[closed] with kia

[toyska]

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[toyska]

[Without missing a beat--]

Surely you can't think yourself so forgettable?

[femmefinale]

[ And also without missing a beat-- ]

Those are two different things. And do you intend to keep me here for as long as you're able, then?

[toyska]

[He laughs outright at that, bright and cheerful as he reaches out to push the door open with his free hand. It leads to a large foyer, and she'll be able to see Fatui staff going about their business, though none of them do more than glance over at the sound of the door opening.]

Do I seem foolish enough to think you could be "kept" anywhere? I'm hurt! [He's very obviously not.

But here's the thing about Childe. If he doesn't have to lie and scheme, then he isn't going to. He's an honest, straightforward man whenever the situation permits it, and for all that he doesn't know how to handle relationships, he's perfectly fine when it comes to feelings.

Combined, it makes it easy for him to say, simply--]

I did miss you.

[femmefinale]

[ Here's the thing about Primrose. She is not fond of lying and scheming, but she absolutely expects it now at all turns. People will say anything, whatever they think someone wants to hear. Whatever gets them what they want. And she could say that about Childe, she dearly thinks she can--

Until, still blinking at this new area and the people in masks bustling about, she catches the look in his eyes. ]

...

[ She is not good at feelings. She's terrible at feelings. And at the sincerity of his own, she actually looks entirely disarmed for a moment. ]

... I missed you, too.

[ It is the quietest mutter and she is not looking at him. ]

[toyska]

[She's absolutely correct--and hey, maybe later on in the evening, they'll even get to talk about the worth of words. But for now, he drops it. As a certified troublemaker, he knows better than most that there's an art to pushing your luck.

So he just smiles and squeezes her hand again, continuing to lead the way.]

Come on, we don't want to be late.

[Over to a woman in standard Fatui uniform standing near the front doors, two fur-lined, hooded coats draped over her arms. She doesn't look surprised to see them coming, and she doesn't acknowledge the handholding whatsoever, though she does greet Primrose with a smile and a "Welcome, honored guest."

After that, she says something in Snezhnayan to Childe in an extremely exasperated tone, holding out the coats. Whatever it is makes him laugh utterly unapologetically as he drops Primrose's hand to shrug into his own, but that's apparently his only response; the woman sighs and touches her forehead as he holds the other coat open in Primrose's direction, so that she can slip her arms into it.]

It's a little big, but it'll keep you warm on the way there. We're not going far.

[femmefinale]

[ Childe definitely seems to be someone in a position of power here, though his subordinate(?) seems more exasperated with him than respectful. Still, she offers the woman a polite nod in return and keeps her thoughts to herself, only blinking a bit when she shrugs into the coat and the sleeves absolutely go past her hands.

It's fine, she's already rolling them up. ]

Then pray, lead the way. I think your friend may enjoy your absence for a spell.

[toyska]

[As she rolls up the sleeves, he reaches out to make sure the coat’s fastened properly—-not because he thinks she can’t figure it out, but just to fuss a little, to ensure she’s properly cared for. A few calls of Have a good evening, Master Childe and other similar farewells echo behind them once they step outside; he waves carelessly as they go, offering Primrose his arm once the doors shut behind them.

They’re clearly on the front grounds of an estate, but no horses or carriages await them. Instead, the steps lead down to a curved path, heading towards a white outer wall and a simple metal gate. If she glances back, she’ll see the exterior of the building is similarly understated; grays, whites, blues, only broken by the soft glow from windows with opened curtains. It isn’t snowing, but there’s still a chill in the air, much of the light from sunset obscured by clouds overhead.]

What, Galina? Ahaha, she was just telling me not to cause another scene at the theatre. [ANOTHER.] She’s a little too used to working for me these days... she told me once that I must’ve asked Her Majesty to change my job duties to “giving her headaches every day”.

[femmefinale]

Truly, you inspire so much respect and loyalty within others. [ A little dryly, even as she does her best not to flinch or shrink back as the chill all but slams into her face. The coat goes a long way in sheltering the rest of her from it, and while she's not thrilled he fussed, she does take his arm.

She's still observing everything, for all that her expression doesn't betray that. Old habits die hard, she thinks, knowing she's already searching for routes, for people who might be of use, even though she no longer needs any of that.

Then, belatedly-- ]

"Another"?

[toyska]

[Her tone makes him laugh, though it's a softer thing, a touch nostalgic.]

I prefer it when those under my command are comfortable enough to speak to me as they please. The other Harbingers disagree, but... [A shrug! It ain't their house.] They've been on top for too long to remember what it's like when you're not.

[As for the theatre--he looks over and winks at her.]

What can I say, sometimes the performances are inspiring! Haven't you ever wanted to jump onstage and join in?

[THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY DO IT, CHILDE]

[femmefinale]

I'd prefer a leader like that rather than one that expects silent and unquestioning obedience... or worse, simpering.

