yogen | ♛ This place is pretty dead ♛

[When Childe had asked him to spend the night together with him, a million things ran through his head and none of them had been “sleeping on the cold floor of a classroom”. He didn’t actually mind it, it wasn’t like this would be the first time he slept on the floor, but he did find it hilarious that this is where Childe chose to take him.

The guys been acting weird ever since their… tussle is not the correct word to use, but tussle earlier. He figured it was just because of the situation they found themselves in this month, considering how weird it was, so Jason didn’t bother to pry.

He was honestly just happy to have some company. Nene was usually with Noah, and while he loved spending time with her he knows that it’s not him that she needed right now.

So…

That’s how he found himself laying on the floor with his head on Childe’s lap, drifting in and out of sleep. As bony as Childe seemed most of the time in his uniform, he was comfortable enough.]

[A pulse of golden light softly emanated from the Gnosis, illuminating Jason's features and causing him a moment of pause as he considered the man before him. He'd decided Jason was one of the ones he'd miss when this ended - one way or another. And while he wasn't quite sure what exactly they were to each other at the moment, he knew that they'd grown close enough to call one another friend.

Granted. They'd engaged in quite a bit of non-platonic behavior, so perhaps "friend" couldn't be considered a strong enough word. Though Childe wouldn't exactly go as far as to call them lovers, either.

He reached out to skim his fingers across Jason's hair with a small hum, tilting his head a bit as he studied him within the slowly dimming light and wishing he could feel the texture beneath his fingertips. If nothing else, he'd like to be the one to do the honors of killing the man before anyone else could, if it came down to that being the way to escape this place. He'd be sure Jason got a fitting end, one denoting someone of great strength and martial prowess.

He could practically picture it now, a big blowout confrontation where they both gave their all, blood soaking the snow outside as he drove a polearm through Jason's chest. Maybe they could take each other out in the process; that would be rather fitting, wouldn't it?]

[Sleep was never easy for Jason, especially coming back from the dead once or twice. It had always been full of nightmares that woke him in the middle of the night, or he was just too paranoid to actually sleep— waking up at every single little sound.

Somehow Childe’s hand on his hair was soothing enough to actually lull him to sleep, which was surprising to him. It felt nice, though, which was something that had been severely lacking in the months that he’s been here.

It was because he had allowed himself to fall into that small sense of comfort that when the first stab of pain hit it all but took his breath away. Green eyes shot open as his hand fell to his stomach, gripping the shirt he wore as if expecting to find it wet with blood.

His first thought had been that Childe had stabbed him, because honestly Who Else would do that right now? He sat up on shaken arms, eyes falling to his stomach in confusion before moving to look at Childe.]

[The suddenness of the action had Childe jolting just a bit in response, blinking in surprise as it pulled him out of his thoughts and into the present. It took him a moment to log that yes, this is what he had been anticipating might happen, and given where Jason was clutching it made that fact very clear.

He gave the Gnosis a shake, coaxing out another little pulse of light so they could see better.]

Oh... Right. It must have slipped my mind. [It hadn't.] Just breathe, it'll pass soon enough. [Maybe. His had lasted quite some time, and he could remember the panicked clawing he'd done to get to Zhongli on the bunk above and wake him to alert the former Archon of the fact that he must be dying. Because that had clearly been the only answer.

He'd then proceeded to all but pass out in the guy's arms due to the lack of oxygen before the feeling had finally gone away. They'd typed back and forth on Childe's PDA for a bit before he'd managed to fall back asleep.

Zhongli had been... Quite a bit more comforting than Childe himself was being right about now. He should probably remedy that.]

You've been fatally stabbed before, right? It's nothing you haven't been through, you can handle it. [In hindsight that probably wasn't any more of a comfort.]

[It wasn’t so much a new pain, but it was the surprise of it that had taken him by surprise. He narrowed his eyes at Childe, because everything he had just said sounded like bullshit.

Childe didn’t forget.

This was the reason he had asked Jason to do it, not some bullshit excuse of “oh my hands are numb what if I slip”.

Bitch.]

I’m gonna—

[Jason let out a pained groan, deciding that if Childe was going to be useful he might as well be something to lean on.]

— punch you when this is done.

[He’d either be died, in which case he’d crawl his way back just to punch Childe in the face, or he’d be fine and in that case he’d break his nose.

His face was now pressed against Childe’s shoulder as he panted; hand gripping his shirt and clawing at the area as if that would make the pain go away. It was traveling, moving from his stomach and up to his head, though that was probably just the loss of blood.

