PC WITH CHILDE

[commedia]

Comments

[commedia]

No! No, I very much am, its just...

[Well, the process was just wrong from the start, so things have been...off.]

She's quite the lady, you know! A queen. Haha, a forcible personality, for sure. But I suppose its because people have kept telling me to choose what I want...but mmm, Servants don't exactly "choose", you know.

[toyska]

[Ah... some of the cheer slips off of his face, replaced with a knowing look and a nod.]

You're meant to carry out your master's will, right? That, and that alone.

[commedia]

I am. That is true.

[A long pause...and if Childe lets them, they will reach for one of his hands to gently grasp in between the both of theirs, giving him a gentle look.]

But I feel terrible, terrible that I have not done enough for you. Even if you aren't my Master here...doesn't mean I can't help you too, hm?

[toyska]

[This is some salad fingers bullshit

and I really hate that Childe is just going to let it happen, although he does look briefly surprised by the gesture. Don't poke yourself on his dumb gloves, Douman. His Lust tattoo is probably glowing through it, it's fine.]

You didn't strike me as one willing to divide your loyalties.

[commedia]

[Their eyes flick down to that glowing tattoo. Ah. A ring of pink hearts...]

[There's a brief, momentary smirk on their face before they shake their head.]

Its not exactly about splitting loyalties. I am dutiful towards my Master. That is my role. But for you...ah, let's call you a friend. As long as you don't ask for anything that goes against my Master's wishes...then why not help you grant it?

[toyska]

[His government-assigned slutsona... he follows the look before he glances back at Douman, studying them for a moment. Then he smiles again, though this one doesn't quite reach his eyes.]

Haha, what have I done to deserve such generosity?

[commedia]

...

[They're not letting go of his hands. Not yet.]

Mm. I'll answer your question with another question. Do you know what an onmyouji is, Childe?

[toyska]

[I hate this. He hums, thoughtful.]

Care to explain it? We might have something similar in Teyvat.

[commedia]

Onmyoujis are practioners of onmyoudo, an art that allows them to use magic and divination to have mastery over the five elements. We can do fortune-telling, create shikigami - familiars- to do our bidding, but also several onmyouji go out and help the people of villages and the like to eliminate evil, destroy monsters, and the like.

[Douman closes their eyes briefly.]

...I helped many. I also harmed many. I created curses, grudges, and resentments to help people get just revenge. Mmmm. So offering my services such as this...I did this even when I was alive. Its only second nature.

[Is it?]

[toyska]

[As Douman talks, there's nothing but thoughtfulness on Childe's face, and he takes in this information with a slight nod. He seems relatively unmoved by the details--but then, he also hadn't said much when Douman described his willingness to commit atrocities, so that's probably not surprising.]

Mastery over the five elements, huh...]

Did you serve a master when you were alive, as well?

[commedia]

...No. You see, the best of the best onmyouji were selected by the Heian government, and had their own Bureau. I was part of that Bureau...for a while.

[Their grip tightens slightly on Childe's hand, ever so slightly.]

Mmm. I left, though.

[toyska]

[A Bureau? Heh, sounds vaguely familiar.]

And why is that?

[commedia]

[Douman smiles, but their eyes are closed.]

Mmm. Let's chalk it up to..."creative differences".

[toyska]

[There's a pause

And then Childe tosses his head back with a genuine laugh.]

Ahaha, I see, I see. [His eyes never really have much light, but there's a sparkle of mischief in them. Awful.] You know, I believe Her Majesty the Tsaritsa would be quite fond of you.

[commedia]

[That gets them to open their eyes, staring curiously over at Childe - they definitely don't miss that mischief.]

...You have a nice laugh. [Just. Saying that.] And the...Tsaritsa? And who might she be?

[toyska]

[Douman: gives off horrendously unsettling vibes
Childe: lmao just like home]

Thank you. [All four of his VAs are preening in the background but Childe seems more interested in answering the question.] The Tsaritsa is our Archon--a goddess of sorts. She holds dominion over the element of ice. I act as one of her Harbingers.

[commedia]

A goddess? I see, I see...

[Wow he totally doesn't know anything about working for gods! Anyways.]

I see. How interesting! And a Harbinger? Of what, chaos?

[toyska]

Mm, one of seven in Teyvat. There used to be more, but that was a long time ago.

[Mostly.]

Of the Tsaritsa's will, whatever that may entail. [It's not a no.]

[commedia]

Ah-ha. Now I understand.

[Douman leans in, a smirk playing across their lips.]

No wonder you were interested in whether or not I could commit atrocities, hm?

[toyska]

Was I? [He doesn't lean back, though he does look a little surprised.] On the contrary, I thought you made it quite clear.

[Since Douman was the one to offer that up freely and all. Rather--] It's more that I was curious what you considered "atrocities". In my travels, I've found that everyone has a different view of such things.

[commedia]

[Well, the reaction was telling. Rather than someone who stopped such talk outright, Childe inquired more, which said more than words could.]

Mmm. Atrocities, atrocities...yes, they can come in many shapes and forms. Curses. Slaughter. Pushing forth hatred and violence and misery among the population. Ah, I really could go on and on. Though one person's atrocity is another person's regular day, hm?

[toyska]

[Well, it's not wrong, that's for sure. And much like earlier, he seems relatively unmoved by the discussion either way--while there's no particular bloodlust in his eyes, there's no repulsion either. Indeed, he lifts a shoulder in a small shrug, and that's about it.]

No matter how the rabbit might feel, one can hardly blame the wolf for eating. [It's somewhat vague, but that's probably agreement? Probably.

(I think about how Douman is still holding his hand and I get tired)]

And your new Master? What's her opinion on such things?

[commedia]

The wolf hungers, though. And sometimes, all one can do is follow that hunger.

[There's a flicker of something in Douman's dark eyes. A hint of red, perhaps?]

Mmm, my new Master is every bit the queen she is. A lady who knows what she wants, and gets what she wants, regardless of the means.

[toyska]

[Okay Wei Wuxian calm down]

It's a good thing we're men over beasts then, isn't it?

[He says that, but he smiles, like he's perfectly aware that "men" are just another form of beast.]

Is her name something you can share?

[commedia]

Are we...?

[And then a laugh, like its supposed to be a little joke, but...is it really.]

Medb. Are you going to talk with her?