounds Lumine's body makes when she gets up. He's seen plenty of people cold enough to be at death's door, but this is a sound unique to literally being frozen from the inside out. In a way, he hopes that the rumors are true, that sharing a secret help to alleviate the symptoms. He might have an ulterior motive here, but he doesn't like seeing Lumine suffer.

But business is business now, and Childe's never been one to beat around the bush. He'll happily take the lead on this one, his expression falling to something more serious.]

This may not be what you think it is, Lumine. Perhaps you've already got an idea of what we're about to ask- it seems that both the Commissioner and I have a discrepancy in our memories. One that involves...The Balladeer.

[He won't put all his cards down quite yet, and he's got a few to use on her. But his eyes are piercing, staring her down as if there's no point for her to hide it from him now that he's got an inkling to what's going on.]

The last I knew he'd been defeated in Sumeru by Lesser Lord Kusanali and yourself, based on the reports brought back to Snezhnaya. But for some reason, my comrade here has no recollection whatsoever of there ever being a Harbinger in the sixth seat for at least hundreds of years. There's no reason for the Fatui to make up a cover story like that, and believe me, I'd know about it if there was. So tell me, do you know anything about that?

Edited (ehhhhh i changed my dialogue) 2023-10-11 01:37 (UTC)

[ She thinks Ayato has some nerve to sigh and split hairs. But for now, she's going to let it go. There's more important matters afoot.

Like the fact that Childe and Ayato know that something large is afoot with everyone's memories.

Cautiously, she responds, ]

I was there at the time. If you're asking if it's due to anything that I did, though, it wasn't me.

[ She pauses, purses her lips. This is probably particularly useless, given that the forbidden fruit is always the most appealing. But she feels like, given what she does know about Teyvat and the way that it wants to operate--she should caution them. ]

The less you know about it, though, the better it will probably be for you.

I don't believe anyone was being accusatory by asking if you know about it, Lumine. Nor do I think you should be deciding whether something is good for either of us.

{ both of them deal in information, after all, and probably know more generally than lumine likely realises. after all, would she and the resistance have had much of a chance to get into tenshukaku without him pulling strings in the background? and he already knows that childe being part of the fatui likely knows a lot more than he talks about.

but one thing in particular in this irks him with this. }

I don't appreciate knowing my memories may have been tampered with, and a friend is potentially lying to me about it and pretending nothing is wrong.

{ she's heard him being harsh before, but it wasn't exactly aimed at her then. now it's a little different, given if this is the case for him it's likely the case for people he cares about too. and if it's happened with this, are there other things that have changed they don't know about? }

[So she does know. She wouldn't give a warning like that if she didn't.

Childe's hand comes up to his chin as he considers what to lie down next. And thank the archons for Ayato, that wasn't a point he was even thinking of pressing. He keeps his eyes locked with Lumine's, the lightless blue of them calculating the next move.]

I'll have to agree on that point- if someone is tampering with our memories, that's not something we can just overlook. I think we can all agree that the fact that something like this is possible is dangerous, and should be treated with the utmost level of concern. Even if this is the Fatui's doing, [he adds, earnest and sincere in this statement,] it's important we get to the bottom of it. Just because my memories weren't changed doesn't mean they haven't been before. And if it was the Fatui, the fact that I don't even know about it...

[What else could have happened, and who's pulling the strings? Is there anyone or anything he's forgotten? What if one day, he couldn't even remember his own family?]

[ She shakes her head and sighs. ]

I'm not trying to make the decision for you. If you want to know, I'll tell you. But since I already know, I'd be an asshole if I opened Pandora's box on you without warning you what's inside isn't safe.

[ Luckily, this isn't the really, really bad shit... the kind of shit gods send nails down over. Just regular bad, by Teyvat standards. ]

This isn't anything to do with the Fatui. Not really. I mean, in this situation it did affect your memories of one of them. But Wanderer --you know him as Scaramouche-- [ she nods to Childe at ] caused it by accident, and I highly doubt that anyone in the Fatui will cause it again. Not unless there's more of you running around that want to de-exist yourselves. The odds of your memories being tampered with again are extraordinarily slim.

You say that as though the work either of us do isn't its own form of Pandora's box.

{ is lumine forgetting who is the reason why the resistance could sneak into tenshukaku at all. he's knee deep in how bad shit in teyvat can be whether he wants to be or not. raiden is only one small fish in the grand scheme of things, but he knows yae miko well enough to know not everything is as it seems on the surface anyway. }

But that does make some sense that he would try that, given my conversations with him here. { he pauses, then looks at her head on, no more beating around the bush now. and he does have one thing he hasn't mentioned to childe yet, that hopefully may catch both of them off guard. } Tighnari mentioned you helped heal Irminsul. If you have to run around trying to de-exist yourself and it's difficult to do, are the two related?

Edited (hit enter accidentally CRIES) 2023-10-30 00:10 (UTC)

[Caused it by accident?

That's the first thing that is weird to him. He's aware of Scaramouche and how he operates. He's a good little soldier when he needs to be and executes his orders with precision. It's more likely he'd ridicule you for being weak and making a mistake rather than him being the one to make a mistake. That, and it doesn't line up with the waterfall of emotions and memories from him that Childe experienced all those months ago. But that's not something for him to press Lumine on.

