[If she does seem inclined to ask, perhaps he'll tell her--but she doesn't, and he doesn't offer it unprompted. Instead, he waits to hear her response, and smiles to hear it; it's not a terribly noticeable shift, but he seems to relax a little.]
Don't worry, they'll be charmed in no time. [Confidently!!! He winks at her as he opens the carriage door, hopping out and offering his hand once again, even though he doesn't expect her to take it this time either.] Brace yourself.
[For a slippery path? For the shocking sight of the literally enormous war machines littering the yard like playthings? Sure, those too. But what he'd meant makes itself apparent at the loud bang of a door slamming open, immediately followed by the delighted shrieks and pounding footsteps of three young children making an immediate beeline for the carriage.
Even from where they are, Prim will likely hear a loud commotion inside the small, weathered house up ahead--this is clearly not going to be a quiet and peaceful affair.]
[ She does take his hand this time, maybe to keep him second-guessing. More likely because it does look very slick on the ground and she has no wish to pridefully step down and immediately slip and crash onto her rear. But once she's safely down and she can see the path ahead and the lifeless but no less daunting figures of what appear to be man-made monsters, she releases his hand.
Of course, then the door flies open and she very nearly snatches it again, taking his advice a tad belatedly and sliding a foot back to brace herself. This children are moving with no fear and plenty of enthusiasm and she knows their target is Childe, but. Still. Best to be prepared. ]
[She's right on both counts. Their target is Childe--that much is instantly obvious by their calls of brother! Big brother!, followed by an adult call of Close the door! Tsk, these kids-- that goes unheeded. But she's also entirely correct that they run with all the self-control of young kids, which is to say, zero.
Fortunately, Childe's clearly used to this--he crouches down and stretches out his arms to try and redirect their wild trajectory towards himself, sparing her from getting bruised or knocked down. His laughter is loud and bright, and while the friendliness and joy he's shown around her has always been completely truthful, there's undeniably something much warmer about his demeanor as he scoops one little boy under each arm, the girl clambering over his head to cling to his neck, dangling from his back as he stands up again.]
Ahaha, looks like I've caught three little rabbits! I wonder if my dear friend here would like a little Snezhnayan pet as a souvenir?
[Predictably, immediately, all three of them start laughing and shouting over each other; over the cacophony, he winks at her.]
Alright, alright--hey, princess, that's my hair--
[It's Teucer who wiggles out of Childe's hold first, running up to Primrose with big, bright, fearless eyes.
"Are you a traveler too? Like my brother's friend?"]
[ Childe looks like a tree full of overexcited squirrels, each one squeaking and climbing and chattering and making themselves right at home. It's almost a little too much joyous enthusiasm all at once, like an entire group of Tressas. It could very easily be overwhelming, but the way Childe laughs helps ground her, even as it surprises her at the same time. There's a kind of warmth and light to him now, and she'd wonder at it, but... well, it's simple enough, she thinks. This is love.
She merely watches for now, expression softening, until she blinks and Teucer is right there. Hilariously, she looks a bit blindsided, like she wasn't quite prepared for the enthusiasm to be turned in her direction so swiftly, but after a pause, she curtsies and uses that to transition into crouching in front of him. ]
A traveler, yes, but also a dancer. [ His friend, hm? ] My name is Primrose. Your brother has told me much about all of you.
[It absolutely could be overwhelming--and for all that he was a gracious and attentive host last time she visited, it's probably immediately obvious where his attention is going to be this time around. The only indication he even notices Teucer talking to her is a quick glance in their direction; otherwise he's absolutely distracted with shifting to prop the other two on each hip, laughing as they talk over each other in their hurry to tell him a thousand things at once.
Teucer, meanwhile, does the Genshin Jumping Child thing. Y'know. The this.
"A dancer? Wow! Big brother can dance too. But sister Cleo always tells him to stop. I don't have any dancing toys. But big brother got me a new one for my birthday! And I'm big enough to pick it up and carry it around, so I got to take it to school yesterday!"
Thanks Teucer. This is definitely more important to talk about than finding out anything about the stranger at your house.]
[ Childe. Childe, you're useless. Childe, how dare you leave her with this small person who is happily talking a mile a minute as though she is suddenly his new best friend. She's out of her element here? She can't fight a kid! She can't seduce a kid!! Help.
