PC WITH CHILDE

[commedia]

Comments

[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?

[toyska]

["Are we" indeed. He doesn't answer!

Instead--]

Ah, yes. We've already spoken.

[commedia]

You have? How nice. What do you think about her?

[toyska]

[He tugs gently on his hand.]

May I? [Have it back, he means. If, y'know, Douman is done with it.]

[commedia]

...

[There's a noticeable pause...but then Douman lets go of it.]

[One hand reacquired!]