He was also cold, hands now trembling in their vice grip of his shirt.]

Fair enough.

[The reply came with the ghost of a laugh that Childe was smart enough to suppress, shifting instead to reach up and press his right hand against Jason's back. The little circles he rubbed there were probably a lot more comforting than his words had been, his left hand giving another shake of the Gnosis for one final pulse of light before he was setting the object down on the ground beside him.]

I'll even give you two free hits, if you like.

Thanks, asswhip.

[There was a lot less bite in his words than two seconds prior. He knew the feeling that was washing over him very well. It was that cold blanket that draped across his body— it felt like hands gripping him in place and digging into the nonexistent wound he had.

Death had always been so much fun.

Please note the sarcasm.

His breathing was slowing down now, the room spinning. One of his hands reached out to grab Childe’s sleeve.

He had never really died with anyone with him to comfort him through the process, and while he wasn’t exactly dying it sure felt like he was. Still… there was something about having someone here— even if it was Childe— that made this feel a little… too much and not enough all at once.]

[The soothing pats and rubs are continued on as the light fades away, plunging them into complete darkness once more. Childe's tilting his head back against the wall, sightlessly staring upwards at the ceiling as he mulls over his own personal thoughts.]

We should probably tell them, I think. [He's more serious now, his tone considerably less playful.] I'd like to keep up the façade, but... Times are changing, and I think everyone needs to be on the same page to figure this out.

Yeah...?

[It took him perhaps thirty seconds to realize that no, his eyes weren't closed and it was actually the that the room was just dark. He blinked a couple of times just to make sure he actually had his eyes open.]

Probably a good idea... All things considered... I don't think just two people.... can solve this whole mess...

[Not when solving things involving murder. While they could just go around killing everyone and feeding them into the void, he doubted that was really the answer.]

We could have. Maybe. If we'd had more time.

[He closes his own eyes with a soft little exhale, reaching up to give Jason a few pats on the back of his head. A bit rougher than the more comforting ones had been.]

I'll take the blame, of course. I'd rather word not get out when it comes to how capable your hands are at taking a life. Not yet, at least.

Hah...

[There was a pained cough that followed the laugh, along with another groan.]

I can do... a lot more with my hands.

[Of course, when dying the best thing to do was to keep things light and make jokes.]

But that's fine... We can tell 'em.

[If he was in a better state of mind he'd probably ask why he would want to keep Jason's involvement a secret. It wasn't like it wouldn't get out eventually, especially if they'd have to kill more people.

But that was Childe's choice, and he wasn't in the spot to argue with him.]

I don't remember bleedin' out from a gut wound takin' this long.

[Was he slurring? He was slurring, wasn't he?]

You're not actually bleeding out from a gut wound, Stripes. Stop being dramatic. [He is transparently teasing now, which is clear from the slightly jocular tone he takes. It's paired with some more little pats on his shoulders, and then he's shifting his head to press a quick little kiss to the side of Jason's forehead.

It's warmth, and it's not without particular reason.]

I'll need your reputation to remain untarnished. Just in case things go badly. If fingers point to me, they won't notice you slipping around in the background and getting things done. [Jason didn't ask, but he was planning on elaborating anyway.]

I'm aware, thanks.

[Didn't mean it didn't feel like it. It would be pretty hilarious to just bleed out all over Childe though.]

Ah, so you just... want me as your little errand boy.

[He's teasing and doesn't sound like he's put off by the idea at all. He figured one of them would have to be the one to do things, and if people are all looking at Childe, they would more than likely not notice Jason.]

What are you plannin' on tellin' 'em?

Obviously that's not all I want you for.

[He hums thoughtfully, mulling the question over for a moment.] The essentials, I think. The nitty-gritty details are unnecessary, but the general information should suffice. The receding, how it happens, who I'd chosen for testing things out... That sort of thing.

[He can't help but laugh at that, mostly because he wanted to probe Childe further for what exactly he wanted him for. Other than doing the dirty deeds for the guy or a kiss here and there, what else could Childe possibly want him for?

His witty one-liners and pretty face, probably.

Though that probably wasn't the topic they should change to currently.]

Makes sense, though. We're not in a— ngh— position to keep things hidden anymore anyway. People are gonna love you.

[His tone is teasing, but coming out as a murderer to a group is usually always a pain in the ass. Especially if the group was made up of people that mostly liked you and have trusted you for a time.]