Primrose just honestly does her utmost to look like she's not half-panicking on the inside, merely solemnly nodding as Teucer talks. ]
I see. That was very kind of him to get you one you could carry along with you and show to your friends.
[Look. Look!!! He never claimed to not be useless, that's his only defense.
Fortunately, they're saved by more voices calling from inside the house--a woman steps out, then, and wow, this whole family is so obviously related, aren't they. Look at all these pale redheads with blue eyes. Incredible. She holds out her arms as she approaches, and Childe shifts to pass Anthon over to her without needing to be told.
"Ajax, mother needs you in the--oh, hello." She greets Primrose with polite curiosity, though she's obviously very surprised.]
Ah, Cleo, everyone--this is my good friend Primrose. She'll be staying with us for a little while. [Teucer cheers, because apparently he's already decided he likes Primrose! Wow!] Teucer, will you go tell everyone else I'll be in shortly? ["But brother--"] Don't worry, I brought plenty of presents for later! We'll go through them together, okay?
[Teucer hesitates a little longer, but then he nods, scampering back indoors! Tonia and Anthon are both peering curiously at Primrose, now, but at least they seem happy to be held by their siblings; Childe grins sheepishly at Prim.]
So you did. I believe some things must be experienced to truly understand, however.
[ She already feels tired, but no. No. She refuses to let it show, especially in front of his very enthusiastic family. It's honestly kind of amazing that all of these siblings look so much alike, now that she's seeing so many of them before her now.
So she moves to her feet as Teucer scampers off, if only to arrange herself in a graceful dancer's bow, head inclined slightly. ]
It truly is a pleasure to meet the family Ajax speaks so proudly about. Pray forgive the discourtesy of intruding upon your home unexpectedly.
[Cleo curtsies back, looking surprised but not unpleasantly so.
"It's lovely to meet you as well, but are you sure you're not lost? You're really here with him?"]
What's that supposed to mean? ["Well, you don't have any friends..."] Hey!
[SIBLING BULLYING. But while his smile isn't quite as warm and joyful as it was with just the younger children, Childe's laughter doesn't seem forced or uncomfortable.
Tonia, apparently gathering her courage, hops down from Childe's arms and tries her best to mimic Primrose's bow. She's a little wobbly, but she's got the spirit.
"It's nice to meet you, Miss Primrose. I'm Tonia." Childe winks at Primrose before he swoops forward to scoop his sister up again, twirling her around as she squeals in startled delight.]
That's right! Princess Tonia and her loyal knight, at the service of our honored guest.
[Cleo rolls her eyes, clearly very used to these antics. Ignoring both of them, she holds out her free hand to Primrose. Anthon has apparently decided he's bored of all of this because he's just trying to catch snowflakes over his sister's shoulder.
"Let's get you inside, then, and get you something warm to drink. Are you hungry?"]
[ It's funny how such a big family could remind her of her own, much smaller one-- Primrose had never had siblings, her mother passed not long after she had been born, and her father had never really doted on her, but the affection and the cheerful ease of conversation are both poignant and a little painful.
But it's endearing-- seeing Tonia wobble into a greeting of her own and inclining her head in acknowledgment of her most earnest efforts, breathing out quietly and subtly to ease away what she will refuse to deem nerves.
When Cleo holds out her hand, she steps forward with only a brief glance to Childe. Well, if she's met this many already, she's committed now. ]
I thank you for your kindness. A drink should be fine until your family is ready to eat. If the Princess Tonia might join me, of course?
[It's immediately clear that that's the right thing to say; Tonia lights up like it's Christmastime, nodding eagerly. Childe ruffles her hair as Cleo folds Primrose's hand in her own, beginning to guide her towards the house.
Childe, for his part, looks immensely pleased by all of this--he nods quickly at them before he turns back to the carriage.]
Let me just grab everything I've brought, I'll be right behind you. [Cleo frowns, looking back at him. "Ajax..."] Don't look at me like that, you know how it is.
[Whatever that means, it seems to be convincing enough, or perhaps not worth the effort to contest. Tonia, for her part, skips along beside Primrose as they head up the path--if Primrose turns to look over her shoulder at the heartless idiot who keeps abandoning her to strangers (no) (but kinda) she'll see Childe doing exactly as he'd said, fetching several large boxes from the back of the carriage.
