[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]
[They've been in touch long enough that he doesn't falter the way he once might've--though admittedly the jury's out on whether his cheeks are a little pink, or if it's just the lighting of the room.]
You know I'm happy to fight you whenever you please.
[Does he actually know how to flirt for real? Yes. Is this more genuine on his part, even if it's also silly teasing? Unfortunately, also yes. Stupid man.]
You'll have to contain yourself while you're here, at the very least. You can attempt to spill my blood after we've said goodbye to your family.
[ Listen, if he wants to take that as a challenge to legitimately fight, she'll accept that just as easily. Even though he doesn't get flustered like this as he'll occasionally get when she really insinuates or just outright states sexual interest. He's gotten stronger there, too. ]
Don't worry, I'll find the prettiest snow bank for our fight to the death.
[STOP.
He looks like he's ready to head for the door, then--but he pauses, and something shifts in his demeanor once again, soft and sincere.]
...Thank you, for agreeing to come. They mean the world to me. [There's nothing he wouldn't do for them. For her to humor the kids' curiosity, to be willing to tolerate the discomfort that's a fault of his, not hers--it means more than she may ever truly understand.]
Thank you, for inviting me to see your world for myself.
[ If Primrose had siblings, she probably would have done everything in her power to draw any kind of danger away from them. And she doesn't entertain the notion that she isn't dangerous. Very few people were worth trusting completely, her original traveling party aside. Childe asking her to come out here in the first place, to join him...
She doesn't quite understand why, still. ]
I look forward to learning the steps of a new dance.
[As much as Childe would like it to be otherwise, it'll inevitably be a bit of both. But he's never doubted her confidence before, and he isn't about to start now.
Besides, no matter the tension, he has faith that his family won't do anything that bad. He's a little bit blinded by his love for them, but he knows the difference between good people and bad ones. If they weren't good, he wouldn't have brought her here to meet them.
So he nods and heads for the door; unless she has reason to linger, he'll lead the way back downstairs.
From the sound of it, most of the chaos has moved to the kitchen. And sure enough, when they move into the living room, there's only Teucer, Tonia, and a man (the one Childe had pointed out as Damon, in his photograph) sitting in a chair and reading. Two cups of tea sit on a side table, and the floor is strewn with open boxes and every type of toy under the sun. Gee, I wonder whose fault that is.
Damon looks up and gets to his feet as soon as they enter; he greets Primrose in heavily-accented Common Teyvatian, cuffing Childe lightly on the head as he heads out of the room to leave them be. Ah, older siblings.
Teucer, meanwhile, immediately abandons the toy he'd been playing with and runs over to grab their hands, jumping up and down.
"Big brother! And the nice lady!"]
Haha, did you like your gifts?
[Tonia, too, looks happy to see the both of them, but she doesn't rush over the way Teucer did. Even if she's got that "I want to but I'm a big kid so I have to be Mature" type of expression on.]
[ Primrose casts a side glance over at Childe, her expression subtle to most people-- he's known her long enough to probably read the you absolutely spoil them message in her gaze for the few seconds it exists before she's politely greeting Damon.
And then here's Teucer, back again, and her expression softens slightly for all that she still has very little idea of what to do here. ]
I admittedly can't imagine how you could ever choose which to play with first. Hello again, both of you.
It may be subtle, but he's obviously seen that expression often enough to know exactly what it means, because he grins and rubs the back of his head in affected sheepishness. CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP.
Teucer's happy to launch into an explanation of all of his toys, complete with plenty of mentions of big brother this and big sister that--and honestly, it doesn't really matter if Prim's listening or not, he's just happy to have the attention. Childe winks at her and begins cleaning some of them up, putting them back in the boxes or nudging them out of the way for the time being. Tonia jumps in to help without being asked, and Childe ruffles her hair fondly.
When there's a suitable amount of floor visible (well, for a living room, anyway), Childe puts a hand on his hip, cocking his head slightly.]
Is this enough space? Or would you prefer to go outside? [If it's too cramped indoors for Pimrose to do any dancing, they can probably make something work outdoors. Teucer and Tonia both look curious.]
what the heck when did this post image happen and kill me
[ Primrose nods solemnly as she listens - to the best of her ability - half-keeping an eye on Childe as he and Tonia work to clear up a space in the living room. It's honestly pretty damn impressive that Teucer can be this friendly and exuberant with someone he barely knows, but it also makes sense why Childe is so bound and determined to preserve his innocence for as long as possible.
She straightens as she takes in the newly-cleared space, and then nods. ]
This is more than adequate. I would be a poor dancer indeed if I needed any amount of space to make a dance worth viewing.
[It's a wonder Teucer is still alive, to be totally honest. But Childe nods, and crouches down to look at both Tonia and Teucer, who are clearly curious about what's going on.]