[ She speaks from experience, probably. But again, she raises an eyebrow at him. ]

Countless times. But I tend to respect performers when they exist on the stage. Let them have their spotlight, so that when I take the stage for myself, they will know I did not feel challenged at all.

[toyska]

[Yeah, he makes a face at the word "simpering". No thank you.]

I've never understood what that's meant to accomplish, anyway. Respect can't be forced. [How can you expect someone to lay down their life for you when you won't even permit them to disagree with you, or relax? Childe did his time as a subordinate, but it's a lucky thing he was able to climb the ranks so quickly--for anyone who might've expected such obedience from him, that is.] But I promise you I treat them as well as I'm able.

[He's not a perfect boss by any means, but he likes to think he's a decent one, and he's proud of that.

Through the gates they go, and it's abundantly clear that the manor is situated at the top of, if not a small mountain, then an extremely steep hill. There's an unlit teleport waypoint in the distance, but Childe is tragically not the traveler so it's useless to him. Instead, there's what appears to be--a cliff edge that they're heading towards? Okay. It's difficult to see what might lay beyond it until they get closer.]

Isn't a little challenge fun? [Of course he would say that.] Ah, but I suppose it's a little different if it's between performers...

[femmefinale]

[ Primrose has never been fairly talkative, especially when she's in a new area and has to learn said area fairly quickly, to say nothing of the inhabitants.

However, she is giving that cliff edge a rather perplexed stare, because while she can't see from here, it doesn't look like a place she'd expect there to be natural stairs or a ladder down. ]

... It is, indeed. [ She says finally, ponytail swishing as she shakes her head. ] A performer who cannot respect someone's craft until it's their time to shine is not someone I would call a performer at all.

[toyska]

[That's fair enough, he thinks, and he hums in acknowledgment.]

Well, you needn't worry. I won't embarrass you.

[As they get closer to the edge, she'll see a glittering city stretching out below them. It's perhaps not quite as far away as it seems at first glance, but it's . A large white palace looms much further in the distance--it would blend into the mountains behind it, if there was more snow covering them than there is now. She's also right in noticing that there doesn't appear to be an obvious way down.]

Do you trust me? [A pause, before he seems to realize what he's asking. There's a touch of humor in his voice as he continues.] To get us down there safely, I mean. You'll have to hold on to me.

[Is there another, slower but safer way to get down there? Sure. Will he take her that way if she refuses this way? Yes, of course. But does he prefer just jumping off a cliff to get somewhere? Absolutely. He's got his glider, it'll be fine.]

[femmefinale]

...

[ It truly is a beautiful place that lays stretched out before them, sparkling with a frosty sort of light. One could argue that Primrose is far too distracted with the view to really process what Childe just said.

... But of course she heard every last word and her only response is a quiet sigh before she lets go of his arm and reaches out with both of her own to get a grip around his neck. ]

That eager to have me in your arms already, I see.

[ But then she jumps up.

Catch her, please. ]

[toyska]

["Yes, I missed that too" he might've quipped, were he a more romantic man--or even back at the station, outside of his usual environment. But here, he just catches her with a soft laugh, one she'll be able to feel more than hear.

The only warning she gets is a soft kiss to the cheek and the tightening of his arms before he steps forward and jumps off the cliff.

There's a moment of freefall before a pair of gray and white wings spreads out behind him, though if she looks at them for even a moment, she'll be able to see they're man-made. Something something fancy Snezhnayan technology + loads of experience taking his siblings flying--regardless of the reasons, it's a steady descent, even though he can't use his arms. She might feel light sprinkles of water against her feet, because someone can use his Hydro vision in way too many different ways.]

[femmefinale]

[ To her credit, Primrose doesn't scream or shriek, though her grip does tighten around his neck and her eyes are just a bit wide as they plummet--

But then the wings spread out and she gazes at them in utter confusion before it clicks that he didn't. Just grow wings. A glider of sorts? She can also feel the water dance against her sandals and she takes a deep breath, shifting her gaze from the wings to what awaits them at the bottom.

She shouldn't even be surprised that Childe is like this, really. ]

[toyska]

[He let you pour sexy wax on him within a week of meeting each other, Primrose, I don't know what you were expecting.

But they make it down safely! And as they get close to the city, she'll probably see a couple of other people with gliders as well, though none of them have other people in their arms. Their loss. (It is not their loss, they'd probably die.)

They land on what appears to be a main thoroughfare, the bright lanterns giving off artificial warmth that keeps the constant chill at bay. There are all sorts of shops around, and the road is relatively busy, a healthy mix of masked, uniformed Fatui and regular citizens traveling around. Many of the people around them wear Visions on their person, like Childe's, a bright mix of color that stands out against the generally neutral tones of their clothing.

