yogen | ♛ This place is pretty dead ♛

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.

[The sudden speed with which Childe stops dead in his tracks is nothing short of impressive, immediately falling completely silent as he stares off into the dark hallway ahead of them. There's tension in his shoulders, jaw clenched up tight as his teeth silently grind together. Jason's casual remark very clearly crossed some sort of line that Childe himself hadn't realized was there, let alone one that he'd been leading the conversation towards.

It was a natural conclusion to draw, given the way Childe had been describing things.

A sharp exhale whistles loudly past his nostrils, and after what feels like an eternity he starts to walk once more, the hand on Jason's waist curling around the fabric of the guy's shirt in a fist so tight it shakes.]

Not necessarily.

[He's starting to get the feeling that this was more of a therapy session for Childe than a casual story he was telling to pass the time. He didn't even think Childe knew that it was.

Clearly there was something he hadn't worked out with this Rex Morax or whatever his name was. Clearly, whatever tension and issue Childe had with Lapis Man ran a lot deeper than even Childe gave credit to.

Which didn't really surprise him. Jason didn't think Childe processed anything correctly. He was the type to bottle things up-- not that Jason was one to talk.]

Alright. Tell me about it.

[He'll keep his commentary to himself. Childe wasn't looking for witty comments on his story, just someone to talk to clearly. He could provide that, and be his stress ball apparently.]

[There's a soft sigh of partial relief, and after another pause he's picking his way back into where he left off.] The deal itself put his godhood on the line, and somehow Her Majesty got him to accept. The exact terms were never made entirely public, but the contract roughly stated that he wished to be entirely certain that his people could survive without his interference before he agreed to hand over his Gnosis. Were he to have the need to step in and save them if they were unable to save themselves, he would come out the victor and continue to hold his power secure.

[Childe laughs before he can stop himself, a hollow sound that echoes strangely off the wide, empty halls.]

Then... Well. To shorten the length of the story, I summoned forth an old foe of his, the intent being to drown each and every last one of his precious subjects in a tidal wave of catastrophic proportions if he didn't come out of hiding to protect them.

[His brow furrows, and for a moment he actually looks annoyed.] Which he didn't do. [hey childe that makes it sound like you actually went through with killing all of Liyue]

[That sure does, Childe.

He raised a brow at the end of that story, turning his head to look at him.]

So what? He just let them die? I thought that went against the contract.

[So much for not making commentary. Jason was a smart idiot, though and he didn't need the whole story to put pieces together.]

Or, I'm assuming those subjects of his proved that they could protect themselves.

Oh, they probably wouldn't have. They had been too busy fighting at each other's throats to cooperate.

[A bit of warmth creeps into his tone as he continues, a faint but soft smile sliding onto his face.] Then an outlander from beyond the stars swept in like an earthquake, and put everyone in their places. Myself included.

[He lets out an almost wistful sigh.] I've been riding the waves of that particular battle ever since. Someday I hope to get a proper rematch, though I doubt the outcome will change. Somehow that makes it all the better.

[Freak ass.

Childe was such an interesting character. He's pretty sure that's the reason why he's been so drawn to him. That, and of course, Jason has a bad tendency of falling in with the wrong crowd. Considering his best friend shot him in the head, Childe summoning some old god from the depths of the ocean to drown a city felt pretty apt with his friend choice.]

You're a hell of a storyteller.

[that was all he could really say, because all the other comments he wanted to say involved something along the lines of "you got played by both sides" and "dude you seem whipped".

None which he thinks Childe would like to hear right now.]

♛ This place is pretty dead ♛

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