It's true that it'll only be a minute before he catches up, but Cleo ushers Primrose inside anyway. It's much warmer in here than out in the snow, the scent of burning firewood and spiced foods drifting through the house. It's not a tiny house, but it's definitely old and humble, clean but cluttered in that lived-in way. This is the sort of house that has raised generations, completely different from the mansion Childe had taken her to on her last visit.
It's also... loud. It would be impossible for it not to be, of course, with so many people around--there are voices coming from multiple directions at varying volumes, speaking a combination of Snezhnayan and the common tongue. Cleo leads them towards the kitchen, where Teucer's voice is clear, as well as that of an older woman's; as soon as they enter, it'll be immediately obvious that this is Childe's mother.]
[ Up until now, she thought she was doing well. She'd greeted small children properly, they seemed to like her well enough, Cleo had appeared to accept her and been more than welcoming, and Childe is only a step behind with boxes. He says. She hopes. She does glance over her shoulder, but then quickly looks ahead.
And the house is... well, there's no other word for it besides "homey". It's filled with a warmth that could be attributed to more than just the fire burning in the hearth, laced with a familiarity that she can only gaze at but not touch. And the chatter of people is all over the place; she makes a mental note to ask Childe to teach her at least some basic Snezhnayan but for now, she knows not what they say. Not entirely.
But it's when she sees the woman that she freezes up. That's Childe's mother. One of the individuals that Childe had warned might view her as suspicious, given who had brought her here. And he's not even here yet, meaning that she has no idea how to react. There are no cues to respond to. Does she introduce herself first? Does she wait for the woman to notice her? Does she just stand there with her hand in Cleo's, looking a little blindsided even though this was bound to happen?
She does! Indeed she does!
Mothers are a territory she's long forgotten how to tread. ]
[Childe, continuing his streak of being a useless dumb man, takes a brief detour into the living room to drop the boxes off--his voice is loud and clear as he calls for his older brother, who yells something back across the house. Tonia looks torn, like she wants to keep hovering around Primrose and making sparkly eyes, but she also keeps glancing back after Childe; family wins out in the end, and she scampers off into the living room.
Teucer, who probably would have happily greeted Primrose and started chattering about toys again, is immediately distracted by Childe's voice too, and he darts out of the kitchen with absolutely no regard for the potential of crashing headlong into things. How is this child still alive.
That leaves Cleo (and Anthon), Primrose, and Childe's mother in the kitchen--more room to move around, but no quieter, really, given all the distant chatter. Am I just trying to avoid writing 50 people all at once in one scene? Perhaps.
Cleo lets go of Primrose's hand with a light squeeze, moving over to a tall metal device in the corner (a samovar, if Prim would recognize one, but Genshin-ified).
"Mother, Ajax brought a friend. Is the tea still warm? Ah--how do you take it, dear? We have honey and jam, and a little cream leftover." To Primrose.
The woman finally turns from her cooking, looking Primrose up and down. She seems--surprised to see Primrose's face, mostly. But maybe that's not too strange, if Prim remembers the masked Fatui they saw in the city.
"You are Fatui?" Well, at least she's straightforward.]
[ This is not comforting at all. Childe has absolutely abandoned her to the clutches of his mother and now Cleo has moved away (though she gets more forgiveness, of course) and Primrose has to stand there and feel like she's not being scrutinized for flaws.
Which she dislikes, but again, she'd been warned and after a short pause, she lifts her chin.
She is Primrose Azelhart. She's got this. ]
Honey is more than sufficient, thank you Cleo. And no, I am not Fatui. [ Yet? A voice in the back of her mind whispers, remembering Childe's offer back then, but she ignores it. ]
I am Primrose, merely a traveling dancer. Ajax and I crossed paths some time ago, and despite my reticence, has reached out to me several times and done a great deal in assisting me with adjusting to this land. He has always spoken very fondly and proudly of his family, and I am honored to meet them for myself, at long last.
[It's clearly not the answer the woman had been expecting; her weary expression shifts into confusion, then surprise.
"You are the traveler?"]
No, mother. [Oh look who finally decided to show up. Cleo gives him a flat look that means "do you even realize you just abandoned your guest you dumbass", which Childe misses because he's looking at his mother. He does, however, rest a hand lightly on Primrose's back, as if to keep her steady.] The traveler's still on their mission in Inazuma. I've simply talked Primrose's ear off about the kids so much, I thought she might as well meet them herself. She was kind enough to agree.