Miss Primrose very kindly agreed to show you some of her dancing, but we have to be polite and give her the space she needs until she's done, okay? [As Childe had promised, Tonia lights up immediately; Teucer looks excited too, but in that "small child excited about everything equally" kind of way.] Good, good, come on now.
[He moves over to sit in the chair and both the kids clamber over him immediately, settling down in a way that shows how often they've all sat exactly like this. Once they're settled, he nods at Prim, then gestures to a device that vaguely resembles a gramophone. Idk I'm too tired to get creative about it.]
If you need it, that can play music, if you press the switch on the box. [It's up to her whether or not she wants or needs to use it, though; he can dance, but he isn't a dancer like she is, so he won't presume either way.]
I may as well let the music dictate the dance I dedicate to this audience.
[ She glances at the gramophone-esque device, and then presses the switch. There's no stretching, no warm-up, no preparation, no deciding how she wishes to move. She merely does.
The song is unfamiliar, as she had expected. A slow and sedate start, solemn, but she can hear the promise beneath the beginning notes and she lets the music guide her. Graceful and precise movements, and while she lacks the thinner fluttering cloth of her usual dancer's outfit in this type of climate, she lets her body do the fluttering and beckoning for her.
Gradually, Primrose speeds up, foot occasionally tapping the floor to acknowledge the beat as the music itself picks up in liveliness, demanding fervor. She twirls, spins, leaps within the space she's been allowed, and there's a fierce and proud gleam in her eye as she does. In the end, her love of dancing has never truly died.
But finally the song ends and she sinks into a curtsy. ]
[Unsurprisingly, the music draws the attention of those in the kitchen; during her dance, or perhaps shortly after, she'll probably notice the way conversation dies down--quickly followed by curious heads poking out of the kitchen to see what's going on. Teucer watches with, well, childlike interest--it's little more than something new and temporarily interesting, for him, but he's got the manners to sit still anyway. Tonia, as Childe had predicted, looks completely enthralled. As for Childe...
It's been so long since he's seen her dance. Though, really--it could be argued that he never truly has, couldn't it? She'd danced at the station, but everything was different there. And those had been more like stolen moments, not really a true performance, like this. Much like his little sister, Childe's gaze doesn't leave Primrose for even a moment as she dances. But his expression isn't anything so simple as appreciation for a craft. No--and perhaps it's lingering rawness from their earlier conversation. Or maybe it's that it's so easy, seeing her like this, to remember that they aren't so different. That both of them walked through the shadows to arrive precisely where they are, bloody footprints left in their wake. Whatever the reason--his gaze is an odd combination of tender and knowing, of appreciative and vulnerable, insomuch as people like them can be.
It's a look that's gone as soon as the sound of applause rings out; Teucer, of course, knowing that that's what you're supposed to do after a performance. Tonia happily joins in, as do Childe's other siblings, the ones watching from the doorway--they call out something in Snezhnayan, and Childe finally looks away from Primrose to call back an answer.
Tonia hops off the chair as he does, bouncing on her feet but somehow managing to look shy.
"That was really beautiful, Miss Primose! Um--" A glance back at Childe, who nods encouragingly. "Could you please teach me too?"]
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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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[ Wow. Shameless.
Listen, she doesn't need money, joke or not. She's survived on nothing. ]
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You know I'm happy to fight you whenever you please.
[Does he actually know how to flirt for real? Yes. Is this more genuine on his part, even if it's also silly teasing? Unfortunately, also yes. Stupid man.]
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[ Listen, if he wants to take that as a challenge to legitimately fight, she'll accept that just as easily. Even though he doesn't get flustered like this as he'll occasionally get when she really insinuates or just outright states sexual interest. He's gotten stronger there, too. ]
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[STOP.
He looks like he's ready to head for the door, then--but he pauses, and something shifts in his demeanor once again, soft and sincere.]
...Thank you, for agreeing to come. They mean the world to me. [There's nothing he wouldn't do for them. For her to humor the kids' curiosity, to be willing to tolerate the discomfort that's a fault of his, not hers--it means more than she may ever truly understand.]
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[ If Primrose had siblings, she probably would have done everything in her power to draw any kind of danger away from them. And she doesn't entertain the notion that she isn't dangerous. Very few people were worth trusting completely, her original traveling party aside. Childe asking her to come out here in the first place, to join him...
She doesn't quite understand why, still. ]
I look forward to learning the steps of a new dance.
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Shall we return to the chaos?
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[ Whether it's judgment or a whole lot of childish enthusiasm, a good dancer moves through everything with the same amount of grace. ]
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Besides, no matter the tension, he has faith that his family won't do anything that bad. He's a little bit blinded by his love for them, but he knows the difference between good people and bad ones. If they weren't good, he wouldn't have brought her here to meet them.
So he nods and heads for the door; unless she has reason to linger, he'll lead the way back downstairs.