I got your back, though. If ya need anythin'.

Oh yeah, you too.

[He pats Jason on the back to emphasize it, chuckling a little at his own dumb jokes. He's an idiot.]

I appreciate the loyalty, Stripes. That sort of thing is hard to come by these days. [He tilts his head, shuffling and shifting under Jason's weight.] C'mon, up. Let's walk around a bit, should help you work through all this a little easier.

Hah.

[The last thing he wanted to do was actually get up and walk around. He wanted to lay here and die in peace, except not actually die since he isn't actually bleeding out. Let him be a baby about things, he's never been able to before.

He still pulled himself up, though, because it wasn't like he was actually going to curl up and pout about the pain of being stabbed to death.

Been there, done that.

He grunted as he stood to his feet, wobbling only a little. His hands were shaking, but other than that—which he hid in his hoodie because he'd be damned if he showed Childe that—he seemed perfectly fine.

He just liked to complain.]

You'd be the first to tell me that.

[He gets to his feet shortly after Jason, though not before snatching up the Gnosis and pocketing it once more.] Easy there, killer. Take it slow. [He closes the distance between the two of them, brushing his hands off and reaching out to wrap an arm around Jason's waist.]

Lean on me if you have to. You're tough, but I can help. [He smirks a little, rolling his shoulders in a shrug.] Wouldn't want you to feel too weak to give me that punch, after all.

[That manages to pull another laugh from Jason. He did lean against Childe, though despite that he didn't put a lot of weight behind it. Jason was massive, and while Childe could handle him he didn't have to.

Not unless Jason suddenly got lightheaded and decided the floor looked comfortable again, anyway.

He could keep his own weight for now.]

God forbid I deprive you of that.

Some would make the argument that you should. Those would be the boring people.

[It's said with an audible smirk, and after making sure Jason's got a steady hold on his own gravity, Childe sets about steering them out of the classroom and into the hallway. They can walk up and down the length of it once or twice. That should be enough.]

Want me to tell you a story? Help keep your mind occupied?

Yeah well, most people don't get off to being punched.

[He can tease Childe. He didn't know what they were-- if they were anything other than friends he sure as fuck didn't know. It wasn't something he was really worried about, to be fair. Hooking up with someone didn't have to mean anything. It did mean that he could poke at him though.]

But yes, tell me a story, Tartaglia.

[There's a soft little puff of breath that escapes him in response, one clearly colored with amusement. He doesn't bother to try and correct Jason on the quip, despite the fact that it's not... Essentially true.]

Hm... Let me think...

[It's dark here in the ~~Abyss~~ void world, darker still when roaming through the halls without a flame or something else to guide you. There's just enough ambient light for him to make out the hallway, so they're not entirely stumbling blind.

A story...]

How about... The story of the conqueror god who turned his back on his people? Who schemed behind the backs of the innocent faces he claimed to love and protect, in order to collude with opposing forces?

Sounds like my dad.

[Zhongli Batman confirmed?

His grip on Childe tightens a bit for a second as the world spins, which is a feat in and of itself considering it was so damn dark he could barely see three inches in front of him.

It probably didn't help that his vision kept blurring whenever a wave of pain hit.]

Tell me about it.

[batman has money.

That does pull the ghost of a laugh out of him, and he gives Jason a sympathetic squeeze when he feels the twitchy tightening.]

Where to start... Some background will probably help. I've told you of the Archons in the past; this story involves two. The benevolent warrior Queen who reigns from within the frozen jewel of her Zapolyarny Palace, and the weak-willed god of stone. His name is... Was. Morax. Though, the adoring populace of the prosperous land of Geo had many other names for him. Rex Lapis the Groundbreaker, God of commerce and Prime of the Adepti. [There's a sort of... Edge that creeps into his voice as he speaks, one that is somewhere on the cusp of bitter anger and cool indifference. Perhaps forced indifference if Jason wants to study that angle a little more closely.]

He had something she needed to wage her war against the oppressive forces from beyond the stars, and so she offered him up a contract; his specialty as an Archon, you see, was forging agreements bound by stone. His word was his law, as solid and unbreakable as the mountains shaped by his very hands.

[Oh, there was history here. Deeper history than a simple story telling. Childe was close enough to him that he could make out his face, even just slightly, and from the expression he saw it was a story that Childe still felt deeply.

If his voice was any indication that he was right, then he failed as a BatKid.]

Sounds like a douche. Never been a fan of rigid ass people.

♛ This place is pretty dead ♛

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