[It's even kind of the truth, wow. Childe's voice sounds normal, but his smile is a little tighter than before.]
Don't worry. No work at home, I remember.
[It's quiet for a moment, save for Cleo very pointedly concentrating on making tea; Childe's mother doesn't look wholly convinced, but she nods, apparently satisfied for now, and goes back to her cooking. Childe smiles reassuringly at Primrose, nodding towards the doorway.]
Come sit? Or do you want a tour?
[It's more of an offer to let her have a breather, if she wants one.]
[ There's just enough tension in the room to feel palpable. She hadn't doubted him; Childe didn't offer warnings if he didn't think there wasn't a strong chance of something happening, but to witness it herself, that wariness directed first at her and then that heavy feeling of disapproval nudged in his direction...
The thought of sitting makes her tense slightly, which he may feel with his hand at her back, because-- she's a dancer. The way she relieves nerves and tension is to move, and while she's aware she'll be taking tea soon enough - or, rather, because she knows she will be - she'd rather use her legs while she can. ]
I'd most gladly welcome a tour, if you please. [ In her formality, she speaks with a more eloquent demeanor-- left over from her noble days, proud but approachable. ]
I would hate to trouble anyone if I were to get lost later and have to ask for help.
[Fortunately, no one argues or tries to insist that they stay. Keeping his hand on her back, Childe guides her back out of the kitchen, towards the sound of the children's voices. Rather than heading that way, though, he turns the corner and guides her into a narrow hallway, towards the worn staircase at the end. It's much quieter in this direction--most everyone is downstairs, it seems.
And indeed, as they climb:]
My father's up here, but he's resting. [As they reach the landing, it's easy to see that only one door is closed; the rest are fully or partially ajar, revealing a few bedrooms, obviously shared between the siblings.] We won't bother him, though. He can sleep through anything.
[ distantly, though it's not as though she isn't listening. A part of her is just methodically compartmentalizing all of what just happened. Children, gentle and understanding sister, wary mother, Childe himself and his differing relationships with all of them...
And why does it feel as though she even feels a need to try in the first place? It's kind of absurd, she can acknowledge this, and she looks ahead of her. ]
Quite an impressive skill of his, though I imagine with how large your family appears to be, it may have been acquired out of necessity.
[That makes him laugh as he leads the way into one of the bedrooms. He gestures for her to enter, then shuts the door behind him; this room is relatively sparse, all things considered, save for a few knickknacks on the shelves and some family photos. There's a bed, and a desk with a chair, if she wants to sit down.]
Definitely necessity. By the time Teucer was born, Janus had moved out and Cleo was on her way too, and then I... [A brief pause.] Well, I joined the Fatui not long after. But there were still plenty of occasions when all of us were here at once.
[As he speaks, his gaze drifts over to the photos, and he smiles--but there's something bittersweet in that nostalgia. It's hard to say whether he isn't hiding it on purpose, or he just isn't aware it shows.]
[ She does not wish to sit. She opts to instead lean back against the desk, one hand resting on the top of the chair to brace herself. Her gaze, alert as always, follows his. ]
Do you feel distanced from this? From your family?
[ It's not really blunt, but it's not tentative either. She can't quite pinpoint how he feels about this, just that he loves his family but there's clearly a translucent barrier of sorts there. ]
[He doesn't respond right away, his gaze fixed on one of the photos. It's an old one--Primrose may or may not recognize the boy as a young Ajax, probably hardly a teenager; he's got a picture book on his lap and his arms in the air, halfway through a big gesture. The baby beside him, clearly a very young Teucer, seems to be listening to the story with rapt attention.]
I suppose so. [He says, eventually.] It's always a little jarring to come back and see what a different kind of world this is. But that was the choice I made, when I joined the Fatui.
[Except he hadn't "joined". But why specify, when he would have, had he known where he'd end up? He can't blame his father, really. The boy who clawed his way out of the Abyss wasn't his son any longer. Ajax is the one who never explained anything to his parents--how could he possibly hold their fears and judgment against them, when he never gave them the chance to understand?]
...Before then, though, I caused a lot of trouble here in the village. I probably would've killed someone eventually, if I hadn't enlisted. [He lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug, not really apologetic.] I've only been back for short periods since I first left, so a lot of people only remember me as that troublemaking kid.
[Which isn't even that far off from who he is, really. He just has more self-control and better targets these days.]