From the sound of it, most of the chaos has moved to the kitchen. And sure enough, when they move into the living room, there's only Teucer, Tonia, and a man (the one Childe had pointed out as Damon, in his photograph) sitting in a chair and reading. Two cups of tea sit on a side table, and the floor is strewn with open boxes and every type of toy under the sun. Gee, I wonder whose fault that is.
Damon looks up and gets to his feet as soon as they enter; he greets Primrose in heavily-accented Common Teyvatian, cuffing Childe lightly on the head as he heads out of the room to leave them be. Ah, older siblings.
Teucer, meanwhile, immediately abandons the toy he'd been playing with and runs over to grab their hands, jumping up and down.
"Big brother! And the nice lady!"]
Haha, did you like your gifts?
[Tonia, too, looks happy to see the both of them, but she doesn't rush over the way Teucer did. Even if she's got that "I want to but I'm a big kid so I have to be Mature" type of expression on.]
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And then here's Teucer, back again, and her expression softens slightly for all that she still has very little idea of what to do here. ]
I admittedly can't imagine how you could ever choose which to play with first. Hello again, both of you.
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It may be subtle, but he's obviously seen that expression often enough to know exactly what it means, because he grins and rubs the back of his head in affected sheepishness. CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP.
Teucer's happy to launch into an explanation of all of his toys, complete with plenty of mentions of big brother this and big sister that--and honestly, it doesn't really matter if Prim's listening or not, he's just happy to have the attention. Childe winks at her and begins cleaning some of them up, putting them back in the boxes or nudging them out of the way for the time being. Tonia jumps in to help without being asked, and Childe ruffles her hair fondly.
When there's a suitable amount of floor visible (well, for a living room, anyway), Childe puts a hand on his hip, cocking his head slightly.]
Is this enough space? Or would you prefer to go outside? [If it's too cramped indoors for Pimrose to do any dancing, they can probably make something work outdoors. Teucer and Tonia both look curious.]
what the heck when did this post image happen and kill me
She straightens as she takes in the newly-cleared space, and then nods. ]
This is more than adequate. I would be a poor dancer indeed if I needed any amount of space to make a dance worth viewing.
hehehehehe
Miss Primrose very kindly agreed to show you some of her dancing, but we have to be polite and give her the space she needs until she's done, okay? [As Childe had promised, Tonia lights up immediately; Teucer looks excited too, but in that "small child excited about everything equally" kind of way.] Good, good, come on now.
[He moves over to sit in the chair and both the kids clamber over him immediately, settling down in a way that shows how often they've all sat exactly like this. Once they're settled, he nods at Prim, then gestures to a device that vaguely resembles a gramophone. Idk I'm too tired to get creative about it.]
If you need it, that can play music, if you press the switch on the box. [It's up to her whether or not she wants or needs to use it, though; he can dance, but he isn't a dancer like she is, so he won't presume either way.]
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[ She glances at the gramophone-esque device, and then presses the switch. There's no stretching, no warm-up, no preparation, no deciding how she wishes to move. She merely does.
The song is unfamiliar, as she had expected. A slow and sedate start, solemn, but she can hear the promise beneath the beginning notes and she lets the music guide her. Graceful and precise movements, and while she lacks the thinner fluttering cloth of her usual dancer's outfit in this type of climate, she lets her body do the fluttering and beckoning for her.
Gradually, Primrose speeds up, foot occasionally tapping the floor to acknowledge the beat as the music itself picks up in liveliness, demanding fervor. She twirls, spins, leaps within the space she's been allowed, and there's a fierce and proud gleam in her eye as she does. In the end, her love of dancing has never truly died.
But finally the song ends and she sinks into a curtsy. ]
no subject
It's been so long since he's seen her dance. Though, really--it could be argued that he never truly has, couldn't it? She'd danced at the station, but everything was different there. And those had been more like stolen moments, not really a true performance, like this. Much like his little sister, Childe's gaze doesn't leave Primrose for even a moment as she dances. But his expression isn't anything so simple as appreciation for a craft. No--and perhaps it's lingering rawness from their earlier conversation. Or maybe it's that it's so easy, seeing her like this, to remember that they aren't so different. That both of them walked through the shadows to arrive precisely where they are, bloody footprints left in their wake. Whatever the reason--his gaze is an odd combination of tender and knowing, of appreciative and vulnerable, insomuch as people like them can be.
It's a look that's gone as soon as the sound of applause rings out; Teucer, of course, knowing that that's what you're supposed to do after a performance. Tonia happily joins in, as do Childe's other siblings, the ones watching from the doorway--they call out something in Snezhnayan, and Childe finally looks away from Primrose to call back an answer.
Tonia hops off the chair as he does, bouncing on her feet but somehow managing to look shy.
"That was really beautiful, Miss Primose! Um--" A glance back at Childe, who nods encouragingly. "Could you please teach me too?"]
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