As for the two of them--once they're steady on the ground, he disperses his Vision, and carefully sets her down so she can stand on her own. He keeps his hands loosely on her, in case she needs steadying, but she's free to pull away when, if, she chooses to.]

That wasn't too bad, was it?

[femmefinale]

[ Childe had a game to win, it's fine?? ]

... [ With her feet back on solid ground, Primrose does her best not to wobble from the transition. She's too prideful for that, and if he has to help hold her up, she is absolutely going to hate that.

She takes a step away once she's steadied, taking a look around at the general populace. These bright, colorful orbs... she's only seen the one on Childe but they do look very pretty in contrast to the muted hues their clothing offers. ]

Perhaps a little higher next time, [ she murmurs, finally. If he's going to jump off cliffs, might as well go for broke and she'll get used to it faster. ]

[toyska]

[If she’s looking, she’ll probably see the flash of surprise on his face, quickly followed by a bright, delighted grin. He offers his hand again, so that they can start to wander towards the theatre.]

Excellent! You know, the winds in Liyue are warm and refreshing. Next time we can sneak over to Mount Hulao, what do you think?

[He says it with a careful lightness—-an offer, but a gentle one. If she’d intended on walking her own path, then he doesn’t want to drag her off of it, but the door is open for her to walk through nonetheless.]

[femmefinale]

[ Is she looking? Pretty coincidentally, if she were to be asked, though she's certain no one will ask, but if they did-- no, of course she wasn't deliberately looking at him just in time to see that spark of delight in his expression, that moment of what she'd call vulnerability in anybody else.

But Childe isn't vulnerable in the slightest and Primrose allows herself a faint smile, accepting his hand to let him guide her. ]

I'll have to consider it. I try not to make plans for the future when I've yet to know how this particular excursion will go.

[ She knows exactly what he's offering. And Primrose, once again, is reluctant to take the offer of-- companionship? Enjoyment? A reprieve? Does she deserve it, she wonders. This felt more like a whim than anything. ]

[toyska]

[Off they go, then!]

I take no responsibility for our dear storyteller's skills. [The storyteller is almost certainly very talented, or else he wouldn't have used this excuse to reach out to her, but still.] But I'll endeavor to make this visit worth a second, nonetheless.

[...]

And if I fail, I suppose there's always bribery?

[Childe don't make rich criminal jokes in public even if everyone knows who you are anyway.

...And indeed, it seems like everyone here does seem to know who he is. Many of the Fatui on the streets greet him with respectful bows as they pass, though they don't call out or try to speak to him. The ordinary citizens move out of their way as they proceed--giving them, him, a wide berth, in a smooth way that speaks to something they've done before.

Primrose herself, naturally, gets plenty of curious stares--and, even more conspicuously, obvious attempts at pretending not to stare. For his part, Childe doesn't seem bothered by the attention, and doesn't seem to have any intention of letting go of her hand over it.]

[femmefinale]

I'm afraid I've never been one to be won over with another's riches.

[ She knows he's just joking, granted. But the memory of Helgenish still puts a sour taste in the back of her throat.

Still, Primrose maintains a genteel expression, mostly paying attention to the way people part for him. Not only his subordinates but the citizenry, too. Interesting.

It does nothing to keep her from winking at them if they linger on her too long, though. ]

[toyska]

[That's what they all say, he might've quipped, or maybe I suppose we did call the wedding off, didn't we?, but something about her body language gives him pause.

They hadn't spoken much of their pasts, at the station. Indeed, Childe had played a very careful game with just about everyone there--freely offering truths he thought were innocuous, in order to appear more open than he actually was.

But there were downsides to that, too. It meant pulling back at times when he'd wanted to push, to dig deeper, to learn more--because otherwise, he would have had to let others push him, too.

So for all that his element is water, he's decent at reading the air, and while he doesn't quite know why, he follows his instincts and changes course.]

Ah, but could I interest you in... the cutest siblings in the world?

[She saw his memory of Teucer, after all. One of his more embarrassing moments, too, though he doesn't necessarily expect her to remember.]

[femmefinale]

[ More people had witnessed her past than she had liked. What had happened to her only friend. The day she had finally ripped off the proverbial collar that man had greedily placed around her neck and showed him she was no one's kitten.

And the man who had left her to die, laughing as though she was only meant to be the tragic role in the play he had so cunningly penned.

That Childe knows about none of it but still diverts the topic doesn't escape her notice, and Primrose keeps her surprise to a mere slow blink before she answers him. ]

Do they still think you merely sell toys?

[toyska]

[Oh--there's a flicker of surprise on his face, too, though he doesn't hide his. Huh.]

Ah--only Teucer. The others all know... well, not everything, but enough of the truth to suffice. [He gestures lightly around at the masked agents here and there.] Serving Her Majesty the Tsaritsa is seen very differently here at home. It's a proud thing.