But it's like I've said before. There is no path that all of us can walk together. At least--not one that I'd want them on. The distance is for the best, for their sakes.
[He turns back to look at her, and smiles slightly. It doesn't reach his eyes, but then again, it never really does.]
You don't have to stay, if it's too uncomfortable. I'm just glad you got to meet them.
[ Primrose looks at the picture, and it does take a moment, to place the baby (Teucer) and then the boy. A completely different time, she realizes, and Childe probably feels that even more acutely. She wonders if he even remembers what he felt at the time.
And when he smiles at her, she wonders if it will ever reach his eyes. But her eyebrows draw together, an edge entering her tone-- not quite challenging, not quite aggravated, but slightly harder than stubborn.
She was no longer who she'd been back there, either. She wonders what he would think, if she took him to Noblecourt, let one of those familiar with the past explain to him sweet little Primrose Azelhart, full of romantic dreams and smiles when she danced.
But that won't happen and she meets Childe's lightless eyes. ]
If I ran from everything I deemed uncomfortable, I would not have survived for as long as I have. I don't intend to leave until you do, and I do intend to let your family make their judgments of me for themselves.
[For a moment, he just blinks at her, surprised--as if he hadn't expected her to agree, or to want to stay. He looks just the slightest bit lost, though he shakes it off quickly.
Some part of him is still waiting for her to decide she doesn't want this. To think, for even a moment, that there's a chance she might not walk away... it's strange.
But he is honest when he can be, and he's never lied about his love for his family. So when his smile shifts, it's much more genuine, and the way some of his tension slips away is wholly honest, too.]
Well then, I'd best not keep you from Tonia for too long. I know she's already dying to learn a dance from you--she's never as interested in the toys I bring along as Anthon and Teucer are.
Ah, I see. [ dryly, as she straightens up. He's relaxed, a fair bit. She can imagine why he was tense and purposely, falsely cheerful in the first place, but this is better. She won't think about why it's better, because she's simply not ready to let her thoughts focus on that. ]
You've brought me here to put me to work. I hope your sister is prepared for a rigorous lesson.
[That makes him laugh--he holds out a hand to her, open and inviting.]
Naturally! She's very diligent, and stronger than she looks--a few growth spurts and she'll be able to outrun me. [She will not because Childe can teleport. But he will let her win races anyway.] And rest assured that you'll be properly compensated for your time.
[This is a stupid joke but he would pay her if she wanted tbh]
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Don't worry, they'll be charmed in no time. [Confidently!!! He winks at her as he opens the carriage door, hopping out and offering his hand once again, even though he doesn't expect her to take it this time either.] Brace yourself.
[For a slippery path? For the shocking sight of the literally enormous war machines littering the yard like playthings? Sure, those too. But what he'd meant makes itself apparent at the loud bang of a door slamming open, immediately followed by the delighted shrieks and pounding footsteps of three young children making an immediate beeline for the carriage.
Even from where they are, Prim will likely hear a loud commotion inside the small, weathered house up ahead--this is clearly not going to be a quiet and peaceful affair.]
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Of course, then the door flies open and she very nearly snatches it again, taking his advice a tad belatedly and sliding a foot back to brace herself. This children are moving with no fear and plenty of enthusiasm and she knows their target is Childe, but. Still. Best to be prepared. ]
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Fortunately, Childe's clearly used to this--he crouches down and stretches out his arms to try and redirect their wild trajectory towards himself, sparing her from getting bruised or knocked down. His laughter is loud and bright, and while the friendliness and joy he's shown around her has always been completely truthful, there's undeniably something much warmer about his demeanor as he scoops one little boy under each arm, the girl clambering over his head to cling to his neck, dangling from his back as he stands up again.]
Ahaha, looks like I've caught three little rabbits! I wonder if my dear friend here would like a little Snezhnayan pet as a souvenir?
[Predictably, immediately, all three of them start laughing and shouting over each other; over the cacophony, he winks at her.]
Alright, alright--hey, princess, that's my hair--
[It's Teucer who wiggles out of Childe's hold first, running up to Primrose with big, bright, fearless eyes.
"Are you a traveler too? Like my brother's friend?"]
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She merely watches for now, expression softening, until she blinks and Teucer is right there. Hilariously, she looks a bit blindsided, like she wasn't quite prepared for the enthusiasm to be turned in her direction so swiftly, but after a pause, she curtsies and uses that to transition into crouching in front of him. ]
A traveler, yes, but also a dancer. [ His friend, hm? ] My name is Primrose. Your brother has told me much about all of you.