Instead, Ayato is already taking the lead and pressing where it needs to be pressed. For a moment, Childe grows silent. Irminsul isn't a name that just anyone throws around, but seeing as Ayato knows about it from Tighnari makes sense. The Forest Rangers, if memory serves him correctly, deals with a major disaster in Sumeru...something rumored to be connected to the great tree he'd just mentioned. Could that be the tree of which he'd fought endless battles around its roots in the Abyss...?

He says nothing, looking to Lumine with a question in his own eyes:

Did he use Irmunsul to erase himself?]

[ She remembers the risks that he went to in order to get her into the Tenshukaku. And Childe's experiences in the Abyss were more dangerous than most mortals could ever boast of, especially at such a young age. But neither of those dangers were civilization ending, and at this point, Lumine knows enough that it's something of a miracle she hasn't had a nail dropped on herself.

She lets it pass, though. Maybe it's for the best if he believes she's overreacting. Maybe then he won't dig so deep he actually might regret things after all. Irminsul, at least, is fairly safe.

Lumine's lips twist into a joyless smile. ]

Well, see, look at that. You didn't really need me for anything more than confirmation. And hardly even that.

[ She pushes her spoon through her soup before bringing a scoop to her mouth and eating it. She doesn't really feel hungry, but it would be a shame to waste food. And it's damn good soup. Maybe when she stops being miffed with him, she'll ask Ayato where he got it. ]

Irminsul holds Teyvat's collective memories. If you can access it, you can learn about anything--almost anything--that has ever happened in that world. Wanderer put made the logical conclusion that if it exists, it can be destroyed. For personal reasons, he tried to destroy all of the information pertaining to him in the hopes that it would wipe himself out of existence.

Unfortunately, he didn't understand what would actually happen. You see, if you remove the information from Irminsul, it doesn't actually stop that thing from existing. It only changes the world's memories. The actions and consequences from those actions committed? They stay the same. They just become assigned to different actors or reasons and the collective consciousness is changed.

So everyone forgot that the Balladeer ever existed. As far as the majority of Teyvat knows, the sixth seat of the Harbingers has been vacant for hundreds of years and the deeds he committed are now thought to have been done by Signora or Tartaglia or Dottore or the head of the Hyakume clan, depending on the incident.

[ She taps her spoon lightly against the rim of the bow. That strange smile on her face is now bitter and sad, for a lot of reasons. A lot of people. ]

There's plenty of reasons to be mad at him. But don't be mad about him over this. I don't expect you to believe it, but in his own way, he was trying to make your world a better place. It just didn't work out. And in the end he didn't even get to have the mercy of continuing to not remember it all.

Considering the incident regarding the Hyakume clan was a long time ago, it really isn't my concern now. As for the delusions that were spread in Inazuma... { he sighs, assuming that is one of the things that changed as it caused a big impact for many families part of the resistance } ...the damage has already been done, and given how some of the Fatui operates, if he hadn't been involved it would have only been someone else.

{ at least when he says that he isn't looking at childe skgjsdg }

Though if you're on good terms with him, please remind him I really do not care either way so long as he isn't a threat to Inazuma now. It certainly explains why he keeps trying to instigate an argument every time I try and converse with him.

{ no, ayato, that's just him things- }

But nonetheless, thank you for answering. I had wanted to be more tactful in bringing it up, but I seem to have forgotten who I was working with.

{ this time he will give childe a look. }

[That's it. Lumine's explanation fills in most of the puzzle pieces he's been gathering about Scaramouche since he'd arrived, and even gives him a better idea of how the Doctor fit into the equation, too. Wanderer had said the Doctor ruined his life, and Childe thought something had happened in Sumeru. But that isn't the whole story, he now realizes. Something happened before, something big. Something that cost the puppet his loved ones from hundreds of years ago.

Childe's hand comes up to let his face rest in the palm of his hand, going through all the memories of their time mind melded in that robot, the images that stuck with him of the Doctor, of the faces of those he didn't recognize and the despair that he'd felt through that connection.

I see. He tried to save them...and failed. Seems he really does have a heart after all. How quaint...]

Hahahaha...

[He can't help but let out a small chuckle at it all. How absurd, and yet, this is their reality and he's already thinking of all the terrible things that could of come from this, and what could still come. His eyes come to give Ayato a glance, lowering his hand to reveal an amused smile that he's kept hidden behind it, not seemingly bothered at all by the call out.]

Hey, I'm not one to beat around the bush. I see no reason to tip toe around such important matters, and I've always felt comfortable being up front with the traveler here. I think it's worked out quite well so far.

[Standing, albeit a bit slowly due to the ice in his own veins, he stretches himself, not seeing a point to stick around now that he's gotten the information he needs.]

I appreciate your honesty in turn, Lumine. It's given me more than just food for thought, and brought me one step closer to solving this puzzle. I'm looking forward to the next time I see him.

Oh, he's just trying to start arguments to argue. We squabble all the time.