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Teucer, meanwhile, does the Genshin Jumping Child thing. Y'know. The this.
"A dancer? Wow! Big brother can dance too. But sister Cleo always tells him to stop. I don't have any dancing toys. But big brother got me a new one for my birthday! And I'm big enough to pick it up and carry it around, so I got to take it to school yesterday!"
Thanks Teucer. This is definitely more important to talk about than finding out anything about the stranger at your house.]
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Primrose just honestly does her utmost to look like she's not half-panicking on the inside, merely solemnly nodding as Teucer talks. ]
I see. That was very kind of him to get you one you could carry along with you and show to your friends.
[ HELP. ]
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Fortunately, they're saved by more voices calling from inside the house--a woman steps out, then, and wow, this whole family is so obviously related, aren't they. Look at all these pale redheads with blue eyes. Incredible. She holds out her arms as she approaches, and Childe shifts to pass Anthon over to her without needing to be told.
"Ajax, mother needs you in the--oh, hello." She greets Primrose with polite curiosity, though she's obviously very surprised.]
Ah, Cleo, everyone--this is my good friend Primrose. She'll be staying with us for a little while. [Teucer cheers, because apparently he's already decided he likes Primrose! Wow!] Teucer, will you go tell everyone else I'll be in shortly? ["But brother--"] Don't worry, I brought plenty of presents for later! We'll go through them together, okay?
[Teucer hesitates a little longer, but then he nods, scampering back indoors! Tonia and Anthon are both peering curiously at Primrose, now, but at least they seem happy to be held by their siblings; Childe grins sheepishly at Prim.]
I did try to warn you.
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[ She already feels tired, but no. No. She refuses to let it show, especially in front of his very enthusiastic family. It's honestly kind of amazing that all of these siblings look so much alike, now that she's seeing so many of them before her now.
So she moves to her feet as Teucer scampers off, if only to arrange herself in a graceful dancer's bow, head inclined slightly. ]
It truly is a pleasure to meet the family Ajax speaks so proudly about. Pray forgive the discourtesy of intruding upon your home unexpectedly.
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"It's lovely to meet you as well, but are you sure you're not lost? You're really here with him?"]
What's that supposed to mean? ["Well, you don't have any friends..."] Hey!
[SIBLING BULLYING. But while his smile isn't quite as warm and joyful as it was with just the younger children, Childe's laughter doesn't seem forced or uncomfortable.
Tonia, apparently gathering her courage, hops down from Childe's arms and tries her best to mimic Primrose's bow. She's a little wobbly, but she's got the spirit.
"It's nice to meet you, Miss Primrose. I'm Tonia." Childe winks at Primrose before he swoops forward to scoop his sister up again, twirling her around as she squeals in startled delight.]
That's right! Princess Tonia and her loyal knight, at the service of our honored guest.
[Cleo rolls her eyes, clearly very used to these antics. Ignoring both of them, she holds out her free hand to Primrose. Anthon has apparently decided he's bored of all of this because he's just trying to catch snowflakes over his sister's shoulder.
"Let's get you inside, then, and get you something warm to drink. Are you hungry?"]
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But it's endearing-- seeing Tonia wobble into a greeting of her own and inclining her head in acknowledgment of her most earnest efforts, breathing out quietly and subtly to ease away what she will refuse to deem nerves.
When Cleo holds out her hand, she steps forward with only a brief glance to Childe. Well, if she's met this many already, she's committed now. ]
I thank you for your kindness. A drink should be fine until your family is ready to eat. If the Princess Tonia might join me, of course?
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Childe, for his part, looks immensely pleased by all of this--he nods quickly at them before he turns back to the carriage.]
Let me just grab everything I've brought, I'll be right behind you. [Cleo frowns, looking back at him. "Ajax..."] Don't look at me like that, you know how it is.
[Whatever that means, it seems to be convincing enough, or perhaps not worth the effort to contest. Tonia, for her part, skips along beside Primrose as they head up the path--if Primrose turns to look over her shoulder at the heartless idiot who keeps abandoning her to strangers (no) (but kinda) she'll see Childe doing exactly as he'd said, fetching several large boxes from the back of the carriage.