[ It's at LEAST 90% of their daily interactions, even when they're actually on good terms. She'd tell Ayato more, maybe, but Childe laughs--and it's slightly unsettling, especially when paired with his posture.

Before now, Lumine had never had the impression that any of the harbingers were particularly close. Scaramouche, especially, had been dealt so many blows so early on, it would be a nigh on miracle for him to have made friends with anyone during that time in his life. Even now he doesn't want to admit he has friends. ]

Are you okay?

Me? Oh, I'm quite alright.

[He says as he stretches his back, which pops and cracks audibly, as if he'd just shattered a layer of ice across his spine. He supposes he's not going to be able to hide it much longer either, and sitting still for even the short amount of time he was down for seems to of let parts of him become stiff, as if he were back in the bitter cold of Snezhnaya.]

A little cold, perhaps, but it's nothing I can't handle.

[Whether she's asking about his physical or mental condition, he doesn't know- but he'll leave all the thoughts he's got about Scaramouche to himself. They found out what happened, there's no need to share his ex-colleague's story to anyone who doesn't need to know, which is everyone as far as he's concerned.]

Thank you for the concern, but I'll be on my way now. I'll drop by to check on you another day, traveler. Oh, and thank you for your assistance, Commissioner. We make a pretty good team, haha.

I see, well that's something at least.

{ though after that's said and done, both their attentions are turned to childe as he seems to pop and crack just as bad as lumine did when he got here. his expression shifts, turning more into a frown. }

If you had told me, I would have brought extra soup.

{ but there is no mention of offering his lap to him. he's on his own for that. and he won't comment on the last bit either, though his eyes do shift back to lumine after that comment. }

Perhaps moreso when it comes to combat than situations like these.

[ The iron of ironies, knowing all the details of Wanderer's history herself--but also keeping them secret for the same reason. She hikes an eyebrow at Childe. He's clearly not telling the truth, possibly on both fronts--but there's no point confronting him on it right now. Not in front of someone else, anyway. ]

I'm sure it's fine. He likes to make his soup more than he likes to buy it from other places, am I right, Childe?

Haha...

[He gives the two of them a weak smile, not missing that look from Lumine. He's got a feeling she's going to talk to him later...]

It's true, I'm somewhat of a home chef myself, though I appreciate the offer on the soup. I'll take you up next time on that, I'd like to see the final result of your culinary skills.

[Look, he doesn't know, let him be blissfully ignorant for now lolol]

You two enjoy the rest of your day. I've got some matters to attend to.

[With a creak and a crack every now and again, the Harbinger will take his leave- mostly so he can avoid having to answer any questions regarding Scaramouche and the Fatui.]

Oh, I didn't make it myself. { neither of them are imagining when his smile turns into a bit of a frown. } I'm often not allowed in the kitchen, which is why purchasing one on my way over was the best option I had.

{ this isn't even a lie, even ayaka only asks for assistance and even then she regrets it probably. }

If you find you need assistance, I'll find a way to have a delivery scheduled for you.

{ unlike childe though, he isn't getting up as if to leave, if only because he wants to try and at least explain himself when the other is gone.

if lumine still wants to dump soup on him later, that's completely fair tbh. }

[ As tempting as it would be to let Childe experience Ayato's... "cooking"... as vengeance down the line for this sneak attack, she probably won't let it happen.

Probably. ]

Take care of yourself out there.

[ The Spring segment isn't as cold as Winter or even Fall, but it's not the warmest it could be, and he's creaking like an old rocking chair as it is. ]

{ lumine will have to be there to actually stop it. and really, childe already had to eat all sorts of weird restaurant dishes because of him. he'll be fine!

probably. }

And perhaps consider listening to your own advice, if it isn't to myself or Lumine, I'm sure Yoimiya would be more than happy to lend you an ear.

{ but childe leaves as those words are left to hang in the air, and his eyes turn back to lumine again. }

Well then. { he sighs. } Now that he's gone, how would you ask me to make it up to you? I'm more than aware I overstepped a line today, but I was concerned as with many things you would try and evade my questions.

[ She huffs in response. ]

I haven't been that evasive.

[ Yes, she is pouting. ]

I just don't see why it was necessary for you both to ambush me. It wasn't like I could exactly run away.

[ This is as close to an admission that she's all sorts of fucked up right now that she's going to make. ]

And it isn't as though I could explain what I don't remember either. And for what it's worth, I don't completely trust him to be honest about what you'd tell him either.

{ which shouldn't be surprising, really. considering... who childe is. }

Does it feel any better now? Or was that rumour completely wrong?

{ he does, at least, look concerned for her wellbeing. sounds it, too. }

[ She sighs, and then grudgingly admits, ]

It's a little better. And you're right not to entirely trust him. Childe won't outright lie to you, but he also won't tell you everything.

[ So more or less they're two birds of a feather. ]

{ a small sigh of relief slips out at that. }

That's something at least. So far he is quite easy to keep on a leash, at least.

{ ayato???????? }

He's very easy to bribe if you promise a spar in return for a favour.

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Lover, hunter, friend and enemy

understandable tbh

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