It's true that it'll only be a minute before he catches up, but Cleo ushers Primrose inside anyway. It's much warmer in here than out in the snow, the scent of burning firewood and spiced foods drifting through the house. It's not a tiny house, but it's definitely old and humble, clean but cluttered in that lived-in way. This is the sort of house that has raised generations, completely different from the mansion Childe had taken her to on her last visit.
It's also... loud. It would be impossible for it not to be, of course, with so many people around--there are voices coming from multiple directions at varying volumes, speaking a combination of Snezhnayan and the common tongue. Cleo leads them towards the kitchen, where Teucer's voice is clear, as well as that of an older woman's; as soon as they enter, it'll be immediately obvious that this is Childe's mother.]
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And the house is... well, there's no other word for it besides "homey". It's filled with a warmth that could be attributed to more than just the fire burning in the hearth, laced with a familiarity that she can only gaze at but not touch. And the chatter of people is all over the place; she makes a mental note to ask Childe to teach her at least some basic Snezhnayan but for now, she knows not what they say. Not entirely.
But it's when she sees the woman that she freezes up. That's Childe's mother. One of the individuals that Childe had warned might view her as suspicious, given who had brought her here. And he's not even here yet, meaning that she has no idea how to react. There are no cues to respond to. Does she introduce herself first? Does she wait for the woman to notice her? Does she just stand there with her hand in Cleo's, looking a little blindsided even though this was bound to happen?
She does! Indeed she does!
Mothers are a territory she's long forgotten how to tread. ]
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Teucer, who probably would have happily greeted Primrose and started chattering about toys again, is immediately distracted by Childe's voice too, and he darts out of the kitchen with absolutely no regard for the potential of crashing headlong into things. How is this child still alive.
That leaves Cleo (and Anthon), Primrose, and Childe's mother in the kitchen--more room to move around, but no quieter, really, given all the distant chatter. Am I just trying to avoid writing 50 people all at once in one scene? Perhaps.
Cleo lets go of Primrose's hand with a light squeeze, moving over to a tall metal device in the corner (a samovar, if Prim would recognize one, but Genshin-ified).
"Mother, Ajax brought a friend. Is the tea still warm? Ah--how do you take it, dear? We have honey and jam, and a little cream leftover." To Primrose.
The woman finally turns from her cooking, looking Primrose up and down. She seems--surprised to see Primrose's face, mostly. But maybe that's not too strange, if Prim remembers the masked Fatui they saw in the city.
"You are Fatui?" Well, at least she's straightforward.]
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Which she dislikes, but again, she'd been warned and after a short pause, she lifts her chin.
She is Primrose Azelhart. She's got this. ]
Honey is more than sufficient, thank you Cleo. And no, I am not Fatui. [ Yet? A voice in the back of her mind whispers, remembering Childe's offer back then, but she ignores it. ]
I am Primrose, merely a traveling dancer. Ajax and I crossed paths some time ago, and despite my reticence, has reached out to me several times and done a great deal in assisting me with adjusting to this land. He has always spoken very fondly and proudly of his family, and I am honored to meet them for myself, at long last.
[ Well, none of that is a lie. ]
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"You are the traveler?"]
No, mother. [Oh look who finally decided to show up. Cleo gives him a flat look that means "do you even realize you just abandoned your guest you dumbass", which Childe misses because he's looking at his mother. He does, however, rest a hand lightly on Primrose's back, as if to keep her steady.] The traveler's still on their mission in Inazuma. I've simply talked Primrose's ear off about the kids so much, I thought she might as well meet them herself. She was kind enough to agree.
[It's even kind of the truth, wow. Childe's voice sounds normal, but his smile is a little tighter than before.]
Don't worry. No work at home, I remember.
[It's quiet for a moment, save for Cleo very pointedly concentrating on making tea; Childe's mother doesn't look wholly convinced, but she nods, apparently satisfied for now, and goes back to her cooking. Childe smiles reassuringly at Primrose, nodding towards the doorway.]
Come sit? Or do you want a tour?
[It's more of an offer to let her have a breather, if she wants one.]
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The thought of sitting makes her tense slightly, which he may feel with his hand at her back, because-- she's a dancer. The way she relieves nerves and tension is to move, and while she's aware she'll be taking tea soon enough - or, rather, because she knows she will be - she'd rather use her legs while she can. ]
I'd most gladly welcome a tour, if you please. [ In her formality, she speaks with a more eloquent demeanor-- left over from her noble days, proud but approachable. ]
I would hate to trouble anyone if I were to get lost later and have to ask for help.
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[Fortunately, no one argues or tries to insist that they stay. Keeping his hand on her back, Childe guides her back out of the kitchen, towards the sound of the children's voices. Rather than heading that way, though, he turns the corner and guides her into a narrow hallway, towards the worn staircase at the end. It's much quieter in this direction--most everyone is downstairs, it seems.
And indeed, as they climb:]
My father's up here, but he's resting. [As they reach the landing, it's easy to see that only one door is closed; the rest are fully or partially ajar, revealing a few bedrooms, obviously shared between the siblings.] We won't bother him, though. He can sleep through anything.
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[ distantly, though it's not as though she isn't listening. A part of her is just methodically compartmentalizing all of what just happened. Children, gentle and understanding sister, wary mother, Childe himself and his differing relationships with all of them...
And why does it feel as though she even feels a need to try in the first place? It's kind of absurd, she can acknowledge this, and she looks ahead of her. ]
Quite an impressive skill of his, though I imagine with how large your family appears to be, it may have been acquired out of necessity.
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Definitely necessity. By the time Teucer was born, Janus had moved out and Cleo was on her way too, and then I... [A brief pause.] Well, I joined the Fatui not long after. But there were still plenty of occasions when all of us were here at once.
[As he speaks, his gaze drifts over to the photos, and he smiles--but there's something bittersweet in that nostalgia. It's hard to say whether he isn't hiding it on purpose, or he just isn't aware it shows.]
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Do you feel distanced from this? From your family?
[ It's not really blunt, but it's not tentative either. She can't quite pinpoint how he feels about this, just that he loves his family but there's clearly a translucent barrier of sorts there. ]
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I suppose so. [He says, eventually.] It's always a little jarring to come back and see what a different kind of world this is. But that was the choice I made, when I joined the Fatui.
[Except he hadn't "joined". But why specify, when he would have, had he known where he'd end up? He can't blame his father, really. The boy who clawed his way out of the Abyss wasn't his son any longer. Ajax is the one who never explained anything to his parents--how could he possibly hold their fears and judgment against them, when he never gave them the chance to understand?]
...Before then, though, I caused a lot of trouble here in the village. I probably would've killed someone eventually, if I hadn't enlisted. [He lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug, not really apologetic.] I've only been back for short periods since I first left, so a lot of people only remember me as that troublemaking kid.
[Which isn't even that far off from who he is, really. He just has more self-control and better targets these days.]
But it's like I've said before. There is no path that all of us can walk together. At least--not one that I'd want them on. The distance is for the best, for their sakes.
[He turns back to look at her, and smiles slightly. It doesn't reach his eyes, but then again, it never really does.]
You don't have to stay, if it's too uncomfortable. I'm just glad you got to meet them.
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And when he smiles at her, she wonders if it will ever reach his eyes. But her eyebrows draw together, an edge entering her tone-- not quite challenging, not quite aggravated, but slightly harder than stubborn.
She was no longer who she'd been back there, either. She wonders what he would think, if she took him to Noblecourt, let one of those familiar with the past explain to him sweet little Primrose Azelhart, full of romantic dreams and smiles when she danced.
But that won't happen and she meets Childe's lightless eyes. ]
If I ran from everything I deemed uncomfortable, I would not have survived for as long as I have. I don't intend to leave until you do, and I do intend to let your family make their judgments of me for themselves.
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Some part of him is still waiting for her to decide she doesn't want this. To think, for even a moment, that there's a chance she might not walk away... it's strange.
But he is honest when he can be, and he's never lied about his love for his family. So when his smile shifts, it's much more genuine, and the way some of his tension slips away is wholly honest, too.]
Well then, I'd best not keep you from Tonia for too long. I know she's already dying to learn a dance from you--she's never as interested in the toys I bring along as Anthon and Teucer are.
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You've brought me here to put me to work. I hope your sister is prepared for a rigorous lesson.
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Naturally! She's very diligent, and stronger than she looks--a few growth spurts and she'll be able to outrun me. [She will not because Childe can teleport. But he will let her win races anyway.] And rest assured that you'll be properly compensated for your time.
[This is a stupid joke but he would pay her if she wanted tbh]
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what the heck when did this post image happen and kill me
hehehehehe
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